Chapter 15 - Uncompromising
(1)
After school
"Sorry, but something urgent came up. Go on home without me."
Saying that, Toya left the classroom with heavy steps.
Something's up!
"I'm following him, Airi."
"Eh? But he told us to go home..."
"He's hiding something. It's way too suspicious."
"I don't think doing that is a very good behavior."
Airi wasn't very keen on the idea.
"Someone might be confessing to him!"
"T-that... probably isn't happening, right?"
"You never know. What is it about Toya that you fell for, Airi?"
"Hmm... maybe his kindness. Even though he's clumsy."
"That's exactly it. That guy is kind to everyone, so it wouldn't be strange if anyone fell for him."
"Uuu... Toya-kun will be fine."
"Then you go home alone, Airi. I'll follow him by myself."
As she said this, she had already begun the tailing.
"I knew it, Kanna, this isn't right. Doing this kind of thing."
"Then why are you following along?"
"Uuu... because I'm curious after all. He won't notice us, right?"
"He had a look on his face like he had other things on his mind, didn't he?"
"I guess so."
The place they arrived at was behind the gymnasium.
"A-ah, that person, if I recall..."
Airi noticed the man who was with Toya.
He was a man who gave off the vibe of being some kind of rich boy.
His hair was let down, just barely not covering his ears.
He wore black-rimmed glasses.
"It's Nakama-kun!"
"Airi, your voice is too loud."
Kanna hurriedly covered Airi's mouth.
Fortunately, he didn't seem to notice.
They wouldn't be able to hear what they were talking about unless they got a bit closer.
However, since there was no cover, hiding in the shadow of the gymnasium was the best they could do.
They decided to observe the situation from there.
(2)
I was called out to the back of the gymnasium after school.
Based on the wording, it felt ominous, but since the person who called me was Nakama-kun, it should be fine.
Nakama Shuji, a second-year middle school student.
I don't have much of an acquaintance with him.
However, I had heard that he was a smart, wealthy rich boy.
Apparently, he's the son of the president of a local architectural design firm.
I wonder what a rich boy like that wants with a commoner like me.
It's probably not a good conversation anyway.
Well, I could have ignored him... but I came.
Nakama-kun had arrived first.
When he noticed me, he raised his hand.
The first words he spoke were
"I heard that you and Tosaka-san are dating."
As I thought, the rumors had already spread.
"I am, so?"
"You should break up."
Huh?
"Is that all you want to say?"
"It is."
"Then, the answer is no."
Saying that, I turned on my heel and tried to leave.
"You should listen to what I have to say for a bit, shouldn't you? Don't you want to know the reason?"
I turned back and answered like this
"No matter what the reason is, I love Airi. Therefore, I won't break up."
"Don't you think your very existence is making her suffer?"
Making her suffer?
"What do you mean?"
"Because she's dealing with you people, her grades have dropped. Am I wrong?"
Ah, so that's it.
"Are you trying to say that Kanna and I are holding her back?"
"You're more understanding than I thought."
Saying that, Nakama-kun pushed up his glasses.
"After all, you people and Tosaka-san live in different worlds."
Thump.
My heartbeat grew louder.
I was shaken.
"She is excellent. Excellent enough to share her talent with you people. But can you do anything for her?"
My body was trembling.
"What she feels for you isn't affection, it's pity. The only thing you can do for her is return her to the world where she belongs."
Is this guy serious?
"And I can return Tosaka-san to the form she ought to be in."
Return her? Who the hell does this guy think he is?
"You understand now, right? You should break up with Tosaka-san."
I suddenly burst out laughing.
I couldn't help but laugh.
"What's so funny?"
Nakama-kun's... Nakama's expression changed completely.
"What a ridiculous farce. I understand your values well now. As I thought, it's impossible to hand Airi over to you."
"I withdraw my comment about you being understanding. A fool is a fool after all."
"I'm fine with being a fool. You smart people should just get along with each other. However, Airi chose me. That's all. Give it up."
"If you're aware you're a fool, why don't you date the same kind of fool, Otonashi?"
"...What did you just say?"
I felt the blood rush to my head.
"You should just be getting excited among fools, so why Tosaka-san...!?"
By the time I realized it, I had punched Nakama.
He was blown back with full force.
"Apologize to Kanna!!"
I was screaming that.
Without even knowing how much effort she's putting in right now.
I couldn't forgive it.
Nakama, while getting up, touched the cheek that had been hit and screamed while half-crying.
"This is exactly why low-intelligence types can only solve things with force."
You're still talking!
Just as I was about to punch him again, someone gripped my arm firmly.
"Stop it! Toya!"
"Let go, Kanna, I can't forgive this guy!"
Wait, why is Kanna here?
"As I thought, you low-intelligence comrades are a perfect match."
"Do you want to be punched again!?"
"I said stop it, someone like him isn't even worth punching."
"That's right, Toya-kun."
"Airi!?"
"Tosaka-san?"
Airi came close to my side.
"I heard most of the conversation. Is your fist okay?"
"It's fine, but... I told you to go home first."
Airi ignored my words and went over to Nakama.
"Tosaka-san."
Slap!
A dry sound echoed.
Airi had given Nakama a full-force slap on the cheek I had punched.
"Never involve yourself with us again!"
A shout of anger from Airi that I had never heard before.
"Hey! What are you kids doing!?"
Oh no, it's the student guidance teacher.
"Teacher, this guy punched me!"
"Is that so, Katagiri!"
"...Yes, I punched him."
"You lot, come to the student guidance office right now!"
"Airi and Kanna have nothing to do with this. They only stepped in to stop it."
"I see, then only Nakama and Katagiri come."
"Teacher, it's not unrelated!"
Airi shouted that, but I shook my head.
And then I smiled brightly.
"This time, make sure you go straight home."
(3)
I was scolded thoroughly.
It even reached the point where my mother was called in.
Mother was crying.
And later, I would be thoroughly scolded by Mother at home, but...
When I left the school gate, Airi and Kanna were waiting there.
"Yo! How'd it go?"
"Toya-kun, are you okay?"
Were both of them worried about me?
"One week suspension,"
I answered with a laugh.
Then Kanna approached me in silence.
Just so I mention it, Mother was with me.
Slap!
Kanna's slap hit my cheek.
"Don't ever do something that stupid again. It's a nuisance to the person it's done for."
Is this what they call quiet anger? There was a strange sense of intimidation.
And then I noticed. A single tear trailing down Kanna's cheek.
The four of us decided to go home together.
Since the exam studying was finished, it was decided there would be no study session today.
I saw Airi home, and then I saw Kanna home.
Kanna didn't exchange a single word along the way.
And then we arrived at Kanna's house.
Without saying anything, Kanna tried to enter the house.
"About earlier... sorry!"
I shouted that, and just as I turned to go home myself.
Kanna hugged me from behind.
My thoughts couldn't keep up with the sudden event.
"Why are you so kind! Toya, you're too kind! You only need to be kind to Airi!"
The arms hugging me were trembling slightly.
Is she crying?
"But, he was insulting Kanna, so I just..."
"That's why I don't care about myself!? Toya's girlfriend is Airi, right? Airi is the one who's pitiful."
"Kanna, you're my friend too, right?"
"...Turn around for a second."
I turned around as told.
Kanna is tall.
Just a bit taller than me.
Kanna held my face and kissed me.
"!?"
Kanna put her tongue into my mouth.
Kanna's tongue intertwined with mine.
It was only for a few seconds, but it felt very long.
When the kiss ended, she hugged me.
"...don't."
"Eh?"
"Don't think you can keep me in the position of a friend forever."
Saying that, Kanna went home with all her might.
I stood there in a daze, frozen on the spot.