Chapter 2: The Over-the-Top

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Translator: Soafp

---

Monday.

Two days had passed since the volunteer work, and my daily life hadn't changed at all.

…Or at least, that's what I wanted to say.

“Ito, has your face changed or something?”

Before morning HR, Kaito Ozaki, who sits next to me, leaned over to peer at my face.

“No, it hasn't.”

“No, it has. I don't know… you're grinning.”

“I'm not grinning.”

“You are. Look in the mirror.”

…No. Absolutely not. I'm aware of it already, so I don't want to see it.

Kaito Ozaki. My best friend and a guy with an unusually sharp eye for observation.

He's usually lighthearted, but at times like this, his intuition is way too good. Honestly, it's annoying.

“Something happened, right? Saturday's volunteer work?”

“…Nothing.”

“When you say ‘nothing,' it's always when something's up.”

Shut up. How can he know me so well?

“Wait, I heard about it. You talked to a girl during the volunteer work.”

“Huh? Who told you that?”

“Sakamoto. He was in the same volunteer group, right? He said, ‘Ito was talking to some girl who looked serious.'”

Sakamoto — the guy from the group chat. Unnecessary.

“So, who was it?”

“…………”

“Hey, don't hide stuff from me. How many years have we known each other—”

“Himuro Rin.”

I gave up and said her name. Kaito froze for a moment.

“Himuro… the one from class 2? The one famous for being super strong-willed?”

“Famous?”

“Of course. Most guys get cut off with a single word if they talk to her. Zero friendliness. Impenetrable. Ice Queen… You really went for a high hurdle, huh?”

“Shut up.”

“So, how'd it go? Any chance?”

“…She said, ‘Do whatever you want.'”

“No chance, huh.”

“Shut up, seriously.”

Kaito laughed. But his eyes were a little serious.

“Wait. You spoke to her yourself?”

“…Yeah.”

“By yourself?”

“Yeah, I said I did.”

He went silent. Then he looked at me with a strangely serious expression.

“That's your first time, isn't it?”

“…………”

“Until now, it's always been girls coming to you. I've never seen you go to someone on your own.”

…Sharp. Too sharp. Can you just be a little oblivious sometimes?

“Really?”

“…Shut up, class is starting.”

“Whoa, whoa, whoa. This is real love from Fujimiya Ito. Historic moment. Anniversary-worthy.”

“Shut up.”

I lightly regretted telling him — but well, it's Kaito, so I did.

He's the only one who, while teasing me, never mocks me. He knows the line.

“…So, what are you going to do?”

“What do you mean, what am I going to do? I'm going to attack normally.”

“Normally—your ‘normal' isn't the same as the world's normal, you know?”

“What do you mean by that?”

“Just go for it. I'll support you.”

Kaito said that, grinning.

---

Lunch break.

I walked along the hallway with the classrooms for class 2.

Not that it looked unnatural. There are vending machines on this floor, and I know people here. Passing by wouldn't look weird at all.

…I know it sounds like an excuse.

The goal was simple. Meet Himuro Rin.

When I passed by the front of the classroom, I saw her coming out.

She had a bag from the school store in her hand. Walking alone down the hallway.

Alright.

“Himuro-san.”

I called out. She stopped and turned around.

“…Fujimiya?”

She remembered me. That alone made me a little happy.

“Thanks for Saturday. I had fun talking with you.”

“Nothing. I didn't do anything.”

“No, you did. Your words really hit me—”

“…What are you talking about?”

A suspicious look. Well, that makes sense. To her, it was probably just a casual conversation. Only I felt like I'd been struck by lightning.

“Ah, uh…”

I got stuck for words.

…Weird. Was I always like this? I've never had trouble talking before.

“Sorry, never mind. Hey, have you eaten lunch yet? If you want—”

“I have a place to eat.”

Instant answer. Cut off.

“…I see.”

“Well then.”

She said that and walked away.

I was left standing in the middle of the hallway.

…Yeah, I knew this would happen.

But it still stings. It really stings.

“Fujimiya-kun?”

I turned around at the voice, and two girls from class 2 were looking at me.

I recognized them. We'd been to karaoke together before.

“Ah, long time no see.”

“You called out to Himuro-san, right? Was it okay?”

“Well… she was cold.”

“Ahaha, Rin is always like that. Don't worry about it.”

“Fujimiya-kun, have you had any connection with Rin before?”

“Just a little. We were together for volunteer work.”

“Ohhh.”

The girls exchanged meaningful glances.

So this is how rumors start. Can't be helped. If I'm going to act, I have to accept some of that.

The real problem — is how far the rumor spreads.

---

[Himuro Rin side]

“…What's with that guy?”

I muttered to myself, biting into my school-store bread.

Next to me, Yui, who was nibbling on her omelet, smirked.

“That guy?”

“Fujimiya Ito. We only met two days ago during the volunteer work, and now he suddenly called out to me in the hallway.”

“Huh, Fujimiya-kun, huh.”

Ogawa Yui. One of my few friends, in the same class. Cheerful, gentle, and loves love stories.

Honestly, she's my complete opposite, yet somehow we get along.

“Fujimiya-kun's famous, right? Handsome, lots of friends, lots of girl rumors too.”

“…That part is impossible for me.”

“Eh, but I haven't heard anything bad? No cheating rumors or anything, and apparently he's still on good terms with exes.”

“That's as a friend. Love is different.”

I took another bite of bread.

“People like that act the same with everyone. Kind, fun, never boring. But that works with anyone, not just me.”

“Wow… that's harsh.”

“I'm just stating the facts.”

“…So, how was it? Did you talk to him?”

“What?”

“Your impression. Was it bad?”

I paused for a moment.

…Honestly.

Not bad.

During the volunteer work, the questions he asked were on point.

“Why don't you scold them?”

Normal people wouldn't care. The slackers look away out of guilt, and the serious ones are too focused on themselves.

He wasn't either; he just said, purely, that he was curious.

And then, in the hallway just now — he was a little… awkward.

That guy, he's probably not the type to get stuck in a conversation.

Yet in front of me, he clearly struggled for words.

Someone used to playing around, acting unusually clumsy in front of me.

…What was that about?

“Rin?”

“…Nothing. Not bad, but it doesn't mean anything.”

“Huh.”

Yui's “huh” always carries extra meaning.

“What?”

“Nothing. Just rare to hear you say someone's impression is ‘not bad.'”

“…………”

“Normally, you'd just say ‘not interested' and be done.”

—Annoying.

Don't probe any further, please.

I don't even fully understand it myself.

---

[Mimura Sota side]

Lunch break.

I was eating my bento by the classroom window when Sakamoto came over.

“Sota, did you see that earlier?”

“See what?”

“Fujimiya called out to Rin-chan. In the hallway.”

My chopsticks froze.

“…Seriously?”

“Yeah, for real. He was saying stuff like ‘Thanks' and ‘Let's talk again.' Rin-chan totally shut him down, though.”

Shut him down completely.

Yeah, that makes sense. Rin hates that kind of flashy guy.

Naturally, that's how it should have gone.

…And yet, why do I feel this uneasy stir in my chest?

“So, it wasn't just by chance that he talked to Rin during the volunteer work?”

“Looks like it. A girl from class 2 said so.”

“…………”

Not by chance.

So that guy actually came all the way to class 2.

To see Rin.

…That flashy guy really thinks he can just push his luck.

“So, what about you? As her childhood friend?”

“There's nothing to it. Rin's not going to fall for him.”

“Well, yeah, but—”

“Besides, Fujimiya's super experienced with girls. Seeing him get close to Rin is just annoying.”

I noticed my tone had gotten a little sharp. Sakamoto recoiled slightly, saying “Oh.”

“You don't have to get all worked up.”

“I'm not mad.”

“You're mad.”

“…I'm not. I'm just stating facts.”

I shoveled the rest of my bento down and stood up.

I'm not in a rush or anything.

Rin hates guys like that. I know her better than anyone.

No matter how many times Fujimiya tries, the result won't change.

And Rin and I have known each other for over ten years.

There's no way some guy who just said a few words is going to beat that.

…But.

—There was one small thing bothering me.

When I heard from Sakamoto earlier, my first feeling wasn't “relief.”

It was anxiety.

I wasn't relieved that Rin shut him down.

I was anxious because Fujimiya came to see Rin.

The order of that — it's just a little unsettling.

But, well.

It's probably nothing.

I opened my phone and typed into the group LINE.

‘Seriously, Fujimiya's so reckless. Just grabs at everything. Rin's probably annoyed too, and he'll get bored soon enough.'

Sent.

…There it is again.

Speaking for Rin without her permission.

But — this much is fine. It's the truth.

---

After school.

I waited for Rin in front of the school gate.

Pretending it was a coincidence.

Rin appeared, alone as usual. Her bag slung over her shoulder, walking straight ahead.

“Hey, Rin. Heading home?”

“…Yeah.”

We started walking side by side.

The same way home we've taken since elementary school.

…But for some reason, conversation didn't come easily today.

“So, I heard that guy, Fujimiya, called out to you?”

I asked casually, trying to sound natural.

Rin glanced at me.

“…How do you know?”

“I heard from Sakamoto. He's a flashy guy, so watch out.”

“I just said a few words to him.”

“Yeah, probably. But guys like that are skilled. Don't get carried away.”

Rin stopped walking.

“…?”

“Huh? What's wrong?”

“Sota.”

“Yeah?”

“I decide who I talk to.”

—Quiet. Not angry. Just stating a fact.

“No, I wasn't trying to be controlling. I just—was concerned.”

“It's fine that you're concerned, but I judge for myself what kind of person someone is.”

“…Yeah.”

That was all she said, and she started walking again.

I followed half a step behind.

…What the hell.

I was just looking out for her.

A reasonable warning from a childhood friend.

Yet — why do I feel just a little distance?

I still hadn't realized the source of this discomfort.

---

At the same time.

Fujimiya Ito had left the school's back exit and was walking to the station alongside Kaito.

“So, lunch break was a total fail, huh? What's the next move?”

“Move…? I don't have any moves. I just talk to her normally.”

“And you got the cold shoulder already.”

“It's only the second time. Don't panic.”

“I'm impressed you're not panicking at all.”

Kaito laughed in disbelief.

“No—I'm not saying I'm calm.”

“Huh?”

“This is completely different from before. What I think in my head and what comes out of my mouth don't match. Standing in front of her, everything I prepared just flies out.”

“…I've never heard you say something like that before.”

“Right? It's my first time too.”

I laughed self-deprecatingly.

I've talked to hundreds of people without a problem, but in front of just one person, I'm at a loss for words.

It's ridiculous. But — not unpleasant.

“But that's exactly why I can't back down.”

“…What do you mean?”

“Until now, it was always easy. I could read the other person's reactions, I knew how to steer the conversation. I could control it.”

“Yeah.”

“But in front of Himuro-san, I can't control anything. Never experienced this before. …So this must be what they call real feelings.”

Kaito went silent. After walking a bit, he said softly,

“…You've changed.”

“Really?”

“Yeah. For the better.”

He didn't say anything more.

He just smiled a little, quietly happy.

“—You're going to volunteer again next week, right?”

“Of course.”

“Good luck then. I don't think I could get past her cold shoulder.”

“I'll get past it. No matter how many times.”

The sky had already started turning sunset-orange.

Fujimiya Ito's first-ever love.

The second day — he struck out spectacularly, sank gracefully, and yet had no intention of giving up.

That's how the day went.