Chapter 41: Return Gift

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Translator: Soafp

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The next day.

I took the train to school as usual.

Last night, I got a bit too engrossed in making a bottle ship.

As a result, I'm a little sleep-deprived.

I need to make sure this doesn't affect my studies…

“Good morning, Tomato☆”

“Huh, me? (doubting my ears)”

“Tomato!”

“Eh… (confused)”

“Fufu…”

I barely made it to my seat just in time for morning homeroom.

Immediately, the voices of the two girls hit me.

It seems I've gone from being a herbivore to a vegetable (makes no sense)…

“Toumachi, you really come across as super herbivorous☆”

“Yeah, that's right (invincible)”

“Fuhahaha! You're admitting it too quickly!”

“Yesterday, I made green curry, using tofu instead of meat.”

“!? That's not what herbivorous means! My stomach hurts, fuhahaha!”

“Fu, fufufu…”

“Why are you laughing? The curry was good (possessed).”

“Pufu, who are you suddenly, Fuhahahahaha!”

“दिमाग खराब है क्या (Translation: Are you out of your mind?)”

“Hey, are you okay?”

“Shh, calm down—! (deactivate) …Thanks. I'm okay.”

As I struggled to suppress the anger of the Indian inside me, who was offended by the mockery of last night's curry (a labor of love).

The bell rang—

“Ha, I'm dying… Who was that…! Fuahahaha!”

Eventually, the time came, and the demon returned to her seat.

Seeing her still laughing like a fool… she really has a low boiling point. No wonder talking to her doesn't feel bad.

But her voice is loud.

I'm aware that I'm definitely under the scrutiny of my classmates, especially the boys, since yesterday.

Yeah, I'll just look away for now (escaping reality).

“……”

And furthermore, to the right and slightly forward.

“—!”

I caught sight of Hatsune-san with a sharp gaze.

…Hmm? This doesn't feel right.

She clearly doesn't seem friendly—

“—Alright, let's start homeroom!”

…No good.

I have to focus on the classes until lunchtime.

---

The bell rang—

Before I knew it, the fourth period ended.

It always feels like the classes are shorter than the breaks.

With my refined dance steps (only two days of practice), I headed outside the classroom quickly.

Today, I brought lunch and self-study materials. I won't repeat the same mistakes.

I went straight to the courtyard. The wind and greenery enveloped me.

Ah—this sense of freedom (intruder alert).

Today, I can finally talk to my friends.

…But, how should I behave in times like this?

“Hmm…”

I sat on a bench and thought about it.

In such situations, it's best to be natural.

If I look around too much, I’ll seem suspicious—so I'll just open my reference book casually.

…

Ah, solving equations helps me calm down (terminal patient).

“…………”

Occasionally looking at the surroundings.

Checking the clock.

Confirming that time was passing.

…Huh?

Twenty minutes have already passed.

“…Did something happen?”

At this rate, I'll look like a suspicious person studying on a bench.

Oh, I was already like that.

“What to do…”

Another ten minutes.

If they don't show up by then—

“—Ah, ah… they're here.”

“Eh… Kisaragi-san?”

“Sorry. Today, Momo isn't here.”

“I see.”

“…I'm sorry for saying that yesterday.”

“It's okay. Did something happen?”

“N-nothing.”

“I see. Alright, I'll give up for today.”

“‘Nothing'—I'm not dumb enough to take those words at face value.

Something must have happened.

“…I'm sorry.”

Her voice was barely audible, her previously high spirits suddenly plummeting.

I don't know the reason.

But surely, Hatsune-san doesn't want to see me—

“—Ah, it's raining.”

“…If it's like this, it was bound to be impossible anyway. Don't worry about it.”

“But—”

“Well then.”

Small droplets began to hit my rainbow-colored hair.

I'm thankful for the rain that fell just at the right time.

It's cold, though.

I turned my back to Kisaragi-san and dashed into the school building.

I didn't want her to see my face right now.

---

“…I guess I'll go to the library.”

I'm not hungry anymore.

In fact, I didn't feel like eating.

Right now, I just wanted to escape into a story.

Anything to avoid reality—

“—‘He came again today',” “‘That hair color is amazing',” “‘Apparently his grades are pretty good'”—”

I walked toward the bookshelf, trying not to listen to the whispers.

The voices that usually wouldn't bother me now echoed strangely in my mind.

…Could it be that Hatsune-san doesn't want to see me because of this hair color?

But it's true, being with someone like this would stand out.

I hadn't realized such an obvious thing.

…

Could it really be that way?

“—‘I want to be friends with you!'—”

Then—she wouldn't say something like that.

Damn it!!

I don't understand anything anymore.

“…Haa.”

I grabbed a random book and sat in the shared seating area.

That spot, which was usually unoccupied, had become my regular place.

And—

“…”

“!”

Today, too, she sat in front of my seat.

Shiori Momiji. Opening a book and… occasionally glancing over at me.

…Why is Momiji-san, someone like me, sitting with me?

It doesn't seem like a coincidence anymore.

If it's intentional, then what's the reason?

“U…”

I couldn't help but stare at her.

Momiji-san made a small sound.

Then—

“…Huh.”

Embarrassed, she pulled out a small square piece of paper.

She wrote something on it, folded it, and slid it over to me.

[You look unwell. Are you okay?]

“!?”

It was the first time.

Receiving something like this from her.