Love Story in College

Chapter 9

Tada Banri is trying blue-jeans.

And now, the dressing room of this former second-hand shop has a pungent smell.

There are characteristic, artificial floral scents such as detergent-like floral scents. But on top of that, the half-tatami carpeted floor was filled with the smell of unwashed soles of male feet. As if in answer to that problem, located in a corner of the dressing room was a car deodorant strong enough to kill someone, smelling Hawaiian coconuts.

Coming from the other side of the ventilation fan, there was the smell of lunch and tobacco mixed in, and under it a rather unusual presence drew closer, making itself known. Is it water in the basement? Or is it waste? Smells like a bathroom hidden in there.

Forming a perfect mixture in a limited area of air, the stagnant aroma invades the Banri nerve and mines through the mucous membranes of our noses. Feeling like when we have that terrible car sickness, our heads ache and dizzy, our stomachs squeezed from top to bottom like a washcloth. We could throw up, really.

Although it was bad for customers who only stayed for a short while, didn't the employees think about it at all? Are their noses broken and numb? No, they must think it stinks, otherwise why Hawaiian coconuts? But the fragrant, strong smell of this thing is on the dangerous end, and is actually the worst offender.

Withstanding all this with bad humor, however I quietly stood in a corner of the dressing room, watching Banri change, not being too impressed.

Staying like this, motionless, in the upper corner near the ceiling, I felt as if I was being sucked, as if hypnotized, into that dark, dark-looking shadow. And then cling to it, as if I'm going to get stuck there.

To say that I think of myself as a ghost, in short this place, is haunted …

"… Zzu! … Uoe …!"

Wearing cheap blue jeans for 1,600 yen, Banri looks down momentarily to the troublesome front button. He began to feel nauseous due to his pungent smell, which turned into a cough, and swallowed back something sour. Seems like too much.

From the other side of the closed curtains, "How do they feel?", the store clerk asked sharply. Panicked, Banri tightened all the buttons, opened the curtains, and put on the shoes he left outside the dressing room. She still hasn't worn the New Balance shoes Linda gave her. Today the same Jack Purcells again.

Banri and I turned around and left the narrow space together, taking in as deep a breath as possible. I can't, because I'm a spirit that people can't see, but the store clerk can take care of Banri's materials. Trying as quietly as possible, he breathed desperately through his mouth.

The store clerk admired him, making small flattering noises as he crouched down and fiddled with the handcuffs of the pants with appreciation. Looking at Banri in a flattered manner, her mistress-like hair swayed, saying things like "Heeyy? Isn't that right !? Look, the style looks good on you!", don't use more volume than necessary for her praise to be heard.

However, if I say it myself, the image of Banri in the mirror is clearly more stylish than ever. Even his legs look longer and slimmer.

"Hey, you're right!" banri said, his face slightly blue, laughing foolishly as he turned around, confirming that his back was in order. It looked better than the other blue jeans he had right now, so he muttered, "Why not pick this one?"

Banri, for the sake of the first year drinking party hosted by Oka Chinami tomorrow night, came out to pick up some new clothes.

Shamed at his breaking point, he doesn't realize that the changing room mirror is one of those tricks, which only reflects a narrow image.

The store clerk, making sure not to stand in front of the mirror (because the difference from reality will be revealed to the customer), immediately began trying to adjust the height of the lower end, rolling it up and down. When he told her that there was no need to lift the tip, Banri said, "Then, I'll go with this. I'll take it off", and once again close the dressing room curtain.

It seems that he really decided to buy it. Well, the reflection in the mirror was nice, and it was simple straight pants. What surprises are there for 1600 yen? There aren't many funny stitches or extra things.

But it happens often. He had seen some blue jeans that felt right on one of the used clothing store carts, but when he took them out and unfurled them, his upper legs had Chinese-style tiger-striped embroidery. The side layer was completely covered, from top to bottom, with some strange Tyrolean tape.

Only through the magic mirror does he look very stylish, but all of them assume, you can call it a success. It's okay, Banri, please buy. Through the mirror, I gave Banri the OK sign.

Banri, looking pleased with himself, unbuttoned and was about to take off his pants, but suddenly he stopped moving. His underwear is seen in the style of half-dressed — if someone sees it, they will not be happy: the frozen figure of a bent young man. It seemed like he was looking at the stitches between his legs, inside the blue jeans taking off.

Peering in from behind, wondering what she was worried about, at that moment, shivering pierced my spine. This, definitely …

There, in the middle, around the stitches. Right between the legs, in the crevices, right in that area. Surprisingly the entire area, perhaps black, or perhaps brown, the color stain in question has not been completely removed.

Just in that place alone, for some reason or other .. I don't want to say, for some reason ... That, of course, simply put, what would you call that?

"What is this here?", he asked the store clerk earlier. I myself thought, "He must show how bad the damage is." If he could persuade them to keep it in the store and, without fail, remove the stain for him, it would be beneficial for him. If it doesn't work, then of course he can stop, but it's okay, I think. It did not need to be restrained, and the style looked good even though it was a trick mirror.

But Banri still looked without moving towards the seams, thinking about something in a half-dressed style, lacking the movement to think about it. "What's wrong? If you're worried about talking, otherwise, stop!", I nagged him from behind like that, but Banri didn't notice it. He's not moving. He must be confused whether to buy it like that, or what. "If you're confused, stop! Finish it!", I kept beating him from behind.

Of course, Banri did not pay attention to him at all. Hmm ... she frowned, her head tilted as she thought about it. He was completely silenced by the locker room mirror trap. "Stop it!" It was at that moment that he was pushed a bit hard backwards.

"Ah, ah, ah …!"

… Reflexively, even if I was just a ghost behind him, I covered my eyes against disaster.

It's coincidence. Is correct. I am not responsible for that impulse. Hugely.

Banri, wobbly on his feet, his balance shattered, jumping on one leg, his back exposed, jumped out of the dressing room curtain to the bright shop — and said it. Saying completely. Whoa Ap, ooaaaa …

… But, he was saved because there were no other customers around. Still on one leg, he ran rather forcefully to the previous store clerk, standing nearby. Like that, supported by him as if in his arms, at least he did not fall.

Excuse me .. sorry .. groan in a hurry, Banri, the back is open, embarrassed, running with his socks back to the dressing room.

As a human being, thus far, feeling embarrassed, blushed and so on, were things that he seemed to encounter at every step. Banri, his face strangely dark, took off his jeans in the blink of an eye. He took them off as fast as they were burning. Too soon to see, he gathered his things and went to the cashier. Then,

"This please! Is, ... does it show …!?"

With a horrifying expression, he timidly asked the store clerk. He could see several security cameras watching the store, protecting him from shoplifters. The officer took the money as if nothing had happened, and gave him a receipt. While he folded the jeans with his trained hands, in a very small voice he said, "Eh? Black." Looking at him kindly, he smiled slightly and said, "I didn't see anything. Here it is." He thought of her as a good salesperson, but then did not understand well what she was saying, his heart now thought of her as an angel. Sorry, shop. Excuse me, seriously. But smells and everything speaks badly of you.

Taking the bag that Banri had subdued, and running at full speed up the stairs to the open shop door. Going down the street like that, he ran even harder. He's running away. I saw that the strange things that had just happened had disappeared from his brain.

At that moment her phone rang, and she opened it as she ran.

"Hello, hellooo?", The voice of a woman, sounded a little stingy because of the phone.

'Are you done with your job? As for me, right now I am almost done at the hairdresser! '

From different places in the same neighborhood, Kaga Kouko talks to him. After the third period lecture, Banri and Kouko meet at the same entrance as usual, take the train and come here together. In order to keep up their various tasks, they waved and parted at the crosswalk, the two of them met again after. Kouko to her favorite beauty salon, Banri to the area around the second-hand shop Mitsuo had shown her before.

"I'm done too! … Some, some things happened .. but anyway I'm done! You mean, your hair is trimmed, maybe?"

"No, just treatment. Did you buy something?'

"I bought jeans! Well, I'm at the next intersection! See you soon!"

Panting as he said so, Banri stood waiting at the red light of the pedestrian crossing. Combing his bangs, which fell into his eyes, he took a deep breath. Understood, I will be there too, he replied, cutting off the connection.

Banri's cheeks flushed as if they were covered in blood, his temples, sweating lightly. In that corner of the small town, it seemed like he was glittering.

With a slight cough, Banri stuffed his phone into his back pocket, and placed the bag from the secondhand shop under his arm.

All he knows is that his heart is racing, until you can see him from behind his shirt. It was definitely a memory of his immense embarrassment, plus a little running, and then a promise to go have tea with Kaga Kouko. And whatever it is, without a doubt they will go to the beloved Starbucks again.

In the past week or so, how many times with the same companion to the same Starbucks, has he been drinking the same latte shot (sometimes the original drip coffee is still fresh)? Talk about lectures during club time, talk about things to eat, talk about jokes they see online, talk about magazines that are stacked in stores … It seemed like they had been going around for weeks all over the place, in a repeating circle, having fun, like girls gathering together to feel safer. But in the end, the time to come out has come, and isn't it time to do something else? Hasn't it been a long time since they last went to Veloce? Do such things mean nothing?

Well, wherever they drink tea, whatever they talk about, things like that, as far as Banri is concerned, they don't really matter. Meet as a student, go to college together, have tea, gossip, text, walk side by side, get out briefly — in such a circle, the more, Banri find meaning. Repeating many times it is built, it itself becomes important. That's how I see it.

In his daydream, from the bottom of his heart, Banri innocently believes that someday, this 'bond of everyday bonds between friends' will eventually become something else. Without hesitation, sincerely.

For that reason, he innocently continued to wander around. Repeating it to that extent, Banri believes it strengthens his relationship, and that his hopes are beginning to take shape and get closer to him. He was convinced, with a childlike picky attitude, that if he forced his emotions, everything would be in vain.

As for me, I directed my attention to the passing car and to and fro.

Even spring Tokyo is over.

Warm moist air.

As if spread out in the night of the city, the windows of the shop twinkled like stars. Even the cell phones of passers-by, candles adorning the entrance of the cafe, LED lights adorning the bushes, and even big lights protruding like a river. All the lights were too bright, twitching the eyes.

He could not see the intersection where they would meet from here. Of course, he also could not see Kaga Kouko or anything like that. Although they may be in the same city, to me it seems that they are both very far apart. Are they really able to meet 'once again'?

In addition, Banri still has not started moving forward.

The red light shines.

We stood side by side, still impatiently moving our legs.

* * *

They said the reservation was from 5pm.

Banri thinks they started early, but Oka-chan insists in her anime voice, "But we have everything we can drink for three hours, five to eight, only 1,000 yen!" But the food round added another 1,000 yen. Since it was a chain store with a large billboard hanging near the campus, and it was right along the main road, everyone should have known how to get there.

When forty and thirty came and went, Banri watched the noisy students go back and forth expectantly. His hand went into the back pocket of his new jeans, time slowly came, looking around uneasily,

"Look, Tada Banri!"

Patting his shoulders firmly from behind, he turned around.

"Oh!", he laughed, holding elbows to each other playfully. That is Mr. Two Dimension. They met here after class ended. Banri and Mitsuo also invited him, after arranging to go together from here to the drinking party.

Like Banri, Mr. Two Dimensions have never been to a drinking party anything other than a club recruitment party when they were just starting out, and will be enjoying today. If he was, even a little bit, one of those people who believed the current adage that applies like 'people who skillfully build multi-faceted relationships in their lives get the win', he said', then he couldn't let an opportunity like this just disappear.

As soon as Banri reported panting, "I bought special jeans for a drinking party!", He also went to fashionable streets in Shimokitazawa area ~ Daikanyama. Dressed like a puppet, he wore a thin collared shirt, his battle spoils.

"Hi, Mr. Two Dimensions, that's a nice shirt you're wearing!"

"Heh heh heh! And your jeans, that's what you bought. Looks good."

"Although they look better when I see them in the dressing room. I mean, does it look in good shape? Tonight the drink will be very cheap; maybe even methyl alcohol. Will it make us drunk?"

"I've arranged everything perfectly, of course, although it's good to use hand sanitizer now. You can even use formalin. Ah, for now, shouldn't we stop by the convenience store before we get there? You may want to drink energy. "

"It's okay, I'm coating my stomach with milk. I mean ... eh? Although I just noticed, is there anything about you today that is cooler than usual?

"Oh, this? Have you noticed?"

Mr. Two Dimensions, recently graduated from two to three dimensions, but still validating this three-dimensional world, stood rather conspicuously, combing her delicate hair with her fingers as if she was flaunting it.

"Actually, it's been dyed a little. Is that grey beige ash? Or is it golden chocolate? Or is it some kind of mixture? Anyway it applied to me. For a three-dimensional effect? So I was told, somehow or another . "

"Really !? Uh, for a drinking party today !? You've come that far !? Whoa, what? Are you really trying to make it in three dimensions !?"

"You're wrong! It's coincidence! Are you trying to mess with my head !? What do you mean by 'make it in three dimensions' !?"

"Eh, ah, sorry …"

"If you understand, then watch your mouth! With those words, Lady Word-Power (Klan Spirit, Class Maid, Black Long Hair, Blue Eyes, Little Girl, Genius, Shelter from the rain under the leaves of Eddoe, Quiet except while Exercising – Super Nerds) are sentient beings! Moreover, I have received my bride from the best of the two-dimensional world! It's a matter of trust! "

"Really, I'm sorry …"

"All right then! Don't worry about it, things like that actually happen. I, my sister, an acquaintance who now works as a hairdresser. I was told that she would 'practice hair coloring' .. Honestly, how? Even though he doesn't seem to know what he's doing. "

"Don't worry about that. I get it, I get it, coloring like that looks cool. Hey, what about this staining …"

"Have you ever done that?"

"No, no. I guess not. We didn't do anything like that in Shizuoka."

"You liar! You even got Gundam deployed there. It had military power comparable to what they had in the Tokyo Big Sight (in an emergency, it turned into a robot!)"

"Hmm, I heard gundam is out there, but that big white guy doesn't help with tea leaves."

"They use the general appearance of Turn A. So I heard. I'm on my own."

Mr. Two Dimensions, laughing amusedly, took out the iPhone from a stylish and diagonal leather bag. The touch is quite practiced. The cover, although made to resemble Ayanami's suit, if one closes their eyes, in a long and slender style it becomes Kanaka-sama.

He calls himself Mr. Two Dimensions, and boasting of not being interested in three-dimensional things, but even he brought a little more common sense with him. His real name is Satou Takaya. Tall and slender, always wearing glasses, other than pink and purple, her clothes were stylish; even her hair was neatly combed back. Easy to get along with, he's really a good guy.

"This is a message from Yana-ssan. He was called by the student office and told to keep going. Let's do as he says. Move!"

"Ah, wait a minute. Actually, there's someone else I'm waiting for here. Kaga-san is coming."

"Eh !? Kaga-san !? … Which one is it !?"

Waving both of his hands in the air, mimicking the volume of his hair, "Oof!", he smiled, his eyes opened like plates. Well, he understands what he's saying.

"Yes. Kaga-san is."

"… But, right here !? I mean ... that, that 'mistress', out to a regular drinking party !?"

"He's coming, he's coming. He likes to drink sake. Didn't he drink with you and me back then, in the mountains .. when we all went, to that Crystal God seminar."

"But we did not drink a single drop! I mean, uh, don't you get along well !? Thinking about that, didn't you tell you that you went together to Sendagaya for dinner just like that? !? What's more, you even joined a club together! Hey, what's going on !? What's going on !? What is that !? Are you trying to explode !? "

"But we're still friends. As for our relationship, Kaga-san and I, it was like ''!"

And town!

Capturing that thought, Banri flashed a smile from ear to ear, placed his hands on his hips in a feminine pose and shouted. Mr. Two Dimensions gave him a rough tsukkomi cut to the side, asking him to stop it.

"I mean, it can't be .. but Kaga-san .. look here. Previously, it was all about Yana-ssan, weren't we talking about it? How outcome? How not, there's even a Banri? saying earlier, that Kaga-san wanted to get married, was a bit sneaky, but Yana-ssan obviously rejected it, and dumped her, there was this and that gossip about it … "

"What kind of gossip?"

From behind them came the light and sweet fragrance of the rose.

"Well!", Mr. The two Dimensions leaped backwards, and Banri turned around awkwardly.

"Sorry to keep you waiting, Tada-kun. Long time, no see, Mr. Two Dimensional."

—Alright then. The fact that Banri spoke to Mr. Two Dimensions about Kouko and Mitsuo are easily found.

She had no idea what Kouko was thinking inside, but for now with her perfect smile, she said,

"I don't care if it's about Mitsuo and me. We're just childhood friends. And now not even outsiders; we don't know each other. That's all there is."

Still, things like that are said.

And then, with a smile, she became an extraordinary rose queen.

In the overwhelming spotlight of Kouko's entrance, whether the Two-Dimensional Lord listened to what he said or not, he seemed at a loss for words, standing with attention, watching him in awe. He was not the only one: the other disciples gathered in the hall suddenly fell silent as well, turning towards them in one and two, their gazes fixated, as it were, on their faces, to the glittering Kouko.

Fuller than ever, her curly, dark brown, and long hair shone beautifully, the result of yesterday's treatment. Her delicate satin katyusha was pitch black.

Her skin was perfectly pale white, she was wearing a deep red lipstick, even deeper than blood.

With his eyes sparkling, the light gray eye shadow gleamed, tinged with sadness. In the silky shadow of the collarbone, there was a tight diamond necklace in the shape of a lock, swinging and throwing flashes of light all over.

Relaxedly covering Mr. Two Dimensions, nervous because of how beautiful she was, Banri too, was,

"… Ke, why are you dressed so stylish today, Kaga-san?"

Aren't you very, very beautiful! — So much, it made her instantly sigh. He was not a stranger, even though it was not something he could say and say.

"Eh? It's just ordinary, ordinary."

Kouko said that, but she wore earrings, and a ring on her middle finger as well, with a large diamond sparkling in the shape of a flower. His black high heels were definitely a work of art. The back of her calf drew an elegant, distinctly beautiful dent all the way to her ankle line. His heel is almost four inches. Unfortunately, he is not barefoot. He's wearing black tights again today. He wondered if the snake bite had not fully healed.

Her short-sleeved mini dress ahead of the season has a deep open chest, and a bold white to gray gradation. With a gleaming silk-coated feminine design, it had a high waist, just below his chest, looking as if he was squeezed by a large ribbon. The sudden contrast from the chest to the waist puts emphasis on the right point.

Kouko was so perfect, making her breath gasp.

It was no match for him hanging out in the student hall like this. It's futile. It would be more suitable for him to be in the lounge of a beautiful high-class hotel, with cocktails. Without question.

"So do you: you're not wearing your blue jeans. And the shoes from Linda-senpai? I wonder if you've been wearing it."

"I thought about wearing it, but then considered the risks and changed my mind. That although blue-jeans are used, and those who are dirty will be fine. Instead, Kaga-san, are you okay with drinking sake today?"

"What are you saying, isn't that a drinking party? Didn't we decide to go have a drink !?"

"No, look, your leg. Since you are still wearing tights, it might be a good idea if you hold back. Hey, Mr. Two Dimensional, this guy was bitten by a snake in his own garden! Isn't that terrible?"

"Go back to the real world!", Banri elbowed the Two-dimensional Master, his eyes half-closed in abstraction. "Huh?", The eyes of the Two-Dimensional Sir opened,

"Eh …? Sn, snake? Really? Kaga-san, where are you staying?"

"In Tokyo. The residents of Minato Ward."

"A snake in Minato !? Waw! Come now, in the center of the city, aside from the many greens, it could be said ... was that the Green General? Or maybe Keelback Tigers? Thought it might be an ex that just escaped a pet, like something they import from abroad now and then. "

Kouko, her eyes full of sadness, shook her head 'no' at Mr. Two Dimension.

"That's I don't know. Long, dark, somewhat macho..because it attacks our cats, however, in the mist, I've separated them. I'm used to the feeling of a foot injury now."

With the overwhelming air of a witch, she opened her bag and took out a handkerchief. Spreading widely, she showed a pattern on one side to two men.

On the curved surface of blue and yellow it depicted a bold and clear design, of course what he saw yesterday in Kouko's calf, and which probably represented the conditions of the time. … What Banri understands, but Mr. Two Dimensions may not know what it is. “Hah?”, he said, looking at the handkerchief while tilting his head to one side in confusion.

"Tada-kun, this is Emilio Pucci. Seems like a really bad internal bleeding. But it doesn't seem to be festering, and if it's properly disinfected it'll heal soon."

"really? Then that's good, but did you go to the hospital?"

"At home, because our house serves as a clinic. Even my mother, as a doctor, examined it for me."

"Hey, so that's it. I get it, the hospital. A sort of arrangement, as you might expect: kind of like a princess. Must be your mother, isn't she worried?"

"That's like, 'Soo crippled, you idiot, right?'"

At that rude manner of speaking, the Two-Dimensional Master and Banri both laughed. Kouko, however, looked around uneasily, looking around,

"By the way, hey, umm, .. How about Mitsuo? Didn't he say he was coming?"

"Ah, he's probably a little delayed. So, I wanted to stop by the convenience store earlier."

Hearing Banri's reply, her slightly glistening eyelids decreased slightly.

"That's it", he nodded, the voice. So light that he could not hear her, Banri brought his ear closer to Kouko's mouth. What he heard was, then,

"… But after that he came."

The way he said it to her.

Suddenly Banri was at a loss for words. Staring at Kouko's white face, time stopped.

Or something like that.

He stopped thinking. He felt as if cold water had suddenly poured down his neck.

He thought he was participating because he was invited by her. Does that mean ... maybe that's not true? Since Yanagisawa Mitsuo came, she also thought of coming …? Is it like that?

A suspicious cloud descended suddenly in his heart. Trapped at that moment, understanding everything for his own comfort, in fact, was there one thing he should have expected …? Looking forward to enjoying himself to the point where he gets new jeans, is he, perhaps, a clown?

No no no no no. Forgetit. Banri, confused, shook his head. He cleared his mind of strange bad thoughts, clearly appearing to the front. Because from this point on, the long-awaited drinking party had begun. He shouldn't have darkened her by dragging his own imaginary problems.

Besides, things like that don't matter, do they? Yana-ssan will also come, that's what she said for sure. He even hoped that Kouko and Mitsuo might make up. In general, unless there is not enough of it appearing, people will usually not worry.

On top of all that, it is. He has no room for 'normal'. For now, Kouko must have been fixated on the idea that she would have a casual chat with Mitsuo, the first one in a long time. Now that he thought about it, it was natural, and he might prepare his heart for it. If he sees himself as his friend, then understanding such things he should help him.

In his mind, Banri was able to understand everything perfectly.

But in my heart, it doesn't work well. His voice also came to a halt, and suddenly instead of speaking for him, the Two-Dimensional Master spoke to Kouko.

"If Yana-ssan knew where that place was, wouldn't she be coming soon? Thats okay! He'll be right out, among other things, he's gone to get something from the grocery store for while we drink sake. It must be something I want to drink, Banri will coat his stomach with milk. What about you, Kaga-san? "

Kouko looked at Mr. Two Dimensions were friendly, gently touching his finger to his chin and tilting his head to the side. "Then, I guess I'll probably drink some milk too."

Saying that beside Banri, she smiled wonderfully, like a rose.

* * *

"Wow! Is this the appearance of your drinking party !?"

Put his shoes on the shelf and get on the tatami floor, Mr. Two Dimensions raised their voices. Following after, Banri was similarly shocked.

The room was rather large and formal, fragmented by a sliding screen, and populated by so many noisy first-year students that he imagined going deaf.

"Whoa .. So many people came! Dude, more than I ever thought would come …"

"Eh, what's going on?"

Suddenly from behind Banri, Kouko appears, and at the same time comes a big laugh from the group. During the commotion, the three of them covered their ears.

"By chance, the whole department won't show up …?"

It was still a little earlier than when the meeting should have been. But already, it seemed like there were already forty or fifty people already gathered easily. "And maybe there will be more men coming" Kouko murmured at what may not be a joke.

Chinami, if she remembers correctly, says, "I'll try to call and invite some girls I know." "So, if there's anyone else you want to invite, call them!" 'Everyone, if you want to make friends, it'll be fun!', and so on.

What Banri imagined from the way he spoke: at most ten people, maybe a few more, just gathering acquaintances.

"A .. By the way, let's book our place! Master Two Dimensions, the place in the corner near the door is still open! We have to take it! Lookie! Come on, Kaga-san too!"

As soon as she saw the room filled with people, Kouko looked nervous, but pushed her back steadily, the three of them in line somehow slipped, their backs to the sliding door, she said, to a place with four pillows placed near the end of the table. At that moment, from a group of men sitting nearby, "That, that's the pretty girl …!" "What should I say if he comes here !?" "Talk to him, talk to him!" "No way, no, no, no, no, no way!" — He heard them say, talking amongst themselves while glancing at Kouko. Kouko uncomfortably pretends not to hear, and keeps herself close to Banri, trying to shrink into her shadow.

Banri would try to say something to Kouko, but at such times the people nearby would laugh out loud, and Banri's voice like dust was drowned out entirely. And then, from here and there a voice called out to someone, or there were already voices in the conversation, again a loud laugh, a high-flying voice, speaking at full volume to a cell phone, "Eh !? I can't hear very well!" , overwhelmed by the mere sound, his mouth won't even open.

Somehow, it seems they're getting started too late. The three of them were still silent, looking at each other without thinking,

"Ah, Banri is coming! Although suddenly, excuse me, but why don't you come to this table !?"

Particularly piercing, a high voice like something coming from a young girl in the anime reached her ears.

The petite Oka Chinami brought a few large beers that she got from one of the employees, came towards them, and her legs were wobbly.

"Oooka-chan! Watch, watch! You're overreacting, just one by one!"

In haste, Banri reached out, putting the jug on the table for a moment. Switch to Mr. Two Dimensions, he had her give some to the people at the next table. Chinami, waving her two small hands in the air,

"Wow, they're heavy! And it's so cold! I mean, this time when I was talking, they even gave me uulong! Can you put them in the same place !? Yeah, yeah, like that, thanks!"

Again, he took a deep breath.

He wore a busy organizer style, with sleek blue jeans and a simple T-shirt, with a small nylon bag hung on a slanted, rather random. Chinami, facing Banri on the edge of his pillow, sat quietly and sat down. Like that, his eyes twinkled as if stars were singing. When she roughly removed the rubber band that tied her hair tightly, her black hair fell gently down her soft shoulders. Very carefully combing the beautiful hair it fell on one shoulder, and,

"I've given up! Look at this, all these people! I talked to some friends, then more people showed up than I thought. In the end, we turned out to be such a big family!"

"I panicked" he said, laughing like a child.

Banri is practically in shock, seeing how cute he is even in all the chaos tonight.

"Three cheers for the organizers! Is that hard on its own?"

"With help here and there from everyone, we get to this point. I'm doing fine! But I might need some more help, even from Banri."

"Whatever you say! Coming here now, we were just surprised that more came than we thought. The Lord of Two Dimensions came here today with me. Mr. Two Dimensions, this is Oka-chan. He and Yana-ssan did a film study together."

He introduced Mr. Two Dimensions, next to it, to Chinami. Chinami shouted "Yay!", Lifting one hand up high.

"Th-days, Mr. Two Dimensions! Let's drink too much today! Here, give it five, give it five!"

"A, gu, g-days …! Ca, call me if you need help from me! He he, give me five!"

The two Dimensions began to speak, and gave him a high five. He did it with such feeling that it produced a good sound. With his exceptional hospitality, Chinami gives back a single 'exceptional' touch'.

Soon, Mr. Two Dimensions, gazing happily at the hand touched by Chinami, grinned foolishly, going into meltdown mode, as if before he stretched out the rails of the Galaxy Train, rising through the dimensions. Hi, Mr. Two Dimensions! It's three dimensional! Calm yourself! 'He's dead!', Banri still stabbed him with his elbow.

Chinami, once again supporting Kouko with a smile, said,

"Kaga-san, thank you for coming out! I'm really glad you did! Let's have a drink!"

His courage is American because of his passion. He raised his hand in the same way as he saluted the Two-Dimensional Lord with five high, but,

"…"

Of course, Kaga Kouko does not move like a mountain. His expression turned irritated, he pointed his chin in the opposite direction. This time stabbing Kouko's elbow, Banri,

"… Aren't you going to have fun in a new world, moving forward, everything a-gogo? What would you do if you were Linda-senpai?"

The smell of a sickly rose, she tried to whisper it gently near her ear. Saying "if you're Linda-senpai" has recently become the #1 most effective hot button for her.

Kouko, boiling, tightened her lips into a straight line, but still, something, something,

"… mpf!"

He decided to attack — no, to give him the highest score. Crack down! The sound of a loud impact resounded. Chinami, who was still kneeling formally, closed her eyes. The impact reached far from his palm onto his shoulder.

Now now now, Banri inserts himself between them, following after Kouko gives Chinami a small hand five high. A relatively good voice sounded.

"I mean, Oka-chan, are you going to put your things down? In that chair?"

"N no, no .. I'm on the floor because I can't book a place. Because until the drinking starts, it's not appropriate for me to sit down. Besides, since this bag is so important, I can't let it out of my hands. "

"Royal treasure? Cell phone or what?"

Chinami grinned mischievously, showing her small front teeth. Just then from afar, someone called out, "Chinamii! Your phone's ringing!", and they understand that it's not in the bag.

"After that I plan to see even you. Have fun! Bye bye!"

Just like that, he got up lightly and flew towards where the call came from. Immediately here and there hands waving, names were called, telling that someone was coming or someone was coming, and Chinami never reached his phone. With her tiny, moving form, chatting with everyone, laughing at everything, she really looked busy.

While for some reason heed the situation, Mr. Two Dimensions muttered.

"… I mean, Oka Chinami-chan's face is very cute. His face, isn't it wide? Maybe he's from the north?"

According to Mitsuo's sources, he was of course from one of the metropolitan high schools. Pak Two Dimensions, when told so by Banri, let out a strange sigh.

"Then of course he's amazing. Only with his communication skills. Me, I'm just a fool who doesn't talk. Is this your friend, Banri?"

"Then of course he's amazing. Only with his communication skills. Me, I'm just a fool who doesn't talk. Is this your friend, Banri?"

Banri looked around the area for a moment as well,

"I don't really know them either. Some I know .. ah, the girls might say something about the tennis club when they drink. You guys are almost always 'hanging out' with Yana-ssan from the start. Kaga-san, what about you? "

Although maybe he shouldn't have asked.

Not answering Banri's question, Kouko sat formally in that overly noisy place, looking uncomfortable.

"… What is this 'Welcome to my drinking party! Join my group!' feelings?"

With great difficulty, her beautifully crafted face was forced into a frowning frown. The Lord of Two Dimensions, briefly seeing Kouko like that, did not scold her,

"So it seems, more and more."

Without hesitation, he explained.

"In short, Oka Chinami-chan is a relationship between everyone. If I was suddenly told I would manage the party, I would absolutely never be able to gather such people. 'Our current 'situation', is that we have been 'given' the opportunity to be part of a large group, with Oka Chinami-chan at the center, it seems. "

What Mr. Two Dimensional said seemed possible, and Banri had no choice but to nod as well.

"Of course it seems so. I mean, I don't have the confidence to go around asking people, 'Let's have a party!' Seemed lonely, seemed alone, sat alone, saying, "Ah, someone else is coming now!" and so on for the waiters in apology while talking like crazy on a cell phone, but not finding anyone else … I wonder how Oka-chan made so many acquaintances in just one month? "

"… Even though we are all human in the same year, through the same club with the same students, what is the difference …?"

Kouko muttered in silence, though not in the mood, the three of them observed the spacious room.

Although there had yet to be a toast, the boisterous face of the students, the face and more faces.

Every single one of them, a stranger, even their name was unknown. Something that in one breath can easily spread, even if they never meet again.

Just people like that, this world …

"Are we not binding ourselves in an alliance?"

The one who just opened his mouth was Mr. Two Dimension. Looking at the faces of Banri and Kouko while lowering his voice as if escaping from the commotion,

"If by chance, one of us has to organize a party or something like that, always, no matter what, we all have to be present. That way, there will definitely be at least three people who can gather. the organizer will never feel lonely .. How? I will swear. The day before yesterday I finished writing, from start to finish, an original novel in the future about the beautiful female armored cavalry, 'Blood and Iron Girls! ~ We is the ~ '. By that 347 kilobytes I swear. "

He held his hand down the table.

Soon Banri placed his own hand on top of that hand.

"I'm coming. Then for me, 'BBQ_LOVE' .. with this password I have used for almost any situation I swear by. E-mail, internet, browsing sites, and all the other things, since the time the eight-letter name was always like that. If I betray you, then do it to me. "

Kouko, too, put her white hand on top of the others,

"While I am, well, since I just swore an oath with Starbucks, this time I will swear by Tiffany. My life until now, my life from now on, everything I come into contact with must glitter in the sun, but alone in my world is blue. "

While she swore, she touched the lock-shaped diamond necklace with one hand.

"Alright, everything is together!", Together with the words of the Two-dimensional Master, their combined hands rose once and then parted strongly.

And then, the three of them laughed silently.

Somehow it feels like a secret society, a little fun, a lot like being a henchman. Nonetheless, as far as Banri was concerned, he wanted Mitsuo to be part of the company. If it were just Mr. Two Dimensions, then obviously they would agree to it, but he wondered, how would Kouko accompany him?

He was almost ready to propose it when at that moment,

"Banri! Mr. Two Dimensions! Poor thing, I'm late!"

At the entrance to the room a tall figure appeared. Mitsuo tore his knitted hat while waving towards them.

He saw Banri waving back at him, but suddenly Mitsuo's hand stopped moving. He wondered if he noticed Kouko sitting next to him. That Kouko should have come to the party as well, in fact she had not told Mitsuo.

When everyone made the arrangements back in the student hall, at that time, "Today they will definitely be on good terms", was the extent of the plan. He thought so even before Chinami or anyone could put anything in his ear. But it doesn't seem to be happening. … By email or other means, it would be better to say something, of course. Counseling him earlier, even telling him strangely, "Well, I can't say!", he thought. That time too.

Kouko also looked towards Mitsuo, but at this moment, for some reason, she looked towards Banri. It looks too embarrassing. Mitsuo, who continued further, said "since I've come this far, I'll go in" to the people around, and advance into the room. Saying "I'm sorry, come" as he passed by a few people, he approached.

"Yana-ssan, well, uh, why don't you just sit there now?"

Banri calmly pointed out a pillow that he had ordered for Mitsuo. He wondered about what he would do if he said something childish like "If he were here, I'd be back!"

"… Oh"

Surprisingly obediently, Mitsuo came and sat down next to the Two-Dimensional Master. The Two-Dimension Master and Mitsuo exchanged tentatively, "Hey, man!" and so on, smiling, trying to hide the strange atmosphere. Not long, Mr. Two Dimensions who were a bit uncomfortable lowered their head, hiding what was left of his smile.

Kouko also looks tense, her body stiff, still silent and pretends not to notice.

"… You invited her?"

With a voice as if a small sigh, Mitsuo asked him. Just barely able to act as if it was nothing, Banri replied cheerfully.

"No, Oka-chan got it first. Then, well, I asked her if she was coming with me."

"… is that? You are definitely friends of your previous existence."

Saying, "Well, it seems so. Hey, nice today!" and nodded, when in fact Banri could not look towards Kouko. What kind of face is Kouko making now, he thought. What could he do about this awkwardness? How to set it up is too bad. That the atmosphere of being like this might be his own fault.

For now, he felt better that sake was coming quickly. Even if they were just toast, then after that with its influence, everything would work out. Might as well.

"A, Yana! Already, you have finally come! You said you'd help me prepare, but you're late!"

Chinami grinned at Mitsuo over the heads of the people as she worked uneasily. Mitsuo's eyes suddenly shone and he stood in the middle of the road, putting both his hands to his face in a way that wasn't funny at all. She never showed me such a face. thought Banri, subconsciously looking at that face with a bright smile.

"Chinami! Sorry, I'm sorry!"

"Really now, I've been waiting to make a toast! Well before long, as time passed, a toast ... or rather there weren't enough cups of beer to go around !? Hey already, tell me around! You pour your own drink or whatever, for now move it move it move! "

Chinami, like the little mice, all panicked in the setting for everyone. From the trays lined under the table, the beers were handed out hand to hand, from people close to hand to jugs of beer and oolong tea, he said, everything moves at the right speed.

Grabbing his hand, Banri receives a beer cup, one after another, from the stranger next to him and passes it on. Treated, for a time within reach of Kouko, the Two-Dimensional Lord, Mitsuo and himself, and another, forwarding "Last!"

"Ah, that's too much! We all have ours here!"

"Eh? I think there's one more. I must have miscalculated."

Towards some voices calling from afar, "That's not here yet", yet more mugs were lowered.

That way, everyone quickly handed over the items to drink, with "For me uulong will be fine", "Please get that beer over here!" and so on when the final adjustment is made.

"Everything shared !? Everyone is here, right !? Everything is ready, organizer! Chinami Oka! Let the party begin!"

"I'm really happy to see you all come here today, let's have a really nice party! In strong solidarity with our fellow freshmen this year, we have the attention to enrich our campus life! Need to commemorate our association as classmates, let's celebrate our first meeting! Ah, one word of warning: don't force anyone to drink! … Good !? Isn't that true !? Then, all together now! "

Everyone raised their mugs together, though,

"Ch ~~ eer ~~~~~ s!"

Along with Chinami's voice, every seat in the house is full of energy. An incredible scream sounded.

"Nooo! Cheerful, cheerful, Hey Yana-ssan! Mr. Two Dimensions too, Kaga-san too! Cheeerrs!"

Banri, reaching out without worrying about spilling the contents, tapped his cup towards his friend and gulped his beer vigorously as well. The beer, which was already somewhat warm, gurgled in his throat as he drank it. And then, half wiping his mouth, looking excited, he looked towards the organizer. Emptying what was left in his cup at once, he shouted, "Well!" with all the composure of Texas Long Horn. Receiving a standing ovation from everyone shocked Chinami. Even the Two-Dimensional Master shouted "Great!", his eyes enlarged and round.

If she looked towards Kouko, her handkerchief slung neatly on her lap, she held the cup with both hands, trying to taste it, but beside her, Mitsuo stretched out her arms with all her might. He taps his cup into his glass, "klink". Banri. Or rather, he looked on because it was happening right in front of him.

"Just now, I believe we're the only ones who don't put our mugs together. Things like that bother me. Cheers."

"…Applause."

Their eyes met for a moment, the two childhood friends spoke together calmly.

Since everything you can drink doesn't cost much, the order is always by the pitcher-full, even buckets of ice come piling up, so everyone just uses the pour-it-yourself drinking method.

At first, at each table had placed two jugs of beer, all filled up, but in a few moments they started hearing things like, "There, ever since XX-kun asked for raisin soda, but in a few moments they started hearing things like, "There, since XX-kun asked for raisin soda, so the table is in front of you. "," This, because XX-chan asked the green apple acid, to this table. "," What are we gonna ask for next? " And the next. But for now, the system survives.

But over time, alcohol began to affect the heads of young people. No one knew what they were ordering, not even the servants, if they thought they were carrying nothing, would suddenly bring five or six colorful pitchers in charging, he said, in turn some kind of acid, or some kind of basketball. Even tasting a drink, they had no idea what it was. Line up carelessly on the table, maybe it's just soda water "alcohol taste".

Here and there drunken crap,

"What do you think this is? Sour oranges? Moscow? Whaddysit?"

"Something that makes cloudy .. Calpis, mebbe ~ …?"

"Anyhow, I drank it ~!"

"Shudd mixed it up first ~! Idjit ~!"

"Myahahahahaha ~!"

Like that, they laughed. Clapping their hands and leaning against each other, they laughed out loud.

There were people drinking straight from the pot, people trying cocktails at will, people going around the table greedily eating food, food, people continued to be disliked for offering indecent proposals to the girls, people with red faces lying on the floor, people with vegetables clinging to their eyebrows, and in addition, people with red faces lying on the floor, many other things happen, from toast to around one o'clock, when the group's excitement reaches its.

And then at that moment, talking about Mr. Two Dimension,

"yechs! How many times this .. who put these things here! Disgusting! It doesn't make sense!"

Taking the parsley from his beer cup, he grimaced as if it was his first time.

Someone, in a drunken state, had tried to throw food into a jug that should not exist. Banri, reflexively, peered into his own cup as well. For once, there is no evidence of any foreign substances being mixed. But it bothered him to see the oil film spreading so clearly on the surface.

"Mine is worthy enough, drink from mine."

Elbow on the table, Banri is playing fourth uulong tea ball …? He had dropped something like that onto the last drop. When the cup flipped over, ice fell on his face. Putting aside the jug where the parsley fell, the Two-dimensional Master said, "Don't wannit!", Looking for the next cup of uulong tea balls …? He's got the same pitcher.

The feeling that they had started late, which somehow persisted even after the party started, made Banri and Mr. Two Dimensions felt a little out of it.

The other people in the room had turned into a completely drunk mob; even the chairs were tiredly involved. There were groups that made hoarse sounds, both men and women lying on pillows. With the girls still seriously asking things like, "XX-chan, are you okay ~?", The guys are left alone, so, rolling around here and there in a view that was too painful to watch.

The difference between "Light" and "Dark" is quite clear.

The people are silent, chaotic, and the founder is "Dark". Sitting apart, they were in a "why do I come" state, playing with their phones and games. In "Light", the dumb sound maker is formed into a mixed group, one male, one female, in close pairs, exchanging contact information. They are also "Light".

Of course, Banri and Mr. Two Dimensions in their little corner, clear, dark. In a desolate area, like a desolate island left behind by the commotion,

"… Somehow, all three dimensions are really vibrant ... looks fun …"

While holding a uulong tea ball (?) In his mouth, the Two-Dimensional Master muttered in a voice unable to cut through the commotion.

Banri looked around the area slightly with slightly blurry eyes as well,

"Although I was once a three-dimensional person ... hey ... do you try and talk to someone? To get closer to the group that looks fun there and try to blend in? At least, there was someone there chatting a little about Chinese. "

He tries to point guys and girls out and chat, looking like they're having fun, but, uh,

"… Noo .. there is nothing like it. There's nothing else either. Rather, in this way, such people seem like a wall to me. Today has made me tired. No, no, you and I are in intentional drinking mode. "

In the end, the Two-Dimensional Lord surrendered in the battle.

Stretching out their bodies lazily, stacking up two half-broken pillows to support their backs, they laughed like crazy about how they looked like a carefully moving old man. Enough for me too, said Banri, turning around defiantly as well. Throw himself on the mat, elbow on the pillow,

"By the way, aren't we a couple of guys talking carefully about our drinks? For now, I have never heard of the 'Blood and Iron Girl!' …?"

The mug he was about to grab was suddenly not there, and he missed. Pulling the Banri cup out from under his arm and gulping it down at once,

"… Hmph! Come on, look around you! I'm the one who's pathetic here, with no friends!"

Bam! The one who hit the table with such force was Kouko. Without drinking, Banri looked at Mr. Two Dimensions, looking sad. "What's that?" two Dimensional Sir said.

Facing Kouko is Mitsuo, seated in an Indian style,

"It's not fun! Why, if I can't look around, then I can't do anything!"

He was like a big dog, barking like a madman out of excitement. While chugging his mysterious cocktail, pale from too many things mixed together, he said ". You're the first one!", and once again glared at Kouko.

— You guys are also "Light", right? This doesn't make any sense. To Banri's eyes, this looked like it. They live in a world that looks fun to both of them, male and female.

Those people, doing like this, will continue forever with their useless tapping and fighting. The Two-Dimensional pack, who had long since grown tired of intervening, was amazed.

It had something to do with their previous "approval" that Banri had told Mitsuo. That is, that Kouko from the beginning wasn't the one who organized the party, or, it seems, she didn't even ask to come. It seems Mitsuo started spouting stupidity, which would be fine if he could take it as a joke, but he couldn't do such a clever thing for Kouko, and with "What?" to him, and it turned into a fight. "If Mitsuo in particular had never had the chance to party in his entire life, then this agreement was meaningless, right? For me, since we have a pact, then three people can always get together, even though for Mitsuo even that is nothing, right? Even to be able to do it, it's a matter of 'I have no friends.', right? The deplorable looking thing, left alone, I may have pityed him, but with our consent, since we cannot accept you even if you are on the verge of death, do not wait in line! If that's the case — ", and from there one and one, for at least an hour. As for Banri and Mr. Two Dimensions, they are constantly at odds about who among them is on good terms, and who is really their friend.

Can we be friends, with things like this?

Banri and Mr. The two Dimensions, agreeing with just a glance, turned around and parted slightly, but their voices remained audible.

"However, the point is if Banri and the Two-Dimensional Master are not my friends, then you won't call them your friends!"

"Huh !? Could it be that the Great Lord of Misfortune, 'No-There-Mituo', would come to the conclusion that I am destined to have some friends !? With that in particular, and since you have been removed from the agreement now, why don't you realize that little by little you are becoming a lonely person !? "

"Huh !? Could it be that the Great Lord of Misfortune, 'No-There-Mituo', would come to the conclusion that I am destined to have some friends !? With that in particular, and since you have been removed from the agreement now, why don't you realize that little by little you are becoming a lonely person !? "

"I-diot i-diot! Banri and the Two-Dimensions are friends with no deal! Besides, I have a friend in the film study club! There are no first years in Omaken !?"

"Well! Fi-lm Stu-dies! Don't make me laugh again! Since when did you have an interest in filmmaking? Are you turning to learning such a character? If you want, please explain to me all of a sudden this mania, as a new student, for movie characters, thin things, he said, showing their winding tails shamelessly in front of you while getting ready to run away from you !? "

"Ke, why does this suddenly have something to do with you !?"

"Geez, it looks like I just hurt you! Did I hurt you !? But you haven't seen anything yet, you're really going to get hurt!"

"Hast you! I have to deal with my future! In that case, you become something completely unrelated to me, I hope we never cross paths in the bright future! As for me, I'm going to put a lot of effort into the Film Studies Club in making movies, learning a lot of movies with Chinami, "

"Oka Chinami !? The ultrasonic !? Are you going to make me laugh again !? See reality! You've never been without friends! Just what do you dream of !?"

"I haven't!"

"You don't have it!"

"I have! And it's a good relationship, you just haven't seen it with your own eyes!"

"Then, try and show me, that, the rumors 'will be made friends'! Where was ultrasonic from the beginning? He's not here yet! He's not coming at you at all! In short, it's a matter of 'not saying anything to Mitsuo'! Wouldn't it be better if you understood that !? Or are you planning to become an Ultrasonic stalker !? "

"Huhh !? What are you saying !? Talk like that !?"

… Looking at the frowning Banri, fed up with their voices, the Two-Dimensional Master had the coolness of "ignoring them" to him.

And then pouring Banri sake out of the jug again, toast once more, just two people. Mr. Two Dimensions tried to lean his back against the pillow, stuck to the sliding door, he said,

"Let's !?"

He jumped suddenly, as if surprised.

"What, something happened?"

"So, something hit me pretty hard from the other side of the door …"

Automatically, Banri listens attentively, and there is his voice: a sure thump, continuing strangely. The wall that separates the rooms will soon collapse.

"That's right .. is there a party next door? What might they do, party for sumo wrestlers? And then a drinking exercise? Something like that?"

In any case, they might not have a chanko on the menu .. Banri tried to open the partition carefully, The Two-Dimensional Lord stayed with him, they both peeked. And then, from the gap of a few centimeters wide,

"Eh !? Aren't you Tada Banri and the Two Dimensions !?"

"It's impossible ~ how unexpected ~, good night ~"

— They see hell.

Holy hooch! Banri was surprised, the Two-Dimensional Master shook.

"This is the Tea Ceremony Club …!"

Crying 'It's a dragon nest …!' with the same intonation, he closed the partition at once. 'Hey ~ hu-rt ~' and sign something caught, tentacle tip possible. Without seeing the fear, for the moment Banri pushed something with his palm,

"… Aren't they Sao-chan and Shii-chan !?"

"Isn't their territory just Amataro …!?"

This time, with the main force, they closed the partition tightly. Isn't there a talisman? Is there no holy water? If they only have packing tape, or nails, though dynamite would be better.

When they turned around and looked through the gap, they had seen two faces that were too remembered. They only see a little, but what they see is enough. There, for sure, it was Sao-chan and Shii-chan. … If we assume from the last shock, with "Nee-saan! You smell so good!", that it's a regular Tea Club Ceremony Club, with Tea Club girls as sumo wrestlers or something …

"… Banri. We, don't see anything at all."

"Ah. We didn't see anything. … Ch, applause!"

With the Two-Dimensional Master, even stronger than before, in total despair, they downed the contents of their beer cups. They borrowed power from sake, but all they wanted was to completely forget about the spectacle they had witnessed.

As you might expect, their heads were spinning at the moment they lowered their cups, Banri propping up his exhausted face with his elbows on the table.

"Ah ... already, does not make sense …"

The two Dimensions looked as if he felt the same way, in the same pose, his eyes half closed. In Banri's ears, he could still hear the voices of Mitsuo and Kouko arguing.

"Are you, perhaps, just pretending from the beginning, trying to make me believe that Ultrasonic likes you?"

"Don't think so!"

"This is really the case! When you do, you just think about how much I'm going to get hurt. That's not a realistic thought! It just didn't get to you!"

"You have nothing to do with me! Or rather, how presumptuous are you !?"

"Then, I will make a prediction: Mitsuo will absolutely not be able to confess his feelings (or anything like that) to Supersonic! Because he was not prepared to do such things! If I were to be blown to pieces, Mitsuo would be such a happy like that, it would be the one most pleasant thing in his life, he was a very small man! So, he really wouldn't confess to her! He has no means to reality! "

"Huh !? Are you not one-sided !? In general, you are, .. aah! Enough's enough! Just wait and see …!"

Swallowing the sake from the useless cup close by, Mitsuo's eyes were fixed completely. Drinking roughly the same way, Kouko despite sitting still, swayed as if circling.

Thinking, "Are the two alright!?", but not feeling like meddling, Banri just watched how things were going. Mitsuo, slightly raised from his chair, called out to Chinami.

"Hei Yanaa, Kaga-saan, how's it going! You drink !?"

Chinami, her face slightly flushed, the cup in one hand, half full of something transparent, came obediently. Dropping the pillow next to Mitsuo, probably from being drunk more than before, his blurred eyes seemed to glow.

While walking to Chinami, Mitsuo crawled with his elbow, and suddenly, he,

"Thank you for the gum yesterday! Your feelings and mine will be the same, I'm pretty sure!"

Kouko looked back, saying twice, "There was gum, I got gum a few days ago", and once again turned to face Chinami, he said,

"Chinami! Ilove you! I want to go out with you!"

Kouko spewed out the sake that was in her mouth. Banri jumps. So did Mr. Two Dimension. Staring in astonishment, they looked at Mitsuo. Banri and Mr. The Two Dimensions exchanged glances, conversing with only their eyes.

… This guy .. He ... he went and did it …

But Chinami answered, though,

"Eh? You're idiots?"

Smile, she.

He continued, "How drunk are you?", The smile in his eyes was cold.

Focusing directly on Mitsuo's eyes, Chinami's handsome face did not waver at all.

"… O, o, o …!"

Covering his face, Mitsuo fell backward at that very instant. Rolling, he dashed to the pillar in the corner of the room. "Ooh ..!", He groaned, his voice was low like a soul that had already gone, his body was spinning, one of his socks was undone, his sweater that was wrapped in half came off, his, somehow the zipper of his jeans came half down as well, his honor as a cool guy was no longer preserved. "Good Paradise ..!", Play dead, pray alone, Lord of the Two Dimensional pay attention to the situation.

On one side, Kouko, I'm,

"Uwa ... awawa ... e. e. e …"

He became like a villager who saw a monster.

With his back bent, he trembled while looking over his shoulder and grabbed Banri's arm, "Auwawawa, hawawawa", pointing alternately at Chinami and Mitsuo, which was still a chaotic scene. Moreover, he suddenly cried. His eyes were full, he was crying.

"Wait ... on, there .. Kaga-san, calm down …"

"Pyaaaa .. haauwawawa .. awawawa …"

Wanting to say things like "who are you ..", his personality was indeed a mess, Kouko, still holding Banri's arm, remained seated firmly, he fell down on the table, putting his face down. Kouko died.

"… Hey Kaga-san …"

Kouko's nails bite Banri.

— In a quiet place, Banri thinks that things are already not right.

Because of sake, his vision turned around. He couldn't stop thinking. His cold brain rested in only one place: it was already impossible. Back to just that. It's no longer possible. Seriously. Hey stop. Impossible.

But you, are you still in the same place? It looks like it.

He asked, "In the end, don't you think?"

He asked, "How many hours has it been?"

What am I"? He even got to where he wanted to ask like that. As far as you know, what is "Tada Banri"? Is this a friend?

What is 'friend', in Kaga Kouko's world, but a convenient dumping ground for feelings when goals have been lost?

Did he treat me like that?

… He's been stunned. He was out of rationalization. I'm no longer possible. It's pretty far. So Banri thought.

With Kouko still watching Mitsuo who had gotten to this point, having gotten to a place like this, who had confessed to Chinami, dating was no longer possible.

Dating him is absolutely impossible anymore.

Banri's clothes were bitten by her slender fingers, one finger at a time, one pinch after another. Slightly separated from them, the Two Dimensional attempted to overcome Mitsuo by the hip. From my perspective, you two. Banri made eye contact with Two Dimensions.

"Mrs. Two Dimensions ... ready?"

"Ho hoo .. You're a demon, Banri."

Even the Two Dimensional grasped its meaning, dragging Mitsuo with his hips. With unanimous determination, he opened the partition several tens of centimeters. Then,

"Oh, Great Brothers ~! We would like to present both as a tribute to you ~!"

Not long after she cried it out, then Mitsuo was expelled, passing through the partition line.

"Whee ~! This is a handsome ~!"

"Or rather, this girl has come as a new member of ~!"

"Thank you for the food!" He was suddenly pulled in and his form vanished. The highlight, Kouko is next. "It's another ~", try to push her through, "Mmm ~, a girl!", "Didn't she have such smooth and beautiful skin ~!", "She will be ridiculed, "She will be, bad thing ~", "De , li, ci, ous ~ "... dragged by his feet, previously the dream figure of Banri, as it were, he was slowly swallowed by Tea Ceremony Club. His teary face gazed back at Banri, he shouted "Why ~, How ~", but,

"…"

To the end, scratching the mat with his hands, they pushed it, firmly, and closed the partition.

They sighed.

"That's exhausting. Really and really."

They turned towards Chinami and tried to smile. Chinami separated from them for a moment, and returned their smiles. Her red cheeks glowed brightly. And then, pointing at himself, he said,

"Damn it?"

That's all he said. Banri slowly shook his head back and forth. The two dimensions do the same. Or rather, even as a demon he was fine. He thinks it's okay. That wasn't his fault. Even though they were drunk, it was nothing. Even Mitsuo could not find a way out of it. … That's not a lie! At most, he could talk about it, that was all.

Chinami suddenly lowered her tiny face, and looked strangely lonely. Banri was surprised, but,

"… Noose. Oka Chinami is a camera. The abandoned outsider."

Chinami immediately raised her head. From the small bag that was so important to him earlier, he took out the newest Handycam and showed it to them.

"I want to show you this! Earlier, I took pictures of everyone's face with this."

"Whaa! That's your super precious treasure?"

"Yep. I always wanted this camera, now that I finally bought it, I'm happy! In this way, the faces of various people — this time, the faces of the children I met on campus, I was receiving them in the memorial. Do you mind? "

Banri and the Two Dimensions nodded, and looking completely delighted, Chinami pointed the lens at them.

"Although this is a bit like a silent running exercise, anyway I made a sort of collage this way, trying to limit it to one theme, you know. It was as if it was a movie. Although such things are rather common, perhaps, but in our lives, we will only be freshmen now, right? I think it's worth it, I do. A personal thing; as far as I know that valuable work will be, not so ~ So , um, let's move on. Today Mr. Two Dimensions have become friends, ah, let's hear a word or two from him! "

"U, um, err !? Um, no! I drink! I'm very nearsighted!"

The two Dimensions suddenly opened their glasses. Surprisingly, his face did not look any different without them. Continuing, the lens turned towards Banri.

"Here is Tada Banri. Say something too, Banri, give us something really funny!"

"Hmm !? Ah, .. I, I'm Tada Banri! Me, err .. well,"

His mind was completely empty. Nothing super interesting suddenly flashed through his mind, he muttered, "Why are obstacles that high for me?" while shuddering,

"… Ah, it's impossible! No one came to me at all! For now ... I exist! Somehow I managed to keep my spirit! … And more! I'm sorry, but there's nothing else! I'm sorry, Oka-chan, but I'm not very attractive! "

He waved his hand at the camera to hide. Chinami laughed and turned off the camera.

"… Ah, it's impossible! No one came to me at all! For now ... I exist! Somehow I managed to keep my spirit! … And more! I'm sorry, but there's nothing else! I'm sorry, Oka-chan, but I'm not very attractive! "

He waved his hand at the camera to hide. Chinami laughed and turned off the camera.

* * *

"Kaga-san! Wait, wait, wait, be careful!"

"Kyaaa ~ hahahahahaaaaaaa ~~~~!"

"Where are you going !? Waita minute!"

In the end, like this.

Kouko's bag hanging on her shoulder, Banri chases Kouko in a panic. Kouko, laughing out loud, kind of funny, or maybe crazily, running down the street at night, her skirt flying.

He was so drunk, of course, running quickly while staggered here, staggered there, recklessly causing trouble for a while now for all the grim-faced office workers, the appropriate form they were heading to the train station.

"Ahaha, ahaha, kya ~ ahahahahaha! Chase me, excuse me ~~~ se!"

He instantly pierced through the crowd of people acting like office ladies, "Hey!" "What is this!?", bumping into them recklessly and destroying them. Banri, saying "I'm sorry! Sorry about that! Please forgive us!", Apologizing like a madman, almost crying, chasing after Kouko.

That's grisly. Really am.

"You're really irresponsible!"

"I don't care ! It has nothing to do with me ~! It's fun ~~~! … Urp"

While circling on her tiptoes like a ballerina, Kouko rushed towards the bushes. And just like that, he plunged clumsily, bottommost into the azalea bush. Not long after he was planted in the bushes, a car passed by on the road. Banri, in a panic, will lift it, he said,

"… Whoa …!"

Really, that's the worst. Forced to run as hard as he could after drinking the Uulong ball, there was no way he wouldn't be dizzy, right? Feeling faint, she succumbs to Kouko's weight and falls completely into the azalea bushes.

As she frantically tried to support the both of them and stay balanced, Kouko's breath, smelling of sake, came quietly and warmly to her ears. And then he mumbled something.

"… It, this is so bad .. again, one day, I feel .. urp …"

"Please stop…"

Still stuck deep in the bushes, moving his back up and down with Kouko, who could not get up yet, Banri was impaled by the cold gazes of the passers-by. "Are they students?" "I think they're a threat to society." … Condemned, after being blatantly reviled, Banri, tired of apologizing, snapped.

"That's enough! If you have to vomit, do you have to do it here !?"

Fully opening her expensive-looking brand wallet, Kouko held it respectfully under her face. Swinging her frantically unraveling hair from side to side, Kouko hid her mouth with her hands and with a suspicious-looking movement swallowed something, and then from inside the bag she quickly pulled something out. He thrust it in front of Banri's face.

NAY!

— Using fan yes / no from Omaken.

"Why do you have such a thing now .. hey, wait!"

Kouko, kicking her legs like she was impatient, escaped from the fence in front of Banri, and just holding the fan in one hand took off once again with incredible energy. "That's .. that golden trash!" He pulled his hair in frustration, but still, Banri had no choice but to chase after him. You already know? He went to where he wanted to drop his bag and her too, and was left alone. But he knew that if he left her, rushing down the street like her, he was quite capable of turning into a pitiful pile of scrap.

For now, he felt responsible for her.

He (and 2-D) has thrown Kouko (and Mitsuo) into hell on earth.

And it really is hell.

At first they actually remained at the first party, while practically everyone, including Chinami, flowed into the party afterward, Banri and the Two Dimensional remained together in the tavern. Then, to collect the bones the two sacrificed, they peered fearfully into the next room.

When Banri said, "You're all female monsters", Two Dimensions said, 'Eh? Those people are seafood !? ' … it seems like she heard it as 'fish and shellfish' — but they've already attacked the camp; sao-chan & Shii-chan are no longer there, and the room where the Tea Ceremony Club is still quiet.

For some reason, all tables are moved a little closer together. What was left was three times as many empty pitchers as freshmen drank, and pillows scattered all over the tatami mats. And then, in the middle of that empty space. Mitsuo and Kouko were left there, in a very cruel way. That's too much. Two Dimensional screamed, covering his eyes with his hands. Banri jerks. Right in front of them were the shapes of a handsome man and a beautiful girl who could not bear it.

Cripes, that such a terrible thing could happen in this world …

Although it was on top of their clothes, they had towels tied to them as mawashi. They, most likely, have been forced. … For the fight!

They help both of them, making drinks, they get so drunk that they can't let go of their own mawashi. Two Dimensions took over Mitsuo, and then Banri from Kouko. Kouko drinks water, and temporarily secludes herself in the bathroom, vomiting repeatedly. His spirit recovered slightly, he stood up, faltering. Finally they walked out, and suddenly his mind went wild,

"Kya ~~~~! Ahahahaha! Ahaha, ahaha, a ~ hahahahahaha!"

It's gotten to this.

Running on the night streets, flying along with the fluttering fan.

Kouko continued to run stubbornly, her high heels ringing.

Meanwhile, already running after him, Banri is quite groggy. Feeling bad, his eyes turned around, if he vomited now, he was pretty sure he had already vomited many times.

Currently in the heart of the metropolitan city of Tokyo, wherever you go there is nothing but a smoke-free area, and this area is no exception. Sometimes in the hallways between office buildings, in the deserted gardens as well (i cannot say), almost every space is hidden from view by gloomy, shabby bushes, shabby bushes, in general, it has become a place to hide and smoke. He had no idea who had managed to do it, but a large, fat pile of cigarette butts had been put into the bushes, and from where Kouko flew out now, they even built a bench.

He sighed. "… Al, I've had ... enough!"

Kouko stood on the bench where she jumped, like a prominent woman on stage. Banri was finally exhausted. He fell to the ground as if he was kneeling down, not even his pride existed anymore. Like the islanders who adored Mamra, both his hands were raised in a simple plea.

"Should we go home !? Hmm !? Please, Kaga-san! I'm asking you! Ride with me! Take taxi!"

But Kouko's answer, though,

"No!"

Snap! Putting forward the NO side of the fan, she basked in the light and posed. He barely stood up with his feet unstable, but he was impressive, planted on a bench.

"How did that happen !? What do you mean by doing things like that !? Am I that bad !? If Yana-ssan says 'back', would you prefer that !?"

"No!"

Drunken eyes, smiling mouth.

It's not a matter of laughing. If Kouko doesn't return home, she won't either, it will be dangerous if she loses her sight, and she won't be able to ask for help on her phone. If they get into trouble like this, they won't be able to get out of it. They will be a problem for all the freshmen they drink, and even for the persistent Chinami.

"All right .. enough! Just what should I do !? What should I do !? Could this be something more for me? What about me !? Me, this ... this, doing like this, being humiliated, is it 'being a friend' !? Do you want this !? "

Shaking, Kouko suddenly flipped her fan. Answer: Yes.

— Why, he wonders if it is now.

It was as if he had been stabbed by an arrow. The arrow that Kouko fired on Saturday curved wide in the sky and slowly turned towards the fan. And now, it's down to Banri. Now come to stab his body, over and over again. I don't love you. Banri was attacked by an arrow like that. Blood gushed out, Banri was injured.

As far as his pain was not given substance, he wondered how, at such a time, his body could be tortured. Not wanting to cry, Banri was confused. Unable to stop himself, he slumped to the ground, his hands trembling awkwardly.

What woman is that !?

For myself, for Tada Banri, you did a terrible thing, Kaga Kouko.

Even though I love you, you don't love me. Even though it's not love, the relationship feels good, you said. I want to be a friend, you say. I'm chasing you who's crying over another man. You have escaped from me. However, I can't help but want to chase you. Even by understanding that I will never be able to catch you, I still cannot stop chasing you. And therefore, even if I can save you, it will not be enough for me.

Because he's my friend.

And it was fine, he once thought. For her sake, she hoped from the bottom of her heart to support him. That feeling is a real thing.

But, uh,

"… Would it be okay if we stopped?"

There's limitation.

The kind, the true feelings, the hidden motives he wanted to hide, the regrets, whatever other thoughts as well, this was over. Tired, no more coming out of Banri.

If there is no love, then so be it. There's no point in complaining about it. He has enough wisdom to think so. But, still, still and not yet, and yet — he does not want to take advantage of it.

He could not stand being treated this way, being dumped into a trash can that could comfortably be labeled 'friends'. He would not allow himself fate to be treated all the time like that.

"I want to stop. Be friends. OK?"

Still sitting on the ground, Banri stared at Kouko's face. Kouko, his eyes looking somewhere empty, standing on a bench, doing nothing. While his body was swaying from one side to the other, he looked down on Banri.

Banri took out a hand mirror from his back pocket. It glittered dazzlingly under the light, a beacon of light in his vision as he extended it to her.

Researching a little beautiful things,

"Jawab 'yes'! I don't want to be friends with Kaga-san anymore. After all, you said this and that, but it was always about Yana-ssan. Just about Yana-ssan. Yana-ssan says she loves Oka-chan, and you cry and make a fuss about it... Did you happen to consider my feelings, when I was made to watch what happened next to me? You didn't, did you? If we're friends, just what are you doing what should I do? Those who don't care about me, I can't care either. It's time we parted ways, seriously. Like those. Now, don't you think so? "

Stretching out his arm, he handed it to Kouko.

Kouko, a strange expression still on her face, looked at the mirror of Banri's friendship extending to her.

The fan does not move. Kouko is neither. Banri, impatient, "It's enough", drops a hand mirror into Kouko's bag.

"So, 'yes' is your answer. With that, from this moment on, I am no longer Kaga-san's friend. OK?"

Finally, as if taking a breath, Kouko's mouth opened slightly. Her soft lips, long eyelashes that even from here could look slightly trembling, as if scared. Awkwardly, the fan was directed at Banri.

Nnnnope.

He doesn't understand. He's like that.

"… You don't want to stop being my friend?"

Nnnnope.

"Because being with me feels good? Because I seem to understand awkward Kaga-san well? Love you even when you are useless? And that's why you can be your honest and honest self? Destroying my stubbornness, able to pamper me? "

Yes.

Moving the fan many times, Kouko insisted repeatedly: Yes, Tada-kun!

"Rush. I won't be spoiled! When you dumped me, you even lost the right to hope for what you said from the beginning. I see that extension is convenient for me. I now realize that I was making a mistake. I think I want to understand you, because I love you. I'm trying to be a boyfriend and girlfriend, because I want to go out with you. The feeling was meaningless, "After being banished, this time I will try to support Kaga-san, helping her with her love '. That didn't happen. This really isn't going to happen. Externally never. I can't do that kind of thing .. But for me, eventually I If you become close to another man, I'll feel uncomfortable. Therefore, from now on I cannot care about you. Even though I said it bluntly, I don't want anything to do with you anymore. "

Nah! Nah! Nah! As if slapping something, Kouko waved her fan. His voice did not come out. Simply opening his eyes wide, looking directly at Banri's face, he braced his legs so as not to fall. His white chin trembled, as if he had trouble breathing.

"… If you hate me like that, well, yeah,"

He seemed to have completely finished laughing.

He almost made her laugh. He's almost ready to explode. His own stupidity, playing a clown after a long time. Oka-chan, you can shoot me! Because my current self, perhaps, has reached an all-time record for funny. Because you should be laughing.

"Of course, you want to go with me !? Thats okay! Now, if possible! It's not too late! … How about that !? If now, then since Yana-ssan is not good, then let's campaign for Tada Banri! If now, then I'm allowed! How about that !? Dare, because now it looks like we're doing that !? "

— Kouko, he doesn't laugh at me.

"Wa, uh,"

His high-heeled legs made him wobble,

"…Wait…!"

He spoke as if out of breath.

"Cannot be. I'm not waiting. As for me, I'm not waiting for anyone anymore."

The fan does not move. If the answer is not 'yes', then the campaign is over.

Banri stood up despite his light-headed head and stretched his bag out to Kouko. With an uncertain gait, he finally got off the bench for her. As if clinging to the hand that was holding the bag, Banri jerked his chin, 'Let's go'.

"Even if you don't come, I don't wait. Wherever you run, I won't chase you anymore."

"… Tada-kun …! Me, I …"

Turned to the street, he left. The sound of her footsteps was slow, but she followed right behind him.

"Hey, please .. hey ... listen to me. please ... you're wrong, this is wrong, me, I …"

"No!"

Stopping next to the taxi with the 'available' sign lit up, Banri turned around. To the taxi driver near the open door, he pointed at the frightened Kouko, and said, "This guy needs a ride." After that, just two words.

As clean as possible, with no loose ends left behind. He hoped he would forget everything. You don't love me

If this is goodbye — then goodbye.

"Good bye."