Vol. 1 Chapter 13 – You Like Them, Don’t You?

The written exams at Ichiyou High School are held over five days. Two to three subjects per day. Thanks to this, during exam week, students from other courses can go home earlier than usual.

Apparently, students use this extra time to study on campus or have study sessions with friends at cafes. However, it seemed my sole study group member, Souma, had plans to study with different friends today. He invited me to come along if I wanted, but I politely declined. If I were surrounded by people I was meeting for the first time, I’d probably clam up and make the atmosphere awkward.

The test ended, and I walked through the school building during a time when classes would normally be in session. Many of the students who had taken the test seemed to still be in their classrooms, so there were very few students walking around the school.

I walked through the quiet school building and reached the entrance hall with the shoe lockers without any particular incident. There, in front of the bulletin board where the crowd had gathered this morning, I saw a familiar face.

It was the student who sat in front of me, Aida Yume-san. Well, it wasn’t like we were on terms where I could just strike up a conversation upon seeing her face, so I tried to head home without paying her much mind.

“…Aoi-kun… was it? Did you see this poster?” (Yume)

Surprised at being spoken to so suddenly, I turned around. Aida-san was looking at me while pointing at the poster on the bulletin board announcing Hokujou Yuuya’s visit.

“I hadn’t seen it myself… but Yamada told me about it, so I knew.” (Yuuto)

“I see… I’m sorry. I startled you, didn’t I? You’re making such a dumbfounded face, like a pigeon struck by a peashooter.” (Yume)

I didn’t think it was that obvious on my face… More importantly, is casually insulting people a trend among high school girls these days? Akari and Nagisa also throw in casual insults sometimes.

“I just wasn’t expecting you to talk to me, that’s all. It’s nothing to apologize for.” (Yuuto)

“It’s true that the usual me wouldn’t have spoken to you. I apologize. You can go home now.” (Yume)

Although her words said that, the expression I could see was practically screaming for me to ask, “Why did you talk to me?” That being said, it was just my subjective opinion, so there was a chance I was wrong. Therefore, I decided to take Aida-san at her word and just go home. See you, Aida-san. See you tomorrow.

With those words in my mind, I started to change my shoes.

“…Why aren’t you asking? ‘Why did you talk to me today?'” (Yume)

Seriously? This girl just asked me directly.

“Well, I thought it would be weird to pry since we’ve never really talked before…” (Yuuto)

“Never talked? We have. Three minutes before the short homeroom on the day after the entrance ceremony. You, Yamada-kun, and I had a conversation, if I recall correctly.” (Yume)

“…Was that really a conversation?” (Yuuto)

I felt like it was more just me getting a word or two of caution…

“It was a conversation. A conversation is when two or more people gather and exchange words. Based on that definition, that was a conversation.” (Yume)

“Well… I guess it was a conversation, then.” (Yuuto)

From this exchange, I felt like I understood what kind of person Aida-san was.

“Oh, and the reason I talked to you was simply because I was excited.” (Yume)

“Excited?” (Yuuto)

“I’m a fan of Hokujou Yuuya.” (Yume)

As she said this, she somehow snorted proudly and put on a boastful expression.

“Ah… So that’s why you were staring so intently at the poster.” (Yuuto)

“Well, yeah.” (Yume)

“But that’s surprising… It’s just my impression, but I thought you weren’t interested in actors like that.” (Yuuto)

“From my own perspective, I don’t particularly think that’s the case…” (Yume)

The face of a bookworm, usually visible from my seat. Long, neat black hair, a perfectly straight posture. A crisply worn uniform, with a skirt that properly reached below her knees. These elements combined to give off a slightly prim and proper air.

As I was thinking this, perhaps it was a mistake that my gaze flickered downwards for a moment.

“Could you not look at my thighs?” (Yume)

I’d been mistaken for some kind of outrageous pervert.

“I wasn’t looking, though…” (Yuuto)

“Don’t lie. You like them, don’t you? Girls’ thighs.” (Yume)

I did recall Aida-san being there when Souma and I had a conversation like that. I recalled it, but…

“I’m not that desperate, come on.” (Yuuto)

“I wonder about that.” (Yume)

She hugged herself, taking a defensive posture. Please stop. You’re attracting the gazes of the increasing number of people around.

“I’m kidding. You seem pretty used to girls, so maybe you’re right, you might not be that desperate.” (Yume)

Although she dropped her defensive posture, another misunderstanding had surfaced.

“I’m not used to girls at all, though…?” (Yuuto)

“Oh, really? You’re often with people from the Entertainment Course, and weren’t you with Minase-san this morning too?” (Yume)

“I was… but she’s also just one of my few friends. I’m definitely not used to girls.” (Yuuto)

“Oh? Is that so. I apologize.” (Yume)

“Well, it’s fine. Anyway, I’m heading home now.” (Yuuto)

There was another test tomorrow. If I had time to concentrate at home, the longer, the better. Leaving those words behind, this time I really did change my shoes and started walking.

“Wait a moment.” (Yume)

“…What is it?” (Yuuto)

Apparently, Aida-san, who still had some business with me, closed the distance, smartphone in hand.

“Let’s exchange contact info. If we’ve talked this much, we’re friends now, right?” (Yume)

Having no particular reason to refuse, I scanned the QR code Aida-san presented, a question forming in my mind: was this school populated only by peculiar people?

At first, I thought she was the diligent, study-obsessed type. But I was wrong. Talking to her today, I understood. She was an eccentric.

After we exchanged contacts, she scurried off somewhere, a person truly reminiscent of Souma, like a gust of wind.

Left alone in the entrance hall, I dropped my gaze to my phone screen.

The first contact information I’d gotten since entering high school, just by chance.

Her profile icon was my own father.

“…This feels… kinda wrong…” (Yuuto)

Unconsciously, such words had spilled from my lips.