Shimizu-san and Ani 3
“Why? I don’t usually get scores that are anywhere near failing!”
“That’s because I’m always trying my best to teach you when you co crying to a week before the exams!”
“Hey Yousuke, you’re talking too loud! I’m supposed to be the beautiful and gentle Senpai that the juniors can count on! You’re ruining my reputation!”
“Don’t worry, you already lost any chance of being relied upon by the juniors.”
“That’s harsh! That’s not true, right, Kei?”
Shimizu-san stubbornly avoids eting Ai-san’s gaze.
“Kei-san? Did Onee-chan do sothing wrong? Why won’t you make eye contact?”
There was no response to Ai-san’s question.
“Ah, Kei, you’re always so stubborn. Mio-chan thinks of as a kind and reliable Senpai, you know——”
“No.”
“An imdiate answer!? Can’t you at least let finish?”
“There’s no point in listening when the answer is already decided.”
“Ugh… That’s a sharp blow. If it weren’t for my strong ntality, I’d have collapsed. Mio-chan, I know you only say that because you’re shy… Daiki-kun, at least you think of as a kind, cheerful, and elegant Senpai you can rely on, right?”
Ai-san’s eyes had already lost their sparkle, and overwhelming emptiness was staring back at .
All I could do right now was…
“Ahaha…”
“Daiki-kun?”
My awkward, forced smile was the most affirming thing I could muster at that mont.
“My spirit is about to break… Yousuke, you’ll be kind to , right?”
Tears seed to float in Ai-san’s eyes.
“Don’t look at with those puppy-dog eyes all of a sudden… Well, you do occasionally consider others and not just yourself, so in a broader sense, I guess you can be considered kind?”
The mont she heard that, Ai-san’s face lit up, and she enthusiastically hugged Yousuke-san.
“The only one who praises is Yousuke. Keep praising forever!”
“Don’t hug out of nowhere! I get it, let go!”
Yousuke-san tries to peel Ai-san off him.
I’ve never seen him so flustered.
“I know you’re happy——”
“You’re forgetting we have juniors here! The one who’s going to be embarrassed later is you!”
“Ah…”
Ai-san quickly steps away from Yousuke-san.
Then her face gradually turns red.
“Forget what you just saw, everyone! And for the record, I don’t just hug anyone!”
“Don’t worry, I’ve got it all morized.”
“Mio-chan? I just said to forget it, didn’t I? That’s not okay, you know?”
“To erase mories, a convenience store exclusive matcha dorayaki is required.”
“Are you trying to threaten ?”
“Just kidding. But it’s good to rember for future reference.”
“Mio-chan, you’re a scary girl…”
“What kind of skit are you two doing?”
Shimizu-san interjects with an exasperated expression.
“Alright, everyone, let’s study hard for the exams! And that concludes the important announcent! Let’s just chat aimlessly as usual!”
“Aren’t we supposed to be studying for the exams?”
“That’s sothing we’ll get serious about starting tomorrow.”
“That sounds like sothing soone who doesn’t study until the last minute would say.”
“Don’t worry, when I need to, I can be a very productive human. So, what were Mio-chan and Daiki-kun talking about before we arrived?”
“About that…”
I reflexively glance over at Seto-san, who silently shakes her head.
Apparently, she wants to keep our earlier love talk a secret from Ai-san and Shimizu-san.
“…We were discussing my recomnded ani.”
With this explanation, Ai-san and Shimizu-san shouldn’t suspect that we were talking about love.
“Oh really, what ani did you watch?”
“It’s an ani movie called ’21 Gram of Difference.’ “
“Ah, I’ve seen that too! It’s a great ani, isn’t it? I was really moved.”
It’s easy to imagine Ai-san being moved by that ani.
“I an, in the last scene, the protagonist was——”
Ai-san’s mouth is quickly covered by Seto-san’s hand.
“No spoilers allowed.”
“Mmmffh…mmmhh.”
“…okay. I’ll take my hand off.”
I wonder if Seto-san understood what Ai-san was trying to say.
“Phew, I can finally breathe. If you haven’t watched it yet, Mio-chan, you should’ve said sothing.”
“You started talking before I could, Ai-senpai.”
“…True. Sorry about that. You were discussing ’21 Gram of Difference,’ huh? It’s a good work, so I definitely want Mio-chan to watch it.”
“Yeah, I’m looking forward to it.”
“That’s a good response. Let’s talk about what you think of it once you’ve seen it!”
After that, the day’s Astronomy Club eting was entirely consud by discussions of favorite ani and manga.
***
When I arrived in the classroom the next day, Shimizu-san hadn’t co to school yet.
“Hey Daiki, good morning.”
Turning toward the voice, I see Toshiya standing there.
“Good morning, Toshiya. Is morning practice over already?”
“Yeah, we finished a bit earlier than usual today.”
“Is that so?”
“But I heard, Daiki. The Astronomy Enthusiast Club has now beco the Astronomy Club. That’s great.”
“Where did you get that information?”
Why does Toshiya know about sothing Ai-san had just told us yesterday?
“I heard it from Seto-san.”
“I see.”
“Still, you’re lucky, getting to be in a club activity with Seto-san…”
Toshiya genuinely seems envious.
“I hadn’t really talked to her much before, but Seto-san is an interesting person, isn’t she?”
“So you’ve finally realized it, Daiki… The joy of talking to Seto-san. it… the joy of talking with Seto-san. It feels both happy and a little lonely… So what Daiki and Seto-san usually talk about?”
“Um…”
I can’t really say that Seto-san and I have been discussing whether her feelings toward Toshiya are romantic.
While I’m pondering my answer, I hear the back door of the classroom open.
Looking over, I see Shimizu-san walking into the room.
“Sorry, I have to go. We’ll continue this later.”
“Huh? Ah, okay.”
Toshiya suddenly said that and quickly returns to his seat.
And as Toshiya leaves, Shimizu-san cos closer to where I am.
“Good morning, Shimizu-san.”
“….Morning.”
Shimizu-san seems less energetic than usual today for so reason.
“Is sothing wrong, Shimizu-san?”
“…Why all of a sudden? Nothing’s wrong.”
She seems not as strong as usual.
Even her intimidating gaze seems to lack its usual intensity.
Focusing on Shimizu-san’s eyes, I notice sothing—her eyes are slightly swollen.
While there could be multiple reasons for swollen eyes, the most likely one is wiping away tears.
So it would be reasonable to assu that Shimizu-san has been crying.
The question is, why has Shimizu-san been crying? What could have possibly happened to her?
“Are you sure nothing’s wrong? If you have any problems, I’m here to listen.”
“I said there’s nothing wrong… I’m going to sleep now, so don’t wake up.”
“I’ll only wake you up If Sensei cos in.”
“You don’t have to wake up…”
With that, Shimizu-san falls asleep.
Before I knew it, the day ended without Shimizu-san regaining her usual energy.
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