Chapter 2: CH 2

The Seat Next to Me

I managed to make it back to the classroom before the homeroom teacher arrived and sat down in my seat.

“You’re sweating so much, Nagi-kun. I’m sorry I rushed you.”

“It’s okay… I was just taking my time.”

When I was talking to Asatani-san, I could feel the tingling gazes from around me. I was used to it, since this had happened since the beginning of school, but I couldn’t help but think that the people around us were saying ‘Why is Kiritani Noa and that dull boy getting along?’

The two guys I started talking to as lunch buddies also seemed to be curious about it.

I was really glad that I hadn’t told them that I was actually dating Asatani-san. If I had told them, there was a high probability that they would have thought I was a delusional idiot. They would have even looked at me in pity.

I had thought about being dumped a few times, but never thought I would be dumped so easily and I definitely wasn’t expecting that today.

I wondered how many times I had looked at Asatani-san who sat on the seat to my right. I was afraid to even look at her side profile, let alone stare straight ahead.

The homeroom period at the end of the day was going to be extended, and there would be a change in seating arrangements following that. I wondered if it was a good or bad coincidence that I would be changing seats on the same day I was dumped.

Even though our seats would change, we would still be in the same class. I have to get used to the fact that Asatani-san was in the same classroom as me, and that I have to get used to seeing her, even if just a little – that was what I was thinking when I looked to my right….

“…Oh, Asatani-san?”

Asatani-san was looking at me and reaching out. I felt something like a wet paper towel in my hand.

“You were sweating a little, so I thought I’d give you a wipe. Do you want one?”

“No,It’s fine…”

“Don’t be shy. I think boys can use them too.”

“Oh, thanks…”

The wipes I received had some sweet and girly scent to them.

I wondered if she was being considerate to me as just a friend and not like a girlfriend.

Even though she seemed to have recognized me as her boyfriend, I had never had this kind of treatment before. And it was totally because of the season I was sweating.

…Or maybe it was because this was the last time I would have this treatment. I had been dumped and was having my seat  changed on the same day.

I had no hard feelings about it…

No hard feelings at all…

I hated myself for being so desperate. I was helplessly conflicted over a sweat wipe.

I still felt like I liked her. That’s right, it was not like I hated her. Even though she didn’t see me as her boyfriend anymore, the longing won’t just disappear suddenly.

Still, I had to forget it.

Forget it, forget it, forget it – I told myself and wiped my sweat off with that wipe.

“You should wipe your neck too, like this.”

“…… Ah, Asatani-san…..”

Asatani-san took out a wipe for herself and brushed her side-tails to the side so she could wipe her neck cleanly. She quickly wiped her collar bone as well. Even though we were seated in the very back, I still felt like it was too bold.

“It’s pretty refreshing. I’m going to be in a web-only commercial for something similar to this. I got a free sample, but I’m using another company’s product.”

“Hahaha…that’s great… a commercial.”

“Really? Do you think it’s great? ….You’re not interested in my work at all, are you, Nagi-kun?”

–No, of course not. I was always a fan of Kiritani Noa.

But I didn’t confess my love to her because I was a fan. I fell in love with Asatani-san at school. I didn’t want her to misunderstand, so I didn’t even tell her that I was watching a drama that she was in.

“…… But I feel safe with Nagi-kun because he’s that kind of person.”

Early on, she told the girls in the class that she didn’t want to be treated as ‘Kiritani Noa’ at school.

But now it seemed to me that she would have been happier if I had been honest with her about my support for her celebrity career.

It was not too late to tell her – No, it would only annoy her.

Now that she told me she felt safe with me, I didn’t want to make a big deal out of it. I didn’t want to get my hopes up that I could get back with her. I had gotten that much grace.

“I’ll watch that commercial when it comes out.”

“If you happen to see it……then that’s fine. But you can’t look for it intentionally, okay?”

“Huh?”

She didn’t want me to see her after all. I was about to be depressed at that thought, but Asatani-san, who had been smiling mischievously all along, pressed her cheeks in embarrassment.

“Because it’s embarrassing to be heard saying commercial lines by someone I know……”

That embarrassed gesture she made shot me right in the heart – I shouldn’t have been, I’d already been dumped after all.

As a fan of hers, I was so excited that I lost control of my heart. I didn’t want to be mistaken as a meeker, so I tried my best to tighten my face, which was about to loosen up.

“Oh, yeah, here’s the assignment …….”

“Thank you. I’ll get it back to you during lunch break.”

I remembered that she had asked me to show her my assignment, so I handed her the notebook. Even though I felt cool and refreshing after wiping my sweat, I was about to sweat again from excitement.

How could I forget that I was dumped by Asatani-san over an assignment?

“Ohh… Did she see me?”

“No, I think it’s fine….”

Asatani-san looked at the girl sitting near the hallway.

She was a student named Nozomi Takane, the representative of the new students.

The name suited her well, as she was probably the highest-ranking student in the whole school. And the combination of her well-groomed appearance and model-like height had left a lasting impression ever since she said her name at the end of the representative speech.

Asatani-san and Takane-san, two different types of beautiful girls in the same class. Some of the boys were looking confused and wondering which one to choose. I was told that I matched neither at all. It stung me being told that I didn’t match with Asatani-san.

“…………”

Takane-san was looking at me for a while. If she had seen me lending my notebook, she might have thought I was being immodest.

Takane-san turned around without saying a word. The girl in front of me was talking to her, but she didn’t seem to be talking about us.

“Takane-san, she’s such a pretty girl right? I heard she was the student council president at North Junior High.”

I hadn’t heard of Takane-san being the student council president since she didn’t talk about it when she introduced herself. She had such an aura that just standing in front of the classroom would change the entire atmosphere of the class, and I was engulfed by it.

Still, the fact was, she was very pretty… Even though she was a completely different type from Asatani-san… did that mean she was the cool type? I thought she was cool because of her nonchalant manner when she introduced herself, but I didn’t know how she really was.

“Have you ever seen her before, Nagi-kun? I heard that Takane-san is greeted by everyone, every day at school.”

“Oh… it must be quite disturbing?”

“Well, It’s not like they’re bothering her or anything. People are just coming to say hello. It’s hard, isn’t it, for Takane-san? She is so tall that even from a distance you can easily spot her.”

Speaking of which, I had heard – or actually seen – a glimpse of such a story.

Our high school was considered one of the most advanced schools in this area, but there were many students who went crazy in their second and third years- dyeing their hair within the limits of the school rules, and some even had their ears pierced.

Takane-san was being approached by one of these upperclassmen. There were many people who were on their way to school, so it wasn’t like I could do anything about it. If I eavesdropped on what they were saying, I would look like a suspicious person.

“Nagi-kun, if you’re having a hard time, you can talk to our teacher or ask for help on our school’s website. Have you seen it?”

“Oh, yeah. I was told to log in at least once.”

“It’s the school’s official website after all. Everyone will take it seriously. The recruitment for club activities is the most popular there right now though.”

I wondered if Asatani-san was interested in the website as a place where she could consult when she had a problem, since she would often not come to school.

I wanted so much to just say, ‘I’ll be happy to help you if you want’… but I couldn’t. I would rather discuss my problems on the board. Though I didn’t know if any anonymous seniors could give me advice on life, as I hadn’t looked at it in detail yet.

Eventually, the homeroom teacher walked in – she was still young, but her demeanor was that of a veteran. I wondered whether life at this school as a teacher was that relaxing.

“Good morning, everyone. I’m glad we’re all here today. As I said last week, today we’ll be changing seats during the homeroom period at the end of the day. If you really want to be in a particular seat, please make arrangements with me. That’s all for now. Well, the class committee members will be decided on Wednesday, so until then Asakura-kun will take the job. Now, please give the greeting.”

“Yes. Stand up.”

The teacher went out after the greeting. During the five-minute break before class, the classroom suddenly became lively.

I didn’t think it was a good idea to look at her too much, but I still kind of looked over at Takane-san. She was looking at the teacher leaving the classroom.

“…………”

I wondered if there was something she wanted to talk about . Did she want to talk to the teacher about the ‘greetings’ she receives that Asatani-san had mentioned earlier?

“Noa-chan, I saw you on TV yesterday. Is that a TV commercial?”

“Yeah, something like that… Oh, you can’t call me by that name at school.”

“Sorry, sorry. But the commercial was really exciting and Ryuuto-kun was in it too.”

Ryuuto-kun – I think he was a young actor by the name of  Fukugawa Ryuuto. Asatani-san was not the only lead actor. They were in a co-starring role, and it seemed like the two of them were promoting the movie together.

In variety shows, Asatani-san was said to be a natural character, but I didn’t think that when she talked to me.

She was fickle and elusive, but sometimes she looked at you… that was exactly how I imagined cats to be.

My cat still hadn’t gotten along with me, and when I was just starting to think that she had gotten close to me once in a while, she was just using me to get more treats. But she was so cute that I didn’t mind it at all.

“You weren’t nervous at all when acting with Ryuuto-kun, were you, Asatani-san?”

“The two of you were even on the same team and in perfect harmony… I mean, what can I even say beyond that?”

“Haha, don’t believe everything you read on the Internet. Fukugawa-san said he doesn’t make girlfriends at work.”

“Ehh, really? Everyone said that if you’re as cute as Asatani-san, then…”

Asatani-san laughed lightly and passed it off. While I was relieved to hear that, I wondered how I would react if a real relationship report came out.

As I was thinking about that, the girls who had gathered around Asatani-san suddenly lowered their voices. But I could still hear them because I was sitting right next to her.

“Asatani-san, the guy sitting next to you…”

“Ahh…Senda-kun? You should at least remember his name, that poor little thing.”

“Sorry, sorry, so you and Senda-kun were in the same school. Do you two get along?”

The fact that Asatani-san sometimes talked with me was still considered strange.

“Yeah, we’ve known each other since eighth grade. He’s a great acquaintance. Isn’t that right, Sen~da~kun?”

“Oh, yeah…”

“If you’re in the same seat you both may still talk, right?”

“What’s that? If you say it like that, it sounds bad for Senda-kun.”

I was not sure what to make of that, but I was wondering if ‘friend’ and ‘acquaintance’ meant the same thing. Or did she choose to say it that way in front of everyone? I was more curious about that.

After the girls went back to their seats, Asatani-san seemed to be fidgeting with her phone under her desk – Was she contacting someone?

As I was thinking that, my phone that I had kept in my bag hanging next to my desk, vibrated.

“I’m sorry for saying we are acquaintances, but I think those girls are going to make a big deal out of it.”

What she was saying and what she was thinking were two different things. Even though I understood that, I still felt dizzy especially after experiencing an emotional roller coaster.

“Don’t worry about it.”

I know I might seem curt, but I was too full of myself at that moment to give a proper reply.

I really didn’t know anything about Asatani-san. She was whimsical, elusive, but still cute. She was such a beautiful girl that she was really not a match for me.