63 - There's no need to hide it if we've come this far, right? (Patreon)

RAW

When I got to school, Hiuri was sitting in my seat.
After what happened yesterday, I thought she’d feel too awkward and won’t come over, so this was a little unexpected.

“Good morning.” (Kazuki)
“...Yes, good morning.”

From the looks of it she’s the same as usual... but as expected, it seems she feels awkward. Compared to the usual, her words have less spirit.

“Oi Kazuki!”
“Gue.”

At that moment, I was grabbed by the collar and pulled backwards. The force is so strong that I let out a strange voice.
The person who pulled me in was my regular, Tadashi. Tadashi pulled me outside the classroom until we couldn't see Hiuri. He looks quite impatient.

“Kazuki, what did you do to the princess!”
“Even if you ask me...”

I confessed my feelings, but I guess I can't say that... I'm sure Tadashi would keep it a secret, but at this school, I don't know who's listening from where.

“The princess has been in such maiden mode since this morning, you know!?”
“Maiden mode?”

I peek into the classroom, but I still don’t understand what the maiden mode that Tadashi is talking about. She does seem awkward, but I don’t think she’s maiden-like.

“I don’t really understand what you’re talking about.”
“There’s no way you’d understand... our feeling of despair...”

Eeh...?
I guess they can tell that Hiuri has fallen in love with someone, that's why they’re in despair. As for who that someone is, well, it's me though.
Since she was in my seat while being in what Tadashi called ‘maiden mode’, I guess a lot of people somehow guessed it.

“What did you do... seriously... she wasn't like that on Friday, didn’t she...?”
“Hmm?”

There's no doubt that the reason why she’s acting differently than usual is because I confessed to her.
But, I don't really understand why Hiuri has a look of love on her face. Maybe she hasn't thought of me as a member of the opposite sex until now?
If that's the case, I'd be a little shocked...

“I wouldn’t know.”
“You traitor!”

Tadashi says various things to me, but I don't mind it. In the first place, I didn't betray him.
I shake off Tadashi and enter the classroom. I haven't put my luggage down yet.

“Umm, Nakano-kun...”
“What is it?”

When I put down my belongings, Hiuri spoke up to me.

“......”
“Sakura-san?”

Even when I called out to her, Hiuri kept her head down and didn't say anything.
Seeing her state, the boys around us sense something and start paying attention to us.

“......Kazuki-kun...”
“Eh?”

In that instant, my perspective rotated and I found myself outside the classroom. And I was surrounded by many boys and Tadashi who was crying.
Will I finally be beaten up?

“Kazukiii... Youuu...”
“Tadashi...”
“I really want to hit you, but the princess will get mad at me if I do that, so I won't...”

So it's not because the teacher will get mad at you. It's a school, so I think it's better to pay attention to the teachers.

“Damn iitt!”

Tadashi went running. Some of the boys also ran along with him.

The rest of the boys are glaring at me, so I might actually be hit...
As I was thinking that, more and more people started to leave, until finally there was no one left. Eh, what was that just now?

“Umm, are you okay? Nakano-kun.”
“Sasa-kun.”

The person looking at me who was in blank amazement was Sasa-kun, who had just arrived at school.

“Could it be, yesterday's date went well?”
“It went well... I guess?”

My confession was turned down, but as long as we could sort out the problem, we should be able to go out.
Hiuri also expressed her love for me, so I feel like I can't call it a failure.

“Are you okay, Kazuki-kun...?”

Furthermore, Hiuri peeked out from the classroom. Are you planning to make that way of calling me your default?

“...Sakura-san, I see the way you call him has changed.”
“...So it seems.”

Even Sasa-kun was a little surprised at the way she called me.

Even I didn’t think she’d call me by name so openly in front of other people, so I can’t help but be surprised. Wasn't it embarrassing to do that in front of others?

“Maybe I should change what I call you as well...?”
“Please do that. I'd be happier that way.”

Hiuri said that as if she broke through her doubts.* (T/N: 吹っ切れる - to break through (e.g. one's doubts); to become unbound by (e.g. the past); to allay (e.g. anger); to put behind one; to move on.)
Yesterday we parted on a somewhat heavy note, so why did she suddenly do this?

“Hiuri, come here for a second.”
“What is it?”

I bring Hiuri and return to the classroom.
There are almost no boys in the classroom. I'm sure they’re spreading Hiuri's reaction to other boys in other classes and grades right now. There is no doubt that this classroom will be flooded with boys during the next break.

In exchange for the boys being gone, all the girls' eyes are focused on us. As expected, they can't help but be interested in this change in Hiuri.
While attracting attention as usual, I talk to Hiuri.

“Hiuri, what happened all of a sudden?”
“Isn’t it fine? Even if we're not lovers, we can still become closer.”

It seems she thinks it's nice to have a bit of a special relationship, even if we aren't lovers. I don't quite understand Hiuri’s evaluation standard.
That said, becoming closer is good for me as well, so I’m fine with that...

“If so, I wish you’d send me a message or something... that’s why that happened.”

I said that while remembering the state of the boys earlier. It was a surprise to me as well, so I couldn't deal with the boys.

“That's... I just couldn't muster the courage...”

Unlike usual, Hiuri responded in a girly way. Why are you suddenly using such cute moves...

“In any case, from now on, we'll get even closer, okay?” (Hiuri)
“Ye, yeah.”

Saying that, Hiuri left the classroom.

The boys did not return to the classroom until the teacher got mad at them.

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