1.
Rumors are, above all else, unpleasant.
Even unbelievable, nonsensical stories, if they keep circulating, eventually begin to behave as if they were true from the start.
Why did it turn out that in middle school, I confessed my feelings to five girls in my grade via email over the course of a year? I was treated like a weirdo by other classes for no reason, and then I was treated even more weirdly in my own class—a downward spiral. What the hell is going on? Seriously. I'm going to cry.
When false rumors circulated about the relationship between Yukinoshita and Hayama in the past, I felt incredibly uncomfortable.
Why do people love rumors so much? Ugh, they're so annoying.
2.
As I was walking to the classroom in the morning, I overheard a lively and cheerful conversation.
"Haven't you noticed a change in Yukinoshita's demeanor lately?"
"Oh yeah, I totally get it! Before, he had this really strong 'don't talk to me' aura, but lately he seems to have softened up a bit."
"Right? I feel like the kids from Class J are surrounding Yukinoshita-san more often than before."
"I totally get it!"
I overheard that conversation as I walked down the hallway.
I feel like my walking speed has dropped to about 80% of my usual speed, but is that just my imagination? Probably just my imagination.
She was famous even before I met her. It's not surprising that she'd be the subject of rumors like this.
...I feel like my walking speed has dropped to about 60% of my usual speed, but that's probably just my imagination.
Since it's girls talking about other girls and their positive impressions of each other, it's not a topic that would be unpleasant to overhear.
I quickened my pace again, suppressing a slight smile that seemed to be forming on my face for some reason.
At the same time, a guy's voice was heard mixed into the girls' conversation.
"Hey, what are you guys talking about?"
"Oh, good morning! We were just talking about Yukinoshita-san."
That greeting is so old-fashioned! I was shocked.
"That's right. I guess you could say it in a way that makes it easy for people to talk to you."
"Yeah, you're right. She used to have a beautiful but unapproachable aura, but that's kind of gone now, and she seems even more attractive. I mean, she's become even more beautiful."
bean paste?
"Huh? What's going on? Are you perhaps after Yukinoshita-san?"
"No, that's silly, I wouldn't do that... Oh, but maybe I should try talking to them next time."
Huh???
"Wow! That's great! But it seems like it's really popular right now."
"I know, I know! It was like it was secretly popular until then, and then suddenly it exploded in popularity... Kyaaa!"
"Ahhh! This is seriously bad! This is seriously bad!"
"Seriously? Wow. Seriously, that's crazy."
Huh, Tobe?
When I turned around, it was different.
Tobe was even more annoying from the start. Sorry, Tobe.
Wait, is one of them always saying "I know, I know!"? Do they say that to start a conversation?
Before I knew it, my walking speed had slowed down to about 30% of my usual speed.
It feels like if I keep going like this, my walking speed will eventually become as slow as a snail's pace, eventually dropping to 0 km/h, and I'll end up doing the moonwalk back.
A girl whose trademark phrase is "I totally get it!" gave me a suspicious look, so I quickly walked away.
I can understand why Yukinoshita is popular.
There's no arguing that she's beautiful, and when she's wearing her uniform, those flat chests aren't particularly noticeable.
And now that that icy, unapproachable aura has melted away, it's easy to imagine that men, seeing this as an opportunity, will swarm around her like fools. Really easy.
I've noticed that change to some extent as well.
Well, it's fine for the girls, but I wonder if the guys will suddenly fall through a hole in the floor like on London Hearts. The destination is the first floor, and there's no mat.
Hehehehe. It's not Sazae-san, okay?
3.
"Lately, hasn't Yuigahama-san gotten even cuter?"
"I totally get it! She was already cute, but now she's even cuter!"
A little further on, I overheard this conversation again.
I have absolutely no intention of slowing down my walking pace.
It simply slows down the pace at which your feet move. That's all it does, seriously.
It's fine as long as the girls are talking to each other...
"What, what are you talking about?"
That guy showed up. My discomfort level has increased by 80%, pushing it to its limits.
"Oh, you were just talking about Yuigahama-san."
"Really? Wow, that girl is really cute! And she has big breasts too."
bean paste?
"I know, I know... but no, no!"
"Valentine's Day is coming up soon, isn't it? I wonder if anyone will give me chocolate."
Huh???
"We've hardly ever talked before, have we?"
"That's true, haha! Wow. Seriously, wow."
Huh, Tobe?
When I turned around, it was different.
It seems like I'm longing for Tobe. Phrases like, "Even though I know you're no longer there when I turn around, I still find myself searching for your image in people walking down the street," sound like something out of a J-Pop song. I don't need to see him, though. I want to use all the luck I'd have to avoid running into him on Totsuka.
Seriously, even though it's a different group of men and women than before, why are the conversation starters, the "I know, I know!" responses, and the "Wow, that's crazy" all the same? Are conversations among popular people really that fixed? Siri would do a much better job.
Well, I can see why Yuigahama is popular.
She's cute, has a great figure, and is kind, and even her ditzy side can be seen as charming by some. Even I don't dislike her, though I'm more amazed by how stupid she is. I'm amazed, though. Seriously, I'm totally amazed. Seriously, it's ridiculous.
But she's become cuter...? I kind of get it, though. Kind of, you know.
I suddenly realized I was walking at the speed of a cow, so I quickly made my escape before anyone suspected anything. I was seriously walking like a cow. That was close.
For now, I want to shoot the guy in the neck with a tranquilizer gun. I wonder why I should shoot him, just because.
4.
During my lunch break, as I was heading to my usual spot, I overheard some gossip in the hallway once again.
"Hey, Iroha, you've gotten so cute lately! Did something happen?"
"Um, there's nothing there. Really, really!"
"You're lying! You're suddenly looking beautiful at this time, did you find a new love or something? Ooh!"
"There's nothing here!"
...It was him. What's this conversation about? Did he find a new love?
I quickly left the scene before Isshiki could even notice my presence. I feel like a real ninja in situations like this. Maybe I'll be a househusband and a ninja in the future. Though I'd probably die about eight minutes into my first mission.
The voices of conversation faded away in an instant.
Okay, I managed to get through it without any problems.
...Just when I thought that, someone grabbed my sleeve and pulled me hard. I wish they'd stop doing that, I'm not that strong. If I trip now, I'll be so embarrassed I'll die.
When I turned around, Isshiki had puffed out her cheeks. She's as cunningly cute as ever...
"Senior, you just glanced at me and ignored me, didn't you? That's unacceptable."
"Ah, well, it looks like they were in the middle of a conversation..."
"Senior, your voice is cracking and it sounds weird. Are you okay?"
"Feeling disgusted is nothing new."
...Don't make that disgusted face... You already know my taste to some extent, right? More! Like Yukinoshita and Yuigahama! ...They're disgusted too. Oh, Komachi too. ...Hmm, Hiratsuka-sensei often disgusts me as well.
...All the girls (and girls (?) who talk to me a little seem to be put off by me. Haruno doesn't count because she's just a demon lord. Totsuka isn't put off, right? She's okay, right? By the way, I feel like Kawasaki is just put off by me. What's with that black lace!
Just when I thought everything was okay and started walking, she pulled on the hem of my shirt again, still sulking.
"So, in the end, why did you just ignore me?"
Oh no... they won't let me go...
"It's not my principle to interrupt when things are getting exciting."
I'm not lying. I don't think it's a hassle or anything like that. Probably.
As I tried to avoid eye contact and get through it, Isshiki pulled on my sleeve again. What, is he going to use some kind of technique? If he pulls me down and then knees me, he's seriously a martial artist.
After lowering my head to about the same height as hers, Isshiki brought her mouth close to my ear. The faint scent of perfume and the feel of her soft hair made my heart skip a beat for a moment.
Please stop saying things like that, it raises my heart rate and seriously shortens my lifespan.
"...Were you even listening to what I was saying earlier?"
"Oh, well, I overheard a little bit. Sorry."
"You don't need to apologize. So, what do you think?"
"Huh, what?"
"Have I become cuter? Am I cute?"
"Uh, well, even if you say that..."
Stop leaning your face so close. You're too close. Don't make my face red!
I've thought she was cute quite a lot, actually. ...Quite a lot, really.
Telling me to say that is just... just too much!
"If you don't answer me, I'll keep this distance until some strange rumors start circulating between me and you."
What kind of threat is that? Stop smiling so smugly, it's cute.
Indeed, with Isshiki's face right in front of me in this situation, I'm bound to be misunderstood.
To be honest, I don't really mind being misunderstood, but I think it would hurt Isshiki far more.
He's clearly from a different social class than me, and moreover, he's currently the student council president of this high school. We must avoid any bad rumors spreading.
If you think about it but hesitate to give a half-hearted answer, you'll only increase the chances of being misunderstood.
So, the best thing to do here is to just be honest.
"Yeah, you're cute. Everything about you is cute. And you've even become cuter, haven't you? Maybe it's just that we've gotten closer and I'm starting to see your good points."
I tried to appear as calm as possible and said it casually. This should be fine.
"...picture..."
Isshiki looks bewildered. What's wrong? You're used to hearing this kind of thing, aren't you? No, really.
"...Well, if you say so...I suppose I might forgive you..."
She averted her gaze, her cheeks flushed, and fidgeted slightly as she twirled her hair with her fingers.
Stop it! If you react like that after I've said something embarrassing, it just makes me feel even more embarrassed!
Why is it so vague? It's difficult to respond when you give a gray area judgment right here.
"Ah... so that's how it is. Can I go?"
"Uh, yes, go ahead... Honestly, I wish I could say that much normally..."
In the second half, someone whispered something to me. How could I possibly say something so embarrassing?
As they left, I could faintly hear the continuation of their earlier conversation.
"So, what's the relationship between Iro and that person from earlier?"
"It's nothing. Just a convenient senior!"
"Oh, really? I heard some other seniors talking to you on the way here, who were they?"
"They're strangers. I'm not interested."
"Be careful, okay? Iroha's really popular with guys."
Huh?
Before I knew it, my walking speed had slowed to about 5% of normal. I was practically stopped. That's a 95% reduction compared to our usual pace!
Maybe I should put a frying pan in my back after all. ...But that would make it bulge out a bit much...
I mean, a convenient senior... you know...
When I finally arrived at my usual spot, the time for Totsuka Angel to dance on the court was over. I cried.
I'm almost at the point where I want Isshiki to reimburse me for the cost of watching Totsuka's performance.
Totsukaaaaa...
To be continued.