Chapter 118: Realization [side Yukari Tomonaga]
The other day, seeing me down about Kuzu-kun's indifference toward me, Satsuki invited me out as her boyfriend...
Even at a time like this, the free meal tastes delicious...
She also took the chocolate I couldn't give to Yamamoto, so today this person is a good guy...
After that, Satsuki comes by every day.
We talk sometimes, but I don't force myself to speak.
This person seems to be starting to understand the distance between us, which is nice.
Soon, the final exams will be here.
Satsuki and I are loners in our class.
For that reason, we've been teaching each other our weak subjects, but... I'm starting to think we might need one more helping hand.
Since both of us are at risk of failing, teaching each other isn't a bad idea.
...A little help is fine, but for subjects we're so bad at that we might fail, we need to study hard, and we also have to score well in other subjects.
In short, teaching each other is originally a method for students with some leeway, meant for those with only one weak subject, and in the end, the time spent teaching doesn't equate to much learning, so the total study time decreases.
One day during lunch break.
Satsuki and I need to think about that.
When I mutter under my breath like that,
Satsuki's eyes light up with intensity,
Satsuki "...I hate to do this, but can't we press Kousuke about his responsibility for bringing me to Hokusho and somehow get him to teach us? Maybe come up with some excuse...?"
"That itself is an excuse."
Satsuki "...Kousuke, he still, surely, likes me... He's obsessed with me!"
"...Kousuke-kun was hurt, and the damage was big, but he's not obsessed anymore, okay? ...Even if he was, he's already moved on."
Satsuki "...Even if it's you, Yukari, you wouldn't know that unless you asked him directly, right?"
"...I did ask him directly. Back when I was dieting, I was with Kousuke-kun every day..."
Satsuki "With Kousuke?"
As I nod, Satsuki looks at me with a shocked expression.
I listened to Kousuke-kun's story,
(He was so harshly betrayed, huh...)
I thought that, and I felt sorry for him, but seeing Satsuki now, I can tell that the episodes Kousuke-kun spoke about with few words were surely true.
Satsuki... are you that obsessed with Kousuke-kun?
Since learning about Kuzu-kun's indifference the other day, I've started thinking again.
When I remember that diet... how much time did I spend with that quiet boy...?
That quiet boy supported me so much, listened to my weaknesses, fed me, exercised with me... stayed with me...
I was swayed by Kuzu-kun's words and fell for him so easily... I did something I shouldn't have...!
I did the same thing as Satsuki in front of me...
Realizing that, I got scared.
So,
"Satsuki, we can't rely on Kousuke-kun."
Satsuki "Why not? Even with all that, he's 8th in our grade, you know?"
"...I have someone in mind. Satsuki, can you lower your head and ask for help?"
Satsuki "...No."
"...Then, this is it for us. It was a short time, but... thank you."
Satsuki desperately tries to stop me!
Half-crying, she says, okay, I'll lower my head!
Her expression, so different from the usual Satsuki, made me a bit taken aback.
...Why is this person so fixated on me?
☆ ☆ ☆
The next day, in the Class 6 classroom,
Osada "...Huh? Say that again?"
Osada-san was surrounded by everyone, chatting and laughing.
When I approach, everyone looks at me with suspicious faces...!
It can't be helped, it's something I brought upon myself!
"Osada-san, I've become friends with Mishima Satsuki."
Osada "Huh? I don't get it... Didn't she insult you over the summer? And that's when you started dieting, right? With that Mishima? ...Now that I think about it, lately, you two have been pairing up in gym class without being told to? I thought you'd just given up..."
"So, about that? I have one request...?"
Osada-san narrows her eyes sternly,
Osada "I already fulfilled my promise to help you once, Tomonaga, didn't I?"
"Haha. Of course, I know that. Even so."
Osada "Hmph. ...Fine, I'll at least hear you out. You're not causing trouble for anyone, are you?"
"I've caused plenty. I'm sorry."
I keep a humble attitude. Osada-san looks at me with a surprised face,
Osada "Tomonaga, have you changed? Or maybe gone back to normal? ...Since fall, you've had this weird tension and felt off, but...?"
I make an appointment for lunch break and leave the scene.
What will Osada-san decide?
How will Satsuki act?
I don't know!... But besides Kousuke-kun, the only competent person I can think of who might help is Osada-san!
Osada-san may look like that, but she's someone who looks after people, and if the reasoning is sound, she'll at least listen...!
"...At the very least... I can't cause any more trouble for Kousuke-kun, right...?"
☆ ☆ ☆
Yukari has awakened after gaining so much weight.
It's what's commonly called sage mode.