Vol. 1 Chapter 21 – Nagisa Unsent a Message

For the past week, we’d been practicing for the exam every day after school, but today, practice was off due to Nagisa’s work schedule.

Apparently, she wouldn’t be home until around 10 PM. Being an active actress sure is tough.

Like it was someone else’s problem… though it actually was someone else’s problem, I thought, savoring my first evening free after dinner in a long time. Normally, I’d read, but for some reason, I decided to watch a movie starring my father.

“He really is good…” (Yuuto)

Even before I started thinking seriously about acting for the exam, I thought I’d been paying close attention to his expressions and body language when watching, but through Nagisa’s recent coaching, I felt my perspective had changed again. Even if I could imitate his expressions and the quirks of his gaze, his way of presenting himself, conscious of the camera, honed over his long acting career, was something that couldn’t be copied overnight.

After concentrating fully on watching an entire movie, which was by no means short, I looked at the clock, which was about to strike midnight, and started getting ready for bed.

“Was that moment of silence there originally planned in the script…?” (Yuuto)

I muttered to myself as I reached the washroom.

“Was looking away right before the kiss scene intentional…?” (Yuuto)

Even after finishing my preparations and getting into bed, my mind, once it started racing, wouldn’t easily stop. If all the directorial choices I found odd weren’t in the script and were Dad’s ad-libs, I didn’t feel like I could ever reach that level, and besides, there was no way to confirm if they were ad-libs or not. Giving up on thinking, I entrusted my weight to the bed and closed my eyes.

“…Can’t sleep.” (Yuuto)

If one could let go of their train of thought that easily, fifty percent of the world’s poor sleepers would have their problems solved.

Giving up on falling asleep immediately, I fumbled for the lamp on my bedside table and switched it on.

Bathed in light that was neither too strong nor too weak, I opened the exam script I’d left nearby, sat up, and started reading. After reading for a while, the smartphone I’d left by my pillow vibrated softly.

{Asleep?}

Such a short message from Nagisa appeared on the screen.

{Was about to sleep, but couldn’t, so I was reading the script.}

{Hmph, not slacking off, impressive, impressive.}

{Today was supposed to be a day off, wasn’t it?}

{I’m the type who checks a student’s motivation.}

{I see.}

I returned the script to its original desk and collapsed onto the bed, phone in hand.

{Are you home already?}

{Of course I’m home.} {I’ve already finished getting ready for bed, so I thought I’d check up on you before I went to sleep.}

{That’s helpful.}

{Want to have a strategy meeting before bed? The day we can use the lesson room is coming up soon.}

The lesson room that Ichiyou High School provided for students in the Entertainment Course and others. It was normally used for dance lessons, but students could use it after school as long as they applied. It had taken quite a while to get a slot because it was heavily booked by other students taking the exam. I’d also confirmed Aida-san’s schedule, so that would be our first chance to practice together.

{A strategy meeting is fine, but want to make it a call?}

I was getting tired of swiping to type messages. Watching Akari exchange messages at an insane speed all the time really made me doubt if we were the same species.

{What? Are you trying to ask me out naturally? You want to do a sleep call?}

{What’s a sleep call?}

Replying to clear up the question born from the unfamiliar term, what came back was a sticker of a rabbit with an exasperated, deadpan look.

{It’s something couples do, staying on the call until they fall asleep.}

{Huh. So such a thing exists.}

I could only see the text, not her expression, so I didn’t know what she was thinking, but if she were actually in front of me, she’d probably be smirking and mocking me with something like, “You don’t even know that? You really are weak when it comes to romance~.”

{Unfortunately, I have no intention of doing such things with a man I’m not dating.}

I hadn’t intended to invite her for a “sleep call” or anything, but a sticker of a rabbit bowing deeply was sent along with a polite message.

{I wasn’t inviting you for a “sleep call” or whatever.} {I just thought it would be easier to communicate if I could hear your voice.}

{Eh} {Eh} {Eh} {You wanted to hear my voice?}

{Don’t put it weirdly. It’s for smoother communication.}

{Honestly} {You’re hopeless}

What made my phone vibrate after that wasn’t an incoming call… but a voice message. Apparently, she was really insistent on not making a phone call. I pressed the play button on the received message.

“…Hey there~” (Nagisa)

Such short words. But flowing from the phone near my face, it sounded somehow different from what I usually heard.

“…Can you hear me? Or rather, do you know how to listen?” (Nagisa)

Another short message arrived without much delay.

“…I can hear you.” (Yuuto)

For some reason, talking to my phone felt embarrassing, and a few seconds of silence preceded my message.

“…Happy to hear my voice? Where’s my thank you?” (Nagisa)

“Why should I… Thank you…” (Yuuto)

Perhaps because she was also about to sleep. Her voice felt somehow softer than usual, and without resisting, I found myself honestly expressing my gratitude.

“More importantly, Yuuto, you use too many commas and periods! I think it’s very Yuuto-like, but anyone else who sees it might misunderstand and think you’re angry, you know?” (Nagisa)

“Is there such a rule?” (Yuuto)

It was the first I’d heard of restrictions on using punctuation.

“Not really, but… normal high school students don’t type commas or periods… It can make the sentences stiff and make people misunderstand that you’re angry, leading to fights, you know?” (Nagisa)

“Is that so… I’ll be careful.” (Yuuto)

Apparently, if normal high school students sent messages following the rules of writing they learned in school, it could lead to fights.

“So, are we not having the strategy meeting?” (Yuuto)

“Strategy meeting, huh… Oh! Since we know Yuuto can act, want to add a kiss scene? To broaden the range of expression!” (Nagisa)

Unlike before, it was a voice message, so I could tell from her tone. She was definitely teasing me.

“You don’t normally kiss in an exam, do you?” (Yuuto)

“Well, I figured you’d say that. But apparently, other teams are including them quite a bit. If you’re in a drama, kiss scenes are pretty much basic stuff.” (Nagisa)

I imagined kissing Nagisa in front of Akari, Mom, and even Dad. …Impossible.

“…Please spare me.” (Yuuto)

“Ah~ You imagined it just now, didn’t you? And you got flustered, didn’t you~?” (Nagisa)

A smirking Nagisa’s smile floated into my mind.

“Let’s talk about something more serious…” (Yuuto)

In the end, this exchange of voice messages concluded when my consciousness drifted off midway…

---

• “Hey~” (Nagisa)

I send a voice message, just like before.

I wonder if he fell asleep. Yuuto.

• “Did you fall aslee~p?” (Nagisa)

I send another one, but it doesn’t get marked as read.

Giving up on waiting for a reply, I toss my phone onto the bedside table. Then I bury my face in my pillow and writhe.

“Argh! This is practically a sleep call! What am I doing!” (Nagisa)

I keep yelling things I can’t take back at my pillow.

…But his voice over the phone was kind of nice…

I pick up the phone I’d tossed aside, bring it to my ear, and tap the screen.

“…I can hear you.” (Yuuto’s Voice)

“~~~!!!” (Nagisa)

The far-too-different sense of closeness makes me writhe again.

“What am I doing…” (Nagisa)

This isn’t romantic feelings or anything. It’s just friendship. It’s just me, in the throes of adolescence, messing around with an opposite-sex friend I happened to get close to. But, even if I don’t have romantic feelings for Yuuto, I’m curious about how Yuuto feels about me. …In the sense that I’m curious if he properly thinks of me as a friend.

Making pointless excuses in my mind, I somehow press the voice message record button.

“…Hey? …What do you think of me…?” (Nagisa)

The true feelings that slipped from my lips ride the airwaves.

Even after waiting several minutes, it doesn’t get marked as read.

“…Time to sleep.” (Nagisa)