Chapter 5: Sunny Then Cloudy, Anxiety and Skepticism

Reading Settings

Translator: Soafp

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[Miyabi Pov]

A clear blue sky, still chilly but with a hint of spring in the air, this morning felt somewhat like the early days of the season.

“Hmm? What’s up, Miyabi?”

Aoi, who was walking beside me, tilted her head slightly and looked at me.

“No, I just thought it was nice weather.”

“Yeah, it’s not as cold today, I hope it stays like this and turns into spring.”

“Really? I like winter too. There are different seasons, so we should enjoy them all, right?”

“Ah, you’re so positive, Miyabi. I don’t like winter, I hate the cold.”

“But there are things unique to winter, like the sweet potato pie I baked this morning.”

“Wait! Really!? I want some!”

“Wait, didn’t you say you don’t like winter?”

I teased, turning my face away playfully.

“I skipped breakfast and I’m hungry! Come on, please! Oh, and I brought the book I told you about from my dad!”

Aoi said, holding out her hands in a pleading gesture, looking cute and a little dog-like.

“Oh, you brought it? Thanks, Aoi.”

Saying this, Aoi grinned and raised the paper bag she was holding, proudly showing it to me.

“Okay, okay, I’ll give it to you once we get to class.”

“Hehe, deal’s done! Here.”

Handing me the bag with a smug look.

Inside the bag, I found a thick hardcover book. I couldn’t help but smile, thinking about Aoi’s uncle, who was a big fan of books, and how fitting this was.

“Miyabi-chan, good morning!”

Suddenly, a voice called from behind. When I turned around, I saw a tall, brown-haired boy smiling at me. As soon as our eyes met, he ran up to me.

It was Yuji Godai, a third-year student, my Senpai, and the person who became my boyfriend just yesterday.

He had a soft, androgynous face with sharp features, and as the others often said, he really fit the description of a handsome guy.

In the past, I wasn’t fond of this type, but now that I know more about who he really is, I realize it doesn’t matter as much.

“Good morning, Senpai…”

I felt a bit embarrassed and awkwardly greeted him.

“You’re so formal. I told you, just call me Yuji.”

He said, lightly tapping my shoulder.

“Well, I can’t just call you by your first name so suddenly… Please give me a little more time.”

Yuji, used to these kinds of things, sometimes closed the distance between us suddenly, like now.

At first, I didn’t like it when he would suddenly touch my shoulder, but now, it doesn’t bother me as much.

“Good morning, Aoi-chan.”

“Ah, yes, good morning, Godai-senpai.”

“If you want, you can call me Yuji too, Aoi-chan.”

“Please don’t even joke about that.”

Aoi responded, sounding slightly exasperated.

“Hey, Yuji, what are you trying to make Aoi-chan say?”

From behind Yuji, a larger boy walked over toward us.

I recognized his face—he was Keita Takamatsu, Yuji’s friend.

A former captain of the soccer team, he was popular with both boys and girls.

Now that I thought about it, I remembered a rumor that Aoi had been confessed to by Takamatsu-senpai. I had heard it from Konatsu, but I hadn’t confirmed it with Aoi yet.

“Ah, Takamatsu-senpai… good morning.”

For some reason, Aoi seemed more distant than usual. Normally, she would talk casually to boys, but today, she looked almost shy.

Could the rumor be true?

“Good morning, Aoi-chan. If you have some time after school, do you want to talk for a bit?”

Takamatsu-senpai asked with a gentle smile.

“Ah, yes, I don’t have club today, so I’m free.”

“Great. Then I’ll see you after school.”

He said, smiling at her before waving as he left.

“Isn’t Godai-senpai going with him?”

“Hm? Oh, no, I want to stay with you a bit longer, Miyabi.”

Yuji said, leaning in closer.

The girls nearby, on their way to school, were whispering and looking at us curiously.

Unable to take it anymore, I quickly turned my face away from Yuji.

“Haha, you’re so cute when you’re embarrassed, Miyabi. Oh, what’s in the paper bag?”

“Eh? Oh, it’s a book Aoi lent me.”

“A book?”

“Yes, Senpai, you must know it if you’re into writing novels. It’s called Two and One.”

Just as I was about to say more, he interrupted me.

“What!?”

Senpai's expression quickly changed from surprise to one of tension, and then he paled.

Worried, I was about to ask if he was okay, but he raised his hand in a gesture to stop me, as though trying to block my words.

Though confused by his behavior, I couldn’t shake the feeling that something was wrong, and my nerves began to tighten.

“Ah, no… It’s nothing, really. So… when are you planning to read the book?”

He asked, trying to change the subject.

“When? Well, maybe I’ll take a look at it during lunch.”

“During lunch… I see, um, okay, got it. Actually, I just remembered something, so I’ll go ahead. See you later!”

With that, Senpai hurried off, walking quickly as if in a panic.

“What’s going on with Senpai? Hey, Aoi, is Senpai acting weird…? Aoi?”

I called to Aoi, who had been walking beside me, but she seemed a bit out of it, lost in thought, as though she wasn't fully present.

“Ah, sorry, what is it, Miyabi?”

Snapping back to reality.

“No… Never mind. But Aoi, something's off. You've been acting different since Takamatsu-senpai spoke to you. What's going on?”

“Huh? Is it really that obvious?”

“Yeah, it’s definitely different. Did something happen?”

Aoi was usually bright and straightforward, not one to dwell on things too long. She preferred resolving problems quickly rather than overthinking.

“Actually… Takamatsu-senpai confessed to me…”

“Oh, so that rumor was true after all.”

“Eh? Has it really spread already?”

“Seems like it. Konatsu was talking about it with a proud look.”

“That girl… Ugh, well, it's fine. But…”

“Wait, are you unsure about how to answer Takamatsu-senpai?”

I asked, sensing hesitation in her voice.

“Well, that's part of it… but… no, never mind. It's nothing.”

“Really…? If you're okay with it, that's fine. But by the way, Aoi, how did you and Takamatsu-senpai meet? I thought you only interacted at club activities.”

“Ah, well, it was when Konatsu and Takamatsu-senpai… I mean, no, forget it! We were talking at club activities, and that's how it started…”

Her tone was unusually hesitant. It seemed like there was something she didn't want to talk about. I noticed that Aoi was hiding something, and a small question grew in my mind.

However, I knew that pushing her to talk about it would only backfire, given her personality. So, I decided to keep that question in my heart and wait for her to tell me when she was ready.

The sky, once a bright blue, had gradually turned a shade of gray, and the wind felt a bit colder now.

It felt like the weather mirrored the subtle tension between us.

But I knew that beyond those clouds, the blue sky was still there. I took a deep breath, believing that, just like the sky, things would clear up in time.

When the time comes and Aoi is ready to talk, I'll listen properly.

With that thought, I gently lowered my gaze, as though bidding farewell to the cloudy sky.