SCPK 33

Chapter 33  

Going to School Again

Our usual group of six walks to school together: me, Seiya, Tsukiyo, Mizusato-san, Sera-san, and Urihara-san.

The lively chatter of our group mostly revolves around our noisy “speaker girl,” Kagaya Mizusato, and Sera-san, who are always at the center of the conversation.

Sera-san is a girl who really suits her light-brown, medium-length hair. Despite her looks, she’s well-known for swimming and is even considered an Olympic hopeful. She’s stylish, kind, and friendly with everyone—boys and girls alike. Of course she’s popular. Among the first-year girls, Tsukiyo and Sera pretty much monopolize about 90% of the popularity.

But what’s truly amazing is that Sera-san is the only one in the group who isn’t in love with Seiya. To me, that’s practically a miracle worth turning into a science project.

As for me and Urihara-san, we’re usually the ones who just listen.
Urihara-san is a girl whose gray-brown braids suit her perfectly. Because everyone’s eyes are usually on Tsukiyo and Sera-san, she doesn’t stand out much—but she’s cute in a modest, quiet way.
She’s tiny—barely around 150 cm tall—so she gives off the impression of being adored by Tsukiyo and Sera-san.

When the two of them walk alongside the beautiful trio—Tsukiyo, Seiya, and Mizusato-san—I, a mere ordinary guy, end up standing out in a very awkward way.
Dad, Mom… I really wish you’d made me better looking.

“Anyway! More importantly!”

Mizusato-san suddenly spins the topic 180 degrees.

“Last Saturday, Taiyo-kun, you went on a date with Tsukiyo-chan, didn’t you?”
“You’re as quick to pick up gossip as ever.”
“By Saturday night, everyone in the group already knew! You went to the movies, saw Hii-chan’s concert, and had a photo-shoot session, right?”
“Spreading rumors is one thing—but don’t exaggerate!”

I’m the one who gets interrogated afterward by everyone else!
Not that saying so will change anything…

“Photos? I haven’t seen them. As her brother, I should take a look.”
“What do you say, Tsukiyo?”
“Absolutely not.”
“Gaaah…”

Seiya slumps his shoulders in disappointment. Poor guy—this must be rough for a doting big brother. Maybe I’ll show him later… she was cute enough to make his nose bleed, after all.

“So, what kind of relationship are you two now?”
“Th-that’s—!”

Tsukiyo hurriedly cuts Mizusato-san off.
I don’t know what kind of group chat those girls had, but nothing has changed between us. It was just a practice date, after all. Tsukiyo still likes another guy… probably.
And me—well, I’ve been thinking ahead about things.
Even just getting some cute photos of Tsukiyo made it a great day for me.

“Nothing’s changed. Really. Nothing at all.”
“Reaaally?”

Mizusato-san leans in closer. Uh oh, this is getting annoying… I was expecting this, though, so I came prepared with a counterattack.

“Anyway, didn’t you and Seiya go to Takanari Hill on Sunday? What happened there?”

Mizusato-san freezes. The girls react with shock.

“H-how did you know that—? Wait, Seiya, you told Taiyo-kun?!”
“Eh? Was that bad?”

Seiya doesn’t get it. When the girls have their private group chat, the guys have ours too. The conversation was just:
‘What’d you do Sunday?’
‘Ran into Mizusato at Takanari Hill.’
‘Oh, I see.’
—And that was it.

Takanari Hill is a lookout near here, overlooking the whole town. It’s called a “hill,” but it’s barely more than a rise.
Judging by how they’re acting, nothing really happened between them. Still… when a boy and girl hang out alone, it’s hard not to assume something might’ve happened.

“Tsukiyo, spread this sneaky woman’s behavior to the group chat, please.”
“Ah, okay.”
“W-wait! N-nothing happened! We just bumped into each other, that’s all!”

Heh. That should redirect the girls’ attention—now the hot topic will be Mizusato’s supposed “secret meeting.”

“Taiyo-kun…”

Mizusato-san glares at me with a look of pure torment.

“To think you’d outsmart me… impressive. But even if you defeat this Mizusato, the second and third Mizusatos will rise…”
“Let’s just go to school already.”

She may act like that, but believe it or not, Mizusato-san ranks 7th in the elite second-year class.