Chapter 32: Strategy

Reading Settings

Translator: Soafp

---

“Endo, why is the rooftop unlocked?”

“I have a spare key. It's been passed around among the delinquents…”

Haruki Asano… when you talk to him, he seems pretty normal.

Not normal… but to someone like me who's abnormal, he talks to me like I'm normal.

“So? Why did you come to the rooftop, Asano? You didn't know the door was unlocked, right?”

“Well… how should I put it… I was looking for a place where I could be alone, I guess.”

When I heard that, my heart trembled a little.

Until now, seeing other people's emotions—especially sadness or agony—was what shook my heart.

But why… just hearing Asano's words made my heart stir…?

“I see…”

“I mean, look at me… I've always had a wall between me and the people around me because of how I look.”

He said he had always felt a wall between himself and others.

I also have always felt out of sync with those around me.

Maybe… we're a little similar?

“In other words, you're a lonely guy, huh, Asano.”

“You're the same, aren't you, Endo?”

“Heh, maybe.”

What is this feeling…?

My heart was dry just a moment ago…

But now, just talking with him, I feel… satisfied.

“Really… it's boring, isn't it?”

Asano muttered.

At that moment, my heart pounded hard.

Maybe this guy… Asano is the same kind of person as me…

Someone I can empathize with…

And at the same time…

“That's right, it's boring.”

I strongly thought that he could become a toy I've been searching for.

---

“Haa… this is so boring…”

“What are you saying, Endo? You're not participating anyway, right?”

Today was the class tournament sports day, a stupid event.

I go to school every day, but I definitely don't join these pointless events.

“Hey, Asano, you're not playing either, right?”

“Yeah. For some reason, I wasn't included in the team when they divided us. But team play isn't really for me anyway, so I'm not bothered.”

I completely agree.

I really feel a sense of closeness to Asano.

Though, he doesn't seem to have the kind of abnormality I have.

Right now, the girls' basketball team is playing in the gym, and it's pretty lively.

“Hey, Asano, let's skip and go to the rooftop together. There's no point staying here.”

“N-no… I'm watching the game here.”

Asano was sitting in a corner of the gym, watching the game seriously.

“What the hell, you're so cold. Do you like basketball, Asano?”

“It's not like that…”

Since we first met on the rooftop, we started talking a lot.

I stay on the rooftop without worrying about time, but Asano only shows up during breaks.

Unlike me, he seems to take classes seriously.

What a diligent guy.

Though we just met recently, I clearly understand he's a serious person.

He must be doing his best in this sports day too.

Even if he's left out by others…

Even if people put up walls around him…

So far, I've understood Asano.

But I don't get it.

Why is he trying so hard?

In society, you might push yourself a bit to fit in or make money.

But why bother with such a stupid school event?

(And now, he's watching the basketball game with such a serious look…)

I suddenly realized something.

Asano wasn't just watching the game vaguely.

His eyes were fixed on one girl wearing a number who stood out with agile movements in the game.

I followed his gaze to the girl.

(Who the hell is that girl…?)

I also focused on her.

“Fukase is amazing, huh? As expected from the basketball club.”

“Yeah. She's cute, smart, and everything.”

I overheard some boys talking a little away from us, watching the game.

“Fukase…”

Apparently, the standout girl's name is Fukase.

“Shiho, nice!”

“As expected of the basketball team ace!”

She played energetically and was praised by everyone.

Her social circle must be what they call the upper caste.

She's a totally different type from me… from Asano too.

That's why I feel a little annoyed.

“Asano… why are you looking at her so longingly?”

Asano is like me.

He's not someone who is trusted and expected by others like Fukase.

I don't envy Fukase at all.

But then… why does Asano look at her with such a happy expression…?

“It's not that I'm jealous. I just like watching her having fun.”

“You mean Fukase?”

“Yeah.”

“Why are you so into her?”

“We're childhood friends. We've been close for a long time.”

Looking at Asano softly smiling… my chest stirred again.

---

After the sports day ended and school was out, I still didn't go home.

My father was coming home early today, and if I went home now, we might bump into each other.

I didn't want to face him because I might get scolded again, so I killed time on the rooftop.

Though, no matter when I go home, I probably get yelled at anyway…

I like this rooftop after all.

It's a place to be alone.

But lately, it's often just the two of us, Asano and me.

“Hey, lucky that club activities are off today.”

“Yeah, where should we hang out?”

From the rooftop, you can see many places clearly, and you can see students leaving school.

Being here, you notice all kinds of things.

Voices carry well, and the view is good.

You can hear the loud conversations of students easily.

“Ah, it looks fun. Just because club's off.”

On sports day, all club activities are off, and many students go home.

Changing my focus, I casually looked toward the back gate.

Teachers often come and go there, but few students leave from there.

But there, standing alone, was a male student I noticed.

“Asano…”

My whole body tensed.

I quickly grabbed my bag from the ground and started heading toward the rooftop exit.

But then I stopped.

“Haruki, sorry to keep you!”

“Hey, Shiho, keep your voice down! We're trying to leave through the back gate so no one from our class sees us.”

Fukase, who had been shining in today's sports day, hurried up to Asano.

“Haruki… Shiho… childhood friends…”

My chest stirred again.

I wasn't jealous of Asano and Fukase being close.

Not jealousy at all.

But seeing their close relationship, and Asano's happy smile…

A chill of murderous intent ran down my spine.

I want to see it…

I want to see Asano's smile vanish and be crushed by despair.

I want to see…

That relationship, built over a long childhood, crumble.

“Haa… haa… Asano… you really are entertaining. Just imagining it… this excitement.”

Just imagining it made my breath heavy. I was excited.

This is a game.

Just like the console games I'm always obsessed with.

In the end, I will control everything.

And pull in the future I envision… the outcome I desire.

“Ah, this is getting fun.”

I wandered the wide rooftop alone, letting my imagination run wild.

“Tatsumi! Understand me!”

As the sky darkened and most students left, a man's voice reached my ears.

“Huh? What is it?”

I looked toward the voice.

Behind the gym, a male teacher and a female student were arguing.

“Coach! You're too loud!”

The girl covered the man's mouth and looked around warily.

I didn't know their names.

But I recognized them.

The male teacher was the gym teacher who oversaw today's sports day.

The girl was someone I saw playing basketball with Fukase.

Her movements were those of a basketball club member.

They were talking quietly, so I couldn't hear what.

But this was…

“Hehe… this is going to get interesting.”

Watching their seemingly close interaction, I launched the camera app on my phone.

The next moment, the girl suddenly moved and their lips met.

“Haha… maybe I should become a weekly magazine reporter someday.”

My imagination grew.

What kind of drama will a fragile middle school heart create?

“I'll make these fools dance nicely.”

I immediately pressed the shutter on the camera app.