Chapter 162

All the school events for the year were over, and now only the December finals remained. The school festival was still fresh in everyone’s minds, and with Christmas approaching, the mood in the classroom was as merry as ever. “Did you hear, Takayan? Mimori and Satou from Class E started dating. I knew there was something between those two!” It was our first day back at school, and Deguchi was already passing on festival gossip I hadn’t asked for. He’d been in the audience for the closing party, watching everyone else. “Wow, really?” I replied in a monotonous voice, having no real idea who he was talking about. “I’ve known them both since grade school. Childhood friends! Didn’t have to look very far, did they?” Deguchi heaved a big sigh. “Y-yeah, I guess.” I wasn’t sure how to respond. He could have been talking about me. Someone close by… I glanced at Fushimi next to me. Childhood friends. The closing party. Memories of last weekend’s festival came rushing back to me. The closing party dance was a voluntary event, and it was said that if someone accepted your invitation, you were officially a couple. Fushimi had asked me, and I’d accepted. Then… …that means… I stole another glance at her. Her glossy hair reflected the soft morning sunlight, framing her smiling face. I watched her pink lips, slick with lip balm, move as she chatted with her friends. Then her wide eyes narrowed slightly as she smiled again. She was my childhood friend, and she was covered head to toe in cuteness, like the coating on a candy. We’d gone to school together that morning. She’s…my girlfriend now. “So Takayan, where were you during the closing party?” “H-huh? I headed home, of course.” That was the truth. I’d gone looking for Fushimi after she disappeared, then I’d headed home. “You asked Torigoe and got destroyed, right?” “Don’t remind me. See, Takayan, brother, I’ve realized something.” Deguchi gazed into the distance. I already had a bad feeling about what he’d say next. “There’s no one for me but Waka.” “Yup, you’re delusional.” Waka was our homeroom teacher, Wakatabe—a woman of around thirty. This only proved how fickle Deguchi was. No wonder Torigoe wouldn’t give him the time of day. It seemed he’d only wanted to chat. Once he’d finished complaining about the school’s new couple, he went to join the other guys. Now I had no one to talk to. Torigoe was somewhere in the back of the classroom, doing who knows what. After turning her down at the festival, I wasn’t sure how to interact with her. In fact, she’d confessed to me once before, so I’d now refused her twice. “Ah, good morning, Shii.” “Morning.” Torigoe came up, and Fushimi greeted her. That’s right, the Shii’s short for Shizuka, I thought idly as I desperately listed out my options. 1. Wait until she says something first. 2. Greet her like nothing happened. 3. Run. Unfortunately, all my escape routes were blocked. Deguchi was cackling with the other boys, and Himeji was busy chatting with the girls. “Morning.” Torigoe poked me in the back before taking the seat in front of Fushimi’s. “Y-yeah, morning…” “How’s the man who only cares about pretty faces?” “We’re really going there…?” I probably should have expected some snide remarks. That said, it was better to have her complain to my face than bottle up her emotions. “I think I have the right to some sass, at least.” “Wait, are you talking about me?” said Fushimi, pointing at herself. She seemed unhappy at the suggestion I’d chosen her for her looks. Torigoe had meant to hit me with her barbed remark, but in the end she’d gotten both of us. “That’s not what she meant, Fushimi,” I said, covering for her. “No, that’s definitely what I meant. And it’s true, too,” said Torigoe, twisting the knife. She giggled, and Fushimi puffed out her cheeks in irritation. “C’mon, I’ve gotta tease you a bit. I’ve earned it.” “If you’re only here to make fun of us, then just go back to your seat,” I said. “I came over to congratulate you.” You could’ve been nicer about it. But if it helps you feel better, then I guess I don’t mind. “Congratulations,” she said. “I’m happy for you two.” Fushimi stood up and went over to her. Torigoe stood, too, and they hugged. What’s this? “Thank you,” said Fushimi, tears in her eyes. “I thought you wouldn’t want to be friends anymore.” Torigoe patted her back. “No way. I might be bummed out, but I’m truly happy for you.” “Aww.” Fushimi started crying into Torigoe’s shoulder. Fushimi must have been just as uneasy as I was. Torigoe was a friend to both of us, and she was utterly irreplaceable to Fushimi. “Why am I cheering you up…?” Torigoe forced a smile, and our eyes met. “So, have you done it already?” “What is this, boys’ talk?” I said. “Give me a break.” “Hey, you had Sunday and Monday free.” To be perfectly honest, nothing had happened. It was just a regular long weekend. That day, as Fushimi and I walked home together, I was too out of it to say much. Fushimi was the same, and only shared a few impressions of the festival. On our way to school this morning, she’d acted exactly the same as she always did. She simply smiled and said, “We’d better start studying for finals!” And so I’d treated her normally, too. “Not going to tell Deguchi?” asked Torigoe. She must’ve been listening to our chat earlier. But I couldn’t exactly tell him I was dating my childhood friend right after he’d complained about some other students doing the same. “I think I’ll wait for a better time,” I said. “Well, okay. So does this mean you’ll be having lunch with Hiina from now on?” “You’re eating with us,” said Fushimi. She’d finally stopped crying. “I’d just be in your wa—” Fushimi cut her off and shook her head emphatically. She looked like a little kid talking to her elder sister.