Chapter 57 Overlapping Emotions After School

Overlapping Emotions After School

Irara Akari’s Perspective

Homeroom at the end of the day.

“So, about the test starting the day after tomorrow…”

Suzaku-sensei’s words went in one ear and out the other.

I found myself replaying this morning in my head for what must have been the hundredth time today.

—W-Well, I guess I’m managing. And… how about you, Akari?

Arata-kun’s voice and face were still so vivid in my mind.

Every time I thought about it, I couldn’t help but grin, so I pressed my cheeks to keep anyone from noticing.

…But.

“…Ehehe.”

There was no way I could stop myself from smiling.

Because Arata-kun called me… Akari.

Nothing could make me happier.

Honestly, I just wanted to praise myself for having the courage to suggest it that day!

I had been super nervous. I had thought about it for a while and was determined to bring it up on the way home… but I was really worried he might turn me down.

But Arata-kun accepted it and called me Akari.

I already liked my name, but hearing him say it made me love it even more.

“Ehe, ehehehe…”

N-No, this is bad!

I was grinning way too much!

When I remembered Arata-kun’s embarrassed face and the serious expression he had before that… I felt like I loved him even more.

…Yeah, I really do like Arata-kun.

If just calling each other by our given names made me this happy, then if we did other things together… l-like holding hands, for example…

“!!!”

W-What am I thinking?!

How indecent…!

I needed to calm down.

Yeah, I had to regulate my breathing and bring my heart back to where it belonged…

“Stand.”

“…Eh?”

“Bow.”

“““““Sayonara~”””””

“S-See you!”

I hurriedly finished the farewell greeting.

When did Suzaku-sensei’s lesson even end?

I had been so lost in thought about Arata-kun that I completely spaced out.

That was… kind of dangerous, wasn’t it!?

I-I had to be careful, or this could turn into something serious…!

B-But!

Lately, I’ve been falling for Arata-kun more and more, and I feel like I’m losing control…!

W-What should I do…!!!

“Ah, now that I think about it…”

A thought suddenly crossed my mind, and I turned to look toward the back of the classroom.

Arata-kun, who always sat by the window looking sleepy, had been absent since the fifth period.

He was still not here… Did something happen?

I glanced around the classroom, scanning for any clues.

Then, I overheard a conversation that caught my attention.

“Hey, did you hear about Kyogoku?”

“Apparently, he was walking down the hall with Kiriha-san supporting him.”

“They said he had an unusually grim look on his face.”

“I don’t get it, lol.”

“!!!”

I immediately rushed over to the group of boys.

“T-Tell me more about what you just said!!!”

“““W-Whoa, Irara-san!?”””

“Details!! Right now!!!”

“Uh, well, Kyogoku was walking down the hall with Kiriha-san helping him…”

“Where were they headed!?”

“W-We don’t know that much…”

“Got it! Thanks!!!”

Arata-kun was being helped by Kiriha-san as he walked.

That meant… the only person who definitely knew where he went was…!

“Kiriha-san!!!”

I slammed my hands onto Kiriha-san’s desk and leaned in close.

“I-Irara?”

Kiriha-san flinched and pulled away as if startled.

I leaned in even closer to make sure she couldn’t escape.

“Where is Arata-kun right now!? Did something happen to him…!?”

“Um…”

Kiriha-san darted her eyes around in confusion.

“H-Hey, did you see that just now?”

“That was the closest I’ve ever been to Irara-san…”

“She smelled so good, right?”

“She’s even cuter up close… too cute.”

“I think I just found my lifelong idol…”

“A goddess… She’s practically a goddess…!”

The classroom buzzed with whispers.

But I didn’t hear a single one. My focus was entirely on Kiriha-san’s answer.

“H-He looked like he wasn’t feeling well in the hallway… I think he has a high fever. So I took him to the nurse’s office…”

“A high fever!?”

Come to think of it, Arata-kun’s face did seem redder than usual…

…No, wait. That morning after he stayed over at my place, I think I heard him coughing…

Which meant… wasn’t this my fault!?

Because I took his futon, Arata-kun had to sleep in the living room…!

“Thank you for telling me, Kiriha-san!!!”

Without wasting another second, I dashed out of the classroom and sprinted toward the nurse’s office.

“Arata-kun… Arata-kun!”

I couldn’t stop worrying about him.

And I felt terrible.

I was so caught up in my own excitement… I’m the worst.

While I was off in my own world, Arata-kun was suffering because of me…

“Arata-kun…!!!”

Kiriha Kirino’s Perspective

Irara bolted out of the classroom in a panic.

Left behind, I could only stare blankly, wondering what that was all about. Then, a certain thought crossed my mind.

“…Arata-kun.”

Irara called Kyogoku by his given name.

And Kyogoku also called Irara by her given name…

“…No way.”

A possibility flashed through my mind.

They even won an award in the paired dance, and given how close they’ve been lately… it’s not impossible…

“No, that can’t be.”

This is Irara we’re talking about.

The absolute cutest girl in the entire school—no, in this entire region—would never fall for someone like Kyogoku, a guy with a face that screams “troublemaker” and is the most hated.

“Oh yeah, I heard Nakano got hit on the head and ended up hospitalized.”

“Huh, really? That sucks.”

“Anyway, listen to this! Yamada from Class 2 got confessed to by a Senpai—!”

“No way!!!”

As the boys’ loud chatter filled the air, my conviction in my thoughts only grew stronger.

…But.

“…Ugh, this is annoying.”

Because I know a little bit about who Kyogoku really is, I just can’t bring myself to completely dismiss that possibility.

Nakano Yuya’s Perspective

So, it’s already after school, huh?

I happened to glance at the bed diagonally across from mine and saw a lively-looking high school boy lying there.

“Seriously, hurry up and get discharged already! School’s been so boring without you!”

“Yeah! You better get plenty of rest and recover fast!”

“Ahaha, I know, I know.”

Five boys and girls surrounded the bedridden guy, chatting and laughing.

“…That looks nice.”

But I wasn’t too worried. My own visitors would be here soon.

Manami-chan messaged me earlier, saying she’d be coming later, and I’d been exchanging texts with my friends about visiting times too.

Akari would definitely come as well.

Manami-chan was coming late, so it wouldn’t overlap with Akari’s visit. That was a relief.

“Phew, I can’t wait. Ahaha.”

Hospital stays really are a great chance to reaffirm the bonds you have with your friends, your girlfriend, and the people who matter most!