Vol. 1 Chapter 33 – This Should Be Fine, Right?

After Nagisa left the room, red-faced, a period of silence descended upon the room for a while.

I had collapsed onto the bed and was staring at the ceiling, replaying the expression Nagisa had just made in my mind, so I wasn’t particularly bothered by the silence.

“…I should probably get going soon too.” (Akari)

It was Akari who broke the silence and spoke. She said those words and started to leave the room.

“Oh…” (Yuuto)

It was usual for her to come suddenly and leave suddenly, so I gave a light reply and saw her off without trying to stop her.

After she left the room, it seemed she happened to run into Mom, who had come out into the hallway, and I could hear them talking about something.

That also ended in about a minute, and Akari’s footsteps walked out of the house.

“…” (Yuuto)

I returned my consciousness, which had somehow been focused on listening, back into my head.

Judging by Nagisa’s reaction, there was no doubt that they had kissed, and that she was concerned about it.

“What should I do…?” (Yuuto)

Such words spilled from my mouth.

When I next meet Nagisa, should I bring up this topic, or should I act as if nothing happened?

As I was racking my brain, thinking about the best way to handle it, the door to my room opened.

“Yuuto? Tell me about your father already.” (Yuuto’s Mother)

“Ah…” (Yuuto)

Remembering I had said I would talk about Dad tonight, I pushed myself up from the bed.

“Oh, and was something wrong with Akari-chan? She seemed less energetic than usual…” (Yuuto’s Mother)

I thought for a moment about Mom’s words, spoken as I stood up and stretched, then shook my head.

“Isn’t it just your imagination? She was perfectly fine and energetic until just now.” (Yuuto)

“Hmm… Well, if you say so.” (Yuuto’s Mother)

Saying that, Mom walked ahead into the living room.

“…Ah.” (Yuuto)

I remembered I also had to tell Akari about Dad again. …Well, I guess that’ll have to wait for another time.

Deciding so in my heart, I left my room…

“…” (Yuuto)
“…” (Nagisa)
“…” (Akari)

The next day, Monday, it seemed Nagisa had the day off work, and we bumped into each other in front of the elevator, leading to the three of us going to school together.

…It was understandable that Nagisa and I found it hard to talk because of yesterday’s events, but why was my usually noisy childhood friend so quiet today of all days?

Walking down the quiet school path, I glanced at Akari, who was walking between Nagisa and me. Usually, she’d be rattling off topics without a moment’s hesitation, but judging by her expression, she seemed to be thinking about something.

Nagisa, perhaps also finding Akari’s behavior strange, kept glancing towards Akari, and her eyes met mine as I was also watching Akari.

Nagisa, looking flustered by our sudden eye contact, quickly looked away, but after sending a few more glances my way, it seemed her curiosity about Akari’s state outweighed her awkwardness.

She discreetly pointed at me, then her fingertip moved towards Akari. As if to say, “Talk to her.”

“Uh… Akari? You doing okay?” (Yuuto)

Unsure what the right thing to say was, a level-one sort of conversation was born. Nagisa’s exasperated expression was probably not just my imagination.

“Huh? I’m fine, but… why?” (Akari)

Did she not realize she was acting differently than usual? She wore an expression as if she had no idea what I was asking.

“I see… Well, if you’re fine, then that’s good.” (Yuuto)

When I finished that tutorial-like conversation, I received Nagisa’s sigh as an achievement reward. …You’re the one who made me talk to her.

“I just thought Akari seemed less energetic than usual! Me, and Yuuto too.” (Nagisa)

“Right?” Nagisa said, looking at me, and I nodded in return.

“Huh? I don’t think so, though? More importantly, aren’t you two the ones who are down?” (Akari)

She looked back and forth between my face and Nagisa’s, a teasing expression on her own.

Nagisa, who seemed to immediately understand Akari’s intention, blushed slightly.

“Honestly…! That was practically an accident! Yuuto, you forget about it too!” (Nagisa)

Perhaps having gotten a satisfactory reaction, Akari laughed and then cheerfully chimed in with Nagisa’s subsequent explanation: “Besides, that was on stage, so even if it happened, it doesn’t mean anything!”

“I saw the exam! From beginning to end.” (Yamada)

As I entered the classroom and sat down, Yamada Souma, who had appeared from somewhere, called out to me.

He had been looking at both me and Aida, but he smiled at me and repeated, “To the end.”

“…That was on stage. It doesn’t mean anything.” (Yuuto)

Guessing what Souma wanted to say from his demeanor, I tried to brush it off using Nagisa’s words from earlier.

“Other groups had kiss scenes too, but to go at it that intensely, is that what you’d expect from a current actress?” (Yamada)

“…Don’t tell too many other people.” (Yuuto)

I didn’t know where he had been watching from, but Souma, who said so with conviction, must have seen it clearly.

It would be troublesome if it spread too much and reached Nagisa’s ears, so I gave him a warning, and Souma chuckled softly, waving his hand in front of his face, saying, “I won’t, I won’t.”

“Well, even if I don’t say anything, it seems to be spreading quite a bit already. Considering who’s involved.” (Yamada)

As Souma said that, his gaze swept across the classroom, and I saw several students glancing our way.

“They’ll probably all forget about it soon if you just leave it alone for a while. Even more so once summer vacation starts.” (Yamada)

“Hang in there,” he said, placing a hand on my shoulder before returning to his seat.

“…Are you okay?” (Aida)

Aida, who knew that kiss wasn’t planned beforehand, looked at me from the seat in front with a worried expression.

“…Well, I’ll just have to survive until summer vacation.” (Yuuto)

Saying so, I hung the school bag I was holding on my desk and waited for class to begin.

After spending the time until lunch break aware of the surrounding gazes, I headed to the school cafeteria as usual, and there, in addition to Akari and Murai, was Nagisa.

I received my purchased meal at the counter and sat down at the four-person table where Akari and the others were talking, and Nagisa, sitting next to me, spoke.

“…How is it?” (Nagisa)

“Hard to get through.” (Yuuto)

When I replied to Nagisa’s question without a moment’s hesitation, Murai, sitting opposite, wore a worried expression.

“It seems like something pretty serious is going on… Last night, after the ‘Good Work’ party, a friend told me via message.” (Murai)

“After the curtain fell, the audience side was pretty worked up too. It wouldn’t be strange if it spread.” (Akari)

Akari added, washing down the food in her mouth with water.

“I’m used to the gazes, so it’s fine for me, but… a lot of people ask directly, and it’s, like, so… annoying.” (Nagisa)

She spilled out the words she had almost swallowed.

“Is it really that important whether we kissed during a performance or not?” (Nagisa)

I could certainly sympathize with Nagisa’s words as she let that slip. If you connect acting love with real love, my dad has had enough romances to be stabbed by Mom for each one.

“Well, isn’t the best way to deal with it just to keep quiet for a while?” (Murai)

Akari, munching on bread next to her, also nodded at Murai’s words.

“It’s annoying when people ask if we kissed… but I guess I have to put up with that too.” (Nagisa)

“Won’t people stop asking if you spread it so much that everyone knows?” (Yuuto)

When I said that, Nagisa looked at me with surprise.

“Huh? Is it okay? For everyone to know?” (Nagisa)

“It’s just a temporary solution, but… if Nagisa is okay with it…?” (Yuuto)

“I was being vague because I thought Yuuto would hate it… but I see… so it’s okay…” (Nagisa)

I had also asked Souma to keep quiet because I thought Nagisa would dislike it, but conversely, if she wanted to spread it, I felt like it would spread quickly if I asked Souma.

I’ll talk to him after lunch break. As I was thinking that and brought water to my lips, a male student approached.

“Is it true Minase-san kissed someone!?” (Male Student)

A student who looked like a first-year asked.

Since there were several male students sitting at a table behind him, smirking and watching us, was this some kind of punishment game? The ones who came up with it were one thing, but the one carrying it out also had considerable courage.

Fortunately, he didn’t seem to know me well, so his gaze wasn’t directed at me but focused on Nagisa. I’ll leave this to Nagisa, shrink down, and make my presence faint.

“Yeah. I did. In the play, with this person next to me.” (Nagisa)

Just as I had completely merged with the shadows, Nagisa shone a spotlight on me. …This is the worst.

While surprised that Nagisa admitted it so readily, I gave a light bow to the male students who were looking at me with envious gazes, and turned my back to escape their stares.

“Watch this?” (Nagisa)

As I was listening to Nagisa’s conversation, hoping she would end it quickly, I heard strange words.

Watch this? What on earth was she going to show them? Before my brain could spit out an answer, my body moved on its own, regardless of my will.

By the time I realized it was because Nagisa had pulled my tie, a soft sensation touched my right cheek.

“Got it? Tell your friends too.” (Nagisa)

Nagisa said, ending the conversation with the male student. She fanned her face with her hand, a satisfied smile on her face.

“…Huh?” (Akari)

It was Akari who voiced my feelings, as I was too shocked to speak.