Chapter 15.3: Me and Her III

Chapter 15.3: Me and Her III

That girl probably wont be anyones girlfriend.

What?

What do you mean?

Well, that Hyuga, she has been repeatedly confessed to by seniors, juniors, and people in the same club but she rejects them all in a roundabout way.Follow current novels at novelhall.com)

Heh. Shes so guarded, that makes her even more desirable.

Stop it, you pervert.

According to her, I am not interested in romance at all because I am enjoying myself the most right now.

Wow, that sounds like an insecticide!

What a waste! Arent high school girls supposed to sparkle precisely because theyre in love?

Hmm, in that case, those glasses are to ward off guys! Without glasses, she would undoubtedly be a diamond in the rough!

Shut up, Nishimura.

Well, I suppose there are such girls out there, though theyre rather strange.

Youre going to be shot down if you rush in there in vain.

Unfortunately Hakamada, we dont have to pick up your ashes.

Hah? What do you mean by unfortunate?

I certainly didnt get the impression that she was in love with me from her. I wondered why she was messing around with me.

Oh, that was only for fun, right? I was conscious that she was having fun with me.

I wasnt seriously interested in her either. I thought we were even.

The relationship between me and Hyuga was not flawless. To put a name to the relationship, it would probably be just senior and junior. We were not even friends, and our relationship was unstable.

It didnt matter to me when things ended. Wherever she disappeared from my life, I probably wouldnt go after her.

I bet the same goes for Hyuga.

She took pleasure in everything. Enjoyment abounded everywhere for her and I was certain that I alone was nothing to her.

Perhaps she was playing around with other guys besides me, just like how she was messing around with me.

When I thought of that, I nearly developed a distrust of Hyuga. But right before that, I snapped back to myself. What would I do if I let that distrust sprout? She was less than a friend, a mere acquaintance.

It was absurd for me to harbor such feelings. I had nothing whatsoever to do with who she was talking with or who she was hanging out with.

All I had to do was maintain a moderate distance from her so that I wouldnt be completely carried away by the pace of the younger student, and so that I wouldnt get too close to her.

Right. The relationship between me and Hyuga was nothing more than a whimsical hanging out.

Other than that, no contact whatsoever existed between us.

At lunch break. On the rooftop of the old school building.

This was where I usually went when I wanted to be alone.

A sign was placed here stating that it was off-limits or something but I didnt care about that. Thanks to the rusty lock, I could get in easily with a little fiddling.

The teacher would probably scold me severely should they find me but nowhere else in the densely populated school was it quieter and more relaxed than here. The rooftop of the main building was no good. Not only was it overflowing with people at noon, but at worst, couples would start flirting with each other without regard to the public eye It was indeed a very active time of the year.

This rooftop, on the other hand, was better than that one since it was smaller and, aside from being slightly filthy, hardly anyone came here. For me, who would be stressed by a crowded place, this was the ideal place to be.

Although no particular reason existed, I felt like grabbing a meal alone today, so I told Kinoshita and the others in advance and headed out on my own. Being alone and stumbling about was not unusual for me.

I was haphazardly sprawled on the floor, stuffing a bento from a convenience store into my mouth.

Right then, Hyuga popped up next to me unexpectedly.

How long had she been there? I mean, was she a stalker?

Despite my exaggerated astonishment, I didnt chase her away. Several months had passed since I had established this strange relationship with Hyuga. I have gotten rather accustomed to dealing with this guy. Trying to chase her away would conversely draw her interest in me and would drain my energy, which was why assuming a calm demeanor as if nothing was wrong turned out to be advantageous in this instance.

In response to such an attitude, Hyuga shrugged and grumbled, How boring.

Hah, it was not boring for me to witness you making that kind of face. It made me feel like I had done you a favor.

Why are you here?

Just came to tease my senior a little.

I pinched her cheek, which was as elastic as a takoyaki.

Udadadad! Its a lie! Its a lie, senior!!

Youre full of lies! Damn you! I swear!

When I released her, Hyuga made a pitiful face and pressed her cheeks together.

Are you feeling like being alone right now? If so, I will leave you alone.

Whatever go ahead and do whatever you want.

Yay, I did it!

Who the hell was she directing that at, her Yay, I did it.

Recently it had occurred to me that this guy, despite all her poking and prodding, showed great care and concern for me. I was positive that if I told her that I wanted to be alone right now, she would grin and say, See you later, and leave.

She truly was a strange woman. Besides

Youre a curious one, arent you?

Yes, yes?

You know, coming all the way out here just to mess with me.

Every pupil at this school should be aware of the unnerving rumors about the old school buildings roof.

Are you talking about the rumor about specters appearing?

Right. Besides, everyone is too frightened to enter. The only people who are comfortable entering this place are me and those who want to challenge their courage.

I snickered, Theres no such thing as specters.

Ive heard all kinds of accounts about a woman in red standing there, a bloodied youngster sitting there, or some other enigmatic creature pursuing someone, and theres just so much going on that it seems sketchy and I dont believe it. I mean, Ive actually been in here and nothing happened, which is a letdown.

Everybodys screaming like idiots and being dumb. Youre the kind of guy who doesnt say youre terrified of that sort of thing. When I said that, she turned around and laughed.

Yes, I dont find it frightening at all.

Youre really strange, huh?

Thank you, senior!!

Keep up the good work, incoming director!

Yes! But will I be able to fill the position of director?

Dont worry, youll be fine. A tall male member of the club remarked.

Hyuga put her hand over her mouth and shook her shoulder. The boys and girls alike congregated around Hyuga. They were attracted to her, tapping her on the shoulder and poking her.

Hyuga responded playfully to them.

While listening to the resounding laughter, I quietly left the gymnasium. I wanted to say something to her before leaving but it seemed that popular people were busier than I thought. Besides, I didnt want people to give me weird looks.

Even Hyuga would be a bit uncomfortable with me approaching her right now.

I put some coins in the vending machine behind the gym and hit the button for cocoa.

Kinoshita and the others would come looking for me soon. They said, Lets go around together, but their goal was to visit the haunted house, right?

A joyful voice erupted from behind me as I inserted a straw into the cocoa carton that had fallen down while thinking so.

Senior!

Hyuga, who had before been surrounded by numerous people, was standing directly behind me when I turned around.

Why are you here?

You too, why were you leaving so soon?

You came all the way here and left without saying a word, youre too blunt. Hyuga turned away from me with her mouth aggrieved slightly.

Even if you said that, anyone could read the air in a situation like that.

I mean, you were surrounded by the other members of the club, and you are very popular with them.

If I barge in there, its clear what will happen, right? When I said that, Hyuga racked her brain and made a strange voice.

Is it okay for you not to go back?

Yes, I won the rock-paper-scissors game, so I am now in the unrestricted group.

I see Good work.

I offered her the cocoa that I had just stuck a straw into right in front of her.

Hmm? What?

Hyuga stared at me with a face as if seeing this for the first time.

What do you mean Look, Ill give it to you. Nice job on the performance. Oh, rest assured, I havent even put my mouth on it yet.

Are you sure?

I said Ill give it to you. You dont like cocoa? Then have something else

Thanks!

As I was about to fumble with the coins in my pocket, Hyuga shook her head broadly and took the carton from my hand.

Kaaah! Tastyyyyyyy! I live only for this!

What are you, an old man after taking a bath?

It was a remark without a shred of modesty coming from someone who had just received thunderous applause for putting her hands on her hips and gulping down cocoa with gusto. I didnt understand the guys who approached Hyuga

Thanks for the drink.

You drank it all up in

My best record is six seconds.

Youll upset your stomach

Yeah, I upset my stomach a couple of times.

Oh, right

Thank you, senior.

Hey, its only 100 yen. Dont be so formal.

Hyuga bowed deeply after neatly crushing the finished carton.

And thank you for coming.

Oh I only listened to two songs.

Even so, I was delighted that you saw my solo part and that you could see me performing.

When you say it like that I feel sorry that I only listened to two songs.

Pfft, no such thing thanks to you, I have no regrets now, I feel at ease

What?

Because this is the last time.

Last?

With Hyugas eyes closed and her face downcast, I put some more coins in the vending machine and pressed the button for the black sesame milk drink.

Youre trying to fabricate a lie.

She flashed me a vile smile as soon as I stated this.

How dull. Youve developed a lot of tolerance toward me.

Whose fault is it?

I was hoping for a dramatic reaction like your first one.

What!?

The first one Dont dig up the unpleasant story, you idiot. Saying this, I bent at the waist to meet Hyugas gaze.

You know, you should respect me as a senior a little bit, right?

My face and Hyugas were reasonably close but it didnt mean particularly anything. There was no meaning to it but this was not good.

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