I haven't seen Shimizu for a week already.
The day before, Chizu had fallen asleep late and was nestled in her bed. Alone, in this silent house, I look at the clouds through the window and wonder.
Will the heroine of the normies be present today?
In front of the gate of my school, I sweep the courtyard in search of my classmate and discover her beside a cherry tree. She runs at full speed in my direction and lets her scarf ripple.
A cherry tree … this scarf, what's this weird feeling?
She stops in front of me. Without any strength, she puts her fist on my forehead, out of fear, I close my eyes.
—Don't ever do something like that again!
I open my eyelids, in front of me stands this normie. Tears run slowly on her cheeks.
Chizu told me that to remove our regrets, the apology is enough. Is it right, sis?
I listen to her advice and bow to be pardoned.
— Sorry, Shimizu-chan.
She turns around and says.
—We'll be late if we stay here.
You're not wrong.
I raise my head and find a smile instead of tears.
Is my sister's advice working so well?
She grabs my hand and drags me to our classroom.
How soft the touch is… Her fingers are so thin… Is it that nice, the 3D world?
After sitting down, obsessed with following my sister's advice, I think of a way to make myself more forgiving.
Even if I'm a loner or an idiot, this girl is part of my club. She is supposed to come to my house to work on our paper. I have to find something at all costs to make her fully forgive me.
I may have the solution. Our game, the one in which we transmit messages through little pieces of paper, was my answer.
With conviction, I pulled out my notebook and wrote: What can I do to make you forgive me?
I tore off a piece, and put it on Shimizu's table, on my right. She picks it up, then reads it.
There, I made an action of normality, it will please her.
The girl raises her eyes to the sky, smiles, then copies something before giving it back to me.
What kind of reaction is that? Positive? Negative?
I catch it, and consult.
You only have to take me to the beach.
On the beach, like Ôta-senpai… Is that what my sister called 'jealousy'?
I hold up my thumb to nod.
That evening, our head teacher reminded me that her daughter would be coming to my house after school for my lessons.
I have to work too, I don't want to disappoint Ota-senpai!
I'm waiting for Shimizu at the gate of our school, to go to the beach.
— Yamazaki-kun!
Don't shout my name so loud!
She approaches me.
—I'm so glad you invited me!
I can't choose.
On our way, we talked about the classes, the literature club and everything else we could think of. She laughed and had fun and her smile probably meant she was enjoying the moment.
Is this really the 3D world?
We were sitting on a hillock, not far from the beach.
—The horizon is beautiful, don't you think?
Beautiful?
—Probably, yeah.
She takes off her scarf and wraps it around my neck. Suddenly distressed by her softness, I couldn't hold back the semblance of emotion that was evolving on my face.
You are much too close to me … your smell is so captivating…
—Gift, she whispers shyly to me.
I feel inexplicable shivers running through my body.
I let my guard down against this shōjo heroine.
But why is she offering me her scarf? For what purpose? She never left it…
The night falls.
The girl puts her head against my shoulder, plays with one of her locks, then points to the stars.
—They are pretty, aren't they?
—Uh … yeah, I guess so.
—They seem so far away and yet, I dream of being able to touch them one day, she whispers.
A dream?
Shimizu thanks me, and leaves at full speed without me even being able to give her back her scarf or say anything to her for that matter.
What am I doing here?
I contemplate the horizon, and cry out.
—I too would find a dream that would be all mine!
Come on, I'm going home, it's freezing.
Back to my sanctuary, Chizu, curious, asks me.
—Why do you have this stupid face, big brother?
D … Dumb?
—I do not know.
—You're stupid. I prepared the meal, are you hungry?
—I am.
We're both eating and Chizu called me back.
—Don't forget your private lesson, it's tomorrow, big brother.
I'm lazy…
Throughout the day, whenever I passed Shimizu, she smiled and then dodged me.
The return to solitude is surely better like that.
Nevertheless, the harmonious aroma of mint emanating from her scarf enchanted me, and
got rid of all my questions.
What an irresistible sweetness!
It's not like me to be under the influence of a simple smell…
After the bell rang, Shimizu came running to me.
What should I do?
I'm paralysed, my feet are rooted to the concrete.
—Do you have a private lesson tonight, Yamazaki-kun?
I nod.
And I'll give it my all not to disappoint Ôta-senpai.
She catches her breath and adds.
—Our main teacher registered me with you.
No explanation, nothing at all?
Wait, but she's going to enter my room? Really? I'm totally unprepared for that!
Arriving at my sanctuary, I grab the handle to the entrance and hear laughter inside that cut me off.
—Is this … is this your apartment?
—Yeah, I've been living with my sister since our parents abandoned us.
—Abandon?
The door opens suddenly.
—Big Brother, you're back!
Behind Chizu, I find our club president waving shyly.
What's going on here?
I inspect the place and try to understand the situation.
The kitchen was a mess, flour spread on the floor, eggshells and salad bowls forming a kind of sculpture in the sink.
Are they trying to bake?
—She's the one who'll take care of your lessons, big brother.
I approach Ôta and keep silent.
—Sorry, Yamazaki-kun, I didn't tell you, but Tamura-sensei is my mother.
Why does she always use incomprehensible words? It drives me crazy!
Wait, isn't genitrix someone like … her mother?
—Are you … are you her daughter?
I don't want to tutor anymore.
—Yes, you're a clever one,' she said, giggling. 'Is Shimizu-chan here too?
—She's behind me.
I turn around and look at Shimizu who dodges my gaze.
Chizu jumps and clings to me like a koala clings to a branch. She raises her head and explains to me.
—I met Ôta-senpai in front of our apartment, so I invited her to come in, it's not a big deal, right, big brother?
An angel, this sister. She just needs a simple halo.
—Follow me, we'll go to my room.
What a pain in the ass!
I kneel down and see that the two girls are surrounding me.
Our president coughs and begins our lessons.
I hate lessons. The square roots, the theorems and the texts are too philosophical for me, a real pain…
—Don't make that face! You'll succeed, I believe in you Yamazaki-kun, our teacher tells me.
You are the only one.
Chizu enters the room and asks.
—Ota-senpai, can you help me with my homework?
What a silly girl. To ask for help to a guest. I must seriously take care of his education neglected by our parents.
— I arrive, Chizu. You two, there, finish your exercises before I return.
Quite an atmosphere, here.
Alone with Shimizu, the embarrassment grows in an almost frightening silence.
This clumsy girl dropped her pencil. I bent down to pick it up and felt at the same time, some warmth slipped delicately on my hand. Out of the corner of my eye, I watch her fingers cross mine. As I raise my head, his face, so close to mine, becomes flushed. Our embarrassment stops when the door of my room opens again. We notice Chizu and Ôta who became witnesses of the scene.
—Big Brother, it is … it is your girlfriend?
She realises that what she says is impossible?
—Do not say anything!
Shimizu withdrew his hand and turned around.
The first thing to do, clear up the confusion.
—It's a misunderstanding!
What an ordeal, seriously!
My sister seemed to understand my despair, she stared at me, and gave me a thumbs up sign.
—Do you want to eat? You must be exhausted!
Thank you, Chizu.
We sat around the table and silently tasted the deliciously tasty ramen.
It was as resonant as in chapter 383 of volume 42 of my favourite manga.
The girls all seemed focused on their plates. Only the sound of chopsticks and the sound when we sip our broth, break somewhat this so heavy silence.