Chapter 76The Goddess Runs
"Sorry! If you still have time, can't you come?"
When we stopped by from the gymnasium to the classroom and took a break, the senpai-s started packing up their things and left the classroom. When Sasaki-kun asked them about it just in case, they told him that there was nothing else to do and all we had to do was go home. While we were gathering the materials that were still scattered on our desks, a senpai from the Cultural Festival Executive Committee came from the next classroom and asked us to do something for them.
"Eh, are you still working?"
"Just today, there are too many benefactors that we can contact... ...and in principle, there's no point unless we collect the materials on the same day."
"Hmm..., I see."
Although club activities might be more convenient, Sasaki-kun easily gave priority to the Cultural Festival Executive Committee. When I asked him, he later said that the Soccer Club summer matches were over and he had just taken the day off. It's indeed a good time, so I'll try not to say too much about it...
Now I had a reason to stay at school, and a certain idea came to my heart. Sasaki-kun with his small backpack followed the departing senpai, asking them to return after they finished cleaning up. After I confirmed that I had left the classroom, I walked past the Cultural Festival Executive Committee members' classroom and headed for the classroom next to it.
The Disciplinary Committee.
It's been a while since I've been back from the gymnasium. If the members of the Disciplinary Committee also withdrew, Wataru might also be among them. In that case, we could at least exchange a few words.
"...Can't we talk, huh?"
A while ago, maybe I would have never felt this way. A boy who stalked me everywhere and never left my side, no matter how many times I rejected him. He became even more annoying after we entered high school, and I don't think I'll ever be attracted to him anymore. But why? Even though he was there, I couldn't talk to him, and I couldn't help but feel dissatisfied. Why did I feel so dissatisfied?
This is the Disciplinary Committee Headquarters. Perhaps the classroom itself was used as a base of operations, or perhaps it smelled more like an office than any other classroom. Loud noises could be heard from inside. I didn't know why Wataru was participating in the same position as the Disciplinary Committee members, but I decided to take a peek.
The door was open.
"...Ah..."
I peeked inside. Although there were some sounds of babbling and laughter, the members of the Disciplinary Committee were passing around the classroom with some documents in their hands. One senpai was talking seriously, and another senpai was talking about something difficult to understand. Although it looked like any other room where voices were mixed, it seemed to be a very interesting scene as an activity. Perhaps, this is the usual routine for people here.
In the back, among the people using the computers, was Wataru.
It seems that he received a document from a senpai I don't recognize and was typing the contents of the document into the computer while looking at it. His serious figure, the movement of his hand on his chin, from this angle, I've never seen him do anything like this, and I feel like I've never met him. Wataru, he can also make a face like that, huh...
"...He seems to be busy."
Just like when I was in the gymnasium earlier, this doesn't seem like the right situation where I can talk to him. I think Wataru might be here to do that kind of "errand". Perhaps because I got the impression that he wasn't serious, I ended up staring at Wataru who was working like that for a while.
"..."
Not now... Thinking so, I turned my feet back to the Conference Room of the Cultural Festival Executive Committee. Wataru had seen me before. Then maybe he'll come to see me after this task is done. In that case, what should we talk about then? Airi remembers that time and wants to meet him again. I heard an interesting story from Kei? What does he usually do during summer vacation--?
♦
"-kawa-san... Natsukawa-san?"
"Eh?"
I was patted on the shoulder and was somewhat surprised. The person who called me was a female second-year senpai. She looked at me worriedly as if she had called my name many times.
"This is the end of today's assignment. Aren't you too excited?"
"Ah..."
I realized that I was in a daze and hurriedly looked at the document in front of me. I don't remember what I've done up to this point. However, when I looked at the pile of documents in front of me, I realized that I had moved my hands unconsciously. How strange... I had just started.
When I looked around me, I found that people had either finished their activities for the day or were about to leave. I looked around again and found that I was the only one who had documents spread out on my desk. When I looked next to me, Sasaki-kun was looking at me with the same gaze as Senpai.
"From the side, you seem to be too focused on your task. I haven't heard your report yet, but..."
"Oh, Um... is that so?"
Surprisingly, feeling very embarrassed, I immediately put the documents away. I couldn't take it home, so I handed it over to Senpai, piling it up to make it easier for me to continue later. When my eyes cleared, I realized that I was much more tired than I thought.
"I've checked what you guys need to do today. Thank you for today, good work."
"Okay! Thank you for your hard work too, Senpai."
After seeing that Senpai had gone home, I got ready to go home like everyone else did. I looked at my watch and realized an hour and a half had passed since I started working. I was surprised at my concentration. Perhaps it was somewhat different from my usual concentration.
"What are you going to do this time, Natsukawa?"
"Eh? I... ...Ah..."
"Um... ...Actually, I got a phone call from my Senpai from the Soccer Club who said 'Come here right away.'. I told you before, if you don't mind, and want to watch... –Hmm? There is an incoming call?"
—I was about to go home. As I was about to say so, I wondered what I was thinking a moment ago. After these Cultural Festival Executive Committee activities, I was annoyed that I was planning to do something, and I couldn't wait for the time to pass quickly. I tried to remember what it was and how I could clear this gloomy feeling in my chest by thinking about it further.
"Ah, Yuki. What's wrong?"
'-! -!?'
"Whoa! Hey, calm down. Eh? What did you just say... ...No, wait a minute. First of all, you came..."
I walked from the corridor with Sasaki-kun who was on the phone. Maybe it was because the afternoon sun was shining directly into the corridor from the west, and the air felt stale as if it was sticking to my skin. On the contrary, the shadows of the windows lining the corridor looked beautiful. At that moment, the name of the classroom in front of my eyes began to appear.
'The Disciplinary Committee'.
"! I'm sorry, Sasaki-kun!"
At that moment I remembered what I was about to do. I changed my mind again, tried to trace what it was all about, and found myself walking quickly.
"Ah? Hey, Natsukawa... —Oh, no, Yuki, Natsukawa is—"
I peeked into the Disciplinary Committee Headquarters, the door of which was half-open, and saw three or four senpai-s going home. I looked around me, but Wataru was no longer there. The moment I realized this, I felt my heart beat faster as if I were in a hurry.
Could it be that he had already gone home...?
"If that was the case, I'll just give up then." I don't understand why I can't just let it go. I thought I could just go home and return to my normal life at home with Airi. Then I'll go shopping with Mom and we'll talk about what to eat tonight... and we'll have happy days together—.
"...Ugh..."
How does it feel to be a high school girl?
Although I felt happy, I felt a bit uncomfortable living my daily life without any changes. The high school life I imagined would be much more lively.
I felt embarrassed to say so out loud. I was afraid to say anything. Instead of doing something, I could just let my daily life pass by and wait for time to pass with my dear family. Before such happiness awaited me, thoughts of excessive luxury swelled inside me.
"I feel lonely."
I passed the stairs leading to the building entrance and exited into the atrium hallway that led to another building. As I looked out from there, I could see the schoolyard and the path leading from the entrance to the school gate. In the schoolyard, middle school students who seemed to have finished looking around for club activities were gathered in a circle. They were chatting with the high school students who had finished their club activities. I guess it was time to change places, as the entrance in front of the school was not very popular.
"Oh...!"
—No way, there's someone here.
I could hear the sound of something being thrown onto the wooden floor with a thud. The familiar sound of a metal shoe locker lid being closed. And then that boy emerged from the entrance, the heels of his loafers clomping on the floor, the school backpack slung over his shoulder as I peered out. It was hard to see his face, which was hidden under the shadows created by the afternoon sun.
But the shadow was enough to make me take a step.
I went back inside the school building and headed for the stairs. The few classrooms I saw seemed to have been turned off and even locked. The Disciplinary Committee Headquarters also looked deserted.
"...Huh... ...Huh..."
I wonder when was the last time I ran down the stairs in a hurry, with the clatter of my indoor shoes echoing all around me? Looking at my actions rather objectively, I let my body move on its own with the impulse of my heart.
There was no one at the entrance. I guess, the owner of the shadow is no longer here. I couldn't help but run out of the building in my indoor shoes, and hurriedly changed into loafers.
When I got out of the elevator, I didn't see anyone in the scene in front of me. Not much time had passed since then. Although the boy I saw back then had already left the school, he must still be there.
"...Huh... ...Huh...!"
I was out of breath. I was confident in my athletic skills, but my motivation was greater than my physical strength and my breathing became erratic. I ran into the schoolyard and passed the store on the left and the cafeteria on the right, and outside the school gate from here to look for the owner of the shadow.
As I moved my neck right and left, walking quickly, I felt the gaze from the courtyard on the other side of the piloti.
"..."
The way my heart beats has changed. The speed remained the same. However, my breathing, which strangely didn't last long, began to calm down quickly. Although I felt somewhat disturbed, little by little, I could feel myself regaining my composure.
"..."
Why can't I talk to him? Even though it's been a long time since we last met, and we only met briefly. Even though my mind calmed down, I couldn't control myself as I stepped forward, not knowing what to say. Every time I approached him, feelings that I didn't understand overflowed from within my chest.
I forgot how to walk. But I was still walking. Maybe I was walking funnily. I don't want to be seen. But I must keep walking, otherwise, I will never be able to see that surprised face.
Time seemed to go on longer.
Wataru looked at me with a tense posture, paused as he tried to stand up, and after much deliberation, I spoke the words I had been thinking about to him.
"—What are you doing here?"
"...S-Stretching my waist?"
The blunt words were returned to me, taking away all my nervousness.
TL: Reeze27
ED: Reeze27
PR: Reeze27
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