"They're a little rowdy..."
"Huh? I think they're fine. If anything, it's just the kind of horseplay you'd expect between friends who get along well."
"That's true, but Ichinose got caught up in it too. They suddenly made that kind of joke about her for no reason."
"Hajima-kun said it was just a joke, didn't he?"
That made sense, so what exactly was I worried about?
Why did I subconsciously feel like they'd gone a little too far? It seemed like the sort of thing friends could tease each other about and laugh off.
"Wouldn't you be a little uncomfortable about suddenly becoming the object of my romantic interest?"
The early spring afternoon was wonderfully refreshing.
I glanced to the side. Ichinose tilted her head slightly as she thought, seeming to enjoy the sunlight.
Today was the first official day of classes. From now on, we'd have to wear our school uniforms except during vacations.
The school had adopted a Western-style uniform. The jacket was wine red with gold trim, and the buttons on the cuffs were gold as well.
As far as the jacket went, the boys' and girls' versions seemed to be the same.
The dark red bow at the collar stood out prominently.
Below that was a white pleated skirt with a wheel-like pattern. One thick and one thin dark green stripe ran along the hem, lending it a touch of youthful freshness.
"So, Hajima-kun was worried I'd be uncomfortable with it. Is that what you mean?"
Her eyes widened slightly with curiosity, as if she were trying to read something in my words and actions.
"If Ichinose were to be put off by something like this, I'd probably regret it for the rest of my life."
"What a smooth talker. Hajima-kun isn't usually like this."
"That's a little suspicious~"
She blinked cutely, then didn't press the matter any further. Humming softly, Ichinose continued walking.
Maybe liking someone wasn't something to take so lightly.
I placed a hand over my chest.
Thump, thump.
I wouldn't believe it myself if I said I felt nothing.
But was my heart really racing because of Ichinose? And did a racing heart truly mean that I liked her?
I wasn't sure. I didn't even know how to define love.
If I fell in love, what exactly would I love about the other person?
Would it simply be two hearts falling in love with each other? Two hearts that both believed in love meeting, and striving for it together?
Pure love?
But if that were the case, it wouldn't have to be me. Anyone who believed in love could meet my partner's standards. That wouldn't be wrong, would it?
Wouldn't that take away the feeling of being destined for each other?
"I just want a partner who believes in love and puts their heart into it."
Turning the thought over in my mind, wasn't it simply that I wanted to fall in love, so I wanted someone like that?
I just wanted to experience loving and being loved,
rather than having met someone I wanted to fall in love with.
That was how it felt, wasn't it?
Then was this feeling still pure?
When two people who'd always stayed by each other and encouraged each other got together, was it love that had grown over time, or had they simply grown used to each other?
"I don't feel that deep, soul-shaking love. I'm just used to having you by my side."
Lines like that weren't uncommon, either.
The only thing I could say for certain was that love was never something one person could decide alone.
One-sided love was a shackle for both people.
You put a lock on yourself, then handed the key away.
Maybe I'd be more qualified to speak on it after I'd experienced it.
I tossed all those jumbled thoughts aside, and stood with Ichinose outside the staff room.
I gently knocked on the door.
"Excuse me. Is Teacher Hoshinomiya here?"
The door opened quickly. A female teacher with a high ponytail gestured toward Teacher Hoshinomiya's seat, then returned to her own.
"You came straight here after class, didn't you? Thanks for the effort, Honami-chan."
Teacher Hoshinomiya waved us over.
"I came too, but you only cared about Ichinose. You're so biased, Teach."
She led us to a quiet break room. Teacher Hoshinomiya didn't respond to me, instead focusing on locking the door.
"I called you here because I wanted to check on you, Hajima-kun."
She spread out the papers in her hands and gestured for us to look.
"What are these...?"
Ichinose picked up one of them and began to look it over.
"Why, they're the entrance exam papers of our dear Hajima-kun, of course~"
"I can't decide whether Hajima-kun is incredibly talented or unbelievably lucky. English: 79, modern literature: 80, chemistry: 81, social studies: 82, mathematics: 83. Each subject differs from the first and last by just one point."
"Then I guess I was pretty lucky..."
I met Teacher Hoshinomiya's gaze calmly.
"Usually, people who are lying unconsciously avoid eye contact. But some people realize that and deliberately do the opposite~"
She took my math exam from Ichinose and pointed to the seventh question.
"Seven out of ten first-year students got this question wrong. Besides, it doesn't even use first-year material."
"I just guessed. I couldn't understand the question at all."
"This question uses material from the second year of junior high. About eight out of ten students got it right."
"Well, I was one of the two in ten who were careless."
Just as I thought I'd gotten away with it, I met Teacher Hoshinomiya's half-smiling gaze.
Crap.
I glanced at Ichinose, who was still looking through my papers.
It seemed I'd been mistaken from the start, assuming Teacher Hoshinomiya was going to pick on me.
But it seemed I hadn't been her target at all...
"I'll tentatively accept your explanation. Hajima-kun's grades still have plenty of room for improvement, so make sure you work hard."
"And don't fool around in class. Pay attention, and try not to be late or leave early, either."
She was lecturing me, but her attention had long since shifted elsewhere.
I looked at Ichinose, sitting beside me and lost in thought.
"Teacher wants to talk to Ichinose alone for a bit. It won't take long."
I nodded and closed the break room door behind me.
"Sorry to keep you waiting, Hajima-kun."
"It's fine. It hasn't even been ten minutes."
Ichinose and I left the staff room together.
"Aren't you curious about what Teacher Hoshinomiya wanted to talk to me about?"
I shook my head.
"Not curious at all? But we talked about you quite a bit."
"I can guess some of it."
"Why are you suddenly so distant, Hajima-kun? Did something happen?"
She suddenly grabbed my wrist, and I turned to face Ichinose.
"Is something wrong? Are you feeling down?"
"Nothing. I think the first day of school just wore me out a little. Maybe I haven't adjusted yet."
Was I being a little scary right now, with this expressionless face?
I didn't exist to please other people. Sometimes I didn't feel like managing my expression, so I just let my face go slack.
But seeing the worry in Ichinose's eyes, I still managed to force a smile.
"Do you have enough points, Hajima-kun? Would you like me to give you some of mine?"
"Huh? Just keep them for yourself, Ichinose. I still have some."
"I'm choosing to believe you because I trust you, Hajima-kun. Don't push yourself too hard on your own."
"I'll be fine if I make a few adjustments myself."
After parting ways at Zelkova Shopping Center, I headed to the dorm alone.
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