Chapter 26: Friends

Translator: Soafp

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“Hooo …… you really are in first rank. In every subject, you’re in the top three.”

“Amazing ……3 hundred points in every subject.”

　They insisted on seeing my test results, so I told Makoto and we are showing each other the results of the test with everyone else.

Yuki and Obata-san were excitedly looking at something unusual, while Miyamoto-san was frozen in front of me, staring at my result sheet. If I look closely, her eyes are flickering, so she must be thinking about something. ….But I’m a little concerned if she doesn’t move so much.

“…..Uhm……..Miyamoto-san?”

“……”

　Eh, she ignored me. …… No, she probably didn’t hear me.

“Miyamoto-san. ……Miyamoto-san.”

“Fue⁉……Wh-at?”

I waved my hand so as to get in the edge of Miyamoto-san’s field of vision, and she responded.

“Oh, I mean…….”

After saying that, Miyamoto-san now started looking at her own ranking list and my ranking list as if comparing them.

Miyamoto-san gets still and frozen again. …… awkward. …… I’ve always had a hard time with this kind of moment. I don’t like the time after the running of the athletic meet at elementary school, or after the end of a game in junior high school club activities, …… or the time when the other person is told that he or she was wrong.

“…… Amazing. Ishikawa.”

“……Thank you.”

　In a situation like this, it is best to answer like this. If I say something bad, it may be taken as sarcasm even though I didn’t mean it that way. It is best to let the situation pass without saying anything.

“….But!”

“?”

….But?

“Next time, I won’t lose!”

　…….

　It’s been a long time since I’ve been told something like that to my face, and I was surprised.

……Uhm…..What should I answer ………….

Unable to think of the words, I put my hand on my forehead and turned my head.

After thinking about it for a bit, I remembered the exchange that Yuki and Obata-san had when they were playing the scoring game at the karaoke. Obata told Ariki, “I’ll win next time!” to which Yuki responded …… No, I will win again.

　I won’t lose the next one…..huh. When I hear those words in my head, I feel like a rival and I am somewhat happy.

“….I’m not going to lose either”.

“Heh……”

　……Huh? I thought for sure that Miyamoto-san was expecting to get that back, but she froze with a surprised look on her face. Did I …… do something wrong?

“Ah, no, next time I won’t lose!”

Just as I began to think about what the right thing to say would have been, I heard such words back from Miyamoto-san. Is it safe to say that this was not a …… strange thing to say?

“Y-yes! Thank you for this.”

“Ah, yes.”

　They hand me the results of my exam, which I had shown them.

　I think I’m going to have to go back to my part-time job soon.

“Well, I think I’m going to go back.”

“Oh, I see. Good luck with your part-time job.”

“Yeah.”

“Sorry, even thought you’re working. Thanks.”

“Thanks for showing me! Good luck with your part-time job!”

“Yeah. Have a good time then.”

　……Oh, come to think of it, I hadn’t looked at Yuki and Obata’s scores because I was asking how Miyamoto-san was doing.

“Speaking of which, …… which one of you got better scores, Yuki or Obata-san?”

“Me.” (Yuki)

“Ah, if only it weren’t for the math…….”

When I asked, Yuki answered with a thumbs up, followed by Obata-san as she plopped down on her desk.

“…… Oh, mou! Let’s eat something!”

“Ah, I’ll have something to eat too.”

　So saying, Miyamoto-san and Obata-san both began looking at the menu together.

“Then, I will go back after taking your order”

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　After my part-time job was over, I walked around the area, where it was already dark, and arrived home. I turn the key with a clank and open the door, it’s pitch black and quiet inside, and I’m somewhat terrified. ……Well, I would be more scared if I wasn’t.

“I’m home.”

　I never get a reply, but it spills out of my mouth naturally because it has become a habit.

　I turn on the light, put down my bag, and take off my glasses.

　Is it okay to have …… leftover side dish for dinner?

Thinking about this, I took out the results of the exam from my bag and put it on my desk, and then put the book I borrowed from the library on my desk. …… I wonder if I can read these three books by tomorrow.

While thinking about which one to read first, I organize the textbooks and notebooks I had taken with me today. I also put away my exam results in a file and put the books on the right side of my desk. Then, the diary for the current school year remained on the far left side of the desk. It’s not that I feel uncomfortable because I always put it there, but it looks a little bit out of place. ……

　I still think I should bring the box that holds the diary over here. Come to think of it, I thought about how I should reduce the amount of stuff in my room at my parents’ house or something when I was there before. …… Maybe I should go to my parents’ house next time to retrieve the box that holds my diary and organize the things I don’t need.

　As I sat in my chair and thought of this, I suddenly thought of Miyamoto-san’s words from today.

[“Next time, I won’t lose!”]

The corners of my mouth naturally lifted a little. I wonder when is the last time I had such a good memory like now when I feel like I’m not busy,…….

　Usually, if I don’t keep my head full, bad memories from junior high school come back to haunt me. Sumika’s words ‘I’m just trying to be friendly’, Ryosuke’s words in class, Sumika’s eyes at that time and the scene when I was bullied after that, and many other things were running through my mind. So, I usually tried not to have that kind of time, I would study, do muscle training, read books, and fill my head with other things.

……, But today, for the first time in a while, I feel that this free time is a good thing.

I can only thank Yuki, Miyamoto-san, and Obata-san. It’s thanks to all of them that I feel this way right now. I hope this relationship will continue for a long time.

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