Chapter 18: Could it be you too?

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Translator: Soafp

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Shinonome's words caused the class to stir.

Even when someone somewhere blurted out, “A public confession?”, Shinonome stood her ground without flinching.

Masaki frowned and murmured,

“I thought I already gave you my answer.”

“I didn't confess that day. I was only rejected unilaterally. And after I was the one who egged on a public confession, it would be too convenient for me to do nothing myself.”

Then Shinonome looked at me again.

“I want to properly tell you how I feel. Otherwise, I can't move forward.”

At Shinonome's clear expression, Masaki gave a wry smile, said, “I see,” and stood up.

Perhaps nervous, Shinonome pinched the hem of her skirt.

“…I've always been drawn to how kind you are, Masaki-kun. This is the first time I've truly fallen in love. So let me say it: I liked you.”

“My answer hasn't changed. I don't have romantic feelings for you, Shinonome, and I'm busy with basketball. I have no intention of dating anyone.”

Masaki smiled shyly, then added:

“But the Shi-chan you are now seems more appealing than before.”

“…Yeah.”

“Is that enough?”

“Thank you.”

The exchange left something important unsaid, making it feel a little incomplete.

Yet Shinonome wiped the tears from the corners of her eyes with one finger and smiled.

There must have been something between them that satisfied them both.

The homeroom bell rang.

The homeroom teacher entered, and the scene came to an end.

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During lunch break, I drank coffee on the rooftop while looking at the blue sky.

I felt like getting some fresh air.

After that, during homeroom, the teacher explained what had happened with Katsurama.

Until a formal disciplinary decision was made, he had been temporarily suspended from school.

Naturally, the details of what had happened were kept private.

Everyone was told only the outcome of the punishment.

The more perceptive students might connect it somehow to Shinonome's actions that morning.

But I had no intention of telling anyone, and I had a feeling Shinonome would not say anything either.

What Katsurama chose to reflect on from here was up to him.

I had no intention of interfering with that.

“So this is where you were.”

Shinonome opened the rooftop door and stepped inside.

She came to stand beside me and leaned her back against the fence.

“Do you need something?”

“I made up with Nakina, so I wanted to thank you. I've done nothing but apologize, and I don't think I ever thanked you, Hatsukade. Thank you.”

“You made up because you acted. I had nothing to do with it.”

“You always say things like that.”

Shinonome lightly nudged my foot with the toe of her shoe.

“Hehe. You looked surprised during the public confession. I finally broke that scowling expression of yours. Idiot.”

“You… Did you do that just for this?”

“Not only for that, but I definitely thought, Serves you right.”

“Your personality really is bad.”

“Reflecting doesn't mean I've changed on the inside. Besides, we both have bad personalities, don't we?”

Shinonome grinned, then quietly added:

“I'm going to tell the teacher what I did to Nakina too.”

“…It probably won't end with a severe warning.”

“Maybe I'll be suspended?”

“Probably. You reconciled with Amanatsu, and you were victimized by Katsurama too. You've been punished enough. I think that's enough already.”

“I'm doing it because I want to. I want to settle everything and feel clear about it.”

“I see. Well, do what you want.”

It was about time to eat lunch.

I started to walk away with Shinonome behind me, then stopped and turned back.

“Shinonome.”

“W-What?”

Nothing in her past had anything to do with mine.

But there were things about her that I had overlapped with the childhood friend who transferred away while running from everything.

By facing things head-on, Shinonome had shown me a possible ending I had never been able to see.

So I wanted to tell her one thing.

“You did well not running away. Good job.”

“Gah!?”

Shinonome's cheeks turned red with embarrassment.

She fidgeted with her fingers and looked up at me.

“…Even while I'm suspended, you can still come eat tan-tan noodles, you know?”

“I'll pass. Last week, I already consumed more sodium than the recommended amount.”

“What's with refusing when I'm actually asking you to come? But that's just the kind of person you are, Hatsukade… Hey, Hatsukade.”

She passed me and stood in front of the rooftop door, blocking it. Shyly brushing her bangs, she said:

“Once my suspension is over, I have something I want to tell you. Give me some time.”

“…Yeah.”

I answered casually, and Shinonome gave a thumbs-up with a refreshed expression.

“Okay, I'm going now!”

She opened the door.

A pinkish-brown-haired girl was standing there.

“…”

Amanatsu stood pressed against the doorway like a silent ghost, her face pale.

Shinonome's shoulders jumped in surprise.

“Whoa, Nakina! Since when were you standing there!?”

“…A-A while.”

“Did you hear us?”

Amanatsu nodded slowly. Apparently unaware of her dead-eyed expression, Shinonome held her head in embarrassment.

“So embarrassing. You heard all of it? Nakina, um, could you keep what you just heard from everyone else…? H-Huh? Nakina?”

Shinonome finally seemed to notice something was wrong and tilted her head.

“Wait, why are you even here…?”

“Ahaha… Actually, Hatsukade-kun and I sometimes eat here, so I was looking for him and happened to—”

“W-Wait, no way… Nakina, do you…?”

Shinonome looked at me, then Amanatsu, then at me once more. Her mouth fell open in stunned silence.

…What exactly was I supposed to be watching here?

I just wanted to eat lunch already.