Chapter 52: A Changing World

Reading Settings

Translator: Soafp

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[Ayano Side]

“Haa, haa…!”

(Oh no, I'm late!)

Ayano Kisaragi.

Today, like every day, she failed to wake up with her alarm and entered the school gate just in time.

(Why does it always disappear on its own after I turn it off…!)

The reason is that she goes back to sleep after turning off the alarm.

She made it just because her younger sister woke her up.

Ding-dong-ding—

“Just barely made it…”

Somehow, she arrived at the classroom before the pre-bell. Now, all she had to do was get to the door and enter—

“――Thank you, Icchi!”

Recently, Ayano hadn't seen much of Momo's expression.

That expression was directed at Hajime Toumachi.

It all started when she called out to him while he was murmuring about his favorite curry right in front of her.

[――“Don't talk to suspicious-looking people like that! I've told you before!”――]

Momo, who had desperately tried to persuade her.

(……She looks so happy)

It's almost the same as the expression she used for Ayano and Kanon.

What happened in such a short time? Ayano doesn't know, but—

“――I like you!”

(Haha, looks like you really like Toumachi-kun)

She laughs.

Momo always says “I like you” to people she really likes.

Without regard to place, she immediately exclaims when her emotions rise.

[――“Kanon-chan is so cute— I like you!”――]

[――“Wow, Ayanon's lunch is really delicious… I like it so much!”――]

[――“I like you so much! (When the Kisaragi sisters gave her a birthday present)”――]

It's like a “I like you” bargain sale.

But it's truly only for a very limited number of people—just us two.

――“Was.”

(……Toumachi-kun. Momo has let her guard down to that extent, and Kanon also keeps saying she wants to see him……)

Along with the changes around him.

Little by little――something was starting to grow in Ayano too.

(He's really a mysterious person)

“Icchi, what's wrong? Oh, Ayanon! Good morning~”

“Good morning. The alarm didn't go off today.”

“That's because Ayanon turned it off~?”

Ayano, who is oblivious to the strange atmosphere in the classroom, takes her seat and starts chatting with Momo.

From a diagonal back position, someone watches them with sharp eyes.

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[Toumachi side]

“……Ugh”

“So amazing☆”

“……”

“Rio can't be that bold…”

“……It's obviously not that kind of thing, though.”

“Hmm, well, that's true. But I wonder what the guy thinks☆”

“……Ugh”

The blonde girl who looks troubled and the brown-haired girl who looks amused by his reaction.

When Hajime first heard the words “I like you,” he froze, receiving them as they were.

Then, a moment later.

Seeing Momo talking to Ayano, he seemed to reboot.

He began moving back to his seat like a machine.

However, he was swaying and seemed unsteady on his feet.

It looked like he didn't even notice the arrows of the surrounding gazes.

“Oh, here he comes. It's hilarious how Toumachi's pupils are wide open☆”

“……Rio. That guy is definitely taking it the wrong way.”

“? If so, is there something wrong with that☆”

“……Ugh”

Ichigo, who seems to rebel against Rio's teasing, stands up from her seat.

Her destination: Hajime.

“Oi!”

“!? W-What is it…?”

“Come here. I'll help you.”

“……Eh, ah, thank you, Yumesaki-san.”

With her vitality returning and being supported, she returns to her seat.

Thanks to Ichigo's presence, the surrounding gazes settle down.

Rio's eyes seemed to show a slight smirk.

“Good morning☆”

“Good morning……”

“Ichigo said she wants to go to the club with us again☆”

“Eh?”

“Ugh…”

“Eh?”

“…If you don't want to, it's fine.”

“No, that's not it. I want to go.”

“Rio will go too☆”

The boy is being tossed around by the two girls.

And thus, he returns to his daily routine.

…However, someone is still watching secretly.

Their gaze has become even more intense.

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[Momiji Side]

(Did I just hear that correctly?)

(She said “I like you,” she said “I like you”)

(Why? In a classroom like this? “I like you”… “I like you”…)

Shiori Momiji, who is positioned roughly in the middle of the classroom, is currently in utter confusion after hearing those words.

(I'm sure it's “like” as in “friendship.” The “like” in “I like you.” Not something like “the moon is beautiful, isn't it.”)

(Otherwise, she wouldn't be able to say it so naturally. It has to be like that.)

(That's right… I did something incredible yesterday morning… We talked so much. We're already best friends.)

But recalling the events in the library, she manages to stay calm.

Though her cheeks are red, she remains composed.

“Not at all. I want to go.”

“Rio will go too☆”

But again, the voices reach her ears.

Her expression turns pale.

(Wh-What's this club? A club activity? But it's about spending time together on a day off, right?)

(…I want to do more than just talk. I want to hang out together too… but what does “hang out” mean?)

(Reading a book together? I don't understand… I'll buy some books on the way home and look it up…)

As her thoughts swirl around, Momiji finds herself somewhat excited.

She's thinking about what to discuss with him from her “friends list” on her phone.

Of course, not in person, but through messages.

Or perhaps a letter—

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In the midst of all this.

The direction of their thoughts has increasingly turned towards him.

Of course, Hajime remains unaware of this.

(“I like you.” What does “like” mean…?)

(No, no, no. There's no way I heard that correctly.)

(Stay calm, me. But wait, I did hear it correctly earlier… Oh, it must be “like” as a friend. Otherwise, she wouldn't have been able to say it so nonchalantly. And thinking about it, she also said something like that to Kanon-chan during the movie. That must be it. OK, OK.)

In less than a week since starting a thread.

The environment surrounding him has changed drastically.

(Still… I'm so happy, though)

For a long time, he hadn't been told “I like you.”

Not by his parents, not by his sister. He didn't even have friends.

He hadn't received direct expressions of affection for a long time.

Unexpected words. So sudden.

Hiding his flushed cheeks with his hands, Hajime reflects on it.

(It was worth trying so hard)

He murmurs in his heart as he looks out the window.

The morning sunlight streaming in from the sky.

(Today is beautiful too—)

In mid-May. A week after he started the thread.

His longer bangs made the world shine even brighter.

Beautiful—seven colors.