Love Story in College

Chapter 7

Tada Banri was dumped by a girl.

Because a very annoying voice came from a few men at five in the afternoon in Caffe Veloce, Banri was still off guard,

"But we just started dating,"

"Yes, even with Tada-kun it was fun …"

"Therefore, from now on would it be fine if we were just friends?"

Saying his request with three such conversations, he fell silent, lowering his head.

For no particular reason, he still had a pack of straws on his right hand.

The wrapper swayed limply in the wind from the AC. His back bent, Banri inhaled the smell of tobacco smoke into his lungs.

Non-smoking parts that exist only in the name (can you call ornamental plants as a separation from smoking parts?); sitting across the table from Banri is Kaga Kouko.

Earrings glittered in both of his ears, his glamorous pink lips quietly covered, sipping on the icy tea through his suction. He opened his big eyes as if trying to peek at the expression of Banri who had now fallen. Probably waiting for Banri to say something, his back straight, he put the glass in his hand on a small tray.

However, Tada Banri remained silent.

Being uncomfortable after a bit, Kaga Kouko also dropped her gaze.

A few minutes passed, prank. They both kept staring at each other's hands.

I was the Banri from before, and I wanted to get into this awkward silence, saying, "It's terrible, wait, do something, please!", But there's nothing I can do.

And now, even that request had already been prepared, because this person was unable to deal with it emotionally! When a small situation appeared, his mind was shattered into pieces, because he could never see the world before his eyes! Or rather, he came back from Shizuoka some time ago, after seeing what was back home, and from there, — was a mess. I would scream, but no one would listen to me.

Because I knew that, I sat quietly in the seat behind and next to Banri.

Like that, no one heard my voice anymore. No one saw my body. No one knows where I am. Because I'm dead.

Simply put, I've become a ghost.

Wandering around disembodied as a ghost, I floated like this, always near Banri's side.

… It shouldn't be too difficult for a living human to believe. But for me, when I was alive, I did not believe in the existence of ghosts. From my own experience, I have gained an alternative view of the world. Even now I know nothing about the existence of UFOs. I also know nothing about the continent of Mu. Nor do I know anything about sea snakes or the Loch Ness Monster. Also about ESP. But one thing I do know: the existence of ghosts.

When I was alive, my name was Tada Banri. I am Tada Banri. Since I was born for eighteen years, I have existed as Tada Banri.

In the spring of my eighteenth year, I fell from the bridge into the river. At that moment, I fell out of my body, so to speak, and I, the former Tada Banri, was left as a disembodied soul.

On one hand, Banri who lost his soul lived for a while as the "Memory Lost Speech", easily became a student, and is now even banished by a girl. That is the way we find ourselves.

Now, the surviving Tada Banri, the back of his denim is located in a cramped chair, bent and slightly pouty, eyes glazed, breathing smoky air, wordlessly sipping slowly on his ice latte.

Surely, inside, she is a wreck —.

Reaching from behind and to the side, I moved my hand to Banri's shoulder. I patted him on the shoulder, telling him to calm down. To me, it feels like a living body. But Banri didn't feel my touch. Not even paying attention to my existence, not even a blink of uncertainty. He might not even notice it, but he gritted his teeth so hard that it creaked. Doing so, sooner or later the lower left wisdom tooth will bleed and hurt.

A forgotten storm blew in Banri's heart, I suddenly understood the reason. I even thought, if there was anything I could do, I would cheer him up. I know what Banri wants to do, I want to answer him. But, whatever word I used, this voice never reached Banri's ears. There's nothing more I can do.

The culprit in putting Banri into his confusion: Linda — no, am I wrong? There's no one else. Here's my.

Something that Banri had seen hours earlier, on the short trip to the house that he did to Shizuoka. Stuck inside, how many pictures?

The records of when I was alive, in other words the unknown notes of Banri, moved Banri's heart.

And now, in front of Banri's eyes, the girl he had just confessed to yesterday sat down. A few minutes ago he shook Banri cautiously,

"… Tada-kun?"

He said, tilting his head to the side with curiosity. "Well, what should I say ... did you hear?"

Suddenly, Banri raised his face, and,

"Eh !? Y, yes !? I heard, but !?"

At that moment, wholeheartedly, he nodded ambiguously,

"Yes!"

He tapped on the half-empty, very hard latte ice glass. The glass fell to the floor and broke into pieces, a loud sound echoed to the back of the shop. The other noisy customers suddenly all fell silent, looking over here. Without thinking, I closed my eyes as well. Aah, she feels guilty .. if the ghost by ghost means, can catch a glass in the air.

Banri stood up in a hurry, though,

"Wow, wow, sorry sorry sorry! I-i'm sorry! I've spilled it! Sorry, is everything okay !? I'm so sorry!"

While calling the staff, turning around in all directions and bowing his head, he lifted Kaga Kouko's bag from the floor where he was sitting on the chair, picking up a handful of napkins, and he lifted the bag, and try to resist the flow of the latte that turns into a small sea on the table. Apart from this, the blue droplets stain Banri. Kaga Kouko stuffed the pocket wipes from her bag into the embankment as well, but the chair and floor became soaked.

An employee with a mop and a pengki came in quickly, collecting pieces of glass, holding Banri by telling him "it was dangerous". Dropping his weak butt into the chair, "Ahh, nothing more, nothing more ..", Banri, somewhat annoyed, let his shoulders slump and sighed.

"How careless am I. already, careless, too rude, too hesitant .. I mean, I'm really sorry Kaga-san, are you okay? Your clothes and such, don't get dirty? "

"I'm fine, no one comes this way."

"Your evidence? Not wet?"

"Really, I'm fine, nothing, nothing …"

In order not to interfere with the cleansing, the two of them raised their legs, held for a moment in this pose by their abdominal muscles.

His unshaved Jack Purcell cups, and the fingers of the beautiful woman's high-heeled sandals, lined up, barely touched. The mop also climbed up on my feet, and I automatically raised my leg into the same pose. It was as if I could interfere with the cleansing of not having a body, as if somehow these legs could hinder employees in mopping carefully.

Banri, and Kaga Kouko who threw Banri away, face each other briefly with their legs raised, their feet not touching, keeping a perfect distance, the two of them together, their eyes looked down and said nothing.

The two blinked countless times, as if they were competing against each other. They don't look like "good friends". Somehow, I felt uncomfortable, and we all looked down.

* * *

The period I Chinese lecture was completed, the old Chinese lecturers were busy leaving the small classrooms and then the students followed, one by one, out into the dark corridor. Up to thirty people were allowed to attend language lectures, and it just so happened that they were all freshmen.

"There's Banri, very good."

"You really stood out today. You did it."

Suddenly he had some friends. People smiled as they passed by, lightly slapping Banri on the shoulder.

Answering as necessary with "Oh", or "Ah", he heard "No-kun finished!", "Good!", "Really, very good" .. This time, they were girls. The three were dressed almost, but not quite, equally in their striking hairstyles and outfits, and one by one they each waved at him, smiling. It seems that suddenly the time has come! Men and women alike are fascinated by Banri! So quickly she became the most popular in the Chinese class! But it's not at all. Even Banri understood that they were just teasing him.

Half desperately, he would smile and say, "It's so good!", and wave back to the girls, he said,

"Banri, hey, don't bother."

Yanagisawa Mitsuo (whom he tends to call Yana-ssan rather than Yana), with whom he has been a close friend ever since they started college, calls out to him.

"Ah, Yana-ssan .. I seem to have fallen apart."

Too tired to even smile politely, Banri finally, slowly stuffed his texts into his bag. College today was really horrible.

In the middle of the lecture, he was assigned by the speaker as he dazedly gazed into space. "Tada-kun, watch!" Caught, she chanted, "Maa, maa, maaa, maa!" — She was forced to repeat the four basic tones of Mandarin Chinese to crazy. And after that, when the other students read their texts, he became suspicious again, and "No-kun, Come to the attention!" "Now!" "Be an example to everyone! Now!" "Maa, maa, maaaa, maa!" Therehewas.

Yanagisawa sat on the edge of her desk, waiting for Banri to get ready,

"You're a complete mess. Ah, it's gum!"

He happily collected the gum from where it fell, to one side of the table.

"Torture like that! I mean, from the first period, I was lost. Defeated very horribly. Why do such things happen to me in particular? And the girls giggled a lot …"

"Well, during the time of 'Maa!', you made the nicest face."

"A good face? You're kidding, what kind of face am I making?"

"This type. 'Mmah!'"

He imitated Banri's face, suddenly opening his eyes wide while slightly lowering his left shoulder, and sucking his cheek furiously. Of course, according to that terrible cup, it was,

"R, really? I make a face like that? So I've been the department's number one funny face?"

Perplexed, Banri took out a mirror from his pocket, and opened it staring at his own face while trying to say, "Maa!" any more. Not to where Mitsuo would see her doing just that, but of course modeling in three dimensions what she imagined was difficult, she found herself getting more and more gloomy, wondering 'How many times have I shown this face to others …?'

"Huh, what is it? It was blinding something terrible!"

While Mitsuo laughed, he did not point to his face, but rather at the very striking mirror in Banri's hand. For something a college guy might have, it was too fancy, like something from Swarovski.

"… Ah, you noticed, of course? Do you think it's weird that I have it?"

"Do I find it strange? Well, I don't think it suits you. How did you end up doing it?"

"It was given to me."

With a snap, he closed it and handed it to Mitsuo. Flipping it to look at it, his simple good looks were stiff.

"… 'Remember our runaway birthday! Your best friend, Kaga Kouko' …?"

Reading the message written on the back of the mirror with a permanent marker, Mitsuo stared at Banri's face. Once again he saw the message, and once again in Banri's face.

"What's up with this? It's terrible."

"Yes ... terrible, or should I say .. I'm not sure what that means."

Looking back and forth from the mirror to Banri's face repeatedly, Mitsuo hesitated to speak, looking hesitant. Well, it might even be an act. As for Banri himself, he found it rather strange to have something called a "mirror like that".

"It's not like that, Yana-ssan. It was proof of our friendship, Kaga-san and I, they matched the mirror. That way, the time when Kaga-san and I became friends. — Kind of like that thing."

"'Something of the sort' …?"

"It's just a statement."

Taking back the hand mirror from Mitsuo, he held it gently in his palm, sparkling coldly. It was a declaration made as it should be. Kouko has been chasing Mitsuo for about ten odd years so far, and for now, Banri thinks he should tell others about their entry into this new relationship as friends. He was thinking about what someone else had to say, and thought it was a good time to get things straight.

Mitsuo, his face still pinched like a fox, muttering things like "Declaration …?"

The mirror weighed heavily on his hand.

Chunky and round like a faba nut, on a silver back in a white Swarovski crystal depicted an exaggerated rose. Obviously expensive, really feminine, it's not suitable for Banri.

The more he saw her, the more difficult, complicated, and difficult his feelings were to describe. But Banri took him everywhere, put in his pocket. He polishes it whenever there are fingerprints, and he is careful how he uses them.

Because Kouko had told him to do it.

"… Well, in short, it's because Kouko gave you that flashy mirror? For Banri? … Because you're gonna be friends?"

"Yes, that"

"… When? How's it?"

"On Saturday"

His protruding brows frowned slightly, Mitsuo, who was still not fully satisfied, asked with his expression for the continuation of Banri's reply. Banri looked for those few words, turned his gaze and looked into space.

So — it, what happened on Saturday.

Returning from Shizouka, Banri goes on foot to meet Kouko. They went to the locker of the live house to get the stuff they had forgotten, then to Caffe Veloce for tea, then he threw it away, they became friends, and then he gave her this mirror.

If he had to tell her everything, that was all that could be said.

But he did not want to say it directly to Mitsuo like that.

Because he wanted to hide the part about being "discarded" if he could. Mitsuo has dumped Kouko, who actually loves him, and at night on the same day (even more humiliating), Banri confesses at once to him. But, he threw it away quickly, the next day. It's too embarrassing to talk about, even if it's true.

And so forth, and so on,

"Kaga-san, like this you see, 'Well, Tada-kun, you have snot stuck in you', wagging her hair ~, 'Try searching with this mirror', flick her eyelashes ~, 'I'll want to give you that mirror, so you'll be able to take care of yourself the next time you become snot in your face. ' We will match, as proof of our friendship! ', Turn away his eyes …'. He gave it to me like that. "

With a silly joke, he lied.

He could not look at Mitsuo. He didn't know what kind of face he was showing.

In fact, about this, he said, 'Thank you for going with me for fun, and apologizing for getting drunk and making you trouble. And, as proof of our friendship from now on, 'as if it were a blessing upon the present. It seems.

Written on a black paper bag with white letters is "Barneys New York".

From the neat and neat appearance of the paper bag, it seemed like it was something classy, so Banri immediately raised both of his hands in front of him. He made that rejection gesture, and also said with his expression, "You don't have to bother getting such a gift."

But, in what practically shows strength, Kouko has been holding him back deftly. In front of him, his eyes sparkled, he said, I want to buy it for you, no matter what! Please! Accept that!'. Asked so beautifully, there was no way he could not accept it.

And then, encouraged to go ahead and remove the wrapper still on it, a beautiful hand mirror with this rose design was revealed.

No matter how you look at it, it is a childish thing, and very expensive. This time, for sure, Banri was completely confused. That's unsurprising. How could a small, sloppy, round-faced, hunched over a hick to receive this sparkling, beautiful rose mirror, be a match for a queen?

Moreover, looking at it from his own point of view, even calling it proof of their friendship from now on was a bit strange. In other words, this was a memento of her being banished ... she thought, was that some kind of consolation prize?

But, according to Kouko, 'This may not be like Banri, but, no matter what I want you to take advantage of! Because in this mirror there is meaning, a lot of meaning! ' — and beyond.

Thinking back about giving and receiving yesterday with Kouko a bit late, and aimlessly, when right in front of her, Mitsuo snorted, as if slightly disgusted.

Somehow Banri, timidly raised his face. At least nothing worse happened.

"… Where, when, snot it?"

When comparing Banri and mirror sidelong, Mitsuo's questioning voice seemed very dubious. In that case, first of all, will we continue this worthless fiction? It feels like we're making mountains out of molehill.

He could not help but ask himself; after all, it was only felt by Banri himself, of his own volition. Just slightly. Whatisit?

Moreover, he could not tell the whole truth, he was not under such an obligation. But, she thought, shouldn't she keep her relationship with Kouko entirely to herself? Might? She may have forgotten about how she arranged her relationship with Kouko.

In that case, remember you are an idiot! Give yourself up on the growing opportunity,

"So that's not what we said on Saturday! Look back on Friday. You gave Kaga-san a manly punch, didn't you? Hey, remember? In one fell swoop you cut it down, right?" don't you? You said you two are no longer related to each other …! "

He even put in a movement like swinging a sword down from above.

Somewhat silent and averted his gaze, Mitsuo only responded with a groan. He thought that what he had just done was simply from patience, but,

"After that, Kaga-san and I went out to relax and have a drink. From there, we went to the live house, and we forgot some stuff there —"

The middle section. … Besides, he doesn't think he's obligated to tell it fully.

"— Therefore, on Saturday, we went together to take it back. The things we forget, are. Then, when we were drinking tea, suddenly inside my nose was a Pettonton, a semi-transparent self-centered.stranger."

He stole a glance at Mitsuo's face.

Mitsuo gave a small nod, as if saying "so?", but seemed to realize that he had no reason or right to interrupt, his mouth tightly shut and his eyes were still thrown down.

Such was the state of the friend in front of him, Banri's chest ended up a bit sore for him. Compared to him, he had no responsibility whatsoever. Don't have, but .. called his conscience, calling him trash. The stone somewhere in his chest did not fall, even he could feel it faintly, stuck somewhere.

What the hell am I doing? Even though he was his closest friend, talking about the events that happened to you, but he couldn't speak frankly, it wasn't a pleasant situation. But he did not want to talk about what he did not want to talk about.

"… To the live house. That kouko, honestly. … Something's wrong."

Mitsuo's voice was calm, as if speaking to himself. Banri leaned his jaw slightly to the side, and stretched to enter his field of vision, combing his bangs.

So that's. To the residence. We're goin. … It's not a lie. A little short on the details.

Mitsuo, his lips bent, looked pondering, his right thumb rubbing his jaw, but his gaze still fell on his feet. What could he think? Did he feel any tension in the story due to the various strange omissions made to it? Was he silent because it was not his right to interfere with their business anymore?

A strange feeling lodged in his chest, there was one more thing he understood.

Banri made a negligence in his story to Mitsuo, it was not a problem for today.

It was nothing but a matter of losing his memory.

He didn't think the conversation was necessary. As far as nineteen-year-old man called "Tada Banri", who had lost all his memories during the eighteenth year, and even he understood it as a major event, as far as his personality was concerned. He just wants his friends to understand him. So, always, ever since they met, she was looking for an opportunity to talk about it. But the opportunity did not arrive enough. Misunderstanding how he spoke, they always dismissed him as a pitiful person, if not a sick person.

If there was a chance, he wondered what he could honestly say. With regard to memory loss, with regard to Kouko even. About everything that happened on Saturday. If he wants to talk to friends, everyone.

But it's not now.

Understanding in him that it was just an excuse, suddenly feeling the urge to do something so that he would not suddenly fall silent, Banri opened the mirror again and carefully looked at the shadow of his nostrils. Nose clean.

"Kaga-san really ruined something terrible! Although about five times there he vomited."

To just use a cheerful voice, talking like that was his plan. But, the pale skinny face of a nineteen-year-old man was reflected in the mirror, looking at him faintly, more pitiful than before, lacking the confidence from before.

"With Kouko as Banri's friend, in the live house, with the boogers, with the aliens, vomiting, eh …?"

Mitsuo stood in front of Banri and walked away, as if he confirmed the words he said, opening the classroom door wearily.

"Truly messed up .. I mean, of course you don't understand. … Well, anyway it has nothing to do with you."

Suddenly changing direction, Mitsuo turned around when he realized something. Standing in the dark corridor with no windows, he stared straight at Banri's face. Once again, seeing him like this from the front, Banri noticed how handsome Yana-ssan was, but,

"What do you mean, Banri? On Saturday, if you just call, we can talk about what you don't understand. But there were no voice messages or text messages throughout the day. You ignored me, and went to ask for fun with Kouko? "

"Eh .. Even though you told me, well .. it was so."

"…"

With a very snarling-like voice, Mitsuo's face finally darkened.

But Banri said, "Eh, son? Wow, you're really distracted!", as Mitsuo's face became threatening, and he blinked as if coming to his senses, shaking his head from side to side twice, as he did, and slapping her own cheek was hard. The impact even tripped him. It took all of five seconds, though,

"Yana-ssan is falling apart …!"

"I haven't."

With a thud combing his hair, Mitsuo looked back at Banri. Then,

"Nothing is broken. … Simply put, I realized that I ended up being a little human, clumsy and stupid."

Taking a small breath, he stopped talking.

The meaning was not well understood by Banri, but after a bit, his voice was replaced by something weak, not too masculine,

"… There's a lot to think about. … If you want to talk about such things, like things on Saturday, you can call me! But .. oh well. Had enough. Already OK. That doesn't matter. "

After saying something like that, as you might have guessed at this moment, for sure, a certain feeling of guilt swarmed around Banri's chest.

In reality, a lot of things had happened on Saturday, and if Mitsuo called he had already completely forgotten about it until now. He may have ruined their friendship.

His hands were full of problems of his own, if there was a phone call, or even a text message, he ignored it. He also does not remember the text on Sunday. But of course, Banri only thought of his own problems, all the time wrapped in a blanket over his futon like a tuna; he had absolutely no recollection of Mitsuo. He only thinks about his own problems.

Cannot justify its own insensitivity,

"No, I'm sorry!"

He slapped his forehead trying to be polite.

"I even went back home for a bit, raved, and completely forgot to call you! If it's okay with you, I can listen to your story right now. How about we go to the cafeteria or somewhere? I can get through the second period easily enough."

And then, after being sincerely invited, in a friendship to go and play truant, Mitsuo frowned and sadly shook his head from side to side.

"I can hardly be an absent person, and ... What about you, don't you have a Civil Law? I shouldn't be there?"

"I don't have to do it. Instead, what did you take, Yana-ssan?"

"Logic"

"It's not a compulsory course, why did you take it !? Is the class interesting or something?"

"Absolutely."

"Then stop, the second period of Monday let's go together to the Civil Law! It might be better to change from now on. Registration is not closed, is it? In which Civil Law class are you in first?"

"Wednesday of the fifth period, someone called Professor Tsukamoto."

"Fifth period! Tsuka who is it ?! Why take such a small thing as civil law, no one takes such a thing!"

"No, even though the people in the second period were worthy .. rather, I had already bought a textbook for Logic .. 4,500 yen, and I'm hearing if you don't show the new textbook to the professor, he won't accept you for class … "

"That's expensive! Rubbish!"

"… But I want to take Civil Law classes this period, though. There will even be famous speakers from television. But, look, I saw Kouko in the first lecture. Therefore, I stopped and thought. .. "

Sighing once more, even deeper, Mitsuo frowned. He muttered that up until now he did not need to run here and that to escape from Kouko, and as he muttered, his backpack, which had been lifted onto one shoulder, was, sneaking up to the elbow. As if he was too balanced with a heavy bag, he was wobbling on his feet. Banri, look at that, see that,

"Err, Yana-ssan, are you, like, feeling okay? … You're not a little shaken?"

He looked back at his friend's face, carefully.

Maybe it was because he was standing under the old neon lights, but now that he thought about it, the color did not look too good. Moreover, during this weekend, did he somehow lose weight? Just slightly.

It was spring. Might as well. High season, that is, for the apathy of students. Entering university, starting to live alone, lifestyle changes were big, cut off all at once from his childhood friends, and on top of that, he said he had a fight with his parents. Living through this life, his spirit had dropped a little, even if there was a little wrong time. He felt Yanagisawa Mitsuo was depressed.

And then, like a trigger, like,

"… Maybe, if you don't mind? About dumping Kaga-san."

His head was still hanging, Mitsuo did not answer anything to him.

If he guesses correctly, taking the opportunity to remind what has happened before, in attitude or speech, is not the right thing to do at this time. Mitsuo's dark face looking at him made Banri practically jump, and finally, in panic, he followed inside.

"Mom, but I thought that Yana-ssan was very 'manly'! After all, Kaga-san will be fine! Understanding how you feel, he can come back with his own two feet! He's a very strong man!"

But, uh,

"… That's possible. Very much. Soon, he went to a fun live house. Very …"

As soon as he lifted his face, Mitsuo glared sharply, growling at him. But if he did not follow her, it could make the situation worse. Banri rushed over, but Mitsuo suddenly fell silent, eventually slapping his face twice. Oho! If Banri does not go inside, then without a doubt he will do it again. And so, lowering his face, he bowed, as if to say a prayer to the sinister idol-worshipping god.

"I thought that if I could separate myself from Kouko, things would get better .. Even so, Kouko came to the same university as me, nothing has changed .. Because Kouko, it does not produce anything .. I think if I reject it clearly, everything will be fine .. That's why it happened … It's so bad that I believe it's all Kouko's fault .. But from the moment I threw Kouko away as if by magic, 'the shining beginning of my life' suddenly ceased to exist, she said, all that was achieved was to make Kouko cry, and even more so now, I began to hear that Kouko's spirit was starting to come back to life. Surprisingly, I even offended you .. Ah, sorry .. sorry sorry sorry! Simply put, I, I, I, I, I'm a jerk … "

"Yes, Yana-ssan, wait …"

Sweeping Banri's hand that accidentally stretched out, Mitsuo looked towards the ceiling, his eyes staring blankly into space. And then groan,

"… I've been so insensitive ... ... How should I say it? I've been a churl, or more bluntly, how to put it... piece of crap …?"

Banri could no longer do anything about the situation other than watch over him.

"… Okay then .. the fucker goes to logic class .. see you later."

Mitsuo, still staring at the ceiling, left alone, waved his hand towards Banri. With a strange blank look and sound. It is impossible for such a condition to be normal.

"Wait, wait, wait!"

Banri accidentally becomes like a certain comedy duo when he sits down and chases the departing back.

"Yana-ssan, seriously, wait! Err, well, let's walk to class together!"

"… Huh? Wh why? It's right there."

"No, but something ... or rather, you really won't pass class !? Let's do! Let's go to the cafeteria!"

"… My stomach is not empty. I haven't missed attending."

"It's okay, logic classes aren't a big deal! Or rather, if you fail, we can bring it together next year! What's more, look, I .. Actually I have a little something I want to talk about. Recently some things have happened, and I am not sure I can resolve the situation myself. I haven't explained things well recently, but really, I'm sorry for ignoring you on Saturday! So from now on it's time for the men's bond! Let's talk together, as thick as a thief! "

Suddenly, Mitsuo's legs stopped. Turning to Banri, strangely silent, he looked into his eyes.

"Some things happened? Like for example?"

"That's, for example, well …"

Repeating once again, 'For example', Banri stopped moving completely.

I didn't explain well, I left out things from what I said, for example.

That he had noticed that Mitsuo had become the love of Kaga-san's life, for example.

But he was rejected, among other things.

What are some things like memory loss?

Looks like she dated Linda in the past that she can't remember, for the others. When he returned home, he had seen the photo, but 'Linda' from now on, revealing nothing, as a senior of his club did well for him, the others. What it all meant, he didn't know, and it made him fall apart.

And next.

"…"

— In the end, he couldn't say anything more.

Banri's mouth was still half-open, he lowered his head and fell silent.

Not saying anything more, in front of his friend, he was silent, unable to move.

Even though he was given the chance to talk, no one came out, because he did not know what to talk about. Or maybe, as far as he knew, what was going on, what was he thinking, what did he feel about it? Within himself, he realized that the idea of talking to friends did not exist.

In short, like everyone else — he thought of his own affairs as if they were events from a distant world.

These situations, happening all at once, were almost too chaotic; even one by one he would have trouble dealing with them.

One example, the problem was dumped by Kouko, in fact, she couldn't talk about how shocked it was. Whether in pain and crying, or in misery and suffering, he cannot face such feelings, not individually. Although of course it was a bit complicated for him, in fact, it was not very painful. From now on, as a good friend ...even saying such a thing, he didn't think it was a good idea.

With Linda, even more so. Not to say anything about how she feels, because she honestly doesn't know. What happened in the past that she could not remember, more than that, she could not understand what Linda was thinking. As for the fact that they used to go together, why did he have to keep pretending not to know about it?

Still, "What is that?" "What should I do?" "I don't know." "Why could that be?" … that is, over and over again. No matter how many times he asked, no one answered. Talking to himself is completely useless.

"— I don't understand anything. I don't know. For me, really, I don't understand anything. I just don't remember."

In some ways it was as if he was paralyzed; inside his head he was in a daze. Ruffling her hair instead of clawing at her brain, trying to somehow wake herself up, this time her hand was stopped by Mitsuo.

"… It's okay, I get it. For now, neither my heart nor yours need rest, it seems certain. All right, let's be billed too fair and just."

* * *

Supporting each other's troubled hearts, tying as friends, they staggered down the stairs, barely making it to the first-floor student cafeteria.

Because until noon there is still room, there are many chairs. Here and there were people chatting, and the students seemed to be having breakfast here and there, out of whom,

"… Whoa …"

Seeing him suddenly in his field of view, Banri unconsciously got back up. "What?", Mitsuo looked towards the direction where Banri was looking, paying attention and groaning in the same way. He stopped walking.

The school cafeteria faded into a heavy yellowish color, but one's appearance shone too brightly, sparkling as if it was a natural energy radiating out.

As far as Banri is concerned, he still does not know what kind of face to greet this unknown person. For Mitsuo as well, maybe it was almost the same as Banri .. or maybe it was now difficult to deal with that person.

Shining shiny and bright, her long and brown hair into a beautiful curly.

She has a deep dark blue hair tie with glowing rhinestones attached to her.

Her hair flowed straight behind her slender back.

They understood even from behind that this was a beautiful woman, the hair, the style, the items she had, from all over her body emitting an aura that said that she was not an ordinary person.

Feeling their gazes, or maybe he heard the moans of the two men, he said,

"Well…"

Turning back towards them, there was nothing wrong with her beautiful face.

On her meticulously groomed, striking, rose-bright pink lips. They were both panting, the beauty was so beautiful.

Perfectly dressed, with impeccable fashion and brand, Kaga Kouko sits at a rather rundown table.

Banri and Mitsuo, and then Kouko's gaze, exchanged glances wordlessly. Each of them was in accordance with their circumstances, they were extremely at a loss for words. How many seconds does the awkward silence continue?

"B, alright", Banri awkwardly tried to start the conversation. Morning, Kaga-san, how are you feeling? But look, Yana-ssan did not make a greeting, nor did Kaga-san — she set out to take the first step with seeming tension, but,

"… Maa!"

As if struck by an arrow, Kouko stood up yet faster.

From between her alluring rose-colored lips, her teeth were gleaming, pure white with a tinge of blue. Graceful as a dancing butterfly, she spun once, swinging her skirt.

"Yes! Maa! Maa!"

His two hands were tightly clamped in front of his chest, which looked like caricatures with shocked expressions.

Then, opening his hand suddenly, he slowly tilted his head to one side sharply, and before long from his surprised expression turned into a wide open smile, an extremely happy smile.

His hips fell into a straight and long stride, without hitting the eyelashes, he stepped quickly before Banri's eyes, and he was not,

"You're Tada-kun, aren't you?"

He was very Tada-kun, but — back then he was being hugged excitedly. His protest was ignored, he made it seem as if kissing her on both cheeks, not touching her enough.

Sh, he's a stranger …

When Kouko let go of Banri who was still dumbfounded, she looked back at her happily laughing face. Moreover, this person was usually not a stranger. When he gets excited, he becomes one.

Geh, look at everything! I met my favorite grandfather after five thousand years buried in a rock on the other side of the world! And on top of that, Grandpa, you brought me a diamond gift the size of a melon (you planned two!?)! sheer happiness!

… Sort of, warm welcome joy.

Although it had just been dumped the day before yesterday in Veloce, no one was staring at it other than Tada Banri.

Kouko stopped in front of Banri's nose, her smile bright with happiness. Almost too close to him, Banri's field of vision is almost entirely blocked by Kouko's perfect smile. And then he clasped his hand in front of his chest. Adjusting her legs humbly, she slightly bent down and rolled her glistening eyes upwards. Looking attentively at Banri in a position somewhat like Xavier,

"My good friend, Tada-kun …! Good morning!"

He even has foggy eyes.

"Since we meet this way by chance in the morning, it will be a very good day! Hey, it's been a long time fated that we're gonna be best friends!"

She flicked her long, dark eyelashes while she said that.

Still staring straight at Banri like that, he slowly shook his head from side to side with a smile on his face. He gave the impression of this "Warm feeling, flowing! Ah, I can't take it anymore!"

"Oh …"

Somehow, his mouth opened.

Do that! Do your best, Tada Banri!

"… Morning. … Kaga-san"

As if in the excitement of listening to Banri's greeting, Kouko groaned and closed her eyes for a few seconds.

"That voice is Tada-kun's voice. That way of talking. It's amazing …"

Blood flowed profusely into his head, making his cheeks flushed and warm, making his face as if it were going to eat the chocolate of the century, soft and warm, his eyelids rising. You're amazing .. but he can't say that, not at all.

"That reminds me of something I missed .. hey, our previous whereabouts, did you think about it? I have. I was the youngest sister in a monastery, and Tada-kun lived in the deep forest as a shepherd. Every morning Tada-kun had to send us cheese. Hey, isn't that so romantic? Thank you, my whole life, I thank you, I thank you for this fate, that we I've met this way twice now! "

"… Oo …"

Banri was filled with moans.

Somehow, somehow, this is too much.

What about that excitement? This feeling of drama. Behave like a stranger. Let's make friends, he said, and in two days Kaga Kouko got to this point.

And now Kouko is waiting for Banri's reaction. His eyes opened wide, sparkling brilliantly, he silently looked at his close friend Tada Banri.

What I do, really — no, in truth. Not knowing what he should do, Banri for now, tried to put his hand to his chest. Not Kouko; to his own chest. And then, as if to be able to open his eyes in the same way, he smiled with all his might, while staring back into Kouko's glittering eyes, she said, trying to move his head back and forth in the same way.

Seemingly quite satisfied with what Banri did, Kouko, once again looking delighted, again swayed in front of him. Still wordless, it was a small show to reflect on Xavier, presented in both men and women, to speak.

Mitsuo exclaimed, "Destruck ..!", As if he could no longer bear it, and covered his mouth with his hands. Some of Banri only saw that he had jumped back.

"Well, Mitsuo —"

His swaying stopped, still standing before Banri's eyes, Kouko looked towards Mitsuo.

As far as she was concerned, she loved Mitsuo. She is her destined ex-lover. From his point of view, he had separated himself from his destined scenario.

Banri unconsciously jerked.

Banri unconsciously jerked.

What will happen to Kouko's strange excitement in front of Mitsuo that she can't tell. Facing him was a 'foreign feeling that was suddenly destined as friend mode', but ... what should he do if he made a fuss before Mitsuo? Carefully, he looked at her once more. For now, he doesn't seem to be carrying a hidden weapon (even a bouquet of roses).

She wore a lacy white blouse over a high-waisted one piece dress, houndstooth, black tights and low-rise high-heeled black boots. Due to the setting, it changed directly under the waves of her chest, it made her appear more refined and feminine. It's so fun to see.

Kouko turned to face Mitsuo, her beautifully painted left hand fingernails arranged, enduring the tender and full puffiness coming out from the territory of her heart.

"Mitsuo, you're like a lonely hunter going into the wilderness .. Your face is like that …"

With his eyes closed, he muttered softly and solemnly.

And then, her right hand stretched out elegantly, like a loving mother who would touch Mitsuo's cheek. Mitsuo immediately retreated. Kouko quickly approached, touching her face against her will. Due to the force on those fingers, trying to hold the twisted body in disdain, from an outsider's point of view, it became like an iron claw grip, but,

"To be sent to a monastery to pray secretly my days, it should probably have been my destiny from the beginning …"

"Hugugu …"

That's enough for Kouko, apparently.

Looking down at Mitsuo's captured face, his eyelids, the young pearls hatched by eye-shadow, glittered as he wore a dramatic look.

From the viewpoint of the audience, seeing how the two of them appeared, Banri instinctively flinched. Well, definitely .. I'm glad it wasn't bloodshed.

All that meaning, with the end of Kouko's Kaga Theater, will everything be fine for now?

Although you dumped me, Mitsuo, and injured me as well, I was healed by the presence of my good friend! When I recovered, I was tough and beautiful! Thank you, everyone, for the help you have given me! I feel fine! — That's the core of Kouko's theater, and it's, well, funny. But what exactly is her true motive, what does she see on Yana-ssan's face; she feels like she doesn't want to ask unromantic questions here, right now.

Matching the death of one act Mitsuo and Kouko, he realizes that someone gave the direction, "Music, start". Surely it was a voice from heaven, as if the stage director for this world was speaking, and,

"You're really shocked!"

Shouted Banri with all his might.

Standing up and facing Kouko and Mitsuo as he walked slowly in a circle around them, taking poses, pointing his finger at them with a somehow evil face, because it is the devil's messenger to bring this end to life. Nyahahahaha, nyahahaahaha!

"You're really shocked!"

… In reality, he doesn't know the lyrics very well. Dereredere, dereredereredee, dereree .. still, he used to know them! With the high-pitched voice he was enduring, he would make their hair stand up! Ready, ready, ready,

"To protect our love! You're leaving!"

"What!?"

The song was not from Banri.

Surprised, he looked back. The chant of the stolen song, five times higher than its limit, was as high in tone as if he had been impaled behind it. He saw the owner of the voice.

— He goes silent like a rock.

"Soo, briinngg give you back your looooveee ~!"

What he thought was the voice of heaven. But it didn't. He had yet to hear a voice from heaven, or the voice of the stage director.

That's Linda.

The course registration form rolled up to look like a microphone in his mouth, in a position leaning against a chair in the corner of the table, he sang with heat at the top of his voice, echoing silently, his fists pushing into the air, his,

"… Do you not like the song, Tada Banri?"

The hands said, "Hi!" for Banri.

"Linda —"

His voice trembled, and although it could be heard, it was as if it came from somewhere far away, like the underworld.

In haste, he added the venerable "senpai.

Yes, this is the man, he thought to himself.

This is really the person in the photo he found at home, holding onto her, continuing with her. This face. This is Hayashida Nana. White skin, eyes. Especially age. Most importantly, his name. Not wrong anymore. There was one in ten thousand chances, not something impossible, but it was extremely unlikely.

"Err .. good morning. Something ... If you look at the condition of the man with you, Kaga-san, the image of the 'Voice of the Last Century' is completely unthinkable …"

Kouko tilted her head to one side, as if saying 'What are you doing?'

Banri nods his greetings to Linda once again, in a way that is like a younger sibling, while being completely convinced that this person is the one in the picture.

Linda knows her past. They're connected. But he hides the past. He acts as if Banri's past doesn't exist.

What the fuck, why?

Continuing her attack on him despite feeling embarrassed, the back of the chair supported her stiffly, Linda gave a huge stretch. Her face was smooth, without makeup, perhaps even an eyebrow pencil. Waking up, a long sleeved sock covered half his fingers, he crossed his jean-blue legs.

"Nooww, stop teasing your friends and come back here, Kouko-chan. If we hurry, we'll be done before we run out of time. As for me, I plan on missing the second period anyway."

He turned to face Kouko, making the course registration form vibrate. Seeing that, Kouko hurriedly turned around, returning to the seat at the table opposite Linda.

"Sorry to keep you waiting, I work, I work, let's start writing!"

On the table, in addition to a few cups of drinks, there was a large schedule table, the size of a tatami mat, and a syllabus booklet that was distributed as they entered the school. Different types of stationery are spread over it. Banri and Mitsuo realized it, wondering what it was.

"We're discussing Kouko-chan's schedule right now."

Smiling a little, Linda explained to them.

"This girl doesn't know what class is needed. Schedule's ridiculous. He didn't take any language classes, and he hasn't bought his book yet. Now there are hardly any classes with room to enter .. yes, but this year he only took about 24 credits. Not quite. "

Kouko, her lips were slightly firmer, let out a sweet and innocent laugh and shrugged her shoulders.

"But, but if I do well, then I can take only the mid-year language, and then I'll have all the credits requested, right?"

"You should. Maybe."

"Then it's perfect!"

"Not too perfect .. About halfway there?"

"Half way! Hurrah!"

What senpai suggested was good, of course, and Kouko looked to the "half way" schedule form and sighed. Finally, he wrote something on the registration form with a silver ballpoint pen, and looked up with a sweet smile. Linda looked at him with suddenly serious eyes,

"My point is that lately, 'just taking 24 credits', isn't that a bit dangerous? Doing thirty credits wouldn't be too amazing! Aah, one more thing for later: You will want to get into some credit courses ... Tada Banri, is it ready? Have you enrolled in your class? "

Unexpectedly, he tried to implicate Banri.

"Uh", muttered Banri, for a moment at a loss for words,

"Well, for now, even though my enrollment is done, .. ah, but this guy keeps getting me into trouble during some amazing lectures."

Casually, Kouko tried to close the distance, raising his hand to Mitsuo's elbow, bringing them closer to look like a couple.

"I called this guy Yana-ssan. Yana-ssan, this is Linda-senpai from Omaken. We owe him a lot, because he saved our lives, Kaga-san and mine. I mentioned it before."

"Ah, yes, back then these people were in trouble," Mitsuo said, nodding lightly to Linda while he glanced at her, Banri silently shut up. Restlessly, he scratched his nose.

This is not what he wants to talk about.

Mitsuo class was not important at all. What he wanted to talk to Linda about was something else.

But frankly, how do you do it?

'Why do you pretend you don't know me? Linda-senpai, you really know me, don't you? I saw you in the yearbook! In the photo too. We're very close, aren't we? You know I've lost my memory? Even though I don't remember anything from those moments, why didn't you say anything? You and I, until I lost my memory, we had a special relationship, didn't we? I'd like at least one thing out of your mouth, a clear answer: yes or no. Like that, keep pretending not to know me, how will I calm my mind? '

— Trying to think, he seemed ready to laugh.

But he can't say it.

Even if the two of them were alone in this place, he wondered if he could talk about this at all.

Even about yearbooks and photographs, let alone asking about their shared pasts, where they were very close, he thought. There is nothing to deny. The answer is 'yes'. There is no other possibility.

However, Linda must have an unknown reason to pretend not to know anything like this. Not saying anything to Banri, he was hiding something.

Banri is not so foolish as to repeat himself over and over again, "Hide everything like that, why, why !? What am I supposed to do? Think, think!?", or maybe he was simply harassed. At least for now.

"It's nice to meet you", happily waving her hand, leaning on the back of her chair, Linda grinned at Mitsuo. "I'm Linda, Hayashida Linda", introducing herself with a long training atmosphere.

Looking at him, Banri thought once again, "He's a good senpai." Friendly enough to even delay his own lecture to advise younger students, even someone he doesn't know. Be kind, and someone you can really count on. Being with him is fun, and he's just happy to be around him. … That is, until just a few days ago. Even if he did not learn it, he thought that even now it should be honest.

Right now, for sure, Linda doesn't want to be known to myself right now. Therefore, knowing the former Banri is not something to talk about. That's all it is.

With respect to Banri, it's — yes. There's no hope. After meeting Linda by chance as a senior of the club, he would make a good impression as a junior. There was no way he would reveal what he was hiding.

On top of that, he also looked worried. Perhaps, because of those concerns, he chose to behave as if he did not know the former Banri at all. However, he did not want to disturb the woman with that conclusion. If he was told that what was before him at the time was important, he would also agree, he thought.

He really thinks this is true.

It was confirmation of his identity, Banri decided.

Stop thinking about this! Why should I, it's over.

Forget it. — Yes, I've forgotten.

With a chuckle, Banri raised his face, deliberately like a junior, like an idiot.

"I mean, Linda-senpai, this guy Yana-ssan, he took Civil Law class period 5 Wednesday ~, can you tell him something about that ~?"

He tried to talk to Linda sweetly.

"Huh !? Seriously !? Civil law class Tsukamoto !? Why is something so crazy !?"

Linda frowned, and covered her mouth with her hands as if in shock. Are you trying to torture yourself, my dear? It also looked like a game for a moment, he said to Banri, "I'm not making fun of you!", And like a female soldier, she quickly put on a straight face.

"Eh ... What's the worst thing I did?"

"No, no, no, that's terrible! It's always bad, you, err, Yana-ssan? Because it's really terrible." The fifth period of 'Civil Law 1' Wednesday of each year has a very difficult exam, with records of the past year and references not allowed, less than seventy percent on the test and less than seventy percent of attendance (no point in arguing) was a failure, and because not many people, were, answering the call to others is impossible ... for most Civil Law waits, and furthermore, if you do not study seriously ..no, they say that even work diligently, they do not study seriously, that was very difficult. "

"Are you serious?"

"That's why everyone took the second period of Civil Law Monday!"

"… Is, so ..., ah .. I seem to be screwed ... What to do, this is really terrible ... Have I already repeated something next year …?"

"Although it's okay to repeat it. The easy Monday period Civil Law class is the preference of most people, despite how many people are waiting, and then fall into the trap of taking the devil from the 5th period of Wednesday again, who knows …"

From what Linda had to say, Mitsuo started to worry. Seeing this from the side, Kouko casually cleaned the tip of the pen.

"Aah ah ah, Mitsuo, what kind of chaos is this? Ah good, I have the perfect schedule for me. I've even taken Civil Law perfectly."

Even on the matter of others, her face was smiling beautifully. While her pretty nails glittered, she went to clean her stationery.

Hostile openly, Mitsuo glared at Kouko. Kouko was completely unperturbed. Instead, with a smile, he stared straight at Mitsuo's face, cheerfully adding "sorry to hear it", and whether intentionally or not, humming with good humor.

While Mitsuo was practically trembling, he slowly stared at Banri's face,

"… Banri, come with me a little!"

"K, where to !? And mess up Kaga-san's studies !? Hey, careful! Mother Bear has children in the spring, and can be rather upset!"

"You're wrong! What I am doing now is going to the second period Civil Law! After all, I would arrest the professor when he left the lecture, and ask him if I could take it from now on, even though I had never once! I dumped ¥ 4,500! "

"Ah, ahh, that's good, that's good! Good luck, Yana-ssan! Hurry along!"

"Oh!"

He went running, but Mitsuo, looking like he had forgotten something, suddenly staggered a step or two and returned to them,

"Idiot! You will lose credit completely! You have to finish it! And then you'll cry!"

With a very sudden jolt of his chin, both of his hands flapping like seagull wings, he let out a stream of abuse directed at Kouko. And then he ran again. This time, he flew straight out of the cafeteria, and could be seen using his long legs freely to climb the stairs.

While he was paying attention, Kouko laughed with a scornful and cold tone.

"Whatis that? Know ye? Mitsuo little boy. He couldn't have any friends, so he went alone."

"… Ka, Kaga-san"

"What's? Tada-kun's."

As far as Banri was concerned, he appeared as a friend until the very last moment. Smiling at him, he tilted his head to the side in confusion.

"Well, you're not being too rude to Yana-ssan …?"

"Rude? Me? There's nothing like it; we're usually like that."

"No, what if the nuns treat the forest hunters like that …"

"But he's not just an acquaintance."

"Eh! … A, what did you say …? Aren't you childhood friends! That's scary!"

"No. I didn't know him in his previous life."

"We are talking about this life! I mean, for a minute, seriously, what kind of history can you have? Not long ago you were glued to Yana-ssan's face, daydreaming chanting 'Mitsuo …'! "

"That was the last act of our drama, Mitsuo and I. In the wild orchestral music of Tada-kun and Linda-senpai, the curtain is lowered. With that, our relationship is over. Therefore, he is someone I don't like." you know."

Kouko stated this very coldly and without hesitation, her beautiful lips formed a pouty lips, her slender chin raised. Without furrowing an eyebrow, it was cold like that. "Eh", his speech was interrupted, Banri also fell silent.

Well, Banri has been thinking for a while now, "the relationship of these people is not very good ..." Mitsuo avoids hating Kouko, though while Kouko pursues her in love, she is not good at all to him, but she is not, if they met just quarreled, for all appearances they harassed each other. It seemed like there was not even a memory of the two of them having been friends.

However, because he knew Kouko's awkwardness, Banri saw the two of them as something different. Since Kouko really loved Mitsuo, she had gotten used to him. Simply put, it was too 'tsun' in the 'tsundere' aspect of their relationship. Precisely because he understood that, it did not make his teeth think about it. Although she likes Kouko, Banri is also gently worried about her.

In the end, after ten (more or less) years that Kaga Kouko and Yanagisawa Mitsuo were childhood friends, she was dumped once and for all. Is what they leave behind only the seriousness of everything?

What an empty relationship they have. In any case, although it was confirmed as friends with each of them separately, it was a little comforting for Banri. But thinking about what was before him now, he sighed involuntarily.

Linda stretched her body as she stood up.

"Alright, I have to go to college too. Are you two okay now? Is there anything else you want to ask me?"

Kouko stands respectfully for Linda, who also serves as a junior,

"We're fine, thank you very much. Thank you for helping us. Next time for sure, let us do something for you."

With the slow pace of a true princess, she lowered her head. Linda waved her hand and smiled as if she was embarrassed.

"Don't worry about it. It won't bother me if you go out to the club, and if you train hard, I'll be very happy. That said, it's tomorrow noon, okay? We're "I'll meet at eleven, have lunch while we meet, and practice starts at one. So don't be late."

Pointing Banri with a slender finger, he said,

"You too, Tada Banri! Rehearses. Awa Odori's. Same place as before. You haven't forgotten?"

"Ah, of course not! Yes sir!"

"Yes, good answer. Tomorrow then. Don't miss it, because it looks like some fourth-year senpai will be there."

Linda hung her bag from her shoulder, stepping away from the table with ease. As he walked away, no sound emerged from his shimmering Nike.

It reminded me, seeing Linda leave with a smile, she looked at Kouko's face.

"Do you bother staying with Omaken?"

Of course back from the previous training session, Kouko seems to have lost a lot of enthusiasm. It seemed like she was the one who said things about how embarrassed she was with her awkward dance, and that there was no way, she couldn't stay at the club.

"really. I did it."

Nodding deeply, Kouko stared intently at Banri.

"Lately, I've had things too ... don't you think? I've overcome it, and now I, I'm really looking forward to things."

His smile sparkled brightly. His white teeth are clearly visible. He carries himself like a noble. Banri even reflexively wanted to clap.

"Is that so? Nice."

"… You really think that's good?"

"Yes, I know! I would love to be able to dance Awa Odori with Kaga-san, there is nothing better! For me, facing adversity is part of growing up."

His body twirled, Kouko slowly closed her eyes, as if she was drunk.

"Thank you for the support. After all, for me, I was thinking of taking on a new challenge. Even Awa Odori is one! This kind of doubt is wrong. Thinking about this and that, fearing it is wrong. I believe life is a waste. Every day, we have to move forward .. right? "

"Thank you for the support. After all, for me, I was thinking of taking on a new challenge. Even Awa Odori is one! This kind of doubt is wrong. Thinking about this and that, fearing it is wrong. I believe life is a waste. Every day, we have to move forward .. right? "

With eyes open, he looked at Banri. Banri nodded at him, though,

"Right!"

His large eyes sparkled until dangerous.

And then approaching a few steps, suddenly a few inches from Banri's nose, Kouko became serious. Banri gulps reflexively; kouko cannot be stopped.

"Forward day by day! And then seriously advance! Onward! Onward! Forward or forward, forward, forward! That will be my life! Move on like that, that's what I decided! That would be a super proactive life, in GO! I'll see it perfect! Go ahead, keep going until I die! I'll do it, of course! To be perfect, to live life, to look forward positively, even to death! "

He caught Banri's shoulder. Dude! With that kind of energy.

After arriving at this point, Banri shifted his gaze at once.

He laughed uneasily.

Just saying that much, he retreated backwards. His hand left his shoulder, "What?", Kouko's lips looked unhappy, but they weren't. That feeling was clearly fear. Why did this person run to such extremes?

Even though he had dumped her, he was looking for the future. So then? He's even going to the club! Wow that's good! … To the extent that he is adjusting to normal, it will be easier to get to know him. And somehow it seemed like in his previous existence he didn't even know Mitsuo, his best friend until now. Why would someone have to suddenly jump this far, to the point that this person had left?

He said to himself, "Oh well, he can't moderate himself because he is Kaga Kouko", although he also takes care of him.

One of her cheeks expands so cute, Kouko spoke to Banri who was pulled back.

"Tada-kun, since we became true friends, if we have something we want to talk about, can we just talk about it? Don't keep secrets!"

"Well, even though you said it .. what tension it was, the fear was as if from that group of 'Crystal Gods' ...it really was Kaga-san, wasn't it you who said carelessly, not that you said it, shocked by the heartbreak, 'Hello Neo-Children?' "

Kouko, who had just promised that she could say whatever she wanted, suddenly, it was as if she was saying "hold on!", her eyebrows rose into a beautiful arch. Yeah, he's angry. A portion of anger. Anger, come soon.

"What are you saying! That's not possible! It's a universal question of living as a human being. I don't want to be underestimated like that!"

As you might have guessed, seeing that pretty face, beautifully ordered, was striking with an expression flushed red with anger, was rather frightening.

"Ah, wait …!"

Banri, falling in front of her as if she was a Heian-era princess,

"No, Whoa!"

With a flick, one finger pushed towards his nose, and once again he threw his head sharply back. It almost rose his nose to the second joint.

"In other words, Tada-kun must also move forward! No, not doing that is wrong! Do it! Now! Just soon! As good friends, it wouldn't be true if we didn't move forward in the same way possible! Because if I can't do it, I can't be the perfect friend! "

"Eh .. is impossible …"

"See here, once again such a sound! Really messy! 'Whoa ~' 'Cannot ~' Talking like that is not allowed! Making such a stupid face was not either! Yeah, even though I'm, "

'Although I dumped you', such hesitation is not good!

— Is it a fact, or by saying it, he thought.

Now even Banri, who had suddenly noticed the gap in space and time between the two of them, gazed back at Kouko as if through a distorted memory. Seeing that,

"…"

Even Kouko's passionate vocal chords suddenly fell silent, as if breaking up.

Stay like this, both of them were silent, ".." (Do you usually talk like this!?) "…" (I said nothing, nothing at all!) "…" (But how about trying to talk!?) "…" (I didn't do anything, really didn't.) "…" (If that's the case, then simplify your awkward pantomime!) " … "(I get it, that's the funny part.)" … "(We've done something right!) — to date communicates well through gaze and gestures,

"… A, anyway! That's because it's like that! … It's like that! In short, let's give our best with Omaken, Tada-kun and me! … That .. is what I have to do say."

Kouko smiled. Then, Banri also relaxed. For the time being, whatever he had forgotten did not matter.

"Well, look, we're not just the first year, are we? Fo, go! Strong! Full throttle! Bet life! With all my might! Let's try hard! Life is not for wasting! Right, that's how it is!"

Seeking approval, his fists clenched, Banri only replied with a sigh, but in his own way Kouko thought of him as 'yes'.

"Right!"

Taking a breath as if a little relieved, he suddenly turned around and easily retrieved his branded bag from the chair where he left it.

Hanging him from his shoulder with a rope, he turned around, his shiny hair in thick curls sweeping his left shoulder. Still smiling, revealing his sparkling white teeth, he only showed the right side of his neck to Banri.

That standing figure, that beautiful beauty. A woman like from the movies, or drama-tele, who has a fictional world, she is like everyone's dream, revived.

Kouko is perfect, of course. Again more easily captivated, thought Banri. — At least, with regard to the outward appearance, nothing but 'perfect' came to mind.

If she had to open her mouth, somehow subtly helpless, but she seemed to only need a little touch here and there, her appearance was truly beautiful, and blessed to sparkle all the time. Since they were friends, he couldn't talk about things like 'appearance only'.

And then, fusing the heels of his boots, with a smile he twitched his long lashes.

"Hey, Tada-kun, are you free now? Don't you want to go with me to the student affairs office? Because the schedule is out, I want someone with me."

Kouko spoke as if she had trained him. Even as a friend, is it natural to invite someone in such a way? And he added a wink from his big eyes.

Mitsuo was late to the Civil Law when he truant, Banri thought, but,

"Then, after that let's go to the Civil Law. Is it okay with you?"

After being told like that, how dare he refuse? Did what? My friend, who was destined from a previous existence to go with me, had invited me. What's more, my friend is a beauty to die for.

Hmph, even though I was dumped the day before yesterday.

* * *

Side by side, Banri and Kouko leave the cafeteria, walking towards the student office, which was on the other floor.

Looking out the window of the dark old school building, it was extremely bright.

Perhaps because the weather was good today, there were already signs of summer, there was mingling here and there among the students back and forth some wearing short-sleeved shirts.

Banri, wearing a T-shirt and jeans, and a hoodie with "The Clumsy Student" on the back, gets a little warm, and takes off the hoodie as she walks. While rolling up that slightly sweaty and fatty object, he tried to put it in the bag. However, he was unable to enter it very well because of what was already there, and continuing up the stairs to the landing, he slowly stopped in a narrow corridor.

"Are you okay? Can I bring something?"

Realizing that Kouko is reaching out to him, Kouko,

"No, no, I won't make you carry my stuff …"

Trying to resist, he realized that his shoelace had been torn off. Oh well, but there's nothing to be done about it: he's a careless kid.

"Well, sorry to ask, but can you hold this for a second?"

After Kouko held onto the hoodie she had removed for a moment (and prayed to the God that it did not smell of sweat), and squatted on the wall, she first pulled back her shoes. In order not to block the traffic, Kouko also moved to the side of the corridor, on the side of Banri.

Seen up close, Kouko, who was waiting, held onto Banri's hoodie respectfully, as if it was something important, naturally having extremely slender legs. Her calf lines were refined gracefully, like works of art. Such ankles: if you use any force, they will break. On his knees as well, the woman was beautiful, there was no loosening meat. If you try to cross the street, you look to see if there are cars coming, anyone will look over there. That's kind of it.

He glanced to the side, with a serious look as he sighed, thinking, "Wearing black tights in midwinter is fine, but isn't it too hot in this climate? Is hot or cold even important to this person, if it's stylish?"

Then, Kouko moved her slender legs uncomfortably.

"… Ta, Tada-kun, coincidentally, did you see my legs?"

"I don't see, I don't see."

Banri answered clearly,

"Even though I didn't see, Kaga-san, aren't those black things hot? Isn't that like 'coordinating coordinates'?"

He tried to ask here clearly. Is it common for a man to recognize the intricacies of girl fashion? Uh oh, he can't say no. As much as that, Banri already knew from the internet.

"Well, my tights?"

Kouko looked back at Banri's face that flipped over for a bit, complex his expression.

"This ... although it's a bit hot, there's actually a reason why I didn't take it off."

He answered like that. Banri got back up, man,

"Of course, women have a reason …"

In one move, he put his hand into his bag. For now, to fill his hoodie there, he wanted to flip all the textbooks that fell to the side.

"We're sure! We have a lot of problems. Actually, it was swallowed by a snake."

"Ehh, that's terrible!"

Thinking he wants to make Kouko laugh again by saying some silly jokes, or lightening things up with a smile, Banri goes to take back her veil that may be sweating, looking towards Kouko.

However,

"That was yesterday, in our garden. That was the worst fate. I'm wearing tights to cover up the damage. As a girl, of course, I don't want to show you such things."

Kouko said it with a straight face.

No way ... This is not a joke, right?

"… Ap, what? Swallowed snake …? Kaga-san …?"

"Yes. And it's really surprising!"

Not surprisingly, that.

Banri, forgetting about rearranging his bag, looks back at Kouko's beautiful white face, imagining it in his mind. While he was shouting, Kaga Kouko was slowly swallowed by the big snake, the first leg. In Park. The snake's stomach gradually swells, its shape cannot be seen, it loses shape as it is digested .. But the next day, Kaga Kouko comes to college, saying, "Forward! Awa Odori!" and like.

Isn't that a "problem" enough?

Being dizzy, Banri shook his head, and took a deep breath. By getting a lot of oxygen into his brain, he miraculously gets things.

"Err .. just in case, how far do you swallow …?"

"'Until where', eh?"

Kouko blinked from Banri's question, and then,

"Enough, you joke …! Wow you're funny! Tada-kun, you fool, aha! It was just a joke! Ahahaha!"

Suddenly he laughed. Surely thinking of something like "Eh, crazy child ..." about Banri, she covered her mouth with her hands, but she seemed to be unable to help but laugh, her cheeks gradually turning red, she was, still laughing when his body doubled when in pain, hugging the hoodie he was holding tightly.

"'Sw, swallowed', but not vertically! Stop it, Tada-kun, you're too funny! Like this, this! Swallowed to the side! 'Until where' !? Do you think I am slowly being swallowed from my feet towards my head !? There is no such snake! In Tokyo !? In my backyard !? Maybe even in the woods, where in the world did you get that idea !? Really, you're really too funny, I've decided that! Sideways, sideways, sideways, swallowed! "

With his left wrist representing his leg, and his right hand the head of a snake, he mimicked how it could bite from the side.

"No, no, no" Banri replied calmly returning to the lost princess with a laugh.

"… Then, you are not 'swallowed', but 'bitten' …? What, you think 'let's be funny', and make a mystery to solve? Did you create something like that?"

"No, you're wrong! Swallowing is the right word! Because while it was trying to bite, it was trying to suck my calf meat down its throat! It sucked so hard! Like this !? Snakes like that come in! my backyard!"

Suddenly Kouko, moving her hands as if she were a udon noodle maker, threw Banri's hoodie into the air, stretching it long and thin. "M, my hoodie", Banri groaned,

"Give me! Because,"

He grabbed the part of his hood and twisted it. Then, wrap it around his neck, and,

"'Yeah! It's hu-hu-hu-sick!', he said!"

"But I'm not kidding!"

"Then how are you alive and kicking with gusto !?"

"It's not on my neck! That's Bibinba's neck!"

"Bibinbaa !? … You mean ... That star in Kinnikuman !?"

"What are you talking about! Here on Earth! I mean cats! Cat Shizuka!"

"Oh, I understand ... no, but didn't you change the tone of the story !? Where does the name come from, or is it from the Kamei family ... is it Shizuka !? Why didn't you tell me clearly from the beginning !? "

"No! My little brother! My little brother Kaga Shizukaa! He's a fat little boy! … Or rather, okay, I can't talk like that. So you understand this better, listen, he's mine Brother. Are you good at this point? He's called Shizuka. That good too? Nice, right? He's got a cat. Bibinba is one of them. He's a Himalayan. Yesterday, he was attacked by a snake in the garden, and he was strangled. It's been twice, no, about three times. Really there, ready to enjoy the food! So I was freaking out, so I jumped at it, like this, "

Kouko grabbed the hoodie wound on her neck with both hands, pulling it towards her.

"'Ugh! Release Bibinba! Urghhh …!' … Uh, it must have hurt … "

"Oou .. ouou .. or rather you need it very strictly …"

"But, if it's like that .. and it is! It's like that!"

Grabbing one arm of the hoodie and slowly releasing it from his neck, he began to swing it, like a cowboy. Other students passing by avoided him, treating him as a nuisance.

"I used centrifugal force! And then, I like this!"

His hair flew, Kouko swung it wide, and the hoodie hit the wall. Although it must have once belonged to Banri, a dead hoodie, his strength was gone, creeping to the floor.

"Thinking, 'Fiuh .. I managed ..!', I turned her back to get into the house and took out the trash bag. If I do that …!"

Kouko crouched for some reason, grabbed the hoodie's arm, and grabbed down to touch behind the calf of her leg,

"I shouted 'Kyaa!' It's like this, like this! Yelling 'It bit me!', and 'Kyaa!', Even kicking my leg it didn't let go, swallowing me little by little, it was already a disaster! I'm getting more panicked! "

"… Ah, very once …! So what do you do, in the end?"

"'Solve it!' "

Cutting off the useless question again, in a very disrespectful manner, he struck near the arm of the hoodie's arm, as if he was giving a piece of karate to the snake's head. Like a head stuck in a guillotine, he looked dead. If it were the Green General, the goose would have been cooked.

"Oh …"

Somehow sensing the snake, Banri held his own neck. In 'Pose Terminator Naked', Kouko briefly enjoys victory after victory.

"… You know, it looks really bad. Hoodie Tada-kun has already been beaten …!"

Realizing that, he took the hoodie's corpse.

"No way, I'm sorry! Silly me, I got lost in the conversation!"

"Don't worry about it, it's been like that from the start."

"There's no excuse! Enough is enough, what am I going to do? I'll clean it up!"

"It's okay, really, I wash clothes. I mean, it's just old UNIQLO stuff. Sacrificed, but it's a very good story, worth listening to, I guess."

Taking the hoodie back from the apology, blushing Kouko, and saying nothing about the replacement, or anything of the sort, she stuffed it quickly into the bag in front of her.

"No, it's worth listening to, really .. Kaga-san always does it, getting rid of the snake."

"No way! It was the first time in my life I touched a snake!"

"Is Bibinba okay after all that?"

"He almost jumped into the washing machine from a mental shock, even this morning he barely left it."

"Drums type?"

"Yes, normal vertical type. … Ah, enough of me, now, I'm babbling because of the tension …"

No, your tension from the start was incredible. Which, well, he didn't say.

Kouko, flushed red as if she was finally embarrassed, covered her face with both hands like a little girl, looking around nervously. "Eighteen-year-old snake killer Kaga Kouko-chan ..." muttered Banri, and Kouko raised her fist like a child, as if about to hit Banri.

"That's enough! Forget it!"

"Despite it all, you've been chatting with me in high spirits."

"Be, because! Am I right? Isn't this topic something else? Didn't the snake come out, attack our cat, and my life is threatened, ambushed from behind? In the backyard? Isn't this kind of rare? … There, it didn't happen, did it? In Shizuoka? "

"Cannot be. Shizuoka is a big city."

He had once seen a snake being hit by a machine in a tea field, but how could he say it? His grandfather by his father's side collects mamushi around there to marinate them for the sake of (trauma: saying things like "if you drink it, your memory will go back ~" to make him drink it), but that's just a small detail .

"definitely. So I've been, since yesterday, talking to anyone, talking and not stopping, thinking, 'I can talk!' I took it to the limit. "

"But you know, you better email me about it."

That, just for a moment.

Even this is not a problem, being a continuation of the joking conversation.

That, just for a moment.

Even this is not a problem, being a continuation of the joking conversation.

It wouldn't be strange if she missed the darkness, just for a moment, Kouko's eyes trembled miserably.

Banri has seen it.

For someone who has just been fired, sending an email about such things is not enough. — For Banri, it seems like Kouko's heart is talking about these things.

You do not need to talk about fated friends, looking ahead to life and in a state of high drama. Anybody can do it. Whoever did it did not make an unpleasant decision. Therefore, in doing so, he was not forced to continue the scenario he had left behind. Although he knew it was strange to him, it was not like there was no other way.

Because, not so, and I don't need to …

That's what Banri heard.

"… So this morning, I was thinking, 'Let's talk to Linda-senpai!' "

Suddenly, Kouko broke out with a smile like a blooming flower.

"But, senpai, when she had to look at my schedule, she let out a long sigh and began to think. It's terrible, he said. Already, I can't just say something like 'Yesterday a mouthful of my ass is being swallowed by a snake, you know '"

Laughing, Tada-kun.

So it seems Kouko asked him.

"No way, I won't say anything either! Absolutely not!"

Banri laughed too.

He didn't see anything else. Pretending not to notice, he laughed cheerfully while he thought again. It seemed like Kouko had no friends to chat casually about everyday things.

As far as he was concerned, now, he had lost his entire world: Mitsuo. Already, in Kouko's world, even the ordinary things that people can do to stay in touch have become unsatisfactory.

"But, it's okay. I can talk to you .. And you seem to understand me?"

Gently softening his smile and slightly averted his gaze, Kouko muttered in an unusually soft voice.

It seemed that the demon from his nerves had finally fallen. From the laughter that came out of his lips, to his swollen chest, even Banri saw and understood everything, took a deep breath, and let out. He seemed to recover, bit by bit, his mental stability, and seemed to be self-conscious about how difficult he was to deal with, going to extremes like him, going to extremes like him,

"… I'm a total mess …"

Raising his shoulders, he smiled wryly. Me, very messy. Didn't they? And next.

Kouko's fed up too.

He understood, and his chest rose.

So much so. To be able to regain his footing in just two days there was nothing to be avenged. He's not a smart guy.

Almost two days had passed today, and Kouko, because she, only herself, was not good at confronting Mitsuo who had thrown him away, and Banri whom she had thrown away. For that reason, he could not jump around here and there with his normal style. In order not to show a sad or hurt face, he had to play his part. Can't talk like a smart person, maybe it's not easy.

There's nothing to do. He felt as if his heart was being squeezed.

The more he thought about Kouko's feelings, the more painful they became. In general, Banri's comfortable imagination may be reassured, but, he thinks that in Kouko's heart, standing next to him, is the unstoppable force of desire.

After all, of course, she loves Kouko. The more he thought about it, the more he wanted to get closer to his heart. Stubbornly, despite having been banished, he wanted to be his helper, at least.

For the first time, Banri thought it would be good to be part of Kouko's scenario. No, he wants to be, even.

Now appearing on stage, Tada Banri. As Mitsuo's friend, Kouko's friend. Things have happened, but he is now an understanding friend and destined for Kouko. Am I allowed to take on such a role? … It's okay if I'm not your girlfriend. In the lonely world of Kouko, if such as I am acceptable, I want to be on stage. If there is space on this stage, I want to stay a long time.

And then I prayed, that eventually many of the performers on his stage could appear, brightly colored, shiny for the moment of spinning.

He believed this from the bottom of his heart. It was the first time he had kept a soft feeling for someone else. At least, as far as Banri can remember himself.

Encouraging each other, "How about we go?", Their exchanged views are pure friendship.

It seems that they are really in a relationship as close friends, Banri lives next to Kouko, Kouko too, looking relieved, smiling calmly. And then, at that moment, when the two of them slowly opened their mouths, would start talking about something, he said,

"Banri Pag-ning!"

Buk, he was lightly hit in the middle of his back.

He looked back.

There's no one there.

"Wait, wait, where are you looking?"

No, now he understands — there is no way he can fail.

That sound. Not wrong anymore. Her voice was above, too feminine, sweet saccharin, as from the anime show. Moreover, for some reason he greeted her without any appreciation.

From about a foot lower than her, her little face laughed.

Amazingly, he was eighteen years old. Micro-sized pet fairy. Even Mr. The Two Dimensions approve of him as a multi-dimensional life form. Like those…

"O, Oka-chan …"

… One thing, Oka Chinami.

* * *

Thinking, "What should I do?", he suddenly felt an alarming aura piercing the right side of his body, coming from around Kouko.

As far as Kouko is concerned, it is clear Chinami is the enemy. Undoubtedly, he thought of something like "The thieving cat that stole my beloved Mitsuo!",

"To you too, Kaga-san! Wow, your clothes are really pretty again today. I knew that, from a distance, I said to myself, 'That's Kaga-san!' "

Although Chinami innocently jumped up and down, Banri remembered the danger he was in and jolted. Why Oka-chan, why are you acting like that, off guard in front of Kouko? Shouldn't you be careful with those nails? The person in front of you is snake killer Kaga Kouko!

"… Okachi, name …"

Kouko slowly turned around, gazing down at Chinami, muttering with an expression like Cleopatra, sensing the poison.

"Ahaha, you misunderstood ~! Not Okachi, but Oka, Chinami!"

Then why so careless! Banri casually put his foot to the side, trying to insert himself halfway into the space between Kouko and Chinami.

Chinami is innocent to the point of endangering herself, and again, as always, she is sweet enough to die. Her long, round eyelashes, cute eyes bulged out, her pure face, like a foreign child. Tied into a large knot, her hair was full and dark. Her slender body was covered by a dark blue dress worn over the blue denim, her slender ankles peering out. On top of solid light brown leather sandals, already wearing his rough daypack, while for Banri who, as usual (as a man), does not understand the clothes well, is, Chinami actually exuded the presence of a fairy princess who came to them from the forest.

Banri can't take it anymore.

"… Oka-chan …!"

"What?"

"Uaa ~~~!"

His body swayed, trembling. Don't breathe air like that! Contaminated here! Back to your woods! She couldn't help but want to cry. But his cuteness meets the limits of the universe. The phone in his hand had a very conspicuous strap, including even an Indian fur decoration, was very cute, and already, he could not help but become dumbfounded. Even her hairpin is somehow cute! It can't be so funny.

"What was that about? Banri, what have you done?"

"No matter how!"

"What what the fuck?"

You're the one I was supposed to tell, what's up with that, that "Nyaha!", how to laugh!

No but—

"…"

Kouko.

With a hard yet beautiful face, like a statue of a goddess, without a smile, her chin pulled back, she slowly and silently looked at Banri's suffering, and then the cute transcendent Oka Chinami.

As if he remembered, "That's how, your place is by my side, stooge ..", Banri sadly and quietly returned to Kouko's side. If Kouko is the evil queen, then Banri is her servant. Boyacky, you could say.

Not even glancing towards the servant who had returned to her, Kouko, her expression unchanged, continued to look down on Chinami. Between the high-heeled Kouko and the flat-sand Chinami, there is a six-inch height difference.

So, after a while,

"…Why?"

Her rose-colored lips appeared with a haughty queen-like smile, Kouko opened her mouth.

"Hm? You ask, 'Why?' "

With puzzled eyes, Chinami asked back, "Eh?" Just like a squirrel, it asks, "Who ate the walnuts I hid under the dead leaves?" … That kind of feeling.

Feeling irritated, Kouko's aura flickered. The servant, Banri, understand.

"Even though I didn't expect to hear anything, I listened. I have an ooo-pen mind. I knew! My humanity is noble, so when you admire my perfection, I quickly replied. Answer in two seconds. Twoo, oonnee, "

"Eh? Two seconds? Hm? 'humanity'?"

"You're disqualified, moron! Go!"

Rudely and enviously waving his hand, Kouko turned her face in annoyance.

"All right then! We have something to do!"

Chinami was not defeated at all. Slapping his stomach like a beaver hitting a clam,

"You know, I want to hear about my schedule, Banri and Kaga-san."

On her delicate cheeks, dimples stood out clearly. Chinami smiled happily while Banri and Kouko looked at each other. Glistening to the point that you could almost hear it, those cheerful eyes were frankly shining. For some reason, Banri and Kouko exchanged words without a word. When their gazes met, she felt she heard a nod.

"What I want to ask is, don't you want to throw a drinking party? I'm thinking, let's invite you! Hey, look, haven't we talked about it before? We talked about having a party with two people. Nice last name. Well, that would be called a meeting of people with two-syllable surnames for now. I thought I'd like to throw a drinking party for the first years. I was the first to say something, so I was the manager. This week or next, anywhere, I've planned for a budget of about 3000 yen. If there is a day that does not work because of part-time work or whatever, we can adjust a little too. What's good for you two? "

"Booking party !?"

After hearing such cheerful talk, Banri of course,

"I'm going! Of course I'll go, whenever it is? Thanks for the invitation!"

In good spirits, he could not help but raise his hand. And even more, with that hand,

"It's amazing, Kaga-san!"

Too familiar, he clapped his hands on the shoulders of the evil queen. Kouko Temple twitching.

"… For now I hear you. … What's wrong with this?"

"Eh, say 'what's up with this' like that? Weren't you invited too! By the way, isn't this the first time you've actually been invited to anything other than religion? Of course we will take part, you move forward positively in life! Oka-chan, Kaga-san is not on her schedule, she is basically free, so it's okay! Ah, and I also have some free time! Cool! "

"Wow! That's great!", Chinami jumps small, grasps Banri's hand in high spirits, "It'll be fun ~!"

"I'm not leaving."

Hearing Kouko's sinister remark, the two of them stopped jumping up and down.

"I wouldn't go to something like that. Frankly, I don't feel like mixing with Oka Chinami, not even a micron. If I wanted to waste time like that, it would be best for me to dig a hole in the garden! And then, you know what I'm going to do with that hole? I'll fill it! It was as if it had never been dug up! I will be busy! Digging, filling, digging, filling, digging, digging, filling! Oh really messed up, really busy! Busy running! That's my schedule! "

He directed those last stinging words, somehow, to Banri as well.

"In addition, it's true, I have to go to the Student Affairs Office. Alone."

And then Kouko, smiling heartlessly, turned her back on Banri and Chinami and walked away, alone.

"Ah, wait a minute, wait! You said we'd go together!"

Banri, a sad henchman, runs after him, confused.

But Kouko is not waiting for Banri. His heel suddenly clinked loudly and quickly, amidst the crowd of Banri students losing sight of his back.

"…Huh?"

Looking around, for a moment, Banri scratched his head. Was he angry at something insensitive he said? Does he hate her? He tried to run further after him, but with strength would he stop himself.

Maybe he was too busy at the time, thinking they somehow understood each other. With such a situation, it seemed like even running to Student Affairs, chasing after Kouko in her current state, might not go well. Above all, for the time being of course, he who stubbornly chased after her would be annoying.

Chinami follows behind Banri as well, looking for Kouko in the same way as they speak.

"Is Kouko-san angry? Is there any point in sending him a text message?"

"Yes…"

He opened his phone right then and there, but, changed his mind and stopped. He did not want to bother her because of her impatience. As of now, it seems like Kouko herself, the stubborn girl, does want to understand her feelings. For now, if they send a text or are called, they will just be "dropped".

For now, he took a deep breath. He told himself, be patient, be patient. If he's a friend, then left alone for a while, then once he's calm he'll get back in touch. She should.

Without calling, Chinami faced Banri, took a few breaths and spoke in disappointment.

"As for me, even though I want even Kaga-san to come to the drinking party .. That's not good, I guess."

"… Err, Oka-chan"

"Hmm?", his eyes were blinking innocently, Chinami was staring at Banri. This is his chance, for sure. There were some things he wanted to ask her.

"Kaga-san has a bad attitude towards you. Well, even though he's not a bad person, and for now I'll stand up for him, can't you be angry or upset at that? Although I would have thought if he spoke like that at any time, he would lose the invitation to the party. "

"Does it look like that?"

"No, but ... hey, incidentally, are you really so black-hearted after all? Do you have some kind of terrible plot under all of this, trying to lure the girl you can't stand? To the depths of Oka-chan the jungle will be buried there, to be sucked up and swallowed by the dark Oka-ffleshia, chewing and removing nothing but bones? Do you think like that? ? "

Although he could understand, Banri put together a rant out of frustration, but,

"Wha, what ... what kind of creature am I?"

Making eyes that really looked innocent, but looked a little worried, he lowered his head to one side, looking doubtful. If he had big rabbit ears, standing up, their tips, perhaps, would tremble.

"I invited him just because I wanted to invite him!"

"Wait a minute ~, have you said, 'Eh? The flower under me? Am I a perverted carnivorous flower !? Hmph!', like that."

"I, I didn't say anything about the flowers below .. Really, I wanted to invite Kaga-san as well. I found myself a bit enamored by her, you know. Whatever he says, whatever he does, I feel like I want to watch. He has attracted my interest. This, though it seems there are so many people out there. Besides, she's super ~ Miss Beautiful. "

"… Well, of course. Super ~, Miss Beautiful him."

"Around our university, Kaga-san is the most beautiful person I have ever seen. My senpai is in film studies, although she said she was 'Miss Campus' last year, ah, from now on she is nothing; Kaga-san is always prettier than her. She might do well against the quasi-misses of other universities, or in talent shows, or even work, but if you compare her to Kaga-san, even though they talk badly about her, even if you compare her to Kaga-san, he'll come off like 'Jane Doe' with split ends and no fashion sense. It felt like he was twirling a fairy tale, as if he was going bear hunting, wearing a fur vest and carrying a hunting rifle. Yeah, he's gotta make it up. "

'Jane Doe' with split ends and no fashion sense .. hearing those rant, Banri's breath exploded. Oka Chinami, saying such difficult things, yet adorable, made a face as if she was begging him. Whether she was cunning, or pulling — might be a girl with courage befitting Mitsuo, as she might find it. As far as he is concerned, Chinami's latest comments have raised his opinion of him.

"The problem is, I like beautiful people. I mean, everyone likes flashy people. They positively cling to those who stand out, wanting to see what the problem is. So when I happened to see Kaga-san I subconsciously called her ~ even though I understood why she could hate me, I mean really, I suddenly wanted to hug her from behind, forcibly! Her surprised face will be very cute ~, such embarrassment, make her cry ... then, then ... she will turn towards me! He'll look up! Click! Like that !? Is that a crime !? But, hihi! She's cute ~ for sure! "

"O, Oka-chan, Oka-chan …!"

"Hmm? What's?"

"They opened, those thick wet flower petals!"

In the end, the two eventually headed for the Civil Law. Kouko didn't show up, she might have just come home.

"Isn't this a bit crowded? Is there no chair? Banri, can you see?"

"Yes, that looks really bad."

Chinami is not tall enough to see through the glass windows that enter the door. Banri looked inside, checking if there was room for a grain of rice that could be put on the chair.

He looked at Mitsuo, sitting deep in the middle.

"Oh, it's Yana-ssan."

"Whatis that? Did 'Yana' take this class? How's he doing, is he paying attention?"

"Err, yeah …"

Mitsuo carelessly placed his chin on his hand, his eyes half closed in boredom. His hair fell down onto his cheeks subtly, supporting his clean jawline, even yawning the handsome man. While the girls sitting nearby looked towards Mitsuo, they were arguing about something in a whisper, screeched, secretly excited about something. They might say things like 'That guy's no good', 'He's not handsome', and so on.

Doing so to avoid being noticed, Mitsuo pulled something slowly from his pocket. Feeling pleased with himself, silently smiling, he opened the paper and dropped his mouth. The —

"Oh …! He chewed on the gum he found earlier …!"

"Reg …"