Chapter 15: CH 15

First Phone Call (2)

[What kind of music do you usually listen to, Nagito-san?]

“Me? I guess anything, or maybe songs played on TV or radio that I liked.”

[I don’t watch a lot of TV, so I don’t know much about songs that are popular… I’d like to listen to the songs that you like too, Nagito-san.]

“Then, I’ll lend you a CD sometime. I hope there’ll be one you like, Takane-san.”

[Really? I’m happy to hear that… But… I’m worried that if I bring it to school, it will get confiscated.]

There had been one unannounced inspection of belongings ever since I entered the school. It was best to avoid giving it to her on school grounds.

“In that case… I guess I’ll give it to you somewhere outside of school on a day off.”

[Nagito-san… Um, That is…]

“…..? Another way is…” –And then I realized what I just said.

(Outside on a day off…! What was I talking about!)

Takane-san and I started dating. Spending time together outside of school on a day off, that without a doubt would be a date.

No, we had started dating, so there was no way I could just lend her the CD and call it a day.

I was dumped without being able to do anything boyfriend-like. If I didn’t change myself, Takane-san would eventually grow tired of me too.

“I’m sorry. That was… basically asking you out on a date, wasn’t it?”

[Me too, I’m sorry. I wondered if that was really the case, but… is that okay?]

She asked quietly, but Takane-san’s voice didn’t sound like she would hate it.

She seemed confused. In this situation, I wondered what I should do as a boyfriend. Should I proactively ask her out, or should I not be too hasty?

(It’s just lending and borrowing CDs, should I not take it too seriously…? No, if we’re going to spend even a little time together, we should cherish the opportunity as a date…)

My thoughts started to race around and my body temperature rose. I was trying to talk calmly, but the tension I had been holding back was shaken out of me all at once.

My heart was beating so loud. Even though I had a girlfriend once, I couldn’t get used to talking to girls at all.

[Tomorrow…]

“Ah, tomorrow? Tomorrow we have school, so…”

[No, no. How do other people say this… Um, If we were to go out on a date, what would it be like? I thought I’d ask you about that.]

“Ah, no… It’s okay. I’ve never been on a date either. I never did anything like that with Asatani-san.”

I knew it wasn’t all right to mention an ‘ex-girlfriend’ at a time like this and what I just said was very uncool.

But I knew that if I hid it from her, it wouldn’t be natural. I felt that if I hide things from her now, then she would also hide important things from me in our relationship later on.

“If I can meet up with Takane-san on a day off… I don’t want to just lend you the CD. I want us to spend time together too.”

[Are you saying… You’ve spent time together with Asatani-san, but haven’t been on a date?]

“Yeah, we had a joint activity between the reading club and the astronomy club. We had seen each other on a holiday, but other people were there too.”

[I didn’t know that…]

I hadn’t planned to tell Takane-san much about my relationship with Asatani-san. That was because I knew she wouldn’t feel very good about it.

[……..]

It seemed that my prediction was not necessarily wrong. On the other end of the call, Takane-san was pondering something.

“Sorry, talking about Asatani-san was…”

[No, I want to hear it.]

“Eh…?”

[What was it like when Nagito-san and Asatani-san were dating? If it’s okay with you, I’d like to hear it.]

I knew I shouldn’t have talked about my ex-girlfriend.

In order to be faithful to Takane-san, I had to forget about what happened between me and Asatani-san. But now, Takane-san wanted to hear it…

[Whenever Nagito-san is ready to talk about it, I’ll be waiting.]

“Takane-san, if I tell you about Asatani-san and me, wouldn’t you hate that?”

[It might bother me a little… But, I’ve been trying to understand the person Nagito-san fell in love with. Even though right now, Asatani-san and I don’t get along… Asatani-san is someone who was once  in love with Nagito-san. Technically, it’s not like we don’t see each other eye to eye.]

Once again, I was reminded that Takane-san was beyond my imagination.

I had thought that Takane-san and Asatani-san would never get along, but Takane-san herself denied that.

[Asatani-san is a very sociable and flamboyant person, which is completely different from me. Because she’s the person that Nagito-san fell in love with, I’m sure she has something wonderful about her that I just don’t know yet, and, when I know about it… I would do my best not to lose to her.]

“You’re amazing, Takane-san.”

[Ah, It’s not that I want to be an actress or anything… I won’t even compare to Asatani-san in that department. But… I have my own way to be recognized by Nagito-san.]

She was impeccable in every way. I couldn’t believe she wanted me to acknowledge her. It was too good to be true.

That’s why I needed to put it into words properly. Whether by phone, or in person, I needed to convey it to her, even just a little.

[I’m sorry… I’ve been talking one-sidedly.]

“No, I was happy. I hope I can show Takane-san my good parts too. For starters, I think I’ll do my best in tomorrow’s physical test.”

[Yes, I’ll do my best too…]

Takane-san seemed to be a little sleepy. It had been quite a while since we had started talking.

The piano recording that was playing had changed to a different song. It was also a song that I knew.

“This is gymnopédie, right?”

[Yes. I recorded it because my family asked me to play it in my study.]

“It’s a comforting song to listen to. Takane-san, are you sleepy yet?”

[I’m fine. I have to start studying too…]

“Then, let’s study on the phone so you don’t fall asleep. I’ll stay up too.”

[Tha- That’s no good… That means Nagito-san’s time will…]

“If possible, I want to talk a little longer. Is that not okay?”

I must have already been spoiled by Takane-san to ask such a question.

[Then, I’ll take your word for it.]

Takane-san said in a flirtatious voice. She seemed to start preparing for her study

– Then,

My finger touched an icon that suddenly appeared on the screen. And the screen of my phone switched.

(Video call… Takane-san, did she press the wrong button?)

I looked at the screen, thinking if my face would be reflected.

[………]

–I stopped breathing when I saw the screen.

As if that wasn’t enough, Takane-san turned the phone to her chest. It seemed like she was holding her phone with one hand, and opening her book with the other.

She was wearing a camisole-like loungewear that looked like a nightgown, but the frontside was not fully covered. The camera was angled at her part that I was not supposed to see. I came to my senses and turned over my phone.

“Ta-Takane-san, It’s on video call right now…”

[Ah… I’m sorry. It looks like I pushed it by accident.]

Should I tell her that I saw a little bit? If I wanted to be sincere, I should tell her here right now and apologize.

When I flipped my phone over, I could see my face, and I was sure Takane-san was able to see it too.

[When I can see Nagito-san’s face like this… I feel relieved. Though, it’s kind of embarrassing.]

“That…”

[That…?]

It wasn’t just her face that was visible, I could see other parts of her too. More than that, the gesture of shy Takane-san was just too much.

[Ah… I’m sorry, I’ve just finished taking a bath. I showed you something unsightly.]

“No, no. Not at all… Those are cute pajamas…”

[Is that so…? Nagito-san is wearing a hoodie, right? I think it’s cute.]

“I don’t think I’m cute at all.”

[That’s not true. It’s a cute color.]

Somehow, the atmosphere was somewhat peaceful. I dared not say anything that would make Takane-san embarrassed at a time like this.

Regretfully, the video call was cut off. After that, Takane-san occasionally asked me questions, and I answered them while looking at my notes.

Before I made the call, all I could think about was how I had to speak well. But by the time the clock struck 10:30, time seemed to fly by so fast that I felt I had to hang up soon.

[Thank you very much for your time today. May I call you next time?]

“Yes, anytime. Good night, Takane-san.”

[Yes. Good night, Nagito-san.]

Even after I hung up the phone, the euphoria didn’t seem to go away. The sound of the piano that lingered in my ears was so pleasant that I couldn’t help but want to hear more of Takane-san’s playing.

“…… Whoa!”

I couldn’t help but shout. I looked at the door and it was opened a little. There stood Ruru-nee peeking inside. I was tempted to say that it was a youkai but she was too good-looking to be one.

(T/N : Youkai is a Japanese term mostly associated with Japanese folk creatures or ghosts.)

“I’d like to hear Takane-san play the piano, too. Can Onee-chan play gymnopédie too? Maybe we can play together sometime.”

I couldn’t even muster up the energy to ask how long she had been listening. But I had to admit it, I was getting carried away.

After shoving my sister back into her room, I returned to mine and took a deep breath.

Tomorrow’s physical fitness test, Takane-san and Asatani-san would be doing it together the next day. This meant that they would inevitably have more opportunities to talk to each other.

I shouldn’t be overly worried, but I couldn’t help but think about it. The tension of knowing that my current girlfriend and my ex-girlfriend would be together, it couldn’t be helped that  I was nervous.

If it was as Takane-san said, that they were both not enemies but Takane-san actually appreciated Asatani-san’s career, then could the two of them get along.

I thought back to the last time I saw Asatani-san in the library. Then I suddenly remembered, I looked over the message that had come from Takadera.

[Senda, there was no kissing scene! She’s still our Noarin, phew! Now we can sleep with our pillows high!]

I was relieved to receive such an e-mail, but it didn’t mean that I had any regrets about Asatani-san.

I imagined that one day, if she continued to be an actress– I shook my head.

As one of the many viewers who watched Asatani-san through TV, I needed to be prepared to look at it with a genuine mind.