Sousei started typing out a message to agree, but deleted it when he realized what he was doing. Instead, he quietly muttered to himself in his room.
“She really was vera cute, huh…”
Asumi and Moena were still continuing the conversation. There was likely no profound meaning in what either of them was saying. The conversation could be considered frivolous, but that kind of communication surely had a purpose. Perhaps communication itself had value?
Maybe this kind of thing is also what it means to be “normal”…?
Sousei Takarai wanted to be a normal high school student like everybody else.
I guess it’s normal to have some friends, even if it’s not a lot, and be reasonably well-adjusted…
Sousei gave a nod. “I’ll have to thank Miss Hitsujimoto.”
Who knows what would have happened if she hadn’t shown up at that elementary school clock tower?
He didn’t know whether Riamu Kinoshita’s sister would have taken all of his lives, but she probably would have taken quite a few. It was possible she would have killed Sousei 118 times, and he really would’ve died.
Sousei owed Kuchina his life. Naturally, he was grateful for that, so he wanted to express his gratitude in words.
“I have to say ‘Thank you’ to her properly.”
It was as sunny and clear as a morning could be.
Say it.
Sousei Takarai was heading to school with purpose in his heart.
Say “Thank you” to Miss Hitsujimoto. Then…yeah. I also have to tell her I gave her message to Asumin and Moena.
He’d also considered getting to school first thing that morning and ambushing her, but Sousei wanted to approach the situation as naturally as possible. Kuchina was normally the first person to arrive at the classroom. If Sousei aimed to be second or third, then it shouldn’t be too unnatural.
I just happened to wake up early. I left home a bit early. So now I’m arriving early. Yeah. That happens. It’s definitely something that happens. It’s natural. I can do this. I really feel like I can.
He wasn’t hesitant—if anything, he was elated. At least until he left the subway station. The closer he got to school, the heavier his steps became.
…She’s not going to avoid me again, is she?
Sousei tried to laugh it off, telling himself surely that wouldn’t happen, but his face just twitched.
This is Miss Hitsujimoto we’re talking about, after all. I mean, I’m pretty sure there’s no reason for her to avoid me, but there’s always a chance she might do it anyway. In fact, it seems just like something she’d do…
By the time he passed through the school gate, Sousei had readied himself.
Considering who I’m dealing with, she’ll probably avoid me. And that’ll be that. There’s nothing I can do about it. Is there anything I can do about it? Maybe, but it’s Miss Hitsujimoto. I can’t let every little thing like that shock me. Yeah…
There was a shift in his way of thinking.
It’s all right. Don’t worry, it’s fine. It’s not a big deal if I mentally prepare myself. If I go in expecting her to avoid me, it won’t cause much damage.
It was still early, so the shoe cubby area was deserted. Sousei deliberately didn’t check Kuchina’s shoe cubby. She was probably at school already, but he was sure she’d avoid him. They wouldn’t be able to talk properly face-to-face, in which case, it wouldn’t ultimately matter whether she came to school or not.
That approach puts my mind at ease.
Sousei hummed as he changed his shoes.
That’s positive thinking. Or I guess negative thinking…?
Taking a negative, backward sort of perspective at least let him relax. Still humming to himself, Sousei went to move away from the shoes.
“Something fun happen?”
Sousei hadn’t expected anyone to speak to him, and he let out a strange squeak and jumped back. She stepped silently out from the shadow of the shoe boxes. Sousei backed away even more and almost stepped out of the shoe-changing area but managed to stop himself just in time.
“Ah…! Wha…?”
Why was she at the shoe cubbies?
Right here, in front of him?
She was wearing gloves. That was the first thing Sousei checked.
—Is she going to kill me…?! No… No way…
It might sound silly, but he couldn’t dismiss it as just a wild thought.
After all, Sousei had experienced it firsthand. She’d killed him many times over. This girl had the power to steal people’s lives far too easily; all she had to do was take off her gloves and touch Sousei with her bare hands, and he’d die. As far as he could tell, she’d been waiting to ambush him. It was a surprise attack. That was the only conclusion Sousei could come to.
—It must be. Right…? A surprise attack…? But why? Why do it at school? She wouldn’t, would she? No matter how Miss Hitsujimoto is. Uh, so what is it? Why’s she here? What’s going on…?
“I heard humming,” Kuchina said in a flat voice, her eyes lowered. “Or something that sounded like humming. Sorry if I misheard.”
“Ah, nah…” Sousei wildly shook his head and his hands. “Y-you didn’t mishear… I was humming, but it doesn’t mean something fun happened. Oh, but the potato chip party was fun! Did we already talk about that? Oh, we did, didn’t we? On the day…”
“We did.”
Kuchina nodded in agreement, and the phrase that Asumi had used in their group chat suddenly popped into the back of Sousei’s mind.
She really was “vera cute”…
That was how Asumi described how Kuchina had looked while eating chips, saying that “vera” meant “very.”
Mm, but it feels slightly different from “very cute.” Vera cute…
The way Kuchina had used her chopsticks was incredibly careful and delicate. Perhaps it was a slight exaggeration, but her handling of the disposable wooden chopsticks had made them look like an expensive lacquered set. She’d chosen potato chips that were a good size to fit easily into her mouth, and her movements had been unassuming, even elegant in a way. She had been discreet when she chewed, then closed her eyes and thoughtfully, deliberately savored the flavor.
What is it? It’s almost like she’s in a state of mindlessness. Like she resembles a small animal eating nuts or berries more than a person… No, that’s not it. It’s something else… What could it be, though? In any case, she’s vera cute…
Kuchina looked up at Sousei and tilted her head just slightly.
“What’s wrong?” she asked.
“Noooooothing?! N-n-nothing’s wrong… I just…”
Sousei desperately wanted to do squats.
Of course, I won’t, though…
It would obviously be bizarre if he suddenly started doing squats right then. Objectively, that was something only a weirdo would do.
It’s a mystery even to me why I’m so desperate to do squats…
As a last resort, Sousei took a few deep breaths—or at least, that was his intention. Instead, he found himself unable to, and he ended up needing to take several quick gasps of air.
Kuchina frowned. “All right.”
She hadn’t phrased it as a question, but she was asking him if he was okay. He’d worried her. Apparently, Sousei looked so bad that now she was worried about him.
“I… I-I-I’m…I’m all right…” Sousei struck his chest with his fist a few times. This action also seemed like it might fall into the category of eccentric behavior, but it was probably better than continuous rapid breathing or doing squats.
“—Aaah! That’s right! Ummm, th-thanks! I wanted to give you my thanks—I mean, I have to give you my thanks, as a person! I couldn’t say it before—or I guess I mean to say I didn’t—so thank you, Miss Hitsujimoto. It’s thanks to you that, y’know…”
“Thanks?” Kuchina muttered and turned to the side. “For what?”
“Huuuh?! You know, back then…”
Sousei looked around. He couldn’t see any other students, but he couldn’t say for sure that someone wasn’t changing their shoes somewhere in the spacious shoe cubby area. That would be perfectly reasonable.