Volume 2 Chapter 3 Part1 (2/2)
Kushi+da was on the phone for 20 seconds, but she shook her head and put her phone away
”No, it didn't connect I'll try again later, but it’s a difficult matter”
”What do you mean?”
”She told me her contact address, but I think she'll be annoyed if I try to contact her, especially since she doesn't know me very well Also, I don't think she was actually there to pick up the phone”
She one
”So she's kinda like Horikita?”
Why would you even think to ask that in front of the person herself, Ike?
She probably wouldn't mind Rather, it didn't see either
”Goodbye”
”Ah, Horikita-san!”
Looking like she was caught off guard, Horikita quickly stood up and walked towards the door
By the tiot up and chased after her, I heard the sound of the door closing
”Tsundere”
Sudou looked happy as he laughed, scratching his nose with his index finger
She doesn't have tsun, nor does she have dere I think she's a lost cause… No tsun, no dere
Since we couldn't do anything about Horikita's absence, the conversation continued without her
”I think Sakura-san's just a shy person That's the iet from her”
It's strange to talk about a person's character without ever having talked to them before
”Anyway, she's plain It's a complete waste of what she has”
While talking, Yaestured towards his breasts
”Yea, yea Her boobs are super big, though That's cute by itself!”
Ike seeret he felt a few seconds ago and started to get excited
Ah, but Kushi+da had a strained sain
This is a perfect exa its mistakes
The probleetting treated the same way as Ike and Yamauchi Kushi+da expression seeht? You pervert” Of course, this is my own persecution complex
”U”
I can barelyher face back ere doing the bets I also reh Somehow, it seems like I'm just the same as the others…
Sakura gives off the impression that she would always be alone and hunched over
”Which reminds me, I don't know if she actually talks to anyone How about you, Yamauchi? Wait, wait a second… Yaht? Were you able to talk to her?”
Oh right, Yamauchi did say that he confessed
”Ah, ah Well, I don't re”
Yaotten
”Was it a lie…”
”Bah No, I wasn't lying It was a irl frolooive me a sec”
Yaed the question and took out his phone
Sakura ly I've never looked at her face directly, but she has pretty nice facial features
But even then, I can't say with confidence because she has such a thin presence
”First of all, I'll try to talk to her by ht be wary if there are a lot of people”
”That sounds good”
If Kushi+da isn't able to get through to her, probably no one can
2
”…It's hot”
This school doesn't change uniforms with the seasons, and so we have to wear blazers for the whole year The reason is si systeo to and from school
It was thein the few et from the dorms to the school
After
ItIn the classroo practice were all surrounding the air conditioner It looked like y?
”Ayanokouji-kun, good ”
Hirata called out toface I could also irl, I'd probably beg to him and, ”Please hold me!”
”Yesterday, I heard from Kushi+da-san that Sakura-san was the witness”
Hirata looked at Sakura's seat, which was still empty
”Are you going to talk to her?”
”Me? No… I'reet her I've wanted to talk to her because she's always alone in class, but I can't be pushy and invite her, especially as a boy Also, if I asked Karuizawa-san to talk to her, it would also be problematic”
It's hard to iine a conversation between the super assertive Karuizawa and Sakura
”For the ti, I think we'll wait for Kushi+da-san”
”That's great and all, but why are you talking toto Ike or Yamauchi is probably better”
There's no reason to tell me, asn’t really part of the ”team” we had
”There's no particular reason, but… if I had to say a reason, it's because you're related to Horikita-san She doesn't talk to anyone but you, so I thought I should tell you”
”I see”
Is that the only aspect where I', he had a cute smile on his face
If I was a girl, my kyun-kyun points would've reached a hundred andfast
”Oh, right We should hang out sometime Are you free anytime soon?”
Hey hey, are you no longer satisfied by girls and trying to make my heart throb now?
It would be a grave mistake if I accepted his invitation without any consideration
”Well, it should be fine”
Ah, I said the exact opposite of what my mind told me to say damn this defective mouth
I definitely wasn't waiting for Hirata to invite
That's right, that's right This is the problem with japanese people Since we're unable to say ”no”, we're unable to directly reject an invitation
”Sorry, do you not want to hang out?”
Hirata sensed my uneasiness
”It's fine, it's fine I'll definitely hang out with you”
I replied, sounding a bit disgusting
I tried acting pridefully, but I really did want to go, so I gave up in the end
”But are you fine withtoo?”
”Huh? Oh, Karuizawa-san? Yeah, that's fine”
My response caly quickly Well, there are various types of couples
Since they still called each other by their surnauess they’re not that close yet
Reluctantly parting with Hirata, I waited for hoin as I held my phone in my hand
Then I noticed that Sakura was at her seat
She was sitting doaiting for the time to pass idly
I wonder what kind of student Sakura is
In the threeabout her other than her last name
It's probably not just me, but the whole class as well
Hirata and Kushi+da are active and outspoken Horikita doesn't feel the pain of solitude
Then what about Sakura? Does she like being alone like Horikita? Or is she suffering because she doesn't kno to talk to people like me? That's the question Kushi+da will answer soon
3
After hoot up from her seat and walked over to Sakura, as quietly preparing to go back hoely nervous
Ike, Yamauchi, and Sudou noticed and looked towards Kushi+da
”Sakura-san”
”…W-What…?”
The girl with the glasses and the hunched back looked up listlessly
It looked like she didn't expect so
”Do you have ti about Sudou-kun's case…”
”S-Sorry, I… have plans, so…”
She averted her eyes; it was obvious that she was feeling unco to other people does not see point Or rather, it felt like she didn't like talking to other people
”Can you make some ti Sudou-kun's incident, were you nearby by any chance…”
”I-I don't know I already said this to Horikita-san, but I don't know anything…”
Her words were frail, but she denied it strongly
Kushi+da, also seeing hoilling she was, probably didn't want to push it too far
Although she looked confused at first, she i
But even then, she wasn't willing to withdraw so easily
After all, this person will greatly affect Sudou's case
”Is… it fine if I go back now…”
But so to people, but rather, it looks like she's trying to hide so
She was hiding her do eye contact with her Even if sheat her eyes, Sakura refused to look at Kushi+da's face
If it was eitherto her instead of Kushi+da, it would et her to exchange contact addresses Interacting with Kushi+da is a completely different experience I don't think Horikita rong in sensing that so was off I also felt the same way
”Can't you just give me a few minutes?”
”W-Why? I don't know anything…”
If Kushi+da failed here, their conversation would a
The aard conversation naturally gathered ed on and on
But this situation seems like a complete miscalculation froed contact addresses, she expected this conversation to go much smoother
If she wasn't expecting to be rejected, then this situation would make sense
My neighbor looked over the situation attentively, then looked atexpression
It see, ”I know that your powers of perception are exceptional”…
”…I' to people… sorry”
She was speaking in a strained voice, trying to keep Kushi+da away from her
When ere talking about Sakura earlier, Kushi+da said that she was an ordinary girl, despite being shy
Looking at her current behavior, she's clearly not nor, because she looked co people to open up, she couldn't do it this time
Horikita, also watching the situation, came to a conclusion
”Too bad Looks like she couldn't persuade her”
It was as Horikita said If Kushi+da wasn't able to do it, I don't think anyone in the class would be able to start and maintain a conversation with Sakura
Kushi+da is good at creating an atmosphere where unsocial people can easily socialize
However, everyone has a ”personal space”
The anthropologist and cultural researcher Edward Hall further categorized this idea of ”personal space” into four parts One such part is the idea of an ”inti distance—if an outsider tries to enter this area, they will be strongly rejected However, if it was a significant other or a close friend, the person wouldn't feel uncomfortable If an acquaintance entered Kushi+da's ”close phase”, she normally wouldn't mind it That is to say, she doesn't use this idea of ”personal space”[2]
However, Sakura clearly rejected her
No… rather, it looked like she was running away
The first time around, she said that she ”had plans”, but she didn't say it the second tio to, she would've said it again
Sakura stood up and took a few steps away from Kushi+da
”G-Goodbye”
Seeing that she couldn't end the conversation, Sakura decided to run away
She grasped the digital camera that was on her desk and walked away
However, she bu attention to his surroundings as he texted his friend on his phone
”Ah!”
The digital caed onto the floor Still focused on his phone, Hondou waved it off, saying ”My bad, my bad”, and walked out of the classroom
Sakura picked up her camera in a panic
”No… it won't turn on…”
Sakura put her hand over her mouth in shock Somehow, it looks like the ca the power button and tried taking out the batteries and putting them back in, but it didn't turn on
”S-Sorry I was being too pushy…”
”No… I was being careless, so it was oodbye”
Unable to stop the despondent Sakura, Kushi+da looked frustrated and couldn't do anything but watch her leave
”Why is a glooirl like her the witness? How unlucky She doesn't even want to help”
Sudou leaned against the chair and crossed his legs as he let out a sigh in resignation
”I'm sure there's a reason Also, Sakura-san didn't say that she was the witness herself”
”I know If she was going to say so she would've said it It's because she's an adult that she stopped herself”
”Sudou-kun, it's actually better that she's the witness”
”What's that supposed to mean?”
”She’s not going to give testimony as your witness This case will be treated as your fault As a result, class D won't be able to completely escape the consequences, but we can think of it as fortunate In an incident like this, it's unlikely that they'll be able to penalize us by 100 or 200 points We're lucky since we can only lose 87 points Also, since you said that you were innocent, the school can't ignore it and expel you We'll be affected h”
Horikita relentlessly said all that she wanted to say at once
”Don't joke around I'itimate self-defence”
”Self-defence isn't as helpful as you think it is”
Oops, I accidentally spoke out loud
”Hey, Ayanokouji-kun”
When I turned around, acting aloof, Kushi+da's face was super close Even when I look at her this closely, she's cute Rather than feeling uncomfortable about the invasion of my personal space, I wanted her to come even closer
”You're Sudou-kun's ally, right?”
”Well… yeah, but why are you asking again?”
”It's looking a bit iffy right now, since everyone's willingness to help Sudou-kun is di”
I looked around the classroom
”Seems like it They probably think that whatever we do will be useless”
If the key witness Sakura denies it, there won't be any progress made
”It doesn't seeive up, Sudou”
Ike mumbled halfheartedly
”What's wrong with you guys? Didn't you say that you'd help me?”
”That's… huh?”
Looking for approval, he appealed to the re classmates
”Even your friends don't want to help you That's too bad”
The other class to deny what Ike and Horikita were saying
”Why is no one on my side? Man, all of you are useless bastards”
”How interesting, Sudou-kun Have you noticed that everyone's turning on you?”
”What are you trying to say?”
The class becomes tense often, but today was even worse
Since Sudou was talking to Horikita, it looked like he was trying his hardest to hold back
However, the blade came from an unexpected direction
”Don't you think it's better for us that you're expelled? Your existence isn't a beautiful one Rather, it's quite ugly, Red hair-kun”
The one who spoke was fixing his hair with the hand-mirror he carried around everyday
It was the particularly conspicuous boy, Koenji Rousuke
”…What did you say? Try saying that again”
”It's useless to keep saying it It's nonsense Since I already know that you're dumb, it doesn't matter if I say it one more time or not, does it?”
Koenji didn't even look at Sudou and replied as if he was perfor an a aside
The desk flew into the air and crashed onto the floor The students still felt hopeful, but the whole room froze Sudou stood up and walked over to Koenji in silence
”Alright, stop right there Calm down, you two”
The only boy to move in this difficult situation was Hirata My heart pounded
”Sudou-kun You're part of the proble”
”Fu I don't think I've ever been wrong since I was born You're mistaken”
”Hah, that's just fine You better kneel down right now or I'll beat you up and smash your face in”
”Stop it”
Hirata tried to hold Sudou back by grabbing his ar
It seems like his intention is to vent all of his frustration by hitting Koenji
”Please stop already I don't want to watch ht each other…”
”It's as Kushi+da-san says I don't know about Koenji-kun, but I am your ally, Sudou-kun”
You're too good, Hirata I think you should change your name to ”Hero”
”I'll end this here Sudou-kun, you should actuproar here, the school's iht?”
”…Tch”
Sudou glared at Koenji and left the roo out from the hallway
”Koenji-kun I' to blame him”
”I' in my life Oh, look at the time—it's about time for my date Please excuse me”
While watching their strange interaction, I realized that there was no class unity
”Sudou-kun isn't mature, I see”
”Couldn't you also have been friendlier, Horikita-san…?”
”I won't have e and doesn't have a single advantage”
It's not like you have mercy on people that do listen
”Yes?”
”Uu…”
While shrinking back like a sharp knife (gaze) just stabbed me, I made a small rebuttal
”There's a saying that 'great talentsa future NBA player Hecontribution to society The power of youth is infinite”
I used a catchphrase that felt like it caht out of a commercial
”I'ood in 10 years, but I need the strength to get to class A right now If he doesn't have the talent now, he has no use to me”
”Yeah, that's true…”
Horikita had a consistent opinion, but the rest of the class
The situation doesn't look very good
”You get along with Sudou, right? It seeether often”
”I don't think our relationshi+p is bad But it feels like a burden He's the person who skips class and fights the most I have to draw the line there”
I see It looks like Ike has his own opinions
”I'll try s will surely take a turn for the better”
”Hmm, I wonder Under these circumstances, I don't think that Sakura-san's testi effect Also, I think the school will be suspicious that the witness suddenly appeared from class D”
”Suspicious… you mean that the school will think that this is a fake witness?”
”Naturally They'll probably consider the testi with the circumstances It won't become absolute proof”
”That's… what kind of evidence would be soundproof?”
”If you believe in miracles, the best evidence would be a witness that the schools trusts frorade that watched the event fro There definitely isn't soh”
Horikita said with confidence I also thought the sa
”Then… no matter how hard we try to prove that Sudou-kun is innocent…”
”However, if the fight happened in a classroos would be different”
”What do you mean?”
”Well, those ca happened, those recordings would serve as evidence, and crush the lies of those class C students in a single blow”
I pointed at the two cameras in the corners of the classroom
The cameras were small and blended into the walls, but it was unmistakable that they were there
”The school uses those ca class Or else they wouldn't be able to do those monthly class assessments”
”…Seriously? I never knew…!”
Ike looked at the cameras in shock
”I also just learned of this… that there were cameras in the room”
”It's hard to spot I also didn't notice until they started talking about the points”
”Well, ordinary people don't really care about where cameras are located They probably wouldn't knohere the cameras are in a convenience store, even if they always visit that store”
If someone did know, it would be souilty about soht've accidentally seen it and noticed
Alright, shall I head home since we don't have to look for a witness anymore?
Kushi+da and the othersfor another witness It'll be a bother to get involved in that
”Ayanokouji-kun, want to go hoether?”
Hearing Horikita's invitation, I reflexively put my hand on her forehead Her forehead felt cool, but her skin was still warm and soft
”…I don't have a cold, you know? I just wanted to ask you about so”
”O-Oh Well, I guess it's fine”
It was strange for Horikita to invite me I wonder if it'll rain tomorrow
”As I thought, haven't you two gotten closer? Yesterday, you looked like you would kill me when I only touched your shoulder…”
Ike looked a bit dissatisfied as he gazed at my hand on her forehead
Horikita's facial expression didn't particularly change
”Can you take it off? Your hand”
”Oh, my bad, my bad”
I was relieved that Horikita didn't counterattack, and drew back my hand I didn't notice at all
The two of us walked out into the hallway I think I know the general gist, but I wonder what she wants to talk about
”Oh, right I want to go soo back; is that fine?”
”Well, as long as it doesn't take too much time”
”Yeah, it'll take about ten minutes”
Kuroko no Basuke reference
enwikipediaorg/wiki/Proxemics