Chapter 21

“By the way, why is Kanzaki-san also sitting down? There are only two seats here?”

“If you cram, even two people can sit together. Moreover, it is my freedom to sit, wherever I want?”

Certainly, even though it is a private room, the chairs in the room are slightly wider. If you move closer, there is a possibility of even two people sitting together.

As she said, in this type of celebration party, anyone has the freedom to sit anywhere. While some people do sit next to their friends, it has not been long since formation of the new class. Perhaps, some people have also sat next to someone they have never talked with, before.

However, most people don’t sit next to someone of opposite sex. This was a celebration for school event. It was not a mixer1.

There must also be some guys who would want to sit next to girls and create a nice atmosphere while conversing. However, reality is not that sweet. The seats of the girls and the boys had been separated precisely and only Yuuto is sitting next to the opposite gender.

Entering a private room with girls, it might be considered an envious development… However thinking about it, the one opposite to me, is the brightest person in the year; a mysterious person who people can’t figure out. It was terrifying, holding any kind of strange expectations.

As for me, I have confidence that I won’t get excited, regardless of who sits opposite me. Because, I don’t make any mistakes regarding expectations.

In case, while sitting in front and talking with me, someone says “Eh? Let’s play something?”, first of all, I would look at the surroundings to check if she is not looking at someone and laughing. I, who was persuaded by Kaede that girls are scary, am not an idiot to the extent of falling for traps, here and there.

However in the present situation where someone was close enough, to be sticking shoulders, even my heart beat rose immediately, due to nervousness. However you say that she was just a childhood friend, it doesn’t change the fact that she was a girl.

And above all else, Shizuku is called the most beautiful girl in school.

As much as possible, I tried moving my body away, to avoid touching shoulders. However, I don’t know what Shizuku misunderstood, but she kept moving her body closer, again and again.

“…Aren’t you a bit too close?”

Kirasaka spoke while glaring, in a low voice. If a small child sees it, it will definitely start crying.

“I..It can’t be helped! Since, it is too narrow here!”

“Then leave.”

“I don’t want to.”

Shizuku who replied immediately to Kirasaka, didn’t seem to really have any interest in moving away.

…If a fan of Shizuku saw this scene, won’t I be pierced in the back by a knife, while returning home? As soon as I thought as such, I realized the dreadful situation, I was in. I tried to verify with my eyes, if the sliding door was closed properly.

It’s okay. It is shut tightly.

I tried changing my body position many times, so that shoulders won’t hit. I finally discovered the perfect position where she cannot come closer, by holding down my knees.2 With this, for the time being, the problem was solved.

However, even if you say nicely, every time facing each other, the atmosphere turns gloomy. While I was feeling astonished as well some admiration, I noticed that the outside of private room was quieter than before.

“Where is Kanzaki-san?”

“Is she in washroom?”

I wonder which two people started the uproar, but every classmate started searching for Shizuku.

“Hey.. What to do about this..”

“What to do?”

I gave a cold look to Shizuku next to me, who had also noticed the situation outside. Unlike me, Shizuku and Kirasaka didn’t have any impending sense of crisis, towards the situation. They didn’t held much interest, regarding it.

1. Another name for gōkon.

2. So, I tried imagining how this will look like. Based on the text and what I know, the chairs probably look this or this, but instead of 4 chairs, I expect just two on the opposite sides. Now, as for sitting position, originally Minato and Shizuku should be sitting like this (minus the whole yoga thing) side by side, but later Minato probably sat in form. That is my current conjecture. If someone has a better idea, please feel free to pitch in.