Vol. 1 Chapter 12 – I Can’t Quit Yet

It was the Saturday right before exams.

My classmates were probably all hunkered down, concentrating on their own studies. Of course, I wanted to do the same. But there was a reason I couldn’t.

The doorbell rang in the early afternoon, shattering my concentration as I was focused on test prep in my room, not thinking about much else. The one who’d pressed it was the girl standing before me now: Minase Nagisa.

Her first words upon opening the door were, “Anyone home? If not, let me in. Your room,” a line that would likely send high school boys nationwide into a frenzy. However, what she actually started talking about was the heavy topic of whether or not to quit school.

“Well, it’s not like you have a pressing reason to quit right this second, do you?” (Yuuto)

“Yeah… but I haven’t really been able to go to school much, the person I enrolled to find isn’t here, Akari and you are about the only friends I can be myself with, and I can talk to you two since our homes are close anyway…” (Nagisa)

My ears perked up automatically at the words “the person I enrolled to find.”

The incredibly talented peer, the same age as her, whom my father, Hokujou Yuuya, had told Nagisa would be enrolling at Ichiyou… I wasn’t sure if Nagisa had realized that Dad was coming to Ichiyou, but it didn’t seem like he’d specified that this person would be “in the Entertainment Course” either. What would she think if I told her about this? Joy at finding the person she was looking for? No, she’d gone against her other colleagues to choose a different path, only to find her target was an acting amateur in the Advanced Course. Disappointment would be the only possible outcome.

“Well, it looks like I won’t be able to make it to the exams either, so maybe it can’t be helped…” (Nagisa)

“Won’t the people looking forward to your acting be sad?” (Yuuto)

“They can just watch me on TV, I suppose.” (Nagisa)

She gazed at the scenery outside the window, her eyes holding a hint of resignation.

“…If you’re ever in trouble with anything, let me know. I can help out a little, at least.” (Yuuto)

When I said that, she looked slightly surprised, then immediately burst out laughing.

“What’s that? What can you do?” (Nagisa)

She inched closer, a mocking smile on her face, as if to provoke me. I’d meant it as a small atonement, since I couldn’t even tell her Hokujou Yuuya was coming, but I suddenly felt a wave of embarrassment. She was an active actress, and I was just an ordinary guy. We were on completely different playing fields, weren’t we? As I accepted Nagisa’s teasing, feeling my cheeks flush slightly, she pressed her face against my shoulder.

“Well… but… thanks.” (Nagisa)

I couldn’t see her face, so I had no idea if she was being sincere. Given her usual haughty personality, it was hard to imagine her offering genuine gratitude. But it didn’t matter. For now, I’d just listen to her words. I’d just believe her words.

After a while like that, she lifted her head.

“Alright then, if I’m ever really in trouble, I’ll come crying to you for help.” (Nagisa)

“Please don’t. I’m not confident I could refuse, no matter what it was.” (Yuuto)

“Oh? For someone with such a cool face, you’re weak to a woman’s tears, huh?” (Nagisa)

“That’s my mother’s upbringing for you.” (Yuuto)

“You can assume ninety percent of an actress’s tears are fake, you know.” (Nagisa)

“A man’s willing to be fooled for that remaining ten percent.” (Yuuto)

After our usual banter returned, Nagisa flopped onto my bed.

“Sorry for barging in. You were in the middle of studying for tests, right? Go ahead, I’ll be quiet.” (Nagisa)

I thought she was joking, but she really seemed to be settling in, idly fiddling with her phone. I tried to ignore her and face my desk, but it was completely different from when Akari was around. For some reason, she seemed to trust me, but was it really okay for a high school girl my age to be lounging on a guy’s bed?

There was no point saying anything, so I resigned myself to studying with about fifty percent of my usual concentration…

The following Monday, the first day of exams.

As I was waiting for Akari in front of the elevator, her door opened a crack, and she called out in her pajamas, “Go on ahead~!” (Akari)

This happened often back in middle school, so I didn’t think much of it and pressed the elevator call button. Just then, someone slapped my back forcefully.

“Mornin’!” (Nagisa)

“Nagisa? You’re able to come to school today?” (Yuuto)

“Yep. What about Akari?” (Nagisa)

“She said she overslept and will be late.” (Yuuto)

“I see… I wanted to go with her and make some memories, though.” (Nagisa)

“…Have you decided then? Already?” (Yuuto)

“…Well, yeah. There’s nothing left for me to learn in the Entertainment Course, and I’m kind of interested in what my friends are saying about correspondence schools.” (Nagisa)

“I see. My mom said you can come over anytime. So don’t start acting like a stranger, okay? You’re one of my few friends.” (Yuuto)

When I said that, she looked at me with satisfied eyes and chuckled.

“What’s that about? Alright, got it. I’ll respect you as one of my few ‘ordinary person’ friends.” (Nagisa)

“That’s much appreciated.” (Yuuto)

After that, our conversation returned to normal.

Her expression, which had seemed a little cloudy on Saturday, looked considerably brighter today.

We passed through the school gate and changed into our indoor shoes at the shoe lockers in the academic building’s entrance hall.

Normally, Akari, Murai-san, and Nagisa, whose classrooms were on the second floor, would smoothly pass through and we’d part ways here, but today was different.

There was a crowd of people in front of the bulletin board where posters about club recruitment and school events were usually displayed.

“What’s with this crowd?” (Nagisa)

“Beats me. Looks like something’s posted on the bulletin board…” (Yuuto)

“Well, it doesn’t concern me since I’m quitting soon anyway.” (Nagisa)

Just as she said that and started to turn towards her classroom, a familiar classmate squeezed in between us.

“Hey! Yuuto! Did you see it? That!” (Souma)

My classmate, Yamada Souma, was pointing towards the bulletin board, trying to explain the situation in a state of high excitement.

“No, I haven’t seen it yet.” (Yuuto)

Perhaps a little surprised by Souma’s high tension, Nagisa also stopped and looked at him.

“Well, get this! The judge for the Entertainment Course exams—it’s gonna be that Hokujou Yuuya!” (Souma)

Nagisa’s expression, visible behind Souma, froze.

“Oh, I see. Well, that’s good for you, huh?” (Yuuto)

Between knowing this information beforehand and hearing my father’s name from a friend’s mouth, I was a little flustered and gave a strange reply.

As we were talking, the frozen Nagisa started to move, pushed Souma aside, and forcefully placed both hands on my shoulders.

“Yuuto… I… I can’t quit yet.” (Nagisa)

The look on Nagisa’s face as she said that seemed more elated than I had ever seen it.