Chapter 23: Message.

Translator: Soafp

---

” Ah, Ishikawa, thank you for this! You’ve saved my life!”

“Good morning. You could have done it at lunchtime.”

　When I came to school, Obata-san was waiting for me in front of the classroom with my notebook.

“I was just wondering if you have classes today in some of those subjects. And I just wanted to ask you, what do you mean by …… here in geography?”

　The biology and geography notebooks were handed to me, and the geography notebook was opened in Obata-san’s hand.

“Which one? …… Oh, this one. It’s not that complicated. ……”

Obata-san nodded and listened to the explanation of the place where she had drawn the blue line yesterday.

I’m a bit worried about the stares I get when I’m at the end of the corridor explaining things. …… Ugh. …….

　Someone looking at me entered the edge of my vision, and when I glanced in that direction, I saw Sumika entering the classroom while looking at me from the side. Something about those eyes made me feel like I was being observed, and it was uncomfortable….. …… a little uncomfortable.

“Hmm? What’s wrong?”

“Oh, no, nothing.”

　She seemed to be in a daze and was worried.

“I see?”

“Yeah. Are you okay with my explanation like this?”

” Probably fine!”

　…… Is this really okay? I’m just worried about the probably here. ……

“Thank you so much! …… I’m always relying on you, aren’t I? Oh, and you lent me your notebook, so next time I’ll buy you something as a thank-you.”

“It’s fine, it’s fine. Obata-san has helped me a lot too, so at least this much.”

“……”

　When I say this without thinking about anything in particular, Obata-san suddenly becomes silent.

　……Huh, did I say something strange?

“Eh, what’s wrong?”

“Oh, no,……, I just wondered if you are okay”

“…….”

“Look, you seemed to be in a lot of pain at the ball game the other day….”

Suddenly the story goes back a long time. …… Yeah, because Obata-san saved me that time. I didn’t want to talk about that time, I just wanted to say that I’m usually saved.

“….I’m fine”

When I answered that, Obata-san suddenly brought her face close to mine as if she was peeping at me from below. I was surprised because I don’t usually feel that people are looking into my eyes, even when I think we have eye contact.

“I see ……. got it”

‘…… Ah, Obata-san? Shouldn’t you be going to class by now?”

“Ah, that’s right.”

The face that was close to me moves away. …… the first time I met her, I think she looked into my face in the same way.

“….you know”

“Yeah?”

“….No,……, it’s fine after all.”

　When I said that, Obata-san said, “Thanks for the note!” and went quickly towards her own classroom.

　…… Eh, I’m curious. What was she about to say…… Well, if she says it’s fine, I shouldn’t worry too much about it.

When I was about to enter the classroom, Yuki came to class just as I was about to enter.

“Oh, yossu. Shota.”

“Good morning, Yuki.”

“Is that from yesterday?”

“Yes. Obata-san came to return it a moment ago.”

“Hoon”

Yuki gives a light-hearted response. I feel bad for saying it, but it was a response as if he wasn’t really interested.

It’s not that Yuki doesn’t get on with Obata-san, but compared to Miyamoto-san, he is a bit more clumsy in his dealings with her. …… Well, it’s not that he doesn’t like her, so there’s not much to be concerned about. If he didn’t like it, he wouldn’t be talking to Obata-san.

After being with him for the past two months or so, I found out that Yuki is quite strong in himself, or rather, he is the type of person who doesn’t adapt to his surroundings very much. I think it may have been obvious when he was with me all the time ……. He doesn’t like what he doesn’t like and does what he wants to do. Not extremely patient or anything, but he’s the type of person who doesn’t put up with things he doesn’t need to.

I guess he doesn’t care too much about the people around him. I think it’s a great thing. Me, I can’t help but be concerned about the eyes of the people around me. Just by walking into a classroom and sitting down in a seat like this, I’m being pierced by eyes of disgust and suspicion. …… though I may be a little paranoid. Even when I’m usually with four other people, it doesn’t mean I don’t feel the stares around me just because my priorities are lower. ……Then I feel quite at ease when I’m with Miyamoto-san at my part-time job.

“Oh, speaking of which, are you free on the last day of exams?”

“Eh, aah, yeah. I was going to go to my part-time job because it’s Wednesday, but I was told that I should take the day off because I’ll probably be tired from the exams, so I’m free.”

“Then next time we’ll all go to karaoke together, okay?”

“Oh, great. Well, maybe we can all go to karaoke together this time.”

“Then let’s ask them.”

Yuki started fiddling with his phone and soon my phone beeped a notification. It must have been our group with four of us.

　I opened the message app and was about to send something to the two girls, too, when my hand stopped: there was a symbol that informed me that a message was not from that group.

　I hadn’t noticed because I’d set my settings to not receive notifications, but I’d received a message from my mother.

　I was a little surprised because I hadn’t received a message from her since the last time I went home and she contacted me once to ask if my part-time job was okay, but I wondered what on earth it was about.

Earlier, Yuki had sent me a message saying, “Last day of exams, if you guys don’t have plans, let’s go to karaoke, okay?” to which I send a message saying that this time I’m free, and open a message from my mother.

The content was that it was almost time for the examinations, but she asked if I was okay. She contacted me because she had an event to attend. It was written that I should cook dinner, but …… I’m fine with that. I’m not in such a tight spot that I can’t afford to cook because it’s almost exams, and I don’t want …… you to be here. I don’t think mother would want to come either.

I had just replied that I was okay when the chime rang, saying I was going to study on my own for first period …… what should I do?

---