During the usual lunch break, I was having lunch with Uehara-san, Aizawa-san, and Chihiro, chatting pleasantly.

「Tōyama-kun, can I have lunch with you?」

It was my classmate Saori Ishiyama who spoke to me. She has long hair and a sharp face. She is a tall, beautiful girl, and I think I saw her talking with Nakamura-san before.

I was a little surprised at the suddenness of the matter, and there was a pause before I responded.

「Yes, of course I don’t mind. It’s fine with everyone else, too, right?」

I would check with everyone else, but there was no particular objection.

「Here you go, Ishiyama-san.」

「Ah, Tōyama-kun, you know my name? I’m so glad.」

We didn’t usually talk to each other, and it’s not surprising that Ishiyama-san would think so.

「Of course I remember the names of everyone in my class.」

As a member of the library committee, I am often in contact with students from other grades and classes, and I can at least remember the names of all the students in my class.

「Tōyama-kun didn’t get involved with his classmates much before, so I thought he didn’t care about the others.」

It’s embarrassing to be told that, but I’m sure I really didn’t care before. But it caused me to involve Uehara-san in my slander.

One person who stands out from the crowd is a heretic in the eyes of those around him. After all, they stand out whether they are plain or silent.

So now I’m trying to keep each person’s involvement important.

Of course, I have no intention of getting involved with people like Kurashima and Taniguchi, who clearly have bad intentions.

「Sure, I used to think that, but now I don’t and I want to get along with everyone. I guess I can think that way thanks to Uehara-san, Aizawa-san, and Chihiro here.」

「When I first started talking to you, you really avoided getting involved. You were very salty. Right? Tōyama.」

I am sorry to hear her say that. When I first started talking to Uehara-san, there was no doubt that I was avoiding her because I didn’t want to stand out.

「I’m sorry about that, now that I think about it. Sorry, Uehara-san.」

「No, I don’t really mind.」

I am glad Uehara-san said that and it helps me.

「But Yuuki has really changed. Is this thanks to Uehara-san’s devotion to him?」

Chihiro is right, I think I have changed since I became involved with Uehara-san. As was the case with Takai, even if the other party is salty, Uehara-san doesn’t give up and calls out to me. That must have helped Takai open up to us.

「Ugh, Okita-kun, you’re embarrassing me in front of Ishiyama-san.」

Uehara-san looks embarrassed by the strange praise.

「I’m kind of jealous that everyone here seems to be having so much fun.」

Ishiyama-san muttered after seeing our exchange.

「Speaking of which, why did you come to us today, Ishiyama-san?」

Chihiro asked a question that I and everyone else must have wondered about.

「Yeah, that’s right… I envied you all because you always seemed to be having fun. I wanted to be friends with Okita-kun, Uehara-san, and Aizawa-san. And Tōyama-kun, of course.」

Then she looks me up and down and looks at me.

Her eyes seemed a little uncomfortable, as if she was curious about me, as if she was trying to put a price on me.

「Speaking of which, doesn’t Takai-san eat lunch with everyone? She always seem to be alone.」

She seemed to know that Takai was getting along with us and asked curiously.

「Takai-san is all alone during lunch break because she wants to read.」

She has been talking to her since Takai’s salty attitude toward Uehara-san in the library, and she understands Takai very well these days.

「I see.」

The look Ishiyama-san sent to Takai, who was reading alone in the corner of the classroom, was not that of a mere classmate.

It bothered me that Aizawa-san had not participated in any of our conversations since Ishiyama-san’s arrival. Are Ishiyama-san and Aizawa-san not getting along?

◇ ◇ ◇

After eating lunch together, Ishiyama-san never ate with us during lunch break. Instead, she started coming to the library after school.

We would have a short conversation, read a book, and then she would leave.

Ishiyama-san talks a little with Uehara-san in the library, but never engages with Takai, and when it comes to Aizawa-san, she does not want to talk to her at all.

I feel that we are not getting along well with Ishiyama-san



「Tōyama, why don’t we all go home together today?」

After school, when I was getting ready to leave, Aizawa-san unusually invited me to go home with us.

「Huh? It’s rare for Aizawa-san to ask me out.」

「There’s something that’s been bothering me. I was wondering if we could talk someplace where I can relax.」

「I understand. Was it alright, Chihiro?」

「I’m fine with it.」

「I’ve asked Marika and Yumk to join us.」

Aizawa-san seems to want to get everyone together and tell them something. I sense something like that kind of impatience.

「Are you two done getting ready to leave? Let’s go.」

Prompted by Aizawa-san, Chihiro and I got up and headed for the classroom exit, and Uehara-san and Takai-san also got up from their seats to join us and went straight out of the classroom.

「Tōyama-kun! Where are you all going together? Can I go with you?」

As soon as we left the classroom, we ran into Ishiyama-san, who was about to enter the classroom.

「Ishiyama-san, I’m sorry, but we have something we need to discuss alone.」

Aizawa-san refused Ishiyama-san’s request with or without saying so.

Aizawa-san is usually indifferent to Ishiyama-san, but today she seemed unusually emotional.

「All right, then. Let’s all go.」

At the signal of Aizawa-san in the lead, the three beautiful girls, Chihiro and I started walking.

「I’m sorry, Ishiyama-san.」

I apologized to Ishiyama-san, who was standing alone, and followed Aizawa-san and the others.

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