Prologue
Shimizu-san Dyed Her Hair Black
“Daiki, let’s talk about love.”
“All of a sudden? “
It’s after school. My friend Toshiya Matsuoka approached as I was about to go ho.
“You know, we’ve been friends since the first grade of high school, but we haven’t talked much about love, have we?”
It is true that Toshiya and I started talking to each other at the beginning of our first year in high school because our seats were close to each other, and we gradually beca close friends. Even now in our second year of high school, our relationship hasn’t changed. It is also true that we have never talked about love. But I’m a bit confused about the sudden love talk.
“Well, it’s true that we haven’t. But I an, isn’t it sothing you only talk about secretly with a few guys on a school trip night or sothing? Besides, Toshiya, don’t you have club activities right now?”
Unlike , Toshiya is a mber of the soccer club. So I don’t think he has ti to talk with after class.
“I have a little ti to spare today before the club activities start, so it’ll be fine. Anyway, I’d like to start a conversation about love between Daiki Hondō and now! “
Hearing Toshiya’s declaration, which I did not know to whom he was addressing, I gave up on giving my opinion. In my experience, no one can stop Toshiya if he’s acting like this.
I look around quickly, but few people are left in the classroom after school, and no one seems interested in what we have to say.
The only concern I have is that Shimizu-san is still sitting next to .
Kei Shimizu, a famous delinquent (Yankee) in our high school. Shimizu-san’s beautiful hair, which reaches down to her waist, is completely golden even though the school rules prohibit hair dyeing. She wore her school uniform full of accessories, such as necklaces and earrings.
There are many stories of Shimizu-san’s saga, such as when the teacher warned her about her flashy hair color, but when she stared at the teacher, the teacher almost cried. Perhaps because of this, Shimizu-san is widely feared not only by our classmates but also by the juniors and seniors.
For so reason, Shimizu-san and I have been in the sa class since we started high school. Though Shimizu-san usually goes ho right after class, so it is rare to see her still in the classroom. I guess she must be sleeping because she was lying on the desk and did not move. If she is sleeping, I guess it’s okay to talk with Toshiya next to her.
“First question. Daiki, is there any girl you like? “
As my attention turned to Shimizu-san next to , Toshiya suddenly asked a question that got to the heart of the matter.
“Shouldn’t that be the last question you should ask in a love talk? “
“I have a habit of eating the strawberries in a shortcake first. So, what is the answer? “
I feel like the analogy is a bit off, but I’ll answer anyway.
“No, there is none.”
“What a boring guy.”
Toshiya’s face was sowhat dissatisfied, even though I answered seriously. I guess he expected to say that I was interested in soone.
“How about you, Toshiya?”
I didn’t an to retaliate, but I decided to ask Toshiya the sa question. Well, even if he had soone he liked, I don’t think he would answer this question…
“I like Seto-san.”
It was an imdiate answer. He did not seem to be bothered at all. I had no idea that this was how I would find out who Toshiya’s crush was.
I checked my surrounding again. Fortunately, I seed to be the only one who had heard Toshiya’s declaration.
Seto-san is a girl who has been in our class since our first year. However, she is not a very conspicuous type in the class, and I don’t know her very well.
“Is it okay to say such an important thing here? “
“It’s nothing to hide. Besides, it doesn’t bother even if she knows.”
I think it would be big news if it was known that Toshiya, a sophomore that was popular among girls and the ace of the soccer team, had a crush on soone.
“By the way, if Daiki doesn’t have anyone he’s interested in, what type of girl do you like? “
Despite my concern, Toshiya seems to be still planning to continue this love talk. Since Toshiya answered my question earlier, I have to answer his question this ti. However, I can’t imdiately think of what I like about the opposite sex.
“Hmmm…”
“You don’t have to think so hard. I think it’s okay to casually say that you like soone who is cute or pretty, sothing like that.”
I see, I’ve been thinking only about the inside, but the outside is also a condition to falling in love. I thought about it again, and one thing ca to my mind.
“Then, I think I prefer a neat girl.”
“I see. Daiki likes neat girls. Specifically, what exactly do you like about them?”
“What do you an ‘specifically’? “
“I think the image of neatness differs from person to person. So, I want to know what kind of image you have of a neat girl.”
The word [neat] may indeed be a bit abstract.
“My idea of a neat girl is, for example, one who wears her school uniform properly… “
“Mm-hmm. What else? “
“She should have dark hair, if possible…”
“Fumu-fumu. This is a little off-topic, but what is your favorite hair length, short or long?”
“I guess I prefer a long hair girl.”
“Okay-okay. By the way, I’m a guy who prefers a short-haired girl because Seto-san’s hair is short.”
I didn’t ask you that. Or rather, Toshiya is likely to switch to long hair if Seto-san grows her hair long by so chance.
“Back to the topic, how about accessories? In my case, if it’s not too flashy, I can tolerate it.”
“I also think it’s okay as long as it’s not too flashy.”
“Okay, I get it. Daiki likes a neat girl with long black hair, doesn’t wear her uniform sloppily, and only uses simple decorations.”
“That’s right.”
I didn’t have that specific type of girl in my mind, but I think he’s right.
“Okay, this is getting interesting. What should I ask next…? “
“Toshiya, speaking of which, are you still have the ti? “
“I told you I have a little ti to spare today… uh, it’s this late already?! “
Toshiya rushes to get up from his seat and grab his bag.
“I’m sorry, I have to go to my club activities. Let’s continue our love talk again later, Daiki! “
Is Toshiya going to have another love talk with later? I’m satisfied now that I know who Toshiya likes. Before I can say so, Toshiya quickly leaves the classroom.
* * *
The next day, when I arrived at the classroom, I found soone lying down on Shimizu-san’s seat.
I say ‘Soone’ because that person had beautiful black hair that extended below her waist. I wonder if there was anyone in our class with such long hair except for Shimizu-san. Maybe a girl in another class inadvertently chose the wrong classroom.
If this is the case, there is a possibility that this girl and Shimizu-san, who will co later, will be in trouble with each other. I decided to wake up the girl who was occupying Shimizu-san’s seat.
“Hello.”
I patted her shoulder, who seed to be sleeping.
“Hmm?”
It was Shimizu-san…
To be more precise, it was Shimizu-san with black hair.
There are endless questions about why she had dyed her hair black, why she wore her uniform without much of a ss today, why she didn’t wear the necklace she always wears, and why she changed her earrings to a simple design. But now I have to think about why I woke her up by tapping her on the shoulder.
“Err, good morning.”
I know it’s bad to wake her up and say good morning as if nothing happened, but I’d like to think that tapping her on the shoulder to say hello is not that unnatural. Besides, I usually greet Shimizu-san, so it should not be that strange.
“Morning… “
Shimizu-san greeted back. Fortunately, it looks like it worked out sohow.
“Shimizu-san, you dyed your hair black.”
“Ah, yes.”
“Why did you dye it all of a sudden? “
“Because…yesterday…”
Shimizu-san’s voice volu suddenly dropped and I couldn’t hear her. What happened to Shimizu-san yesterday?
“Well, it’s nothing, I’m going to sleep again, so don’t wake up this ti.”
“I understand. I won’t wake you up until Sensei cos.”
“You don’t have to wake up.”
After saying this to , Shimizu-san lay down on the desk again.
“Good night, Shimizu-san.”
***
Today was a turbulent day. The horoom teacher, Yuasa-sensei, who ca to the morning horoom, was surprised to see Shimizu-san with black hair and started to cry, and other classmates, though they did not tell her directly, spent the whole day discussing the reason why Shimizu-san had dyed her hair black.
Shimizu-san, who was in the spotlight today, seed to be in a bad mood all the ti because of the attention from everyone in the class.
“…such a big fuss.”
Shimizu-san grumbled to no one in particular after school.
“It’s not like anyone in the class is saying sothing bad about Shimizu-san, so I don’t think you need to worry about it.”
“W-were you listening to ?”
“Sorry, I heard you because we’re sitting so close.”
“…it’s fine. But you can’t be sure if they’re not saying bad things about in class.”
“That’s true. But I think Shimizu-san’s black hair and the way you’re wearing your school uniform today are really nice, so I don’t think there’s anyone who would say anything bad about you.”
“…Ughh.”
Shimizu-san’s movent stops suddenly. Did I say sothing strange? Shimizu-san was stiff for a while, but then, she suddenly stood up with her bag in her hand.
“I’m going ho.”
“Uh? Then, see you tomorrow, Shimizu-san.”
“Yes.”
Shimizu-san said and left the classroom with a swift movent.
“I think I should go ho too.”
Toshiya has club activities today, so we’re not going to talk about love. I put on my backpack and left the classroom as if I was following Shimizu-san.
***
TL: Hiraeth
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