Tōha Yuzuki Likes Music

[Why is Ichijō looking at me like that.]

Noon always carries a relaxed and comfortable atmosphere.

For me, it is also the most relaxing time of the day.

A place that originally belonged to the protagonist’s rest time has now been joined by my presence.

Even though I still feel bored, at least at this moment, I feel a faint sense of being alive.

But judging from his expression, Ichijō Riku does not seem to want me here, since he keeps staring at me.

[I already told you, you know.

I’m not giving up this place.

Other than here, I can’t find anywhere quiet enough to eat.

There’s no way I can go to places like the restroom.

I’m already at the point where I can barely eat, and I really don’t want to end up throwing up.]

I bluntly blocked whatever he was about to say, clearly expressing that I had no intention of leaving.

Well, I hope he’s not that heartless.

At least, considering I’ve been showing him that specific gentle smile for quite some time now, he should soften up a little.

Maintaining an act for a long time is tiring too, you know.

[Tōha-san, what are you talking about.]

Looks like things didn’t go the way I expected.

[Then why is Ichijō staring at me.]

I returned to the same question.

My eyes narrowed slightly, but I didn’t look at Ichijō Riku.

Instead, I opened my lunchbox.

The contents were painfully plain, but to me, it made no difference.

Either way, it’s all food that makes me nauseous.

As I moved, Ichijō Riku also opened his lunchbox.

As always, it released an irresistible aroma that caught everyone’s attention around us.

At the very least, it drew my gaze back once more.

A very nutritious lunch.

The same evaluation as always.

Bright reds and greens stood out vividly.

Broccoli and carrots were neatly arranged atop white rice, like patches of shade beneath sunlight filtering through trees.

The white rice filled in the gaps.

There was also a deep red sauce drizzled over a fried cutlet.

Beneath the golden, crispy coating was layered pork overflowing with juices.

Even someone like me, who can never truly enjoy the taste of food, felt a faint stir of appetite at this moment.

[What’s wrong.]

Perhaps because I stared too long, he asked in a low voice.

[Nothing.]

I shifted my gaze back to my own unappetizing lunch and took a small breath.

[The reason I was looking at you earlier is because you seemed a little happier today, Tōha-san.]

So that stimulation I felt in the morning is still lingering now.

[I ate the sandwich.]

[Ah, did it suit your taste.

Komori made it pretty well, didn’t she.

I ate one too and thought it was good, so I planned to let you try it at lunch.

I didn’t expect to run into you in the morning though.

That was really a coincidence.]

He continued to face me with the gentleness and closeness befitting the protagonist.

And—

So it was meant for me from the start.

For me, a fake.

As expected, he was deceived by this fabricated exterior.

I’m sorry, Ichijō-san.

There’s no affection meter between us, you know.

You weren’t expecting me to be moved to tears by your actions, were you.

Once again, his behavior almost made me laugh.

I really am that broken kind of person.

Even if I didn’t laugh out loud, my eyes still narrowed.

[But I remember Ichijō-san saying this morning that you were planning to eat it as a midday snack.]

[Kh—.]

Ichijō Riku recalled what he had said earlier that morning and coughed awkwardly.

[W-well, I was worried you might not want to accept it.]

Well, if I showed no gratitude at all, that would indeed be awkward.

[Thanks to the sandwich Ichijō-san gave me, otherwise I wouldn’t know what I’d have done this morning.

I would’ve been hungry and miserable the entire time.]

My words were filled with gratitude.

In truth, they were extremely clichéd lines used to deal with others, but they fit the situation perfectly.

Tōha Yuzuki would never make people uncomfortable.

Especially not in front of someone she needed help from.

I can be more considerate than anyone might imagine.

[Tōha-san—]

Yet after hearing me, he let out a helpless sigh.

[If you’re going to say something without sincerity, don’t say it at all.]

Oh my.

I blinked.

Had my disguise failed in front of him.

Or perhaps, through our interactions, he had already seen through some part of me.

Either way, it didn’t really affect me.

Taking advantage of the pause in conversation, I lifted my lunchbox.

And then—

[Ugh—]

I covered my stomach and mouth, breathing in the scent drifting from Ichijō Riku’s lunch as I barely suppressed the nausea threatening to rise.

[Tōha-san—]

Once again, that familiar look of concern.

I should be used to it by now, seeing that look directed at someone as unsightly as me.

[I’m fine, Ichijō-san.

You’ve seen this plenty of times already, haven’t you.]

It was also a reminder that there was no need for him to worry about a fake like me.

Of course, if he ignored that, there was nothing I could do.

I’d just assume he had spare compassion to waste.

Anyway—

[I met Kamizuki Tsukiyo today.]

The sudden statement caused the atmosphere to shift slightly.

[You met Komori.

Did you talk with her.

Don’t be nervous.

Komori is a very easygoing person.

Tōha-san should have no trouble becoming friends with her.]

[We’re already friends.

And I got her contact information too.]

[Is that so.

That’s great.

You and Komori must have gotten along really well.

She’s very warm, isn’t she.

Don’t let appearances fool you, she was actually very timid when she was little—]

As expected of childhood friends.

The moment Kamizuki Tsukiyo was mentioned, Ichijō Riku’s enthusiasm visibly rose, and his words showed no sign of stopping.

In contrast to his excitement, my own feelings were far from pleasant.

I even felt the urge to sigh as I listened.

To put it simply, his reaction differed from what I had anticipated.

To be this dense—it made me question whether he could even meet my expectations.

[She told me something, you know.]

I took a breath and slowly spoke, cutting him off.

[She said the sandwich she made this morning was filled with her feelings for Ichijō-san.]

[So she really doesn’t want to see you giving it to other people.]

[She told me very seriously.]

His face stiffened.

[I-is that so.]

Have you finally realized it, Ichijō-san.

To trample on a girl’s feelings like that is enough to get many otaku wishing you a thousand deaths.

Of course, that doesn’t include me.

After all, I’m already the rotting kind.

Still, that didn’t stop me from continuing.

If anything, I started looking forward to his expression.

[And when she was saying all that—]

[I happened to be eating the sandwich you gave me.]

I said it in an utterly casual tone, as if it were pure coincidence.

[Eh—]

Heh.

What a spectacular expression.

How many times can a human face change in an instant.

I think I just found the answer.

It was a sensation I had never felt before.

Enough to make my withered heart dance with joy.

Even more exhilarating than the stimulation I felt earlier.

[Heehee—]

My smile must have completely fallen apart by now.

But that’s fine.

He’s probably seen it plenty of times already.

So—

[Hehehehehe.]

[Tōha-san—]

A faint sheen of cold sweat appeared, at least to my eyes.

Well, if I scared him too badly, I’d lose a useful tool.

[I’m sorry.

I laughed again on my own.

You don’t mind, do you, Ichijō-san.]

Even if you did mind, I’d treat it like air and ignore it completely.

[Ah, right.

I almost forgot to mention.]

[Komori didn’t see it.

Or rather, she couldn’t have seen it through the curtain, so she’s completely calm.

She won’t be angry with you, Ichijō-san.]

It was like a shot of reassurance.

He relaxed and gave a bitter smile.

[You really didn’t have to scare me like that, Tōha-san.]

[Hm-hm.]

That pleasant feeling faded quickly, leaving behind an empty void.

The smile on my face was carefully maintained, nothing more than a façade for his sake.

[After all, I’m a very nasty person, Ichijō-san.]

Ring ring ring—

The dismissal bell rang.

[No club activities today.]

Amayama Kaoru looked disappointed.

The reason was a group message sent by Hisao Kikuko.

She seemed to think that the Classical Literature Club was boring since all they did was read.

So she pulled Noriya along to discuss new ideas, announcing that there would be no activities for the next few days.

Of course, people could still come.

But without the club president opening the room, they’d just be standing outside the door.

[I wanted to share the book I just saw with Komori.]

[You mean a romance manga.]

[Eh, that still counts as reading, doesn’t it.

Just like you, Komori.]

[I’m reading classical literature, you know.]

I continued to deal with her and my classmates with surface-level enthusiasm.

[See you tomorrow, Tōha-san.]

[See you tomorrow.]

In the end, it was still a scene overflowing with youth.

[Komori, see you tomorrow.]

[Mhm, see you tomorrow, Kaoru.]

And then, silence.

[Tōha-san—]

So much for silence.

[Ichijō-san, were you waiting for me here the whole time.]

[Since Tōha-san always walks this way.]

[—Looks like Ichijō-san isn’t used to days without a beautiful girl by your side.]

[We’ve been walking together for a while now, haven’t we.]

Just like always, we walked home together.

[Oh, right.

Tōha-san, did you bring the earphones we bought earlier.]

[Yes.

Why.]

[Put them on.]

It wasn’t a particularly unreasonable request.

I did as he said.

He fiddled with his phone for a moment.

Soon after, a gentle melody flowed into my ears.

I looked over at him out of curiosity and met his gaze.

He smiled and said.

[I just realized these earphones can pair with a phone.

And it seems the ones we bought are actually a matching pair.]

He put his earphones on as well, narrowing his eyes.

Accompanied by the gentle tune, he softly hummed along, as relaxed as the evening itself.

[Listening to music on the way home is pretty nice, isn’t it, Tōha-san.]

[I quite like this instrumental piece.

What do you think, Tōha-san.]

[It makes my heart feel very calm.

Every time I hear it, I feel that way.]

[I know it might be rude, but I wanted you to listen to it too.

If you like it, that would make me happy.]

[If you listen carefully, it’s very soothing.]

We continued chatting on and off.

But—

I narrowed my eyes as well, listening carefully to the music.

For some reason, just as he said, my heart gradually felt calmer.

I started paying attention to the evening glow on the horizon, and the gentle breeze brushing against my face.

It felt new.

Stronger even than the sense of being alive I had felt before.

Before I realized it, I was humming along too.

Then I replied.

[Yeah.]

[I like it too, Ichijō-san.]