Chapter 51 - Demotion

I thought Jun was a loner.
That"s why deep down, I thought I could monopolize him.

Eh, but, but!
The one who said that she wants Jun to fit into the cla.s.s, it was me!
This, is a really good thing, you know? In the beginning, it was simply gazing at the loner bookworm from afar…. and willfully getting interested in him. Although it was me who truly wanted him to merge into the cla.s.s.

… "Don"t worry. I would"ve taught anyone, even if it wasn"t you"

Ugh… After all… it"s no good, maybe.
He is kind and he is really good at this and that, his face is so cute, lips so soft when I kissed him, smell so good when I hug him, and also, absolutely, absolutely…… it seems he will be the best papa.

Thinking normally, isn"t it impossible for him to be unpopular…?
Now it will become known that Jun is a good person. Despite me being the first to find them, now all of his good points will be exposed…

– Mo-, Momoko. What should I do…?

– Eeh…? Well, I mean, it does seem to be nothing more than just helping a cla.s.smate… Won"t Ichijou-kun be able to fit in like this? Genuinely.

– I know… That that much is fine, I think so myself as well, but…

I think, that right now is still fine.
However, Yayoi"s plan is literally to form couples in the cla.s.s! The more Jun stands out, the more he will catch the attention of the other girls. He will become liked.
I have to do something…!

As I clasped her wrist, Momoko made a troubled expression.
But still, most likely, Momoko should have at least understood, that I have seriously fallen in love.
Because before meeting Jun, I have always been together with the usual pair of people. And suddenly, I stopped constantly hanging out with them … Yayoi has been saying all along that I have gotten myself a man.

– Err, let me sort this… Karen likes Ichijou-kun and the ones who know it are me, Yayoi and the people who saw that thing earlier?

– That was not enough! "Cause, they still think that he is free! Hey, what should I do? Can"t I, show more? …Like earlier on the boat

– Not allowed anymore, that kind of thing! Even I was put off, even though I"m a friend…

– Momoko. This, is my first love… If I and Jun become lovey-dovey, how do you think the cla.s.s would turn out to be…?

– …Eh?

– For example. Day after day, I want the two of us to be made fun of by everyone

The two of us becoming officially recognized couple in the cla.s.s.
On the school festival, we would obviously be having the roles of prince and princess. During a play before the audience, we would earnestly kiss and I would be later scolded by both Jun and teacher.
During the sports festival, I would cheer only for him. I would shout only "Jun", so he would be sitting in the batter"s box with red face.
We would plan the Christmas party together and invite the whole cla.s.s. Then, we would be told jokes of how that is a small wedding.

I and Jun, we can certainly make a cheerful cla.s.s, you know?
Perhaps, some other girl could be a good girlfriend for Jun, but it still is not good if it is not me. The reason why it"s not good if it is not me, it certainly exists.

When I finished speaking, Momoko was glancing at me, embarra.s.sed at the same time.

– …… Uum. Well, I certainly want Karen to be happy, but…

– Right, right? Isn"t Momoko smart? Isn"t there… something that can be done?

– … There is, but, um…… It"s embarra.s.sing, geez… That I can come up with something like this of all things…

– … What is it? Is it a situation that Momoko yearns for, or something?

– It, it"s not like that! Uuh, here… lend me your ear for a bit

– Yeah…

Turns out, Momoko can come up with some unexpectedly daring ideas…

Across the blue sky, fluffy clouds are gathering.
Pitiful bookworm in his swim shorts was simply setting up several rods over the sea on top of the concrete pier. Today I learned that angling with the rod is boring. As long as you finish the preparations, there"s nothing after that, apart from waiting.

"Ahem… Umm, Ichijou-kun. Cooking preparations, we will be doing what we can, here"

While I was setting up the tents for other teams, Tenjuin-san demoted me.
Well, how should I put it, this type of work itself is very reminding of me, it"s just as a plain. Of course, as I have enough understanding of fishing for an amateur standard, I couldn"t refuse.

And I guess that if it wasn"t Tachibana Karen sitting next to me, I could"ve calmed down more.

– ……… Humph

Tachibana huffed very unnaturally. What is this situation?
This is too sly, considering her emphasis on bad mood. No, in the first place, if she was displeased because of me, why would she specially come after me to this place?

What does it mean? Should I involve myself with this?

– Erm, Tachibana… Have I done something weird…?

– Not at all… I just thought how you"re getting popular. That you"re no longer a loner

– … Just earlier. Have you been watching from afar?

– Yeah…

And yet Tachibana… doesn"t seem to be angry.
Still, Tachibana sadly narrowed her eyes. As she came closer and naturally got into a sitting position, we were at a distance where our shoulders touched. And by some tacit understanding we joined hands.

It was a quiet place.
Of course it is the same beach, but we have walked fairly long to this pier.
That is to say, well, the two of us are alone together just as usual. Just a regular situation…

– I, am strange, right…? I am a bit worried even now…

She said so with a face meant to badger.
What, are you an idiot…? I just helped the guys from cla.s.s a little. What are you worried for?

Feeling like laughing a bit, I combed the long blonde hair with my hand.
As I did so, the silence between us deepened.
At such a distance, as if our hearts are just about to touch. But I still want to enjoy it when they are about to touch but still haven"t. At any rate, she is really an idiot. Is it even possible for two lovey-dovey hug friends to exist?

– Fufu, what are you getting worried for? I"ve just helped them a bit, n.o.body thinks anything of it. The only weirdo who keeps clinging to me is Tachibana, before now and after.

– Wh, whaaat…

– The one who named herself a lovey-dovey hug friend yesterday night. She was angrily sulking just earlier. Really, why is she now not angry?

I can"t believe it myself.
Even though my eyes are locked with Tachibana"s at a very close distance, I am this calm right now.

… Now that I think of it, when I was putting up tents within the mess of cla.s.smates.
… I thought how I wanted to slip out of the crowd of people and be alone together with her.

How is it right now?
I simply chatted a bit with my other cla.s.smates and she is pouting as if jealous. Just what kind of punch does she have to make in regards to the virgin"s heart to be satisfied?

Yesterday, I have admitted that the itchiness in my chest is happiness.
We might already have the winner at this point.

– Jun… Hair, it"s ticklish…

– So-, sorry. I"ll restrain myself…

– No, don"t stop… If you don"t caress it a lot, I won"t be able to have a peace of mind…

The first feeling that rises up when our eyes meet is kindness.
Well, there is still some shyness present. Nowadays, I think that I am accepted. That is why, even in front of such a great girl, I can puff out my chest.

The longer I gently caress her hair, the shorter the distance between us becomes.
When I noticed, the girl with a hoodie on top of swimsuit, was in my arms.
Even though it is so bright and hot, even though the inside of my chest is thoroughly warmed by kindness, I can still feel a person"s dear warmth.

Gulp… I swallowed my saliva.

– Jun… Hey, I, am I still your number one?

– Hmm… Of course

– Not good. I have to be in the first place with a large margin from the second. Hey, what I want to say, do you understand…?

I understand. I almost understand.
In the world where it almost became just the two of us together, I…