Chapter 4

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The last class of the day turned into self-study due to the math teacher's schedule.

Everyone was ostensibly working on the distributed worksheets at their desks, but private conversations never ceased.

However, the students around me were all quiet, so I was able to concentrate and finish my worksheet in the first half of the self-study period.

Fifteen minutes left.

Quite a bit of time to spare.

While wondering how to spend the time, I looked around and noticed the girl next to me taking out a paperback from her bag.

Her name is Yukiyo Fumiko.

She had her chestnut, fluffy hair loosely braided and wore large glasses only during class.

Her skirt length was the only one in the class that reached below the knee, and she had a unique aura that set her apart from other students.

Nowadays, it's quite an old-fashioned hobby.

As I was thinking this, a gentle early summer breeze blew in from the window, snatching the bookmark from her fingertips and blowing it to my feet.

"Ah..."

She said in a barely audible voice.

I could tell from her tone that she was hesitating about whether to reach for it.

I bent down to pick up the bookmark and handed it to her.

"Thank you..."

"You're welcome."

When I replied, she exclaimed, "Huh?"

"What?"

"...Because you're talking to me for the first time."

"Ah..."

Hibiki's words echoed in my mind: "Have you ever thought about talking to any other girl alone? I'm telling you now, before you do anything, it will only cause trouble for the other person, so you should absolutely avoid it, got it, senpai?"

It would be easier to avoid talking to anyone rather than face Hibiki's complaints.

So, whether Hibiki was there or not, I had always avoided opportunities to talk to girls alone.

Well, it doesn't matter anymore.

"Indeed, we've been sitting next to each other for two months, but we've never really talked properly."

"Yeah. I'm Yukiyo Fumiko. Nice to meet you."

"I knew your name."

"Really?"

Yukiyo smiled.

I hadn't noticed before, but now that I looked closely, Yukiyo was quite cute.

She wasn't a flashy beauty like Hibiki who drew attention, but her soft and natural charm was very appealing.

Maybe it was because of the curtain that I couldn't see it before.

"Your hair got a lot of attention from the class after you cut it."

"Yeah, but I think everyone will get bored soon. I'm just a novelty, I guess."

"Novelty? Ise-kun, you're funny."

Yukiyo covered her mouth and giggled softly.

It was completely different from talking to Hibiki.

I didn't feel nervous or anxious, and I didn't dread what she might say next or wish to be freed from the conversation.

I even thought I could talk to her for a while longer.

Actually, most of my interactions with Hibiki were more like being scolded rather than having a conversation.

"Actually, I've always wanted to talk to Ise-kun."

"Eh? Why?"

"I've seen you change the water in the vase after school and water the plants on the balcony. I thought you were a kind person."

"No, that's just... something to pass the time. I'm not kind or anything."

I did it out of boredom while waiting for Hibiki after school.

...So, Yukiyo has recognized me since the curtain days.

This fact surprised me quite a bit.

And she said she wanted to talk to me... I don't know if it's true or not.

But somehow, I don't think this girl would lie.

I had no concrete reason, but that's what I felt.

"But today, a lot of girls were making a fuss about how cool Ise-kun is. You'll probably become very popular from now on..."

When she said this, Yukiyo blushed slightly and looked away.

◇◇◇

After school, I wandered around bookstores, game centers, and McDonald's at my leisure.

I no longer needed to send messages to Hibiki about where I was.

Before, I was obligated to do so, and if I forgot, I would receive hours of nasty messages.

Thanks to that, I was terrified of the sound of incoming messages on my phone.

But probably, that fear will fade over time.

Because she can never send me a message again.

As I wandered around, I realized it was already dark.

My mother would be waiting for me with dinner at home.

Thinking it was time to go back, I returned to the nearest station.

Today was a very fulfilling day.

Not just the wandering around, but the school life itself.

I was able to talk to Yukiyo too.

Maybe school isn't such a bad place after all.

I've never thought that before, not once in all my years of elementary, middle, and high school.

As I walked home, humming a tune, I saw a figure in front of the park near my house.

—It was Hibiki.

I wrote a story about the childhood friend I wanted to read.

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