Chapter 7 - Confession
(1)
School, behind the club building.
A place narrower than the area behind the gymnasium, and because trees are planted there, it is a spot where delinquents tend to gather.
Kanna and I were brought here by Yaguchi-senpai and Wada-senpai.
To be honest, my knees are shaking. I'm scared.
However, surprisingly, Wada-senpai is the one acting fidgety.
Something is strange about his behavior.
A peculiar silence envelops us.
Wada-senpai, you're breaking out in a weird sweat, you know?
Unable to bear the heavy atmosphere, Yaguchi-senpai opens her mouth.
"Wada! You're a man! Get your head in the game and snap out of it!"
Saying so, she kicks Wada-senpai in the rear.
"Otonashi!!"
Wada-senpai, having been spurred into action, screams.
"Yes!?"
Kanna is startled, having been called so suddenly.
"It's love at first sight. I love you. Please go out with me!"
A sudden confession.
Silence flows.
I don't know what to do.
It's true that Kanna is in the cute category.
It wouldn't be strange for someone to fall in love with her at first sight.
She might have received confessions many times before this.
Or so I thought, but it seems that wasn't the case.
Her face turns bright red as she fidgets.
She really is cute.
Kanna is unable to bring herself to give an answer for a while.
"Otonashi, this guy looks like a delinquent, but he's a good guy on the inside, you know? Won't you go out with him? Even starting as friends is fine."
Yaguchi-senpai says this, but an answer still doesn't come.
"A-Am I... not enough?"
Wada-senpai was nervous.
Finally, Kanna opened her mouth.
"I'm sorry, there's someone else I like."
She probably intended not to let it be obvious, but I could tell she glanced my way.
Eh?
"W-Who is that bastard!"
Wada-senpai's tone becomes rough.
Is he planning to beat me up?
"I can't say, I'm really sorry..."
Perhaps feeling apologetic, Kanna's voice trembled slightly.
"I see..."
Wada-senpai said this and slumped his shoulders.
Was it my imagination, or did it look like he had tears welling in his eyes?
"Well, these things happen. Don't mope."
Yaguchi-senpai says this and slaps Wada-senpai on the back.
I wonder if she intends to encourage him.
"Now then, I'm next..."
Saying so, Yaguchi-senpai looks at me and closes in.
N-No way...
I have a bad feeling.
It would be fine if this were just my overactive imagination...
"You've got guts. You're the first underclassman to ever defy me."
"I-Is that so?"
"I like you. Any interest in going out with me?"
This one is also straightforward.
Her way of speaking is light, but Yaguchi-senpai's eyes are serious.
How should I respond?
If I give a clumsy answer, it feels like I'll get punched.
I understood Kanna's feelings just a little bit. Though I didn't want to understand them.
"Which is it? Be clear about it."
It's nearly a threat.
It became even harder to speak.
"Yaguchi-senpai, Toya has a girlfriend..."
Kanna threw me a lifeline. Did she?
"What? Is that true!?"
Yaguchi-senpai's expression becomes grim.
I nodded in silence.
"What the, if that's the case, just say so!"
Yaguchi-senpai says this and laughs.
As if to hide the fact that she looked like she was about to cry.
"So, who is it? Don't tell me it's Otonashi?"
"No, it's a girl he came to school with this morning."
Kanna answered instead. I haven't spoken a single word for a while now.
"Ah, Tosaka, huh? She's famous. Man, you're dating someone amazing! Not bad."
It seems Airi's rumors have reached the third-years; apparently, she even has fans.
"I think it'll be tough in various ways, but well, do your best. If things go south, come to me anytime."
Saying so, Yaguchi-senpai slaps my back.
"Yaguchi-senpai, I'm sorry..."
I apologized for no reason.
"Idiot! Don't apologize. Despite how I look, I've taken a liking to you guys. Stop with the Yaguchi-senpai. Kyoka is fine."
"Hah..."
"I've taken a liking to you guys too. If there's any problem, come tell me."
Wada-senpai, I'll pass on that.
I thought so in my heart.
"Hey! You lot, the start-of-class chime went off ages ago! Wada and Yaguchi, is it you two again!? Who are the other two!?"
It's the student guidance teacher.
"Crap! It's that bald guy! You guys run first!"
Saying so, Wada-senpai and Yaguchi-senpai block the path.
We bolted in the opposite direction.
(2)
Classroom 2-1
"Toya! I saw you! You were being hassled by Wada-senpai and the others, right!? What happened?"
Makoto came over during the break.
Airi came over for the same reason. Though, unlike Makoto, it wasn't out of mere curiosity; she was likely worried.
Kanna is sleeping in the seat next to me.
"It's no big deal."
It's not something to spread around. Also, I don't want to make Airi worry.
I casually took out my phone and sent a message to Airi's smartphone.
I'll tell you at home when we get back
Noticing the vibration, Airi took out her phone, checked the message, and returned to her seat.
"Rumor has it you were confessed to by Yaguchi-senpai."
His voice is too loud.
I draw everyone's attention.
"No comment."
"Which means it's true. So, are you going to date her?"
I saw Airi react to those words.
"No comment."
"Tada! Stop prying into things that aren't your business."
Kanna said this upon waking up.
"I heard Otonashi-san was confessed to by Wada-senpai too."
BAM!
Kanna slams her desk and stands up.
"Enough already!"
Makoto flinches at Kanna's vehemence.
She was that scary.
She seemed to be genuinely angry.
At that moment, the chime rang and the teacher in charge of the next class entered the room.
Makoto returned to his seat as if escaping.
(3)
My House
"...and that's how it went."
Airi, Kanna, and I were talking while studying together.
I was explaining what happened this morning to Airi.
Though Kanna had already told her most of it.
Airi listened in silence.
When the story ended, she said quietly,
"So, what about you, Toya-kun?"
"Eh?"
"What do you think of Yaguchi-senpai, Toya-kun?"
"I don't think anything of her!"
I mean, why is it going in that direction?
"I mean, Toya-kun, who do you love?"
Did I say something to make Airi angry?
"Who are you dating, Toya-kun?"
"It's Airi, right?"
" 'Right?' You're saying it like it's someone else's business!"
This is bad, it seems I've made Airi angry.
Then, Kanna stepped in to follow up.
"Now, now, Toya was overwhelmed by Yaguchi-senpai. It couldn't be helped. But, Toya, you have to be clear when you need to be."
"I guess so."
" 'I guess so'—do you actually understand!?"
"I understand, sorry. The one I love is Airi, so..."
"Is that so? Then it's fine..."
She's a busy person, going from angry to depressed.
At that time, I didn't notice.
That Kanna's expression had clouded over.
(3)
Study was over (though we barely did any), and it was decided I would walk them home.
Today it's not just Airi; I have to walk Kanna home too.
First, Airi's house.
I see her off in front of the house.
Since Kanna was here today, I thought there would be no kiss.
I was naive.
It's the third kiss.
Moreover, she hugs me afterward.
"I can believe you, right?"
"Believe what?"
"That you love me..."
"Yeah, believe me."
"...I understand."
Saying so, she seemed to cheer up.
Airi waved her hand vigorously and disappeared into the house.
"Quite the display, isn't it."
Kanna looks at my face with a smirk.
"Are you an old man?"
Even as I say this, my face is hot.
However, thanks to the dark night road, I managed to avoid having it noticed that much.
"Today was tough."
"It was. By the way..."
"What?"
"You had someone you liked, didn't you? Someone in class?"
She remembered the words from this morning.
"Well, something like that."
To think I'd find someone I liked on the third day after transferring.
But she didn't seem to be talking much with anyone.
Rather, she looked like she was floating on her own.
The one she seemed close with was...
"...Makoto?"
When I said that, Kanna kicked me with all her might.
"Ow!"
"Of course that's a lie! I'm bad with flashy types and things like that."
"Wada-senpai isn't exactly flashy..."
"That kind of guy isn't my type either! But honestly, it's a pain, right?"
"Then what kind of person is your type!"
I took another kick.
"It has nothing to do with you, Toya! If you have time to think about that, cherish Airi."
"I know."
"You don't know..."
Kanna muttered meaningfully.
Before I could ask the true meaning, we arrived at Kanna's house.
"This is far enough."
Kanna says her house is the apartment right in front of us.
"Well, thanks."
Saying so, she enters her room.
"Well, see you tomorrow."
Saying that, I also began my way home.
Kanna's type... I don't get it.
Because I was thinking as I walked back, I didn't notice.
That Kanna had been watching me until my figure disappeared.
"Notice it already, you idiot."
I didn't notice Kanna's monologue.