Chapter 42: Infinite loops are scary

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Translator: Soafp

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[You look unwell. Are you okay?]

“!?”

It was the first time.

Receiving something like this from her.

Although, it was my own fault for acting out yesterday in class.

“…”

I wrote on the back of the paper:

[Not okay.]

It was meant to be a small joke.

But as I wrote, it stopped being just a joke.

I think I wanted to vent to someone, even just a little.

So I slid it over to her.

“…!”

Seeing that, Momiji-san started to fluster.

It was like sparrows suddenly taking flight.

[If it's okay with me, I can listen to you.]

“!”

She immediately wrote it on a new piece of paper and slid it back.

When I opened it, that was the message.

…So there are people who say things like that.

I didn't know. And Momiji-san is definitely a girl.

[Then, could you come sit next to me?]

After all, the distance was too far.

I might make a mistake soon.

So I wrote that on the back and handed it to her.

…Now that I think about it, we're doing something quite unusual.

But—I was happy.

Who said anything about her being a devil? (←)

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“…”

“…”

Momiji-san sat next to me with a small, timid voice.

[Excuse me.]

[Is the paper okay?]

[I had something I received before…]

[You kept it? I thought you'd thrown it away.]

Oh, she's flustered.

Her cheeks are flushed, and she's nervously fidgeting, like a little bird.

Strangely enough, talking like this… or rather, exchanging notes like this, made me feel much better.

[I couldn't throw it away.]

[I see. But why are you always around me?]

Oh, she's flustered again.

A bit of my S side is waking up (current offense).

[Um, I wanted to apologize.]

[But I haven't done anything to you.]

[I'm sorry for always following you.]

“Eh…?”

So she's been close to me for that reason?

But I still don't understand the reason for following me—

[I don't mind. But why were you around me?]

[I wanted to apologize for following you.]

An infinite loop—scary, isn't it?

[Well, what was the reason you came near me in the first place?]

“…”

Oh… was I too pushy?

She pulled out a blank piece of paper again, looking flustered.

Honestly, it's kind of cute (I'm the worst).

I want to say it's fine, but I don't have any paper left to tear.

Without her reply, I can't communicate anything—

–Ding dong clang—

“!”

“!?”

She flinched as she was hesitating.

The pre-bell for the start of class, five minutes before.

[Sorry, but can I ask one last thing?]

With no time left, I wrote on the last paper in front of her.

There wasn't enough space, so I squeezed in one more line.

[After all, doesn't my hair color make it hard to be around me?]

I slid it over to her.

And the answer came back instantly.

[It's not hard to be around you. It just stands out a bit.]

Big letters.

And underneath that.

[I think it's beautiful.]

Even from those small letters, her feelings were conveyed.

There's no doubt she wasn't lying.

She said it from the bottom of her heart.

“…I see.”

“!”

I stood up and put the note in my chest pocket.

The paper, used on both sides, was no longer usable.

So.

I approached her seat and leaned down near her ear, which was covered by her hair.

This is the library.

“Silent conversations prohibited,” but for now, I broke that rule.

“Thank you. I feel better now.”

“……! Y-yes…”

I quietly said this and left the library.

I thought it would be wrong to leave without thanking her.

“—I am going”

Thanks to her, I had made up my mind.

Today, I would talk to Hatsune-san.