Volume 1 - CH 58

CL_0UD5-7 minutes 20.07.2022

My brain was going full speed in front of Takayama, who was noticing strange things.

I never thought in my wildest dreams that he would notice something like that.

Can you usually recognize handwriting that you’ve only seen a few times? Normally, you wouldn’t be able to.

But for some reason, Takayama noticed it.

“It was just my imagination, right?”

For the time being, he tried to play it off as normal.

“What? Is it? I feel like there’s a similarity between the letters here and the ones in…’

He opens my notebook and Himekawa’s notebook in front of me and compares them.

Yes. It sure looks very similar, doesn’t it? I would say, the handwriting is the same because it is written by the same person.

“Takayama. Which is your priority, checking the handwriting or going to the movies with everyone? Is it okay if we can’t go to the movie?”

As if realizing suddenly, Takayama closes my notebook.

“I guess so. More than the handwriting, the test, and the movie!”

I felt the fire in Takayama’s eyes.

“I’ll do my best, so you do your best too. You exchanged contact information, didn’t you? You can’t back out now, can you?”

“That’s right! I’m a guy who does it when he has to, and he’s going to see it!”

Thank you very much. I think it’s going to work out somehow.

“Look, the next class is about to start.”

“Okay, okay. I’ll return your notebook and I’ll copy the rest from Nadeshiko’s notebook.

My notebook was returned to me.

I need my notebook that Himekawa wrote in, but I feel that there are too many problems.

I might have been able to get away with it because I happened to be with Takayama, but would anyone who saw it be able to figure it out?

Normally, you don’t memorize an individual’s handwriting or anything, do you?

—ring—ring—ring—ring

After school, Takayama returned the notebook to Himekawa and Himekawa left the classroom early.

I see, another part-time job today, huh? She’s working pretty hard, isn’t she?

“Well, I’m going to the infirmary, then I’m going home.”

“I’m going to go home after a little studying. I hope your finger heals quickly.”

“I hope so.”

As soon as I left the classroom with my bag in my hand, a few unfamiliar boys entered the classroom.

They passed me on the way in, and at first glance, they looked like a strange group.

Some looked like delinquents, some looked like nerds, and there were some reasonably good-looking guys.

What kind of group is this? Then one of the delinquent-looking guys shouted in front of the podium.

“Which one of you is Takayama? I know you’re still here!”

A voice echoes through the air. Everyone’s eyes are on Takayama.

“I’m Takayama, but who are you?”

Takayama is unfazed by this situation.

Maybe this guy is more capable than I thought?

“You’re Takayama? You’re the one! Get to the back of the gym, right now!”

They entered on their own and quickly left the classroom as if that was their planned action.

What on earth are they trying to do? I looked at Takayama and saw that he was stashing his study materials in his bag.

As I was about to leave the classroom, I entered the classroom again and started walking toward Takayama.

“What a pain in the ass! I’ll have no time to study!”

Takayama looks upset. If a fight breaks out, should I join in?

Or should I just go home?

“What are you going to do now?”

“Ah? It’s a pain in the ass, but I’m going. I know a fair amount about them and…”

What does that mean? Do you know them? Are they Takayama’s acquaintances?

No, if they knew him, they wouldn’t have called him out like this.

“Do you want me to go with you?”

“I’m fine. I’m sure I’ll be able to talk it out with them. Tendo, go to the infirmary and go home as soon as possible.”

Takayama put his bag on his shoulder and walked out of the classroom.

The class members also gradually left the classroom as if they were following suit.

Before I knew it, there was only me and one other person, Sugimoto, left in the classroom.

Hmm? Why is Sugimoto still here?

I called out to Sugimoto.

“Aren’t you going home?”

I guess she was getting ready to leave.

She put her bag on the desk and seemed ready to go home at any time.

She turns her face from looking down at mine and stands up.

“I’d like to talk to you for a moment if you don’t mind…”

“Not at all, but could we talk while we walk? I’ve been called into the infirmary after this.”

“It won’t take long…”

The two of us leave the classroom side by side.

Come to think of it, this is the first time I’ve walked around the school with a girl since I started high school.

After a while, Sugimoto spoke to me.

“Oh, um… Do you have someone you like…? Or someone you’re interested in?…”

This is the second time today that my brain has been surprised with a question.

I feel like I’m being asked something amazing by the first girl I’ve had a conversation with today.

Does this mean she likes me? Or is it like a game of punishment or something, like “go ahead and ask her”.

Someone I like, someone I care about. It’s not that I don’t have any. But I’m not sure if I like them.

Maybe I do care about them. But I don’t care whether I say that or not here.

Why should I have to tell that much to a girl with whom I’ve just had a conversation for the first time?　

I kept walking in silence, unable to come up with my own answer.