Too Much Affection Can Be a Problem 1
“Hey-hey, Nishiki-kun, are you dating Kuhouin-san or something?”
During the weekday lunch break, I was approached by some girls from my class whom I didn’t usually talk to much.
“…Where did you get that misinformation?”
I stopped eating and asked with a serious face.
“Eh, that’s not it? I totally thought you two were lovers.”
The girl seemed quite disappointed with my answer.
“How could you misunderstand it that way?”
“Because you’re eating lunch together right now.”
Kuhouin Akira, who was sitting next to me, continued eating her meal with an indifferent expression as if our conversation didn’t concern her.
Her unwavering demeanor had a strange sense of intimidation.
I started eating lunch with Akira in mid-May.
She usually sit by the window, but due to the recent intense heat, she started joining me to escape the sunlight.
I also owed her a bit of a favor over Golden Week concerning my younger sister, so I had no particular reason to refuse her.
Before the midterm exams, we began to help each other with subjects we were bad at while eating, and this routine just stuck.
It was still continuing even now in the second term.
“It seems there’s been a huge misunderstanding. Kuhouin-san, your response, please.”
I decided to throw the topic to Akira.
“I’m just sticking to my routine. I can’t settle down if I break my habits.”
Her answer was brief.
That kind of concern for routine is something you’d expect from a former athlete. The strength of character to not be swayed by others’ opinions must be the secret to winning competitions.
Objectively speaking, the girl named Kuhouin Akira had a dazzling presence that stood out among her peers.
Her flashy hair color with inner highlights suited her strong-looking features, and she had a good figure. Her body, well-toned from her time in the track and field club, is attractive.
She was regarded with respect by both boys and girls in the class as a solitary figure.
“But you two have been commuting to school together since the first term. There’s no other boy who has that kind of close relationship with Kuhouin-san. Even when various boys confess to her, she turns them down because she has a boyfriend named Nishiki-kun—”
“We’re just classmates.”
I cut her off with a denial.
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I had been making morning calls to wake up Akira, who is not a morning person, and then I’d wait at the station to make sure she actually went to school; it was nothing more than us commuting together.
“Isn’t that because you’re close?”
The girls persisted.
“There are opposite-sex friends who are easy to talk to, aside from romantic feelings.”
“Ehh, I only want to talk to boys I’m interested in.”
The girl casually uttered something cold and ruthless without batting an eye.
This world is hell.
High school girls are such merciless and cruel creatures. Boys who don’t interest them might as well be invisible.
The thought that they only see the world through such biased lenses makes my heart shrink. It’s truly sinful how easily they can plant aversions in the delicate hearts of adolescents.
“Don’t say whatever you please. It’s seriously annoying.”
With just a glare from Akira, the girls scattered away from my seat like baby spiders.
No mercy even towards her own gender.
“Thanks for the intimidation. But you’ll be disliked if you act like that too much.”
“I’ll take them on.”
“Akira, you are strong.”
“I just hate being talked about based on speculation.”
“Well, yeah, that’s true.”
Being casually gossiped about by people you don’t know well isn’t a pleasant feeling. And to be confronted like that to verify the truth of such off-base rumors…
“You shouldn’t even bother dealing with that kind of thing.”
Akira muttered coolly.
“You can’t just ignore your classmates.”
“Nishiki, you’re too nice.”
“We’re past the peak of the heat, so you could just eat at your own seat by the window like before to avoid such misunderstandings.”
“It’s weird how they connect everything to romance. Their heads are in the clouds.”
“Don’t ever say that in front of them.”
I wish she’d learn to sugarcoat things a bit.
Speaking your mind about everything can unnecessarily increase your enemies.
“Nishiki can only live a constrained life, huh?”
“I’m just being sensible.”
“You’re a boring man who settles for less.”
“Is it fun to trample on a man’s heart?”
“It’s the truth.”
“Unlike you, I’m considerate of those around me.”
“You lack consideration the most when it comes to me.”
“Who are you to talk!”
Akira seems to enjoy angering me, and her choice of words is too careless.
“Ah! Nikki and Akiaki are having another marital spat! You two get along so well.”
Mayuzumi Ririka appeared out of nowhere to mediate our argument with a voice loud enough to echo throughout the class.
The girl with black twin-tails dyed purple on the inside.
She’s meticulous about her fashion, from accessories to piercings and nails, and despite her petite stature, she stands out with her natural energy and has a wide circle of friends with various interests throughout the school.
Her exceptional communication skills even allow her to talk with the difficult Akira with ease.
“Who are you calling married couple?”
“Ehh, did I interrupt your lovey-dovey moment? Then sorry.”
“Where do you see that?!”
Akira roared.
Yeah, she’s totally being played.
“Hey, aren’t those two always together? Maybe they’re dating… that’s the impression people naturally get.”
Mayuzumi-san spoke as if representing a third-person perspective.
“It’s none of your business.”
“Akiaki is a beautiful lone wolf but stands out even more because she’s only ever with Nikki. There’s no smoke without fire, right?”
“Is everyone in this class just idle?”
“Everyone is basically really interested in romance.”
“I’m not interested!”
Akira’s assertion was emphatic.
“Really? It’s not just you playing coy?”
“Who am I playing coy for?”
Akira responded with a cool attitude, not taking the bait seriously.
Mayuzumi-san smirked, narrowing her eyes, and for some reason, kept looking my way.