15.5 Chapter 4.4: To Each Their Own Growth Part4

Early afternoon. I took a friend with me to a cafe.

"It's been kinda long since we've met together like this Satou-san."

"Yeah. I don't think we have since that time."

Since that time. That's when I told her that I was going out with Kiyotaka.

From then Satou-san has been someone I got along with... no, she's gotten closer to me than before, and now she's even someone I can call a close friend.

But our group usually met up with 4 or 5 people.

We usually hung out like that, with different people at different times.

So I really haven't been alone with Satou-san before. That goes for our summer break aboard this ship. Instead I always met with 7 or 8 people to hang out since I didn't have much privacy. Even for the pool I was somewhat opposed to being in... well, I could hide my skin with a rashguard so there was no problem. Anyway, today, there's a reason why I forced time alone with Satou-san.

For now... an empty seat. Satou-san and I requested seats that looked out on our surroundings. Unlike the school, the cafeteria was wide, so there was no trouble with the place.

But the contents of today's conversation being as it is, if possible I'd like there to be no people around us.

If we avoid other people to some extent, we'll tend to go to a place that has no light.

What should we do...

"I'm fine with sitting deep inside you know?"

"Eh, you're fine?"

"Because it's important, isn't it?"

After guessing and saying that, Satou-san turned to me with a cute smile.

"Thank you."

I gave my thanks and we sat at an unpopular place invisible from outside.

After overturning the sign to "In Use", we headed to the counter to order.

"Let me treat you. 'Cuz I called you out."

I shut down Satou-san before he could refuse, ordered two coffees and sat down.

"So - what's up?"

Satou-san sat down and broke the ice.

For my part I didn't intend to drag this on at all but...

"Hm... wait a bit."

"Why?"

"Don't you think, like, something is weird?"

I felt a sense of wrongness in the atmosphere and asked Satou if she did too, but she shook her head looking confused.

"Weird? I don't think anything is wrong though..."

"Maybe. Sorry, I said something strange."

Why did I feel that way? At the start I didn't know myself.

But, perhaps that man... perhaps the time I've spent with that guy has affected my body. He never lets anything go unnoticed no matter how small it is.

Whether it be someone's expression, feelings, or the atmosphere of a place.

No matter what it is he would sense and see through it.

Perhaps I've also gained a sense like that...?

I don't know what it is, but I left it at that for now.

But what is this? Why do I feel so wrong?

Even while pretending to be calm, I started to scan the surroundings.

"It'd be nice if we could always live on a ship like this-"

As I was talking, I brought the cup to my mouth and discreetly looked at the surroundings.

"Ahaha, yeah. But if we live like this everyday we'll get broke."

"Yeah. With the pool, the movies, and the delicious food, our money might run out right away."

When I noticed that strange feeling started to dissipate. No, it was thinning.

Was it just my mistake? Or was I so absorbed in looking that I was late to notice the situation change?

A group of three 3rd-year girls were having a friendly chat while sitting at a table near us.

"And and~ Kisaradzu-kun from B-Class was~?"

"No way. Are you for real? I didn't know that~"

They were chatting happily and laughing loudly.

Ah, jeez... if only they'd finish sooner. Even though the seaside was popular, it's no wonder that people would choose to come here to avoid attention and heat from the sun. They probably don't have any interest in our conversation, but still. When I think that they'll hear us I feel limited in what I can say. We could get up and escape, but I don't want to give a bad impression. The 1st years may be our juniors but the 3rd years are our seniors.

I can't discard the possibility that they'd think we left because we didn't like being near them.

It's from small things like these that bullying starts. I know that well.

"I've been wanting to tell you this since the beginning, Satou-san."

Let's ignore the 3rd years who have nothing to do with this and just focus on Satou-san.

It would be rude to worry about unnecessary things.

"I think that it's almost time to tell everyone. About my thing with Kiyotaka."

"...Yeah."

Sure enough Satou-san more or less predicted what I was going to talk about.

She might have also thought a bit that it was going to be about a 『breakup』...

No, I don't think so. If that were the case, then I definitely wouldn't have kept my presence of mind.

Me calmly saying, we broke up you know~, while laughing, was something she couldn't have imagined.

"So I thought... I should tell you in advance."

"When everyone finds out wouldn't they be super surprised? To think that the two of you are going out."

That's what I've simulated in my head over and over again.

Indeed, no matter what timing I say it with, it would definitely make a little noise.

I don't mean to speak badly about myself but I have no charm.

I'm always self-important and try to take the lead... before I met Kiyotaka I hated being bullied, and I pretended to be strong even more so than now. I've also flattered myself with boys that had no interest in me.

"So when do you plan to say it?"

Satou-kun asked me for the time. I answered right away.

"Right now it's summer break. I've been thinking if I should do it after we enter the 2nd term."

"What does Ayanokouji-kun think?"

"He's saying he'll adjust to my timing."

Satou-kun took a straw in her mouth and sipped a mouthful

"Okay. You lovey-dovey?"

"Eh!? Eeh?"

"It's okay, you've told me this much."

"Ye-yes. Well, it would be weird for lovers to not be lovey-dovey."

"Have you kissed yet?"

"Eeeeh!?"

"Some time has passed since you've started going out right? So how has it been going over there?"

I clenched my right hand and raised it to my mouth. Like a mic.

"...Fu, he only caught me off guard once."

When I answered honestly, Satou-san grinned widely.

"Nice nice, I might wanna get caught off guard too or something."

"Re-really? I wasn't emotionally prepared at all... even though it was my first..."

When she heard my muttering, Satou-san's eyes rounded a bit with an eh.

"Have you never had anything with Hirata-kun? You two had been going out for a pretty long time."

"Eh?"

"And if it's you, I guess I should say, I wouldn't be surprised if you had a boyfriend in middle school."

As I listened to Satou-san's words, I could feel myself going pale.

Karuizawa Kei was ranked high among the popular girls who would exchange one man after the other.

Hearing that a person like that had just had their first kiss was indeed problematic.

"Umm... look, it's because I act closed-off."

I earnestly tried to appear calm and answered.

"I mean, the only ones who would really let that go even among men would only be special people right?"

I felt my throat drying quickly and gulped down a third of my coffee in one go.

"But Hirata-kun was also a really cool boyfriend."

"More or less-. But I guess I was looking for some thrill-"

It's okay. I can do this.

Having wetted my throat, after this I just have to ride the flow and mislead her.

"Hirata-kun was an herbivore, so he was never greedy. I felt a little unsatisfied you know~"

Sorry Hirata-kun! Even while apologizing in my heart, I sacrificed him for myself.

"Is that so-. Well, as you say people might want their boyfriends to be proactive."

"Right? Right?"

"But despite the fact that Ayanokouji-kun looks like an herbivore, he's quite a carnivore."

As Satou-san said that, I felt that he was letting out a little bit of frustration.

"Satou-san... I..."

"Ah, sorry Karuizawa-san. I didn't mean to...!"

Today, I only planned to go out with her and tell her that I was going to announce that we had been going out.

But with this, it's become nothing but me just bragging tastelessly.

When I first enrolled in this school, I thought that was fine.

I broadcasted things about Hirata-kun as I liked. I was a completely tasteless girl.

But now I don't think that's okay.

Because this is my precious friend, I had been thinking to avoid talking carelessly. And yet. If I call it my protective instincts, it would just sound like an excuse. It was just my selfish ego.

"It's fine, it's fine. Falling in love with a boy you think is nice or something has been happening often for some time now. Well... though in my case, I always lose."

Satou-san pouted her lips and showed dissatisfaction.

But after that she was fine again as always.

"I'll say it again just in case. If you hurt Ayanokouji-kun... you get it right?"

You get it right means something like that right? She continued while I hadn't finished organizing my thoughts.

"Look. Hirata-kun is free now so he can get a new girlfriend right? So the same goes for Ayanokouji-kun doesn't it?"

"Um, well that's true..."

That's no good at all! In the first place we won't break up!

I shouted in my heart but it was hard because I couldn't show it outside.

"Look. If it's you, you can aim for a better guy."

"A better guy? Who?"

"It's hard if you ask me but... Tsukasaki-kun or Nagumo-senpai."

"Eeh~?"

If you ask me both are out of the question.

Because if you ask anyone, they'd visualise Tsukasaki-kun as top-class, and the same goes for the Student Council President. If we're talking about titles, there's no mistaking who's higher.

But... yeah, as I thought, I don't think they could even become Kiyotaka's rivals.

That guy has... bad points, but... he's strong, cool, and mysterious.

And - he understands me.

"Okay! That was unnecessary, thanks and goodbye!"

"Eh, ehh?"

"It's written on your face, you know? That Ayanokouji-kun is the best."

Guu... Satou-san noticed all the weird details so my pokerface doesn't work on her.

"Thank you for telling me first. It made me happy."

"Really... then that's good."

From there our talk moved to other peoples' love lives.

We reminisced about the island and other things that were completely irrelevant.

After a long time, we were able to enjoy each others' company.