CHAPTER-13: CONFESSION

......

But you know- If you don't feel anything for me, then don't be nice to me. 

An insincere feeling hurts a lot. See you. Bye.」said Hayami *happily* 

(I thought she was gonna cry-)

* * * * *

「Morning.」 Kuro

「Yo」

*Ba-thump*

「Ah, good morning.」said Hayami

*phew*「-Heya. -About yesterday-」

*walked away*

「........」

........ Yamagi shop ..........

「Huh? Kiyoko doesn't come?」said Kuro

「She asked me to change her shift.」said Emi

「-I see」said Kuro

...............

(It's been a few days since that-. 

And I haven't had a decent talk with Kiyoko yet. But-,

My life was like this before the summer vacation anyway. 

In middle school, I didn't talk to the girl who sat beside me more than necessary. In that case, these past few weeks have been abnormal.

Is that a good thing? It should have been a good thing-)

...........

「It's like preparing for the school festival is more fun than the event itself~ And we don't have class today and tomorrow, too」

「But-」*worried*

*gloomy atmosphere*

「.......... Kuro, can you go and buy some stuff?」said Ino

「Shouldn't you decide those things fairly? Like by lottery or something.」said Kuro

*wispher*「Can't you tell? When you are in the classroom, the atmosphere becomes gloomy.」said Ino

「...... My bad.」said Kuro *realization*

「Kiyoko-san. Please go with him.」said Ino

.................

「Will those two be alright?」said Souta

「At this point, nothing will happen if we don't give those two a push.」said Ino

*Awkward*

(This silence-, What did we use to talk about before?) {Kuro}

(What do I do? I know Ino-kun was giving us a chance, but-) {Hayami}

..........

「-Well, we did the shopping, let's go back to school.」said Kuro

「-Okay.」 said Hayami

... ring ...

「Hello. Yeah, we did with shopping. We'll be back in about 30 minutes.」said Kuro

「Got it. Any progress with Kiyoko-chan?」said Ino

「-None.」said Kuro

* The train is about to leave the platform *

*glance*「Wait! Kiyoko!」said Kuro

「Huh?」

「Not this one.」

「? Not what?」

「Just follow me.」

* Please stand away from the door *

「GAH!」

「Kuro? What happened? I think I heard something.」said Ino

「Ino, sorry. STUPID Kiyoko got on the wrong train. So it'll take a bit longer for us to get back.」said Kuro

「- Sure. Take your time.」said Ino

... hang up ...

「Who are you calling stupid!? I don't notice! what can I do? You know I'm not familiar with the trains here.」

「Then act like it and check the train before getting on! This is an express train! How are we supposed to get off!?」

「AH!」「HA!」

*silently sat*

「「...........」」

「 It's been a while since we last talked like this.」said Hayami

 「-I guess so. -I'm sorry about what happened last time. That was just-」said Kuro

「It's alright. I know that you suck at picking words, Kuro.

Besides, I think you might be right. If the transfer student who's only known you for a few weeks suddenly said she's in love with you, it'd be hard to believe.」said Hayami

「-Hey, What do you like about me?」said kuro *straight forward* 

*blush*「- Why are you making me say something like that?」said Hayami

「Well, there is no way I'd fall in love with someone like me. That's why I don't get it.」said Kuro

("Why do Kiyoko choose me?" Huh?) {Hayami}

「You don't know your good points, Kuro. Well, you got a foul mouth, you're stubborn, and a pain to deal with.」said Hayami

「You're picking a fight with me?」said Kuro

「You know? You're genuinely a nice guy, Kuro.」said Hayami

「-You just told me not to be nice to you.」said Kuro

「Well, yeah. After all, I wouldn't want to fall in love with you any more than I already have.」said hayami

「..........」*confused*

「And besides - You don't say anything like-. 

"They won't last long anyway." "They'd break up soon enough." Even when everyone around you suddenly formed a relationship, you don't say anything like that.

You don't try to ruin other people's happiness, and I like that part of you.」said Hayami

「You're just overidealizing me. I might have been cursing them in my mind, you know?」said Kuro

「Really now?」said Hayami

* Please be careful of the door closing *

「The train's about to leave!」「Hurry, hurry!」Passengers

*hustle* *hustle*

「Ah!」hayami

「Safe!」「Barely made it!」Passengers

* Please refrain from boarding the train at the last minute. *

「Didja hear?」「For real? Hahaha」Passengers

「........」*wall bang*

「Hey, your bag is smothering his girlfriend over there. Her boyfriend will get mad.」「Ah! I'm so sorry!」Passengers

「..........」*both embarrassed*

「-I thought I told you not to be nice to me.」said Hayami *blushing*

「-Don't you have anything else to say?」said Kuro

「Yeah. Thank you.」said Hayami*cheerful*

「.......」*leans forward*

「Kuro?」*confused*

「-You know-」「-I'm in love with you.」

* * * * * *