Chapter 122: Rio Hiiragi knows.

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Translator: Soafp

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Rio Hiiragi knows.

By now, almost no one in the second year doesn't know him.

With his rainbow-colored hair, he speaks on equal terms with the most beautiful girl in the grade.

He gets along well with the ace of the basketball team, and even seems friendly with the quiet members of the student council library committee.

He has the top grades in the grade and is surrounded by a mysterious “rumor” about him.

Moreover, the school's attitude toward him is so “good” that no one can really delve deeper.

He has zero problematic behavior. In fact, he's a model student.

Yet, he has rainbow-colored hair.

He troubles the student council's discipline committee, and conflicts over him frequently arise in the staff room.

The topics of discussion include “hair color,” “classroom behavior,” “suspicious actions,” “academic performance,” “strange friendships,” and “mysterious private life.”

There's no end to the topics to discuss.

He's a man full of intrigue.

(And now, we can add his dance to the list.)

The gymnasium is currently enveloped in a peculiar atmosphere.

[——♪——]

He dances to the flowing music.

It felt as though nothing else existed, as everyone held their breath, watching the performance before them.

(Ichigo is even crying…)

Seeing Yumesaki in tears—an unprecedented sight—made Hiiragi smile.

She couldn't help but wonder if it was possible for someone to love the song she gave him this much and to dance it so perfectly.

Even Hiiragi had rarely seen that expression on her face.

[♪——]

He danced as if savoring the moment, genuinely enjoying himself.

For the first time, he made a loud sound—kicking the ground.

It felt like an aura opposite to his image, as if he was saying, “Shut up and look at me!”

“!!”

At that moment, he overflowed with energy.

He struck a pose while upside down, freezing in place.

(S-Spectacular…)

Even Hiiragi felt goosebumps.

[——――――]

The perfect timing, the perfect stillness.

It felt as if time had stopped.

“Ha, ha…—”

On the stage.

The music had stopped, and only his breaths were audible to the students.

Even though he was so far away.

The sound resonated as if he were right there—this silence made it clear just how quiet it was.

“…” “…” “…”

Even the teachers couldn't find their voices.

It was unclear how much he had practiced.

Was it his talent? His effort? Or both?

“…That's… all…”

On the now-silent stage, he attempted to descend while suppressing his labored breathing.

She completely overlooked the presence of a female student who had involuntarily stood up.

She also missed Yumesaki, who was sobbing next to her.

The atmosphere began to shift as if the silence would soon be broken, as if the world were about to change.

——“A-Amazing!!” “This is crazy!” “What just happened?!”——

And now.

“Eh?”

In the midst of the rising excitement in the venue, he could only stand there in shock.

(He really flipped things around…)

The “conflict” surrounding him.

There may be enemies, but that conflict only exists because there are allies.

Of course, his friends.

Not all the boys hated him.

The students present knew about his desperate efforts to study in the library. They recognized that his top ranking was achieved through that hard work.

There were certainly some students who questioned the unfounded rumors.

Not just among the basketball team members other than Hatsune, but also within the student council.

Most of the students wanted to cause a commotion, but surely they were no longer “enemies.”

(I didn't have to do anything!)

The suspicious rumors spread.

A habitual womanizer who frequented clubs.

Those unfounded rumors, which students had half-heartedly believed for fun, were more than enough to “turn the tide” for the students here.

(It's really interesting.)

Rio Hiiragi understood.

The environment surrounding him.

…However.

(What should I say to Toumachi after this…? Huh?)

In the midst of the cheering crowd.

For the first time, she found herself in doubt.

She realized the oddity a moment too late.

It was rare for her to feel lost for words in conversation.

(…Something feels off.)

Rio Hiiragi could not grasp.

The feelings changing within her for him.

And yet again, the current state of her heart.

“Toumachi…?”

Rio Hiiragi could not know.

That the cheers were more unexpected for him than she could imagine.

That he had forgotten to breathe in the concentration of his final pose.

The mental stress and lack of sleep caused by the rumors leading up to this moment.

He hadn't slept a wink since 3 AM that morning, continuing to worry beneath his blanket.

And also, the rising temperature in the gymnasium in mid-June.

“——Toumachi!!”

Considering all of this.

It was completely unexpected for her that he would collapse on stage just now.