Volume 1 - CH 59

CL_0UD6-8 minutes 22.07.2022

Two people continue to walk down the hallway in silence.

One is Tsukasa Tendo, that’s me. The other is Ayane Sugimoto.

I had a conversation with her for the first time today. I had no contact with her until now.

Sugimoto’s hair is braided and her long bangs hide her glasses and eyes, making it difficult to read her facial expression. She is a little shorter than Himekawa and a library committee member, right? She seemed to be a gloomy girl from the few conversations I had with her yesterday.

I was asked by such a girl, “Do you have someone you like?”.

Why would I be asked such a question by a girl I just had a conversation with for the first time yesterday? I don’t know what’s going to happen in the future, and it wouldn’t matter if I answered in an ambiguous way, right?

“It’s not that I don’t have any.”

“Well, it’s just that there’s someone who cares a little bit about you.”

“Well, that’s about it. Why are you asking me that?”

“I don’t know, it’s just a question of curiosity. I’ll leave it to your imagination.”

Sugimoto didn’t talk much on the rooftop. Now, I think she talks quite a bit.

Is it shyness? Or is there some other reason?

Sugimoto, walking next to me, walks away from me a little faster.

When we were a little apart, she turned around and looked at me.

“I see your hair is a little different from usual today. I think it suits you better.”

Sugimoto then ran toward the entrance.

I stood alone in the hallway, unable to reply or do anything.

I arrived in front of the infirmary, still struggling to understand what the heck had happened.

What on earth did she want from me? That was a very strange question.

When I opened the door to the infirmary, for some reason, several students were already there.

“Excuse me, I’m Tendo.”

I called out to Kuma-san, who was a little far away.

“Oh, you’re here. How was your day?

“It was less painful than I thought it would be, and I managed to go to class as usual.”

“Well, I’ll reapply the compresses and taping again, so sit down.”

His stomach is still swaying around.

The female student beside me, Nanase, is entranced by the Kuma-san. Do you like the belly? Do you like the swaying belly?

Kuma-san carefully kneads and stretches the taping on my hand.

It didn’t hurt as much as it did this morning, and I felt like I could somehow get back to my normal life.

“You will probably be fine now, but if you get severe pain, go to the doctor.”

“I understand. Thank you very much.”

I thanked him and for some reason, he pinched my cheeks with both hands.

“Hey, Tendo. Did anything good happen to you recently?”

Nothing, in particular, comes to mind. Something good? Hmmm, anything good?

“No, not really.”

“Well, I see. You’re looking better than ever. That’s good.”

Kuma-san handed me a replacement tape and compress and went to the back of the room again.

There were still a few students in the front. What are these people doing here?

Kuma-san is not kicking the students out but is making some small talk with them.

Is this part of his job as a teacher?

I open the door with my sore hand and leave the infirmary.

I think I can manage my finger. Now I don’t have to bother Himekawa.

I am relieved on the inside.

As I change my shoes at the entrance, I see several students hurrying to change their shoes.

“Hurry up! Behind the gym! They’ve called Takayama!”

“Really? Let’s go see!”

If you hear a conversation like that right in front of you, you have no choice but to go, right? As a man.

I made sure the strap on my bag was securely closed. I could probably swing around in this thing and be fine, right?

A little nervous, I follow them as they run in front of me, heading for the back of the gym.

Are you okay, Takayama? You said earlier that you were fine.

Fine, if it’s turning into a fight, I’ll join you.

In exchange, I’ll ask you to buy some yakisoba bread from the store!

And when I arrived at the back of the gymnasium, I was confronted with an astonishing sight and let loose.

Takayama is standing alone in a heap.

And the students who came to the classroom earlier are bending at right angles at the waist, bowing their heads to Takayama for some reason.

What is going on? Are these guys Takayama’s disciples? Unable to comprehend the situation, the delinquent-looking guy who came to the classroom raised his head.

“Please! By all means, Takayama-san!”

“Please!”

The other members of the group are also speaking in unison and bowing their heads.

What in the world is going on?

I fearfully approach Takayama and ask him.

“What in the world is going on?”

“Oh, Tendo. No, these guys are the Himekawa Fan Club, and they want to recruit me.”

Huh, a fan club! I didn’t think there was even a fan club.

“I heard a rumor that you had lunch today with Nadeshiko-sama, and I have approached you today to solicit your help!”

“I did!”

“With your can-do spirit and the trust you have earned from Nadeshiko-sama, I was wondering if you, Takayama-sama, would join our fan club!”

His voice was loud and a few people were seen here and there around him.

Fortunately, Himekawa herself was probably not already on school grounds.

That was the only good thing about that, I thought from the bottom of my heart.

“I’m too lazy to do it. Besides, I’m busy right now. See you later.”

“That’s the thing! I’ll give you ten of these photographs of the Nadeshiko as a present!

“Oh, Kaichou! Those photographs?”

“Well, if that’s the case, I want one too!”

“No! These are the pictures we keep for recruiting promising talents!”

The man called “Kaichou” unfolds the photo for us to see.

Hmm, I bet that picture is a hidden camera, isn’t it? Are they being traded without the person’s knowledge?

The pictures he showed me and Takayama were of her going to school, studying at her desk, walking around the school, shopping at the store, and so on.

It is true that her eyes are not looking at the camera, but I think they are pretty good pictures.

“Here’s a photo taken by the ace of the camera club. What do you think!”

There was one picture of her walking in the schoolyard, holding her skirt down as the wind blew.

Her thighs were exposed quite a bit, and it seems that the photo was taken by accident.

Is such a picture circulated in the fan club?

When I saw the photo, I was a little annoyed.