Chapter 130: The magic is gone

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Translator: Soafp

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“You’re so cute, Hatsune.”

The magic of the dance is incredible.

It lets me say things I would usually hesitate to say without a second thought.

I've always thought this. I've always kept it inside, thinking it would stay there forever.

But strangely, I don’t feel embarrassed at all.

“Ugh…!”

She lowers her head and tries to shake my hand off with a wave of her arm.

It's so childlike. This is not the usual Hatsune. It’s a rare moment.

“Haha.”

“Don’t laugh!”

She’s completely different from how she was before the dance, when she seemed so down. As she swings her arm again and again, I don't let go of her hand.

The hand that used to dribble so powerfully on the basketball court now feels so weak.

“You’re cute.”

“Ah—!!”

I can't stop.

The words I’ve been holding back for so long keep spilling out, not wanting to miss their chance.

She's no longer trying to shake her arm free, just keeping her head down, gripping my hand tightly.

“Hatsune-san?”

“…”

When I call her name, she lowers her head even more.

She's always been like this—hiding her face at every opportunity.

“—’Don't come near me!’—”

Like that time, before our test, when I confessed my true feelings to her.

“—’Thank you… for today’—”

Or the time I pulled her away from the OG.

“—’…’—”

Or when I saw her from afar, after that romantic movie.

And as for me…

“—’Those dark circles… you were really worried, weren’t you?’—”

That day, after the test, she saw my hidden face. She saw all of it—my crying face.

All of it. Every single emotion I felt—joy, anger, sadness—none of it was hidden from her.

“…”

So, I think I have the right to see hers too.

“—’No, don't!’—”

It's after 4 p.m. today.

In the nurse’s office, her face was hidden from me.

I wanted to know the answer—the expression she's hiding from me.

“Look at me.”

The magic of the dance is still at work.

And riding that wave, I lean in.

I tilt my head down and peer into her face that she’s hiding.

“D-don't look…!”

In that instant, I see it.

Her cheeks are redder than I've ever seen.

Her eyes glisten as if they're about to cry.

And yet, her lips curve into a faint smile, defying the sadness in her eyes.

“Adorable” or “charming”—none of those words are enough.

Her expression is beyond words.

“—”

It feels like the dam holding back my reason just broke.

“W-what?”

I let go of her hand and place mine on her shoulder.

Now we're just inches apart.

I want to see more.

I want to be closer.

I can’t stop.

I don't want to stop.

More.

More and more—

*Brrrring!!!*

“!!?”

It was as if we had been jolted out of a dream.

“Aaaaaah, I'm so sorry, I'm so sorry!!” (She quickly pulls away)

My pocket. My phone was vibrating.

The loud, obnoxious ringtone instantly shattered the magic that had enveloped us.

“Y-your phone… it's ringing.”

“R-right!” (I frantically pull my phone out, only to drop it on the ground)

Wait, what the hell was I just doing? And more importantly, what was I saying!?

Even if I got caught up in the moment, that was way too much.

She's a close friend. What on earth was I thinking…?

“Your phone…”

*Dash!*

I hurriedly pick up my phone from the ground.

But, honestly, I'm grateful for this call. I need to answer it right away.

“Hello, this is Hajime Toumachi speaking!” (I answer too quickly)

“Ah, finally! You answered! How have you been?”

That voice—it's one I've been familiar with since I was a kid.

But the last time we spoke was over two months ago.

…It's Hana Toumachi. My mom.

“You sound out of breath.”

“(Flustered)”

“Oh!”

“Huh?”

“Are you practicing dancing?”

“What?”

“The sports festival is coming up soon, right? You always practice alone—”

Well, technically, today wasn’t practice—it was more like the real thing.

And also, I wasn’t alone.

“Um… if you don't need anything, I'm going to hang up now…”

“What? Why? We haven’t talked in forever.”

“Well, it's just… I'm with a friend right now…”

“Huh?”

Wait, did the call just drop?

I can't hear anything anymore.

“…”

And, now, Hatsune—who’s been standing nearby the whole time—is staring at me intently.

Should I just hang up?

Yeah, I'll call her back later. Sorry, Mom.

*Beep.*

There, call ended.

“I deeply, deeply apologize for the inconvenience!” (I begin an emergency apology session)

“Haha… Yep, Icchi is still Icchi.”

“Huh?”

“The Icchi from just now felt like a completely different person~”

“Yeah… maybe.”

“You were coming on so strong, I was honestly a little surprised.”

“That's… I'm really sorry!” (I bow apologetically)

“Haha.”

Despite being this awkward, introverted, rainbow-colored weirdo (aka me) who had touched her shoulder, and despite seeing the face she had hidden…

I was sure she'd punch me (and honestly, I deserved it).

But instead, she looked almost… happy.

She was smiling kindly right in front of me.

“But… you know, you really shouldn't say things like that to just anyone~”

“I wouldn't.”

“!?”

“Do you think I would?”

Things like “charming” or “cute”—there's no way a guy like me, who's terrible with girls, could say those things lightly.

“That's… true, huh?”

“Yeah. I'm glad if it seemed that way, though.”

“It didn't! Or rather, I couldn't even imagine it!”

“Haha, right? (I sigh)”

That magic we had was broken by the interruption (even if it was just a phone call).

Like a switch being flipped, I now feel embarrassed about what I had just been doing.

“So, then… why did you say it to me?”

“…”

“Tell me~”

I instinctively averted my gaze from her eyes as she leaned in closer.

…Ah, this is why I'm such a mess.

“Because you're ‘special,' Hatsune.”

“…Huh?”

“A special… friend. I just felt like I had to say it.”

“I see.”

It was true that I relied on that magical moment, but… to cheer her up, I knew I had to say it that way.

Keeping it hidden away in my heart out of embarrassment would never have reached her.

“If it weren't for you, Hatsune-san, I might have ended up getting into trouble with the police.”

“Haha! That takes me back!”

“Yeah. It’s a good memory now, I guess?”

“We’ve been through a lot, haven't we?”

“…Yeah.”

She was my first friend in high school.

She helped me countless times, stayed by my side even though I'm a weirdo, and kept laughing with me. If she hadn't been there, I might still be all alone.

There's no way someone so important could be anything but special.

I want to help her. I want her to smile.

It's only natural to feel that way, right?

Though… I might've gotten a bit carried away earlier. Please, let's just forget about that!

“Then… Icchi, you're my ‘best friend'!”

“What?”

“What? Do you not like that?”

“N-no, I just didn't understand the meaning of it for a second…”

“Haha, what's that supposed to mean?”

“Haha.”

We laughed together.

The dance floor from a few moments ago felt like a distant memory now. Everything was back to our usual spot, back to our normal everyday lives.

“Looking forward to being best friends, Icchi!”

With that sunflower-like smile, everything felt like it had returned to normal—

Brrrring!!!

“!!?”

And then, the phone rang again.

Looking at the name on the screen, it was—

Nina. It was from a different contact this time.

Without a doubt, it was my little sister calling me.