Chapter 50: Glass Wall

Reading Settings

Translator: Soafp

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[Momo PoV]

“Hello.”

“Uh…yeah.”

“Hey—”

Flap flap flap.

In front of the station.

The rainbow colors reflect the fluorescent light, shining brightly.

When he removes the knit cap, the pigeons fly away in an instant.

…Actually, I had arrived at the station by 19:00.

The sight of him with the cap on and the flock of pigeons was quite a spectacle.

But now—it’s a topic I can't even bring up.

“…”

“Thanks for your hard work at club activities.”

“…Ah. Th-thank you.”

I can't manage to speak properly.

[――“W-what?”――]

[――“Just because…”――]

[――“…ugh”――]

Back then.

On that Saturday morning, when I first met him—he was always so flustered.

But now, it's the opposite.

“Hatsune-san, you're on the basketball team, right?”

“…Yes, that's right.”

“Do you still like basketball?”

“I started because I was tall and got invited….”

“Even so, it's impressive that you've kept it up for two years.”

“…Being tall as a girl only really benefits me in sports.”

—Why.

Why do I talk so disinterestedly?

So monotonously, making it sound so boring?

It's like a sulking child.

I want to talk, but…

“…”

I don't want to make you look troubled.

“…”

My heart and my actions are completely opposite.

Even so, I can't stop myself—

“Hatsune-san.”

“W-what?”

“I totally understand. I didn't particularly like studying either. It was just… the only thing I could do well.”

“!”

My walking pace slows down, just a little.

My body feels like it's finally becoming honest.

“The world is like that.”

“…Yeah.”

“I finally got to ask you about yourself.”

“Huh?”

“I've wanted to ask for a long time.”

Those words make me stop in my tracks.

I'm happy.

But—more than that, something exploded.

“I—I don't understand!”

“!? What—”

“I'm such a hassle, right? I've been looking bored all this time! I hardly talk!”

“Eh…”

“It's been strange. Even though I became friends with Icchi, I can't talk well, and I keep making nonsensical calls—”

“W-wait a minute!”

“Haa. Haa… ugh.”

…it's over.

Suddenly stopping and making a scene.

I'm so done with this.

Why does it have to be the worst possible situation now—

“I'm the same.”

“Huh…?”

“I said weird things impulsively yesterday. It's just how it is.”

“…That was…”

“All of it, it's just like that.”

He says it without hesitation.

I couldn't say I was happy.

“I actually heard from Kisaragi-san about you.”

“Eh…”

“Your hobbies are manga, anime, movies. You're not good with novels, and so on.”

“!”

“You have other interests, too.”

“…”

I'm so happy.

He says it without any shame.

I only knew someone like that, like Ayanon.

“I'm sorry for asking about—”

“—Icchi.”

“! What?”

So.

Just be honest already!

---

“If you want to know about me, ask me directly.”

“!”

“The thing is, I've been trying hard to read novels lately.”

“Oh, really?”

“Many anime adaptations are based on novels, so…”

“Right, I'm sorry.”

“!”

My steps come to a halt.

I don't want to hear “I'm sorry.”

Not in such a formal way.

More casually.

More—

“I want to talk with Icchi.”

“…Huh?”

“I want to talk more—more. I want to talk at school too.”

“Eh, ah…”

“After school too. On days off too, like this… so…”

I stop walking.

I turn to face him and open my mouth.

“I want to become closer with Icchi!”

That voice echoes off the asphalt.

Thursday, after club activities.

I finally managed to—be honest with myself—

---

[Toumachi PoV]

I was so happy.

Without missing a beat, I opened my mouth.

“—Of course, I feel the same way.”

At that moment.

Crack.

It felt like an invisible wall had been shattered.

“Icchi—!!”

“Whoa!?”

In an instant, I imagined a large dog.

And felt that soft sensation wrapping around my arm.

“I'm so happy! So happy!”

“W-wait—”

She immediately began shaking my arm up and down.

…Well, if she's happy, then that's good.

“Let's go home together!”

“I'm already home, though.”

“Oh, right!”

Where did the previous mood go…?

She's so energetic now.

“I actually love basketball too!”

“Eh?”

“Of course, that was the initial reason, but if it weren't fun, I would have quit already!”

“R-really?”

“Yeah!”

“Yeah…”

Her eyes are sparkling.

Is she really having that much fun?

“Let's play basketball together next time!”

“Eh?”

“I'll go easy on you!”

“Hmm, I'm not sure.”

“Eh, you don't want to lose?”

“…Well, I'm worried about whether I can go easy on a girl.”

“!”

Such a joke.

By the way, I'm not good at ball games in general (pathetic).

“You're saying that even though you're short.”

“I'm a ‘libero.'”

“That's for volleyball, though!”

“…Was it?”

“You're a poser! There's a poser here—!”

She laughs and teases me.

It's a bit comforting (strange).

“I'll lend you a recommended basketball manga next time… no.”

“What?”

“Let's read it together! I'll explain it while reading it to you!”

“That's an interesting idea.”

“It's about 50 volumes, though.”

“I'm more worried about Hatsune-san's throat than mine.”

“…”

“Huh, what's with the sudden silence?”

Then she goes silent.

“‘Hatsune-san' is kind of annoying.”

“You mean the way I address you?”

“Only Ayanon gets to call me ‘Momo'… I want something special for Icchi…”

“I will leave it to you.”

“Pending!”

“Eh…”

Thanks, pending (unexpected nickname).

In the end, we didn't decide on a name.

Well, I don't have a strong resistance to calling her just “Hatsune,” so it works out.

“…I don't want to go home.”

“Even so…”

Actually, we've been talking in front of her house for a while now.

I arrived about five minutes ago.

[――“Momo is unexpectedly lonely, isn't she? Surprising, right?”――]

Just like Kisaragi-san's words.

“…Right. Icchi has to study too.”

“That's right.”

“See you tomorrow. Um, I'm not good with the people next to Icchi… I'd be happy if you could come over here.”

She gives a wry smile with half-closed eyes.

It was surprising; I didn't know she had such feelings.

“Got it. I want to talk with Hatsune-san too.”

“Hehe… oh, that's right! Um, here!”

“A DVD?”

“I said I'd lend it to you, remember? Oh, and I want to add you as a friend on LINE too!”

“Right.”

In front of her house, she doesn't stop.

“…Also, I want to talk a little more.”

With a cheerful expression.

I'm happy about that too.

“Sure. I'll keep you company for as long as you want.”

Her voice fades into the spring-like air.