CH 14

Chapter 14 – Heavy Rain

It’s time to change clothes, and the rainy season has arrived.

Girls wear summer uniforms. It’s an important event for boys. I will not be accepting any objections.

“Fujisaki Ayane’s style is violent, after all. I’m proud to be a classmate of Fujisaki-san’s.”

Ide, his glasses shining, said with a more serious face than ever before. I hope you know you’re making a terrible statement.

Ahead of my line of sight is Fujisaki-san with her group chatting in the center of the classroom. It’s so bright and dazzling. Is that the glow of the top of the school caste?

Of course they all wore their summer uniforms in sleeves. Fujisaki-san’s style was overwhelming. One’s gaze is likely to be drawn to the parts that are prominently visible.

“Speaking of which, Yuji.”

“What?”

Ide said, keeping his eyes on Fujisaki-san’s group. I looked at the same place and replied.

“You’ve been spending a lot of time with Fujisaki-san’s sister, lately.”

I wasn’t surprised. I didn’t hide the fact that I was with Kotone-chan at lunchtime and after school.

“It’s weird when people keep saying ‘-san, -san.’”

Ide’s face turned to me. It was a serious, no joke face.

“Are you ever serious?”

“No way.”

I answered immediately without turning my head.

Ide is not as upset as before. Of course he isn’t. He’s my friend.

“We’re just getting to know each other a little bit. So I just want to dream a little bit. That’s all.”

“If you know that, I’m relieved.”

Ide breathed out a sigh of relief.

I have a girlfriend. I’m not worried or jealous. But Ide has other concerns.

Fujisaki-san’s group is shining. Other groups, large and small, are also shining.

But we weren’t. We knew that from experience.

At that time, Father Fujisaki acted like he didn’t even recognise me.

Maybe he actually did. I may have been perceived as insignificant.

In fact, I’m a side character. I can’t argue against being called a mob. I have no influence.

I remember it all over again.

“Anyway, I’ve got some information about Fujisaki-san’s younger sister.”

“Hmm?”

Ide’s mood changed. It’s got an unpleasant color.

“She was in the rhythmic gymnastics club when she was in middle school.”

Rhythmic gymnastics… Leotards and body softness. I’m not really sure what they do, though…

“What do you mean when she was in middle school, is it different now?”

“She hasn’t been active in the club since she started high school. I wish I could have seen her in a leotard…”

I distanced myself from Ide. Stop that smug look. What if I get weird looks from girls?

Anyway, it seems Kotone-chan used to be active in the club. I wonder why she stopped.

Did she quit the club to work part time? I’m not going to divulge this, as it’s information only I know.

“Maybe she stopped because she wasn’t good enough?”

“That’s not true. As you’d expect from Fujisaki Ayane’s younger sister, she was praised.”

“Hmm.”

School idol Fujisaki Ayane is physically fit. She’s so good that she could stand up to the best athletes in the lower sports clubs.

“That has got nothing to do with Fujisaki-san, right?”

Just because her older sister is brilliant doesn’t mean Kotone-chan is too.

But that doesn’t mean it’s a bad thing. I like to think it’s not a bad thing.

“Yes, you’re right. Yuji is right.”

Ide nodded in agreement. His gaze was looking elsewhere, not at Fujisaki-san.

It’s hard to be compared to someone else. Maybe you wouldn’t feel that way if you could be compared and keep winning.

At the center of the circle, Fujisaki-san laughed and the place lit up. She had that much influence.

It was very different from the smile I saw on Kotone-chan’s face at that time.

※※※

“I can’t believe I got to see Kotone in her summer clothes! Cheers to this wonderful day!”

“That’s indeed embarrassing, so please don’t do it.”

“…Yes.”

I gave her all the praise I could and she rejected me with a stiff tone. Hmm, did I do something wrong?

After school, it was raining. The weather forecast was correct, so we lined up under our umbrellas to go home.

We decided to go home as usual because Kotone-chan didn’t have a part-time job today. Being a student is not so easy that you can go out and have fun every day. I’m still a student preparing for an entrance examination.

“Shall I walk you home today?”

“No… It’s okay because it’d trouble Yuji-senpai.”

Kotone-chan refused softly.

In the end, I only walked her home once. When I tried to force it a little, she refused in a firm tone. Since then, I decided to quietly withdraw.

I enjoy being with Kotone-chan. But I also feel a wall.

That’s not surprising. It was wrong from the start. It’d be crazy if she didn’t build a wall.

We had a nice chat and soon reached the station.

“Well then, here we are… Thank you very much, Yuji-senpai.”

“Yeah, see you later.”

Kotone-chan went through the ticket gate. She was soon lost in the crowd.

I saw her off and then I went home.

“……”

It was still raining outside and I put up my umbrella.

The drizzling rain makes me feel like I’m about to be depressed.

I had a hazy feeling. Not knowing what it was, I walked along, protecting myself with my umbrella.