Chapter 8 - My Girlfriend Is
(1)
7:30 AM.
She appeared exactly on time.
And then she peeled back the duvet.
"Good morning! Toya-kun!"
A bright, energetic voice that was too harsh for someone who had just woken up.
I pushed myself up, but I was in a daze. I was still sleepy.
"Hey~? Are you awake?"
Airi peered into my face.
It was no use; my head was still foggy.
Seeing this, Airi pinched both of my cheeks with her hands and gave them a hard tug.
"Ow, ow-ow!!"
I was wide awake.
"Oh, you're awake."
Airi looked satisfied seeing my reaction.
Once she confirmed I was up, she stood up.
"I'll be waiting downstairs."
Saying that, she left the room.
After confirming she was gone, I slowly got out of bed and began to change.
When I went downstairs, Airi was drinking black tea.
Kanna hadn't arrived yet.
As I sat down next to Airi, breakfast was served.
I began to eat it listlessly.
During that time, Airi didn't say a word.
I couldn't tell if she was in a good mood or a bad one.
Given what happened yesterday.
Which one was it?
"Toya-kun."
Airi spoke.
My movements stopped for a moment.
Airi pointed at the clock.
The clock had passed 7:40.
"If we don't hurry, it'll be the usual pattern again, you know?"
Conclusion: She's doing things at her own pace.
No, this is no time to be thinking about things like that.
I hurried to finish my meal and headed to the washbasin.
While I was doing that, the doorbell rang.
It was Kanna.
I hurried to shave. Bedhead... none!
I ran a comb through my hair lightly and went out immediately.
"Kanna-chan, would you like coffee or tea?"
"Ah, coffee then."
"Do you want milk or anything in it?"
"No, black is fine."
That was the exchange taking place.
"Oh, here they come. Toya, you're quite popular, aren't you?"
Father said that while reading the newspaper.
Realizing this, Kanna looked over here.
"Oh, Toya. 'Ssup."
Kanna waved her hand.
I glanced at the clock.
It was around 7:50.
I let out a sigh and sat on the living room sofa.
Once Kanna finished her coffee, she stood up and asked, "Well, shall we go?"
"Thank you for the meal, Auntie."
"Thank you for the meal, Maya-san."
Saying that, the two of them headed for the entrance.
I also hurriedly stood up and headed for the entrance.
At that moment, Mother whispered in my ear.
"So, which one is the real favorite?"
I didn't answer.
When I left the house, Kanna and Airi were talking amicably.
I walked behind the two of them.
Looking from behind, compared to Airi who was about average, Kanna's height was considerably tall.
Moreover, she had a great figure.
Since she's like this in second year of middle school, I even thought she might be able to become a model in the future.
Naturally, she was the center of attention for people passing by.
Of course, Airi wasn't tall, but among girls of the same generation, she was in the very cute category.
Walking with those two, I naturally looked down.
I'm sorry for being average.
"...So, what are we doing? Toya-kun?"
Because I had been thinking about that, I had no idea what the conversation was about.
"Don't space out, okay? It's dangerous."
Kanna said this and patted my head.
"So, what are we doing? This coming weekend."
"I was thinking we should all three go to the shopping mall! You know, as a welcome party for Kanna too."
So that's what they were talking about.
It was rare for the study-bug Airi to make such a proposal.
"Is that okay? What about your study?"
"You have to take a break once in a while! In exchange, we're going to do it intensely during Golden Week!"
Airi laughed while saying something terrifying.
"Good morning, Tosaka-san."
The one who spoke to us was my classmate, Yuya.
Lately, he's been strangely overfamiliar with Airi.
"Good morning, Urashima-kun."
"Come on, I told you that Yuya is fine."
Saying that, he tried to put his arm around Airi's shoulder, but Airi brushed him off silently.
"Well, see you in the classroom."
Yuya left, saying that.
It seemed he didn't think anything of it.
"What's with that guy? He's strangely overfamiliar,"
Kanna asked.
"Urashima Yuya. We've been in the same class since first year..."
He's clinging to Airi.
I don't know what Airi thinks about it.
She didn't seem particularly disgusted.
"Well... I don't think there's anything to worry about."
If that's the case, it would be good.
Occasionally, I feel Anxiety.
What if she gets stolen away eventually?
That kind of Anxiety occasionally hits the mark.
Today was that day.
After school
"Wait at the school gate first. I have a little bit of business."
Airi said that and remained in the classroom.
Should I have noticed then, that Urashima was there?
Even after a while, Airi didn't come at all.
It was a common occurrence.
I'd heard from Airi that because she's popular, she's been confessed to many times.
But it had never taken this long.
Kanna, who had been waiting and talking with me, must have thought it was strange too.
"Hey, shouldn't you go back to the classroom once?"
She asked.
"But she might not be in the classroom."
"If she's not there, you can just look elsewhere, right? I'll wait at the school gate for you. I'll call you when she comes."
"I see, sorry. I'll go check."
Saying that, I returned to the classroom.
"Hey, let go of me!"
Just as I was about to enter the classroom, Airi's scream echoed.
Naturally, other students seemed to have heard it too, and people gathered in the classroom.
"I'm telling you~ I'm definitely better."
"That's up to the person!"
"I think I'm better in both personality and looks."
"That's exactly what I hate about you!"
The partner arguing with Airi was... Urashima.
Apparently, the partner this time was Urashima.
Normally, I would wait.
Airi probably wouldn't want to be seen.
She'll come back after a while.
Just as I thought that and tried to leave the classroom, I was spotted by Urashima.
"Yo, Katagiri, what's with the sneaking around?"
Urashima called out to me.
Airi turned around with a start.
"Toya-kun! Why!?"
She had an awkward look on her face.
I knew I shouldn't have come.
"This is perfect. Katagiri, you tell her too. That I'm the right partner for Tosaka-san."
"W-Wait, Urashima-kun, stop it."
She had a troubled face.
She looked like she was about to cry at any moment.
"What's the matter? Don't tell me Katagiri is Tosaka-san's partner?"
He asked bluntly.
I remained silent.
Airi also remained silent.
Because the fact that we were dating was a secret.
We had both agreed to it.
"That's not it,"
I muttered.
"Right, you guys wouldn't be a match."
Airi silently looked down.
Is it okay to leave it like this?
"But you're Tosaka-san's best friend, right? Give her a word of encouragement."
By now, the students who had remained around the classroom were gathering.
I don't know what he thought of me not saying anything, but—
"Enough already, Katagiri. I have something important to talk about with Tosaka-san, so could you wait a bit? Actually, just go home first."
Being told that, I left the classroom as instructed.
"Well then, as I was saying, Tosaka-san, continuing the conversation—"
"...I am."
I doubted my ears.
Airi's faint voice was heard clearly.
"Eh? What was that?"
Urashima asked back.
"I said I'm dating Toya-kun!"
That voice echoed throughout the classroom.
Eh? I told you it was a secret, right?
Airi stared intently at my panicked face.
"Eh? But Katagiri just said it wasn't."
Urashima was just as flustered.
What should I do?
If I deny it here, Airi's position will be gone.
Rather, my relationship with Airi might even disappear.
But if I affirm it, we'll become the target of teasing, right?
I hate that too.
What do I do?
"Katagiri, what is it! Say it clearly!"
Urashima didn't hide his irritation at my indecisive attitude.
Airi looked at me anxiously.
Am I going to run away after letting her go this far?
Haven't I been pushing all the hardships onto Airi until now?
Airi doesn't say anything, but...
I made up my mind.
"I am dating Airi."
Urashima wore an expression of "Are you serious?"
Surprisingly, Airi was also surprised.
"You just said it wasn't a moment ago!"
Urashima was bewildered.
"I thought that Airi and I wouldn't be a match. But Airi said so. Airi looks at me. So I will also face Airi head-on."
When I said that, voices of cheering and whistling rose from around us.
"Tosaka-san, does Katagiri have some kind of weakness on you?"
Urashima made a desperate last effort.
"Toya-kun just said it, didn't he? 'She looks only at me.' Besides, you're being way too persistent."
When Airi said that, those around us agreed.
"Read the room, Urashima."
"You're pathetic."
"I mean, that's why you get dumped."
Having also been showered with insults from the surroundings, Urashima, who had no way out, grabbed his bag and left the classroom.
"Are you okay, Airi?"
As I approached Airi, she was crying.
"Sorry, if I had just made my attitude clear..."
Airi shook her head.
"No, I was happy. That Toya-kun, who had been hiding it so much, said it. Somewhere in my heart, I thought I was being avoided."
"Sorry, don't apologize... wait a bit outside the classroom. I'll pull myself together."
As told, while I waited outside the classroom, Airi came out.
"Well, shall we go? You're keeping Kanna waiting, right?"
That's right. I forgot.
I hurriedly called Kanna's smartphone.
"What's up? Did something happen after all?"
"No, it's fine. We're leaving now."
"Ah, got it."
Saying that, I hung up the phone.
"Well, shall we go?"
"Yeah."
Even as she said that, Airi stopped.
She seemed to be thinking about something.
The answer came immediately.
"There was something I've wanted to try doing since we started dating."
That was...
Airi suddenly took my hand.
"I wanted to try walking while holding hands. In a public place."
Airi smiled, saying that.
It was a bit embarrassing, but if it makes Airi happy.
Just like that, we left the school and called out to Kanna, who was sitting and waiting at the school gate.
Kanna immediately noticed that we were holding hands.
And then she smirked.
"I see, Toya finally made up his Resolution, huh. It'll be tough from here on, you know?"
"My determination has hardened."
"You're quite impressive for a middle schooler."
Saying that, she grinned.
"Well, let's go home."
Airi hurried ahead, saying that.
As if drawn in, I followed.
I had no way of knowing that Kanna, who was following behind, was terribly depressed.