“Ah, Koto-senpai~~!!”
The next day, while I was killing time in the cafeteria, I heard Hiyori’s voice. Normally I would be happy, but after hearing that kind of thing yesterday, I feel too awkward for words.
Today, for some reason, I could not wave back the way I usually do.
Hiyori approaches my side at a slightly hurried pace.
“Do you have a free period next?”
Hiyori sits right next to me as if it is the most natural thing in the world and flashes a smile.
Casual gestures like this make me like her even more.
I think it is the kind of physical affection she would show to anyone, but every single time, it makes my heart race.
I cannot help feeling like it is easy to misunderstand.
“Yeah, what about you, Hiyori?”
“I am done for today! But I saw Koto-senpai from outside, so I came back!”
“……Is that so.”
Feeling a little awkward, I seal my lips shut.
Hiyori notices the mood too and pulls back her smile.
I did not mean to make her make a face like that, so my heart aches a little bit.
I try to search my mind, thinking I have to say something. But yesterday’s events cross my mind all over again.
With no other choice, I decide to talk about that phone call from yesterday.
“———…About yesterday’s call…”
“———…Oh, right! Yesterday!! How was your shopping with Seina-senpai?”
Just as I lower my voice a little to talk about the phone call, Hiyori gives a slight start, her shoulders twitching, and blatantly steers the conversation away.
Was it something I really should not have asked about after all? Was she telling me not to misunderstand?
I pull back my words, put on a smile, and reply.
“……Yeah, it was fun. It has been a while since I went out with Seina, after all.”
“Did you buy anything?”
“Hmm, things like cosmetics and clothes.”
“I see! Yesterday, I———…”
Hiyori cheerfully starts talking about what she had for dinner last night.
It is fine. We are talking properly.
As long as I do not touch on yesterday’s phone call, everything is fine.
My heart aches a little to be so obviously avoided by Hiyori like this. But since everything else is business as usual for now, I tell myself it cannot be helped.
It is my fault for hearing what I heard.
After chatting casually for a bit, Hiyori starts talking about next week’s club drinking party.
“———…Oh, right, are you going to next week’s club drinking party?”
“Ah… sorry, I have plans and cannot go. I wanted to go, though…”
“Is that so. I see…”
Hiyori’s voice sounds a little lonely, and she pouts her lips.
Next week, my mother, who lives in the countryside, is coming to visit, and we have plans to go out for dinner together. Since I can see my mother anytime, I regret not forcing my schedule open instead of making Hiyori look like that.
However, since I already promised my mother, there is nothing I can do.
I pat Hiyori’s head to cheer her up.
“I am really sorry. Oh, I know. Let’s go drinking together just the two of us sometime.”
At that, Hiyori’s face brightens right up, and she instantly recovers her energy.
“Yes! Of course! Let’s definitely go together.”
“You must not drink too much this time, okay? There won’t be anyone to walk you home…”
If it is someone to walk her home, I am sure there are plenty of people. Hiyori has classmates, and Takuto would probably walk her home too.
Even so, I did not want to let people like that see Hiyori’s cute, drunken self.
Especially Takuto.
Since I am not there, Takuto would probably make a huge fuss over Hiyori to take advantage of the situation.
Last time, I warned her to be careful because she has a low alcohol tolerance, so I think she should be fine, but I am still worried.
Hiyori shakes her shoulders shyly.
“I will not expose such an ugly sight again. I will drink while actually thinking about it!”
Hiyori pats her own chest and says that with full confidence.
It makes me want to make a mental comeback: you were not thinking when you drank last time; but I decide to keep quiet.
She had said she drank a lot because she felt at ease having Koto-senpai around, but when I think that it ultimately boils down to whether she thinks things through or not, I feel a little lonely.
At the same time, I think that words spoken while drunk do not hold much credibility anyway.
Either way, as long as she does not get that drunk when I am not around, it will be fine.
“Are you the type who wants to do things like shopping for supplies, Hiyori?”
Since Hiyori was a first-year last year, the rule was that she could not take on committee roles, but this year she is a second-year, so she could probably get a role if she volunteers.
I asked because I figured Hiyori would say something like “That sounds fun!” and jump at the chance to do it.
Instead, Hiyori shakes her head vigorously.
“No way. It is a hassle. Seina-senpai did it last year, didn’t she? That is amazing. I could never do it.”
Hiyori waves her hand dismissively as if it is a huge pain.
Seeing that, I cannot help but burst out laughing.
“Same as me. There is no way I would ever volunteer to do something like that. Because they take away your days off, you know? That is why I wanted to go to this drinking party, though…”
“If you are not there, they will just force it onto you, won’t they?”
“Yeah… I asked Seina to dodge it for me, but…”
“If it is Seina-senpai, she seems like she would handle it well.”
“I hope so. Well, if they force it on me, I will deal with it when it happens.”
When I say that and shrug my shoulders, Hiyori gives a soft chuckle.
“You really have that kind of side to you, Koto-senpai.”
Since Hiyori suddenly says something like that, I tilt my head, not quite understanding what she means.
What kind of side, I wonder?
Maybe the part where I leave things up to people instead of taking action myself?
“The part where you think ‘As long as things somehow work out in the end, it is fine.'”
“———…I won’t… deny it.”
She hit the nail on the head much more than I expected, and I cannot find any other answer.
Hiyori’s observational skills are surprisingly sharp.
Hiyori laughs happily and leans her weight against my arm once again.
“If you had to take on a committee role, Koto-senpai, you would probably get too busy.”
“Hmm, that would be a problem. I wouldn’t have time to hang out with Hiyori.”
I put my hand on my chin and say that jokingly.
Even if there was a committee role, I would force my schedule open for that time anyway. Because spending time with Hiyori is the absolute top priority for me.
Hiyori looks blank for a second, then narrows her eyes happily.
“That would be a problem! Then, I will pray that it does not get forced onto you!”
Hiyori puts her hands together in front of her chest, closes her eyes, and rubs them together.
“Fufu, thanks. Sounds like it brings good luck.”
|”It definitely does, probably!”
As we chat idly like this, the awkwardness from moments ago melts away like it was all a lie.
After all, I really love the time I spend talking with Hiyori like this.
“———…Koto-senpai.”
“Hm?”
“Next time, to make up for the one we missed, let’s definitely go just the two of us.”
She says it as if to emphasize the point.
Even though we have not made plans yet, the fact that she is looking forward to it this much makes me happy.
I decide we should clear out our schedules and go soon. There is no time to be worrying about committee roles.
“Of course. It’s a promise.”
Feeling a little shy, I act like a child, stick out my pinky finger, and offer it to Hiyori.
Hiyori looks slightly startled for a moment, then gives a shy smile as she links her pinky with mine.
After moving our fingers up and down a little, we let go.
I wonder when the last time I made a pinky promise was.
Seriously, probably since elementary school.
When I check the time absentmindedly, it is almost time to get ready for class.
“I have to get going soon.”
“Is that so…”
Hiyori drops her shoulders in disappointment for a second, then stands up lightly, turns around, and waves.
“Well then, see you! Let’s definitely go drinking just the two of usー!”
As I wave back and watch her bounce away down the hall, I let out a soft breath.
…Yeah.
I was overthinking things until just now, but right now, this feels fine. As long as I can keep smiling right by Hiyori’s side.
Thinking that, I pick up my tray and stand up.