Chapter 14: At the school gate, where I arrived after a restless night

As soon as we left the convenience store, we headed to a nearby park.

Actually, the name ‘nearby park’ was a bit awkward.

It was just Takamari Academy Park.

Since this park is entirely owned by the Takamari Foundation, it is a special area that only students and some related personnel can enter. And, it wouldn’t be an exaggeration to say that this park is the private property of the Asakura family, who owns the Takamari Foundation.

“Hmm hmm hmm~”

And the eldest daughter of the Asakura family is Asakura Mizuki, who is right there.

Mizuki hummed and led us to a place with benches.

“Here we are! It’s not good to be caught eating these snacks. We can enjoy them leisurely here.”

‘Is it really okay to not get caught in Mizuki’s family’s park?’

Maybe it’s because I don’t feel that close to Mizuki yet?

I didn’t have the courage to suddenly bring up such a courageous tsukkomi (straight man retort) on the topic.

More than that…

I looked down at the pudding in my hand and sighed.

Hiiragi-senpai, does he really like me?

I can’t believe that a man likes me, no matter how much I think about it.

“Rina, you’ve been frowning since a while ago.”

“Don’t cry~ Don’t cry~”

Mizuki looked at my expression with a playful look.

I didn’t know what to say, so I just fiddled with the pudding in my hand.

Mizuki unwrapped the chocolate and said in a sly voice.

“Rina, don’t think too hard~ It’s not like the senior called you to fight. We’re comfortable like this, so stop, okay?”

Did I frown too much? I didn’t shed tears.

I smiled awkwardly and carefully peeled off the lid of the pudding.

“Okay~ okay! Relax while eating something sweet.”

“That’s right. Mmm…! This iced tea is delicious!”

Sitting on the bench, we each took out the snacks we bought at the convenience store. And I, too, scooped up a bite of pudding with a disposable spoon and put it in my mouth…

Whoa…! A soft sweetness spread throughout my mouth.

My mind, which was complicated, felt like it was being washed away with a single sweetness.

‘Huh… I didn’t like sweets this much in my past life?’

Maybe it’s because I’ve become a girl, but I’m craving sweets a lot.

Ah… I might become addicted to this, I understand why girls made such happy faces while eating sweets.

Aya also opened the pudding, took a bite, and admired it with a very happy expression.

“Wow, this… is really delicious.”

“Really? I’ll try it too~ Ah~”

When Mizuki looked at her with an expectant face with her mouth wide open, Aya naturally scooped up a spoonful of pudding and put it in Mizuki’s mouth.

“Here.”

“Mm~ It’s delicious!”

Huh?

Eh?

Ehhhhh?

I froze with the pudding in my mouth.

‘Wait a minute, is that okay?’

Suddenly, my mind went blank, and I felt my face getting hot again.

‘Am I the only one thinking strange thoughts…? I, indirect kiss?! Do girls usually do this?’

But Aya smiled as if nothing had happened, and took the next spoonful and ate it.

The image in the novel was an untouchable flower-like existence, but the Aya in front of me now… is… kind!

Ah, in the novel, there were scenes that emphasized her especially kind appearance only to the protagonist.

‘I didn’t know because the scenes where Mizuki and the two of them were alone didn’t appear in the novel… Ah, ah ah…!’

My mind was twisted in a complicated way.

I quietly put the pudding in my mouth, but the scene I saw in front of me was so sweet that I couldn’t feel the taste of what was in my mouth.

Then Mizuki held out a chocolate in front of me with a playful face.

“Mmm~ I’m a chocolate person after all. Do you want one, Rina?”

“Huh… I’m fi-“

Mizuki didn’t give me time to refuse, peeled the chocolate, and put it in my mouth.

“Whoa?!”

The sweetness of chocolate spread throughout my mouth in an instant.

Mizuki looked at my reaction, laughing as if it was funny.

“How is it? Is it delicious?”

I nodded in a daze and swallowed the chocolate.

‘Th, this… is it normal?’

“Do you want one too, Ayarin?”

“Thank you.”

Aya took the chocolate and carefully unwrapped the wrapping paper and put it in her mouth.

And she quietly savored the taste and said in a soft voice.

“I understand why Mizuki likes chocolate, but the thickness is not my thing.”

“Hey~ Rina likes it, so will Rina convert to the chocolate faction in the future?”

Mizuki playfully nudged my shoulder and laughed, and I tried to keep my composure.

‘Do girls usually… play like this…??’

While being dragged along by the pace of the two who were so comfortable with skinship, I didn’t dislike this situation.

Because I felt a comfortable atmosphere and the warm attention of the two…

“…Hmm, I’ll think about it for now.”

Mizuki shrugged as if disappointed.

“Yeah~ Rina thinks a lot~”

Aya quietly laughed from the side and said to me.

“Rina, how are you now?”

“Yeah, I’m a little better!”

It was a day where unexpected things happened one after another, but strangely, my heart felt light and warm at this moment.

I looked at the two alternately and smiled slightly.

The next morning.

I can hear the chirping of birds.

I woke up a little late and tossed and turned in bed, recalling the events of yesterday.

“Ugh, Aya….”

I was rolling around in bed, covered in a blanket, when I heard my mom’s voice from outside the door.

“Rina, you have to take your gym clothes. You have gym class today, right? Wait, did you sleep well today? You woke up a little late.”

“Yes.”

“You have to eat before you go, so get up quickly.”

I rubbed my tired eyes and got up from my seat.

I ate the meal my mom prepared, went to the bathroom and wiped my eyes.

I washed up roughly and picked up the bag my mom had packed for me and tied my shoelaces.

I sighed when I saw the thick bag containing my gym clothes.

‘Sigh… gym…’

That’s right, today is gym class.

And now I’m a girl.

So… the development of going to that girls-only changing room in Japan is drawn in front of my eyes.

And, Aya or Mizuki will be there.

“Ugh…”

“Rina, are you sick?”

“Oh, oh, no! I’m going to school!”

I hurriedly greeted and left the house.

Fortunately, maybe it was because I came out a little late today, I didn’t run into Aya on the way to school.

But until then, I didn’t know what would happen to me if I didn’t go with Aya or Mizuki.

I arrived at school alone in about 15 minutes and passed through the school gate.

Originally, there was plenty of time until the late time, so I was going to go slowly, but unexpectedly, many students looked at me and whispered.

“Is she the rumored transfer student?”

“Wow, she’s really cute.”

“I heard that the student council already took her..”

“Shh, he’s coming.”

But I only felt the gazes, but I couldn’t hear what they were whispering about.

Because I didn’t sleep well, my body was stiff and tired, so my ears were dull and my vision was blurry.

‘Ugh… I didn’t know that not sleeping well yesterday would show up like this.’

The reason is, well, I don’t need to say it.

Because the scenes I saw at the park yesterday kept coming to mind.

So, I tossed and turned alone in the blanket and eventually couldn’t sleep until late at dawn.

Mizuki and Aya feeding each other chocolate and pudding…

‘Ugh, don’t think about it! Don’t think about it!’

I shook my head and tried to shake off that thought.

But, for some reason, the murmuring around me grew louder and louder.

And not long after, someone appeared, blocking my way.

“Kurosawa Rina-san.”

When I looked up, a male student with neatly combed brown hair was standing.

His eyes had a somewhat cool yet dignified atmosphere.

I could see that he was a second-year student by looking at the name tag attached to his chest where his uniform was neatly arranged.

And.

In his right hand, he held a bouquet of flowers and a small envelope.

‘This, this… wait a minute, is this the confession event that Aya always received in the novel?!’

I was flustered internally, but I thought about the possibility that that person might have mistaken me for Aya.

But the male student came one step forward towards me, his eyes shining.

“From the first time I saw you… I’ve been watching Kurosawa-san.”

“…Yes?!”

I was surprised and took a step back.

Wait, are you really confessing to me?

Isn’t this an event that Aya receives?!

Ah… In the novel, Aya was troubled because she received these confessions several times a day…

But I’m not the protagonist, just a side mob character… Or am I not anymore?

But I don’t know why this development is unfolding for me.

“Uh, uh… Excuse me, did you confuse me with Aya?”

I hurriedly made an excuse, but the male student confidently shook his head.

“No. I fell in love with Kurosawa-san at first sight. Please accept my feelings!”

Seeing the envelope handed to me along with the bouquet, I screamed internally.

I could only shake my head and step back.

‘This… is not right?!’

It was then.

Heroes appear in crisis situations.

No… since she’s a girl, is she a heroine? Anyway.

“Rina!”

With a familiar voice, Mizuki approached from behind and naturally linked arms with me.

And as if grasping the situation at a glance, she pulled my arm with a playful expression.

“Ah~ Rina is so popular~ Let’s do this later!”

“Wait, Mizuki?! No, that’s not it…”

Mizuki led me into the school building.

“I’m sorry~ I’ll ask you next time!”

The male student was flustered and hesitated, then stepped back as if disappointed.

I was barely rescued by Mizuki, and I was already in a low-pressure state, and my strength was drained.

“Phew… I’m saved.”

Mizuki looked at my face, smiled, and said.

“Rina, you’re lucky to be popular, huh? Not everyone can be confessed to by the ‘Purple Knight’.”

“I don’t know, what the hell is going on…”

I mumbled, being half-carried by Mizuki.

Come to think of it, if he’s the purple knight… shouldn’t his hair color be purple?

In this world, everyone’s hair color is strangely realistic.

Mizuki also had brown hair in the novel, but it was pink.

I headed to the classroom, trying to think about other things.

The day hasn’t even started yet, but I already felt so tired.