[Warning 15+]
Part Five
―Even If, I Can't Treat You with That Same Energy Anymore
Chapter 172
Saki, Himeko, and Their Classmates
―Even If, I Can't Treat You with That Same Energy Anymore
Chapter 172
Saki, Himeko, and Their Classmates
The "Ding-dong" chime rang, signalin' the start of lunch break.
The classroom, which had been on edge due to the upcomin' High School Entrance Exams, saw its tension loosen just for this moment.
"Ngh, fuu~"
Amidst the classroom suddenly comin' to life, Saki slowly stretched her body and let out a sigh.
In the bustlin' surroundin's, one could see people already scarfin' down their lunch, groups gatherin' to figure out what to eat, and desks left in disarray by those who had already dashed out of the classroom. In a City Middle School, the transition from class to lunch break is fast.
Saki cleared away her study materials while watchin' the scene leisurely. "Now, what to do for lunch, and Himeko-chan..." just as she pondered that far, a shadow was suddenly cast in front of her.
"Yo, Murao."
"Eh? Oh, yeah...?"
When Saki looked up, she saw one of the popular boys in the class. Raisin' his hand with a smile, he leaned his face in close.
Startled, Saki instinctively stiffened her back while leanin' backward.
With the boy's short, refreshin' haircut and a stylish, refined vibe, he was the type Saki would never have encountered in Tsukinose. Even though he still retained much of his youthful innocence, he was quite the good-lookin' boy.
In fact, Saki had heard that the boy was quite popular among the girls in the class, but unfortunately, Saki had never spoken to him before. His name didn't immediately come to her mind either. That's why, not knowin' why he was talkin' to her, she felt strange tension and her face stiffened.
"How about we go to the Fall Festival together?"
"Uh, um...?"
"Oh, of course it's not just me, there are others who want to go too."
As the boy said that and looked behind him, there was a group of boys standin' together.
As Saki gave a polite but confused smile, a few more of them came over, wavin' their hands casually.
"Come on, how about goin' together to deepen our friendship?"
"We're goin' to get busy with High School Entrance Exams soon, let's make some memories. Let's invite Kirishima-san, too."
"Since we're in the same class, we really want to get to know Murao-san better."
"Man, I'm already looking forward to it!"
"U-Um, excuse me..."
And the convo ramped up as if Saki wasn't even there.
Saki couldn't process the situation. Her mind went blank.
Especially since Saki had never been surrounded by boys her own age before.
(H-Hime-cha~n!)
Saki looked for her bestie (Himeko) as if seekin' help, but Himeko was absorbed in her smartphone.
"Too bad, Saki-chan already has plans with us girls, right?"
"Torigai-san!"
"T-Torigai!?" "Wait, seriously?" "Can't we boys come with you girls, too?"
Just then, Honoka slid in between Saki and the boys.
Honoka winked at Saki, then pulled her arm into her chest as if to protect her.
Even though the boys protested, Honoka brushed it off like it was nothin'.
Led by Honoka, more girls started gatherin' one after another.
"We're goin' to talk about that now, okay boys, scram."
"So we're takin' Saki-chan, okay~"
"Come on, Kirishima-chan too... ...wait, hey! Kirishima-chan!"
"Hm? Did you call?"
They were all girls Saki became buddies with through Himeko.
It seemed they had come to Saki's rescue.
"Well, that's that. Let's go, Saki-chan."
"Oh, right."
Wavin' a hand dismissively at the complainin' boys, Honoka pulled Saki—who was still dazed—by the hand and left the classroom.
◇◇◇
Saki was taken to the cafeteria, which also had a kiosk attached.
Even though the initial lunch rush was over, the place was still packed with all kinds of students.
Since Saki lived alone, she mostly ate lunch at the cafeteria.
While wonderin' what to have, Saki ended up stickin' to her usual kitsune udon. It was cheap at 250 yen, and the fried tofu she loved was huge. It was her favorite.
Everyone grabbed their lunch and huddled together at a table.
"That whole thing with the boys earlier? They were totally gunnin' for Murao-chan."
"That was basically a pick-up attempt, for real."
"Murao-san is actually a pretty hot topic among the boys right now."
"If you don't like it, you gotta turn them down properly, okay?"
"A-Ahaha... ...well, my hair is a bit of an unusual color."
Saki said that, givin' her pigtails a tug with her left hand while furrowin' her brows.
In City Middle Schools, there are people who bleach or dye their hair like Himeko.
But Saki, with her naturally pale skin and hair, stood out even more in the city than she did in Tsukinose, lookin' out of place from everyone else. Even more so because she was a transfer student—a foreign object that suddenly invaded their routine.
Saki was aware of it, too. Maybe the novelty of it was playin' a part.
"By the way, what's the real deal?"
"The Fall Festival. Have you made plans yet?"
"Are you goin' with Kirishima-chan's Big Bro too?"
"Eh, that's with Hime-chan... ...wait, Hime-chan, what have you been doin' this whole time?"
"Hm~? This, y'know."
Regardin' the Fall Festival, they had just made plans that mornin'.
As for Himeko, the other person involved, she had been glued to her smartphone since bein' in the classroom, holdin' a new mixed fruit sandwich she'd picked up at the convenience store.
When the convo was steered her way, Himeko showed her smartphone screen with a frown.
Displayed were various types of yukata.
They were colorful and gorgeous, and Himeko couldn't help but open her eyes wide in surprise.
Amidst that, she noticed there were men's yukata as well.
Honoka and the others also wondered about it and spoke up.
"Huh? Kirishima-chan, are you lookin' at men's stuff too?"
"Yeah, I thought I'd check Big Bro's out in advance."
"Ahaha, you two are as close as ever."
"Ugh, it's not like that, I just don't want Big Bro walkin' next to me lookin' weird."
"Wait, Himeko-chan, you're goingl' to the Fall Festival with both Saki-chan and your Big Bro?"
"Yeah, and Haru-chan too. Oh, do you girls want to come along, Honoka-chan?"
Himeko's words made the air go solemn.
Honoka and the others exchanged looks, then looked at Saki and gave an ambiguous smile.
"W-We're good, I think we'd just be a third wheel... ...right?"
"Oh, Nikaidō-senpai is goin' too..."
"Come to think of it, Nikaidō-senpai's known Kirishima-chan since she was little, right?"
"That's a tough rival."
"Especially if they're standin' side-by-side..."
"Yeah, yeah..."
"H-Haruki-san's really famous, huh?"
The name of Nikaidō Haruki, who graduated last year, seems to be famous even in Himeko's grade.
Honoka and the others also react as if it's a bit hard to approach Haruki.
Suddenly, the image of Haruki popped into Saki's mind.
Even in Saki's eyes, Haruki was such a pure and lovely girl that Saki couldn't help but sigh. Haruki would surely look amazin' in a yukata.
Lookin' at Saki herself, how was she?
Imaginin' herself walkin' next to Haruki on that day, Saki suddenly felt intimidated.
At that moment, Himeko asked in a curious tone.
"Hm? Are you feelin' intimidated because you're with Haru-chan?"
"Eh, well, Hime-chan, it's a yukata, and Haruki-san really gives off that 'Perfect Japanese Beauty' vibe~"
As Saki gave that reason, Honoka and the others nodded in agreement.
But Himeko just tilted her head with a frown.
And then, while puttin' a finger on her chin, Himeko said, "Hmm."
"Is that even somethin' you compare?"
"Hime-chan?"
"I mean, Haru-chan is just Haru-chan. Comparin' her to me or Saki-chan is like comparin' red bean, custard, and chocolate taiyaki, right? It's pointless."
"...Oh."
"Look, look, for example, wouldn't these primary colors with vibrant patterns look good on Saki-chan?"
"Eh, um...?"
"Maybe even this super sweet lolita style? If so, the hairstyle too..."
"W-Wait, isn't this a bit too flashy?"
"And look, look at this page! When we go to the city, I really want to try this croissant taiyaki! It says the crust is crispy and it's light!"
And Himeko started passionately explainin' about taiyaki.
Saki blinked, but somethin' clicked in her heart.
Both Haruki and Saki are different people.
Their appearance vectors and attributes are different. It's not somethin' to compare.
They don't have to stand on the same ring.
After all, they were born in different years and have different hair colors.
"Yeah, but you're right... ...maybe it wouldn't be bad to try a little adventure this time."
To see a different view than before, Saki gathered a little courage to take a step forward.
Because Saki learned that such trivial things can become the trigger for the world to change.
"Then, when we hit the city this weekend, let's split this double fresh cream custard and matcha cream bean paste one, okay!"
"Hime-chan, are you still on about that!?"
And Himeko, always preferrin' food over romance.
While Honoka and the others warmly watched Saki fire back a retort, they huddled up in a circle, whisperin' and cheerin' Saki on.
Author's Notes:
Meow.