After about 20 minutes, we arrived at school.
“Sigh, the time of bliss ends here… We were in the same class all through middle school, but now, for the first time, we’re in different classes…”
“The fact that we were in the same class for nine years straight is more incredible.”
“Ugh, well, see you later, Kasuimi-chan! As usual, I’ll be thinking of you during every class…!”
“Just focus on your studies.”
With a heavy heart, I parted ways with Kasuimi-chan at the classroom door and went into my own class.
It’s March now, so we’ll only be in different classes for about one more month.
In April, there will be another class shuffle, and I should be able to end up in the same class as Kasuimi-chan again… I hope.
If we get placed in different classes again, I might just die.
I even went to the shrine on New Year’s and donated 10,000 yen to make sure my wish would come true. I would’ve liked to donate 100,000, but Kasuimi-chan told me, “Don’t do that,” so I refrained.
Still, it’s tough not seeing her until lunch break…
I used to visit her between every class, but she told me, “You’re seriously annoying,” so now I only see her at lunch. I thought my heart was going to stop when she said that.
* * *
After four classes, it was finally lunchtime.
Time feels so slow when Kasuimi-chan’s not around.
“Alright, time to go see Kasuimi-chan!”
I stood up, grabbed my lunch, and headed to the class next door.
Opening the door, I walked over to Kasuimi-chan’s desk.
“Kasuimi-chan, let’s eat lunch together!”
“Sorry, I’m eating with my friends in the cafeteria today.”
“Gah?!”
I was utterly crushed.
Feeling dejected, I returned to my classroom.
I’ve gotten used to it after this past year, but in truth, I want to eat with her every day.
If I could have my way, I’d want to eat breakfast, lunch, and dinner with her every day… but I guess I’ll have to wait until we’re married for that.
“Hey, Seiya, you’re not eating with Imaichi-san today?”
“She’s eating with her friends today… it’s tough.”
“Tough luck. Wanna eat with us today, then?”
“Yeah, thanks.”
So, I ended up eating with some of my guy friends from class.
After nearly a year in high school, everyone from the first-year to the third-year students knows that I’ve been proposing to Kasuimi-chan every day and how much I like her.
Which also means everyone knows I get rejected with a “No” every single day. It’s kind of embarrassing.
Well, there’s nothing embarrassing about loving Kasuimi-chan, so I guess it’s fine.
“But still, Seiya, you’re really something.”
“Huh? What do you mean, Kengo?”
My guy friend from high school, Kengo Koboto, made me tilt my head in confusion.
“You’ve been confessing to Imaichi-san since elementary school, right?”
“Yeah, to be precise, since the entrance ceremony in first grade.”
“So, you’ve been saying it for nearly ten years?”
“Of course. I’ve said it every day this past year too, haven’t I?”
“It’s amazing, really. Or maybe just stupid… Aren’t you going to give up?”
“Give up? Why would I?”
“Because she’s been turning you down for ten years, right? Most people would have given up by now.”
“Hmm, maybe. But I’ve been saying it since we were kids.”
“Oh, so you’re just used to being rejected now?”
“No, I’m not used to it at all. Every time she rejects me, it feels like I’m going to cough up blood.”
“It’s that bad?!”
Of course it is. I’m being rejected, after all.
Sure, I’ve built up some resilience since the first time, but every time I propose, I’m 100% serious.
"Then why don’t you give up?"
"Well, it’s because I’ve always liked Kasuimi-chan."
“O-oh… When you say it so directly like that, I don’t even know how to respond.”
"On the contrary, because I’ve liked her for so long, I don’t want to give up."
"I-I see. In that case, I won’t say anything more."
Kengo, looking a bit taken aback, took a bite of his lunch.
"By the way, Seiya. After school today, a few of us from class are going to karaoke. Wanna come?"
"Hmm… should I go?"
"Well, it’s March now, and the first year of high school is almost over. We’re having a class shuffle soon, so it’s kind of a last get-together before that."
"Got it… In that case, I’ll join."
"Alright, that’s the spirit!"
"Can I invite Kasuimi-chan?"
"She’s in a different class."
"Just kidding."
Of course, I’m not so socially unaware that I’d bring Kasuimi-chan to something like this. Even if she came, it’d probably be awkward.
* * *
After school, our class went to karaoke.
I wanted to see Kasuimi-chan before we went, but when I went to her class, she wasn’t there.
When I asked one of her friends, they said she had something to do with the teacher and had gone to the staff room.
Unlucky timing, it seemed.
Usually, I would’ve waited, but I didn’t want to keep the class waiting.
"Send my regards to Kasuimi-chan."
"Sure."
And so, I went to karaoke with the class.
* * *
A few hours later, around 10 PM, we finally called it a night.
We had fun for quite a while.
First, we sang in turns at karaoke with everyone from class.
Then, around dinner time, we left the karaoke place and moved to a family restaurant where we chatted endlessly.
Before I knew it, it was this late at night. Time sure flew by.
These were my first high school classmates, and thinking about that made me feel a bit nostalgic.
It would’ve been perfect if Kasuimi-chan had been in the same class, though. I was thinking that as I walked home alone, and when I reached my house…
"Huh, Kasuimi-chan?"
Kasuimi-chan was standing in front of my house.
"…Seiya, you’re home late."
"Yeah. I was out having fun with my classmates. But more importantly, why are you standing in front of my house?"
She wasn’t in her school uniform but in casual clothes, so it seemed like she had gone home and then come to my place.
"It’s nothing. I wasn’t standing in front of your house or anything. I was just coming back from the convenience store."
"I-is that so?"
She was probably lying. She didn’t have a shopping bag, and there aren’t any convenience stores in this direction.
Plus, I’ve known her long enough to tell when she’s lying—she always glances to the lower right when she does.
I don’t know why she lied, but it’s best not to press her about it.
"Do you want me to walk you home? It’s late, after all."
"…Yeah, please."
She accepted my offer surprisingly easily. Usually, she’d say something like, “It’s fine, see you,” and leave.
Kasuimi-chan’s house is pretty close to mine—about a five-minute walk.
“High school’s first year is almost over, huh?”
“…Yeah, it is.”
“My class did something together today because of that. Does your class have any plans like that?”
“I don’t know. If my close friends invited me, I might go.”
“I see. I was sad when we ended up in different classes, but it was actually fun.”
“…I see.”
The boys and girls in my class are all good people—kind and friendly.
Back in middle school, especially at the start, people often avoided me because they thought, “What’s with this guy proposing to Kasuimi-chan all the time?”
And honestly, that reaction was probably justified.
0 Comments