[Warning 15+]
Part Five
―Even If, I Can't Treat You with That Same Energy Anymore
Chapter 171
Excitin', Isn't It?
―Even If, I Can't Treat You with That Same Energy Anymore
Chapter 171
Excitin', Isn't It?
"Let's all go to the Fall Festival together!"
The moment they arrived in the classroom, a high-energy Iori greeted them.
They blinked in surprise, but since Iori was just bein' Iori, both Hayato and Haruki shared a bitter smile. "Yeah, yeah, sure," they said, brushing Iori off as they placed their bag on their seats.
Of course, there was no objection to the proposal.
After all, just this mornin', there had been talk about everyone going to the Fall Festival.
What should I say to that? — As Hayato thought that while lookin' at Iori, he didn't look excited so much as fidgety.
The image of Iori from the pool the other day came back to Hayato.
So, a little bit of mischief welled up inside him.
"I see, so you want to see Isami-san in a yukata this time."
"Ba!? No, that's, like, how do I put it, eh..."
"Besides, if it's about yukata, don't you see Isami-san in somethin' similar at your part-time job?"
"P-Part time work and private life are different, y'know."
"So, you wanna see your girl all dressed up in a yukata for a Festival Date."
"Wh-What's wrong with that?!"
"Ahaha, nothin' at all~?"
Teased, Iori admitted it while his face turned beet red.
Both Iori and Isami Ema are childhood buddies and lovers.
But they're still awkward and shy, perhaps because they still don't know how to handle the distance between them.
It seems Iori asked them out for the same reason this time.
Even though he was dumbfounded, Hayato couldn't help but smile.
Suddenly, Hayato's eyes met Isami Ema's, who was a little distance away.
With a slightly apologetic look, Ema waved her hand.
It seems Ema has the same intention as Iori.
Just then, Haruki, who had been watchin' both Hayato and Iori, flashed a wicked grin for a second, then put on her fake sweet act again and approached Isami Ema.
"You're really loved, Isami-san. Are you gonna go in a yukata Mori-kun likes?"
"N-Nikaidō-san!?"
"Or maybe matchin' patterns? I'm curious what you'll pick. Isami-san, at your part-time job, you two are so in sync, it's like you're an old married couple... ...right, Hayato-kun?"
"Yeah, you guys are always just sayin' "That" or "This", understandin' each other just by lookin', and the way you two are so careful about where to put things you're carryin'—"
"Hey, even you, Hayato!?"
"Wait, give us the details on that!"
"Wait, wait, wait, hold on—are Ema-chan and Mori-kun actually datin'!?"
"You girls are only figurin' this out now!? I mean, sure, I haven't seen you guys all over each other in class!"
"Like an old married couple already!? Wait, you guys are childhood buddies, right!"
"Kya! Hey, hey, since when did you guys start having feelin's for each other!?"
"Uh, uh, uh!?" "Eek!?" "Whoa!"
Then, the girls who caught the scent of romance came over and instantly surrounded both Haruki and Isami Ema. Their intensity, fueled by curiosity and romance gossip, was insane.
Not wantin' to get caught in the crossfire, Hayato quickly distanced himself, followin' Iori's lead who had already bolted.
Isami Ema was bein' pelted with questions, lookin' flustered.
Maybe it's the gap between this and how she usually acts in class—takin' the lead and pullin' everyone along—that's makin' the other girls even more relentless.
By the way, Haruki was too slow to escape and got roped in, occasionally lettin' out a squeak like "Eek!?" as a response.
Watchin' that, both Hayato and Iori exchanged bitter smiles.
But Iori was starin' at Isami Ema with soft, narrowed eyes.
Somethin' about Iori's expression caught Hayato's attention.
But Hayato didn't know what it was.
Hayato furrowed his brow slightly and asked him.
"Hey, are you sure about this?"
"About what? Ema?"
"That, and the Festival. I mean, if we all go together, well, how do I put it... ...events like this are probably better if it's just the two of you."
"...Well, I guess that might be true."
Hayato quickly swallowed the words that were about to spill out, "If that's the case—"
Iori's tone and expression carried a strangely bitter edge, makin' Hayato hesitate to dig any deeper.
Even so, as Hayato tried to say something, various words welled up from deep within his chest, but none felt right, so he rolled them around in his mouth and swallowed them down.
"I see."
Hayato barely managed to squeeze those words out, then turned his gaze back toward Haruki and the others.
Ema, surrounded by everyone, had her face dyed red like an apple, yet she was still smilin' shyly and happily.
It was a sight that made the corners of one's mouth curl up just by lookin' at it. Iori was lookin' at Ema with the same kind of eyes.
"Well, goin' just the two of us is nice, but a situation where everyone is there, where buddies are around—that's good, too."
"...Yeah, you're right. Since I haven't really had people my own age around until now, I totally get it."
As Hayato jokin'ly remarked, Iori also laughed, showin' his teeth.
Then, after laughin' for a while, Iori suddenly put on a serious expression and cast his gaze downward. He opened his mouth a bit hesitantly, puttin' a hand to his head as if givin' a sheepish laugh.
"Sorry, I made you worry about that."
"Not really. Dunno what you mean."
"Ema, she lost her buddies back in 3rd year middle school and was isolated. So when she's with everyone, with buddies, I feel relieved too... ...haha, maybe it's just my own self-satisfaction, though."
"...Iori?"
And at the words that spilled from Iori, Hayato's thoughts froze for a moment.
It was hard to believe immediately.
Looking at Ema surrounded by girls even now, Hayato couldn't imagine her bein' isolated.
Surely, somethin' must have happened before both Iori and Isami Ema started datin'.
It was somethin' that held various meanin's as well.
As Hayato let his gaze wander, Iori narrowed his eyes and asked Hayato.
"What about you, Hayato?"
"What do you mean...?"
"Y'know, various things. Like about Nikaidō, and Miko-chan too... ...Oh, Miko-chan and your little sis, do you think they'd come if you invited them to the Fall Festival?"
"Oh no, about that, we were just talkin' this mornin' about everyone goin' to the Fall Festival together."
"Oh? Does that mean it's cool if we tag along?"
"I don't think that's a problem. Well, I'll double-check, though."
"Okay. Can't wait, I love Festivals."
"...Yeah, you're right."
Suddenly, the tables turned, and Iori wore a mischievous expression.
"So,"
"Hm?"
"Did you ever thank Miko-chan for takin' care of you?"
"Not yet!"
"Ow!?"
And at Iori, who continued to barrage Hayato with teasin', Hayato pinched Iori's side in protest.
Author's Note:
Baaa~~
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＠"・∀・"＠
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