ALL NOVEL chapter 8
8
The time after that passed relatively peacefully.
Whether the incident in the morning was still lingering in the air, but when the break time came after the homeroom period, the number of students visiting the classroom had visibly decreased.
If such a change could occur from just one person’s remark, I couldn’t help but be aware of Shido’s influence.
However, when other classes passed by our classroom as they changed rooms, I felt occasional gazes from outside the classroom toward us, and a clueless teacher even brought up the topic of Mio appearing on TV, which made me feel uncomfortable at times.
But well, I guess this is within the acceptable range.
I now understand that it’s impossible to avoid the topic of Mio for the time being, and if that’s the case, then I can make compromises.
They say that gossip lasts for seventy-five days, and I secretly hoped that they would gradually lose interest in Mio.
However, there was one concern that stood in the way of that happening.
That is…
“Hey, Misaka-chan. Next is PE, right? Let’s go change together.”
It was the existence of Kishima, who would always talk to Mio during break time like this.
“Ah, Kishima, san…”
“I told you, it’s okay to call me Kayano. You’re being so formal.”
I wonder if he notices how Mio’s shoulders tremble slightly every time he speaks to her, as if she’s cowering in fear.
Kishima’s demeanor as he laughs boisterously is more presumptuous than friendly.
His laughter is not cheerful but rather murky, and it’s more vulgar than anything.
It made me feel uncomfortable just watching him.
(What do you mean it’s okay to call you Kayano? Just last week, you weren’t even interested in Mio.)
I haven’t forgotten how he had completely treated Mio as if she didn’t exist.
And yet, he has suddenly changed his attitude 180 degrees.
The reason for that is all too obvious, and it goes without saying, but Kishima’s audacity made me want to vomit.
“But, I…”
“It’s okay, it’s okay. Kayanon is a super nice girl!”
“Yeah, yeah. We’ve been thinking that we want to be friends with Misaka-san from now on.”
Furthermore, the group of followers that Kishima brought with him are just as disgusting.
They fawn over Mio while subtly flattering Kishima, and they’re nothing more than jackals trying to bask in the glory of the tiger. And their fangs are now bared at Mio.
(In other words, you guys are trying to make Mio one of your own, aren’t you…!)
A classmate who appeared on TV and is actually a beautiful girl if she just takes care of her appearance.
She’s a hot topic and doesn’t have many friends, so she’s the perfect pawn to add to their group and solidify their position in the class.
To put it bluntly, Mio is a sacrifice for Kishima to raise his own status.
Mio herself must have understood that.
That’s why she’s sending me a look as if asking for help, like this.
“…”
But I pretended not to notice.
I looked down and reached for my bag next to my desk, and I slowly repeated the movement as if I was trying to take out my gym clothes.
I was deliberately acting like a slow-witted and clumsy person.
… It wasn’t just the other students who were affected by the incident in the morning.
I was one of them too, that’s all.
After seeing how Shido handled it, I lost all confidence in my ability to do the same.
I could say that I had lost my confidence as a man.
As proof of this, even though I know she’s in trouble, I haven’t been able to talk to Mio during any of the breaks so far.
“Are you okay?” was the extent of my communication, and I couldn’t even protect her.
“Come on, Misaka-chan. We don’t have time. Let’s go.”
“Ah… yes…”
Eventually, perhaps losing patience, Kijima forcibly took Mio out of the classroom.
At that moment, I felt like Mio glanced at me for a split second, but as usual, she couldn’t meet my gaze.
(…The worst.)
What am I doing?
In the classroom where the girls were gone, I slowly started to change my clothes while feeling depressed.
… …
…
“Haa…”
After finishing softball outside, my steps were heavy as I returned to the classroom.
I’m not good at sports anyway, but today was particularly bad.
I don’t even want to remember that time, when I couldn’t catch the ball properly and had to raise my arms in surrender, and when I was laughed at for striking out every time at bat.
Luckily, the only good thing was that the girls were in the gym playing volleyball.
The only positive thing I could find was that I didn’t have to show Mio how pathetic I was.
“Well, she might be sick of me by now…”
I was mocking myself for being so pathetic when it happened.
“Yo, Tsujimura.”
“Huh…”
Suddenly, a hand was placed on my shoulder.
And then, my name was called.
It was a refreshing voice that was clearly male, and it sounded familiar.
No, I know it. I know exactly who it is.
That’s why I called out his name without thinking.
“Shidou…kun.”
“Yup.”
Nodding briefly, my classmate Shidou popped his head out from behind me.
“You weren’t so good at gym just now. Ah, don’t worry about it. It happens.”
… It seems he’s trying to comfort me.
This was the first time anything like this had happened, but rather than being happy, I felt a bit complicated.
I don’t know why he suddenly started talking to me, but at least it seems he’s not mad about what happened earlier.
“Yeah, thanks…”
“hahahaha. So, let’s get to the point. Tsujimura, you’re going out with Misaka-san, right?”
My relief was short-lived, as I choked on my breath for a moment at the question he threw at me.
“Ah, well…”
“I knew you were always together. It must be tough, suddenly becoming a celebrity.”
Shidou laughed and put his arm around my shoulder, as I struggled to find words to respond to his direct question.
“Hey…”
“If she’s your girlfriend, you better protect her. After all, Kijima can be quite forceful.”
Saito whispered those words into my perplexed ear.
“Th-…”
“Well, it might be none of my business…”
I suppose that was Saito’s way of giving me advice.
Even though we had barely spoken before, it seemed that he actually cared about me.
For a moment, I felt a surge of joy at that realization. It might have been because I’m just such a shallow person.
Murmur, murmur…
“Hm? What’s that?”
But as much as I appreciated Saito’s warning, I couldn’t make use of it.
“Oh crap, no way…”
“Wow, she’s even cuter in person than she was on TV…”
My thoughts froze as I looked at the girl in the school uniform walking towards us from the other end of the bustling hallway.
“Whoa…”
I heard someone gulp next to me.
I glanced over and saw that Saito’s eyes were wide with amazement.
“……
Saito is quite handsome himself, so did that mean that this girl was so beautiful that even he was impressed?
I looked away from Saito and gazed forward again.
“Th-…”
The girl’s hair was straight, bouncing slightly as she walked.
She kept her head bowed, but her eyes were visible and unobstructed.
Her features were delicate and clear.
Ah, she was indeed beautiful.
I could understand why Saito had gasped.
She truly was an undeniable beauty.
But could I honestly say that I thought she was beautiful?
Because my face was probably contorted with bitterness.
“Mio…”
I whispered her name softly, making sure no one else could hear.