Volume 1 - CH 8

Harusame-san introduces herself.

The first activity of our conversation club is a talk about our agenda.

The first topic was decided to be “self-introductions,” which I proposed.

I stood in front of the teaching table and opened my mouth to the three girls sitting in front of me.

“Well then, let’s all introduce ourselves. For now, I think it’s a safe first topic for the agenda. But don’t start with me first.”

The three girls clap lightly and look at me.

Self-introductions.

I’m sorry to say this, even though I proposed this idea myself, but I’m not good at formal introductions. Even in homeroom on the day of the entrance ceremony, after much deliberation, I couldn’t decide on what to say in the end.

But I can’t say that now.

I coughed lightly and turned to everyone and opened my mouth.

“Well… my name is Namito Kominato from first-year class 1. My favorite subject is math… and my… favorite food is curry and hamburgers… and then… umm…”

Arai-san interjects when I’m stuck.

“Oh, Kominato-kun, you like math, that’s great. I’m not good at math.”

Arai-san made a good interjection and I responded, inwardly thanking Arai-san for the opportunity.

“I’m not saying I like it, it’s just that I’m the best at it out of the five subjects. It’s not that I’m very good at it.”

Harusame-san said with a smirk beside Arai-san, who was impressed.

“What’s your favorite food? Not even elementary school kids nowadays say curry and hamburgers.”

I was annoyed at being ridiculed for the golden combination of curry and hamburgers and retorted to Harusame-san who was smiling at me.

“Don’t you dare to make fun of curry and hamburgers! They have a universal taste. What do you like?”

When I asked the question, Harusame-san suddenly turned bright red and started fidgeting.

“O, o, Ohagi? Ohagi is a… uh… oh… that’s not…! That’s… right, pasta… I’m a girl! And yes, I like… parfaits too!”

You just said “ohagi” first. Why don’t you just say what your favorite food is? Ohagi will cry.

(ohagi – sweet rice balls filled or coated with red bean paste.)

I decided to tease Harusame-san a little as she talked in a panic.

“Pasta and parfait? You like foods with a “P” in them, don’t you?”

“Yes, I do! I love anything with a “P” in it!! I like br… br… bread too! I’m a girl!”

“So you like underpants, too?”

“Yes, I do! I love underpants too, and I eat a lot of them… I lov-“

After she starts to say it, Harusame-san realizes that she has said something outrageous and freezes with a bright red face.

I say to the frozen Harusame-san.

“Okay, next, let’s have Harusame-san who likes underpants come in front. Let’s see how the underpants-loving Harusame-san introduces herself.”

With that, I moved away from in front of the teaching table and sat down on a seat.

You see, Harusame-san, those who laugh at curry cry over underpants.

Harusame-san staggered forward, pulling A-chan’s panel. Then, with her back to us, she faced the blackboard and began to speak softly.

“Oh, ah, Harusame Amano… I am in year one, class two… and my pet peeves are guys and… spicy food… insects… and ogres…”

Harusame-san fell silent after saying all that. Come to think of it, this girl is not so good at talking to people either, so much so that she would have a conversation with a panel of magical girls.

I couldn’t bear to leave her standing in front of us like this, so I decided to ask her a question that would give her a chance to talk.

“I would be happier if it is something I like, not something I don’t like. Something you like… Oh, that’s right. Is there anything you want most right now?”

Harusame-san’s shoulders shook. Then, turning toward the blackboard with her back to us, she continued in a trembling voice.

“Hey, A-chan… that guy is talking to me again… it’s creepy. I’m not sure if he’s a stalker… I feel like he’s a stalker.”

It’s no good if I’m a guy, after all…

Just as I was about to give up, Harusame-san continued in a thin voice, her small body trembling.

“And what were you going to do when you ask me what I want or what I like… What I want is what I like… what I want…”

Harusame-san falls silent again after saying so. Suddenly, Kamiyama-san speaks in a funny voice.

“Ho… what do you want… what do you like…?”

Harusame-san mutters with her back to us.

“…friends…”

Harusame-san’s small voice seeped into the quiet clubroom.

Harusame-san’s back was trembling slightly. Her back looked so small. This girl must be a different kind of shy from Kamiyama-san. I can picture the gazes of the teachers when I brought her into the staff room with me.

As I hesitated about what to say to her, Harusame-san continued talking in a small voice.

“I’ve always wanted to have a friend… but I’ve never had one. I can’t even talk to people well…”

The only sound in the quiet clubroom is Harusame-san’s trembling voice.

“When I was thinking how lonely it is to be alone… and what I should do… I went to a bookstore and happened to see A-chan there…”

Harusame-san continues her story while staring at the life-size panel of the magical girl.

“I was just about to… go to the bookstore when it hit me. I’m not sure what I’m supposed to do with it but…”

Harusame-san falls silent again, her small back shaking. I feel like I’m completely wrong about how to make my debut, but am I wrong?

Suddenly, Kamiyama-san got up from her chair and approached Harusame-san. Kamiyama-san was also trembling slightly, perhaps from nervousness.

Kamiyama-san put her trembling hand on Harusame-san’s shoulder and let out a shaky voice from inside a damp paper bag.

“Wow. We’re… already in the same club, and… Um… and… we’re friends… no, we’re good friends…”

Harusame-san slowly turns around with her gaze downcast.

“Hmm… I already have a friend named A-chan, but… I can make you my second friend…”

“Yes… thank you!”

To Harusame-san’s suggestion, Kamiyama-san responded in a voice that sounded as happy as can be.

Hearing Kamiyama-san’s happy voice, Harusame-san looks up and sees Kamiyama-san’s face… or rather a paper bag.

You don’t have to be so happy… to this extent,” she continued, “And you’re sweating too much! It’s all over my face! It’s in my mouth too!

I guess Kamiyama-san must have summoned up her courage. Sweat was dripping from the paper bag on her face, fifty percent more than usual. That sweat dripped onto Harusame-san’s face.

“Gogo-gogo-gomennasai..!”

“Oh my god, do you have a handkerchief?”

“Yes… in case I need one…”

Kamiyama-san hurriedly rummaged through her pocket, took out a handkerchief, and handed it to Harusame-san.

The first thing you need to do is to make sure that you have the right tools for the job.

“Thanks… this one here is soaking wet too!”

“I’m so sorry…!”

“I don’t blame you at all… I’ll bring lots of handkerchiefs next time. I don’t really have a choice after all.”

Harusame-san seemed to hate it from what she said, but her face looked as happy as it could be

While I was watching the exchange between the two of them, Kamiyama-san suddenly turned her head in my direction. Her gaze seemed to say, I did my best.

I gave her a thumbs up, a gesture that said, “Well done!”. 

Through the two holes shredded in the paper bag, I could see two eyes smiling at me. Seeing Kamiyama-san looking so happy also made me happy too, and my mouth slightly parted.