CH 40

“I-I’m sleepy……I can’t take it anymore……”

At lunch, I circled back around and said I was fine or something, but after all, beyond that, it was hell.

After all, when you go over the peak, the valley comes, and I was in an extreme situation.

Despite this, today’s fifth period is a physical education class.

Moreover, it was a continuation of the physical fitness test I had taken the other day, which consisted of a shuttle run.

It is truly hell.

I finished PE like I was going to fall down in the seventy-second cycle.

The rest of the class was taken while fighting extreme sleepiness.

And today, as bad luck would have it, the class was followed by a teacher who was strict about sleeping.

The combo of PE + that teacher was diabolical.

I managed to keep my wits about me and managed to get through the day with the occasional wake-up from Tohno san next door.

“Youta. Do you want to go somewhere after this?”

“I’m going to pass. I’m going to bed as soon as I get home.”

“What are you doing that makes you so tired? You ain’t got the stamina.”

“I don’t want to be with you, you exercise fool. Anyway, I’m going home.”

“Bye~. I’ll just stop by the arcade and go home”

Naka looked bored and left when I declined his invitation.

And I, too, make my way home alone.

“Are ? Youta. What’s wrong, you looked dizzy”

As I walked out the front door, I was approached by a student in a jersey.

“….Aah. Aki. I’m sleep-deprived and when I get home …… I’m going to bed as fast as I can.”

“Not enough sleep? What’s wrong, are you okay?”

Voluntary training is a day when there are no club activities, right?

She is so stoic~

“Speaking of which, though, what about that promise we had the other day?’

“Promise?”

Hmm, what did I do…I can’t remember. My head is a bit fuzzy.

“…..You don’t remember?”

“Eh? Ah, no…..it’s that right ?!”

“Hee~, then, What is it? Tell me”

PromisePromisePromise…..damn. I forget about it

Aki looked at me with a dumbfounded look.

This seems to be a perfect example of her seeing that I don’t remember that promise.

…..I can’t tell her lies

“Sorry. I forgot…”

“I thought it would be something like that. We’ve exchanged contact information since then, but I haven’t heard from you at all.”

“Ah–, I’d say a lot has happened. ……”

“Well, I didn’t send it to you either, so that’s my fault too. So, about the promise, you said you were going to run in the morning on Saturday and Sunday. I was just wondering what you’re going to do tomorrow.”

“…….ah”

“I’m so sad. You completely forgot about it. Oh, I’m so sad.”

“Sorry ! I’m really really sorry !!”

“It’s not that I want you to apologize. I’m just looking forward to running with someone because I’ve always been alone in the mornings.”

I didn’t know she was looking forward to it that much.

“Oh, but then Aki should have asked me out …….”

When I said that, Aki gave another small sigh.

“….. guess!”

“What !?”

Aki lightly poked me. It was a simple pain.

“So what about tomorrow? You haven’t slept enough today, have you? If it’s too physically demanding, maybe we shouldn’t do it tomorrow.”

“…no. I’ll go. We made a promise, and it’s bad enough that we have to pretend it didn’t happen for our own reasons. If I go to sleep now, I can make it in time.”

“Fiuhh, I’ve got to go! Well then, send me the address!　I’ll run and pick you up in the morning. I don’t want you to go to bed and forget it, so I’ll come right away! I’ll be there in a bit!”

“Eh?”

Aki told me what she wanted to say and stormed off.

She has a lot of energy, or whatever you want to call it. Did she want to run on impulse?

“….Address huh ? How energetic are you, running when you come in the morning?”

I then sent my address to her line so I wouldn’t forget it.

“Ah-. it’s bad…My eyes are blurred. I should go home quickly.”

I then left the school and hurried home.

Finally, halfway past the road, I heard a voice behind me.

“Komiya kun !!”

“Eh. what? Sakino san ?”

Sakino san comes running over with a slightly clouded look on her face when she spots me.

Then she kneeled down in front of me to catch her breath and looked mushy again.

“Why are you leaving first!”

“Eh”

“I told you I wanted to talk to you after school. ……”

“Ah…..”

She told me she had to talk to me later in the morning. After school came, and I skipped it again and went home.

…… I guess I’m really screwed up today.

Lack of sleep makes it hard to concentrate. This is equivalent to Ichikawa san’s curse.

“you’re gone while the teacher is calling me. It’s awful. ……”

Upon hearing this, Sakino san’s face went from angry to apologetic.

“No, no, no, it’s my fault! So what’s the story? Can we do this here and now?”

“Eh, ah yeah. It’s fine ! Et-to. Actually, I heard it was your birthday yesterday.”

“Ah, yeah. That’s right”

“I knew it! So I have something for you!”

Sakino san rummaged through her bag and pulled out a box.

“T-This ! Happy birthday! That’s why I’ve got a present for you!”

“Eh, for me !?”

“Yes, to Komiya kun !”

I did not expect to receive a gift from Sakino san.

I’m glad I got it, but I don’t think Sakino san and I are that close……. How depressing.

“Well…..You might be wondering why we haven’t been that close before…..Well…Thanks for all you did for me and Aoi…….”

Sakino san’s words became smaller and smaller.

I see, so this is a thank-you as well.

“I-I knew it’s a nuisance, right?”

Sakino san’s face is becoming more and more tinged with anxiety.

Sakino san, who tends to rush into things, must have wondered about this as well.

I don’t know if it’s appropriate to give a gift to me, with whom she has a shallow relationship.

But she took the trouble to choose it. I don’t think I can turn it away.

“No….if it’s a [thank you]. I’ll receive it. Thanks”

Sakino san’s face lit up when I accepted the gift.

“Thank God! Oh, it’s a handkerchief. I’m not used to giving gifts to ordinary friends of the opposite sex, so I wasn’t sure.”

“Ah yeah. I see. Thanks”

Apparently, she has no sense of surprise. She quickly revealed what was inside.

It’s very typical of her.

Wait, It’s the same one as Ichikawa san on the inside. ……

Well, Let’s take good care of both of them.

“Fuaaa…”

“Ah, sorry. You said you were tired. I’m sorry for keeping you. Are you that sleepy?”

“Frankly, I can’t wait to dive under the covers.”

“Ahaha, what’s that ! Are you okay ? Won’t you fall down on the way?”

“I’m confident that if I fell, I wouldn’t wake up for half a day.”

“Eehh?! That’s not okay ! Where’s your home? I’ll take you home!”

“Eh? Ahh–, no”

“Don’t be shy! Come on!”

And so I had no time to say no, and Sakino san had to take me home.

(TL/N : I have a bad feeling about this…)