Chapter Text
The sun shines bright in the school. In the classroom, some of them are eating lunch. And some of them are talking about pictures on their phones. The teachers were checking students' answer sheets. Meanwhile, the track club members are erasing white lines on their track field. Some people talked about it after they saw what those lines were for. Behind the school building, there is a cockroach hiding inside the bush. And, there is a boy and a girl looking at each other. The boy looks like a thug from his hairstyle and clothes. And, he scratches his head.
"Y-Yo Kawai. Have you noticed how I feel?"
He stops for a second. His cheeks become red. He collects his breaths. And…
"I! I really like you, Kawai! Please go out with me!"
He said that while clenching his fist on his chest.
Looking at that boy, Kawai was surprised.
"U-Uhm…" Kawai started to speak.
"Thank you, Tadano, for what you have done before and confessing your feelings to me. But, I'm sorry. I can't."
Tadano's face looks sad.
"W-Why? Is it because I didn't do it well?"
"No, not like that, Tadano. Like, I know what kind of person you are in class. You are hyperactive. You always tell your fantasy story to Najimi. You always show unique and cool character poses. And in fact, you went to the trouble of writing it to get my attention. But… "
She then bowed.
"Sorry, Tadano. Not that I want to belittle or insult you. I also don't know how other people feel about you. But, I don't like your childish behavior, Tadano. It makes me uncomfortable. I'm sorry for saying that to you."
She straightened her body. She looks at Tadano. He froze.
"Tadano?"
Looking at his reaction, Kawai approaches Tadano. She then waves her hand in front of his face. Tadano blinked.
"Y-Yes." Tadano regained his consciousness. His cheeks turn red.
"Sorry, my words shook you that much."
"That's okay. I understand." He scratches his head again.
"Tadano. I said that not because it's wrong for you to behave like that. You could behave like that. It's just, you're no longer fit to behave like that."
Tadano's cheeks turn red. His eyes looked away from Kawai.
"You're right. Maybe I should start changing my behavior."
He paused for a moment. Then, he looks at Kawai again.
"Uhm… Kawai?"
"Yes?"
"Maybe I could start it by asking if I can be your friend?"
His face became more red.
"Yes." Kawai answered.
Hearing that, Tadano clenched his hand.
"Yo-"
He stopped himself from being "exploded".
"Sorry, sorry, old habit."
"That's okay. Shall we go back to the class?"
"Sure."
They decided to return to the class.
"By the way, Tadano. Don't you think that there is a big cockroach hiding in the bush?"
"Cockroach? I think not."
"I see. Maybe I just see nothing."
If only my way of "responding to his feelings" was like that...