CHAPTER-07: HUH!?

.......

Hm? It's Yamagi-kun.」said Yuri

「Good morning!」said Hayami

*ba-thump* *ba-thump*「Heya.」

(ba-thump? What the heck?) said Kuro

「?」

...........

「Ah.」Ino

「We're all here!」said Nanami

「AH.」hayami and Kuro

「Good morning.」said Hayami

.......

「Sorry about the other day.」said Hayami

「You keep saying that. I don't mind at all, so don't worry about it, Kiyoko-chan.」said Ino

「I think it's normal to be a little bothered when you see other people kissing.」said Yuri

「Yeah-.」Hayami

(I need to be careful, too.) {Yuri}

「Uh, why don't we change the topic? Kiyoko-chan, have you gotten used to our school yet?」said Ino

「Huh? Hmm? Yeah, I guess so. I feel like I've gotten used to it, for the most part.」said Hayami * peek *

「...... What is it, Kiyoko?」said Kuro

「No, it's nothing.」said Hayami

(Something is unusual?) {Kuro}

* ding dong *

「Everyone, good morning! Time for the attendance!」said Sensei

「Good morning, Sensei~」

........

(Since that day, It feels as if Kiyoko's attitude has changed.

When I called her by her name, I thought she'd get mad, but she didn't.

And before I realized it, we are now on good terms.)

「Yamagi-kun, show me your notes for 1st period.」Hayami

「Huh? Why?」

「I want to check if the material you covered is different from the ones in my last school.」

「No, that's not what I mean.」

「Ask someone else, not me. I bet Nanami-san takes better notes than I do.」

「That might be true, but-.」

* peek* 「......... I don't want to.」*embarrassed*

*ba-thump ba-thump* 「Well, it's not like that, but my handwriting's pretty bad.」

「Thanks!」 said Hayami * kawaii *

*ba-thump ba-thump ba-thump ba-thump ba-thump *

(Seriously, what with you, my beating heart?)

「Your handwriting's bad. You should write a bit more legibly.」

*annoyed*「Dammit. I knew I shouldn't have shown it to you.」

「Oh, yeah. It's okay for me to call you "Kuro"! right?」

「Huh?」

「 You're the only one who gets to call me without honorifics. Isn't that unfair?」

「Well, I don't mind.」

「Okay, I will do that, Kuro」* chuckle *

(It's like, whenever she's by my side, something inside me tickles, and I can't calm down.)

* * * *

「Hello.」said Hayami

「Kiyoko-chan! Welcome!」said Kiichi

........

「Sorry, Kuro's not here today.」 said Kiichi

「It's alright. It's not like I'm here to see Kuro.」said Hayami

「Look like you're getting along well with him.」 said Kiichi

「Hm, I suppose so. Honestly, it doesn't work first. But I guess I've gotten used to him.」 said Hayami

「That's true~」said Kiichi

「........ You've heard that aside from Kuro and me, everyone in our class is dating, right?」said Hayami

「Yeah.」said Kiichi

「That's why, there are times when I feel like I don't belong inside the classroom, but- 

(By Kuro by my side-)

It's okay for me to be there. I've realized that now.

Right now, it's genuinely a pleasant place.」said Hayami

「That's great. I'm so jealous of Kuro~ It's nice to be young~ 'There was a time when Emi-chan and I used to be like that~ .」said Kiichi

「Huh? By the way, What about the store, Kiichi-san? Is it okay for you to be here with me?」

「No problem~. Let's just count this as my break time~」

* * * *

* ding dong *

「Yamagi-kun. We're on cleaning duty today.」said Yuri

「Huh? For real? My turn always comes by fast.」said Kuro

*stare*「........」

「Does it bother you, Kiyoko-san?」said Souta

「Hm. A little. -Alright! I will go.」said Hayami

「Hm? Okay.」said Souta

.........

「You're going to help with cleaning? Why?」said Kuro

「I wouldn't know what to do when my turn comes.」said Hayami

「You're right. You should see how it's done. There are times when you need to go to the pre-room before classes. Let's go together later.」said Yuri

*ba-thump ba-thump*(I knew it. Something's strange since that day. 

I feel like Kiyoko's attitude has changed. Or rather, isn't she obviously-.

Trying to make it so that we're always together? But, why? I don't get it at all.)

...........

「Huh? Wha- Are you seriously saying that?」said Souta * seriously *

*sigh*「I can't believe you. Because you can't understand that, you'll never be able to graduate from being a loner.」said Ino

「Huh?」Kuro

「I thought Kiyoko-san was being pretty obvious, though.」 said Souta

「Yeah」Ino

「Huh! Huh?」(What does that mean?) Kuro * confused *

..........

「Kuro? What's wrong?」 said Hayami

*ba-thump ba-thump ba-thump *「No, nothing.」said Kuro

(Not really, but-. What is it? She wasn't like this before.)

「?」

(Does that mean everyone else knows the reason why she's changed?

I do have an idea, but-)(No, no way. *Blush* Huh? For real? Is that it? but-)

「Hey, Kuro, help us out here.」said Hayami

「Huh? Ah, yeah. Sure.」 Said Kuro

*glance*「...... Hey, Kiyoko.」

「What is it?」

「-Well, Aren't you in love with me?」*straight forward*

"' HUH!? "'

(Is he dumb?){Yuri}

*sigh*(He is dumb.){souta}

(Too straight forward){Nanami}

(Idiot){Ino}

「........... * BlushX100 * ... A-ABSOLUTELY NO WAY!!」said Hayami

「Wha- Huh!?」

(EEEEEEEEEEEEEEH!?)

************