Chapter 65: Because I Love Satoshi-san

Because I Love Satoshi-san

I, Urui Reina, was assigned to do outside greeting rounds together with Koriyama-san.

To briefly explain the role of outside rounds, it means visiting local businesses to ask for support when students come to procure materials for their class projects. An example of support would be donating unwanted cardboard boxes.

Honestly, doing rounds like this is just a hassle, and the truth is, I’d much rather be doing clerical work together with Satoshi-san.

Even so, I had a reason I needed to take on this job, even if it meant giving up time with Satoshi-san.

“Alright, let’s wrap it up around here for today.”

Just past 5 p.m., Uhyou-senpai, who was walking ahead of me and Koriyama-san, said that.

Since she had done outside greetings during preparations for last year’s cultural festival, she had mainly been put in charge of guiding us.

And that was precisely the reason I volunteered for this assignment.

Ever since the open campus, I had suspected that there was something unusual going on between Satoshi-san and Uhyou-senpai.

But it seemed like a part of his past he didn’t want anyone touching, so I hadn’t been able to ask, even if I wanted to.

Now, through the cultural festival preparations, Satoshi-san and Uhyou-senpai had ended up working together again.

When I saw how flustered he was after learning that, I felt like I had to protect him.

But in order to do that, I needed to know what had happened between him and Uhyou-senpai.

That was exactly why I chose this assignment, since it would let me get close to Uhyou-senpai.

“Well then, you two are heading back to school, right? I’ll be stopping here for today.”

“Thank you for your help today.”

As Uhyou-senpai said goodbye to us, Koriyama-san gave her a polite bow.

I was sure Koriyama-san had also noticed the situation with Satoshi-san, but since we’d been helped a lot during today’s greetings, she likely wasn’t going to say anything.

And for me, this was the perfect chance to be alone with Uhyou-senpai.

“Uhyou-senpai.”

“What is it, Urui-san?”

“There’s something I’d like to talk about.”

“A talk? I don’t mind, but…”

“Thank you very much.”

Having settled that quickly, I turned to Koriyama-san, who was watching me.

“Koriyama-san. I’m terribly sorry, but could you head back to school without me?”

“Sure. Got it.”

Without showing any curiosity about our conversation, Koriyama-san nodded in her usual flat tone and started walking toward the school.

“Uhyou-senpai. This place isn’t ideal, so would you mind going somewhere else?”

“Okay. No problem~”

Since she didn’t seem to have any objections, we went into a nearby family restaurant.

Just in case anything happened, I asked for a table in the corner of the restaurant where we wouldn’t disturb other customers.

“Now then, once again. What did you want to talk about?”

After we both took a sip from the sodas we’d gotten at the drink bar, Uhyou-senpai gave me a faint smile and asked.

Not letting her appraising air get to me, I answered confidently.

“It’s about Satoshi-san.”

“Satoshi-san… oh, you mean Matake-kun~”

Her exaggerated reaction almost threw me off, but I continued without hesitation.

“Would you tell me what happened between you and him?”

“Hmm~? Why?”

“Because I love Satoshi-san.”

“…”

At my answer, Uhyou-senpai’s eyes widened.

“What are you so surprised about?”

“No, I’m just impressed by how bold you are~.”

“So? Will you tell me?”

“Hmm~, what should I do~.”

She tried to dodge the question, but she also looked like she was hesitating.

Then, as if she’d thought of a good idea, she nodded a few times and continued.

“If you tell me what’s happened to Matake-kun since I graduated, I’ll tell you.”

“So it’s a trade, then.”

“Exactly~. It wouldn’t be fair if I were the only one talking, right~?”

With that, Uhyou-senpai urged me to go first.

She even said that if I heard her side first, I’d definitely get angry.

With no choice, I gave her a concise summary of what had happened from the time I reunited with Satoshi-san up until now. And then…

“Hmm.”

After listening to everything, Uhyou-senpai gave that uninterested-sounding reply and, as if it were nothing, began talking about what had gone on between her and Satoshi-san. And then…

“…”

Before she even finished, I stood up from my seat, too angry to stay seated.

“Oh my, but I haven’t finished telling the story yet~.”

“I’ve heard enough.”

“Is that so? Well then, I’ll be going.”

“…W-Wait just a minu—”

As I tried to stop her, I noticed the stares from the other customers around us.

It was true. If we kept going, we really would end up disturbing the people around us.

I finished the rest of my soda and headed for the exit.

Unfortunately, by the time I did, Uhyou-senpai had already paid the entire bill.

What had happened to Matake-kun since I graduated?

This had been a good opportunity to find out.

That was why I had gotten my hopes up.

What exactly had led to the way things were now?

But the story she told was not what I had imagined.

“So boring.”

Apparently, Matake-kun was finding fulfillment in ordinary school life.

That was why he wasn’t trying to get a girlfriend.

But is that really true?

To me, it looked like he was unconsciously turning away from the feelings directed at him, never truly facing them.

The Matake-kun I knew, the one who kept standing back up no matter how many times he got rejected, should be more than capable of facing those feelings head-on.

“I’ve made up my mind, Urui-san.”

“W-What do you mean…?”

Breathing hard behind me, Urui-san must have run to catch up. I spoke as if talking to myself.

“I’m going to make sure Matake-kun starts facing your feelings and the others’ directly.”

Now then, what should I do from here~?