Chapter 23 Awkward Together
#18ZenkouSeitoAwkward Together
As the town is bathed in the colors of the sunset, Irara and I walk side by side.
Every now and then, our shoulders brush, and we hurriedly pull away, only to unconsciously drift closer again.
To be honest, I was hyper-aware of Irara.
Partly because the sensation of her hug still lingered in my mind, refusing to fade.
But more than that, I couldn’t forget how she felt sorry about the rumors surrounding me or the tears she shed beside me.
I’ve never met anyone with a purer heart than Irara.
She’s not twisted like me—she’s endlessly kind and genuine.
…That said,
She’s like that with everyone, not just me.
I can’t let myself misunderstand.
After all, I’m the one hated by the entire school.
Silence falls between us.
Unusually, Irara avoids looking at me, and I can’t help but speak up.
“It’s getting late. The day went by fast.”
“Huh?!”
“…Eh?”
Irara lets out a startled noise, flustered.
“S-sorry! I was spacing out and didn’t hear you!”
“…Do you still have something on your mind? If you want, I’ll listen. I can’t promise any useful advice, though…”
“I-I’m fine! I wasn’t thinking about anything at all! Really, absolutely, totally blank!”
“That’s… kind of worrying in its own way.”
Also, she hasn’t met my eyes at all.
Actually, it feels like she’s deliberately avoiding eye contact.
And then…
“Hey, are you okay? Your face looks a little red.”
“Huh?! I-it’s not red! It must be the sunset!”
“I-I see. If you say so.”
“Ahh~! It’s so hot~! So, so hot~!!”
Irara fans her face dramatically.
“Hot? Then maybe you’ve caught a cold…”
“Ah! N-no, I meant cold! Actually, it’s kind of chilly!”
“Chilly?! Then it’s even more likely you’re sick! You should hydrate—do you want some water? It’s mine, though.”
I pull out a half-drunk water bottle from my bag.
“Wha—?! Y-your water bottle? The one you’ve already drunk from?!”
“Ah, sorry. That’s gross, right? I shouldn’t have offered. Sorry for being so presumptuous… Okay, I’ll just go die now…”
“You’re jumping to conclusions way too fast! That’s not it at all! If anything, I’m kind of happy… N-no, I mean, it’s still weird! Umm… I still don’t want it!”
“I figured as much… I’ll die right now…”
“Wait! No, no, no! I didn’t mean it like that! It’s not gross, so don’t die! Please don’t die!!!”
Pulled back by Irara’s frantic plea, I snap out of it.
“S-sorry. My brain suddenly switched to self-deprecation mode… I’ll try to keep living. Even though it’s not exactly an easy world to live in.”
“You’re still being negative… But Kyogoku-kun, please live. It would make me—um, I’d be happy if you did.”
“…!”
Hearing that from Irara…
Guys really are simple creatures.
Just hearing a cute girl tell you to live is enough to make you want to keep going.
“O-okay… I’ll do that.”
“…Please do.”
Silence settles between us once more.
What is this awkwardness?
It feels strange.
Like we’re hyper-aware of each other or something…
“Wait, aren’t we on the wrong path?”
“Oh, you’re right! We must’ve turned somewhere weird without noticing…”
“Don’t worry, we can get back to the usual route. Leave it to me.”
“Wow, you know your way around!”
“Yeah, kind of. I use these streets for a game I call ‘trying to go home on unfamiliar roads.’”
“Heh, there’s such a game? That sounds fun!”
“…It’s not exactly fun.”
“Then why do you play it?”
“…Don’t ask. It’ll just depress me.”
“O-okay!”
Compared to Irara’s overwhelming brightness, my gloominess feels even more pronounced.
While I’m thinking that, we pass by a park.
“Oh!”
Irara points to a swing set in the park.
“That swing!”
“Oh, come to think of it, this is the park. The place where we first really talked.”
“Back then, I was just sitting on the swings and crying. I wasn’t even using them the way they’re meant to be used.”
“That’s true.”
“…Now I feel bad for the swings! I’m going to ride them properly this time!”
“Eh?”
Irara dashes to the swings and sits down.
Then, she starts swinging energetically.
Her skirt flutters, making it hard to know where to look.
“Waaah~! Kyogoku-kun! This is so much fun~~!”
“I-I see.”
“Come on, Kyogoku-kun! Join me~~!”
Irara waves at me with childlike enthusiasm.
For some reason, it’s incredibly embarrassing, and my face grows warm.
Irara really is cute.
Both her appearance and her personality.
I don’t think I’ve ever met someone this adorable.
And now, this girl is asking me to ride the swings with her.
…Maybe now, I’m finally being repaid for all the unfairness I’ve endured in life.
“Ehehe, hurry up~~~!”
“O-okay.”
Embarrassed, I walk over to Irara.
Just as I’m about to sit on the swing—
“…Akari?”
A voice calls out from the park entrance.
Standing there were Nakano in casual clothes and his uniformed cheating partner.