In the morning, we always meet up in front of the convenience store near the station.
Since my house is further from the station than Sumire’s, I leave home earlier than her. Usually, I get there first and wait for her.
Sumire’s house is on about the middle floor of that tall apartment building. From the window of that room, you can see this convenience store. You can probably even see me standing there.
Though she probably wouldn’t notice me taking out my phone and putting it away over and over because I’m nervous.
Actually, Sumire probably doesn’t care about things like that anyway.
“Morning~~…”
After a while, Sumire came over, waving her hand lazily.
Her eyes were about half closed, and she looked sleepy.
“Can I buy some snacks?”
“No.”
If we dawdle, we’ll be late.
Sumire almost always arrives right on time or a little late. Today she was a bit late.
“Mmm…”
Sumire let out a mysterious groan and pouted her lips.
When I ignored her and started walking, she followed along in silence.
Urging the slow-walking Sumire on, we headed to the station.
We got on the train as usual, and headed to the station closest to the school as usual.
Sumire is bad with crowds, so she keeps a stern face the whole time she is at the station.
In the morning, we don’t talk much until we get off the train.
Even after we started just walking the path to the school, Sumire was quiet.
Normally, by around this point, she would start to liven up and talk to me about something… or so I thought.
“Phew~~ sleepy…”
Instead, Sumire kept yawning over and over since a moment ago.
Is she in a bad mood, or is she really just sleepy?
Is it because I told her no to snacks earlier? But she was late, so it can’t be that.
Or maybe… because I refused to take a bath together last night?
Still, the time was getting late. And I didn’t know when my younger sister, Shiori, might come back.
I mean, talking about that… well, “doing it” or whatever at a moment like that. You just can’t bring that up out of nowhere. Does she even really know what she’s saying?
Besides, I’m sleepy too. Last night I was thinking about all sorts of things and couldn’t fall asleep easily.
After getting home, Sumire didn’t do anything special. And I didn’t do anything either.
Normally, don’t couples talk on the phone at night?
Even if not that, shouldn’t they at least send a message before going to sleep like “good night”?
Or maybe, even if we started dating, this is actually just how it is.
I had a weird expectation… no, it’s not really an expectation, but I thought she might pull something, so I was just let down when nothing happened.
I secretly peeked at Sumire’s face as she walked beside me.
Sumire was walking in silence with her smartphone in one hand. I don’t know what she was looking at, but she didn’t even glance at me.
What is this sudden, burnout-phase vibe? Is she really in a bad mood after all?
Should I do something about this?
Like hold her hand, just like yesterday? But I’m not really that kind of person.
There are lots of other students wearing the same uniform walking around. It would be a hassle if people looked at us with suspicion.
We reached the school with that indescribable atmosphere still hanging between us.
We changed into our indoor shoes at the shoe lockers. As I crouched down to open my locker out of habit, I suddenly braced myself.
Yesterday, I was secretly kissed right here.
The first-year lockers are at the end of the row, with a wall on one side. If you crouch down, you are in a blind spot from almost every angle.
If she’s going to target me, it has to be here.
I took out my indoor shoes and waited a little while staying crouched down.
I heard the sound of a locker opening up above. With a thud, Sumire’s indoor shoes dropped onto the floor in front of me.
Sumire casually started changing her shoes. I stood up.
“Hm? What is it?”
When our eyes met, Sumire tilted her head in confusion.
I looked away without saying a word, shoved my feet into my indoor shoes, and started walking down the hallway.
…What is her deal?
Instead of getting closer now that we’re dating, aren’t we drifting further apart?
Could this be one of those things where you don’t feed a fish after you’ve caught it?
Wait, did I get caught?
Even if we said we’re dating, it’s strictly a secret.
We should avoid words and actions that make people outside suspicious. Kissing in a place like this is out of the question.
You know I’m acting cold on purpose since a moment ago, right?
…That wasn’t the kind of face she was making just now.
It was an absolute fool’s face, the kind you make when you forget all your summer vacation homework.
What was all that fuss about yesterday, then?
Is she going to start saying she changed her mind after all?
Leaving Sumire behind, I walked fast toward the classroom.
If that’s how she wants to play it, I’ll go back to normal too. I must have lost my mind yesterday anyway. I was acting weird myself.
As I tried to turn the corner leading to the stairs, an arm grabbed me from behind.
The grip was so strong I thought my arm would tear off. Sumire pulled my arm right into the nearby girls’ restroom.
“Hey, what are you doing!”
When I tried to shake her hand off, she let go easily.
There was no sign of anyone inside the restroom. Sumire peeked into the back to make sure nobody was there, then turned back to look at me.