Part-2 Ch-11 Ep-02

Godaiin-’s POV

“During the free time on the last day of the school trip, I was wondering if you might like to go around together. Just the two of us.”

A few days before the trip, I gathered my courage and invited Ichinose-san like that.

I tried to sound as casual as possible, careful not to let her notice how nervous I was, and deliberately put on a friendly smile.

Whether that smile actually looked natural in the end, I honestly could not say.

“Free time?” 

Ichinose-san tilted her head slightly.

Somewhere deep in my heart, I had been convinced she would accept.

We had spent a fair amount of time interacting, and at the very least, I could clearly feel that she did not dislike me.

On top of that, I rarely saw Ichinose-san getting close to other male students, so I was confident she must hold at least some favorable feelings toward me.

So surely, she would say yes. That was what I told myself to steady my nerves before inviting her. And yet, at the same time, there was a small, nagging unease lingering in the back of my mind.

“Ah… I’m sorry. I’ve already promised to go around with Mari and the others during the free time.”

So I can’t go together with you. I’m sorry. Her tone was apologetic, but firm.

“I see…”

It felt as though something inside me crumbled with a dull, rattling sound. I barely managed to keep myself from slumping on the spot as I forced myself to pull it together.

And then I realized that the faint obstruction I had sensed earlier had once again blocked my path.

Again, it’s Nagase-san.

It might just be my imagination, but whenever Ichinose-san declines or avoids my invitations, it always feels as though her presence is standing on the other side.

That time too, in the end, she was cheering for her rather than for me.

I remember it clearly.

It was during the sports festival, when I took part in the mixed-gender relay. I had been hoping to hear Ichinose-san cheering for me.

I wanted to draw strength from her voice and run across the field with everything I had.

That was why I had asked her beforehand.

I wanted her to notice my feelings, even if only a little.

But the voice that reached my ears was hers, loudly calling out Nagase-san’s name. And then Nagase-san overtook me and passed the baton to the next runner.

I watched her back as she ran away from me.

No. This is no good. I do not have the right to hold a grudge over something that is already in the past.

Besides, this time it involves the rest of the group too. It really might just be me overthinking things.

“…Got it. Sorry for bringing it up so suddenly. Then, how about the night before the last day? After dinner, could we meet for a bit? I want to talk. Of course, we’ll finish before the teachers come around for room checks.”

She thought for a moment, wearing the same expression she makes when tackling a difficult problem, and then answered, “Okay.”

Hearing that, I clenched my fist in triumph inside my heart. And just like that, I secured a promise with Ichinose-san. Somehow, I had cleared a path forward.

During this school trip, I am going to confess to Ichinose Maki-san. On the first day after arriving in Okinawa, our main activities consisted of peace studies and historical learning.

After an early lunch, we left the city area and visited various sites while listening to explanations from a local guide.

Time passed quickly as we toured war relics and museums, and before I knew it, it was almost time to return to the hotel.

Our final stop for a short break was a large souvenir shop packed with local specialties. 

As expected of a tourist destination, Okinawa seemed to have an incredible number of souvenir shops.

Even if I did not buy anything on the first day, it was still useful to scout things out.

While browsing the shelves casually, I suddenly noticed Nagase-san nearby, also looking at the merchandise. Our eyes met.

“Hey, Nagase-san.”

“Ah, Godaiin-kun. Good work.”

For some reason, those words made me let out a small laugh. Because she is always helping with student council duties, whenever she sees me she greets me with “good work” like that.

“We’re on a school trip right now, so there’s no student council work. Though, honestly, I am a bit tired.”

I said that while shrugging my shoulders.

“Ah, right. Sorry. I just say it automatically whenever I see you, Godaiin-kun.”

We both laughed.

Every time I talk with her, I find myself thinking how genuinely nice she is.

She is usually with Ichinose-san, but even when she is not, I often see her chatting cheerfully with someone. She is clearly well-liked by everyone around her.

Come to think of it, when she volunteered for student council work, she was the one who approached us first. I recalled that.

Afterward, she brought Ichinose-san along with her.

I also remembered how Ichinose-san, after joining the student council, had looked a little dissatisfied when they were assigned separate tasks.

Thinking about that, I let out a quiet chuckle without realizing it. By the way, I do not see the person who is almost always by Nagase-san’s side.

Without thinking, my gaze wandered around the store, but I could not find her.

“Ah, Maki’s over there.”

When I looked in the direction Nagase-san pointed, I spotted Ichinose-san’s back behind a shelf of miscellaneous goods across the aisle.

“When Maki gets really focused on something, she ends up in her own world. When that happens, I just watch her from a distance.”

Nagase-san said it as if it were the most natural thing in the world. This must be how the two of them maintain their distance.

“I see. Thanks.”

At this point, it was completely obvious that I had been looking for Ichinose-san.

Well, that was exactly what I had been doing.

“Ah, no, I mean, I wasn’t specifically looking for Ichinose-san. Well, I was looking, but since you two are always together in my mind, I guess I just ended up searching automatically.”

I tried to deny it, but piling excuse upon excuse only made me sound uncool.

“Ah, well, yeah. I guess we are together a lot.”

Nagase-san replied casually, shifting her gaze back to the souvenir snacks.

“I see.”

I thought the conversation had probably reached its end. Just as I was about to leave, it happened.

“I end up looking for her too, you know. Maki. On days off, or when we’re not together. When it rains, or when the weather looks like it’s going to turn bad, I start worrying for no real reason. Like, ‘Is Maki okay? Is she outside?’ Things like that.”

“Really…?”

What was with her all of a sudden?

Something about Nagase-san’s unusual tone felt off.

“Sorry for saying something strange,” Nagase-san said, smiling awkwardly.

“No, I should be the one apologizing,” I replied.

“Ah, the teachers are calling. It’s about time to head back to the bus. Hey, Godaiin-kun.”

“What is it?”

“Um, so…”

“Yeah? What’s up?”

As I listened to the teachers calling for everyone to gather, Nagase-san seemed about to say something more.

I glanced toward the teachers standing at the shop entrance and the students beginning to head over, while waiting for her words.

“…Never mind. I’ll go call Maki. See you later.”

“Ah, yeah. See you.”

With that, I watched Nagase-san’s back as she walked toward Ichinose-san.