Chapter 40: Rainbow Friends
Translator: Soafp
TL: Unfortunately, it did not make top 30 but it did drop to 41. So, hopefully next week.
[Momo Hatsune PoV]
“Momo Hatsune”… I pulled out the chair with my name written on it and took my seat.
Today, I was looking forward to going to school more than usual.
Because I could talk to my new friend—Icchi.
I have club activities, so if I have time before the school start…
…But.
“Feel free to talk about anything☆”
“Yes?”
“It’s not yes, you little!”
“Ah.”
“Ha, hahaha! Toumachi, you're so funny!”
Morning.
He came in with a combination that I would never see on a regular basis.
“Rio Hiiragi” and “Ichigo Yumesaki”.
Both of them are famous not only in this class but throughout the grade.
I heard from a senior in the basketball club that Hiiragi has a wide range of friendships.
Of course, including the student council, seniors in the third grade, and alumni.
Even outside school—anyway, it’s dangerous to make her an enemy.
And Yumesaki is… anyway scary.
It's more cool than beautiful and cute.
Always quiet and giving an overwhelming pressure to those around her.
And—those two are very close.
They’ve been together since freshman year.
The reason their seats are close is because they’ve persuaded the teacher to do so—there’s even a rumor about that.
“… I can’t talk to them…”
I’m not good at dealing with those two.
And jumping in with them is more impossible!
… I want to talk to them myself, but why is Icchi so close to those two…?
There wasn’t any sign of interest last week.
“…Good morning, Momo. Are you okay?”
“! Good morning. Yeah, I’m fine. Thank you.”
When I thought that Ayanon appeared.
I was healed by that angel.
Yes, if I’m not in class 2 and 3, I must…
“Do you think he’s around?”
“He’s not here! He’s always studying alone, and he didn’t seem like someone who would hang out with others.”
“I feel like my heart’s breaking.”
“Gah, the opposite, fufu…”
….
Two people didn’t leave Icchi.
Two, three.
A happy voice comes out, and…
“…Hey, Momo. Are you really okay?”
“Y, yeah…”
I’m making friends, but there are still many things to talk about.
I want to hand the DVD in the bag over.
He was taken over by those two.
“A girlfriend, girlfriend… what even is a girlfriend…?”
“Hahahaha! Toumachi's broken!”
“Pfft, haha…”
-Ding dong clang–
A pleasant voice and the sound of a bell.
My mind was mixed with various emotions.
But, next.
If it’s lunch break…surely, in the courtyard.
It was like that in front of me.
Fourth period.
I’m getting sleepy in math, which I’m not good at.
With suppressing sleepiness – near the end of class.
Oh, sleepy.
Soon, soon…
–Ding dong clang–
“So far today.”
With that voice, he collapsed.
And…
“…Ah, I-Icchi–“
When I remembered and voiced it.
“Ah, not here…?”
Even though I looked at his seat.
Even though I looked around the classroom.
His figure has disappeared everywhere.
“……Ugh.”
“?? Momo, are you feeling off after all?”
“……It’s nothing.”
“If it’s nothing, why do you look like that?”
“……Ugh.”
“Well… there’s no helping it then.”
During lunch break,
leaning my head on Ayanon’s thigh on the bench in the courtyard.
Ah, happiness. Is this what they call ‘being babied’?
…But in the end, he didn’t come.
I knew it.
With this flow, he definitely wouldn’t come.
“By the way, today is art class, right?”
“……!”
“Oh? Were you looking forward to it that much?”
“Uh, yeah.”
That’s right.
For us, the sixth period elective is art.
I’m pretty sure it’s the same for Icchi.
And—those two gal friends are in music.
…I can do this.
This time, I can talk to Icchi.
And finally, the DVD in my bag, too…!
…With those thoughts, I greeted the sixth period.
This time—
“Um…”
“!”
“Eh…”
“……Go ahead.”
“……!”
Icchi arrived just in time.
And another girl sat next to him.
…If I remember correctly, it’s Momiji-san.
She’s a library committee member and always seems to be reading a book.
She also—like Icchi—gave off an aura that was hard to approach.
And yet.
Now, Icchi and Momiji are sitting together, surrounded by an unusual atmosphere.
Not just silence, but something like passing notes.
Each time Momiji passes a note, Momiji blushes and eagerly gazes at it.
—There’s no way I can intrude on that!
“……Ugh…”
“Momo…?”
Enough.
Enough already.
Even if I’m not around, Icchi has plenty of good friends.
So much that I don’t even have a chance to talk to him— he has friends.
…I feel like I’m starting to dislike myself.
Strange emotions bubble up in my chest.
“Goodbye, Ayanon.”
“Yeah. Are you really okay?”
“……Yeah.”
…After art class.
After homeroom.
Parting ways with Ayanon in the classroom.
With a unpleasant feeling in my heart—
I headed to club activities to change.
And then.
Just like that—
“……Ah.”
“Ah.”
Unexpectedly.
I met him by chance, the one I wanted to talk to so badly.
…Ah, I have to talk to him.
Or rather, I have to give it to him.
What should I do, what should I—?
“! What, what is it? I’m in a hurry.”
As I thought that, my voice came out on its own.
Surprisingly low.
…Huh?
Why am I saying such awful things?
“Ah—no, sorry. It’s nothing, sorry…”
By the time I regained my composure, it was already too late.
He had disappeared from right in front of me.
…Why.
Such a cold voice.
I don’t understand— why?
“……!”
In my bag.
The DVD I failed to pass on.
It was stuck in my baggage as if drowning.
After club activities. After school.
When I went to Ayanon and Kanon-chan to heal,
— “Well then, see you tomorrow.”
“Yeah, thanks”—
I saw him leaving Ayanon’s house.
Icchi’s smile, looking happy.
Ayanon’s face, waving her hand, showing her trust in him.
I saw everything clearly.
“…In the end, Icchi was the same after all…!”
Muttering to myself, I ran away.
Black emotions bubbling up, engulfing my heart like an explosion.
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3 Comments
When I was looking at the reviews, a person said that the tall atleatics girl is going to appear with the upper hand at the start, but this just seems pittyful.
No!!!! 🥺
Thank you.