Love Story in College

Chapter 2

Tada Banri is eating boiled eggs.

Thursday, first period. If a person attends several times, the value of "very good" is easy to obtain, then sports science becomes popular. That's five minutes before college starts.

Instead of skipping breakfast because he slept late at night, he carried the two remaining eggs he boiled last night in a plastic bag, and in the fifth row from behind he secretly chewed on them.

I sat in a diagonal chair behind him, watching this scene, but it was really boring. Banri carries a bottle of blue-covered Ajishio with him, which is in his right hand. In his left hand, an egg. Writing with his right hand, he eats with his left hand. Write. Chomp. Write. Chomp. … Really, really, it's a boring sight. Speaking of highlights, he recalled his regret from last night, when he injured himself while trying to crack an egg with his own forehead, and the only result was pain. Changing his mind, he knocked an egg on the corner of his desk. The man sitting near them, the empty seat between them, let out a shocked voice.

Did you bring boiled eggs? Yep. Do you bring salt too? Yep. And next. The conversation was about to develop, but before long the man's friend showed up, so Banri returned calmly to her boiled eggs.

The girls were right behind Banri, so he couldn't hear them, typing notes at each other on their phone screen. The man in front of us petrified his eggs, didn't he? They're ripe. The egg yolk has turned black. He drank too much oolong tea. You can see his lips curled up. Looks like he's carrying salt in a bottle. LOL. And next.

Banri doesn't realize he's being talked about.

Or I'm without a body, seeing it all the time.

In the weeks and days that had passed since the entrance ceremony, it was time for registration, and the campus was filled with students. From confused freshmen like Banri, who receive information about lectures from their seniors at club recruitment events, to seniors in their suits. Holding a large schedule about the size of tatami mats, which almost rip the folds from opening and closing them while strolling the corridors, going to and from the classroom, occupying the benches, sending messages with cell phones.

But the only time so many students come to college is in the spring, I think. After the long summer holidays are over, half of the campus population will naturally disappear. One or two of them, maybe some, maybe even lost their bodies like me. Which means they're dead. I wasn't waiting for him so eagerly, really, but that kind of thing was inevitable.

Better to pay attention too. Unaccustomed to drinking, not accustomed to sleeping late at night, living alone outside the eyes of his parents, new SIM, new friends, with excess energy, living alone outside the eyes of his parents, new SIM, new friends, with excess energy, plenty of free time to throw away — world of youths full of danger.

Sports Science is the most popular easy credit course, and all students get into the classroom. The chairs filled up steadily from the back. After all, no one could see me, and because in my country, I could not affect anyone, no matter where I was, but for some reason, I could not, I feel like I have to give up my chair. A highheel click sounded, and from the end of the hall a girl came and sat on that chair.

Banri's mouth was still bulging full of boiled eggs, he turned around in front of the girl.

The lecture is about to begin, another one comes running into the classroom. The nike barely made a sound. That's Linda.

Linda was still standing in the hallway, not sitting, watching Banri and looking at her profile. Banri didn't notice this. He also did not notice my existence, of course.

* * *

"Today, Kaga-san spoke to me."

"really? What's he saying?"

"He said 'No-kuuun'."

"There are additional syllables", Yanagisawa laughed out loud, while she slipped the cutters along the cover of the cardboard box. Reversing her t-shirt to Banri, she sat as if on top of an old Japanese-style toilet, in an orderly manner cutting packing tape from all four sides of the box.

This place is Banri castle. His name is Neo-Phoenix. This apartment, even if it burns several times, will be reborn from the flame. Room number 204.

A small 1K of twenty square meters, but with a wooden floor. Not a new construction, but relatively new. No need to change commuter line to school, direct connection. Facing to the northeast, but at least the corner room. The room his mother liked was the much larger 1DK, the same rental, but Japanese-style, with bright southern lighting, but was built twenty-four years ago. His big closet seemed comfortable and the room was not too cluttered, but he was a bit nervous because he was older than himself, so he decided to choose this room. Not much furniture and other items, and perhaps because of this, are convenient for now.

Unknowingly looking for bald spots on the top of Yanagisawa's head, Banri sat on a high chair located in the kitchen and entrance, his legs swinging lazily. Although it came from a thrift store, and cost only four hundred yen, it was stable and pleasant to sit in. There were some strange stains scattered over, they were bothering him, but he did not care.

Yanagisawa took the cutter again from where he had placed it on the floor, cutting clean through the rest of the packing tape. Banri's mother, who was worried about her helpless son, had sent him a care package from Shizuoka, almost instantly.

"So, when I told him that I wasn't Takada, he said 'Oh, I'm sorry, ta, Tanaka-kun'."

"He just did 'ta' right. You see, people like that Kouko. He did not pay much attention to others, and did not remember their names. He was always full of things related to himself. Let's see , it's open now. What kind of treasure did your mother send you? "

"I said my name wasn't Tanaka either, but I'll give him a hint, it's two letters, he gave me 'Two letters …? Kaga-kun …?' That's your last name, right? I'm saying. "

"Are you not making it up now? … Oh! Look, Banri!"

Turning to face him with a pleased expression, Yanagisawa lifted the box open with great difficulty, and tilted it towards Banri to look at him.

"Excellent, Tada Mieko-chan, you really know how to choose! What a good choice!"

"Whatis that? After all, how did you know that Mieko was her name?"

"Because I saw the return address, of course! I like Mieko! Look at this ramen! Yakisoba Cups! It is enough to make a man cry .. ah! The pasta! There's pasta sauce too! Calorie Mate pastries, canned tuna, canned mackerel, candy, and also ... what is this? Movie tapes? And there are three more. "

Waking up from the bench, Banri peered into Yanagisawa's hands.

"Ah, that. There's tea powder in it. We grind it at home, so the container is something random. You put about half a teaspoon into a cup with hot water and drink it, you do not need a teapot or strainer. You want it? It is very easy, and you can drink the tea leaves completely, which is said to be good for your body as well. "

"Give me give me! I want to make my body okay! Oh, there's a letter stuck here."

White envelopes gave up on him, Banri sat down again on the bench. On the front, only "From Mom" is written. Letters like willow leaves soaked in rain could be seen.

College's long over, nine o'clock in the evening.

Yanagisawa's condo was about three train stations away from here, and when she heard that a home-care package had arrived for Banri, the man said "see you in five minutes", and fly, at night, by bicycle. Aiming to get something for free, the bastard sneered. That he actually showed up in five minutes was scary.

Yanagisawa seems to have grown up in a prosperous environment; she certainly lives with a certain subtlety, Banri mused. But according to him, there seemed to be something rather grim at his parents' house after he confronted them for taking the outside exam. In any case without any hope of getting a tuition fee allowance, despite having long interviewed a madman for a part-time job, looking for a job anywhere, he still has not gotten, he still has not gotten, and it is still unclear how he will pay his tuition. . (he himself thought it was 'My parents or Kouko's fault!', but the real reason is unknown). For now, as he had no other choice but to stay in the temporary job, he learned a painful lesson about his future.

"What is the letter about? They told you to share everything among your friends, didn't they?"

The letter did not mention such a thing, although Banri certainly intended to share what he got.

"Jaga yourself. Don't skip class. Do not spend too much time on the internet. Get enough sports. Remember that there are responsibilities associated with being an adult. … Like that."

He even showed Yanagisawa five lines of text written on the paper, stuffing the paper back into the envelope and putting it in the kitchen drawer. While she was not looking, Yanagisawa took a few packets of microwave-ready food out of the box.

"ah! Wait a minute Yana-ssan, will you not put your hands on her?"

He planned to share everything he got, but it was a different matter.

"As far as I know, Satou-san is something special. I can't share that even with you, Yana-ssan."

Yanagisawa obediently said "I understand ..", and nodded, quietly returning the ready-to-eat food back to the box.

"Well then, what about ramen? Can I have ramen? How many will be okay? There are four bags with five packs each. A total of twenty."

Five, he thought, but the opposite

"You can have half of what I have …"

For kindness. At first glance, he could see three or four mosquito bites where his best friend's arm stuck out of his shirt.

"Also, if you like sweet things, you can also get all those cookies …"

"really? You gave it to me! Why !?"

"Because you look so pathetic, bear with the mosquitoes that bite you .. However, it's only April …"

"Yes, it felt really itchy not too long ago."

"In addition, when I moved, I brought a lot of stuff. There was a factory in my neighborhood that made it, and a relative of mine worked there, making so-called second-class goods. I can get a lot of stuff from them. So in my parents' house, this was the only thing we could eat indefinitely. I don't think we should have bought these things cheaply all my life. "

"Really !? 'That 'second-grade item' is as good as the real one! Has it been like that since you were a kid? If I were a kid, I'd be dancing around for these things!"

"Little time, ... well ... what is it like?"

"Come, now, you have your own."

"So I did, but .. So I did, but yeah, I guess so."

Yanagisawa's laughter washed away Banri's vague response. He unfurled the yellow plastic bag from Matsukiyo, which was wrapped in a pentagon in the old-fashioned way, and soon, laughing to himself, began to stuff the cake into it.

While Banri was watching the side, his mouth opened slightly. He took a breath, like a child watching a rope jump, trying to figure out when to jump into it, his head slightly swayed. "By the way ..", he's trying to get started. But. A little doubt, being a strange silence, Banri's gaze darkened. —Must be. Stop over. Let's postpone it for today. No more just a little bit of tomb time is.

His chest was filled with air, he had to take it out bit by bit to avoid being noticed. He couldn't say it today either, but it didn't matter. Next time, next time.

With a high-pitched voice, he playfully called out "Yana-ssan!" "Dirty!" his new friend replied with the same falsetto, without looking.

"By the way, can we go back to the previous conversation? What I said about Kaga-san. I met him in the first period today."

"Ah, sports studies? I'm confused about that, but I'm glad I didn't attend."

"Kaga-san asked me to tell her everything about my schedule."

Yanagisawa had grabbed various flavors of ramen noodles, one by one, glaring at him like licking him with hungry eyes, as he decided which one to take with him, but then he suddenly stopped moving. Immediately, still crouching, he turned around slowly to stare at Banri, who was sitting in his chair swinging his legs. Mitsuo's face became serious. After its somewhat delicate features, this sudden lack of expression was somewhat frightening.

"… Maybe, you …"

"No, no, no! I won't tell him, because I know you've been trying to avoid him."

Saying something like "Good", Yanagisawa nodded at her still serious face. Because of how he sat after turning around, one knee on the ground, he ended up looking like a dog trainer.

And then, as if to say "Come on!", He pointed a finger at Banri who bent him several times, gesturing, "OK, keep talking."

"… But, even Kaga-san herself seems to have realized that you are avoiding her. He sighed, 'Every time he saw me, he ran away, he even avoided the same lecture as me. Coming to this campus just to be together with Mitsuo was meaningless this way … '"

"It's not like him, so stop. But yeah, it's like that. Even he understands, sort of."

"'So, since the kidnapping is a no-no, can you provide the information once Yana-ssan registers her class?' she asked. He delayed his registration until you did, because it looks like he wants to match your registration. "

Yanagisawa frowned.

"Of course I refused to do it, right from the start. And then he said something like 'I don't want it to be free.'"

"… She's a girl like that, so she …"

Tsk, Yanagisawa clicked her tongue, her mouth twisted with an annoyed expression, and she turned her head. There was a loud crackling sound, echoing as if from the depths of the underworld. Could it be a threat? But for whom?

"When I heard that, as you expected, I put on a face like 'What does that mean?' Then even Kaga-san seemed to realize my rejection, and stopped nagging me. Even though she was sitting behind me and to the side, she must have felt uncomfortable, "See you," she said and moved to the first row of seats. With no one else in the front row, he was alone, sitting there, and it seemed like he had no one else to talk to … "

"Well, it's not that I have people to talk to, because Yana-ssan won't come" Banri continued, and the scene this morning entered his mind.

Among other students, wearing jeans and hoodies without color, Kouko, wearing what was certainly a brand name, was one or two times more expensive than the others, he said, a bright pink one-piece silk dress, she really stood out from the crowd.

Dark brown hair spilled on his shoulders, in his ears were diamonds studded with flower-shaped earrings. His arms were so white, his wrists were so delicate, his neck was so delicate that it was frightening, he could hardly be more different from the rest of the class.

Moreover, judging from the side, he looked bored, listening to the lecture. Her profile is beautiful without a doubt. Even Banri as a man understood, that he spent his time carefully putting on his makeup. It was not only Banri who paid definite attention to his profile for an hour and a half. But everyone in class — boys and girls, even professors, looked at the rose-scented Kouko, he thought.

There was not a single person, including Banri, to call him.

"When I see Kaga-san like that, I somehow …"

When the lecture ends, Kouko, to escape from the many eyes glued to her, quickly leaves the classroom. Colliding with the other students at the door, he stopped, exuded a smile like a perfect princess, and signed with his hands for her to continue. Seeing that, some students near Banri commented, "Forced.", "He always wore anything but branded items.", "'Because his parents had money, of course!", "That's, or did he change the trick ? "," Some people bought it for him, for sure. ", And so on, throwing biting words back and forth.

People are always hard on anything different.

"Well, she looks so .. pathetic, to me."

Hearing Banri's words, Yanagisawa's eyes opened wide and her face twisted. "Huh?", He made exaggerated movements, and with an expression that could be considered a confused smile, he asked, asking,

"What's? Are you perhaps sympathetic with Kouko?"

"Little, yeah. Really, just a little. You too, if you've seen it you'll …"

"No."

Against the returned words in an instant, "But, look ..." he tried to reply.

"But really! Life is so easy for beautiful girls!"

Overcome by the sudden force of that line, even Banri fell silent.

"He can do whatever he wants, and fix it by making a face that makes others think 'bad things', 'bad things'! You're the same, you were there with me when she attacked us with roses, but since she's beautiful you're not angry, are you? Instead you say things like 'poor stuff', right? He didn't hurt me, even though it hurt, but most of all he humiliated me! What happens if an ugly girl does the same thing? What if a really ugly person lashed you with a bunch of roses? You're gonna be like 'get out of here', am I right? Even if a diarrhea-faced girl had to turn around and chase after me, could you say the same? Can you talk about how sad and lonely he is? You can't, right? Anyhow … "

He stated, pointing at Banri's nose with his finger, but even with that, Yanagisawa still couldn't vent her frustration. Wrinkles swarmed around her nose as she repeatedly tried to move bangs from her face.

"… All and all of them say the same thing, after all it's someone else's problem. 'She's beautiful so don't mind that', 'I envy you', 'I want to be where you are', 'What's your problem?' 'Don't be selfish' .. If you are beautiful, are you automatically loved? Not likely. Seriously, put yourself in my shoes. Everyone is too easily fooled. "

He rudely opened another Matsukiyo bag that turned his back, but Banri also had something to say.

"What's wrong with you? It's not like I've ever said anything like that! I refused to tell you your schedule even after she asked, right?"

He does not deserve preaching. For that, be it all or everyone, there was no reason to put it in the same place.

"It may be true that I sympathize with her because she is beautiful, but that is my right. But I don't think you should go and talk to Kaga-san! If you want to ignore someone, that's your right. But you have no right to make anyone else do it. As for me, when I saw Kaga-san alone I felt sympathy for her. Therefore, I thought that the next time I saw her I would call her her."

"…Is that so?"

He was serious, he nodded.

Today's meeting with Kouko cut off with him gave him a sharp look in denial. That ambiguous conclusion made him feel very bad. That leaves a bad aftertaste.

He has no intention of giving Yanagisawa's course information to Kouko as he wishes, but that's because he wants to give priority to Yana-ssan's wishes. On the other hand, Banri himself holds nothing against Kouko, and he wants to make sure he knows about this somehow. Although she is brought into conflict, even though her friend hates her, although her name is not remembered, although she never even begins to notice, Banri does not hate her for such reasons. He can't refuse it.

As Yanagisawa said, it was probably only because Kouko was beautiful. She may be sympathetic to him because he is beautiful. But, let's just say — If Kouko's appearance isn't so pretty, say, she looks like a bastard , even if she does the same, Banri doesn't think she can hate him. Or you might say, he doesn't want to be like that.

Yanagisawa stopped talking again. He was speechless with a frown, frowning, staring at the bag filled with candy and ramen. Saying "I don't need this", he'll leave, ending the friendship they just built. If that happens, what should he do? Should he apologize? But what about that? Banri awkwardly stared at his own tote. Really, he doesn't know what to do. He has no experience for this situation. However,

"Well, .. You have a point. Just because I avoid Kouko, it doesn't mean I have the right to make you do it either."

His resentment and hunger pulled him in different directions, but it seemed that hunger was getting superior.

His resentment and hunger pulled him in different directions, but it seemed that hunger was getting superior.

Or maybe he really wants to keep his friendship with Banri.

Yanagisawa shrugged and said, “Let's stop this. Kouko is not something we should argue about. ”Is this free stuff, or rather their friendship? Whatever he really felt about the matter, there was no reason for them to argue, Banri agreed. "Yes" he said, and got off his chair.

"It's about being friends."

He stuffed a microwave ready-to-eat food package into a vinyl bag. And, moreover, two of them.

* * *

Banri sees Kaga Kouko in front of the club's recruitment booth in the lobby of the first floor.

It was after the fourth period, let alone on Friday, and many large groups of people poured into the club welcoming parties for new members. All the booths that were nothing more than long tables lined up, got a lot of traffic. It's almost impossible to see where one club starts and another ends. The lobby was crowded with students from all college years mixed in with a huge mess. As they walked chaotically and chatted, some people stomped on Banri's feet violently. He screamed automatically. When he looked back, they were not there. It was so deafening noise in the confusion, that Banri's voice was swallowed without a trace.

In the midst of all those students, Kouko was also alone today.

The air sac, about a meter around, isolated him from the Friday crowd, leaving him alone. His head bowed, the white nape of his neck opened, he read some pamphlets in his hands. To Banri, she looked like a blossoming flower.

No one approached him.

Under the old neon lights, as if wearing a muddy shadow, everyone sank under the shade, but somehow Kouko's silhouette seemed to emit a weak white light. But that same appearance created an atmosphere that made it hard to call out to him. Even gangs of fanatical club recruiters seem to keep their distance from him. There were people peering towards him, passing through a three meter wide area around the air bag, barely clearly pointing fingers at him and whispering. Whether it's restraint, or paralysis, for Banri, it seems everyone avoids "being the first man to talk to him".

Maybe he's overreacting.

After all, they all had to think that he would not talk to them, or that he should be different from them, or that talking to him was useless. That they won't understand each other. To be honest, even Banri thought a little like that.

Today too, Kouko's outer appearance was correct. Her soft curly hair was tied by a black satin hairband, as a rich woman might wear. Light yellow fluffy blouse with matching grey flower skirt, tied high heels sandals. Her soft leather wallet was black, although it had no brand. What a pretty face. What a beautiful figure.

Compared to the pink mini one piece dress the previous day, it seemed like she intended to slightly lower the tone. But, as usual when compared to his other comrades, he could hardly be different. Thinking that this discrepancy was unfortunate, sticking out his neck from the shadow of the pillar, Banri looked at Kouko's slim, well-proportioned waist. Although it cannot be said, that with others passing behind him, he would look like a stork in the — landfill that was almost the same as a pearl from a crab. Almost in contrast to the 'Birth of Venus' which receives blessings from the angels and shines among the waves is from sea wine arranged in an oyster shell, and is presented wearing geta. Yeah, around that a lot.

By the way, not because Banri hid to stare at Kouko as much as he wanted, but because the older girls from the Tea Ceremony Club were right next to him.

This week he and Yanagisawa have been touring all the clubs trying to recruit new members, getting all sorts of free food and drinks. They visit tennis clubs, gourmet clubs and advertising clubs; out of curiosity they even peek at the massive party of other college events clubs.

The drinking party from the Tea Ceremony Club was fun. But, the mood with only tough women (Crying "My dear sister, smells good!", Girls bow so deeply in the tatami room, that they almost push their faces to ************ their seniors are not something you see often ..), and seeing some male members used as slaves is also scary. 'You're there! Bring jugs! ' 'You! Pouring!' 'Hey you! Decide where we're going next! ' 'You caught a fish! Share this to everyone! ' 'Hey, hey! Do you think Tea Ceremony Club is for bowling ?! ' 'Gulp .. Big sister, this is delicious!' Like these. Help men warmly welcomed! Join the club! Let's work together! Such invitation emails filled with flocking swarms of emoticons, mostly sent by old people, were even more frightening.

So, not wanting to be seen by the girls if possible, Banri hides behind the cover of a large standing sign, which is carried by a group that happens to pass by. Bending down, he moved behind the thin plywood, getting closer to Kouko with small steps. For some reason there are large and small holes, right in the right place in the sign.

"Kaga-san, what are you doing?"

"… This, unexpected …"

Hiding his nervousness, he took out his face from one hole, right for a face. He stuck his right hand into another hole, just for the right hand. The front of the nameplate, which contains a full-length portrait of Sakamoto Ryoma, has been removed from his hands and face so people can pose and take pictures there. It was a little surreal that Ryouma, who was brought in with a surprising angle called Kouko, moreover,

"Aah! Ouch!"

Therefore, with the sign brought to the side, Banri's head was almost torn apart. He was scolded by people who realized this. Maybe they all come from history clubs.

Pulling his head and hands, Banri emerged from behind the board. For a moment, Kouko looked at him, confused.

"… Um,"

But soon, her perfect smile like a woman could be seen again. A short conversation that ended ominously yesterday, his loneliness just now, as if declaring "I pretended like it never happened!" she smiled sweetly.

"A-kun. It's okay if I call you that, right? Good afternoon!"

Still wrong.

"Tada, Tada Banri. Since I saw you alone, I wondered what you were doing here."

"Yes, yes, Tada-kun. Good afternoon!"

"If you're looking for Yana-ssan, she has a meeting today."

Kouko blinked and just moved her students, she finally looked at Banri's face.

"Where? … Even if I asked, you wouldn't tell me, would you? Tada-kun?"

Slipping a finger into her shiny hair, she raised her chin slightly. White teeth glittered through his fixed smile, he slowly looked at Banri, from the top of his head to the end of his shoes and back. Folding his hand, giving an unusual impression, he slightly tilted his head to the side, giving off a slight tilt,

"Or maybe you changed your mind?"

Intentionally taking a lot of time, he blinked once more.

He looked at Banri with a perfect smile, his eyes fixed on him, not moving.

However, it did not make him feel hostile.

"No, .. That hasn't changed."

"Of course."

Due to habit, perhaps, she combed her hair with her fingers again.

From those gestures alone, thoughts like "he might be very scary ..." came to my mind. It was probably because his expression, with the corner of his mouth raised, showed no temperature at all. It is not too warm or too cold, too dry or too wet. There was not even a doubt of anything artificial in it. Just with an overwhelming sense of indifference, the smile shone beautifully in front of Banri.

Under the power of those blinking black eyes, Banri suddenly couldn't understand why he felt sorry for her yesterday. As he stood there, his figure swirled around the waist, with good looks, a smile and style to boot, wasn't he perfect? He could not see any weakness or fault. He has a feeling that no one in the world can beat Kaga Kouko.

Already forgotten why he wanted to talk to her, saying, "Then, please forgive me ..", with that like an awkward crayfish, he tried to escape with a sideways stream, but

"Ah, Tada Banri!"

He was caught red-handed.

"What is this, which new club are you heading to now !? Are you probably cheating on us !?"

"We're drinking again today, right? You're coming, of course?"

Someone had grabbed both his shoulders firmly and shook them. He's found. This is a terrible duo from the second year of Tea Ceremony Club Girls. Their names: Sao-chan and Shii-chan. Sao-chan is fierce, and Shii-chan is relatively absent-minded by comparison. These older girls stick like glue to Banri being played with by the baby, who is relaxed and outwardly does not have many less redeeming male qualities. Well, it's not too bad, but as you might expect, it's not too good either.

"Ah .. you .. woman ... Salam …"

"Don't give us 'Greetings'! You spoiled brat!"

Anyway, it's pretty scary. While being stabbed in the rib by Sao-chan, the,

"Come, why don't you take a decision and register quickly for our club? For that, won't you answer our children's emails? They cry because they have no answer! Hm? "

"Come, why don't you take a decision and register quickly for our club? For that, won't you answer our children's emails? They cry because they have no answer! Hm? "

"What!"

Shii-chan sluggishly inserted the tip of the pen into her ear hole. Banri's back is almost ready for a break, aah, please, no more. .. he almost joined the Tea Ceremony Club, when, when, when, he was,

"Ah, sorry. You have friends."

It seems like Sao-chan and Shii-chan have just noticed the whereabouts of Kouko, who has been looking at them with her head slightly tilted.

Releasing Banri, staring at each other's faces for a moment, they looked at Kouko again. Her smile was perfect as usual, Kouko waited for an introduction, covering her mouth like a trained house dog. The two older girls once again looked at each other's faces and said, "Alright, send an e-mail if you like", "Capture you later, Tada Banrii", slow wave, slow wave, and, and they're gone.

Banri, who has no plans to join the Tea Ceremony Club, is rescued by Kouko.

"… What is this about, I wonder?"

His muttering tone did not sound like a monologue.

Kouko placed her slender finger on the side of her chin, as if wondering, and lightly turned towards Banri.

"Hey Tada-kun, what do you think? About this."

"Eh? This was …"

Right in front of him. Kouko looked at him from a short distance away, and once again she gulped, thinking, "He really has a nice face!" Sadly, it seemed that his own gaze was no different than before.

"T, they're two girls from the Tea Ceremony Club, I guess."

"I'm not talking about that."

"They are called Sao-chan and Shii-chan."

"I don't want to know their stage names either."

Slowly Kouko shook her head, getting closer. Then, for some reason lowered his voice,

"… Can you answer me honestly? Putting aside Mitsuo for now, I really want to know this."

Eh? Eh? Once again Banri's nose twitched, tickled by the thick sweet aroma.

"Tada-kun, from the reception ceremony until now, how many clubs have you been invited to join?"

She wears the scent of roses again today — recover her reason, she returns from a dangerous place where her brain will melt. Kouko is waiting for an answer.

"Please, answer. How many?"

"'How much', so to speak ..err, well .. I have visited about five or six recruitment meetings .. including the times when I came back at once, and when I slipped into afterparties, umm umm, but"

Banri, trying to cover up, that even though he was not a child anymore, he became very nervous in this kind of situation, desperately searching for his memory, but, instead,

"The number of invitations itself, exactly, well .. there's no way I can remember everything, and what counts as an invitation is also unclear, and there's a lot of time they just call me."

Since the reception ceremony, the chaotic recruitment meetings have not stopped. As soon as the freshmen graduated in front of the club booth, the older students of each club huddled like hyenas. Both Banri and Yanagisawa, they were arrested many times, leaflets stuck in their pockets, and invited to a welcoming party. At least they should visit places they like. Clubs coming from affiliated schools, with established connections may engage in smarter and more promising activities.

"…Insumption…"

Skillfully keeping her smile, Kouko continued,

"That ... is very much, very much, yes …?"

"Kaga-san ... are you the Ruu of Ooshiba …?"

"I'm m…"

Quickly looking in both directions, checking the beach was clear, he rolled up the leaflets from several places in his hand, and placed them on Banri's right ear. And then in an unexpected low voice, as if she was admitting something shameful,

"Not one."

His breathing was like burning his right ear.

Seemingly unperturbed by Banri's surprised expression, Kouko retreated, one hand on her hip. Through the corner of her mouth that was raised beautifully, her white teeth shone. Despite the pose, her smile was clearly like that of an actress,

"… I wonder why? Why, why didn't anyone raise their voice to call me?"

Jesus, thought.

He could not hide the slight trembling of his tone, coming from his tilted head, showing his inability to withstand the isolation. At least that's what Banri said.

Kouko's form exudes loneliness, and reality is brought home to her once again. "Life is so easy for beautiful girls!", He remembers even Yanagisawa's voice screaming. Everyone is too gullible! — Really?

Am I fooled here for sure?

But, for now, that the woman was in front of him in the flesh, Banri's heart was wounded. That thing is certain.

"It's not like I'm interested in the club! I don't want to be invited. I don't even think about things like joining forces with, if I can't be with Mitsuo. But, somehow, I'm very much ... I don't know how I should say this .. Since coming here, however, I've been completely … "

Very lonely, very sad. I see,

"… to be invisible, I feel. As I was ignored, that's how I felt. And not just by Mitsuo. … By everyone around me."

Message received, loud and clear! Leave me! Yana-ssan's class, the club is planning, I'll tell you everything, so just go ahead and disturb her! I support you! — Is it like that?

In sympathy with the person before his eyes, was he just being deceived and accepted by the pretty face? Basically, was he used as a means to get to Yana-ssan?

Or was Kaga Kouko really beaten on lonely days?

But even in being deceived and used, is there any harm? Was there? At least if his sympathy towards him would make him reveal information about Yanagisawa, it would cause the man a lot of harm. … I see, so that's why he was so wary when Kouko aroused sympathy? As for himself, ... what should he do?

As for himself, what does he want to do?

Is showing sympathy wrong? Do I not want to be fooled? Andwhy? For Yanagisawa?

Not understanding anything, she was confused on how to express her feelings. Banri stared into space, his mind blank. The heavenly revelation, the whisper of the guardian angel, wherever it comes from, the message showing him what to do will be welcomed, he even has such foolish thoughts. But of course, such things cannot happen. He must think with his own head and heart.

Kouko said,

"Am I really weird, I wonder."

As if hitting his round forehead with a pamphlet in his hand, he hid his face with a thud. Only the shape of his mouth could be seen, that he was forcing himself to smile.

"I wonder if that's why even Mitsuo won't accompany me."

"… Kaga-san, is that …"

Is this the act of taking Yana-ssan's information from her?

Or, real, real,

Is this the act of taking Yana-ssan's information from her?

Or, real, real,

"… break your heart?"

"No."

Smiling broadly in the form of her fixed lips, she said that one word without hesitation. His expanding intonation showing indifference had resonated quite strongly.

He had looked at his mouth without thinking, when, when,

"Are you interested in our club? Sorry, sorry, room was a little left out!"

Someone held up the pamphlet that Kouko used as her face cover, and there was a woman who grinned.

Kouko looked at him with surprise in wide open eyes. What his face looks like behind those pamphlets, no one will know.

"You two, you're freshmen, aren't you? Thank you for your interest. We are a versatile all-round drinking party, around spring, a seaside barbecue drinking party in summer, a autumn leaf hunting drinking party, in autumn, snowboard drinking party at winter club, with a carefree attitude. We have students from many colleges, you will make many new friends. I am not really a student here; m third year of ***girl's college. "

Made his appearance unexpectedly, that person was taller than Kouko or Banri. He wore a thin denim with a matching V-neck knitted top, and swinging from his neck was a silver necklace shaped like a snowflake. Bob's haircut, covering his ears, cheerful, looking pure and refreshing, somehow looked like a television announcer.

"But you look a little moody. What was? Are you all right? Ah, maybe something happened during the plea?"

He anxiously looked at Kouko's face. In an instant, Kouko smiled as usual, saying,

"Away from that. I'm doing fine. Thank you very much."

With a princess-like attitude, she calmly lowered her head. Reflexively, Banri lowered his head as well, along with him.

"Is that so? Then good. If something is too insistent, or makes you miserable, then tell me, OK? It seems like there are people who like to force, tennis clubs have a bad reputation. I heard that they were very insistent in doing their invitations. By the way, you two, what's your name? "

"Ah, uh, I'm Tada. Tada Banri's."

"My name is Kaga."

"Oh, so. Tada-kun and Kaga-san, right? Have you ever been to a party club?"

"Eh? Well, um, yes", seeing Banri nod,

"Ah, I understand! Where, where is it? Where are you at?"

The upperclassman girl from the 'all-round club' was giving him a question. Banri wanted to give an honest answer, listing everything, but,

"Ah, I have an idea!"

With a cheerful smile, she clapped and spoke, cutting him off.

"If it's okay with you, can you tell me about it, maybe over tea? I mean, just because I'm so thirsty, look, from spending all day at this booth asking, 'Are you a freshman?', I'm tired! Will I be scolded even if I skip out, if I hang out with the underclassmen? Doesn't it? Haha, places in stations like Doutor are always very crowded, but did you know, that there is actually a nice and little-known coffee shop? You didn't, did you? And that their cafe au lait is a decent cafe au lait bowl? By the way, Tada-kun, do you know? What is au lait's cafe bowl . "

"… Eh? Well, no. .. I don't know."

"Really – boys don't know that feeling, but to me, I love coffee, and – well, I guess most girls are the same too."

The upperclassman gave Banri a light stab in the shoulder. And then he happily turned his smile towards Kouko,

"The girls understand, right?"

"Eh?"

"Cafe au lait bowl! You know what I mean, don't you, Kaga-san?"

"E ... uh, yes …"

"Okay, it's decided! Let's go!"

As if they were old friends, he suddenly took Kouko's hand intimately. Seeming somewhat surprised, Kouko looked down at his hand that was taken away, but before she could open her well-formed lips to say something, she said,

"Tiffany !?"

The class brother shouted. The sudden volume of his voice might be very strong: Kouko's long eyelashes fluttering, her chin slightly pulled back.

"No way, no way, ehhh, that's a very pretty ring! That's a diamond, right !? Is that Tiffany !?"

"… Er, well, but .. Somehow, I thought it was kind of flashy to wear to school, but, uh, my hand …"

"Eh, why did you say !? This is entirely OK, not overdone! It's okay OK! I mean, it really suits you, and when I see it not too long ago, I want it too! I mean, if I got one, I'd actually wear it to school, and to work after school, you know? What's the point of having it, if you don't wear it! It's okay, let me take a closer look, ah, it's as pretty as I expected! "

Almost by force, in their position, she pulls Kouko after herself and leaves. "Maybe the upperclassman wants to grab my hand with the same strength ..", but Banri's worries like that are unfounded. He simply called Banri, "Go through the entrance to it!"

"Oh, don't worry, this is my treat! It's only natural that I want you to come with me! By the way, I can tell you anything I know about college!"

… Could the details about our lectures go around even among other college students?

Banri is astonished, but unfortunately, if you are a living freshman, therefore, you have to accept such things.

"I remember, when we were freshmen, upperclassmen taught us this way too. Ah, somehow I miss the bustling atmosphere of spring! The atmosphere of the season, there is something special in the air! Isn't it shaking with excitement?"

Yes, the air vibrates with excitement, you have to smile and nod back in that mood — that's how it feels, so he did it.

While the older girl pulled her hand, as if she was a child, Kouko looked back towards Banri, who was following behind. With just that fleeting glance, even Banri understood that Kouko was confused. Banri was also confused. He's a lot confused. This upperclassman after his sudden appearance, gave him an uncomfortable strange feeling. He cheerfully refreshed, chatting about this and that, but after all he could not really understand what he wanted to say. He had no idea where and for what reason he was dragging them, to begin with.

"Well — is up. Let's see", Banri replied in response to Kouko's gaze at him, nodding slightly as well.

Together with Kaga Kouko at a coffee shop, listen to what their upperclassmen say. He felt that he would not face such a strange situation anymore. Rarely, rarely. He would never be able to casually invite her to tea alone. Also this mysterious-like upperclassman is rather pretty.

Moreover, and more importantly, this was Kouko's first invitation to a club. This is a long-awaited opportunity, so you should be open to it, Banri thought.

Of course, Banri does not know Kouko's true thoughts.

He might be completely lonely, the current situation where no one called him might be painful for him.

But it might be a lie, and he's not really lonely, he's just wearing that face, using that voice, all as part of a strategy to pull Yanagisawa's schedule from Banri. If Yanagisawa is not at the club, invited by them or not, it might not matter. Being ignored by anyone but Yanagisawa might not mean much to him.

But, if indeed he was deceived, then so be it, Banri thought. Unliked and avoided by Yanagisawa, and with everyone keeping their distance from her, the lonely Kouko with her bowed eyes was a sad sight. Whether it was a lie or the truth, as long as he saw Kouko like that, Banri's chest hurt.

He can live by being deceived. Somehow Banri wants to do something about Kouko's loneliness. However, providing Yanagisawa's personal information will not be part of it.

If that was the case, then he would be coming along for this strange journey. Looking back occasionally to check if Banri was coming, as the upperclassman pulled Kouko's hand, they left the school building.

So by being invited to a club, by listening to an upperclassman, or even by visiting a club invitation party, they can make new friends, ruling out whether or not they want to officially join the club. Peering into another world, there might be something even for Kouko to get.

You could call it selfish interference, and it is true.

But, even if all this, as far as Kouko is concerned, is nothing more than an unwanted selfish interference, it is Kouko's own fault that she draws sympathy from a simple fool like me.

By the way, for now, with everything he has, Banri arranges himself to save Kouko from her solitude.