8
That night, while browsing some online shopping sites, my phone received a call.
The phone was charging by an outlet, and I saw the screen light up.
Kushida Kikyo was displayed as the caller.
I looked a second time to be sure it was her. I wouldn't be brave enough to call back when the call ended, so I slid out of my chair, grabbed the phone and dove into bed.
“Sorry, I know it’s late at night, were you still awake?”
“Huh? Oh, I was just about to go to sleep. What do you want?”
“Sakura’s camera is broken, isn’t it? I think it’s partly my fault that she rushed away because I spoke to her, so I wanted to take responsibility for that…”
“I don’t think it’s really necessary for you to take responsibility. And she can just get it repaired, right? If it’s that important, why doesn't she go and get it fixed?”
However, things aren’t as simple as they sound. Sakura is not very good at talking to people, and it seems she’s not going to go to the repair shop alone. It may be similar to being hesitant to go into a restaurant alone.
It suddenly seems incredible, but there are people of various personalities and characteristics in the world.
It’s still surprising, though, when someone is unable to interact with other people.
“Kushida, did you offer to help her?”
In order to have contact with Sakura, you have to take actively seek it.
“Yeah, she seemed a little hesitant, but I hope we can do it the day after tomorrow. I think that camera may be very important to Sakura.”
And thus, Kushida had beautifully taken the first step to get Sakura to open up to her.
“But why with me? Couldn’t you two do it just fine?”
“If it was only for getting repairs. There is something else important to do. I want you to cooperate with me.”
“Do you know if she knows about Sudo’s incident?”
“Horikita thinks so, and after meeting Sakura, I feel like she knows something too. There has to be a reason she’s denying it.”
If that’s true, it would be best to take Horikita, but Kushida being with Horikita on their day off couldn’t even happen in my dreams.
By process of elimination, I was singled out as the least harmful option.
If she took Ike Yamauchi, he would only see Kushida.
This is convenient, I did want to visit an electronics shop.
I stood and leaned up against the wall near the bed.
For some reason I felt it would be rude to agree to go while lying down.
“Ok, I understand. Let’s do it.”
Although I was ready just to reply normally, my voice cracked a bit and betrayed me.
Luckily, it didn’t seem particularly strange to Kushida and she didn’t catch on.
Then for a while, Kushida and I had a chat.
It’s not too stressful to have a regular conversation.
It’s proof that even when she steps into your personal space, it doesn’t feel uncomfortable.
In my mind I felt like we were friends, I firmly recognized it.
“That said, when Koenji-kun and Sudo were about to fight, I was scared.”
“Oh, that maybe it was on the verge of becoming a fist fight.”
Koenji was in control of himself, but he would’ve fought back if Sudo hit him.
That may have been a catastrophe.
“I couldn’t move…Hirata-kun is amazing, right? I respect him.”
“Yeah.”
I was a little jealous of the praise Hirata got, but I later regretted it.
If you have the courage and guts to jump up during that scene, it’s only natural you’ll be respected.
“It’s thanks to you and Hirata that Class D is arranged the way it is. Both boys and girls think well of each other.”
Sometimes girls can only be understood by girls.
“I’m just doing what I normally do. I didn’t do anything special.”
“I’m sure Hirata would say the same.”
There are many special people who do not think that they are special.
“Speaking of special, I’m more special than Horikita-san, right? I can study and socialize, I’m accepted in Class D.”
That is not special, we’re in a special class of people.
I should stay quiet, I’m afraid if I speak I may insult her.
“Because you’re not sociable, you were put in Class D for defects, right?”
“But you usually talk to me, don’t you?”
“Isn’t that normal…?”
Based on the terrible way Horikita treats me, not really..
I remember Ike’s agony and tremble.
“I’ll say that I still feel a wall between Horikita and me, that’s the state of our relationship. Just to let you know.”
“Huh?”
I heard a little doubt in her voice. I don’t want Kushida to misunderstand me.
“Oh, yeah, there is something I want to ask, Kushida, is your room on the 9th floor?”
“Eh? Oh, yeah? Is something wrong?”
“No, nothing. I was just curious.”
I noticed Kushida became quiet. The silence was unexpected.
The conversation that had continued for a while stopped.
Most of the time, Kushida would talk again soon, but not now.
Was it by any chance bad to have asked what floor a room was on?
Fidgeting and becoming uncomfortable, I look around every corner of the room aimlessly.
Ah, I just want to be a well-liked, cool guy. I can’t help but think that way.
During that time, only the sound of us breathing could be heard.
“It’s getting late, we should hang up soon.”
I couldn’t take the silence. I gave up.
A silent phone call with a girl just brings heartache.
“Hold on-”
“Eh?”
Kushida broke the silence. But it came back.
I felt unusually hesitant to speak. This isn’t like Kushida, who always makes the conversation brighter.
“If, if I am … I am …”
The words stop again. Then, the silence came and 5, then 10 seconds passed.
“…no, nothing.”
It’s a response, then nothing.
But, what is it, say it. The courage had gone away.
Sorry Kushida. If you were to go to war, I would be the chicken sneaking around, saying that sniping from a distance is just fine.
Forgive me.
“Well, hopefully the day after tomorrow goes well, Ayanokouji-kun.”
After saying that, Kushida hung up the call.
I wonder if it was that last thing I said. It’s going to be hard to go to sleep tonight.