Chapter 8: Commuting to School
Friday.
I managed to wake up earlier than usual to go to school. I think it's thanks to the fantastic weather today—I can’t see a single cloud in the sky. It's pretty refreshing, and it helps me wake up and feel a bit more optimistic about having to face the constant drag that is high school.
There's a group of guys ahead of me also heading toward the school. They're all happily joking with each other as they walk. They're being pretty boisterous and loud, shouting and goofing around without caring about anyone around them. That doesn't really bother me, but I am jealous of how happy they seem to be.
I pass by them, and the moment they catch sight of me, they all go completely silent. Well, they're not looking so happy anymore.
“Oh, fuck off, guys! I mean it! W-Wait…”
“Huh? Why'd you go silent all of a...?”
“Uh, guys? What're you…? Tomoki?!”
Every time this happens, I feel bad that everyone in school somehow seemed to have a secret meeting where they all agreed to shut up around me. This feels like borderline bullying.
Anyway, I pretend to remain aloof and keep walking as if nothing happened.
“Phew, I thought he’d kill us for a sec there.”
“Dude, maybe what they say about him being a murderer is legit after all.”
“Yeah. With that kinda face, I can’t really picture him being a respectable person.”
I dredge out a sigh. I'm already tired, and the day's barely started. At this rate, I can tell I'll be exhausted by the time the weekend hits.
Just ahead, I happen to spot yet another group. This time, it’s a bunch of girls chatting with each other. They seem to be in high spirits, judging by their high voices and annoyingly loud laughter. At least it makes their conversation easy to listen in on.
“Actually, I heard the other guys in class mention it yesterday… But, Touka, are you seriously going out with him? Him, of all people?”
“Oh, yeah. I think he's called Tomoki or something? The guy with the scary face. He totally seems like a creep.”
“Yeah, that guy. I can’t believe that someone like him is allowed to, like, even breathe the same air as you, Touka. I mean, you’re our idol, you know?”
“He definitely looks like one of those mafia bosses you see in the movies.”
“Like a mafia boss?! Oh my god, totally!”
Looks like I’m the main topic of their conversation.
There are two girls in the front who're talking, and there’s a third one following behind. Actually, the third one is Touka, so I guess the other two laughing ahead are her friends? They’re definitely first years, so I think my guess is right.
Touka answers their question with a stiff, robotic voice.
“Oh god. Well, Yuuji-senpai does look like some kind of scary mafia boss, and he does feel dangerous, in a way.”
Well, I’m sorry for being sooo dangerous. Didn’t she make me buy her food yesterday? Talk about the pot calling the kettle black.
“...But, he's actually the nicest guy! He actually loves me and cares for me lots. Add all that up, and it makes him super cute in his own way, don’t you think?”
…Okay, now I’m confused. Who's she talking about?
I don’t really feel anything special for her, I don’t really give a damn about what she does, and I don’t think I’m a nice guy at all. Plus, I don’t look like a mafia boss. So this “Yuuji-senpai” that they’re talking about sure as hell can’t be me.
“Damn, Touka. I'd still avoid him like the plague anyways.”
“Yeah, he’s just too scary looking. I’d definitely scream if he got too close to me.”
“You’d scream? Wow. I’d rather have someone like your brother, Touka.”
Looks like they’ve moved on from me to Ike now. Looks like he’s popular even amongst the first years. I get it—he’s handsome, and a nice guy to boot. I get why they think he’s attractive.
“I feel you! Haruma-senpai is just so hot! I totally don't get your taste in guys, Touka. So weird. I mean, with someone like your brother around, I thought you’d have higher standards.”
“Yeah! Hey, Touka, Haruma-senpai's single right now, right? Would you introduce him to us, please? Just think of it like helping your friends out.”
“Hey, I want in too! Pretty please, Touka! Introduce me, too.”
“I don’t even get along with my brother.”
Touka suddenly turns around, allowing me to actually see how tired she looks. Our eyes meet, and she smiles the moment she notices me.
“Oh my god, Senpaaai! You should’ve just called out to me from the start if you saw me!♡”
She greets me with a cloyingly sweet voice and runs toward me. It makes the other two girls notice me, too. They look at me, clearly nervous.
“...Sorry. I woke up earlier than usual today, so I’m still half-asleep. Didn’t even notice you were ahead of me.”
Her friends breathe a sigh of relief.
“Hey Touka, we don’t want to bother you two, so we’ll go ahead.”
“See you later.”
“Okay, later! …Looks like you didn’t hear what they were talking about,” she says in a tired voice as she looks at her friends' rapidly retreating figures. When I don't offer a response, she asks, “Hellooo? So did you listen to what they said or not?”
“Yeah, something about a guy with a super scary face that apparently loves you to bits. I think you called him Yuuji?”
“Oh my god, you totally heard everything! Are you mad?” she says jokingly.
“Not really, no. I’d be permanently angry if I got pissed by things like that.”
“You’re totally right. But I wasn’t wrong when I said that you’re a nice guy, though.”
“What do you mean?”
“You said you didn’t notice us because you were worried about the other girls, weren’t you?” she asks me with a serious expression on her face and continues, “I bet those two dumbasses didn’t get a thing I said about you, either.”
“I don’t really care if I’m misunderstood, to be honest. I’m actually shocked that you chose to tag along with me instead of going with your friends.”
She raises her eyebrows, surprised at my response.
“Well, they’re not my friends in the first place. I just happened to come across them on my way to school, so we're not friends or anything like that.”
“Oh, I thought that might be the case. You didn’t seem like you were enjoying their company.”
“Yeah, they’re pretty annoying in general,” she explains in a tired voice.
I can really only shut up and agree with her. I should just let her keep talking, just in case I say something distasteful.
“Actually, Senpai, I wanted to ask you something. You have any plans tomorrow?”
I get why she doesn’t want to keep talking about that. I didn’t want to keep talking about them, either, so I’ll just respond to her question.
“Uh, not really. I was thinking of asking Haruma to hang out somewhere.”
Touka puffs her cheeks angrily at my reply. Clearly, someone's not very happy about my weekend plans.
“Huh?! Why d'you wanna make plans with my shithead brother instead of me, your girlfriend!? Y'know, your significant other?! I can’t believe this!”
“Yeah, right. We’re faker than a three-dollar bill. What? I'm guessing you want me to make plans with you tomorrow instead, right?”
Her expression sours, and she starts shouting so that everyone on the damn block can hear her.
“Oh my god, Senpai! So we’re gonna go on our first date tomorrow, right?! I can’t wait!”
…Back to making stuff up out of thin air, I see.
I don’t even know what she means by first date. I didn’t say that at all.
I should probably ask her what she's on about, and—
“Wait, so Ike's actually going out with Tomoki for real?” one of the students looking at us wonders aloud.
“And here I was serious about asking her out…,” another student says dejectedly.
“Why do the nice guys always finish last? Girls always go for the assholes. We live in a society, bro.”
Everyone starts giving us a piece of their mind after her proclamation about our “first date.”
This girl, I swear... How far is she willing to go with this?! Can she please put herself in my shoes for once?
I glare at her, and she responds with a sneer, “You better be sure to make a good boyfriend tomorrow, Senpai.”
I sigh. I gotta calm down. Calm down, Yuuji. Calm. Well, whatever. It’s not like I had any plans tomorrow, anyway.
“Don’t get your hopes up or anything.”
She smiles at me with a devilish look in her eyes.
☆
