Brought to you by Noir

Edited by Aeri (Senzang)

“Isn’t what you want to do with your friend in the future more important than what happened in their past…?”

“…It’s just as you said. Thanks, my eyes opened up.”

“You’re welcome.”

After Nanjo Rin’s confident response  to Daiki, she squinted her eyes as if she saw something dazzling.

[TL note: I guess a pun. Daiki’s life was sparkling for someone like her.]

I did not exactly understand the meaning of that expression, but somehow, it was as if she was mocking me.

“Ehehehe. Even so, that friend seems to be quite an important one to you.”

“…Shut up.”

“I envy you.”

“Ha!?

“Did you see the boy who confessed to me at this place the other day? Marin-chan… I heard that girl is in the same class as that guy.”

“That is…”

“Thanks to that, I am now called a b***h in the shadows. Well, it’s not particularly an unusual thing though.”

“…”

As she said those words, Nanjo Rin laughed with a troubled expression.

There were no words from either side. I still don’t know why she wears a cat-like mask, but I think I saw a small glimpse of the reason. I hesitated whether I should say something, but then again, I didn’t even know what I should say. In the first place, we were not in a relationship deep enough to step into such matters. However, it is certain that I have been taken care of by her until now.

“I’m—”

“Moreover! I wanna hea—”

Kyuu~n~

A rather lovely sound ended our conversation.

“You heard that?”

“I heard it.”

“At this time, it’s advised to close off your ears.”

“Don’t ask for the impossible.”

She complained while turning her bright red face away. Then again, it was certain that she knew it was already a sunken ship.

―Although, I never would’ve thought I would actually ask Nanjo Rin for advice…

I asked for advice from someone I’ve never even had a proper conversation with. Really, just what am I doing? 

The gorgeous girl in front of me was clearly embarrassed that I heard the sound of her stomach, seeing as she kept poking my feet with her heels. 

Seeing that reaction which was so similar to Philia-san, I realized that because of her such nature, I must have subconsciously consulted her. 

A soft chuckle escaped my lips.

“I’m going to have my meal now, but are you still not going?”

“?! I’m leaving! I’ve been keeping a friend waiting for a while now!”

Nanjo Rin — Really, she’s a strange one.

I took a strange attitude to Hiyori in the morning as well as at noon.

During the afternoon class, I was only concerned about that. Although I was troubled by something which was born out of my own selfishness, I am somehow grateful to Nanjo Rin for making me aware of those various things.

And so, we arrived at the time after school.

“Subaru, will you go somewhere first with me before returning home?”

“No, I’m planning to go straight home today.”

“I see. Then, I’ll see you tomorrow.”

“Sure.”

Koutaro asked me out. Although it was like an invitation to hang out, I could somehow tell that he did that since he wanted to check whether I was still okay or not. On the contrary, that made me feel a little better.

However, it was also true that I took a rather strange attitude towards Hiyori. I should probably apologize for that. But how? I contemplated it while tracing my way back. But the wonderful idea that could help me never arrived in my mind.

Because of having such little memory of talking with Hiyori. I didn’t have that much idea on what to do in a case such as this.

―Would a normal family be able to communicate properly during such times?

In a strange way, I decided to reconsider the distance I had between Hiyori and myself.

…Yeah, that’s right. So what if it’s a game? Didn’t even Hiyori thank me for the offline party over the chat? Maybe Hiyori also felt the same way at that time?

When I thought in that manner, my mind became lighter somehow. I could feel my mouth loosening up. Yeah, if it’s in the game.―

“…!?”

At the intersection which leads to the residential area.

Even though I was busy thinking about such things, my heart was not yet ready to meet her face-to-face.

“Hiyori…”

“u?!”

Seeming like a serious person, but giving off a feeling of a plain girl —Hiyori held my hands with her two small ones lightly,  as if saying ‘I got this’, and stared straight at me with a face tinted with red. 

No matter how you think about it, she seemed to be waiting for me to take the initiative.

But just why? It was something I had never imagined from the Hiyori I knew until now.

“”…””

Hiyori didn’t try to say anything, just kept taking peeks at my state from time to time through a downward gaze. She peeped into me with her ears turned bright red. In a residential area where the sun was still high, I stood there silently along with Hiyori.

The inside of my chest was complicated.

I didn’t know what to take these actions as. However, I understood that I was at least not hated by Hiyori. Realizing that, a warm feeling spread in my chest. That, for some reason, spurred some extreme feelings, making me embarrassed instantly.

“I’m going home.”

“Un.”

Such a word came out after that. It was a line that even made me think whether that was alright. Her small nod made me feel helplessly restless.

Eventually, we began to walk slowly. The heat in the daytime had already eased, and as it became evening, there was this nice feeling of autumn.

For the entire way home, Hiyori walked at a distance just a little behind me.

It was a strange feeling. It felt like something close to a sense of security coming from behind me.

And for some reason—It felt a bit nostalgic.

I wonder if something like this had happened in the past?

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*Thank you for buying the chapter, I feel more motivated to continue~

Thank you, thanks a lot. xD