Episode- 18

A damp atmosphere hangs over the classroom.

　The weather wasn't always sunny, and clouds were more prevalent.

　I've been feeling a bit down lately.

　It was unusually quiet at lunchtime, and I was just sitting there daydreaming when I suddenly noticed my classmate, Aida, cleaning the blackboard by herself.

"Here goes."

　She hops around, trying to erase the writing on the board but can't reach it.

　Unable to bear watching any longer, I stood up and picked up the blackboard eraser.

"The height of the blackboard can't be adjusted; it's a typical public school facility."

"Ah! Is that Fujita-kun?"

　Aida's round eyes widened in shock and she instantly distanced herself from me.

"I'll take care of the top, so leave it to me to take care of the bottom."

"Uh, uh... yeah. I get it."

　Aida-san nodded and began erasing a spot a little distance away from me.

　Aida and I haven't talked much.

　Aida-san isn't the type of person like Usami who talks to a lot of people, and neither am I.

　So, inevitably, there is silence.

　but.

　I feel someone glancing at me from the side.

　When I turned to look at the person looking at me, they quickly returned their gaze to the board.

　After repeating that several times, I finally lost my patience and called out.

"Me not that unusual in the classroom every day."

"That's not what I meant! Well... Fujita-kun, I just thought you were a very considerate person."

"What's that? That sounds surprising."

"Oh, sorry! I didn't mean it like that..."

"It's okay. I didn't mean it that way either."

"Eh? What does that mean... Ah, that's it!"

　Aida-san's eyes widen again.

"It's kind of embarrassing, like I'm revealing the secret of a magic trick after it's been done."

"Ahaha... sorry. I'm sorry for not being sensible."

　Aida chuckled.

　I've thought this for a while, but its small stature makes it look like a small animal.

　Like rabbits and squirrels, things like that.

The narrative has been taken without permission. Report any sightings.

"...But I think I understand something now."

"Huh? What?"

"Don't you know? Fujita-kun is quite popular among girls."

"picture......poq""

"Ahaha, what's that voice?"

"Well, I was surprised... but why doesn't the person in question know about it? Is he secretly popular or something?"

"Maybe there is? It's true."

"I see... I see."

　That's surprising.

　I can't believe I was so popular...but I can't believe it.

　Just as I was wondering if maybe it was just a joke that Aida-san was making that was hard to understand, she suddenly burst out laughing.

"I really doubt you! Hahaha, Fujita-kun is really funny!"

"Thank you very much. I'm glad you enjoyed it."

　When I answered, Aida-san laughed again with a happy look on her face.

　I continued working like this and finished cleaning in no time.

"Thanks, Fujita. You saved me."

"Yeah. If something like this happens again, make sure you ask a big guy."

"Y-yes! Got it."

　As I finished my work and was about to return to my desk, I suddenly noticed someone looking at me.

"Tohsaka?"

"Ah! Well, well... ahahaha."

　After being surprised to be called out to, Tohsaka gives a wry smile in a flustered manner.

"Do you need something? I don't have anything to eat."

"I didn't want to beg! I'm not a glutton, anyway!"

"So, Gourmet Girl?"

"It's not that I wanted you to correct me! Really, Fujita-kun..."

"So, what happened?"

"Oh, it's nothing really. I'm heading to class now."

　Tohsaka hurriedly grabbed her writing utensils and left the classroom.

"Now that I think about it, there's a classroom change during the fifth period."

　This is why there were so few people there, it finally made sense to me, and after making sure I had enough time, I began preparing for my next class.

　　　　　♦ ♦ ♦

"……ko"

"... oko!"

"Koko!!!"

"Wow, what a surprise."

"That was my line. You've been spacing out for too long."

"Sorry, sorry. So, what was again?"

"You weren't listening at all! Besides, who wants to talk about Korean food in a coffee shop?"

　Aika pointed this out to me and I came back to my senses.

　Oh no. I was completely spaced out.

　As if to calm her anger, Aika took a sip of iced coffee from her flask-shaped glass and exhaled.

"Talk of a field trip! It's about time."

"Next week? Hopefully it won't rain."

"The forecast says it's cloudy, but I think it's best to assume it will rain at this time of year."

　Certainly, if you expect someone unpleasant, the damage is less when you are betrayed.

　However, I'm not good at deceiving myself, so I'll just pray with all my might. Maybe I should make a Teru Teru Bozu doll.

"Now that I think about it, I remembered during the field trip. Aida-san from my class said she was going to invite Fujita out to dinner after class."

"picture......[poq]"!!!!!!"

"That voice suddenly got loud! And what's with that voice? This is the first time I've heard it from Kaori..."

"S-sorry. I just..."

　I take a breath to calm myself down and let the coffee settle in.

　Aika continued, resting her chin on her hand.

"It's not that unusual, is it? It's common to ask someone out after a field trip, and Fujita is pretty popular that way."

"I, I see. I see..."

　Certainly, I have seen girls who say they like Fujita-kun.

　But that's true. There's no way Fujita-kun wouldn't be popular.

"Is Kaori okay?"

"Huh? What do you mean?"

"So if things continue as they are, it's okay for Aida and Fujita to date."

"That has nothing to do with me."

　When I said that, Aika was dumbfounded for a moment, then sighed in exasperation.

"Kaori, you know...ah, don't you mind?"

"I don't like it, that's..."

　Suddenly, I saw Aida-san and Fujita-kun walking together.

　--Sting.

"…………"

"...Kako is such an idiot."

"Don't call me stupid!"

"Oh no, you're an idiot! You idiot!"

"No bad-mouthing! It'll soil your beautiful mouth!"

"It's okay, my mouth is so clean it won't get dirty."

"What on earth is that?"

　It's like an argument between elementary school kids.

　When I realized this, I took a sip of my coffee to vent my frustration.

　It's bitter. And... it hurts.

　What on earth is this pain?

　To mask the bitter taste, I rolled the taste around in my mouth.

"That coffee shop was great."

"That's right. Let's come again."

　I leaves the store with a clang and starts walking side by side with Aika.

　It was already night, and the lights of the city were faintly shining across the sky.

"You seem to be having a lot of fun these days, Kaori."

"What's this all of a sudden? Are you getting sentimental?"

"I'm so absorbed in it! So I'll keep talking like this for a little longer!"

　After taking a breath, Aika continued.

"Maybe that was after you started interacting with Fujita?"

"it is……"

"That's true. Don't underestimate me, your best friend!"

"I, I understand."

　If she calls me her best friend, I have no words to reply.

"Plus, you're showing me a side of yourself that you never show to me. I was really surprised to find out there's a side of you that you don't even show to me!"

"Have you ever had a time like that?"

"Yes, there was! For example, during the sports festival, when you are talking with Fujita behind the school building."

　When people talk about that time, I feel embarrassed.

　But it's a precious memory, that's for sure.

"When I saw that, I thought, Fujita-kun might be the special one to Kaori."

"Aika..."

"So you have to be as selfish as possible, otherwise you'll miss out on that special something."

　Aika's words pierce my heart.

　Seeing that I couldn't say anything, Aika gave me an innocent smile like a child.

"Plus, that would be much more convenient for me!"

"... Seriously, what's that? Are you saying that's more interesting?"

　I listen with the same tone as if we were joking around.

　Then Aika looked into my face, smiled the cutest smile, and said.

"This is because Kaori will be happier that way."

"!!!"

　This girl is really sneaky. And cute.

　She really is the kind of girl who has all the cuteness I want.

"Hmm~♪"

　Aika skips ahead of me, humming contentedly.

　In contrast to Aika who seemed so happy, my heart gradually became filled with a jumble of emotions.

　But the question at the root of it all is now clear.

　What do I think about Fujita?

　No matter how much I thought about it, I just couldn't find the answer.