(Ichinose)
The weather felt so stuffy, it was almost hard to breathe. Heavy and oppressive, it made me feel terribly uncomfortable.
The walk back to the dorm was a little lonely. I thought this was the first time I'd been alone since coming to school.
But I was the one who'd turned down the girls' company and chosen to come back by myself. I just hadn't expected the difference to feel so much greater than I'd imagined.
It looked like it might rain, but the sky was only overcast, and I hadn't been caught in a shower. That was probably one of the few bits of good luck I'd had today.
I opened the dorm room door. The place was dark and gloomy, and under normal circumstances, I might have felt a little uneasy or scared.
But I didn't even have the energy for that kind of minor emotion. I shut the door and went straight to throw myself onto the bed.
I curled up, wrapping myself in the blanket.
Maybe if today ended soon, this awful mood would pass sooner too.
I hid in my room, hoping tomorrow would come faster.
No, rather, I hoped that when I woke up, I'd have forgotten all my unhappiness and worries.
But it seemed I wasn't even allowed to run away.
I closed my eyes, but the voice of self-doubt kept circling in my head.
Ring, ring, ring...
The phone I'd casually left on the desk rang. I didn't really want to check it, but I still sat up.
It was a number with no name saved.
Who could it be...
"Hello, is this Ichinose?"
Why did that voice sound so familiar...
Was I imagining things?
Listening to it, it sounded so much like Hajima-kun.
"Hello? Ichinose, are you there?"
"Huh!? I'm here. Is that... Hajima-kun?"
"It's me. I'm not disturbing you, am I?"
"Of course not!"
"...Did you need something important, Hajima-kun?"
"It's important to me, at least. I was hoping we could talk in person."
"You're at Zelkova Shopping Center now, right, Ichinose?"
"No... I'm in my dorm."
There was a brief silence on the other end.
"I see... I guess I was wrong, then. I'll come find you when I get back to the dorm."
"No need! I was just... just about to head out anyway..."
"Is that so? Then could we meet at Palette?"
"Sure."
"See you in a bit, then. Bye."
"Mm..."
If I was going out, I didn't want to meet him looking this disheveled.
Maybe changing my outfit would help change my mood too.
That was all I had in mind.
On the second floor of Palette, Hajima-kun sat by the window.
Was he alone, propping his chin on his hand as he gazed out at the view...?
Two drinks sat on the table. There was a half-finished coffee across from him.
So he wasn't alone. Someone else had been sitting there too. It was probably that girl from Class D.
Kushida Kikyo.
Hajima-kun seemed to notice me arriving and turned to look.
"You're here. Come sit down."
The seat beside him...
We sat next to each other in class, but being close enough for our shoulders to almost touch made me a little, just a little, self-conscious.
"Sorry to keep you waiting. I got held up a bit before heading out."
"No problem."
My eyes had been a little red, so I'd gone out of my way to cover it up. That had delayed me a little.
Someone as observant as Hajima-kun would definitely notice.
I didn't know why, but I was already so happy just to have been invited out.
I didn't want anything else to interrupt the mood we'd had before.
I didn't want to be labeled. I didn't want "going out with me" to be associated with "being a burden."
I was the one who hadn't gotten myself together. I had no right to make everyone's attention and focus revolve around that.
"I might have to ask you to wait a little longer, Ichinose. There's something I need to discuss."
Hajima-kun pointed to the empty seat across the table.
"Should I step away for a bit? Would I be interrupting you if I stayed here...?"
"Putting aside whether you'd be interrupting us, aren't you angry, Ichinose?"
"A-angry about what?"
"Like, you came all the way here for our date, only to find something else had come up..."
"You mean that something came up unexpectedly and delayed our plans? But that's no big deal, is it? I still don't understand why I'd be angry."
"Besides, if I were angry, it wouldn't be over something like that."
"Huh? So you are angry after all?"
"Heh heh~"
Hajima-kun bit down on his straw, seeming to think it over.
But after a moment, he waved his hand.
"I can't guess. I have no idea why."
"It's your attitude."
"My attitude?"
"Right."
"I still don't understand."
"Would you like a hint?"
I looked into his dark eyes.
"What am I to you, Hajima-kun?"
"A friend? A classmate? No matter what, in my heart, Hajima-kun is a very important friend, someone I consider one of my own."
"When something needs to be dealt with, I'll support you unconditionally, no matter what."
"But it seems you never thought of it that way, Hajima-kun. You just assumed it was only natural to apologize because you hadn't known something had come up."
"Sure, maybe other people would be annoyed if their plans were interrupted, but I still don't want to be lumped in with everyone else."
"Everyone else is everyone else, but Ichinose Honami is Ichinose Honami..."
"Sorry..."
Hajima-kun started to speak, but I pressed my index finger against his lips.
A warm sensation brushed my fingertip, and a burning heat spread through my body.
He looked up at me, startled.
"If you really mean it, I'll be able to tell without you saying it... Huh!!!"
My finger... He... He bit it!?
W-what was he doing!?
"You! You..."
Ugh... There were so many people here!
Y-you jerk.
I was clearly being teased, so why couldn't I bring myself to resist at all?
I tried to brace myself against his chest and sit up straight, but I couldn't muster any strength and ended up pushing myself off balance.
I fell... right into his arms.
He had a pleasant scent about him. I didn't know how to describe it,
but when I got close, I felt calm and safe.
Whatever happened, it would be all right. That was probably the feeling.
Before you continue