Volume 1 - CH 1.2

Art Class with Shimizu-san – 2

“When he is absorbed in something, he never listens to what people say…”

As I was thinking of heading to the art room after Toshiya was gone, I remembered something I had to do before that.

(Right. I have to wake up Shimizu-san.)

I looked at the seat next to me. But Shimizu-san, who was supposed to be there a moment ago, was already gone, and I was the only student left in the classroom. When did Shimizu-san leave the classroom? I looked at the clock to see that the class time was approaching, and hurriedly left the classroom.

When I arrived at the art room, there was only about a minute left before the class started. Toshiya, though it’s not intentional, seemed to end our love talk just in time. When I took my seat, the students were still buzzing, and even though I didn’t intend to listen to them, I could hear people talking around me.

“Shimizu-san really dyed her hair black.”

“Do you know why she dyed it?”

“I don’t know. I asked my friends and they all said they didn’t know either.”

It seems that Shimizu-san is the main topic of conversation. Students from other classes also take the class together because the art class is held jointly with two other classes. The news of Shimizu-san’s makeover, which has calmed down after a few days in our class, seems to be fresh news to the students in the other class.

（I wonder if Shimizu-san is okay?)

I sneak a look at Shimizu-san. According to the seating order in the art class, Shimizu-san’s seat is diagonally behind mine. Shimizu-san seems to know that people are talking about her, and she does not seem to be in a good mood. But I can’t ask her about it now because our seats are a little far from each other. While I was wondering what to do, the door opened and the art teacher came in.

“You guys seem to be more lively than usual today. I will start the class, so please be a little quiet from now on.”

Sensei didn’t seem to understand why the students were making so much noise. He started the class without caring about it.

“Today, we are going to read the textbook first, and then you will draw a painting. I’ll tell you what we’re going to draw later. For now, open your textbook to page 23.”

Sensei then began to explain some of the paintings in the book. In this art class, students are rarely assigned to read the textbook, and we just listen to Sensei. As I was losing my concentration on the Sensei’s explanation, I felt a presence and something like a piercing gaze behind me. I turned around slowly so as not to be noticed by Sensei and found the source of the presence. It was Shimizu-san, who was staring straight at me while other students were looking at their textbooks.

I turn my head back to look at my textbook in a hurry. It seems that the presence I had felt from a while ago was from Shimizu-san. But why am I being stared by Shimizu-san?

(I thought she was staring at me, but maybe Shimizu-san just happened to be looking in my direction?)

I was also a little bored during this time listening to Sensei, and I could understand why she took her eyes off the textbook. I might coincidentally have turned my head while she was looking around.

I looked behind again to confirm the truth. Shimizu-san was still staring at me with her sharp eyes. My eyes met Shimizu-san’s, then Shimizu-san’s eyes widened and she immediately looked away.

(I was not mistaken, but why was Shimizu-san staring at me?)

I tried to think of any possible reason. The only conversation I had with Shimizu-san were only about everyday life, and Shimizu-san did not seem to have changed at all when we were talking this morning. The only thing that came to my mind after that was the love talk we just had…

Maybe Shimizu-san woke up because of the loud conversation that Toshiya and I were having, and she was getting irritated at me. That would explain why she was staring at me from a while ago.

（I wonder if Shimizu-san was really mad at me.)

I looked behind again and saw that she had her hands on her cheeks for some reason. Her eyes are looking down, and her face seems to be redder than before. I was puzzled about what had happened to Shimizu-san between the time our eyes met and now. As I wondered about this, I felt a light tap on my head. I turned my head and saw Sensei standing in front of me.

“Hey Hondō. You’ve been looking behind too many times. It might not be on the exam, but you should at least pretend to listen to what Sensei has to explain.”

“I’m sorry.”

The art room erupts in laughter. It seems that the tap I felt earlier was caused by Sensei putting the textbook on my head. Fortunately, I don’t think he’s really mad at me because he’s smiling too.

“It’s fine if you understand it, but be careful next time. Now that we’ve finished reading today’s textbook, let’s talk about the models we will draw today, which we discussed at the beginning of the class.”

While I was paying attention to Shimizu-san, the explanation of the paintings was over before I knew it. Sensei returned to the front of the classroom and began to explain.

“Today, you will work in pairs and spend the rest of the class drawing each other.”

As Sensei said this, a student from another class raised his hand.

“Sensei, can I ask you a question? “

“Yes? What is it? Tell me.”

“You said we’re going to draw in pairs. Will we be paired with the person sitting next to us?”

That’s right. Sensei didn’t explain that part yet. Pairing up with the person sitting next to you is indeed the easiest way to make a pair. Sensei is scratching his head, and he seems to be thinking about it.

“Sensei? “

The student who asked the question, perhaps waiting for Sensei, asked again.

“Okay, I’ve decided. You can pair up freely today. It can be a friend or someone from another class. Once you’ve been paired, please take your seats so that you’re next to each other. Everyone can stand up. “

As soon as Sensei finishes, all the students in the art room stand up.

“You have five minutes. Please make a pair during that time. Those who haven’t form a pair will be forced to make their pairs after five minutes. So grab your stuff and start pairing up with each other. “

With those words, the students begin to move in unison. Some of them have friends in this class and are paired up right away, and some don’t know anyone and are just looking around. I was the latter and was in trouble because I did not know anyone who would pair with me.

( At this rate, I would be paired with someone I didn’t know well. )

Just when I was beginning to think that it was fine, I heard footsteps behind me. I turned around and saw Shimizu-san standing in front of me.

“Hey, Shimizu-san has been staring at Hondō for a while now. What is she going to do to him? “

“How could I know anything about Shimizu-san? I’m in a different class from her. Let’s get away from them so we don’t get involved.”

“You’re right. Hondō, my sympathies.”

The other students around us started to blatantly distance themselves from Shimizu-san and me, whispering something. Shimizu-san did not seem to open her mouth. I decided to ask her myself.

“Are you still angry with me, Shimizu-san? “

“Angry? What do you mean? “

It seems that the reason she was staring at me earlier was not because she was annoyed that I woke her up when she was sleeping. Then why was I being stared at? Well, it’s fine if she isn’t angry.

“I guess I was wrong. So what’s up, Shimizu-san? “

“…Hondō, have you decided on a pair?”

“I haven’t decided yet. How about you, Shimizu-san?”

“No, not yet.”

The conversation stops. I wonder what Shimizu-san wants to tell me. I look at Shimizu-san. She was looking at me just a moment ago, but now she is looking at a completely different direction, and our eyes don’t meet.

“There are less than two minutes left. Those of you who haven’t paired up yet, hurry up.”

Sensei calls out to us. It seems I have less time than I thought. As I was wondering what to do, I saw Shimizu-san and a thought came to my mind.

“If you don’t have a pair yet, why don’t you pair up with me? “

I thought it was fine even if I was paired with anyone, but I was glad to be paired with Shimizu-san, whom I knew.

“Why should I be paired with you..?”

“You don’t want to? “

Well, then, I guess I have no choice. I don’t have much time, but I’ll just have to try to find another classmate.

“Wait. I didn’t say no. I just needed to prepare myself a little bit ….anyway, I’d rather draw with someone I know than to be paired with someone I don’t know.”

“So you’ll pair up with me then? “

“Yeah, well, if you insist that much.”

It would be great if she agreed, but I don’t remember desperately asking her to pair up with me.

“Thank you. Best regard, Shimizu-san.”

“Yes.”

I sit down next to Shimizu-san. Between us, it’s the same position as in the classroom, so it’s somewhat comfortable.

“Time’s over.”

Sensei looks around the art room. I look around too, but I can’t see anyone without a pair.

“It looks like everyone has paired up. Let’s get started. You can decide which one of you is going to draw first. Don’t take too long, just do it quickly. You have 30 seconds. “

Sensei clapped his hands and started looking at his watch again.

TN: Blonde hair ver.