Chapter 10: “It’s a promise.”
Kana’s spell might have worked, the cheeck that was slapped only stung.
I didn’t cut anything inside my mouth, and I didn’t break any teeth.
Looking back, I’m not sure if it was a punch that would have landed me in the butt.
At that time, my heart was broken because everyone disagreed with my opinion.
That’s why even Mutsuki-san’s punch might have caused that much damage.
“Masaomi-kun…I’m glad you have such a good friend.”
Mizuno-san sits down next to me, holding back the pain in her legs. The two of us are leaning against the wall.
“I’d be moved to tears if someone said something like that to me, I’m sure.”
Mizuno-san’s clear voice echoed through the student council room. It’s a gentle voice that seems to caress your earlobes.
“I don’t have any friends like that…I’m jealous of you, Masaomi-kun.”
She smiled while rubbing her bandaged right leg.
“If my legs could move properly, I would have gone to help everyone, just like Masaomi-kun said. I’m telling the truth, okay? But, I’m…… At this rate, I will only be a hindrance so…… Just because of my leg injury, I’m dragging your legs. Quite ironic, isn’t it……”
Mizuno-san smiles while saying in a tearful voice.
“Sorry.”
Mizuno-san’s thoughtfulness permeates my heart. It gently heals the sharply torn wounds in my heart.
“I’m the one who should apologize…I’m sorry.”
Mizuno-san questions my apology.
“It’s too late, but what happened on the stairs…”
“I’m sorry, too. Masaomi-kun looked like you’re having fun while talking about Mutsuki-san… I felt stupidly jealous. That’s why I said that.”
She hits her own head with her small fist.
“You know, I was actually imitating Masaomi-kun.”
“Imitating me?”
“Yup, an imitation of you being emotional. That’s both your strength and weakness, Masaomi-kun.”
She points her index finger.
I was confused.
“I let out my raw emotions wherever my emotions took me. Then, my heart cleared up… I had some regrets, but I felt like I had released everything that I had hidden in my heart. And I felt refreshed.”
Saying that, Mizuno-san looks up at the ceiling. It’s as if reaching out on the edge of the blue sky.
At that moment, Mizuno-san’s white neck came into view, and my heart pounded.
Even though I should be depressed, I hate my impure self for exposing such desires.
“The things you must never say in your daily life. The things you want to say but can’t. We earnestly conceal such things as we live. I, too, didn’t want people to think badly of me, so I’ve been hiding my true, ugly self and pretending, living a life without making waves… I thought that was the norm.”
The second hand of the clock hanging overhead was making a faint sound as it moved.
The time between me and Mizuno-san will definitely be carved out.
“…That’s why I started enduring so much, taking a step back to think about things. But when I saw Masaomi-kun, I thought. To be able to express your emotions so openly, genuinely worry about someone, and be able to criticize, maybe it’s not something that can be done easily.”
She turned her head and looked into my eyes. With straight eyes. With pure, untainted eyes.
I feel like I’m going to be sucked into Mizuno-san’s eyes.
“Kazuki-kun, I was really happy. You shouldn’t have blamed Kana-san, but Kazuki-kun, you were very grateful. I also said bad things about Mutsuki-san, and Masaomi-kun told me off seriously. He got serious and scolded me. I was a little jealous, but I realized that ‘he was serious about what he said and that he was confronting me’.”
She raises her uninjured knee and rests her cheek on it. Mizuno’s hair flowed down smoothly.
“I always heard that being emotional is a bad thing, but I believe I’ve come to understand that it also has the advantage of being able to confront people head-on.”
Her cheeks turn a light pink and she smiles.
“That’s…… thanks to Masaomi-kun.”
“Mizuno-san, right now……”
“Hu, huh? Did, did I say something? Ahaha……”
Mizuno-san pretends to be dumbfounded and flaps her hands in front of her face.
She actually doesn’t have to force herself if she’s feeling embarrassed.
Those were the words that came to mind, but it was disrespectful to her for mustering up courage.
“……I don’t really mind.”
Mizuno-san’s movements stop. Her hands, which had been moving in a hurry, stopped in front of her face.
“At least an informal address.”* (TN: Calling without the honorifics “-san/-kun”)
Hearing this, the arm that had been stationary in front of her slowly lowered, and Mizuno-san hid her face in her folded knees.
“……Masaomi.”
Mizuno-san, who was still hiding her face, murmured softly.
It’s strange because when I see Mizuno-san being shy, I also feel embarrassed.
“Masaomi”
Having someone say my name has never felt so refreshing.
Regardless of Kazuki and Kana, for some reason I’m embarrassed to be called that by Mizuno-san.
“No matter how many times you call me that.”
I felt my cheeks become itchy and scratched them with my fingers.
Mizuno-san looks up properly this time and calls my name.
“Masaomi.”
Contagious embarrassment seemed to infect every part of my body.
Every time my name is called, my body gets hot.
“Stop, that’s enough.”
I turned my palm towards Mizuno-san. Mizuno-san laughed like a devil, and she said something like this.
“Exchange roles. Next time, please call me by my name.”
“……Wha”
I erupt.
Not a boil, but an eruption.
Everything from my face to my body is so hot.
“That’s impossible.”
“You’re always calling Kana-san by her name, right?”
“Well, that one’s that kind of person.”
“Moreover, you’re pretty familiar with Kana-san. ‘That one’, you said.”
“…….Uh, Mizuno-san?”
She pouted her lips and made a sulking gesture. I’m at a loss and can’t think of the next word.
“……Okay.”
I thought I heard Mizuno-san’s voice.
“… Mizuno Natsumi, I’m advancing.”
As I realized that he was muttering something, she suddenly looked up and fixed my face in place with her hands.
Before I could grasp the current situation, Mizuno-san’s lips overlapped with mine.
It really happened in an instant.
A quick sleight of hand that made me want to scream, thief.
The crutches that were leaning against the wall fell to the floor.
After a few seconds, our lips part and she laughs with a bright red face.
“That…… a healing spell, I guess.”
She explains while holding up her index finger.
“…Kana-san will kill me.”
I didn’t say anything or take any action in response, I was just dumbfounded.
“Masaomi! Mizuno-san!”
Kazuki’s expression changes as he jumps in.
“Masaomi!”
Kana was also with him.
“Masaomi? Hey, Masaomi.”
Kana shakes my shoulder violently.
“Wha, what’s wrong?”
I recovered from my daze and glared at Kana.
“Masaomi, I’m sorry, but I’ll explain later. Anyway, please help me. Mizuno-san, stay here. Kana, you too, okay?”
Kazuki gave instructions in quick succession.
“If Masaomi goes, I’ll go too.”
“No.”
Kazuki’s expression is serious.
I realize the gravity of the situation and try to stand up.
“……Masaomi.”
Mizuno-san calls me. While holding my hand as I stood up.
“I’ll practice saying your name next time.”
“…Okay, that’s a promise.”
Mizuno-san smiles as if relieved and lets go of her hand.
I tried doing the peace sign like Kazuki.
I felt like I could become a little stronger. I felt like I had reaffirmed the importance of something that must be protected.
Mizuno also gave me the same peace sign she gave to Kazuki.
Kazuki’s expression relaxed as if he was watching over me and Mizuno-san, but he quickly tightened his expression.
“Let’s go.”
“Masaomi, I’m also going.”
“Please, just stay here,”
Kazuki begs.
Kana puffs out her cheeks and protests, but Kazuki doesn’t allow Kana’s selfishness.
