Vol 1 Chapter 24 (1/2)
Thanks to room’s dimensions and thickness of the walls, their surroundings had only heard the uproar, if at all, faintly. Even though numerous rumors had started, in the end it only amounted to ‘What might’ve happened?’.
So nothing had changed.
Aika was pa.s.sing the time in the cla.s.sroom—alone yet again—and after school she played handheld games in my room.
By the way, her favorite was a cat pet communication game.
While the b.u.t.tons were clicking away, she broke into a smile and mumbled, ‘We’ll always be friends, right?’, to herself.
Lame enough to not even be funny anymore.
“Should we think of something again?”
While Aika was playing games on the bed, she pretended not to hear.
By the way, today she had even started to occupy the bed without asking as if it was her own. If she was going to complain about a ‘commoners smell’ on top of that, I was going to throw her off.
“Just think up something good. If it’s you, you can become a commoner master before you know it. You’re not ojou-sama-like to begin with and the way you talk is really just like a commoner would, right?”
That was mysterious after all. Haqua or Karen didn’t use that ‘desu wa’ stuff either, but Aika talked like we would, without it feeling out of place at all.
“…I dunno why either.”
“Eh?”
“I’ve been ordinary like the others too, back in the day, you know? Saying ‘desu wa’ and whatnot.”
“Seriously?”
“When I was in fourth grade elementary, I’ve had an incredible fever and was tied to the bed. When I opened my eyes, I was like this.”
“Ha…? The heck’s with that?”
“I don’t know. My memories from around that time are gone too. Something probably happened back then.”
“Hmm…”
Strange things really do happen.
“Also, it’s fine already!”
*flop*, she turned and faced up.
“Becoming friends with her—not happening.”
She probably meant, well, Arisugawa-san.
“It’s fine like this. Games and manga are fun. Plus, being with you is——”
When she was about to say something, she pressed the pillow onto her mouth and went ‘FUGAFUGAFUMOFUMO!’.
I got the feeling that it had been her real thoughts and that it had been something that she didn’t want to be heard, but more importantly…
“Don’t stain it, alright?”
“I’m not staining anything! I’d rather make it cleaner!”
“AS IF!”
“Anyway—! The commoner club will continue! Got it?!”
“…Fine with me, but…”
“You and I are the members!”
“Yeah.”
*creak*—.
It was Haqua, opening the door.
“Hey. You came for a visit?”
She nodded deeply.
“I don’t want to visit the likes of you.”
That was Karen, closely behind her.
“Then why are you here?”
“There’s no need to answer the likes of you.”
She said and stared down at Haqua.
“Kimito…”
Haqua presented a small envelop.
Written on it was—— ‘Formal Club Application’.
“Could it be for… the commoner club?”
She nodded.
“Why? You’re incredibly busy, aren’t you?”
“Because I want to be with Kimito.”
Her transparent eyes were staring at me.
“I-I see…”
“I don’t want to be with the likes of you.” ← Karen
“I didn’t ask you.”
“However, due to certain circ.u.mstances I’m thinking it’d be fine for me to enter.”
Still having that serious expression, she, however, hugged Haqua tightly looking as if her body hadn’t been able to endure it anymore.
Haqua pushed Karen aside and hid behind my back.
“You—!”
“Don’t draw your sword! It’s dangerous, alright?!”
“Rest a.s.sured. I’ll send it on-spot to your neck.”
“WHY WOULD I REST a.s.sURED LIKE THAT?!”
Karin put her sword away appearing as if it was just inevitable.
And then she took another ‘Formal Club Application’ out of her pocket.
“Take it.”
I, well, took it, I didn’t have much of a choice.
“…Also… frankly, I’m interested in commoners.”
She muttered that in a small voice while turning away as if angry.
“…In short, you two want to join? Well——”
“H-Hold it right there—!”
Aika interrupted.
“What kinda talk are you willfully continuing right now?! V-Veto! I veto!”
“…?”
Which reminds me, when those two came around the other day she had been against it at first too, huh?
“What? …Which of them do you hate?”
“T-That’s not it!”
“Then what is it? They went out of their way to help you with all kinds of things, right?”
While Aika bit her lips, she glared at me with a vigor, that I thought I could hear her teeth grind.
“…Alright! Got it! Do what you want, alright?!”
“Why are you angry?”
Wasn’t it fine?
She had made friends.
She hadn’t been able to become popular in cla.s.s but hey, we tackled problem from another side, right?
Well, if she sticks with being the loner cut off from everyone, then even if we’re doing ojou-sama school club activities, doing them with her alone would lead the term kind of ad absurdum…
*CREAK*—!
That moment——
“Kimito-sama!”
Arisugawa-san entered with a gallant smile.
Positioning herself in front of me, she handed me something over.
It was an official ‘Formal Club Application’—but put into a reinforced envelope and tied with a ribbon.
“Please let me join the commoner club!”
“Hee……? ……Why?”
“T-That’s…”
Arisugawa-san was fidgeting around for some reason.
“If I had to say something, then it’d be for my future…”