Vol. 2 Chapter 3 – Asahi Hikaru (Second Form)

Even when Tuesday arrived a day later, the piercing gazes from all over the classroom remained.

Looking only within the classroom, things had calmed down slightly compared to yesterday, but the spread of the rumor showed no signs of stopping.

Now, people from other classes… and even other grades were coming to peek in.

‘Look, it’s that guy.’
‘Eh…? Him?’
‘Must be some kind of joke, right?’

Countless insensitive words thrown my way.

All of them, nothing more than petty jealousy and envy.

…If only I had the personality to dismiss them like that, how much easier would it be?

The reality is, there’s even a part of me that affirms those words.

The more I think about a hopeless guy like me being mutually in love with Asahi-san… let alone dating her, the more impossible it seems.

Beside my repeated self-deprecation since yesterday, I glance at the clock.

The time is fifteen minutes before the start of classes.

More than half the classmates have already arrived, but her figure is still nowhere to be seen.

The tennis tournament ended yesterday, so she should be coming to school starting today…

I operate my phone and display yesterday’s exchange on the screen.

‘I won the championship! 🎉’
‘Congratulations. Winning the championship… is so amazing, I can’t find any other words. Truly, congratulations.’
‘It’s all thanks to you, Kageyama-kun. Thank you so much. I love you.’

The final words, newly added to our relationship thus far.

They were so intense that I couldn’t reply anything.

What if she thinks I’m a pathetic guy…? I start to worry.

The moment she enters the classroom, if she looks at me like that, I might die from shock.

As I clutch my head over worries I know are unfounded–

“Everyone~! Good mornin’!”

A cheerful voice echoes throughout the classroom from the entrance.

A greeting that would undoubtedly make people recoil if anyone else did it.

However, there’s only one person in this class who is allowed to do so.

The top of the top in Shuei Private High School’s School Hierarchy, a natural-born Light Attribute beloved girl.

Lifting my head, I saw her figure, unseen for several days, at the classroom entrance.

Even in this situation, just seeing her makes me feel somehow saved.

“Hikaru, morning~. You’re late this morning,” (Ayaka)
“Yeah, I was so tired I overslept, and my bedhead was awful. Took me ages to fix it,” (Hikaru)
“Morning~. And congrats on winning the championship~”
“Yeah, thanks~!” (Hikaru)

The usual, innocuous greetings are exchanged, just like any other day.

However, that’s only on the surface; I can tell everyone is inwardly checking each other.

Who will be the first to charge the main keep regarding that matter…?

As one of the parties involved, I watch the situation unfold with bated breath. Then, one of the A-List girls… Miyazaki-san, I think, stands up.

“Hey, Hikaru… There’s something I want to ask…” (Miyazaki)

She calls out to Asahi-san, who has just reached her seat, with a solemn expression.

“Hm? What is it?” (Hikaru)
“That story… is it true?” (Miyazaki)

After a slight hesitation, she asks as if she’s made up her mind.

“That story? What story? The one about me going to America in September because I won the championship?” (Hikaru)

Towards the tilting-headed Asahi-san, Miyazaki-san glances at me and continues.

“Not that, that person… Kage…yama-kun, was it…? That you confessed to him… There’s been a weird rumor going around since yesterday…” (Miyazaki)

It must be a malicious rumor.

If she denies it quickly, this atmosphere should all be dispelled.

As Miyazaki-san asked, seemingly praying for that–

“Eh? Ah, yeah. It’s true, though,” (Hikaru)

Asahi-san answered nonchalantly, without any pretense.

With the rumor confirmed as fact, a loud murmur erupts within the room.

Meanwhile, Asahi-san, supposedly at the epicenter of the explosion, remains perfectly calm.

She shows not a shred of hostility towards the classmates’ reactions, which could be taken as insensitive.

I can tell she truly believes there’s absolutely nothing shameful about her own feelings.

“Wh-Why? Isn’t that… weird?” (Miyazaki)
“Why…? Because I like Kageyama-kun, but is something wrong with that?” (Hikaru)
“Wrong…? Because, Hikaru, you and him don’t match at all…” (Miyazaki)
“Even if you say that… I like what I like…” (Hikaru)
“You should definitely reconsider…!” (Miyazaki)

Her tone is like someone desperately trying to save a friend who’s been deceived by a shady business or a suspicious new religion.

Though unspoken, everyone else around shows signs of agreement.

“Hmm… Reconsider…?” (Hikaru)

Meanwhile, Asahi-san, the one being told this, puts a finger to her lips and makes a thinking gesture.

The classmates also fall silent, as if waiting for something.

And after ten, twenty seconds of silence passed–

“After reconsidering… maybe I don’t like him…” (Hikaru)
“S-See, I knew it. Because there’s no way Hikaru would go for such a plain–” (Miyazaki)
“I love him~” (Hikaru)

She breaks into a wide grin and answers like that.

Just watching and listening makes me feel embarrassed.

Unable to bear it, I instinctively bury my face in my desk.

I can feel through the air that everyone is speechless.

I was made acutely aware that this is Asahi Hikaru – someone who does such things without hesitation, as if it’s nothing.

“Alright, alright, that’s enough meddling. Don’t stick your noses too deep into people’s personal affairs,” (Ayaka)

While everyone is rendered speechless by the invincible girl, the negotiator Hino-san claps her hands, breaking the silence.

“Hmm~… I don’t mind at all, though. It’s not like it’s something to hide,” (Hikaru)
“Even if you don’t mind, he might…” (Ayaka)

Hino-san says exasperatedly, glancing towards me.

Following her lead, Asahi-san also shifts her gaze towards me.

When our eyes meet, she beams a smile like a blooming flower.

She stands up and walks towards me, completely ignoring the reactions of those around her.

“Kageyama-kun, morning!” (Hikaru)
“M-Morning… And, congratulations again on winning the championship,” (Reiya)
“Thanks… Also, I’m sorry too. For suddenly saying something like that the other day,” (Hikaru)
“No, not at all… It’s an honor, rather… Or rather, like everyone’s saying, someone like me–” (Reiya)

As if to interrupt my words, both my cheeks are lightly pinched.

“Ah, anyo… nyani ka…?” (Reiya)
“I like you, so does it matter what anyone else thinks?” (Hikaru)

Being told those two words again verbally, while she looks slightly peeved, makes my face flush with heat.

“That’s, true, but… sorry…” (Reiya)

I pathetically obscure it with words of apology.

Of course, I naturally want to return the same words myself.

However, I don’t possess the confidence or courage to say it in this atmosphere.

“By the way… changing the subject, isn’t Mizumori-san’s shop closed today?” (Hikaru)
“Eh? Ah… yeah, it is, but…” (Reiya)
“Meaning, Kageyama-kun’s schedule is free after school today, right?” (Hikaru)
“Well, I guess so. I only have plans to go home and play games,” (Reiya)
“In that case. Can I come over to play today too?” (Hikaru)
“Of course… I don’t mind, but…” (Reiya)

Even while talking normally like this, I can’t help but be bothered by the surrounding eyes looking at me as if seeing something unbelievable.

However, she acts as if only she and I exist in this world.

Unlike me, she doesn’t doubt the correctness of her feelings one bit.

“Then, it’s decided! I’ll come straight over after school, so don’t forget!” (Hikaru)

Smiling happily, Asahi-san returns to her seat.

Perhaps because our distance has shrunk even further than before, her figure now feels so dazzling I can hardly look at it directly.