CH#317

＃317

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~Shizuku’s side~

I somehow understood what he had been brooding over.

Even in casual conversations around us, there sharp words aimed at us.

 

Because they don’t know him, they can easily throw words at him. But at the core of those words lies the criticism and mistakes made by those around him.

But even if we point them out, nothing changes. Well, saying ‘nothing changes’ might be misleading.

 

It might be more accurate to say that it invites misunderstanding.

People around us don’t think that we admire him.

They perceive it as childhood friends and female classmates from the seat beside helping out a pitiful and lonely student.

 

It’s a unspoken understanding that is mistaken, denied, corrected, and never rectified.

We didn’t ask for it; it’s rather bothersome.

 

To be told that it’s a mistake to want to be in a place where you truly want to be and be protected.

So, he… Minato-kun made a decision.

He refused to accept help even from us, without relying on me or Kirasaka-san, even refusing the help of his friend, Ogiwara-kun.

When I reached out and offered to help, I sensed it when he declined.

 

It’s for our sake.

So, while I feel sorry about it, deep down, I’m happy.

Because I know that he values us.

Perhaps others perceive it differently, but I understand because of our long history.

 

Kirasaka-san probably feels the same way.

…I don’t mind if she seemed more dissatisfied when she was refused than I did.

 

What we want to help with, we want to help with.

It’s inevitable for a girl’s feelings.

 

Until everything is over, watching everything as closely as possible is probably the best choice.

One by one, more and more women gather around him, and I reassure myself that the feeling accumulating in my heart isn’t jealousy, and I make a promise with Kirasaka-san not to sneak away…

…Well, whether she keeps her promise with me is questionable.

 

When Nakayama-san, whom we hadn’t interacted with much before, said, “You two are unexpectedly docile” I felt like I could finally let go of something.

Maybe it’s okay to be a little selfish this time.

It’s not just his problem.

It’s our problem.

 

So, I’ll talk to Kirasaka-san and revisit the closing accounts of last year’s farewell party, and I’ll tell Minato-kun that we’ll help him again…

At that time, I thought it would be satisfying if Minato-kun could agree and we could all prepare together, but…

 

“Thank you…”

 

Minato-kun, who said that, had a smile on his face that I hadn’t seen in years.

Perhaps I would have shed tears if Kirasaka-san hadn’t been next to me.

 

Is that all? Others might say so.

But for me, the meaning of the smile he showed after those few words fills my heart.

 

 

~Rei’s side~

Others are just others.

Classmates are just classmates.

Neighbours are just neighbours.

 

But from my perspective, they’re nothing more than nameless extras in the story.

The most important one is the sole protagonist, and the troublesome one is the typical childhood friend female classmate.

 

And then, there’s the student council president I admire like an older sister.

Grades, future prospects, even career paths, they’re not issues for me right now.

 

What’s most important and precious to me is living with a person named Shinra Minato.

To spend time with him until my interest runs out, colouring my boring days.

 

There’s a somewhat bothersome handsome guy wandering around him, but for me, the people around are just that much of a recognition.

But for me, it’s a bit different.

Fundamentally, Minato may hold similar values ​​to mine, but even the nonsensical remarks of the masses weigh on him as his responsibility.

 

From the slight bewilderment I felt in our conversations, it might be the first time I’ve had such feelings.

Just like I did, he might see us as important.

 

That’s what it means for someone like Minato to compromise his beliefs and thoughts to push things forward.

Initially, I dismissed the need for it when we first met, but now I’m happy that he considers us differently.

 

When Minato refused my offer of help, the first emotion that came to mind made me smile unintentionally, and then I felt a bit annoyed.

I smiled because I realized that I had become more of a pure maiden than I thought.

I felt annoyed because him, despite being Minato, was being cocky.

 

At the committee meeting, when a girl named Nakayama tried to act like she knew everything, I secretly contemplated whether to give her thorough education so she wouldn’t dare speak to me again. But apparently, after that, his troublesome childhood friend made up her mind.

As soon as we left the classroom, I proposed a plan.

It was a choice to start cooperating from our side.

 

Of course, I agreed, and we quickly finished the student council work in Minato’s place and began working on our tasks. The day quickly turned into evening.

When Minato unexpectedly waited for us outside the school building and timidly asked for our help in a way we hadn’t anticipated, with unexpected words, expressions, and lack of confidence, I wonder if people would think his words were pitiful?

I didn’t think so, not even the slightest bit.

 

Going to school for that person, polishing myself for that person.

For me, it was more touching than the love confession of a popular drama’s protagonist to hear those words from the heart.

 

Seeing the smile he showed afterward, I clasped my hands in front of my chest to calm the racing thoughts in my heart.

It was a smile that only Kanazaki Shizuku had seen before, a smile I had never seen.

 

If I could see that smile, I would let go of any trivial grievances.

But… next time.

 

I resolved in my heart to monopolize his smile by myself.

 

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<BBX> : Sorry for yesterday, was busy binging Summertime Rendering. :p

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