Chapter 97

Chapter 97: Her and His Half Year Plus a Little More

Winter break ended, the new year began, and the new semester started.

Over New Year's, I saw my older brother for the first time in a while, since he'd gone off to a university in Tokyo, and I spent my days lazing around with Sho and the others—the winter break vanished in an instant.

...My older brother had turned into something like a Yo Oizumi lookalike comedian...

The new semester—my first year is almost over.

I don't think the third semester will be that busy... Not that many events, right?

If I don't mess up the next finals, I can get into the special advanced class—the elite group among the college prep track.

Don't let my guard down, move up to the special advanced class, and get better at basketball.

...If I had to say—? I guess coming up with a project idea for the film club is my task for the third semester.

Nagase-san: "Don't ignore me, okay? Looks like we're next to each other again! Is it fate?"

"I saw you swapping your lots, you know?"

Nagase-san: "Hehehe! You caught me! It's fun sitting next to Nagase-san, isn't it? You could be a little happier about it, you know?"

I can't help but give a wry smile—thanks to Nagase-san's scheming, I'm sitting next to her again.

Speaking of which, at the end of the second semester, in December, there was a student council election, and the always-favored Ichinose-senpai became the student council president.

Nagase-san was recommended by Ichinose-senpai, who went to the same middle school, and ended up joining the student council as a secretary. Isn't she going to get busy again?

And here I am, brushing off one of the most popular girls in our year,

"Yeah, yeah, it's fun, right?"

Nagase-san: "Let's do our best again this year, okay?"

"...Okay?"

That sounded like a question.

☆ ☆

A few days passed since the new semester started.

Life is already back to normal.

After school, I went to club activities, but Airi-senpai's physical training menu is so tough, it's honestly funny. And by funny, I mean my knees are literally laughing.

I drag my wobbling body home.

The load is just perfectly balanced to keep me going—never so much that I can't move the next day. I'm honestly impressed by how well it's tailored to me.

I can't help but respect Airi-senpai's eye for talent and her coaching skills.

Dragging my body along, I remembered something I forgot and went back to the classroom to get it.

I almost forgot my assignment... That was close.

Just as I was about to leave the classroom, I heard voices coming down the hallway,

? "So, don't you get it? Masaki and I just aren't a match anymore!"

...Have I heard this before?

...Satsuki and Yamamoto?

Yamamoto: "Wait! Wait, Satsuki!"

Satsuki: "...There you go, trying to dodge the issue again? Haven't we had enough?!"

Yamamoto: "...I—I really care about you, Satsuki..."

(...I remember saying the exact same thing...)

*See Chapter 1 opening.

Satsuki: "Let's talk in the classroom, people are staring."

Yamamoto: "...Even so, I still care about you, Satsuki...!"

The two of them came into the classroom.

No, seriously, I don't want to get involved.

Yamamoto: "...! Kousuke-kun?"

Satsuki: "!! Kousuke...!"

"...Don't ever talk to me again, okay?"

My true feelings just slipped out.

I really, truly, don't want to get involved anymore.

Yamamoto: "Wait, wait! Listen, Kousuke-kun? Satsuki's pulling away from me, doing the whole distancing act since it was decided I'd have to repeat the year... She's totally planning to dump me, what a cold-hearted girl!"

(Uh, dude, you stole her from me, remember?)

I ignore them and don't respond.

Satsuki: "Well, of course! Remember when you told me you couldn't date a girl who was repeating a year? You always flashed your money around and were way too pushy!"

(Satsuki remembers what people said to her, but forgets what she said to others, huh?)

Naturally, I keep ignoring them.

Even though I'm ignoring them, these two just keep arguing, trying to appeal to me about whose fault it is.

Honestly, I can't stand listening to this, and I have no obligation to, right?

...And yet, at times like this, they suddenly team up to say—

Satsuki and Masaki: "Are you listening?!"

"Shut up, you idiots."

I meant to ignore them, but I ended up saying it out loud.

Maybe they were happy I finally reacted,

Yamamoto: "She's so cold, you know, Satsuki! I got in all this trouble and ended up having to repeat the year, and she won't even support me!"

Satsuki: "Well, duh! 'If I quit high school, would you come with me?' Seriously? Dropping out of high school is nothing but a joke, you know?!"

Yamamoto: "You're the one pulling a full FO move—'You should focus on your studies, let's talk after you've calmed down,' that's what you said!"

Disgusting, seriously disgusting.

These two are the ex-girlfriend and the guy who stole her from me...

...Staying out of it is the best call, isn't it?

I have no interest and no intention of getting involved, so I try to quietly leave the classroom,

But the two of them stop me.

Yamamoto: "Whose fault do you think it is?"

Satsuki: "...It's Masaki's fault, right?"

I sighed and spoke to the two of them.

I probably looked pissed, but I don't regret it.

Don't drag me into your drama again, okay?

"You're both idiots."

Both: "Huh?" "What?"

Why are they shocked?

There's no way I'd try to patch things up between you two.

I hate both of you so much, I never want to see your faces again.

Amazing that you can even show your faces around me, let alone talk to me.

I seriously question your nerves.

To Yamamoto,

"...Yamamoto, you stole away a girl who had a boyfriend and slept around with other guys, so don't complain. There's no way a girl like that is going to be faithful."

Yamamoto seems convinced, while Satsuki is shocked.

Ugh, I shouldn't have said that—ignoring them is better...

To Satsuki,

"You're the one who chose him, right? You were totally into him, dumped me, even gave him your virginity. Trust your own judgment, will you?"

I quietly leave the classroom.

Ugh, I talked way too much.

But I do feel a sense of satisfaction...

I'm still a kid... I really feel how immature I am.

☆ ☆ ☆

Nozomi's reaction when she heard about this later.

Grinning from ear to ear, absolutely beaming as she bounced around.

Nozomi: "Let the scumbags destroy each other!"