The classroom bustled with the happy, awkward reunions unique to a day at school after a break.
Nazuna’s seat was precisely in the middle of the room. A chubby girl one seat back was talking to her.
“Hey, Nazuna. Have you been anywhere for summer break?”
“Not yet.”
“I’m going to Disneyland next week!”
“Oh, that sounds great.”
“Have you been anywhere?” Right. It was pretty clear she’d only bothered to ask so she’d have an opening to brag about her Disneyland trip.
Nazuna smiled as she talked, seeming no different from usual. What was the reason for that strange unease I’d felt earlier?
I sat in my seat at the back of the classroom, in the row next to the windows. I’d spent the entire first term of school gazing at Nazuna from that desk. Most of the time, I was only seeing her from behind, but every once in a while, when she was passing papers back, or—like now—when someone behind her struck up a conversation, I’d catch a glimpse of Nazuna turned around in her seat. Every time it happened, I’d find myself awestruck… When had she become so alluring?
Nazuna had moved here from Tokyo when we were in fifth grade. I could tell immediately that she was different from any of the girls I’d known growing up in Moshimo.
I’d been just a kid—or, well, I guess I still was a kid—but anyway, even though I knew Nazuna was different, I couldn’t quite pin down why. She seemed so sophisticated. So refined. When she was in her school uniform—or even in her gym clothes—she had an aura about her… None of the other girls even compared. When we began junior high and she started growing taller, every extra inch seemed to be accompanied by…
Ugh! Where is all this mushy, lovey-dovey crap coming from?!
But…she was so cute…
“Man, she’s cute, isn’t she? Nazuna Oikawa, I mean.”
“Huh?!”
Yusuke’s words caught me off guard, and my voice squeaked. Yusuke’s seat was directly in front of mine.
“Whoa there, Squeaks.”
Yusuke’s jab came lightning quick. Eager to avoid any suspicion of interest in the girl, I parried back with my own improvised joke.
“Nazuna? I guess she is fairly…snazzy.”
“…Weak.”
I tried to act casual. “What’s so cute about her anyway?”
“I really wanna ask her out.”
“Then do it.”
Since we’d started junior high, Yusuke had become blatantly more aware of Nazuna.
A while ago, I’d learned that he was quietly snapping pictures of her on his smartphone. The photos were all collected into a folder, and Yusuke couldn’t fall asleep at night without scrolling through them. It kind of grossed me out when he told me, but at the same time, I really wanted a copy of that folder.
“I mean, I just wanna go somewhere with her before summer’s over. Like the fireworks display tonight…”
“Then you should ask her.”
“I can’t just go up to her like that! What if she says no?!”
“Figure it out!”
“Hey. How ’bout you go ask her for me?”
“Oh yeah, sure… ‘Hey, Nazuna, Yusuke has something he wants me to tell you…’”
“‘Oh? What’s that?’”
“‘He says you’re the ugliest girl on the planet.’”
“Hey! That’s not what I said!”
“That’s all, folks! Thanks for watching!”
That had been our standby bit for the last several months. Just as we reached the ending beat, Ms. Miura walked into the classroom.
“In your seats, people!!” Our impatient teacher didn’t bother to wait for the scattered students to follow her instructions. She just continued speaking. “All right. Today’s the day of the big festival and fireworks display at Moshimo Shrine. There’s probably going to be some pretty big crowds. I want you all to be careful and not to stay out too late—especially those of you going with friends.”
Minoru shot up out of his seat as if he’d been waiting all morning for this opportunity. “Ms. Miura, who are you going to the festival with?”
Aside from being impatient, Ms. Miura was also a terrible liar.
“Um…” No sooner had she faltered than the classroom erupted in excited chatter.
Junichi struck the coup de grâce. “I bet you’re going with your boyfriend, right? And after the show’s over, maybe you’re planning a grand finale of your own at a hotel?!”
“Tajima! You better learn to control yourself, or you’re going to be on the receiving end of a harassment lawsuit!”
“Then I’ll just countersue for abuse of power!”
“You are simply unbelievable, you know that?” Ms. Miura began making her way from her desk toward Junichi. Her chest bounced with her sudden, sharp movements.
“Ms. Miura! Do you have a license to be carrying around fireworks like that?!”
“Junichi Tajima!!”
Laughter enveloped the entire classroom, and Ms. Miura and Junichi began a chaotic game of tag.
Looks like somebody’s parents will be making another after-school visit… I shook my head. As my eyes loosely followed the unremarkable scene, I caught sight of Nazuna again. She was facing toward me.
Huh…?
No, she wasn’t just turned my way… Her gaze was locked directly on me…
I’d spent the whole term stealing glances, but that was the first time our eyes had ever met.
Nazuna knew I was returning her gaze. Her face was blank, but something deep in her eyes seemed to be reaching out to me—pleading with me.
The connection lasted only an instant… Within a second or two, our eyes had broken away.
She turned to face forward in her seat while I continued staring in confusion at her back. She didn’t turn around again.
“Junichi! Your mother is going to be hearing from me!!”
I was about to shift my attention back to the usual ruckus between Ms. Miura and Junichi. That’s when I saw it: a strange light in the corner of my eye. A quilted bag hung from a hook at the side of Nazuna’s desk. The bottom of the bag seemed to be shrouded in a strange halo.
No, not shrouded… It was more like something inside was faintly shining through the fabric…
What is that…?
I felt as if I were being pulled in toward the light. I couldn’t turn away. Just then, Junichi and Ms. Miura blocked my view and brought me back to my senses. Ms. Miura had finally caught the boy right in front of my desk.
“Nooo! Have mercy! Norimichiii, help meee!”
Ms. Miura gave Junichi a light rap on the top of his head. The room’s laughter peaked, and the go-to comedy routine of first-year Class 1-C came to an end.
As Junichi was led back to his seat by the scruff of his neck, I stole another glance at Nazuna’s bag. The light was gone.