Apparently the Gal who Bullies me Likes me

Chapter 12

Study Session

It is now one week before the test.

All club activities are cancelled in order for students to concentrate on studying for the upcoming test.

Of course, the art club is also closed.

After the incident with the short-haired guy, Ren and I became close friends.

I told him everything about my current situation, including the fact that I had been bullied, about Tachibana, and about Umezawa and the other five members of the gal group, including Tachibana.

Ren is now calling me by my first name which is Kazuma.

Come to think of it does Tachibana knows my first name?

Kyoko Tachibana is really a great name and it looks like it can used in an anime or something really cool.

Kurama Ren is also a cool one and it feels like when you heard his name you would think that he's a really strong fighter.

Kazuma Kato on the other hand is so ordinary.

Today, after school, Ren and I are planning to hold a study session at a family restaurant near our school.

As both of us are either sleeping or not paying attention during class, so up until now we don't have any idea about what will come out in the test.

Now I'm regretting it, I should have listened to the class properly.

And that's why we have decided to start studying for the test a week in advance.


...


During Math class, after the teacher had given the pointers for us to review, it's now time for self-study.

So I will sleep for a little while.

As yesterday I was up late studying... well not really studying but I'm painting all night yesterday.

So I can't really stand the drowsiness anymore.

"Hey, are you still awake?"

I can hear Tachibana's voice in the distance of my consciousness.

"Maybe he is already sleeping."

Tachibana speaks to me in a small voice.

While lying down on the desk, I move my face and turn to Tachibana.

"Yes?"

"Are you free after school today?"

"Um, I was wondering if you'd like to study with me somewhere?"

Tachibana is really smart, so she doesn't need to study, right?

I then raise my heavy body that was lying on the desk.

"I'm sorry, actually I'm going to study at a family restaurant today with a friend."

Suddenly Tachibana's eyes became really sharp.

Then Tachibana said in a really low voice.

"With a friend? Who is it? Is it a woman?"

"No it's not a woman, look over there."

I then pointed at Ren who is currently sleeping on his desk.

"That guy?"

Tachibana narrowed her eyes and is looking at him.

"We've became friends lately. He's really kind and also he's strong fighter."

"Hmmm"

She is still suspicious about Ren.

"If you'd like you can come with us?"

I thought that Tachibana and Ren would get along.

...


After school, the area is still bright.

The three of us are heading for a family restaurant. The restaurant is located on the other side of the station.

Tachibana and Ren are walking on both of my sides.

The three of us are walking down on a long straight road.

Tachibana and Ren exchanged a light greeting earlier, but as one would expect, they could not become friends immediately after meeting for the first time.

Then Ren asked.

"What exactly are you doing in the art club?"

"I paint and also I can do whatever I want."

"I see... Hey can I join in your club?"

"Do you really want to join?"

I'm very happy that Ren is planning on joining the art club.

As sadly I don't have any friends in the art club because I always went to the gymnasium before.

When Tachibana heard that.

"Well did you remember that I've said that I also wanted to join the art club?"

Come to think of it Tachibana did mention that once, I completely forgot about that.

"Ah sorry I forgot about that."

"Hey!"

The three of us are walking down on a one long street to a family restaurant.

We heard a beeping sound from the station, It sounds like the train is leaving.

I can also hear the sound of the cicadas.

This is really nice.

"By the way did something happened during the last P.E. class?"

Tachibana asks me worriedly.

I knew that she was watching me.

"It's nothing much."

Ren and I look at each other then we laugh.

"?"

Tachibana has a strange look on her face.

"I saw you pitching in the game, how did you know how to pitch?"

"Well, I played on the little league before."

"What? you played baseball before?"

"Hmm.. I know you for quite a while now but it's the first time I've heard about that."

Seeing Tachibana's reaction, Ren says in a teasing manner.

"What you didn't know that?"

Tachibana then glare at Ren.

"So it seems you guys aren't that close huh?"

Ren says that while grinning.

Then Tachibana stomps on Ren's foot as hard as she can.

"That hurts! Why the hell did you that for!"

"That's because you said something you shouldn't have!"

The two of them are glaring at each other with me in between them.

It feels like the three of us had been friends since the beginning.

I'm glad that the two of them are getting along with each other.

I was always alone before, but now I'm not alone anymore.

I thought of that as I look at the three shadows on the ground.


...


We arrive at the family restaurant.

Many students from Eisho high is going to this restaurant, and right now I can see a lot of students wearing Eisho High School uniform inside the restaurant.

Even the manager seems to be an alumnus of Eisho High so even if we stayed here for a long time nobody will told us to leave.

The waitress then leads us to a table and we sit down.

Ren and I are sitting next to each other while Tachibana is sitting in front of us.

When we sat down the two of them said.

"We want to have the drink bar."

"Yes, coming right up!"

They are happily bickering with each other.

But it seems that they are forgetting that we are here to study and because of that I quickly spread out my notebook on the table.

"Hey, is this going to be part of the test?"

"Yes it is."

Tachibana is just flipping through her notes it seems that she's not studying at all.

"Tachibana, are you sure you don't need to study?"

"Yeah, as I'm listening to the classes properly."

It seems that she was proud of that.

But it's really amazing that she can understand all of that just by listening.

Ren then said, "You're really smart."

"Sort of."

"Then why did you come to study with us?"

"...you're so annoying."

If she don't need to study anymore then why is it that she invites me to have a study session with her?

"Tachibana, can you teach me about this problem?"

"Ok! Let me see."

But still I'm really glad as I can asked Tachibana to teach me the things I don't understand.

She's really the best teacher for me.


...


Before I knew it, quite a lot of time had passed since we started studying.

"I'm hungry. Can we order something?"

Tachibana seemed to be hungry.

It's true because I'm also hungry.

I looked outside and I saw the headlights of a car shining.

It seems that it was already nighttime.

"Wow! This is amazing!"

The pancakes Tachibana ordered came, The pancakes are topped with a layer of whipped cream.

Tachibana then started taking pictures of the pancake, she is really a girl afterall.

After that she then took a knife and fork and cut the pancakes into bite-size pieces then puts it in her mouth.

Her face looks so happy.

"It's so good!"

We also took some.

I haven't had a pancake in a long time but this is really delicious.

Tachibana then went to the drink bar.

When she did that Ren whispered to me.

"I don't know if I should ask you this but do you like her?"

I then remember the conversation that we had in the park that night.


"I enjoy being with Kato that's why I want to spend more time with you."

"What am I to you? Am I your friend? Your bully? Or am I..."


"To be honest I don't really know."

I didn't know either as I was afraid of ruining our current relationship.

"I see"

After that Ren didn't ask anymore question.


...


The three of us left the family restaurant and got on the train.

"Thanks to Tachibana it seems that we can manage the test, right Ren?"

"That's right"

"That's really great! Let me know anytime if you want me to teach you again."

"Ah that's right let's go somewhere after the test is done."

Tachibana happy suggested that.

"Hey it's fine right?"

She looks at me waiting for my answer.

"Yeah that sounds like a good plan."

Once the tests are over, it will be summer vacation.

I won't see them for a while.

But if they join the art club then I will have more chances to see them.

"See you later"

Ren then gets off the train.

The two of us watch his back as leaves the train.

"Isn't Ren such a nice guy?"

"Yes but he's such a cheeky person."

Tachibana and I laugh together.

"Please continue to get along with him."

"I get it."


The station where I need get off is approaching.

"Thanks for letting me join in your study group today."

"It's totally fine. Thank you, too, for teaching me how to study."

"Yeah just tell me anytime if you need someone to study with again."

I get off the train while Tachibana is seeing me off.

Tachibana is waving her hand down in the moving train. I give her a small wave back.

I suddenly felt lonely when I was alone.

I went down the stairs from the platform.

There were many posters in front of the ticket gate.

It's for a famous festival in our hometown.

In that festival food stalls are lined up in the street, and a lot of people also come from far away places.

I didn't realize that it's that time of the year already.

I wish I could go to the festival with Tachibana.

Maybe I should invite her next time.