Chapter 202
I Could't Just Let Him Go Alone Like That, Part 2
(TL Note: There was a title change from "The Pervert, Part 1" to the title above, probably because the author realized there was a discrepancy with the previous title.)
I can't seem to take my eyes off Wataru. Although he had managed to get a secure position in the soccer game, for some reason, he wasn't motivated to take that position. Even though it's still a long time away, I think it would be better for him not to substitute as a reserve player if he can. I feel like my spirit has been drained by the unparalleled carelessness in guarding the free-spirited Airi.
Letting out a small sigh, I saw Shirai-san and Okamoto-san entering the classroom through the corridor. Contrary to me, who was feeling rather tired, the two of them seemed to be in a good mood. The problems related to Sasaki-kun seemed to have subsided, and I was glad that the atmosphere in the classroom had returned to normal. It seems that Ichinose-san has managed to overcome it.
(TL Note: Read the LN Vol. 8 Extra 2, yeah it's considered as canon)
As Shirai-san followed me to Okamoto-san's seat in front of Wataru's seat, she talked for a while and then came towards me. She was probably trying to get back to her seat at the back of the classroom by passing my seat.
At that moment, I saw something flying out of Shirai-san's skirt pocket. At the same time as me, Wataru also noticed and turned his head towards Shirai-san.
"Shirai-san, you dropped something."
"What? Oh, yeah...!"
Wataru stretched his right hand to the classroom floor. When I looked in that direction as well, I found that a small piece of cardboard paper the size of my palm had fallen. Wataru picked up the paper and turned it over while tilting his head. Shirai-san, who realized the moment she was called, raised her voice impatiently.
"S-Sajou-kun, wa—...!"
"Okay...?"
Shirai-san extended her hand in a hurry. But it was still too fast to be done in time. Without finishing his words of restraint, Wataru looked at the back side of the paperboard.
"—it..."
"..."
"..."
Shirai-san was silent as she took Wataru's hand. Wataru also fell silent and I could see his hand. A few seconds of silence ensued.
"...This is."
"Don't tell me...!"
Taking a glance at what was on the piece of cardboard. There was a fresh-looking and handsome male character, drawn in the style of shoujo manga. The way his hair fluttered in the wind gave a dynamic impression and highlighted the character's handsomeness. In addition, this feature is on...
"Sasaki—."
"Hey...!"
As the boy's name was about to come out of Wataru's mouth, Shirai-san's movements became trembling. Before I realized it, Shirai-san had already snatched the paper from Wataru's hand. She snatched the paper from Wataru's hand with lightning speed. I've never seen this girl move so nimbly before.
"Sh-Shirai-san..."
"P-Please, ...please, don't tell anyone about this...! I'll do anything...!"
I was chosen as the negotiation partner. While kneeling on the floor, and completely holding on to the side of my desk, Shirai-san pleaded with me in a breathless voice. I subconsciously recoiled at that desperate gaze. I thought, the matter related to Sasaki-kun had subsided, but it seems that it still hasn't subsided.
"D-Don't worry, I won't... ...tell anyone."
"That girl is going to get stabbed someday, by that boy's little sister or something."
Wataru, with a dumbfounded expression on his face, said something scary. Sasaki-kun is indeed popular, but being stabbed by his little sister, how could that happen? Because, you know, "little sister" is a cute existence like mine, Airi.
(TL Note: Yuki-chan is a different kind of little sister, LOL.)
Perhaps relieved by the response that was much calmer than she expected, Shirai-san stroked her chest. Luckily me and Wataru, who already knew how Shirai-san felt, saw the handsome Sasaki-kun depicted on the cardboard paper.
"You're good at drawing, aren't you? Shirai-san is good at drawing, isn't she?"
"That's because I'm still in the Art Club, so..."
"Eh...?"
After composing herself, Shirai-san slowly put this paperboard—which looked like a postcard—into her skirt pocket and walked away. I felt as if I had seen something I shouldn't have. If Shirai-san can still see ahead, I don't think there's anything wrong with that...
Outside the window, I looked up at the blurry sky that was slightly yellowish. I wonder how it feels to still have feelings for a boy even after heartbreak, ...even as a fellow girl, I don't know, and must ask the big cloud.
♦
A few days later. When I arrived at school late because it took me a long time to get ready in the morning —especially because of Airi— Wataru and Kei had already arrived first in the classroom. I got goosebumps as I looked at my watch and realized that I had arrived on time. From now on, it would probably be much easier to change Airi's clothes while she was still sleeping.
As I turned my head towards my seat, my eyes briefly met the eyes of Wataru, who was sitting in front of my seat. A girl was standing in front of Wataru. That's Kei... ...isn't it?
"─Then, I'll see you later..."
"Oh, eh...!?"
When I arrived at my seat, Shirai-san left as if to be replaced by me. It was an exchange as if they had made some kind of promise. Moreover, it seemed that they parted in a hurry. That's suspicious...
"...What are you guys talking about?"
"Eh? Oh, no, I mean... we were just making a small conversation?"
"Why did you use the interrogative tense...?"
I felt I had been misled about something. Looking down with eyes that were, consciously, on edge, Wataru stepped forward and deliberately started facing the notebook where the assignment was. Don't... ...come to me and do it properly, okay?
From what happened a few days ago, how could Wataru and Shirai-san become intimate unbeknownst to me? They don't seem to know each other very well yet. So, even if he's hiding something from me, it probably won't be anything suspicious.
There shouldn't be anything suspicious... right?
"..."
Wataru's back trembled slightly with each movement of his ballpoint. At the end of his left shoulder, his bandaged left hand, still unchanged from yesterday, was placed on the table. I wonder if he will recover well. Looking at Wataru right now, I have a lot of doubts.
This morning, after the first lesson was over, the clouds outside the window became even more suspicious. It was the first cloudy day in a long time in the fall, as the weather was unstable. I didn't want to go out every day, but I thought it would be nice to experience a day like this once in a while. The inside of the classroom, which was lit by fluorescent lights, looked very bright. I felt a bit nervous, as if I was still in the classroom, even though it was already nighttime.
This is not the feeling you get when you're alone. I looked at the seat in front of me for sympathy—but it was empty. Unconsciously, I looked around the classroom to search for him. As my gaze was wandering, I noticed two people exiting through the door at the front of the classroom.
"Eh...?"
Those are... Wataru and Shirai-san...? How come?
If they were heading to the restroom, they were going in the wrong direction. And even if it's just to the restroom, it's not right. That's not a place where a boy and a girl can go together alone. I don't know what the two of them have in common that makes them work together. Even this morning, they seemed to be talking about something together...
"..."
My head was spinning. Unconsciously, I found myself rubbing my hands alternately on my knees and the insides of both knees. I felt embarrassed by my condition and forced myself to stop moving. I don't know why I tried to wait until the two of them came back.
Wataru is in a dangerous situation right now. If left unattended, he could aggravate the injury on his left hand. In other words, it's only natural that someone close to him, at least someone like me, is next to him and watching over him right now.
That's why... I should be next to him...
♦
The two people I was looking for soon appeared. They were outside the classroom, on the left, near the stairs. No students were using these stairs at this hour, which were only used between classes, and to get to and from the school entrance. Why did you choose such an unpopular place...?
'Are... ...you done yet...?'
'...That's right!'
The distance between the two of them was close and they were talking face to face. I couldn't hear them well enough and was trying to catch their conversation. Although I tried to get closer, this angle was the closest I could get to them. I couldn't get any closer. I wondered if I could do nothing but grit my teeth without getting any information.
"...Huh?"
Come to think of it, I finally realized my situation. Why was I sneaking around like this, to see the two of them? And hasn't this kind of thing happened before? I vividly remember the sensation of peeking with my face through the wall so as not to get caught.
What if I've done something really bad this time? Sneaking up behind other people and trying to eavesdrop is a bad thing. Do I deserve to be called Airi's big sis? And this time, unlike before, I can return to the classroom at any time. What if I keep doing things like eavesdropping when there's room for it?
"This isn't good... I think..."
As I whispered this and was about to leave this place, some words entered my ears.
'─Sajou-kun..., you're a pervert, you know...'
'Hehe...'
"—!!"
My body, which was about to move away, returned to its original position. The guilt in my heart disappeared. It was the right decision to sneak up and follow them secretly. I might have the makings of a detective. If this intuition will be of use to Airi someday, I will hide behind the wall for as long as I need to.
My eyes became dry and hard to see due to the increased humidity caused by the cloudy sky. I tried not to blink as much as possible and sharpened my eye nerves on the two people near the stairs. There, with a slightly bashful look and a blush on her face, was Shirai-san who was handing something to Wataru. I recognized the object in Wataru's hand as he accepted it.
Was it the hand-drawn postcard that Shirai-san dropped in front of us earlier...?
Wataru held the few postcards he received as if they were very important, and then he looked down, lowered the corners of his eyes, and made a disgusted face.
'Gosh, ...I've never drawn anything like this before... ...this is my first time doing this.'
'Isn't it good?'
Shirai-san stared at Wataru with hot eyes and a flushed face while saying, 'It can't be helped'. In response to such a gaze, Wataru replied with a disgusting gaze at Shirai-san. Staring at Shirai-san like that, it's impossible, isn't it? Did you make Shirai-san draw such an indecent illustration!?
"W-Wataru...!!!"
"E-Eh?"
Since I couldn't stand it anymore, I jumped in.
ED: Reeze27
PR: Reeze27
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