Vol 2 Chapter 23 (1/2)

Brrrr——, Brrr——.

The sound of the phone vibrating feels exciting.

Aika laid on the hotel bed while grinning idiotically as she read her newly received message.

And immediately started typing a reply.

Before going to bed, Aika and the other students had started texting with one another.

On the table in the hotel room, Reiko was in her nightgown as she wrote in her diary.

Reiko who was the head of the year ended up in the same room as Aika.

She finished writing in her own diary and glanced at Aika.

“Aika-sama.”

“What?”

She replied while typing a message on her phone.

“……”

“What is it?”

Looking behind, Reiko had a courteous yet uninterested face as she looked like she wanted to say something.

“About that——”

“Ah, sorry. I just received a text message.”

She turned her attention back to the phone screen.

“……I see♪”

She read the text with an idiotic grin on her face.

“I got to reply to her. But I was in the middle of replying to Asagi-san. Maybe I should finish typing the reply first? Ah, I’m so busy~so tired~”

She had a expression as if she was singing the praises of spring as she hummed while shaking both of her legs to and fro.

And pressed the ‘Send’ b.u.t.ton.

“It’s done.——

“……”

Reiko turned her head to face towards Aika as she said:

“It appears that you are having fun texting.”

“You could say that~”

Aika didn’t sense Reiko’s sarcasm as she smiled brightly.

“All this time, I have caused you so much trouble.”

“How?”

“You became my roommate.”

“No, that’s not——”

“But don’t worry, it won’t happen again!”

Aika sat up with a whoosh.

“Because now I’ve made friends!”

Sitting on the bed, she had a bright smile on her face.

“Isn’t it weird to be in the same room with someone you hate? This way it would be more comfortable for the both of us!”

“T-that’s right! I detest you!”

“Huh? What are you getting mad for!?”

“I am not mad!”

A period of silence.

“Hey, Arisugawa Reiko.”

“……What is the matter”

“Read this for a moment.”

“Hmm?”

“I’m about to send this message to everyone. Can you proofread it for me?”

“……Do you not need to ask for Kimito-sama’s help?”

“That’s why I asked, what are you angry about!?”

“I’m not!”

“No matter what, I want you to take a look at this.”

“Eh?”

Aika spoke with a serious tone.

“This is…a very important text. I wrote down the reasons that explains why I have been avoiding our cla.s.smates until now.”

That’s right, this was the ultimate goal of obtaining the email addresses of others in the first place.

It’s the final barrier between Aika and her cla.s.smates.

“……If it’s that kind of text, why do you insist on me to take a look at it?”

“Aren’t you the celebrity of our cla.s.s? I hate to admit it, but it’s the cold truth.”

Aika——

“I really think that you thoroughly understand how our cla.s.smates feel, or what to do during certain circ.u.mstances. You have a way with words, and can easily dispel frictions between our cla.s.smates. I find it amazing on a few occasions.”

——Aika told Reiko her honest feelings about her, which she had never told to anyone before.

“……”

Reiko had a surprised face as she stood there frozen stiff with her eyes wavering.

“That’s why I want you to check it. Please read it.”

Aika held the phone towards Reiko.

“Although I detest you too, you’re the only person I can ask for help from. Please!”

“……Alright.”

“! Really?! That’s great!”

Reiko received the phone as she started reading the text.

The lengthy apology text began with how Aika was advised by her teacher in grade school that ‘Honesty’ was a good trait, but it depended on the time and place. With that, the next 10 pages which had a number of words that had almost rivaled the number of words in a short story described the episodes that followed which Aika still regrets till today in detail——

“——————THIS IS SIMPLY TOO LONG!!” (TLN:( ͡° ͜ʖ ͡°))

Reiko’s scream made Aika shudder.

“L-long……?”

“Long! Far too long! But what I am curious about is how did you type such incredulous amount of words in such a short time?!”

“I have gotten used to writing long sentences.”

She was currently writing a booklet series called [Conversation Practice], which contained her imaginary conversations with others. Currently, she was on Volume 8 with the background setting of [Cla.s.smates discovered me cradling a wounded bird in my arms in the rain].

“I wasn’t praising you!”

“Oh.”

“I read the whole text, but your main point is nowhere to be seen, and your apology in the beginning is needlessly long! It’s…how do I describe it…the whole thing just felt wrong. If I use Kimito-sama’s words here, then I would say that it felt ‘heavy’!”

“I-is that so?”

Although she was modestly asking for guidance, her expression showed that she did not understand very well, an expression similar to one of a new author.

“Yes it is! Make it concise and less dramatic. For example, this part should be……”

After that, Reiko was like a highly-skilled editor as she guided Aika thoroughly; You don’t need this part, delete it. What did you think was the point of mentioning this story? Have you ever stood in the reader’s shoes?……etc.

“……I-is this really fine?”

After a while of relentless editing and retyping, Aika held the phone and showed the text message to Reiko.

Reiko read through it quickly and nodded her head.

“…..Yeah, it looks fine.”

“Okay, so I’m going to tell you something important. There is a reason why I have avoided all of you till now. I have a habit of speaking my mind honestly, and had hurt my friends as a result. Since then, I’ve come to avoid talking with other people. I was too afraid that I would repeat the same mistake over and over again.

Truth is, I wanted to be friends with all of you the whole time.

I’m sorry about what I have done till now. I would like to get along well with all of you from now on.

Tenkuubas.h.i.+ Aika

“……You sure it’s okay for it to be this short?”

“It’s fine. Rather, it still seems to be a little too long.”

“Huh?”

“You do not need to use many words now.”

“……Why?”

Reiko gave an affable smile towards the restless Aika.

“Because you have already gotten close to them this afternoon.”

“………”

“……I see”

Aika mumbled happily.

And then stared at the content of the text.

“……Yup, this should be fine.”

Her hands hovered over the ‘Send’ b.u.t.ton.

“Then, I’m sending it.”

………………..But her fingers didn’t move.

Reiko pestered Aika who was anxiously hesitating at the last minute.

“Do it already!”

“!? O-okay.——Hup!”

She sent it in a state of panic.

With that, the case was closed.

“Jeez……”

“Thanks, Reiko”

At this moment, Reiko realized Aika had unconsciously called her ‘Reiko’.

“Thanks to you, it seems that I can finally be friends with our cla.s.smates! I’ll make sure to make a lot of friends!”