Volume 4 - Me, Her, and our Changing World
Chapter 12
"It's Friday, so meat's on sale. Maybe something hearty."
After school, Chinatsu and I were deliberately chatting like that in the classroom. We had already discussed the possibility of someone butting into the conversation or not.
That said, Toudou-san had already laid the groundwork by subtly spreading rumors to the more perceptive students with things like ‘Chinatsu’s boyfriend is actually in the same class,’ ‘They don't like standing out too much,’ and ‘They’ll probably make it official soon.’ The idea was that it depended on how socially oblivious people were, but since it was after school, most would probably just observe quietly.
“Erm, Minamino? Why do you look so close to someone like ‘number two’?”
So when Ishizawa turned from his seat in front of me with a dumbfounded look to say that, I wasn't bothered by him calling me "number two." The truth is, I had to hide the fact that I almost laughed, thinking to myself, So his inability to read the room went even beyond what Toudou-san had anticipated.
“Huh? Because Hajime and I are dating. What about it?”
I realized then that Chinatsu had made a decision. Along with revealing our relationship, she was also going to quit trying to be liked by everyone—In other words, she was done with her deliberate "hate control" and the constant, conscious effort of managing her reputation.
Maybe that’s why her tone toward Ishizawa was a bit sharper than usual.
“Hah? ...No, no. That can't be real, right?"
"...You know what's not real? You, Ishizawa, for just walking up and saying that to us."
“Eh? But why did it have to be ‘number two’? At least, why not Satou from Class D?"
Ishizawa’s words were light, as usual. Maybe it was part of his character, but somehow, he always came across that way.
Still, to Chinatsu, it clearly hit a nerve. From a little distance away, Toudou-san lifted her head toward the ceiling as if in silent resignation. Meanwhile, Sakurai-san had her head down and I could tell she was definitely laughing. I was starting to understand her personality better.
"Say, Ishizawa, do you even hear yourself right now? First, you call my boyfriend 'number two,' and on top of that, you're saying this whole thing 'can't be real'? I'm warning you, I am this close to losing my temper."
Fueled by irritation, Chinatsu’s words came out rapid-fire. Ishizawa, either too flustered or too proud, added fuel to the fire. I was trying to stay calm, glancing around, unsure of when to step in but it felt like if I didn’t stop this, things would escalate unnecessarily. So I gently took Chinatsu’s hand to calm her.
“Chinatsu, thanks. But it’s fine… And, Ishizawa, I guess I was also wrong for letting it slide until now, but could you stop calling me that nickname? I get that it was just to tell me apart from the other Satou-kun, but he’s not here right now, is he?”
Ishizawa looked genuinely shocked at my words.
“Hah? You’re saying this now? …Oh, wait, I get it! This is one of those fake boyfriend things that are trendy right now, right?”
That made me burst out laughing before I could stop myself. I’d already been holding back laughter earlier, and what he said just broke me. But it only seemed to irritate Ishizawa even more.
“Hey, what’s so funny? Are you mocking me?” he said as he shifted his gaze from Chinatsu to me and glared.
"My bad, my bad. I'm not looking for trouble with you, really. It's just that, what you said, combined with something I was told beforehand, just kind of hit my funny bone. Anyway, it’s not fake. Chinatsu and I really are dating. Since right before Christmas, actually. I genuinely like her, and she says she feels the same.”
An impressed ‘Oooh’ came from the seat next to me. I chose to ignore the mutterings I could hear, like ‘The quiet guy and the popular girl as secret lovers? I'm so into that.’
Although I feel a little embarrassed, I knew it wasn't good to stay silent here, so I said everything clearly. And then, I asked about the thing that had been on my mind from the start.
"And another thing, even if this was a fake relationship, wouldn't that just mean you're so annoying to her that she’d have to get a fake boyfriend just to get rid of people like you? You sure you’re okay with that?”
“...Hahaha, he’s right.”
The whole exchange had basically turned into a spectacle by now, and the girls sitting nearby were laughing.
Ishizawa glared their way, then looked at us, clicked his tongue, muttered ‘Whatever,’ before storming out of the classroom.
"Yikes. Sorry for saying I thought his cluelessness wouldn't be an issue, my bad... But hey, it all worked out, right?"
Right after she spoke, Sakurai-san and Hojoin-san also walked over to us.
“When Ishizawa-kun started talking to you, Chinatsu-chan looked seriously irritated. But Satou-kun, you were totally holding back laughter, weren’t you? I could see your mouth twitching! I almost lost it too.”
Sakurai-san teased me, and I could only laugh awkwardly.
“Pretty sure you were laughing too, Sakurai-san. I saw you.”
“…I’m blaming Saki-chan for that one.”
“Wait, Yukko? Even Rena was laughing!”
Thanks to the whole ruckus, the mood had actually loosened up. The way Toudou-san and the others were casually chatting with me and Chinatsu made it clear to everyone watching that Chinatsu and I really were together. Still, I could see some of the guys looking my way with expressions of confusion, irritation, or maybe jealousy at this sudden turn of events. I also had a feeling that more people were watching from outside the classroom than before. Well, I suppose what happens from here on out is up to my own efforts.
“…Anyway, we should probably head home for today.”
That felt like good timing. Chinatsu, sensing the same thing, nodded. We stood up together—
—and then something unexpected happened.
“Hajime, you free tomorrow?”
It was Shinji, casually walking into our classroom like it was the most natural thing in the world. We’d never really talked at school before. He wasn’t the type to go out of his way to visit another class, either.
With his short gray-dyed hair, pierced ears, and sharp gaze, Shinji stood out. He had the grades to match, excelled in sports, and came from a family influential enough that no teacher dared to reprimand him. While not exactly a delinquent, he was viewed as the de facto leader of the school's rebellious crowd, with a following of both guys and girls. And yet, perhaps you could call it solipsism, while he socialized with those around him, his demeanor made it seem natural for him to be walking one step ahead, or rather, above them. If the other Satou-kun was the orthodox type, Shinji was the unorthodox, but undeniably influential, counterpart.
“Shinji, you…”
"...What? You guys are going public now, no? Call it a whim."
I wasn't so dense that I didn't understand what Shinji was doing. For a guy like him to come all the way to my class was a clear statement, his way of showing everyone that he considered me an equal. After all, he could have just sent me a text. The fact that he came in person was the whole point.
“Y’know, there’s really no demand for tsundere guys… but yeah, I’m free tomorrow.”
“Whatever you say… then let’s crush those old dudes again tomorrow.”
And so, all I could do was give that reply, my own way of covering up how flustered I felt. A simple "thank you" just wouldn't have felt right. He just chuckled at that. Then, with the same casual air he'd had when he came in, he left the room, which was now, in a way, stirring even more than it had been moments before.
"Shall we head home, too?"
"Yeah... I feel like he just stole the whole show, regardless of our plan. ...Hehe, but seriously, I'm glad. You look so happy, Hajime!"
Chinatsu smiled at me, and I couldn’t help but feel a little embarrassed as I nodded.
And Shinji... that jerk. Acting like he couldn't care less. I wonder how long he was planning to pull a stunt like that? How should I put it... it seemed I was surprisingly blessed with this thing called friends.
On that day, it turned out that Chinatsu wasn't the only one who had found a friend she could be herself around at school; it seemed I had, too.
