4 - Counterattack!

“Say, Miori,” I tried to bring up a question as subtly as I could on our way to the convenience store.

“Shoot.”

I couldn’t look her in the eyes, hence why I averted mine to the bottom of my hat, as I lied, “There’s this friend of mine who asked me for advice, but I didn’t really know what she should do. That’s why I’m passing it on to you.”

She passionately nodded, “Bring it on!”

“She was talking to a boy—whose name she doesn’t know—and then he suddenly, super casually, called her by her first name!”

“Oh~ And how did that make your friend feel?”

I tapped my finger against my chin to sell the idea that I was thinking, “She was taken aback, but that’s not all that happened. He then pressed his finger against her lips and leaned in, super close!”

She chuckled, “At first I thought you were talking about yourself, but it really is something that happened to a friend, huh.”

I suppose I wouldn’t really believe that happening to me either.

“Don’t question my integrity, please. Let’s focus on helping my friend. What should she do or say next time she sees him?”

“He’s definitely a player. She should try to find out his first name and then—BOOM!”

I jolted, “Boom?!”

“Counterattack!” she exclaimed paired with a perfectly timed punch splitting the automatic doors open. “She should show him that two can play his game.”

“Yeah, you’re right. I’ll be sure to tell her that.”

We went about our business as usual in hopes of getting our favourite stickers. This time I felt a tinge of certainty that I’d be getting a hit. Not any hit, the one I had been hoping for all along.
Once outside, I hurried to get a look at the sticker—

“—Lucie!!”

“What——?! How are you so lucky,” she opened hers, “Celiza!! No way we opened two of my top four characters on the same day!”

The happy look on her face turned me into a grandma who hands out sweets to her grandchildren at any given moment.

“Here, for the advice,” I handed her the Lucie sticker.

* * *

At the end of our first lesson, I had already drowned from the inside out. How could I possibly learn his first name? When did he learn mine? Will he even show up at the library again? And why did he lean in as if he wanted to kiss me?

“Does he treat all girls like that?”

“Ishiwata-san?”

A softspoken voice from my right wandered into my ears, painfully letting me know I once again let words slip out of my mouth.

Suzumi-chan turned my way, “Is something wrong?”

I shook my head. “I was lost in thought, I didn’t mean to say anything weird out loud… heehee…”

She signalled me to come closer before whispering, “Are you having boy trouble, too?”

Eye to eye, I lost the will to deny her assumption. Not only did she spill that she was having trouble as well, her face covered in curiosity laid my irresistible desire to indulge in gossip bare.

I faintly nodded my head, “You as well?”

Her face, flushed at my remark, was poorly hidden behind her hand as she returned a nod. She held her index finger in front of her lips as she said, “Let’s keep it a secret.”

* * *

“I need to use the restroom, I will be right back,” Suzumi-chan announced right as the break started.

“Oh, uh, sure.”

I felt myself sinking deep into thought again while she was away, but brought back to reality when nearly the entire classroom got filled with whispers.

“You’re Ishiwata-san, right?”

When I lifted my head, I was met with a boy I had never seen before—right as the library boy came into my view from behind his shoulder.

“Uh… Yeah…”

This is so sudden.

“Great! I’m Yuma, oh, and this is Komiya-san.”

Komiya… but I still need a first name for my counterattack.

Whilst Yuma was speaking, Komiya pointed towards his chest, followed by a talking motion with his hand and finished with his arms crossed over each other.

Yuma suddenly rotated ever so slightly, “Komiya-san?”

He blatantly placed his hands on opposite shoulders and rubbed them as he shivered, “Little cold in here.”

When Yuma averted his gaze again, he continued by making a hands opening and closing gesture, followed by his hands forming a roof, repeating those in a manner both miraculous and ridiculous in even measure—which I reckon means book and house… the library.

Library… me… you… talking… talking again with his other hand… now both hands are talking to each other. His hands turned his way, shocking himself before they started chatting amongst themselves again. Now he’s holding a thumbs up and a thumbs down.

“Ishiwata-san?”

Yuma had been talking all this time, but I hadn’t heard a word.

“Sorry, what was that last part?”

He scratched the back of his head, “Well, we were just wondering if it’s okay with you.”

“Ah, uh… Sure.”

What did I just agree to?

“Awesome! You’re a life-saver.” He slapped Komiya on the shoulder, “Let’s bounce,” before he said one final thing, “Tell Suzumi-chan I said hi.”

Is he the boy she’s having troubles with? But isn’t he…

I looked Watanabe’s way and instantly noticed her pained gaze. Distracted by her, a whisper infiltrated my personal space, “Let’s chat tomorrow in the library.”

Reflexively, I reached for my ear. “Huh?”

Without looking back, he walked out of the classroom. Only seconds later, Suzumi-chan returned from the bathroom. Her eyes looked alert and her face slightly red.

When she sat down, I told her, “Yuma told me to say hi.”

She used both of her hands to fan her face. “Yuma…? Yuma… Where have I heard that name before?”

So he’s not the one she’s having troubles with, huh…

This time I inched closer, “He’s the one Watanabe has got an eye on.”

A silent hint of sadness fell on her face, “I see.”

In an attempt to change the subject, I went below the belt with a question unfair to ask, regarding Komiya’s feelings, but this might be the only way for me to find out.

“By the way, you know Komiya, right?”

Her face flipped back to an alert one. “Komiya Tomomi? From class D?”

That went… a little too well. “Yes—” I couldn’t tell her he was the boy trouble. “—he was here as well. But I was a little distracted and didn’t really listen to what they asked me to do, tee-hee.” I must stop doing that awkward giggle.

“Are you perhaps really smart, Ishiwata-san?”

I shook my head, “Not in particular, but I do study a lot.”

“Ah-ha! Then it must be you who will be giving the speech at the first year’s assembly.”

My jaw dropped.

* * *

After I complained about the speech-thing to Miori, I had yet another thing to complain about as we neared the convenience store, “I can’t believe the collaboration ends tomorrow,” I sighed, “If I don’t get my Kron today, I’ll buy every last snack they have tomorrow!”

“That’s the spirit,” Miori smiled as she gave me a pat on the back.

With our routine completed, I looked at the Lucie sticker I pulled with a bittersweet smile. Now I have one of my own, I thought, but still no Kron—the one I really wanted to stick on my phone cover.

“Got a Lucie,” I told her.

A confident grin spread across her face, “Showtime, luck’s not over!” She ripped the package open, “—What, no way! I got Kron!!”

If I could describe the tonal shift of my expression, it’d be the first sunray breaking through a dreary day or a rainbow forgiving a downpour.

“I can’t believe it!” I squealed.

I took my phone out of my pocket, a fingertip gliding over the empty cover, soon to be decorated with the best character ever.

A false start to summer, June’s rain showers. The overcast weather returned when I saw her smile glued to the sticker instead of one shared with me. She was keeping it. Well, it was hers anyway, but…

“I can’t believe it either! That makes four now! I wonder what I’ll put him on.”
Half of those were gifts from me. Just a couple of days ago she called him a strange choice. I failed to feign a smile.

I lowered my hat, “Looks like I have a missed call from my sister, see you tomorrow.”

“Uh-huh, see you tomorrow!”

What’s this feeling?