Header Background Image

    “Well then, first—”

    “Takanashi-san.”

    Senpai spoke up overlapping me.

    She looked incredibly serious… Though she still hadn’t let go of my blazer hem.

    So, um, this distance is kind of close.

    “I’m sorry, but we have a lot to discuss, including what happened today, and I’m sure Takanashi-san has something he wants to say as well. However, please let me speak first.”

    “Okay, but let me ask one thing first.”

    She looks calm on the surface, but Senpai is good at hiding things.

    I wonder if she’s really okay.

    “Senpai, are you sure you’re all right?”

    “…Yes.”

    “After everything that’s happened, there’s no need to hold back, you can be honest with me.”

    “…”

    I waited for Senpai’s response.

    “…Well, just a little… When I think back on it…”

    Her hands trembled again.

    From past experience, the only thing I can think of in these situations is to overwrite the shock.

    I’ve never done this with Yuzuha.

    “Senpai, I’ll apologize in advance. I’m sorry.”

    I made up my mind and lightly hugged her. I couldn’t do it on the rooftop.

    “Eh!?”

    Senpai was caught off guard, and exclaimed in surprise.

    But I didn’t let go.

    “Senpai, like I said earlier, those guys won’t bother you anymore. The president has already taken steps to ensure that even the ones who were involved with them will be affected. There’s also that friend of yours.”

    I continued, as if I was persuading her.

    “Besides… I won’t misunderstand you anymore. What you said the other day, you were speaking as the vice president, right?”

    “Yes, I was planning to talk about that now.”

    “Then I won’t jump to conclusions anymore. As long as you don’t mind having me around, I’ll keep helping you.”

    “…Thank you. I’m sorry… Let me stay like this for just a little while longer.”

    She wasn’t crying, but she gently leaned into me.

    I stayed like that until her trembling stopped.


    I waited for her to calm down before letting go, but I was honestly at my limit too.

    I was really nervous…

    “Sorry, I’m okay now. If something else bothers me, I’ll let you know then.”

    She seemed to have calmed down this time.

    “I’d planned to explain everything, but it looks like the most important part, that I should have said first, has already reached you. Even so, I’d still like to tell you properly. Will you listen?”

    “Yes.”

    “Once again, I believe in you.”

    “I believe that you’re different from other boys. Please forget what I said the other day about not showing favoritism. That was something I said as the vice president of the student council.”

    “…Okay.”

    Of course I was happy to hear it, but more than that, I felt guilty for jumping to conclusions.

    “I wanted to make sure you understood how I, personally, see you. Did I… make that clear?”

    Senpai asked, she looked a little anxious.

    “…Yes, thank you. Honestly, I’m really glad to hear you say that. I also have a lot I want to talk about… so can I ask you one thing?”

    “Yes.”

    This was something that’s been bothering me for a while, and now that I know she trusts me, I just had to ask.

    “Senpai, you knew about me, didn’t you? You said you saw me watering the flower bed, but from you treated me well from the beginning. Even though it was our first time meeting. Was it really just the watering thing…?”

    “Ah… That.”

    Senpai looked away for a moment, as if searching her memory.


    Note