Washu had a difficult time dealing with Clay. It was not that she disliked him, but unlike Mikamo, Clay’s way of thinking and actions felt exceedingly stifling to her. Instinctively, she hid behind a pillar.
“Well, I suppose that, no matter how talented she is, Naja-kun is still a woman.” Clay spoke loudly on purpose, knowing that Washu was there.
“That egghead? I can’t believe it.”
“According to what I’ve learned, that man’s been frequenting Naja-kun’s personal laboratory for the past few weeks, especially at night, clandestinely.” Clay’s colleagues went oooh. “Heh heh, those two are going out, mark my words. Poor Washu-kun. She’s been betrayed by her best friend and her lover.”
People knew that Clay was practically a walking tabloid magazine. Usually, Washu would pay no heed. But today…
Washu stayed hidden until Clay and his gang left, and then clutched her things and fled. Soon, she saw Naja and Mikamo taking a walk in the rear gardens. Washu stiffened, unable to move. Clay’s words echoed in her mind. Washu silently watched them look around furtively and enter Naja’s laboratory. She did not understand why she felt so sad.
“Were you out walking with Naja earlier?” Three hours later, Washu approached Mikamo as he was looking something up in the library and nonchalantly started a conversation.
“Naja-san? No,” Mikamo replied coolly. It bothered Washu that he showed not a hint of emotional turmoil. Gentle, klutzy… but there were times when he seemed incredibly cold.
“Oh. It was too far for me to see clearly… Hey, Naja invited me to a party. Want to go?”
“Huh? I don’t mind. But am I invited?”
“It’ll be a big party, so nobody will notice. I’ll let Naja know.”
“Thanks.”
The peaceful conversation set Washu at ease. “Some books I ordered are arriving tomorrow. Do you have any plans?”
“The ones you said were slated to be discarded…? Oh, sorry, Professor Ikuma needs me tomorrow. I might be late.”
“No problem. It’s just unpacking. No big deal.”
“Sorry. I’ll go to the party as soon as I’m done.”
Washu left soon afterwards, not wanting to disturb Mikamo’s studies, and did not notice that he sighed deeply as he saw her off.
The next day, unexpected departmental business detained Washu. Naja had not come home the night before, and since Washu was behind already, she headed to Naja’s lab to tell her about Mikamo. On the way, she spotted Professor Ikuma and ran over.
“Professor Ikuma, didn’t you have work to do with Mikamo-kun?”
“Mikamo-kun? No, not really…”
“Oh, okay…”
“Is anything the matter?”
“No, I misunderstood.” Washu left as though fleeing the scene, leaving behind a perplexed Ikuma. She mulled over Mikamo’s lie while she walked. It doesn’t bother me if they’re going out… And yet, she found herself heading towards Naja’s laboratory.
But she could not bring herself to step inside. Instead, she paced by the door. Mikamo, Ikuma, and Clay’s words kept ringing in her mind, and she could not shake herself free. She hated everything: Mikamo’s lies, Naja’s incomprehensible actions, and her own unclear feelings. At that moment, she stopped in her tracks.
“I shouldn’t do this… It’s none of my business.” She tried to make a quick exit, but Clay stopped her short.
“What are you doing here, Washu-kun? Mikamo-kun is in Naja-kun’s laboratory.” Clay said deliberately.
“…!!” Washu froze at the words she did not want to hear.
In that exact moment, Naja and Mikamo opened the laboratory door and emerged. Eyes wide, they stared at Washu. The moment lasted an eternity.
Then Washu uttered, voice trembling, “You didn’t have to lie… It doesn’t matter…to me…” Tears swam in her eyes. “It doesn’t!!” She could not bear to linger any longer and ran.
“Washu-san!” Mikamo was flustered at the turn of events. “Wh-what should I do, Naja-san?!”
“Go after her, you idiot!!”
“R-right!!” Naja and Mikamo ran after Washu.
Naja saw Clay smirking close by, immediately realized what he had done, and directed her anger at him. In other words, she kicked Clay into the fountain outside the window. “Oops, sorry! I’m in a hurry!!”
They set off after Washu right away, but she was nowhere to be found in the building. She had probably run off at a speed that was three times the Academy women’s sprinting record.
“Washu-chan looks calm and collected, but she’s more immature than she seems!” Naja panted heavily, looking at the buildings lit orange in the sunset. Mikamo, slightly behind her, tried to catch his breath, dripping with sweat.
“I can’t find…Washu-san anywhere.”
“Do you have any idea where she might be?”
“Oh…”
“You do!”
“If this really is a misunderstanding, and if she has feelings for me…” Here, Mikamo collected himself. “But…”
“Stop that! I’m sure your upbringing forced you to learn to suppress your emotions… But, for right now, get properly flustered and find her!”
“O-okay!” Mikamo took off running again.
“Hold on, I’ll go, too.”
“You can’t.”
“What?”
“Only Washu-san and I can go in there!” Mikamo yelled.
Naja clicked her tongue and watched him, and then grumpily ran towards her office so she could take out what had happened on Clay…
Washu was in a dimly lit room, the only light coming from a bare lightbulb. She sat in a chair, clutching her knees to her chest, and curled up into a little ball, thousands of books piled haphazardly around her. Washu was in the abandoned building’s library… Yes, the Book-Lovers Club, Washu and Mikamo’s sanctuary. How many hours had she sat there like that? Washu’s lips kept silently mouthing the word, “Idiot…”
Suddenly, creaking floorboards prompted her to lift her head. “Who’s there?!” She realized that the approaching shadow was Mikamo and hastily prepared to escape.
“Wait! Please, listen to me.”
“It’s not like I feel anything for you…”
“I still love you, Washu-san!”
Those words rang hollow in Washu’s heart. “Liar…!”
“Yes, I’m a liar… But what I just said is the truth.”
Washu’s green eyes saw his sincerity. If only she could leap into his arms. She would feel such relief and happiness. But she only cast her eyes downwards. “That’s not fair. I love Naja, too.”
“I like Naja-san, too. But it’s not the same as the feelings I have for you. Naja called me out for being a liar, and she was scolding me for it.”
“…”
“There’s nothing between me and Naja-san.”
Washu simply stood there. She wanted to believe Mikamo, but she also felt that something still did not make sense. Emotions were too complicated for a simple, mathematical answer. She had only just now become aware of her own feelings.
At Washu’s continued silence, Mikamo looked at her, sighed, and placed his foot on a ledge.
“What are you doing?! That’s dangerous!” They were on the first floor, but there was a cliff underneath the window. A fall would be fatal.
“It’s all right. Naja-san told me she would kill me if I ever made you cry. She’s not here, so I can do it myself…!!”
“What are you saying?!”
“I’m sorry.”
“All right! I believe you!!”
“Really?!” The moment Mikamo cheerfully turned around, the window frame gave way under his weight and cracked.
“…?!”
“…?!”
In that instant, they exchanged a look.
“You idiot!!!!”