Episode- 15

I flapped my shirt open, welcoming the wind into the gaps between my body and it.

　Outside the window, the sun's rays were pouring down hotly along with a humid breeze.

"When it was winter I wished summer would come quickly, but now it's winter and I want it to come home..."

"You sound like a scumbag, but honestly, I agree. Plus, it's cold when the sun goes down."

"Aguagh."

"Uh, Agu?"

"It's an abbreviation for Ugly Kakeru 2. I came up with it this morning, and I'm confident that I'll make it a trend."

"Aika, it probably won't be popular."

"DISAG!"

　Usami was sitting in the classroom, and the four of us - Reo, Tohsaka, and I - were talking around her.

"But summer is the girls' season!"

"Girls' season?"

"You're a girl too, Koko. A young one."

"Oh, that's right. But it doesn't look like it's that fresh..."

　As Tohsaka scratches her head with a wry smile, Usami picks up her plaid skirt and shows it to her.

"That's because it's a skirt. In winter, I want to show my bare legs, but in summer, it's heaven! It's skirt season!"

"That's true. Even though I have summer clothes, pants are still too hot."

"Ahaha, that's right."

"Tohsaka, do you wear pants even in summer?"

"That's the intention."

"That's right, Kaori! Why don't you just go ahead and wear a skirt! You said you had one just in case, right?"

　Usami leans forward and approaches Tohsaka.

　Tohsaka took a step back at Usami's momentum and shook her head.

"No, no, I can't do that! Skirts are embarrassing, and besides, I don't think they would suit me."

　My body twitches in reaction to Tohsaka's words.

"What are you talking about, Tohsaka? It suits you perfectly."

"It really suits you!"

"It's a development that feels like déjà vu"

A case of content theft: this narrative is not rightfully on Amazon; if you spot it, report the violation.

"This is rolling up."

　Putting Usami and Reo's words aside on the third shelf of the closet for the moment, I fixed my gaze on Tohsaka, whose ears were red.

“I’ve said this many times before, but Tohsaka is truly ‘cute’. Well, ‘really’ is a bit strange. How should I put it, hmm… ‘cute’? Something like that.”

“You’re saying the same thing twice! I mean, it’s time and place! Didn’t we make a promise the other day?”

"Is it no good now?"

"That's not okay! So early in the morning, and in a classroom with so many people! That's clearly against the time, place and occasion!!!"

"So when is it okay to say it?"

　When I asked, Tohsaka said, looking panicked and looking around.

"Th-that is...'when we're alone' or something?"

"Guh!!!!!!!"

　Usami and Reo looked up at the sky as if they had been hit before me.

　Then they began to whisper.

"Hey hey Usami, have those guys forgotten we're here?"

"It's alone together ! Or rather, aren't we going somewhere already? Or rather, I want to go somewhere already."

"Alone."

"Ah! You two already! Stop teasing me!!!"

　Looking at the angry Tohsaka, I was alone, groaning from my position nearby.

"She's just so cute. That's all I can say!"

"TPO!!!"

　Tohsaka has now gotten to the point where she can make comments based on just three letters of the alphabet.

　I ignored the fact that I was being scolded and thought about what was going on in my head.

　Abbreviation for TPO.

　Tosaka is Pretty! Oh my god!!

　That would be great! Yes!

　lunch break.

　I was walking towards the vending machine a short distance from the classroom.

　When the vending machine I was looking for came into view, I simultaneously saw a familiar back.

"Oh, it's Tohsaka."

　I was about to call out to her, but suddenly changed my mind.

　It's not interesting to just talk to her normally.

　Let's be a little more careful here.

　Slowly approaching from behind, and then...

"Whaaat!!!"

"Whaaaaaat!!!"

　--Thud.

　A dull thud rang out at the same time as Tohsaka's scream.

""……a""

　Tohsaka crouches down and takes out a can from the opening.

　Tohsaka's expression is suited to the "zun" sound effect.

"Sorry Tohsaka. I just wanted to surprise you."

"I think it's a great thing to not lose your childhood..."

　Her words and facial expressions don't match at all.

　I quickly put two coins into the vending machine and turned towards Tohsaka.

"Pick whatever you want. I'll drink the black coffee."

"It's fine. I'm not that picky about it."

"But, that's still bad."

"It's fine. I can drink black coffee."

"...I see."

　There's nothing I can do if you say that.

　I looked over the lineup and then pressed the button.

"Wow, Fujita-kun drinks strawberry milk and stuff like that."

"Yeah."

　Once they had both accomplished their goal, they began walking side by side towards the classroom.

　The sound of the pull tab being pulled out rang out, and when I looked next to me, Tohsaka frowned for a moment, then muttered "All right" softly and took a sip.

"How does it taste?"

"...It's quite a unique flavor. I don't dislike it."

　...Tohsaka is really easy to understand.

　What's even cuter is that she's not even aware of it.

　I turned the cap over to show off and tipped out the pink liquid.

"cr...O+O?"

"Yeah, it's very lenient. It's lenienter than the parents of elementary school kids who get 5,000 yen a month in pocket money."

"So sweet!!!"

　It's so sweet that it sends shivers down your spine.

　He put the cap back on and handed it to Tohsaka with a "hmm."

"Eh, what's wrong?"

"Actually, this is my first time drinking strawberry milk. But I didn't want Tohsaka to find out, so I pretended and said I drink it a lot, but it seems I don't really like it. Can we trade it in?"

"!!!"

　As if she'd been hit with the truth, Tohsaka took a quick breath.

　She stares at me for a while as if examining my face, then drops her gaze.

"I see. …If you don't like it, that can't be helped. I'll take it for you."

"That would be a great help. But in return, give me your favorite black coffee. It'd be a problem if we ran out of drinks."

　When I said that, Tohsaka sighed in exasperation.

"You really are..."

"Are you trying to say he's a greedy guy?"

"...Ah, that's about it."

　She pursed her lips in dissatisfaction and handed me the can.

　We replied "thanks" and exchanged drinks, then suddenly felt like drinking and took a sip at the same time.

"Bitter."

"Sweet."

　Thirst makes me feel the arrival of the season.

　The feel of the air makes you aware of the changes.

　It was as if the newcomer season was saying, "Please notice me," and I couldn't help but smile at this mundane realization.

　　　　　♦ ♦ ♦

　Walking home alone.

　The sun that had been overhead a moment ago changed color, and before I knew it, it had come down to just above my eye level, and I suddenly felt a sense of attachment to it.

"Eeeeek! Isn't it good?"

"Seriously, he's such a spoiled brat."

"But..."

　Suddenly, I notice a couple walking ahead of me.

　The girlfriend was walking close to her boyfriend, and they were clearly in love.

　I couldn't help but be curious and look at the two of them.

　I'm a girl of marriageable age too. Of course, I think that's nice, just like everyone else.

　For example, let's say I was in her position.

　Imagine leaning your body like that towards someone you love, and looking up slightly to see her beloved face.

"...I definitely can't do that."

　I probably wouldn't be able to act that cute.

　Even though I think that, I still see myself in the story.

"Love, huh..."

　I think about the experiences I have yet to experience.

"If I had a boyfriend..."

　In my head, my imagination begins to expand.

　and--

"H! Wh, why Fujita-kun...!!!"

　Seeing him at the end of my fantasy suddenly brought me back to my senses and I shook my head vigorously.

　I put my hands over my face, looked down as if I was holding something back, then looked up again.

"The sun is too bright..."

　I muttered to myself, not to anybody in particular, then increased my walking speed a little and continued on.