Chapter 111: Immediate answer

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Translator: Soafp

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The weekend flew by, and now it's Monday.

I earned around 18,000 yen from my part-time job. While my wallet feels pretty full, my mental state is a different story.

Yesterday was especially rough. First, I saw Hatsune-san with the basketball club at the movies, and then, on my way home, I caught a glimpse of Momiji-san.

At the bookstore, there they were—Momiji-san and another girl—quietly browsing through books together. They seemed to be getting along well. Through the glass, I could see Momiji-san's face shining more brightly than usual.

I shouldn’t have gone out. I should have stayed home like the introvert I am and just focused on studying.

…Well, at least I discovered a new dance game and got to review a romance movie, so it wasn't a total waste.

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[Anonymous Movie Review Blog]

“Did Anonymous fall in love?”

“Your review of Mars VS Shark Planet: Apocalypse of Fire and Sea was so helpful! Just as you said, it was hilariously bad and I loved it!!!”

“Suddenly reviewing a normal movie? Change of heart?”

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People on my movie review blog seem worried about me (but in a good way). I guess it's nice to check out normal movies every now and then… broadening my horizons will help me become an even better movie critic (high-minded thinking here).

Haa…

And now it's Monday. I'd love to say I'm off to school like usual, but today I'm running a bit late. I got too into messing around on the monkey bars before school and ended up landing badly, covering myself in mud (the worst).

After some half-hearted dancing to shake it off, most of the dirt came off. Though, I probably could've just brushed it off normally.

It's pretty obvious, huh? My mood is easy to read (I'm a simple guy).

“Unlucky… well, it's my own fault…”

To make matters worse, as soon as I got home to change clothes, it started raining. I can’t tell if my luck is good or bad!

“…Phew.”

Still, since becoming a second-year, I haven't been late or absent even once (cue smug face), and I managed to be in my seat 20 minutes before homeroom starts.

Neither of the two people who sit next to me have arrived yet. Neither Kisaragi-san nor Hatsune-san. For that matter, neither has Momiji-san.

I guess I'll review today’s lesson plans in the meantime. Oh, and I’ll set up my earphones with the track for the creative dance routine too. It might lower my study quality a bit, but I need to get used to the song as much as possible.

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“Huh?”

I ended up getting more focused than I thought.

What I mean by “too focused” is that, usually in the mornings, I chat with the girls. But now, looking at the clock, there's only three minutes left until homeroom starts.

“—And so,☆”

“Yumesaki-san—”

I looked over to the hallway near the classroom and saw Yumesaki-san and Hiiragi-san, chatting with two girls I didn't recognize.

That's unusual. Normally, they'd come straight to me to strike up a conversation (an encounter, if you will). Yeah, sorry about that—

“…”

Normally, they'd always seem to appear right on cue whenever I just thought of them.

But now, everything was quiet.

Weird. Or maybe, things have just been weird until now, and this is what normal actually looks like.

That's what I decided to tell myself.

But still. I gathered a bit of courage when they came back to their desks.

“G-Good morning, Yumesaki-san.”

“…Oh.”

“Alright, let's start homeroom!”

Before the conversation could get awkward, the teacher walked in and saved me by starting class.

I really am such an introvert.

…But she responded to me. It's such a small thing, but it made me happy.

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“Alright, let’s get right into some serious dance practice today!”

And so, during the fourth period, it turned out that Hiiragi-san, who usually would jump in out of nowhere, didn’t show up at all.

Naturally, neither did Yumesaki-san.

But I could feel their gazes from time to time.

From the hallway, I could see the two of them watching, and from my right diagonal, Hatsune-san was looking my way.

…Today, I think I'll muster up some courage and invite her on the way home. I've actually been reading a manga she recommended while stepping through the dance moves.

What a fool I am for getting drunk on that thought.

――“What do we do?” “Um, if we're going to imitate you, senpai…” “Let's do the Thousand-Hand Kannon!”――

We have to present our creative dance in gym class on Friday, so there are only two more times to practice, including today.

Everyone is taking it pretty seriously. The students who were joking around at first are now almost all focused.

No need to mention the dance club.

On the other hand, there's me.

I've already got my routine down.

In fact, I've made about three variations since then. Thanks to dance games and dance manuals, I've got plenty of ideas.

So, all that's left is to practice tirelessly.

But with everyone else still experimenting and figuring things out, dancing away on my own feels a bit out of place. I already stick out with my rainbow-colored hair.

A lot of people in the dance club are still thinking about their routines too. Dancing gracefully among them while they're still figuring things out… it's tough on my mental state.

“…”

However, if I just stand still, I'll stick out even more.

In that case, let's break it down into scenes and practice each one separately.

“Ah—”

Step, step.

Forward and back, forward and back (thanks, brain trainer).

Leg lift, spin.

Handstand, split—let’s get my posture right.

“Wow! That's amazing, Toumachi-kun, are you almost done?”

“Ah (freezing on the floor).”

Caught by the teacher with my unfortunate pose—my legs spread apart like that. I got too carried away.

“What incredible movement!”

“Ah, well… I'm not sure if this will fit the music, so I might not do it (speaking way too fast).”

“Really? You're thinking that much about it!?”

“Haha (embarrassed). Well, I have about three variations…”

“Three variations!?”

“Ah, I shouldn't have mentioned it.”

The teacher's voice is way too loud.

Please, have mercy on me (going to the ground in a deep bow).

“Looks like the dance club is falling behind!”

“W-What?”

――“…”“I guess…”“…”――

At that moment, there's no doubt I made an enemy of the dance club.

Well, maybe I already was. So, whatever (?).

“That's impressive, Toumachi, right?”

“!? Ah, uh, thanks…”

And among them—a guy who's probably from another class stepped closer and said:

“—Hey, why don't you show us what you've got?”

“That's impossible (immediate response).”