Chapter 36: Peaceful Days
The sports festival is over, and the marathon event has ended.
I got third place in this year's marathon event again. Once more, Kashii-san cheered me on right before the finish line!
That really gives me a boost! I think it's nice that during events like this, I can get a bit closer to Kashii-san without standing out too much.
The first place in the marathon event was a musclehead from the baseball club, a total physical beast, and I don't feel like I can ever beat him.
The only time I felt good was when I overtook Sotomachi, who finished fourth.
Then October came, and it was time for the cultural festival. We selected committee members and handled class exhibitions, events, and the choir contest as a class. Since I'm a loner, I just did the tasks assigned to me, but the committee head pair of Sotomachi and Kashii worked hard, assigning tasks and motivating everyone, making the preparations go really smoothly. Sotomachi is genuinely competent when it comes to managing events like this. As frustrating as it is, he has a high aptitude for being a committee head and makes quick decisions, so our class was able to prepare efficiently and comfortably.
Sotomachi laughs while consulting Kashii-san about work, and she responds with a smile. People quickly gather around them, Sotomachi gives clear instructions, Kashii-san adds a word or two with a laugh, and the crowd disperses. Right after, another team comes to consult them, and the two seriously think it over. Kashii-san nods at Sotomachi's suggestion, and the team leaves the classroom fired up.
Seeing Sotomachi and Kashii-san leaning against the classroom wall, talking closely, some girls from a distance start whispering rumors.
'Sotomachi-kun and Kashii-san look good together, don't they?'
'Right? Sotomachi-kun is lucky. Against someone like Kashii-san, it's hard to compete.'
'I wonder what's really going on between them?'
(...)
For the class exhibition, we investigated what's upstream and downstream of the river next to the school. I worked with Tanaka and the others, filling out a huge sheet of paper and printing out images to paste on it—a pretty mundane task. Typical work for an introvert.
For the events, we had to put on a performance on the gymnasium stage for 30 minutes. My class did a dance, with the extroverts taking the lead in a three-part structure: boys, girls, and mixed dancing.
Kashii-san played the piano live on stage for both the choir contest accompaniment and the dance music, and it was truly amazing—I was stunned. Her costume was like a dress, and she looked beautiful. The extroverts were shining, clearly from a different world than mine.
The choir contest went well too, with everyone in sync, and we felt a good response. We got first place among the three classes in our year. With Kashii-san and Sotomachi at the center, the class was overjoyed.
Once the cultural festival ended, winter came quickly.
Autumn had a lot of events, and the weird attention on me has mostly faded away.
After Aoi's confession event, for a while, some scary seniors had their eyes on me, and rumors of me using violence turned into bad rep, so I got some cold stares. But if things keep going like this, by the time winter break and the new semester start, the heat should mostly die down.
Around that time, my turn for trash duty finally ended. A classmate said, "Hey, it's your turn for trash duty today, right?" and I just stared blankly. Aoi and I had been doing it so much that the concept of trash duty had practically disappeared from this class. You could say it's the only misstep in Kashii's politics.
Since I originally didn't have any friends in class to talk to, I'm a pretty inconspicuous presence. Objectively, my grades are average, and my athletic ability is average except for endurance running. If I consciously try not to stand out, my individuality just blends into the background.
I can't help but follow Kashii-san with my eyes, so we often make eye contact, but there's nothing special about it. I often see her with Sotomachi due to committee head duties.
Club activities in the fall tournaments don't concern me much since I'm a reserve. In winter, the mundane physical training increases, so it gets quietly tough.
Sotomachi has completely become a regular and is a key player in the midfield. I hate to admit it, but that guy is really amazing.
If I can return to days without teasing or bullying, it feels incredibly peaceful, but it also makes me realize how boring and ordinary a guy I am. I quietly spend time at school, struggle through tough club activities, occasionally hang out with Kousuke, and sometimes Aoi or Tanaka come over to hang out too.
When I get home, I play with my little sister and brother. My parents are busy working, while grandpa and grandma relax at home.
Such an ordinary daily life. But yeah, in life, the days you forget after a week far outnumber the unforgettable ones.
Lately, I've been thinking about something constantly.
What does it mean that I want Kashii-san to keep her distance from me, to be strict with me?
I'm not even that close to Kashii-san to begin with, am I? Was I just being overly self-conscious?
Seeing Kashii-san assisting Sotomachi, who takes charge of events and handles practical tasks efficiently, I thought they look good together. I can understand what the girls in class were saying.
I'm just an ordinary loner guy, while Kashii-san is the perfect girl at the center of the class.
I might have misunderstood something. Kashii-san is kind to everyone. I'm sure if I spoke to her, she'd smile and respond kindly.
It would be a nuisance if I misunderstood just because I helped a little. For someone as popular and loved by everyone as her, there must be someone who suits her better.
I remember Kashii-san smiling and murmuring a few times, 'Tachibana-kun is such a child.'
I am a child. Even when my brother is suffering, I can't do anything.
I'm just a powerless child who can only laugh awkwardly while watching my parents work so hard.
Isn't the pathetic one me?
If I were more mature, could I have supported my family better?
If I asked someone, would they tell me? If I consulted someone, would it make things easier?
...I can't say something like that to anyone, and I don't want to.
The new year began, and the third semester started.
For the first time in a long while, Kashii-san spoke to me.
'Tachibana-kun, are you okay?'
'Yeah, I'm fine. See you.'
'Huh? Huh?'
For an introverted loner like me, it's better to keep my distance from people.
I miss Acchan. I wonder what he'd think if he saw me now?
Would he scold me? Laugh at me? Or maybe get angry?
Kousuke sees me like this but doesn't say anything.
Aoi and Tanaka also find it hard to approach Sho Tachibana with this unapproachable atmosphere.
Sotomachi watches with a smile, as if thinking I've finally realized I'm a loner,
And Rena Kashii is...
And so, Sho Tachibana becomes even more silent, ending the third semester without any story to tell.
This year, it was a cold winter.
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This kind of chuunibyou exists too.
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The first-year arc has concluded.
Thank you so much for reading up to this point!
Starting tomorrow, the second-year arc will continue for a while, then move on to the turbulent third-year arc.
If anyone enjoyed this even a little, I'd cry tears of joy if you could give me even one or two stars! ♡ And comments would make me incredibly happy!
Thank you for your support.