Love Story in College
Chapter 8

Tada Banri is making dinner.

Right after you pass the door, on the left side. A corridor with a width of one tatami, a small kitchen is part of the multipurpose room.

Near the sink and the bad reason for the stove, a single incendiary portable unit, Banri stood there, alone, bowing, re-examining the flame with a serious look in his eyes.

Since she moved here, or rather as far as this Banri was concerned, ever since she was born, this was her first time cooking for real.

He has never played with more than an egg. Worse, nothing more than a stew. One day, saying to himself, "Should I make something of my own today?", He bought a side dish to warm, boiled some pasta and put on a ready-made sauce, he bought a side dish to warm it up, but usually he only makes boiled eggs.

I mean, this guy really likes boiled eggs. In the morning, he pulled out a hard-boiled egg. During the day, school canteens or boiled eggs. In the evening, whether eating while mixed in a drinking party somewhere, with something from the supermarket, something canned or with pasta, boiled eggs. Boiled eggs were no problem for me either, but I never ate them as far as this guy did.

You would think that an omelet or a fried egg might cross his mind as an alternative, but Banri finds it hard to make things like that. Right after moving to the capital, while his mother was still there, he tried once to make ham and eggs, but the results were not good. He burned the white in his new frying pan, and he couldn't help it.

After all, the stove of this room is bad.

Although new, from a recent design, a single electric stove (not a heated heater). If you do not have another, you can install your own regular gas burner stove. Although you wait and wait, the heating power of this furnace is such that the pan is not hot enough, and the eggs that fall into it are quite sitting there.

For me, while curiously watching Banri cook something other than boiled eggs, I was forced to move from the kitchen to the entrance, sitting in a familiar used chair. It was one of the favorite items that Banri bought from the store quickly after moving here.

The low arch of his foot reaches right into the footrest, at the right height to feel stable. Kick backwards, put the back of his shoes on the bench, support his body with elbows, his body fit and comfortable. … I did this, although of course I had no body anymore, waiting and paying attention to Banri's form, standing there, grabbing and poking at things with his chopsticks.

Actually, for me, I still don't like this room very much. There is a room we have checked out that I think is good. At that moment, I frantically tried to whisper in his ear, "This is good! Take this place!", but of course he can't hear me. Well, I don't think he's going to prepare a ghost-sounding comment. But even if he was frightened by a poltergeist, would it change his mind from now on? If I felt like it, I might be able to make the furniture tick .. to do such a thing, of course, would just be a joke. Just one month after moving here, I will move again, but the deposit and the main fees are outrageous.

So — one month. Ever since Banri became a student and started living alone in the room, little by little, a month, so to speak, the days have passed.

As far as outsiders know, those days were good.

Make friends, sign up for classes, even join clubs. Kidnapped by a strange cult, stranded, even dumped by a girl, Banri is somehow peaceful. Living like this, he's fine.

And now today, tonight. Banri was supposed to celebrate (albeit secretly), welcoming this evening as "the first time cooking politely for himself".

The enrollment season passed and the new students became the first year, the storm of the new student welcome party ended and the chance to go out drinking less and less, and soon he would even get tired of eating boiled eggs, the, so Banri became determined to do this.

"Let's cook well!", he said.

And then, "Come send an email to Kaga-san.

I think he's pathetic. But, she's cute. At least I think so. What Kaga Kouko has been thinking so far, it's not my problem.

Banri, finished sending him an email to the internet, has decided to withdraw his heart through the conversation.

"Where are you going today?", "Sorry about today", "I'm home too", "Let's go together for training tomorrow!", and so on, and so on, the e-mails he has kept sending since being left on his way to the student office so far have all been ignored.

Keep sending one-sided e-mails, "Hey? How are you doing? You in there? No?" and so on, even though no answer came, it felt awkward. Before long there would be no more things to tell him, nothing else came to his mind, when it occurred to him: the result of his cooking. He'll email her pictures of her cooking. It was a common technique even in TalentBlog, so maybe it didn't look like he was a stalker.

Using the pork he bought from the supermarket and the bok choy sent to him from home, Banri tries to make a simple shabu-shabu. Her recipe has been given to her by phone from her personal Mieko.

Slowly, taking his time, he added bok choy and carefully sliced pork. The time of one month was changed, gently filling the pot with both hands, carefully measuring the ingredients with a spoon while inserting it. Banri did according to what his mother said, completely.

The kitchen timer rang, and ready for the moment, he lifted the lid of the pan with both hands, the steam raised the sweet smell of bok choy. Say, ".. Horray! I made it!", Banri did a bold pose, showing off to anyone but himself.

It looks like it turned out pretty good. This time, the timer on his birth attendant had died perfectly. Using a rice spoon as her mother had taught her, she stirred the freshly cooked food, happily filling her round rice bowl. Bringing such a pot to a small table, he placed it, a copy of TVBros did the job of being a pot pot.

He arranged chopsticks, spoons and dishes, arranged the ponzu sauce in the ready, not forgetting the finishing decoration: green onion. It's been "cooking" done perfectly.

Hey, I'm a little surprised. It's done well. Not really. Isn't that done well enough? Unconsciously, I praised Banri. I didn't expect to be heard, even though I wanted to make it so. Get off the bench, I sit down too, opposite him at the table.

Banri tries to get his chopsticks into the pot at once, but suddenly stops. Still sitting, he reached out his hand, pulled his phone from the charger and slowly took a picture of the dining table. Yes, do not forget your purpose. Try to eat before it cools down.

Looking across the desk on that cell phone, I started hiding. Will the first person sent be Tada Mieko? He could already prepare it with just the scent of Tada's house. Although he might have considered it. And then, in regards to Yanagisawa Mitsuo, to Yana-ssan she just said "No". Then Satou Takaya too, "No", ... wait !? What do they call that guy? What name is that guy? Continuing with Oka Chinami also, "No", with a string of small bird trail symbols following after. Actually, what I saw was a string of heart marks accompanying it.

And now, down to business. The most important e-mail he sent to his destination: to Kaga Kouko.

'Dinner now (three food signs). For today, challenge hot pot bok choy and pork (melt biceps mark). I tried to make the original recipe of our house (shimmering star sign), the taste of the house (smiling face!) '

He saw what he wrote, rewrote it, changed it again, changed his mind and rewrote it and changed it, but in the end went back to what he wrote in the first place. Yeah, that's a good idea. And then he sent it.

Returning his phone, finally, Banri started eating from the pot. He said, "Thank you for the food", which, although only heard by myself and by television, tastes quite good, it seems. Eating a mouthful, he snorted, greedy (and apparently happy) scooping the cooked white rice. He found himself chasing his food, so to speak. By the time the egg boiled, he had never seen such energy.

"Ah .. soo goood. … Is that it? It tastes like our own home cooking …"

While Banri put his big mouth to work, he muttered to himself a little sadly. Watching the warm steam rising from the pot, his chopsticks stopped moving slightly.

Come to think of it, all year long Banri is at home, the jug doesn't show up on the table, does it?

"… If that's true, then it looks like I must have missed it. … Maybe that's it …"

Is this guy used to living alone, or has he been talking to himself lately? Or rather, .. no, Banri.

Actually, it was something a bit hard to say — and, an email back from someone on a mobile phone. His right hand was still holding the chopsticks, with bad behavior, Banri opened the cell phone again. It's from mom, though,

'This is a CookPad recipe! (♥) I have never used it though (sweat)

Banri lowered his head.

… What's up with that? That's not a special taste of the Tada family? He felt sorry for all the effort he had just put in.

* * *

"Wow, as always, cheap!"

Buying the daily specials at the lunch shop Linda showed them earlier, Banri felt a great deal of respect. According to the shopkeeper woman, the main special of the day is sukiyaki. A sip of hamburger cooked alongside green salad and miso, kinpira, even macaroni salad on the side, three dollars of desperate deflation. Where is the Japanese economy headed?

"Or rather, cheaper than that."

He pointed at the Starbucks cup in his hand,

"Latte high, five dollars. But isn't this nearly 400 calories?"

"Very nutritious," said Kouko, posing as if she was toast, a complacent expression on her face, rubbing her long eyelashes. Already, he had the same silvery plastic bag as a daily specialty food in one hand.

Meeting at the entrance of the student hall after the second period, Banri along with Kouko headed towards the local hall that Omaken used for practice. While passing people on narrow sidewalks without guardrails, they walked in fear, one in front of the other.

Their way to and from the law school campus passes through this area: old office buildings and crowded test schools, bustling restaurants clustered in rows, p, and at lunchtime, the narrow sidewalks were filled with office workers and students all at once. This two-lane road has fairly heavy traffic, with people using it as a shortcut for the main road, trucks and taxis passing by, and plenty of parking on the road, it was badly planned.

"It looks so fattening, ma'am."

Banri, turning to look at Kouko behind him, tries to attack the banter like a friend. The immaculate Kouko did not speak as she carefully circled the collected trash in front of a bar, and jumped over the puddle of items that looked like they were coming out of a ramen shop, saying "Eww" as he followed from behind. Banris.

Yesterday, after being separated from Kouko like her after the awkwardness with Chinami, there was not even an email in reply. Banri was very anxious about what might happen, but as it turned out, he had nothing to worry about.

He didn't know if there would be any problems left.

As for Banri, he intends to revive himself, moments after he sends a picture of the dinner he made for himself. The email came from Kouko, 'Sorry! I just realized my phone has been buried in my bag until now! ' After that one message after another, "So that", "Yes, that", message back and forth as usual, who knows how many times? Everything is good today too. Banri and Kouko together as good friends, head to a club meeting. The two of them continued their relationship as friends as if nothing had happened.

Kouko pouted sweetly at Banri staring back at him.

"From here on I'll dance like crazy, no problem! Or rather, I'm without a latte, I can't live one day."

And then he spoke. Banri, "You must be joking!", Jari pointed, joking back.

"Look at yourself now, exaggerate like that!"

"But that's the truth! It's addiction. Since middle school was my third year, it has become something I drink every day. Rain, wind or sun, Tokyo, Hawaii or New York. Although I can always have a healthy soy-latte or no fat latte, today I revoked my normal ban. I have to save up for Awa Odori, right? Doesn't it look bad for me to falter on the road? I keep calories inside. "

While smiling perfectly, Kaga Kouko will not look inappropriate doing the latest ad for Starbucks.

And now, somehow, Kouko is really looking forward to attending the Omaken meeting.

His willingness shows even in today's clothing. She wore her dark brown hair, her slender neck without a necklace. With only small diamond earrings on her ears, and wearing knee-length trousers under her skirt, she was dressed modestly, with a t-shirt cloth that would be fine if she sweated. Although Kouko looks a bit sporty, she doesn't look like she's planning to dance. Peering out of his shoulder bag was a binder as if for college, and he carried another paper bag. The t-shirt folded and something like a jersey could be seen there. Although the way he wears is only 'feel' sporty, it is enough for Banri.

"Is that so? You think you're gonna lose weight dancing …"

C-3PO, frozen with salt from sweat .. if he said such things, he would definitely be offended, so of course, he did not say it, but well, well, he must have thought of such things.

But, it was as if he had already heard it very clearly,

"Tada-kun, just now, you were thinking 'even though he can barely dance', right?"

Kouko looked at Banri's face while walking briskly, past him from behind. Her brightly colored lip gloss glittered more beautifully than ever in the sun, and her mischievous smile made Banri's eyes visible.

"I, I didn't think of that! Really, I didn't think about it at all!"

"It's not a big deal, but you're just watching. Because today I will redeem myself. Nobody's gonna call me C-3PO anymore!"

Full of confidence, now Kouko turned towards Banri's face and spoke.

"You can really say that the last time I couldn't dance well, that I did my own things. And then I understand the reason."

"Ah, you have no sense of rhythm, do you? I wonder if I don't have it either. And after that, my body was all stiff. It was terrible, Kaga-san was young, yet very sad … "

"That's not true! It was because I had closed the door to my heart that I became a mess. Obviously .. 'me' on that day, as it were, squeezed into everything, afraid of everything and shrinking back miserably from it all … "

Inhaling his latte,

"… But, today's 'me' is different from that day's 'me. I have been born again. I will not return to my miserable state a second time. Kouko's new Kaga, wide open to her feelings, moves forward towards a new challenge. Open to music! Open to rhythm too! Open to even being seen! In short, I think, in 'dancing' that kind of awareness is important. The body is not "It matters; it must be the spirit of the dancer, his own soul. Do you disagree? The audience will remember being moved. Hey, don't you think? You think so too, don't you? That is the truth! "

He noticed Banri's face as he walked backwards. Proudly hugging a cup of latte onto his chest, suddenly rubbing his long eyelashes, his wide eyes brightened up to swallow him, he said,

"So, with that theory, I would've been able to dance!"

Standing there, right in the middle of the road, he was an impressive distraction. He really stood out. An office worker approached them, frowning in having to avoid Kouko, who was blocking the way.

"Do you have a problem …?"

Banri muttered backwards, his head tilted to the side, but,

"Really! Well, still ... there might be a problem, just one."

Slowly Kouko twisted and bowed, her leggings rising so that Banri could see her calves.

"… Aaaa …"

Banri shut his mouth. Turn screaming. It was a shocking sight. For a moment, he would pass out, a plastic bag with lunch at risk of falling to the ground.

"What do you think about this? There has been no healing since that day."

Whatever he thinks, whatever,

"It's not a poisonous snake !?"

"Yes." Yeah."

Yep, feet. What's with a complacent expression on your face?

On Kouko's white calf, the snake bite marks remained. Surprisingly, different tooth shapes still exist. The wound was swollen and red, apparently feverish, looked bad for that view, and around it internal bleeding was then painted ominous purple and yellow spots here and there. It's in a rather bad condition. Hmm, Kouko looked at her own calf, examining it with a doubtful expression.

"… It's like something that Pucci drew ... Do you know about him? Emilio Pucci?"

"No, I don't know! I mean, aren't your legs getting bad !? You really didn't go to the hospital !?"

"Oh yeah, but by the way! The hot pot yesterday! That's really great! Tada-kun, expert chef, I didn't know you had any special skills! Sooo's cool, I guess!"

"Do things like my hot pot problem !? Could it be that you are more 'open' to going to the hospital !? Because it's terrible! That thing! Most of the time!"

"… In ~ to protect our love .. heheehee ~ heheehee ~ …"

"Get the handle!"

Kouko quickly returned the leggings and hummed while walking quickly. Walking despite his injury doesn't seem to be a problem, but is this guy really okay? Banri chased after him, confused.

Making Kouko promise that if it doesn't subside she will go to the hospital the next day, they part in front of the building's toilet so they can change clothes.

To change clothes, Banri brought a pair of trousers that he usually used to sleep in, and his practically unused yellow T-shirt, which was brought from home and filled with cardboard boxes.

Whether it was done cheaply, or had been accidentally washed, the design had been completely peeled off, and the current Banri had no idea what might be said at first. Moreover, when he tried to wear it, the label scratched the back of his neck, moving slightly, but rubbing his skin painfully.

Because it was not at all thought of whether he could dance, reluctantly, perhaps even embarrassed, he wore it from the inside out. After all, the design had been damaged, if the law student asked, then he would say it was for an emergency evacuation drill.

With a towel to dry his sweat hanging from his neck and his bag collected, he entered the training room and,

"Oh, first year, just arrived."

"Or rather, aren't you wearing a deep T-shirt?"

"What's? Just got out of the bathroom?"

In the absence of Kouko or any other woman in sight, there were several older men finished changing, gathered and sitting in front of a mirror taped to the wall. Although Banri had just entered, they noticed him and called out to him.

Banri quickly took off his shoes and climbed into the ancient room.

"Excuse me! My t-shirt's deep! What's that about 'just getting out of the bathroom'?"

He courteously approached the circle of senior club members, being careful of how he behaved. He still did not match his name and face at all, and in fact he was secretly nervous.

"Look at this, the towel. Officially, hang it from your neck like it's rough."

Placing his hands around his neck while giving Banri a friendly smile, the super-short haired senpai reminded him in some ways about monkeys. Of course this is-and-so-thin .. these Omaken members somehow, no one can call them zero, and these good people seem to have carried their own burdens. Their burly shoulders peeked randomly through the absorbent jerseys, and when Banri answered with lines like "Is that right?", without thinking about it, he tried to hide his pitiful shoulders with both hands.

"The towel is here, like this. This is Omaken's 'style.

Si-and-so-senpai stood up and suddenly turned towards Banri. Folding the towel so long and narrow, he put it in the back pocket, making sure half of it hangs.

If you tell him there's something really cool, Banri will do it all at once. He went around the room, saw what Senpai was doing, asking, "How did I do that !?" The kind-hearted senpais nodded towards him, saying things like, "There! That's nice! You look good! That's rhythm!" It was just their way of paying a lot of attention to the only new guy this year, but even though he didn't know them, he accepted them obediently as their underclassmen.

While Banri plays a junior fool, he notices what is on their feet.

"Is that a sneaker? What are those shoes?"

A pair of sneakers, looking like new, their shoelaces were still not tied, scattered on paper.

"Yes, it's good that you showed up. Are you wearing this too?"

"There's a guy who wants to buy this, and we're all trying. But strangely they are small and narrow, and they are not suitable for anyone. If they match you, he says you can have them for 5000 yen."

Banri sees the shoe once again, this time carefully, as something to buy. Could the sole be made thick enough to withstand abuse?

"Sixty-five right …? It's kind of steep, I haven't got a part-time job .. ah, but, this must be cool."

"Didn't you? They're cool! They have never been worn but once since they were purchased, but even if they are used, they may also be new. In addition, it is a popular model, featured in magazines. Aren't they usually 20,000 yen or more? "

Usually over 20,000 yen .. Banri takes one of the sneakers in each hand, looking at it hard.

So light they felt as if they were floating in his hands, they were NewBalance running shoes.

With regard to the footwear at this moment that he had: the leather shoes he wore for the entrance ceremony, his favorite Jack Purcells he wore almost every day, some sandals from a shop, a couple of sandals from a shop, and of course the least preferred, some cheap, because of the style, brandless sneakers it wears on rainy days. That's all it is. As a male freshman, he was ready to have a pair of shoes. Moreover, if he bought new shoes, what would he get for 2,000 to 3,000 yen? This might be good on ¥ 5,000.

"All right then. Okay, try!"

"I'll be there."

Thinking "Something like Cinderella ..", while an evil half-brother, or rather, a good upperclassman watched attentively, Banri carefully tried to insert one leg.

"How's that?"

"Slightly tight?"

He realized that from the tip of his toe to the heel, it was snug and comfortable.

"No .. doesn't seem to matter to me. Would it be better with both feet?"

With one leg already attached, he stepped lightly around the room. Although the rope was not tied, nothing else seemed strange, and it seemed like size was not a problem. Crowding around Banri, uh ... Their eyes widened, there was a commotion between them. Is this kid somehow Cinderella …? Glass NB fits him, is this kid …? This skinny, shoulder-ended, unpopular-looking youngster, with a tendency to be disabled …? This kid is awesome …!

"Look, that's perfectly fitting! I'm Cinderella Boy! Wow, my legs are light!"

Wearing both shoes on paper, Banri could be seen jumping lightly around the place.

His feet were used to the heavy Jack Purcells, these modern, stylish and loving running shoes, as if he was wearing wings. Perhaps because he was on the tatami mat, the resolute souls felt at ease under his feet. Lfs nice. Real good.

"I have decided! I'll buy it! I want them! With ¥ 5,000, I will buy it! But who do I pay?"

Just as Banri carefully stepped back onto the stretched paper, he saw the entrance open. Linda walked in first, then some older girls, and then, after changing clothes, Kouko walked into the room.

"Oh, you're on time. Look in here! This new student bought shoes!"

"Oh really?"

Raising her voice and turning towards them, it was Linda. Banri was a bit confused. Since the shoes were for men, he naturally thought the seller was a man.

"This is Linda-senpai's shoe?"

"Yes, right."

Wearing her usual long-sleeved T-shirt under another T-shirt, plus knee-length nylon trousers, and for some reason barefoot, Linda, as usual is aloof from the world, is, come to them in an easy way,

"Does it fit? It's not too small?"

Like a shoe store clerk, he bent over Banri's feet, as if he were checking his two toes, pressing the shoe from above with his thumb.

Swinging right under her eyes, Linda's hair was straight and shiny. Smells fresh. It's split straight. Slender skull. … It might be a little dangerous, seeing it like this up close.

What's more, something you don't see every day: the top of Linda's legs are unusually white, all her veins look light blue. Very different from her own legs, they are very beautiful. Obviously, if they are held gently, gently in someone's mouth, looking sweet, ".. Ah, 'feet' Linda-senpai like candy, because of them, I want to eat it —", but putting such things into words is a way to go straight to the hell of a pervert.

"They, they're kinda fine …"

While answering without hesitation, Banri hurriedly turned his gaze away.

What was he thinking all of a sudden? Idiot idiot idiot idiot, idiot idiot idiot. Linda's legs are too beautiful, but they're not good. They're really pretty. Her fingers were long, her nails were custom made, it looked like a pink tellin shell, even her skin was smooth, if she touched it surely. ah was enough, really! Stupidhead! Ever since he wore that jersey, a strange and fatal transformation had befallen him!

He turned his head with all his might. And there was Kouko's face, suddenly, perfectly, completely before her eyes. Not knowing what he should do, his first impulse was to put on a joking face. Tilting his head to the side as if puzzled, Kouko, wearing a shocking pink jersey, stared back at Banri's face. Perfectly prepared face, white and beautiful.

Ah, she's beautiful too .. sorry. Maybe I really have a weird foot fetish …

Linda did not even notice the perverted oink that sounded nearby and crouched down, holding onto her annoying leg,

"Hey, are they really okay? Until a minute ago, what size were they?"

He twisted his foot and checked the size under the sole of the shoe.

A little rough with his hands, after bending his ankles like that, but he was really a gentle and kind senpai. Banri finally has back himself, automatically, in his heart, secretly hanging his head. For a junior to think about the good things of this good guy, about licking his legs and such, he should forgive himself to the fullest. Least. He should have had some serious reflection. Hugely.

And, at that moment, on Linda's neck, under her eyes, she noticed something. It's a clothing label. The long-sleeved t-shirt she was wearing turned out slightly, and from the neck was a mark.

Very funny ... Even after thinking like that, shouldn't he apologize?

Smiling like a brain that had just been shocked, Banri tried to speak softly so that only Linda would hear.

"Linda-sempai. We fit in."

"Oh? How could that be?"

"Look here," Banri pointed to the label sticking out of the neck of the back side of his shirt.

It seems that's when Linda first saw what Banri was wearing. And then, his eyes widened.

As if beaten, his shoulders became stiff, and it was clear his breathing had stopped.

I wonder if he realized his mistake, Banri thought. That kind of thing can really surprise you.

"Ah, I purposely put mine inside out. For some reason, the label scratched me something ferocious."

Linda didn't say anything else.

"I'm kidding!", "Serious !?", he said, puzzled and putting his hand to the back of his neck, his face might be a little red — he did not expect such a Banri at all. Linda, her eyes were still wide, standing up without saying anything. Like a person seen in a dream, or a hallucination, in some ways his behavior seems strange.

And then, the height of his gaze barely changed, he stared fixedly at Banri's face. Linda's face froze in place, her eyes still wide open.

"What kind of look is that?", thought Banri. Peeling the skin of his face to the flesh, through his eyes to his brain, it seemed to see his thoughts. The display was like it was being checked under a powerful X-ray.

"… Eh? Err, ... What are you doing?"

Confused, for a moment, Banri gasped.

Whahuh? Whahuh? What the hell is going on…? Becoming agitated, he rubbed his forehead with the back of his hand.

Is Linda probably trying to see this original Banri she knew in Banri she didn't know about? If, if that was the case, ..His forehead suddenly sweated strangely.

But why now suddenly? For what reason? Is there something I'm doing? What am I supposed to do? What do I need to do to fit in with this place? My wish is for everything to remain as it is. Banri's upperclassman and Linda's upperclassman, because they say some good things to each other, she wants things to stay that way.

Linda continued to stare straight at Banri, who kept her mouth shut. He continued like that for a few breaths.

And finally.

Finally, smiling as usual, showing his teeth,

"Me too, intentionally."

Up to this point of silence, staring, now he was laughing with a smile, as if it was all just a joke.

Quite embarrassing an upperclassman just by giving him the evil eye. And he really made her go there. He deftly turned the atmosphere into a joke. Unknowingly, Banri sighed. He didn't even realize he was holding his breath.

Ah, everything's back to normal. Baik—.

"It's a little scratching, isn't it? It belongs to me too. Since I was wearing something on it, I didn't think there would be any problems with wearing it inside out. But for a man to see it, I mean "Saying it can be embarrassing. Of course, I wonder if I should change."

"No, no! Not at all embarrassing! You did it on purpose!"

Banri pointed defiantly at the outer-inner sweatshirt, the yellow one worn, hanging in the space between the two of them, and his voice changed completely. Turning around, pretending to be a comedian, he raised his index finger up while puffing his chest.

"Design like this! Linda-senpai too, such a design! They match! A very stylish match! We're both kind!"

"What !?", Linda exclaimed, laughing softly.

Then, as it seemed to be hard to breathe, he twisted, lowered his face, and turned his gaze away from Banri's eyes. Three seconds later he woke up, swept his hair, and,

"Cool! I gotcha! In that case, it's because our destiny fits, and if those shoes are for Tada Banri, then I'll give them free to him! After all, it's just Banri, right? Kind . "

As usual, he was so relieved that he spouted stupidity. But suddenly there was gratitude as well, Banri raised his voice in surprise.

"What did we just hear !?" "Free!?" "Isn't that favoritism !?" There was a commotion among the upperclassmen. "If it's free I want it.", "No, I want it for me.", "Auction.", "I won't make my sister wear the shoes I wear." — speaks at all like a French palace guard in the 'Rose of Versailles' after discovering something has sold out.

"No way, no, no, no. If you buy it, you will pay me 5,000 yen! Are you a classmate? Funny, precious, one of only the first two years? It's not about the money. Right?"

Smiling, Linda tried to offend Banri.

"Eh, uh, but, but, is that really okay !? Uh, really !? … Is it really okay !?"

Releasing his shoes and hugging him to his chest, Banri almost jumped up in joy, barely able to hold himself back. Of course, it wouldn't be too arrogant, would it?

"It's okay, really. I saw them at the store, and they told me they were the last couple. Even though they did not have my body size, I bought them hastily, with an impulse. Then, when you might have hoped, it turned out to be too big for me. Even with the straps tied, my heels swirled, and they didn't look good. I don't know anything about the auction and that kind of thing. However, we you just scooped up the little guy because he was always unfortunate, you know, but he wore it well. I tell you, this man was born for these shoes! "

"Ah, then, I'll pay half the price! Please let me pay 25, even that is still an amazing offer!"

While Banri starts looking around for his wallet, Linda takes the shoe from Banri's hand.

"So, don't worry about that. Here, I say, let's give an excellent gift to a cute underclassman. And then he would adore this up-and-coming upperclassman!"

The second part of the joke, Linda laughed. Not looking like he intended to let Banri pay, he quickly collected the wrap from the top of the tatami mat and rewrapped the shoes inside their boxes. And then deftly drop it into a paper bag,

"This. They are a gift, Tada Banri. That they're good, they fit well, they're good shoes and you're happy to have a good senpa, when you wear these again, remember!"

"Aha, but …"

We, we're really classmates, aren't we?

Or rather, we, ... such things .. no, let's stop.

Let's stop this.

I choose to forget. I hope things will stay 'as they are'. Didn't you want it not long ago? With everything he had, Banri returned a smile like a junior high.

"… Yeah! Thank you very much! I'm thrilled! I'll really take care of them!"

As if he could not get words out, he hung his head. And then playing dumb, he suddenly turned around with one leg.

With a happy looking face lifting up the paper bag as if it was something sacred, wearing a grin of a fool and walking around like that, she said,

"Wow! I've been given shoes! Yay!"

Pointing a paper bag to Kouko while showing it proudly.

"They're NewBalance guys, gray, and really cool! I'm so happy! I'm happy!"

Making it as if he was hugging them and twisting his body, until it shook his hips, Banri had the intention to show his excitement 1000 percent, over and over.

However,

"… Tada-kun"

Kouko didn't laugh, or anything.

His pale white face was very stiff. Instantly, Banri thought, "Eh, is there something very dirty stuck in my teeth?" Or, is my zipper open, the forest snake aiming at Kaga-san? No, isn't that impossible with running pants?

What is on earth? Staring fixedly into Banri's eyes as if confused, Kouko brought his face closer. Then, he lowered his voice into a whisper so that the others would not be able to hear.

"Is it just a coincidence …?"

"A, what !?"

Staring steadily back at the foolishly behaving Banri without turning his eyes, Kouko quietly closed her mouth for a bit. As if she was about to fall asleep, her long eyelashes formed a shadow, making the highlights deeper than the black mascara. And then, just like that, a smile appeared on his face and once again, with a little more volume, he asked her a short question.

"… Did anything happen between you and Linda-senpai …?"

"Continue!?"

His voice was meant to be boundless cheerful, but suddenly, a hint of irritation mixed in. As if he had been clearly attacked, he was not completely in control of himself.

What is Kouko worried about? When he doesn't even know anything about the situation. When he doesn't know anything about Linda or Banri. And where in this self, where in this world, the part he wanted to worry about, could it be said? Or any? When I haven't even told a close friend or anyone, you want me to explain everything to you, is that what you want to tell you?

Almost, almost you — took a breath, ready to open his mouth and tell Kouko something she didn't know herself,

"All right then! Come have lunch, and start training!"

One of the senpas clapped loudly, raising his voice. "Yes!", "Hey!", From here and there the voices came back in response.

Banri came back to himself.

In front of his eyes was Kouko.

The girl to whom he even confessed his love. Even now, he thought regretfully, his friend. Prettier than anyone, awkward, but truly a gentle woman.

Desperately, he also shouted back, "Yo!" with the breath he held. In order that nothing else could happen, he calmed himself down, made himself move, and handed out a sitting pillow like a good underclassman.

Kouko was still looking at Banri as if she wanted to say something, but at that moment, it was,

"Yes! How about we do Awa Odori !?"

A few men and women in suits he had never seen before pushed open the door without warning and went inside. It seems that the fourth-year senpa appeared after a long absence, with everyone except Banri and Kouko letting out joyful-sounding voices, running to greet them.

"Hore, senpaai! Long time no see!"

"How about job hunting !? Have you decided on something !?"

"You fool, the real one hasn't come! No one has received a tentative offer yet! It's hard, it's being prepared and so on, and you'll all be there before long too!"

Gasp! Their screams echoed in the small training hall. But even at once it turned into laughter, the commotion from the conversation engulfed him.

"Oh yeah, oh yeah, senpai, we finally have the first few years of joining! Yo, Tada, Kaga-chan, come here!"

Called to senpai like a pet dog, Banri and Kouko were violently pushed behind, not waiting for them to answer. They were brought before the fourth year.

Linda pointed at the two of them with her thumb,

"Look at this, these are the kids who got into trouble. The kids we found at the training camp. We already told you about them, who got entangled in that strange church …"

"Ahhhh! Those children!", the matching Senpai nodded, looking interested. For some very self-aware reason, Banri and Kouko manage to smile weakly and say, "Ahaha ...haa...so ..", while barely being able to exchange a small glance among themselves. It was as if flashy fools like them yesterday were vividly revived. One senpai elbowed the other, and when they saw Kouko they chatted, "Truly very pretty,", "The first one for Omaken" and so on, whispering intensely. But that all sounds pretty.

Linda brought her mouth closer to them,

"At Banri and Kouko-chan, these people are fourth-year senpai, and this is the former president, Hosshii-san."

… There it is, the 'so-and-sshii' pattern'. Did Kouko think the same thing? Even Banri could see his eyebrows raised slightly.

They exclaimed back, "What's up with 'ordinary senpai'!?", "That's terrible!" Linda just smiled.

"I mean, really, work hard, make yourself a company and then hire all Omaken juniors automatically, please. Or rather, I mean, did you bring us a souvenir? Treat it?"

"Treats, yummies, mamaa, papaa", everyone seduces fourth year.

Banri also participates, and participates, and tries to get close to one of the unknown men wearing a suit. Kouko also captures the spirit, and holds out for a while, taking part for the time being.

"Noisy troublemaker, keep your hands away! As for the rewards, they are here!"

The former president, the introduced tall si-so-sshii, placed the cardboard box he was carrying under his arm on a tatami mat with a thud. With 'whoa!', the active Omaken Members jumped into the box like a bunch of starving hyenas. With the mess they made, was it a snack, or what?

Painstakingly tearing off the paper wrapping tape, someone opened the cardboard box. And then, everyone was able to look inside at the same time, the commotion turning into a vague confusion. At once the voltage falls. One satisfied face, though,

"Surely, really. Even on time for training. This is for Awa Odori."

Former president. The other four years looked around, holding back their laughter.

Each of them saw what was in their hands,

"… Even though we really need it …"

After getting their hopes that maybe everyone will get a donut from Mr. Donut or Krispy Kreme, or chicken from MOS Burger or Family-mart, or maybe a manju loaf with meat filling, or ice cream, or even something to drink, their hope is dashed.

"… Fans …"

They're not.

Banri also felt defeated, looking at them earnestly, contemplating his disappointment along with the senpai. Some were put in a cardboard box fan for everyone in the group. For anything that makes sense on earth, on the one hand is "YES", on the other hand is "NO" — They Yes/No fans, so to speak.

"Hey, show me a little more gratitude, the fourth year has all made this special for you. Isn't that the real thing? That's my own design! After all, use it when you are practicing for the show. Well, look, look, smile! Yell out! Shouldn't you be happy !? "

Everyone showed a "NO" side to the former president. They're comfortable, for sure.

"Ap, what .. You're those horrible underclass people! Jeez .. Even if I don't go or can't go to the labor agency anymore, my feelings have been hurt! Am I without a job offer, unpopular, friendless? Are you suggesting that I become a meaningless vagabond with no job or prospects !? Ahhhh! "

Seeing the former president grieving among them, for various reasons, the NO side that was facing him made him so miserable, Banri lowered his fan. It seems like everyone feels the same way.

… Well, as you might expect, there are no more criticisms ... they will weaken, as if they were exposed to a bitter headwind … Such an atmosphere hung in the training hall.

One of the senpais, who was leaning against the wall, lifted up the cloth sack.

Take off the bag, a beautiful polished small musical instrument, a kane bell, is lowered for viewing. From the elegant silver, attached to a long handle, it was shaped like a small frying pan.

Senpai, holding it, with one hand serves as a drumstick, 'Ko Ko Kon!', Knocking it as if testing it. There was a sharp and piercing sound. Surprised, everyone looked in that direction.

And then, they took a breath.

The rhythm begins slowly, the rhythm of Awa Odori.

Yeah, it's a festival.

"Whoa .. something nice, a feeling from it!"

"ah! Her dance, it makes me miss summer!"

Even a suitable senpai, suddenly looking towards the instrument, their eyes shone. It seems that the blood of the festival that is in it, nourished by Omaken's activities, has been raised.

While ringing the bell, the man who made the ring made eye contact with Linda. Excitedly, he also spoke quickly. Linda smiled and nodded quickly, pulling from her pocket a white object. Then Banri realized why he was barefoot. Crouching down, she quickly put on tabi socks, and stood with her heels still open, she said,

"We still haven't started the exercise, although today we're just going to do a silent stretch, for now with this feeling. We'll borrow the taiko drum starting with the next exercise .. one, two,"

With his fingertips, he held the fan with a bamboo root.

Whoosh, with a heart in it, the tips of their toes pushed onto the tatami floor.

His knees lightly lifted, he danced with trembling, like a butterfly.

Banri was fascinated by the brilliant dance. Although she wore a short T-shirt and sports pants, dancing, she became a dazzling flower. From the sudden turn, his arms stretched out, and his legs soared, tatami mats rang.

“How is it?”, Tilting her chin slightly upwards, as if trying to pose, her gaze glamorous. "Yo!", the fourth year cheered at him, their sharp whistles slicing through the air.

Linda is not a bit shy. He is not ashamed either. Still, she was the only one who danced and had fun, and even on this side I started to get annoyed at just watching. Even Banri slowly began to get impatient. I want to go, me too, he thinks. Before long, even the other members ran out of patience, and taking their fan handles pressed them to the side of their jerseys, near the back, and then while lifting them up with one hand like Linda, Linda, they slowly began to take on the Awa Odori style.

Banri stepped out on the tatami mat as well, on his toes. Initially rather carefully, carefully alternating her gait, she dropped her hips onto the men's dance. With bent knees. Every time, it was as if he was floating. Isn't that weird? Isn't this funny? Wouldn't that be embarrassing? With a glance at the mirror, he discovered that he had entered into the group, dancing like the others. It moves a little with humor, but to be honest, it makes good use of its entire body, the dance is fast and dynamic, more so than its popular image. He entered into a group that swayed as well, blushing like a bit. If Banri in the mirror noticed, he would laugh out of control. He himself, and everyone else, smiled, breathing to the beat, was quite pleasant, as they began to entrust the speed of their bodies to musical instruments.

A light, but fast rhythm, Banri also moves both hands naturally back and forth. He dances easily. Free in the air, leaping into the sound fragments, his fingertips moved trembling as if they were swimming. Surprisingly having fun, his head was empty, but, his footsteps were always too limited. His hip joint is stiff. Looking in the mirror, his own reflection did not 'float' that much. He stepped on too much ... a little softer .. more dynamic ... besides, if everyone moved together .. stacking up the exercises, would they not be able to feel better for it?

Even the senpai in suits, lined up and stood around the door, nodded and placed the heavy-looking bags on the floor near their feet. While watching the younger brother class's moving form, they started clapping.

And finally, Kouko started to move.

Gasping in surprise, Banri looked at Kouko without thinking. Kouko, long enough in the corner, beating the clock, seems to be having fun, now finally, holding the fan in her white hand, she starts tilting her head back and forth. Somehow, it felt like he had come alive. Finally, with an open feeling, did the soul of the dancer come out? The other members, besides Banri, seem to notice Kouko, their views beginning to change direction.

Kouko, her eyes half-closed, her hips down, immediately raised both her hands high.

Crack down! The flash! A golden glint shone from him.

* * *

"Tada-kun, you're terrible …!"

"… That wasn't my intention …"

"Tada-kun laughed and left me to blame …!"

"… no. But, really, I'm sorry …"

Completely two hours of training with, on the way out to the road.

After changing, the upperclassmen had returned the keys to the table, there were the sounds of many footsteps and they all said things like "See you!", "Are you guys going to play mahjongg again?", "I defeated ! "," Will you attend KUHAP? " and so on when they split up, heading to stations, campuses and other places. Linda made it seem as if she was going with another upperclassman to the station as well, but while still standing in the middle of the road she saw a pair of new students and walked back towards them. Purposefully.

"All right, Tada Banri and Kouko-chan, until the next rehearsal, okay?"

With a friendly and kind smile,

"I mean, well, after all, because someone always hangs around in the lobby, if you two show up there now and then, try and check the schedule! For now, the table in front of the bulletin board and for the side is where Omaken tends to gather. That, well, you see ..., uh, mm, that ... I'm really tired. But it's completely fine! "

He patted Kouko on the shoulder. Without a word, Kouko looked at the shoulder that was hit.

The other upperclassman saw what was happening as well, and of course as one of the group, with a friendly smile, saying, "Really, really.", "Always, always.", "It's okay, "It's okay, it's okay." , as if they were chanting a spell, while they were waving to come.

"That, feet, well, there's nothing to be done about it. Yeah, oh yeah! That snake, it's bad!"

With an expression somewhat like a combat cameraman, Linda gently pushed Kouko, in the end grabbing the shoulder she clapped once again, firmly, firmly, patting his back twice gently as if it was done comforting him, and then went towards the station, heading towards the chaotic path.

Banri,

"We .. yeah …"

He muttered, completely absentminded. Kouko looked at his face.

Kinky his bangs upside down to the tip of his nose, and his lipgloss melted, his dry lips partially opening. From the melting of the mascara, the area around his eyes was black, and in those eyes were the words, "What Is That?"

That sad face was far below the standards of Kaga Kouko, the perfect Rose Queen.

Gasping involuntarily, Banri spoke.

"Listen, about the snake .. I said nothing to Linda-senpai, or to the other senpai …"

With a dry and crackling sound.

Saying that the mind over matter is not enough, the person who cannot dance, cannot dance, the ultimate fact regarding the house, and the flame of Kouko's life radiate out.

— At first, he gave off a rather calm aura.

Invited by Linda into the vortex of the dance, Kouko enters naturally, Banri thought. "Isn't this alive?", he asked. Saying this and that, "Am I not a woman of my words?", he said. "I'm looking ahead! I'm open! I can dance!" … Since he had gone so far as to state beautifully, "I can dance!", then maybe Kouko would really be able to dance. So he thought. As far as his miserable, untrained circumstances had been known to everyone for the last time, the only problem (as he said) was in his head. He says that the new Kaga Kouko has overcome all that, and has become someone who can dance.

But, unfortunately, all he thought was really just the beginning.

Did Kouko do well for only about two seconds?

Taking that position, her long slender arms outstretched, she must be fine until she stretched out her fan. He does very well in stepping out, on tiptoes, with one foot on a tatami mat. Lightly twisting her slender, supple body like a willow reed, with pretty downcast eyes like a flower, everyone gasped for breath, Banri too. It was like that for two seconds.

That was after that.

Falling to the beat of the instrument, raising both of his arms, standing on tiptoes, swinging his half-bent body, changing his gait, Kouko suddenly became somewhat 'interesting'.

The bottom of his arm was still raised, his chest becoming stiff. His shoulders stiffened and stopped moving. The elbow is still raised to the right. His spine was like plaster inserted into it. The upper half of his body swung back and forth in a daring attempt, but the other half resisted, continuing to tremble like a roughly third-grade earthquake. His hips, joints, and knees were completely inflexible, all forming hard angles. That's grisly.

Even before he saw the gazes around him, it seemed like he was even thinking, "Huh?" Huh huh? Why his own appearance …? Opening her eyes round and wide, Kouko tried to look at herself, her face tilted downward. Still, it was that expression. That corner.

There it is, 'it' again.

Grunting, Banri was forced to lower his face and hide his expression. He can't laugh — And not just Banri, all the other Omook people must have thought the same. If he laughed out loud here, he would hurt Kouko after all the effort he made to return. So, he pretended not to know for the time being, ah but ... no, he couldn't. … But .. they are too similar …

Shortly thereafter, there was a disturbance, the fourth-year senpai spoke in a low voice. They say things like "What reminds me of ..", "What is it, it's right at the tip of my tongue ..." and "I know it …!" They were each seen tilting their heads, holding their foreheads, and looking at Kouko who was moving nervously, and then saying more: "Ah, that guy, he's here, not …" and "... Who What is it…?"

Even Kouko started to notice him. Looking at his own ridiculous body in the mirror, fluttering restlessly, and looking at the matching senpais with his head tilted to the side, his brows furrowed, seemingly in trouble. As if looking for help, he looked towards his best friend Banri.

Actually what to do in that place, what Kouko wants him to do, Banri doesn't know yet.

But, already, he could not undo what had been done.

What the hell am I doing? His mind went blank in despair, Banri rushed to Kouko's side. And then, making a circle from his thumb and other fingers, he mimicked making his body turn around. Needless to say, he was his friend, R2-D2. Accidentally, he gave a hint in the fourth year.

As a result, the fourth graders clapped their hands happily and said, "Ah! From Star Wars …!" The rest of the senpai, who could not stand it anymore, stopped dancing and, here and there, began to laugh. But somehow Banri remained calm. Or rather, pierced by Kouko's gaze towards him, he couldn't possibly laugh.

The fourth graders, who did not know the details of what happened at this point, with bursts of laughter taking off their coats, surrounded Kouko and started training her, saying things like, "Ahhahha! This kid is useless! "," Look here, what is this! "," Do you not have a sense of rhythm !? "," Straighten your back again! "," It should be like this. "," Like this, don't you think? " and so on. Although they had never done Awa Odori before, the fact was that they, who only watched for a few minutes, looked much better than Kouko.

Before long Kouko stopped dancing, and suddenly holding her stomach, she groaned and sat on the tatami floor. The rest of the club got together and asked what was going on, what was going on, he looked up sharply, with teary eyes, and said one thing:

"I can't dance anymore, my legs are hurting!"

Among the tacit accusations, "That can't be your stomach!" flying around, he lifted up his running cuff of his pants, suddenly appearing around his bruising pattern. Linda shouted very loudly, covering her mouth, surprised. Banri reflexively takes over, supporting Kouko. That's her! His inability to dance was due to a snake bite! Look, that wound must be terrible!

— Dan, Kouko can introduce herself to all the members of Omaken, and at the same time tell the story of the battle against the snake.

"This is no good! Not good at all! Not only am I really embarrassed, but Tada-kun has betrayed me!"

"For that reason, I'm sorry, sorry ... but what should I do to support you?"

"At least, if we're friends then don't make me a whistle! What, what's up with this …!"

Kouko shows how R2-D2 moves (by itself rather funny),

"Don't give me 'wiii'! Aren't we friends?"

Glaring at Banri, slowly but surely tears began to flow in the corner of his eyes. Her soft lips twitched, Banri panicked,

"We're friends! Very good friend! Look, look, and the City!"

Taking Kouko firmly on her shoulders, she tried to walk gracefully on her toes, with deep steps. He did that as much as he could, flapping his other arm around, he said,

"Yeah!"

At Kouko's angry shout, the student-like students could be heard arguing amongst themselves, "Is that a fight?", "Something extraordinary is going on." and so on.

Gurgling once, Kouko waited until they left.

"… Enough, stop …!"

He stared hard at Banri. His eyes are bright red.

"But, .. you just want to try harder to get ahead …!"

In front of his eyes, groaning as if squeezing, temple, head, throat. .up to his chest, he blushed bright red at once. Then,

"But I think I can 'change' …! I should have been able to become an expert at that .. but why, why is this happening again …!"

From under her tightly shut eyelashes, finally large teardrops started rolling. At three in the afternoon, with all the office workers and people from the surrounding area coming to the city center, not many people they knew from the same school were walking around the place. Even so, even Banri lost his composure, desperately peeking at Kouko's face.

"That kind of thing, wait ... there's nothing to cry about, right …?"

"… But …!"

While crying loudly like a child, Kouko,

"… Tada-kun, sowwy!"

His feelings suddenly changed from anger to "sowwy". Catching Banri's outstretched arm, he leaned on her. Her hands were warm and moist, like a baby. Hiding her reddened and teary face, she argued with a whining voice.

"Sowwy, though I don't understand, and a man is being …"

"Ooo …"

Unable to hug him or do such a thing, of course, keeping his arms stiff as support, Banri raised Kouko. While casually doing so, he guided her to somewhere among the bushes near the sidewalk. Like a drowning man desperately grabbing a piece of wood, Kouko stood up with Banri's arm to ask for support.

"We've been beeng arwen as fwends, I dow, I dow... you're friends with a little boy …"

We went together to the school club, we had lunch together, we danced together, you even listened to my problems. You sent me an email. You worry about a lot of things for me. Tada-kun has become a friend to me. I know it. But I acted like a spoiled, troublesome boy. Even Tada-kun must have been surprised — Kouko said these things in a trembling voice while rubbing her face with the back of her hands like a child.

Yes.

Indeed indeed.

Since they were friends, he had to put his arm on the slender shoulder of the trembling woman, and brush the hair stuck to her wet cheek with his finger, but he did not. He can't. In an unnatural manner, his arms raised stiffly, Banri patiently waited for Kouko to raise her face.

"… There, look, for now, have fun! That's not something to cry about. Something to laugh at. I mean, it's just because I'm doing weird things that make the atmosphere that way. And you'll be fine if you put in the effort in the next workout. Right?"

Still acting like a spoiled little girl, Kouko hung her head. Like that, his face was much lower, as if he had gone far away to Brazil.

"Oh, oh yeah, why don't we go to Starbucks !? Don't you like Starbucks !? Le's go! If we're friends, then going to Starbucks afterward should be natural!"

"… I've had some before …"

A few seconds passed, and she muttered softly, but Kouko finally, slowly, raised her head. Rubbing his reddened nose,

"… But, if Tada-kun wants to drink Starbucks, I'll go with him anytime! We're friends anyway."

He's laughing a little.

Her dry lips lit up with three syllables, "Fi-nal-ly!", and giving an embarrassed smile, Kouko rubbed her sticky face with her fingertips. Laughing at the state in which he was, and looking like he was trying to clean himself up, he shrugged.

In short, he's a mess.

Her hair was disheveled, her makeup was running, and her nose was all red. If his usual good looks were 100, then he was 61 before, and now he has fallen to around 46.

However, more than at any time until now, more than whenever he saw Kaga Kouko's face, his chest stiffened. Not pretending at all, she smiled back at him with everything she had.

If they really are friends, then the pain is not a problem.

Banri insists on taking care of Kouko, Kouko insists on taking care of Banri, and in the end Kouko buys Banri's part, and Banri buys Kouko's part, which makes no sense when they finally pay.

For now, can he do something for Kouko?

"Aren't you amazing !?"

"Latte, with a glass of espresso, vanilla syrup, whipped cream, caramel sauce, and chocolate sauce. In Grande. And you, Tada-kun?"

"For me, a regular Starbucks latte."

Each of them held the tray carefully in both hands, they sat down, lined up on the counter chair facing out, looking out onto the street.

While staring at the people to and fro, the two of them sighed reflexively. The two heard this, with the same time, mirror images of each other, they exchanged glances.

"… I'm really sorry for what happened before. Crying like that, I'm silly, right?"

It was Kouko who was smiling from before.

The area around her eyes was still swollen and red. Mascara had run, casting the shadow on her cheeks from her white eyelids and long, smooth eyelashes. And then, tossing his profile suddenly down,

"I'm a little .. above. Maybe."

Kouko said that quietly, embarrassed.

"Yes, it feels a bit like that."

Carefully sipping his hot latte coffee, Banri continued to wait for Kouko's words.

And, he's conscious. Sitting next to him like this, he might be able to start talking to her in a normal way, easily.

Playing with his earrings with the tip of his beige fingernails, Kouko simply took the whipped cream tip with her spoon, sticking out her tongue like a cat to taste it. Mixing a little chocolate and caramel sauce into a little, she took a slightly larger sip.

Then,

"… I'm very, very impatient."

He licked his lips and turned towards Banri. Once again, he was surprised at how big his eyes were up close. Through the transparent surface of his eyes, they were brown. While trembling and sad, they shone with a gentle light.

"Even I understand that I messed things up. Right now I, somehow, really, can't help it. I thought it was dangerous .. I mean, from the very beginning, I've realized how easy it is for me to mess things up. In short, I, "

It is difficult to save someone from their stupidity ... from their impatience .. He nods at the next words, whether they are good or not.

"I want to get a lot done forever. With stubbornness, I will not let go of my past failures. I'm thinking of making it all new, get started."

"With that, 'failure in the past', you mean, of course, for Yana-ssan?"

Kouko threw away her face.

"Yes. … That's it. That, that's a big one! The largest. Of course it is! … But I'm sorry, I won't do it in front of you. That'sthat's true! I want to set my feelings about Mitsuo perfectly. Not that I have regrets. "

Urks. He knew that at times like this, his heart could sound like that.

"I really have no hope of what might happen now. That is the truth. Still ... I still don't know for sure. In some ways, it was as if I was paralyzed: Although I had obviously been rejected, somehow .. everything felt like a dream of life. "

Speaking of someone elsewhere, and things like that, Kouko held her large cup in her delicate hand, calmly tasting it. However, a lot of cream stuck to his nose and upper lip, and when he saw it, without thinking, Banri laughed out loud. No matter how seriously he spoke, this person was a bit hesitant. That's a good place.

"… Oh, no. .. Something's wrong."

Kouko, took out her mirror from her bag pocket, opened it and peeked at her face.

On the surface of the silver, the Swarovski rose has been depicted in a bean-shaped mirror. In Kouko's white hands, it looked extremely beautiful, and suited her well.

When Banri pulls out a matching mirror from his back pocket and shows him, Kouko, the whipped cream still stuck to the tip of his nose, sneezes like a child.

"Tada-kun, are you using it for me?"

"of course. Isn't the mirror a friendship couple?"

"I'm thrilled. So many."

That week in Veloce, Kouko said so. He said, "It belongs to the victims."

When Banri and Kouko were rescued from the new religious training camp, Kouko had packed almost all of her cosmetics into her suitcase. However, this one mirror escaped in his pocket, he said. And then as far as Kouko is concerned, she feels it is a symbol of her bond with Banri.

Therefore Kouko, in order to become a better friend with Banri, gives him a gift: the same and harmonious mirror. Hearing that and understanding that he would accept it, Banri borrows a magic marker from a store clerk, and Kouko writes there. "Remember our runaway birthday," he said. It is not a gift of entertainment, to remember unrequited love. So it was clearly stated.

While wondering again at this mirror, Banri handled it carefully, even if it was inappropriate for him.

Wiping his nose and mouth with pale brown paper, Kouko conquered some fresh whipped cream with her spoon.

"So, I said this and that, but in reality, it's not 'this'. So anyway ... mm! This chocolate is the best .. After all, as for me, in this life, I can only pretend to have adapted to it. Or rather, I have convinced myself that I am capable. Relieved, refreshed, beginning to move forward in a new life, I am such a woman. I even thought so .. "So I said to myself that I would be. I believe that I can do it. But from believing it too much, I finally understood that I could not do it easily.I still haven't really managed to change myself, finding in me the embarrassing remains of C-3PO, somehow horrible. That's disappointing … "

"It certainly seems so," said Banri, his hand propping up his cheek, fusing his sigh with Kouko, who also had the same attitude, cheek in hand. His left hand supports the left side of his chin, and his legs are crossed, the left leg is on top.

"Because after all, idealism by itself will not suddenly make you a dancer. In the worst case, even if you are truly a woman of freshness and relief, move forward in life, even so you may have nothing to do with Awa Odori."

"I was given proof of that today."

Suddenly Kouko stood up, her high heels clicked. He went and came back with a plastic spoon. He handed it to Banri, saying, "This."

"This whipped cream is the best in the world. Let's both have it."

"Te, thank you."

Let's make this sweet whipped cream together.

For some reason, he hesitated. But answering with an unusual restraint, aware of the humor, taking his words, Banri took a sip of Kouko whipped cream. He held it in his mouth, thickly sweet, melted.

"Hows it? Isn't that the best !?"

"Yes, really .. very sweet. Melt in your mouth."

"Even melting is good! Doesn't it feel like 'i live for this' !?"

"Didn't you buy shares in Starbucks?"

"Aah! I'll even buy everything! Miraculously I haven't done it!"

I mean, "Sharing like this is the most fun!" If you look into Kouko's face, you realize what she's thinking at once. He continued to stare intensely, even strangely, from beginning to end as Banri grabbed the spoon into his own cup and tasted whipped cream. She looked really happy, her beautiful eyes sparkling.

Later,

"… You understand how useless I am. Even that uselessness you forgive me. Thank ye. Other than acting like a bad boy, I just cried. Again, I'm sorry. It seems like every day I'm an emotional disaster by your side … "

"A disaster'?"

Seemingly suddenly startled by the word, Banri looked back at Kouko. Kouko blinked as if shocked from her expression,

"Eh? But ... It's a mess, isn't it? But look, it's ... your memory .. it's not …"

While muttering, he avoided the matter. He tried to lower his head as if it was painful. Geh, Banri frowned.

"No, or rather, impossible. It's really impossible!"

That's not a joke. Pitying like this is meaningless. Lowering his spoon into his latte, he spoke clearly. Although he did not want to speak, he had to speak this once so that he would know.

"Because it's not a big deal. Because I live like everyone else. Although I can't say that nothing worries me, but usually I don't even notice memory loss, and it doesn't really matter to me, and more than anything, it does, I want to be like that. So, can you stop acting like you're taking care of someone pathetic and sick …! "

"But I didn't mean it that way …! But, OK. Sure do. I-i understand. If you say so, I won't say anything more .. ... I swear by Starbucks."

As if taking an oath, Kouko placed her right hand on her cup, and raised her left hand. Alright then, watching that, Banri gulped down his slightly cold latte. That he managed not to stab her in the face with his spoon grip, he didn't even notice it. But, uh,

"That reminds me, is there something between you and Linda-senpai?"

A snort came out of his nose.

"During practice, you two acted a little strange."

Stuck in such a critical place, the incredible Kaga Kouko — her neck muscles stretch beautifully, waiting for her answer. He considers himself quite articulate, with a poker face good enough, to be able to stay away from this awkward topic.

But some things he couldn't say.

It's possible that she's dating Linda, her old classmate, for example.

Although he believed fully in their first meeting, in reality it was not so. Despite everything, he did not say anything to her, but rather took it with doubt. Even if he believed that he had no reason to choose to do such things, he was reluctant to pressure him on the matter. He thought that if he wanted to maintain their current relationship, he would rather not offend such things. Far from it.

… No, wait. Nothing to say, .. nothing?

Looking slightly towards Kouko, Banri flinched gently on his own mind. He wonders if it's not a good idea to share this secret with Kouko.

It is not good to carry a mysterious secret, alone, not share it. Couldn't he understand his complicated feelings? The club too. Even if something was going to happen from now on, they might be able to deal with it with an understanding person nearby. They had met each other at a point of despair .. In any case, he had gone too far to confess to her. And then he was rejected. At this point, what was there to hide? So now, seeing them friends like this, playing around, licking whipped cream …

"I want to be like Linda-senpai. I admire him."

He would open his mouth, but close it uncertainly.

Okay, he let the matter down, of course — in just a few moments, his mood has changed.

Even with their lightening conversation, their situation was not resolved. He would not burden her with her complicated situation; he had many problems of his own.

Kouko doesn't seem to be too suspicious of Linda. And if he held such aspirations, it was much better. Even if there was something there in her history with Linda, involving Kouko in it would not throw cold water on the relationship between the two of them.

"But look, Linda-senpai, doesn't she make you feel 'relaxed, refreshed, and having fun moving forward in life'? Don't you think so too?"

"Well .. she's a good senpai. … 'Fresh', like that, I guess so …"

"Seriously," he added.

Truly refreshing, giving the feeling that there was nothing in the past, 'waiting', Banri also thought. Since yesterday.

"She's very good at dancing too, she does everything really cool, and she's beautiful. Wherever he is, you get the feeling he's in the middle of it. I mean, look, former president senpai, don't you think he really adored Linda-senpai? "

"… Eh? Ap, what? Wh why? How did the conversation get like that …?"

"It's the mood, the atmosphere! But I feel like she didn't see anyone .. From the beginning, did she have a boyfriend? Is that okay? Mature as he is, you'd think he's 'I've got a lot of men chasing after him. "

Leaving the strangely silent Banri behind, "Haah", Kouko flinched, strangely . Warming his hands with his cup, he turned his chair.

"What if, I become like Linda-senpai? Her hairstyle? Her clothes, a rather unisex style? No, that's not what I meant. I want to have that feeling of living. Unlike today, self-doubt, but really positive, relaxed, without criticizing, seeing what the world has to offer. I want to be like that. "

Thinking faintly, "Isn't this all about the picture?", but for a while silent, she listened to Kouko speak in awe at Linda-senpai.

"If I become like Linda-senpai, then .. I will do Awa Odori perfectly. And then I'll have a lot of friends at school. I will rebuild, a good and good relationship that I have done for a long time with Mitsuo, without dragging along the boring part. Jump into a new world, meet all kinds of people, go again, have fun completely in the new campus life with new friends. For example, being invited to a drinking party like that. I'm also , carefree, go have fun … "

And at the same time he was conscious.

"Oh, that reminds me. We're invited. By Oka-chan. So, of course, to the drinking party …"

Geh. Somewhat unlike a princess, Kouko frowned. He seemed aware that something strange had been said, but did not catch any more than that.

Although Banri had started to forget, he remembered once again that he had to invite Kouko. It was the perfect opportunity. Wasn't that an opportunity to "rebuild a relaxed relationship with Mitsuo"? And as far as Mitsuo was concerned for now, it might be a good idea to be somewhere where he could see his face.

The two childhood friends mess up in various ways, but as far as building a calm and normal relationship is concerned, they are at one time okay.

"Let's do that, for sure! I'll go too, let's go together. Yana-ssan is coming too!"

"Eh, uh, .. ho, wait a minute. As for me, ..., as you can guess, that, not much .. I have a feeling that Mitsuo doesn't want me to be here .. . "

"Look at the doubts that come out. That's not allowed. Don't you want to be a fresh and relaxed woman, like Linda-senpai? If that's the case, don't bother about the past, can't jump quickly to a new world."

"But! … That ultrasonic and disgusting thing!"

"I knew. No one says anything about being friends with Oka-chan. Why don't we just show up normally, and hang out with our first-class friends? What would you do if you were Linda-senpai? Invited like that by Oka-chan, this is a once in a lifetime opportunity to restart your relationship. If you are a person who thinks you want to move forward in life, what do you think you should do, Kaga-san? "

"…But…"

His brows furrowed, Kouko looked at Banri as if she was worried. Acting like that, asking for help from Banri with a cute face, not meeting well, was that something he had recently learned?

"No 'but'! Since it doesn't depend on spirits or anything else that works, of course you won't make a big change in your behavior here. Do you not want to move forward? Don't you want to be a relaxed and fresh woman? If so, make it happen! You'll go to a meeting. Because there's nothing to complain about! There is no reason not to go out! In any case, we have nothing going on! There is no reason why we cannot spend time having fun with our fellow freshmen! With 'Hmph!' some kind of feeling. "

"… Tada-kun, do you think I have free time ... really?"

"Eh? Is there something on my schedule? Isn't that obvious?"

… Although it is clear. Disappointed, Kouko held the whipped cream in her mouth. Grabbing his spoon with one hand and stirring his cup as if in despair, he let out a "phew!". Then,

"… all right. As far as you ... say, will ... we .. try?"

When he glanced at her while losing, Banri nodded vigorously. Doubting it as much as he had, it seemed to him a sudden and happy development.

Already, Yana-ssan, Oka-chan, they really have nothing to do with the problem. Like that, he himself was happy. She really hopes to be able to go to the party with Kouko.

To the place even though he was invited to a get-together by the hated Oka Chinami, he would come. Such a thing — is great once, there may still be hope. His mind has gone that far.

They were together at the club, together dancing, having lunch together; they would even show up to the drinking party as a couple. Even with how hard he avoided trying or doing anything, he came because he asked her. He'll come out, with him alone. It will be public knowledge. It feels good, really so. Even more than anything up to this point, it made her feel that things were going well.

Such is. From friendship comes affection. Isn't that how it has always been in this world? If they can become 'good friends', if he carefully builds their friendship like that, if he continues to be the perfect friend for Kouko, then it will eventually work.

Even with this seemingly remorseful love, she would probably see the day when it worked.

"What did you say? You just dumped on Saturday —!" It was as if there was someone behind him, whispering in shock; a thin, cool presence. Ignoring that as his imagination, Banri also drinks from his latte. Unable to do anything else, he laughed. Many things looked up. He took a deep breath into his chest that was racing, the scent of roses next to Kouko covering his mouth.

The afternoon sunlight that shone on the glass slightly injured his eyes.

Love Story in CollegeChapter 8

Love Story in College
Chapter 8