Chapter 43: Seven-colored sky

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Translator: Soafp

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[Momiji PoV]

Even now, it still resonates in my world.

It was an unexpected phrase.

I thought the paper had run out, and I wouldn’t be able to receive anything else.

[――’Thank you. I feel better now.’——]

That voice I heard with my left ear in the library.

I can’t forget it.

Even though no one is watching my expression now, I end up hiding it behind a book.

It’s embarrassing.

But I’m also happy.

“……Good luck.”

I quietly mutter this as he walks away in the distance.

I remember the past scenery.

That time… when I rejected him in this place.

---

“Um, can I talk to you for a moment?”

“I-I'm sorry, I…”

In the library.

In a library where we were almost alone.

Even though he had finally tried to talk to me, I rejected him.

“……”

“……”

But, I approached him.

I wanted to apologize.

I wanted to convey that my feelings were different from what my words had said.

In this art room where the lively duo wasn’t present, I thought I had a chance to be alone with him.

I sometimes felt a gaze from the front, but… it was fine.

――But.

My voice wouldn't come out.

It was as if it was sealed in the darkness.

“Eh…”

“……Please go ahead.”

Then, he spoke to me again.

He had that “paper” in hand.

It said, “Excuse me for sitting next to you.”

“――”

I was happy.

To be honest, I don't understand why he's doing this for me.

It must be a kind reason.

I felt like I was taking advantage of his kindness.

But, “I can return this.”

If it's not talking but writing—

“……”

However.

My hand was as if covered by ice.

There were overflowing words, but I didn't know which to choose.

Was it “Thank you,” or “I'm sorry for earlier,” or “Do you know the book from earlier?”

I didn't know.

Before I realized it, the bell had rung.

“……!”

“Today's weather is nice, isn't it?”

“Sorry, it was indoors. Actually, it was raining.”

“This notebook is used, so don't worry about it.”

“No, a notebook doesn't have ‘used’ in it. Actually, sorry, ‘used’ sounds kind of gross.”

“Today's weather is nice, isn't it?”

The pieces of the notebook, given every five minutes or so.

The pieces, the size of a fist cut into squares, felt very warm to me.

I put the paper I couldn't respond to into my pocket.

“Drawing is difficult but fun, isn't it?”

“This apple model is way too old, isn't it?”

“Discounted fruit is usually a letdown, right?”

“Sorry if I was a bother after all.”

“!”

It's not a bother, I shake my head, showing that with my gestures.

“I'm glad.”

“I'm starting to have fun ↑”

Another new piece of paper.

It was so pleasant that I put it into my pocket without erasing it.

“Well then, see you tomorrow.”

…Of course, this one too.

“!”

“Eh, wait…”

Afterwards, I tried to speak but it was impossible.

I ran with my hand pressed against my pocket.

---

And then, just a moment ago.

“……He came again today too.”

“His hair color is really amazing.”

“Surprisingly, his grades are pretty good.”

In the library.

His uniform was slightly damp.

His hair was disheveled, and the most noticeable thing was…

“……Haa.”

His dark, listless face.

I stood up involuntarily.

I couldn't bring myself to speak.

“……”

“!”

I walked to the seat where he was sitting.

Our eyes met.

“……”

His eyes were as if they were without light, like the dawn sky.

I could tell he had been through something painful.

So, I gave him the note for the first time:

“‘You look unwell. Are you okay?'”

“Excuse me.”

“Is the paper okay?”

“I have the one from before.”

“You kept it? I thought you threw it away.”

“I can't throw it away.”

“I see. But why are you always near me, Momiji?”

“I wanted to apologize.”

“But you haven't done anything to me.”

Small notes, piled with words.

The front was from me. The back was from Toumachi-kun.

I noticed that such a rule had naturally developed.

“I'm sorry for always following you around.”

“It doesn't bother me, but why were you close to me?”

Endless repetition of the same topic while calling it a consultation.

…I was too embarrassed to say it.

I wanted him to talk to me.

――But.

“……!”

Like the morning moon in the sky.

Slowly.

Even with this conversation that can barely be called a conversation.

I was delighted to see his expression brighten.

Even though I was too embarrassed to speak, I could make him feel better.

“!”

“!?”

By the time the bell rang, Toumachi-kun's expression had returned to normal.

He flinched.

It seemed more time had passed than I thought.

“Sorry, can I ask one last thing?”

“‘After all, doesn't my hair color make it hard to be around me?'”

He took the last note in his hand.

When he saw the content, his hand moved before he could think.

“‘It's not hard to be around you. It just stands out a bit.'”

“I think it's beautiful.”

It was sincere.

Unmistakably, something he had always thought.

“……I see.”

With that voice, Toumachi-kun stood up from his seat.

In that scene, there was no more “empty” paper.

He slowly approached.

Before I knew it, he was next to me――

“Thank you. I feel better now.”

In the library.

The voice I heard with my left ear.

As the colorful him walked away.

That voice still resonates in my world.