Episode- 08

--Tingle, tingle, tingle...

『Clack!』

"Hmm, hmm..."

　I turned off the alarm without looking, then hugged the towel blanket tightly before sitting up.

"Haaah..."

　She stretched, yawned, and blinked three times.

　With my vision finally clearing, I could see the white furniture lit up by the morning sun, and then I stretched again, this time without yawning.

"Okay, let's go."

　I got out of bed and headed straight for the bathroom on the first floor.

　I put on a headband and pulled my blonde hair up, and my familiar face was reflected clearly in the mirror.

"...Huh? I think I'm in a good mood today."

　I actually feel like my skin has been in great condition lately.

　Of course they take care of it, but it's chewy and smooth...I'm sure it would be delicious to put in your mouth.

　--Guh.

"...Let's wash our faces quickly."

　After quickly washing my face, I gargled a little and went into the living room.

"Mom, have you left yet?"

　My beloved dog, Mochiko who always comes running up happily when I come into the living room, is not there, so it seems like she's out for a walk.

　I feel like I've lost out a little bit, but I'm not that depressed.

"Hmm! Phew, what nice weather today."

　This is the third stretch. The third time is a charm, and the yawn comes too.

　The living room was filled with the colors and scents unique to a sunny day, which really lifted my spirits from the ground up.

　I felt lifted up and had a feeling that today was going to be a good day.

　--Guh.

"Ahaha, I get it."

　Satisfying my selfish stomach's desires, I head to the kitchen.

　My standard breakfast is toast, salad, fried eggs and bacon, Western style. Sometimes I have Japanese food.

"~♪"

　Heat a frying pan, add oil, spread it out, and then add the eggs.

　I listened carefully to the pleasant sizzling sound and waited until the right moment before transferring it to a plate.

"Oh, you're in good shape today."

　By the way, my favorite shape is oval. No one will disagree.

　After that, the standard menu items are simply arranged on plates and served on the table.

The tale has been illicitly lifted; should you spot it on Amazon, report the violation.

　Driven by the desire to eat, I quickly sat down in a chair and put my hands together.

"I got it... Ah, that's right."

　I had completely forgotten about "that girl" in the starting lineup.

　I quickly went to the fridge and poured it into a glass.

　The transparent cup was dyed in an instant...

"Yeah, I can't live without this - Takoyaki."

　This time, she took her time to sit down at the table, checked again to make sure she was fully prepared, and then put her hands together in prayer.

"I'll enjoy having this"

　After giving proper thanks for the food, I spread the recommended jam, pudding jam, on my toast and took a bite.

"Mmmmm! Delicious."

　I couldn't help but smile.

　This is irresistible. But the happiness is overwhelming.

　Suddenly, I casually look out the window.

　The scenery that I had seen since I was a child seemed to shine a little brighter than usual.

"I've been feeling pretty good lately."

　Once again, my cheeks started to spread.

　　　　♦ ♦ ♦

"Haaah..."

　I cover my mouth with my palm to hold back the yawn that has come out.

　As I, Asahi Reo, walked along the familiar route to school, I squinted a little in the dazzling sunlight once again today.

"Hmm? That's..."

　As I got closer to the school, I suddenly noticed a familiar back ahead of me.

　A listless male student with fine hair who yawns at least once every ten seconds.

　There's no doubt about it, it's Rintaro.

"Hey, Rinta--"

　As he tries to speak, he pushes the wax back into the back of his throat.

　This was because there was a familiar figure standing diagonally behind Rintaro.

　"She" stands out on an ordinary school route.

"Hey hey, it's the prince!"

"Just walking around is cool!"

"No matter when I see you, your aura is amazing."

"But you seem to be looking around a lot."

"What's wrong...?"

　A prince who commands attention and interest.

　My "fun sensor" was overreacting to her restless behavior.

　Tohsaka-san repeatedly glances diagonally ahead, then quickly returns her gaze, then glances diagonally ahead again.

　The body is honest with its feelings, and the corners of my mouth involuntarily turn up.

"...I saw something good. No, I'm seeing it."

　Ever since the incident at the fast food restaurant, it seems like the relationship between Tohsaka and Rintaro has changed a little.

　To be more specific, ever since the gym clothes were swapped, the way Tohsaka looked at Rintaro had been different from the way other people looked at him...but it was that incident that was the deciding factor.

　If anything, it was Tohsaka-san who changed after that incident, and I predict that some very interesting things will happen from now on, so I'm looking forward to it.

　While grinning from my position as if I were the game master, I decided to take action.

　Take a breath and make it heard by as many people as possible...

"Hey, Tohsaka-san!"

"Huh?! Ah, Asahi-kun?!"

　Tohsaka looks back.

　and--

"Eh, Tohsaka? But it's Reo."

"Ah, Fujita-kun... good morning."

"Good morning. What, have you been following me this whole time?"

"No? I just came out onto this road."

"Oh, I see."

　I, the game master and player, watched the two of them talk.

　Tohsaka-san acts as if nothing happened, but I know what's going on.

　That behind that handsome facade she was extremely upset.

　Yeah, I wanted to see this.

"What's the matter, Reo? Let's go quickly."

"Oh, yeah!"

　In order to hide my grin, I tried his best to put on an inoffensive expression and stood next to the two of them.

　So now I have one more thing to look forward to.

　I don't think there are many people who have noticed the buds hidden within them, but as someone who has noticed, I intend to watch over them with care. Of course, entertainment comes first.

　--Go to school.

"Ah! It's unusual to see the three of you on school together! Why didn't you invite me?"

"We just happened to meet. Anyway, I'm going to do some final tucking in."

"Grrr..."

　We also got to see a jealous Usami, so it was an eventful morning.

　　　　　♦ ♦ ♦

　The bell rings.

　I, Fujita Rintaro, stretched my body deeply, released all the tension in my body, and then――

"Guh, guhhh..."

　Even though we hadn't coordinated our stories, everyone naturally started to let out tired voices.

"This concludes the first semester midterm exams. Good work, everyone. -- Disband."

````…………''''''''

"Yeeeesssssssssssssss!!!!!!!!!"""""""

　Test question papers flying all over the classroom.

　It was like a white flag, signifying our victory.

　We are--free!

"Good work, Rintaro. How did it turn out this time?"

"That's nonsense to ask right away, Reo."

"So what's the correct answer?"

"Uh, um... what was your answer to question five of the current affairs test?"

"That's the biggest nonsense..."

　Nothing reveals a person's true character more than what they say immediately after taking a test.

　By the way, the correct thing to do in a conversation after a test is to say "Let's go home" or to say nothing at all.

　Or――

"Yay! The test is over! Yay yay!"

"Are you a second grade gal?"

"Eh, Gal? I'm pale."

"There are a lot of fair-skinned gals these days. I don't think that only black people are gals."

　Reo makes a comment about the orange-haired guy.

"Seriously?! Fair-skinned gals are so cool! Uhahaha!"

"This guy is an idiot."

"She's no longer a gal, just a second-grader."

　The name of this person who is smiling happily, unaware that we are secretly talking bad about him, is Nishihara Souma.

　She has orange hair parted in the middle, and is just as loud as her hair color.

"But you know, Souma is really smart. What rank did she get in last year's finals?"

"Umm, I think I was in sixth place! How lucky!"

"Sixth place... I don't really understand anymore."

"Don't give up thinking, Rintaro."

"Ahh..."

　I envy those who can study.

　I'm really jealous.

"Well, in my case, I only study because my grandparents told me to, and if they hadn't told me to, I wouldn't be studying!"

"It's amazing how Souma can do it just by being told."

"That's true. My sister tells me to study too, but I can't do it."

"Don't tell your sister!"

"Well, my little sister isn't my grandpa or grandma!"

"What are you talking about?!"

　Reo sighed in exasperation.

"Geez, dealing with you two is going to be a pain."

"Maybe you're not getting enough calcium?"

"Do you want milk?"

"That's not what I meant!"

　Since Reo usually teases me, it feels good to make him go crazy like this.

　As I was feeling satisfied seeing Reo looking tired, I suddenly saw Tohsaka and Usami whispering something into my field of vision.

"You understand, Aika?"

"I know. I haven't told anyone, so don't worry."

"That's good then. This is a top secret mission after all. --Okay, I'll go without anyone finding out."

"Hmmmm."

　The two nodded and left the classroom with solemn looks on their faces.

"What's wrong, Rintaro ? You seem spacey."

"...No, it's nothing."

　I tilted my head once and returned to the conversation between the two of us.