Love, Dreams, Friendship

Word exchange

The next day, Nao is heading to school, remembering a conversation with Atsushi. There was a mix of feelings I felt a little closer to Atsushi, excitement because I had almost no faults in my memory, and a feeling of regret because I was a little disrespectful. And I said it was okay to talk to him, but when I wondered what to talk about, I arrived at school in no time. Then, I saw Atsushi in the shoebox, whether the timing was good or bad.

As Nao tries to say hello, Junto notices Nao and his eyes are perfect. When Nao who was shocked by it, hesitated to say a word for a moment, Atsuto opened his mouth.

"……Good morning"

Atsushi greeted Nao without changing his expression as usual.

"... Ah, good morning."

Nao replied in surprise. After hearing his reply, Atsushi walked towards Stasta and the classroom without showing a smile.

I didn't smile like yesterday, but Nao happily greeted Atsushi and loosened his cheeks. And when I was about to go to class, I was enthusiastically called in from behind.

"A little bit!"

"e?"

When Nao turned around hurriedly, there was Aika with a surprised expression.

"Good morning, Aika. What's up?"

"What's up! Didn't Hasumi say hello to Nao now?"

Aika was excited as if she had found a rare creature. Nao replied, "Yes, alright," while being pushed by the momentum.

"I'm sitting next to you, but I haven't been told from there!?"

"Alright, just calm down a little bit"

Nao calmed Aika down and headed to the classroom to talk about yesterday. Even when I got to class, the story was still going on, so Aika went straight to Nao's seat.

"Hasumi-kun, you know what you're saying."

Although far away from Nao's seat, Aika spoke in a whisper just in case Atsushi was already in the classroom. Nao also lowered his tone to match Aika.

"Yes. Thas right. So, please take care and take care of me..."

"As far as I heard the story, Hasumi-kun doesn't seem like a cold person, as Nao said."

"I guess so. I think that's the attitude in school for some reason."

Nao nodded at Aika's words and continued to say them. After thinking a little, Aika started to speak more slowly.

"... I don't know how true this is because it's a rumor, but it looks like something happened at the baseball club when I was in junior high school."

"At the baseball club?"

"Yes.... It was just a rumor, but Hasumi-kun left the baseball club..."

"e?"

"That's a rumor, a rumor. I don't know if that's true, and it's possible that the story spread with the tail fin ..."

"Sorry, say something strange.Maybe Nao's childhood friend, Kimura-kun, and Kaori are also managers, so I know something..."

"No."

Nao shook his head amidst Aika's words.

"I'll talk to Hasumi little by little to find out. I just wanted to know if it was naturally right or wrong. I want to make sure of it myself."

"Nao..."

Looking at Nao with straight eyes, Aika smiled, "So." And continued the words as impressed.

"Nao is amazing"

"What?"

Nao asked Aika with an expression that she did not understand why she was being praised. Then, Aika looked regretful and answered Nao's question with a sigh.

"I am often affected by rumors and swallowed up by the reputation of those around me. I think it's amazing to be able to see people well by your own standards like Nao."

Nao shook his hand to the unexpected praise from Aika and denied it with all his might.

"No, that's not the problem ... I sometimes believe in rumors and get carried away more often."

"Is that so?"

"Yes, but ..."

Nao said so, glanced at Junto, and remained silent for a bit.

"Somehow, I don't want to be swayed by Hasumi-kun..."

Aika seemed to have guessed something when she heard those words, and she clearly told Nao with a meaningful smile.

"Hasumi-kun is special to Nao."

Nao made his eyes bulge because he did not understand the meaning of Aika's words. Aika laughed gigglingly due to Nao's strange reaction.

"Well, I'll understand soon."

"What?"

"Well, I should also say hello to Hasumi-kun."

Unlike before, Aika did not answer Nao's question, but left and headed for her seat happily.

"... what is it?"

Nao muttered as he watched Aika return to her seat and greeted Atsushi. It seemed like Nao had yet to understand the meaning of Aika's words and facial expressions.