Chapter 18 - Overtime ①

However, it wasn"t the end of that day.
At the time of departure, I have said something that I shouldn"t have, so we ended up commencing an overtime.

There is a closing time for the library, so we had to get out before we pa.s.s it.
Yet when I tried to stand up from my seat, my sleeve got pulled from behind.

Hahaha…
Feeling a bit weird, I ended up having a wry smile on my face.

Somehow, this is turning into a standard signal between us.
When Tachibana has some final words to say, she always does this.

That is why when I turned around and asked "What?" with my face only, … unusually, she turned her face away as if she was shy. After glancing at me and turning away several times,

– Um, you know… I"m really happy. I just wanted to say this.

– Happy? What is it all of a sudden?

– I"m happy that you have made a friend again! Why don"t you understand…

Angry, Tachibana pursed her lips.
Haven"t we talked about it just earlier, what are you bringing it up for once more?

However, there was one question.
…… Again? What does she mean again…?

She said it as if I originally had a friend. Well, it is an extremely delicate matter if I can call Komatsu-kun and Ogino friends after what happened today. That is why without giving it a proper thought… I messed up and let the honest doubt leave my mouth.

– Again… what does it mean…?

Several seconds slowly pa.s.sed.
That flat-toned one line right now, has it somehow made her angry?
For some reason, Tachibana sternly squinted her eyes.

– Hmm…

– Wh-, what…?

– I. Am your. Friend

– Eh, ah… so that"s what it was. This is the first time I hear it….

– Virgin idiooot….

Virgin… She often said it to me when we first met, but now it is a bit different.
Lately, Tachibana has been calling me using only you or bookworm, and using that word only when she playfully teased me or was angry. Was she holding back? Not that I really care.

That is to say, right now she is angry, and not a little bit.

No, really, I"m not looking down on her or anything.
It"s just that… what is a friend? Just where does a friendship start and where does it end?

If I remember correctly, we never made such a declaration. There wasn"t an instance where we went to have fun. The previous stuff had a job to do as a pretext, so it doesn"t count in my book. In the first place, there hasn"t even pa.s.sed a month since we started decently talking to each other.

Rather, was it okay for someone like me to claim to be Tachibana"s friend?
To be perfectly honest, I cannot help but feel somewhat annoyed.
But it seems that this time the blonde girl decided to not show this pessimist any of her usual restraints and grasped my sleeve even tighter.

– Just now… I was really hurt.

– Haa!? It"s not like I hate you or something, alright? No, what I mean is that someone like me…

– I. Was hurt…

– It was my fault, alright? We are just normal friends, so for now, please let me go.

– Not a chance! Really, that right now is unacceptable…

Tachibana turned away in a bad mood, and yet she didn"t release me.
Having said that, she isn"t speaking at all, so there was only tick-tock sound coming from the clock. In an empty library, the two of us were standing still.

Still, what do you want me to do?
I"m running out of patience here… Dropping my shoulders,

– Haa… So, what should I do? For you to forgive me?

I was amazed myself. I just tried to please someone other than my little sister.

Tachibana was still keeping silent, but turned to me with a displeased look in her eyes.
Pouting one of her cheeks, she murmured,

– … Apology date.

– Don"t say something resembling "Hand over an apology Magic Stone"! Do you mean to say that I am s.h.i.tty administration constantly on maintenance!?1

– s.h.i.tty virgin full of sad parts…

– Haa… Alright. So, is it okay this week?

Satisfied at last, Tachibana released my sleeve.

– Not okay. Let"s go right now…?

– Yeah, yeah…

– Alright, then… I forgive you!

And that"s how today… All of a sudden an overtime started.

Outside, the rain was completely over.
Having appeared from the gap between thick clouds for just a moment, an orange ray of light disappeared again.

In such an evening, the two of us were walking the path to the station.
It may be close to the station, but it is by no means a lively street. Rather, atmosphere around us gives a desolate and gloomy feeling. On the road from the school to the station decaying apartment buildings and condominiums were standing in row with occasional convenience stores between them.

Still, Tachibana"s expression is so bright, as if her previous anger was just an act. She"s even humming a song. It seems she has returned to her usual happy mode. A mystery of how her face is even brighter than during the school trip if you like.

… No, it was really a mystery.
Usually, your mood is not that good.

– Ehehe… I, am having a school uniform date with virgin♪

– Stop that, do not expressly put that into words…

– Oh, don"t feel shy! Come. Here, here.

Blonde girl who skillfully jumped over the puddle. What are you, a grade school student?

– Oi, wait. I say, you"re being too enthusiastic.

It felt really weird.
I was always going home alone after school, so going together with someone at this period of time is a fresh experience for me.

Additionally, it is with Tachibana Karen.
If we go by aunt Arika"s words, I am an object suffering from "Illness of Love: Stage 1". Having this girl walking so happily with me, of course I will feel restless…

Feeling reluctant to smile looking at her, I turned my gaze away from her.
Getting to Stage 2, the subject"s eyes will unconsciously follow the one he loves . How terrifying. However, my seat in the cla.s.sroom is on the front row close to the corridor, while hers is at the back on the window-side. There are still no worries about that.

But right now, I am in a position where I can see her from behind…

At least, I can say this. I am conscious of that girl to some extent.
The fact that I am trying to not look at her, is probably an unshakable proof.

Walking unsteadily like that, poke.
Tachibana"s index finger suddenly poked my right cheek.

Blonde girl"s smiling face is close to me. But a little different from her usual grinning face, there was a gentle smile.
Still… Is she even a little bit considerate?

– A, aa… Sorry, sorry. Rather, put your finger away already.

Just as I said it, her smile returned to the usual one, when she makes fun of me.

– Uh-uh. Hey, guriguriguri~

– ~! You!

– Kyahahaha. Here, chase after me!

Saying that, Tachibana ran off. Seriously, I guess you"re a grade school student.

… Yeah. It"s not like my heart is beating or anything.
Aunt… After all, yours was a wrong diagnosis. Absolutely.