“Today’s practice was brutal as usual,” Yamano told me.
I had been spending more time with her since we walked home together. Though it was to be expected when we lived in the same town, it was honestly a little awkward.
Going home alone with a female underclassman when I have a girlfriend? Isn’t that a bad look? Sure, Hikari gave me permission, but does having permission really make it okay? There’s also the theory that it’s my fault that Hikari’s...proclivities have become a bit twisted. Opinions are divided about that. Don’t ask me whose opinions—just leave it at that.
“Senpai, want me to guess what you’re worried about?” Yamano asked.
But it’d also be awkward if I avoided going home together with her when we’re in the same band. I wanna know what other guys with girlfriends do when they’re in this position.
“You feel guilty towards your girlfriend, Hoshimiya-senpai, right?” Yamano teased me with an amused chuckle.
I gave her an acrimonious glare. “If you already know, then give me some more space.”
“Ah! Senpai, you’re so cold! How can you treat your adorable underclassman this way?!” Her cheeks puffed up in indignation.
It’s a problem because you’re a cute underclassman. I won’t ever admit that, though. “Anyway, were you always like this?” I asked. Ever since she became a high schooler, she’s been super hyper. I feel like she used to be more quiet and laid-back.
“Hmm? Have I been actin’ weird?”
I paused. “No, I wouldn’t call it weird.” It’s understandable; school’s just started, and Yamano’s environment has changed drastically. It wouldn’t be strange if the people around her have influenced her personality into something brighter. “So, are you enjoying high school life?” I asked.
“That sounds like something my uncle would ask me.”
I had only been trying to make small talk, but I was reciprocated with a body blow. Okay, given the difference in our mental ages, being her uncle wouldn’t be too far out there.
“I’m having fun, though,” she murmured, as though she were savoring each word. “High school and the band are both fulfilling. It’s the first time I’ve ever felt this way.”
I could tell by her expression that she meant it from the bottom of her heart.
“At first, I was anxious, but my classmates are all really nice.”
She’s usually so cheeky, but when she acts like this, it really hits me that she’s my underclassman. “That’s good to hear, then.”
I don’t know why, but Yamano didn’t have a good middle school experience. After all, she’d eat lunch on the roof with an outcast like me. Back then, she always seemed so hollow, even when she smiled, but now there’s a twinkle in her eyes.
“Coming to Ryomei was the right choice. It’s all thanks to my wonderful upperclassmen!” she said with a bright smile.
I hope you have a good youth. If you make bad decisions, you’ll end up like I did the first time.
✦ ✦ ✦
But man...our band name, huh? I vaguely ruminated on our assignment as I ate curry for dinner at home. Would it be better to decide on a theme first like we did for Mishle? We were Mishle because we were literally a mishmash of leftovers, but what are we this time?
“Hmm...” I groaned.
“Onii-chan, shut up,” Namika, who was sitting next to me and playing on her phone, admonished me.
You already finished your curry, so you could just go to your room.
“What’ve you been agonizing about?” she asked, her attention still on her phone.
“Uh, I gotta brainstorm a new band name.”
“Huh.”
“You don’t seem to care much, even though you’re the one who asked.”
✦ ✦ ✦
“Yamano-senpai is in your new band, right?”
How did she know? Wait, come to think of it, I believe I mentioned this to Namika before. It makes sense that she’d know Yamano since we’re all from the same middle school. Still, I feel like she kinda had a weird reaction to Yamano joining our band.
“Yeah, what about it?” I asked.
“What’s Yamano-senpai like in high school?”
“What do you mean? She’s the same as everyone else, I think.” She’s in a different year than me, so I don’t really know any concrete details.
My sister went deep into thought at that, her expression awfully solemn.
“I wasn’t sure if I should tell you, but there were some nasty rumors about Yamano-senpai.”
Nasty rumors, huh? Ever since Miori’s incident, I had developed an intense enmity towards that sort of thing.
“I’m in the year below Yamano-senpai, and I’ve personally never interacted with her before, so I don’t know the truth... But if you’re going to be in the same band as her, then you should probably at least know about it.” Namika’s preface was long, and what she said next shocked me. “People say that Yamano-senpai was the ringleader for the bullying that happened in her class.”
That doesn’t sound like the Yamano I know. Her, bullying someone? I can’t believe it. She doesn’t seem like the type. “How come I’ve never heard that rumor before?”
“Obviously, because you didn’t have friends in middle school,” she said matter-of-factly, inflicting mass damage on me, and then added, “That’s why everyone in her grade hated her. If it’s true, she got what she deserved, though.”
The part about her being hated has a ring of truth to it. It would make sense why she ate lunch on the roof with me. “I can’t believe she would be a bully, though.” Yamano isn’t like that... I think. But do I know her well enough to say that for sure?
“The rumor’s all I know. If that’s how you feel, then your instinct’s probably right. That’s why I hesitated to mention it.”
Namika probably didn’t want to support a dubious rumor either, but she warned me for my sake. Despite her surly attitude, she cares about her family. “Thanks for telling me.” I patted her head for the first time in a while.
She smacked my hand away. “Gross!”
Heh heh heh. Aw, is she embarrassed?
However, her eyes were ice-cold. “Shut up. You’re annoying. Stay away from me. Go find a hole to die in.”
“Y-You didn’t have to go that far...” I’m sorry for getting ahead of myself.