Chapter 30: The Great Rooftop Battle

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Translator: Soafp

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During lunchtime — the cold winter wind beats against the school windows.

The sunlight that pours through the glass casts long shadows on the desks inside the classroom.

Outside, calls and laughter echo, but this place feels like a different world, wrapped in silence. The voices of students unwrapping their lunches sound distant, almost muffled.

I let out a soft sigh. Lunchtime, which had once been a normal, carefree part of the day, now feels like a time filled with unease.

Having just managed to get through the chaos of this morning, I now find myself standing in front of the door leading to the rooftop of the West Building.

After the morning classes ended, I had let my guard down for a moment when my phone vibrated in my pocket.

I sighed quietly, took it out, and checked the message on the screen.

— “Come to the rooftop of the West Building. From your dear childhood friend.”

The sender was Kagura.

Though I was happy, the playful tone in her message, mixed with a sense of teasing, immediately triggered a red alarm in my mind.

“…I have a bad feeling about this.”

I muttered to myself as I closed my phone. A sense of unease churned in my chest. Something is about to happen, I had an instinct that sent a chill down my spine.

After all, the West Building was supposed to be off-limits for renovations.

Everyone was avoiding the place, so how could Kagura even get to the rooftop? But I didn't need to think too much about it. Knowing her, she must have found a way to get the key.

Still, there were things I needed to ask her, and it might be a good opportunity. Like, about the transfer, and the transfer, and the transfer… I had plenty of room to talk about this one thing.

I let out a small breath, steeling myself as I reached for the door handle. The cold metal seemed to heighten the unease in my chest.

At that moment…

“Hajime!”

A familiar voice called from behind.

I turned around to see Aoi standing at the bottom of the stairs, looking up at me.

Her expression wasn't the usual cheerful one but serious, with a slight furrow in her brows and intense eyes that seemed to pierce right through me.

“Aoi…?”

I called her name, confused, and Aoi took a step toward me.

Each footstep on the stairs seemed to amplify the strange tension that pricked at my skin.

“I need to talk to you. Do you have a moment?”

“W-why are you here?”

I asked without thinking, and Aoi turned her gaze away slightly, looking almost embarrassed.

“I needed to talk to you. So, sorry, but I had someone follow you… And what about you? What are you doing here?”

I stumbled over my words, unable to come up with a good response.

“Huh? Oh, well… it’s just that…”

I couldn't think of a convincing excuse when Aoi sighed softly.

“Well, never mind. I have something I need to ask you.”

“Something to ask?”

Aoi hesitated slightly, choosing her words carefully before speaking with resolve.

“…Could it be… that you’re… the one from the news?”

“Huh?”

For a brief moment, my mind went blank.

As I stood there, Aoi continued, her gaze intense.

“I saw the live broadcast of the movie press conference yesterday. But this morning, the online news said it was a misunderstanding. Everyone else seemed to believe it, but both I and Miyabi have our doubts. Especially me.”

Her sharp gaze pierced me. I unconsciously swallowed hard.

“…Why do you think that?”

Aoi’s expression wavered slightly, and her voice trembled as she spoke.

“That rabbit mask… You still have it, don't you… Hajime…”

At that moment, tears fell from her eyes.

“Eh…?”

I froze, taken aback by her sudden tears, unable to find the right words to say.

“Why…?”

Aoi’s shoulders shook. Was she trying to hold back her tears, or was she trying to swallow her words? Her small shoulders trembled ever so slightly, and I could feel her pain.

I held my breath. Despite being so close, I didn’t know what to do. Should I offer comforting words, or should I just stand there silently?

My chest felt tight. The distance we had once shared as childhood friends now felt both too distant and too close. I opened my mouth to speak, but before I could say anything—

CLANG!

Suddenly, the door behind me swung open with a loud noise.

“Finally! You’re here, Hajime!”

The air lightened as the voice called out, and I turned around to see Kagura standing there, pouting slightly, her arms crossed, giving me a mischievous glare. Her expression was playful, like a child who was saying, “You're late!”

Yet, her eyes held a hint of amusement, and the corners of her lips curled up just a little.

“I’ve been waiting forever!”

Behind her stood Marin, also with puffed cheeks, nodding in agreement.

“Just like Kagura said!”

The atmosphere shifted in an instant.

Aoi's trembling shoulders, my own confusion, and the innocent presence of Kagura and Marin breaking in—each emotion mingled in the air like a storm passing, leaving a sense of confusion and unsettled feelings.

“What…?”

Aoi stared back and forth between the two, her expression a mix of surprise and confusion.

I was about to say something, but before I could find the words, Kagura passed by me and stood right in front of Aoi.

“W-What's going on?”

Aoi cautiously wiped away her tears and glared back at Kagura.

However, Kagura didn't flinch. She maintained a confident smile, refusing to look away.

“Huh… well, if it isn't ‘former' childhood friend?”

Kagura emphasized the word “former,” and as she said it, Aoi’s face showed clear surprise.

“What… who's the former!?”

Aoi clenched her fists in frustration, but she was momentarily at a loss for words. Her eyes were filled with both confusion and irritation.

“Former is former, you know? It means you're out of the picture. Do you understand that?”

Kagura’s provocative words struck Aoi’s nerves.

“…You'd better stop, I'm his childhood friend! Is it so wrong to talk to him!?”

Aoi responded, trembling with anger. But Kagura shrugged, laughing lightly as if it wasn't a big deal.

“Really? After acting like that toward him, now you want to play the childhood friend card?”

Kagura's words made Aoi’s face twitch.

I involuntarily held my breath.

Kagura was referring to the incident at the café… when Aoi and Miyabi suddenly appeared in front of me. Their faces clearly showed that they wanted to say something more.

Aoi glared at me with a sharp look, while Miyabi seemed to be waiting for the right moment to speak.

Childhood friends…

The words lingered in my mind, and I felt a slight discomfort.

“When we met at the café, your attitude didn't seem like a reunion of childhood friends. It was more like you were either treating him like a stranger or… looking at him as if he betrayed you.”

Kagura's words made Aoi's shoulders flinch. I noticed her eyes waver.

“…So what? What do you know when you don't even understand anything?”

Aoi's voice trembled. But it wasn't out of anger—it sounded more like she was desperately trying to protect her own feelings.

Kagura looked at Aoi with a smile, deepening as she spoke.

“Oh, well, at least I know and understand more about Hajime than you do.”

In that instant, Aoi's expression turned into a cold scowl.

Her eyes were filled with anger, confusion, and a hint of sadness.

Unable to respond, Aoi bit her lip.

I thought about stopping the conversation and was about to speak up when, at that moment, Marin, who had been quietly watching behind me, gently wrapped her arm around mine.

Then, she slowly shook her head.

“Marin?”

I looked at Marin and then at Kagura, unsure of what to do.

Marin's eyes seemed to be trying to convey something—”Don't stop them.”

Just then.

“You're the ace of the basketball club, aren't you?”

Kagura suddenly changed the subject.

Aoi stared at Kagura with a surprised look.

“So what?”

Kagura smiled mischievously, then continued.

“Then how about a game of basketball after school?”

“One vs one.”

Aoi's expression briefly changed to one of surprise.

Kagura continued.

“If you win, I'll grant you one wish. But if I win… well…”

Kagura tapped her chin, pretending to think.

Aoi stared at Kagura, her fists clenched.

It was clear that she wasn't planning to back down now that the challenge had been issued.

But just then, Kagura glanced at me.

She smiled mischievously.

“If I win, I'll ask Hajime to grant me one wish.”

I involuntarily coughed.

“Wha… what!?”

My pathetic voice echoed on the rooftop. Aoi glared at Kagura, her voice a mix of surprise and anger.

“What's that supposed to mean!?”

Aoi shouted.

Kagura smiled coolly, enjoying the reactions from the two of them.

This wasn't over yet.

The tension in the air on the rooftop grew, tightening around my chest. Kagura's smug smile, Aoi's intense glare, Marin's silence… I wasn't sure whether I should intervene or let them follow their own wills.

I couldn't find an answer.

The only thing that was certain was that the basketball match after school would lead to something unpredictable.

At that moment, the chime signaling the end of lunch rang out.

A brief silence followed.

I couldn't help but wonder what this escalating situation would ultimately bring.