Work Text:
Shinomiya Sakura POV
A new academic year has started in Aogami high school. Today is the beginning of my second year here as a student. But, why do I have to be in the same class again with this girl? My dream of having a calm and peaceful high school day is ruined. Truly, fate has a lot of surprises in store for us.
Classmate A: "Nanase-san must have aced the entrance exam if they made you the student representative, right?"
Classmate B: "How much did you study?"
Nanase: "Not much... is what I'd like to say. But I study day and night. I still don't feel like I'm truly free from it."
In the beginning, I thought she was a rich Ojou-sama who could get anything she wanted without working hard. It turned out that this girl had better grades than me. On top of that, she is good-looking too. She seems like an all-in-one perfect girl, huh. But, of course, no one ever witnesses what she will do when she is angry.
But why did she agree to be the class president and choose me as the vice-class president after that? Hey, you shouldn't include me in your troublesome work, Nanase-san. I was still muttering to myself when the homeroom teacher came in.
Teacher: “Now everyone, please sit down! The lesson is about to start!”
Ah, thank God, finally a break. I’m so hungry. After I finish my lunch, I'd like to continue further on supernatural research. But suddenly, I saw the other classmates approaching me.
Classmate C & Classmate D: "Hey, Sakura-san!"
Sakura: "Yeah?"
Classmate D: "What junior high did you go to?"
Sakura: "Kyoto middle school. Why?"
Classmate C: "Hee... I see. Do you like to play video games?"
Sakura: "Well, not much since I have other things to work on."
Classmate C: "Gotcha. Just thought it might be fun to play together if you did."
Huh... What's going on? Why are they flocking to me now?
Then, one of them comes closer to whispering something to me.
Classmate D: (whisper) "So anyway, Nanase-san chose you to assist her because you are close to her, right?"
Sakura: "Huh? I don't think so. We don't talk that often."
Classmate C: “Seriously? The two of you give those best friend vibes though.”
Time has passed, and the break is nearly over. I have to go to the restroom first before the next lesson begins. They really caught me off guard, all because of that girl.
Does she really tell everyone we are close? just because she visits my family shrine often. I hope they don't figure it out anyway. God, please, I only wish my high school day to be peaceful.
Classmate C: "Hey, hey, Nanase-san is a real cutie, isn't she?"
Classmate D: "I know right! On top of that, she also comes from a prestigious family, the one who manages this town's development."
I just came out of the restroom while I accidentally eavesdropped on the conversation between the classmates who approached me this morning.
A cutie? Give me a break. Both of you should go to the optometrist and get your eyes checked. You should see when she released her rage. My inner voice spoke while I was shaking my head.
Classmate D: "I think it was love at first sight."
Classmate C: "So, your goal is to approach Sakura-san, who seems to be her close friend, to find out more about Nanase-san, right?"
Classmate D: "If I went to her directly, she'd just shoot me down."
So she told people that we were close, huh?
That girl... For real, you made things more and more complicated for me to handle.
Classmate D: "It will be smooth sailing if I can get Nanase-san through Sakura-san, you know?"
Classmate C: "However, Sakura-san seems like she didn't come across as a friendly person when we spoke with her."
Classmate D: "She looked natural to me. Maybe she just thought you were annoying?"
Classmate C: "Whoa, that's harsh!"
I see what's happening.
In short, they mean to use me as a stepping stone to get to her, huh?
How pathetic. I thought while smiling.
School is over and I don’t have any extracurricular activities, so I can go home. I was about to exit the school gate when Nanase-san was standing there blocking my way.
Sakura: "What is it, Nanase-san? I have to go now."
Nanase: "Aren't you upset? They're looking down on you."
Sakura: "Hee… So you eavesdropped on those people.”
Nanase: "They don't have the guts to speak to me directly, but they assume you're a pushover so they're using you to get to me."
Nanase: "I really hate people like that."
Seriously, this girl, that was not an important stuff to talk about, you know.
I'll just walk past her then before I bid my farewell to go home.
Sakura: "Nanase-san. Don't let it bother you, they're not worth the time."
Nanase: (shout) "But then you'll--"
Sakura: "What about me?"
I asked her while I took a quick peek before I walked far away.
Then she became silent, as if she was speechless.
Nanase: "N- Nothing..."
Sakura: "I see."
Since there is nothing much to say, I leave her and bid my farewell.
Sakura: "Then, I'm going. See you."
Nanase: "Yeah. See you."
Furukawa Nanase POV
After Sakura-san was already far away from my sight, I can't let her get out of my mind, as a result, my face became red and I made a grumble.
Nanase: (small voice) "Uh... Sakura-san, why are you so dense?"