Chapter 2.3

Hah—

I lay on the bed, spread out like a starfish.

Mm…

…

…

I open my eyes, and the ceiling comes into view.

…Right, school.

Must I really—go to school today…?

Ahhhh…

I don’t want to.

…

Huhu…

I… I finally get up, sitting and staring at the open door.

I don’t remember leaving that open…?

Ugh—

Both hands hold my head, feeling the mess that my hair has become.

…What time is—it?

Wait.

It’s a bit too bright out.

I get off my bed, rushing to the living room and…

Oh—I…

It’s already so late.

…My god.

I head straight to the bath, taking my towel with me—undressing, and turning on the cold shower.

If only I didn’t doze off so early—

Well… there’s no use in rushing at this point.

I’ll probably arrive before lunch.

I’d need to catch up on Statistics…

And English…

Haha…

Hah—

I take my time showering,

…I wonder when I last arrived late?

Middle school probably…?

I suppose it’s fine every once in a while.

But I’ve maintained it for so long.

…

…Doesn’t Mugi scold late students?

Though, I think it’s a bit too late for her to be on stand by…

I hope she doesn’t notice.

…I turn the shower off, finally stepping off and drying myself.

I’ve always wondered about cutting my hair short.

But having kept it long my entire life…

I can’t really imagine how I’d look.

Returning to my room, I plug in my hair dryer.

It’s a bit of a hassle but… I’m used to it already.

With my hair dry, I dress into my uniform—and finally step out of the house.

…I skipped breakfast.

Well… I’ll only be at school for a few hours.

Wait—ah, Nishino-kun had something to show me.

I hope it doesn’t take much time.

I do wonder where exactly he’s taking me…?

For some reason he’s so adamant on keeping it a secret.

…I wish he didn’t try to visit me in class, I feel like he’d comment on my absence.

…? I look up, noticing more clouds than usual.

At least the sun isn’t here today.

…It feels strange.

Like—

I should be in class but, here I am.

There weren't really any activities scheduled for today if I’m correct…

I’ll just ask for notes.

From Hayashi or Watanabe-san.

…I hope they take notes.

Still—the breeze today is stronger.

I like it.

Eventually… regardless if I wanted to—

I arrived at the school gates.

There I stared at the tree in the middle of the courtyard.

…I think we should clean this area again—

Something hit my head, what was—

“That’s unusual,” says… Mugi.

“I had matters to tend to…”

“Which is…?”

“Um… I’m not usually late so—”

She hit me again… with a ruler.

“I think your class is about to start so just go already.”

Why is she even there waiting…?

I stopped by the lockers, changing into my slippers.

And it’s crazy but… you really get the looks for arriving late.

I pass through the hallway, my bag like a medal for late arrivals.

Then enter the classroom.

“...That’s strange?” Watanabe-san commented as she stood beside Hayashi.

“I—um… I had matters to tend to.”

“What matters?” Hayashi… questioned.

“...Does it matter?”

“You didn’t wake up?”

I stared at him…

Then look outside the window, seeing the clouds—

Watanabe-san begins to laugh.

“Just admit it Aihara-san, it happens every now and then.”

“Yes…” I let my head down.

“The president kept asking for you earlier,” Hayashi mentions.

“What…? Really?” I ask, he nods. “That explains it…”

“Something happened?”

“She was waiting by the gate… and smacked me with a ruler.”

“Ah, the cruel president…”

“Right—do you have notes…? From class earlier?”

“Yeah,” he says, handing me a notebook from under his desk. “Nishino-kun also dropped by this morning, he didn’t really say why—but he was looking for you.”

“Really?”

He was probably going to ask about the plans later…

I look at his notes, they were well written actually.

Hah—I take my notebook and begin copying his notes, trying to understand it in the process.

…

…Being late isn’t as good as it seems.

I’ll need to inquire about this at a later date.

Maybe this Monday…

But at least—I somewhat get it…

“Hayashi…” I call, but he isn’t here.

Even Watanabe-san and Taiki-kun.

…I step over, leaving the notes on his desk.

Hmm… I sit back down.

Closing my eyes with my arms crossed.

…It really doesn’t feel right.

It might’ve even been better if I just took the day off.

But I’d miss out on too much.

Especially later classes…

Though it’s not like I can do anything about it at this point.

…Lunch just started.

Guess I’ll walk around.

I leave my stuff on my desk, except my phone.

Leaving the classroom and stepping outside, I wonder where I should…

Hmm… somewhere—rooftop, maybe?

I heard it’s very windy there.

I hope it is.

…Walking down the hallway, I stop by a vending machine.

Picking up apple juice.

Poking the box with the straw.

Then finally having something in my stomach.

I turn to the stairway, moving up—passing by the second and third floor.

Although the door is shut, it’s… yes, it’s open.

Immediately, the wind brushes against my face.

I put a hand over my bangs as I stepped on the rooftop.

Wow, it’s cold…

Although it kind of seems a little dark today.

Surely it wouldn’t rain all of a sudden…?

…Well, at least there’s nobody here.

I stand near the fence, seeing the neighborhood… and the station.

I wonder where we’ll be going later…?

If he could’ve just told me…

Hmm… I take my phone, flipping it open.

Watching that blue welcome screen as it booted.

…I open the camera and—point it at the view.

Although the fence is in the way… I snapped a photo.

And it comes out grainy.

If only this had…

Though—can’t I just point it backwards towards me…?

That’s… kind of embarrassing; weird.

…I lift the phone, holding the apple juice in one hand.

Turning my phone backwards and trying to… press the button with my—I heard the shutter sound.

Looking at the photo…

I don’t really suit it.

Maybe I’ll delete it...

…What if I smiled…?

…That probably makes it weirder.

Hah—

I take a sip of the juice, looking at the photo one last time before flipping it close.

…I’ll go back after I finish this.

Ah—I wonder who Watanabe-san likes?

She sounded very fond of him…

She’s always around Hayashi and Taiki-kun though.

Maybe Taiki-kun has a chance.

…Imagine if it’s actually Hayashi.

Or someone else entirely.

I… kind of don’t want to imagine it.

That’s heart breaking if it was.

…Would the group remain the same if one of them confessed?

How scary.

I take another sip, and the wind blows my hair away.

Agh—

I take refuge in one corner, sitting on the floor and firmly holding the juice box within both hands.

…I’m a bit curious about the thing Hayashi was talking about.

The—pink circle guy.

The only game I’ve ever really played was… Tetris…?

A relative of mine was playing it.

I didn’t really get how… but—

Oh?

I shake the box, empty.

…I stand, looking at the view one last time before returning indoors.

The difference immediately became apparent.

It’s still cold but… it was calming outside, in some way.

I take my time walking down the flight of stairs.

Arriving at the first floor then, turning around so I can throw this juice away.

…Then I see him about to walk down to the canteen…?

I raise a hand… or was supposed to.

But all Nishino-kun did was lightly bow his head, and immediately head down the stairs.

Must be busy…

I pass through regardless.

Finally arriving at the bins, and putting it in the biodegradable.

I return to class… and the bell immediately rings.

“Ah—Hayashi, thanks for letting me borrow your notes.”

He turns to me, surprised—his expression relaxes and he gives me a thumbs up. “Anytime.”

…Having just sat outside in the breeze—the class that followed was excruciatingly painful.

I thought about opening the window but… it’d disrupt the class.

Just a few more hours I suppose.

…I turn to my right, seeing Hayashi just staring at the board.

I figured he’d be sleeping but—

Hmm… I lean back, also just staring as the professor continued to give more examples.

After each sample, I returned to my notes—trying to reconstruct the process by memory.

…Then another.

I stopped trying and just listened after the fourth example.

But I understood it already, somewhat.

Eventually… the homeroom bells rang.

The students in duty left behind to clean while I took my bag and immediately left.

Before waiting for Nishino-kun… I haven’t really talked to Mugi.

I walk down the hallway, turning by the end and arriving at the student council… but she isn’t here.

Hm…?

I don’t think she’s mad at me.

But I should talk to her at least once before the weekend.

I return to the hallway, climbing up to the second floor.

Ahh—why does her room have to be at the very end…?

…Having arrived, I peer through the window, and there she is—diligently working.

Of course she is.

And of course she noticed me.

…Their professor wasn’t in the room though.

Looking around, she closed her notes and stood to get outside.

“...What are you doing here, Mizuki?”

“Ah—well, did you really have to hit me like that…?”

“Of course, it’s not like you to be late—I had to set you back in shape.”

“I just slept in though… forgive me for this once.”

“Forgiven, now—go away, I have class.”

“Bye bye,” I wave.

She smiles as she waves before shutting the door on me.

Now… he’s probably waiting at the gate already.

I make my way to the shoe locker room, grown tired of changing in and out of my slippers but what can I do about it…?

Stepping out into the courtyard… mm, it’s windy.

Hah—

I’ll probably end up lazing around during the weekend…

Except the persuasive essay actually.

I’d have to do that first…

I’ll do it later so I can do nothing afterwards.

…Stopping by the school gate, nobody was waiting.

Is he still in class…?

His room’s on the third floor… I should’ve just checked.

Though I don’t really know what class he’s in.

Guess I’ll just wait…?

At least it’s cold…

I’d complain otherwise.

…I cross my arms, standing still as I stare at the pavement.

Just blankly doing so.

I see students pass by me.

Some of them are juniors but… for some reason they’re taller.

How come…?

I scratch my head, looking around.

It really is darker today… the sunset’s barely noticeable.

The trees though—still greenish.

Can’t fall just come then pass quickly so winter finally arrives…?

I want the snow already…

…

…Why’d I have to remember that…?

Ugh—it’s baseless anyways.

Eventually I’ll find out who’s been writing them.

It’s just a bit strange how… that letter’s in the bathroom, yet addressed to me.

Almost supernatural…

I look up, fully upwards—just stretching my neck.

Then I breathe in.

…I hope he comes out soon.

I can’t really ignore it because he made me promise.

It should be anytime now.

…I lift one leg, then the other.

I don’t really like standing still… for a long time.

My legs get sore.

My mom said it’s a lack of exercise…

…She’s probably right.

Hah—I squeeze both of my hands together, rubbing them against one another—then blowing my breath against it.

It’s cold…

…My hand wanders to my bag’s strap.

I hold it tightly, while I close my eyes for a moment.

I think yeah… Some classes have a later schedule.

When lots of students come out that’s probably when he’ll show up.

…Huh?

I stare at the pavement… droplets.

Are you serious…?

I let my hand out… It's raining.

I—

Where do I even…

Ah—the bus stop.

I walk forward, looking behind me just in case—then standing under the shed.

The seats… No—I should stand so he can see me.

I really have no choice but to wait for him at this point.

Like last time… I watched as the water pooled into puddles.

This time however—the rain had grown into something that I can’t just walk through.

…Please just come out already.

The sky continues to darken… the time’s… I don’t know.

Hah—I breathe into my hands again.

Rubbing my hands together…

Then crossing my arms.

…I hope this weakens soon.

So I can actually go home.

I look down.

Closing my eyes.

Then looking up to check.

It’s a bit hard to see but… still not there.

…I look behind me to sit down but—

The seats are being rained on.

Who designed this…?

Hah—

I shake my head, taking a small step back so I don’t get wet.

Uhm…

I hold my hands together.

…It’s a bit too cold.

And it seems like my socks will get wet.

And everything else if this rain doesn’t calm down soon.

…Then finally, I see umbrellas begin to prop up in the distance.

I watch as students I didn’t really know passed by.

None of them seemed to stop to check around… nor did anyone resemble Nishino-kun.

…Student council work?

He did seem occupied.

Eventually, students stopped coming out.

Everywhere remained… empty.

Almost like it’s just me here.

…I squeeze my hands tight.

To think I’d be waiting for him for this long…

Hah—

I stare at the wet pavement…

Closing my eyes before looking to check again.

…I wonder if he’s still there…?

I look around.

It’s getting so dark.

All I hear is the rain.

…

…I really should’ve eaten.

Mm—

I hold my stomach.

It’s cold…

…

The school’s completely engulfed in fog.

And the wind, just relentless…

It’s… so cold.

Hah—

I breathe into my hand.

Rubbing them together…

And squeezing them tight.

…He probably—left already.

Did he forget?

No he…

Then—

…Did I do something…?

I…

…

…Of course.

I look down, avoiding its gaze.

Hah—

I really…

I can’t do anything but swallow my words.

Maybe it—

…Maybe it’s me.

I… don’t exactly know why but—

…Please.

Stop looking at me.

…

Please…