Within a week, people around Hayasaka disappeared.
Of course, that's only natural. Her reactions to her classmates enthusiasm were so dry that it was easy to imagine that her goodwill would turn into antipathy.
The beautiful transfer student has now turned into an arrogant beauty. Even so, it doesn't develop into something like bullying because of Hayasaka san's character. Maybe it's because of her skill, or maybe it's because this school's standard score is pretty high. Either way, there was no doubt that she had isolated herself.
Meanwhile, Hayasaka san and I continued our secret lunch meeting in front of the rooftop.
However, it's not that good, and each person spends his or her own time having conversations here and there.It was in such a form.
Furthermore, Hayasaka-san and my relationship was limited to that place, and in other places we were just classmates. Well, during physical education, we try to get into trouble with each other, so we team up together, but even then, we didn't have any kind of conversation.
"Hey, why are you always alone?"
Hayasaka san asked this as if she had been waiting for me to finish my lunch.
"Because I don't have any friends."
"So why don't you have any friends?"
"it is..."
Simple story. It's because I have communism. I can't talk to people, let alone talk to them, so who would want to be with me?
"Hayasaka-san..."
"What , me?"
She gave me a sharp look when I was about to retort.I couldn't help but open my mouth.
"It's not that I can't do it, it's just that I don't want to make friends. I don't really want friends who are only superficial."
"Then why are you talking to me?"
"…Poor thing That's why."
I desperately tried to decipher the meaning between the words, but there was no way I could do that since my interpersonal skills were lacking, and in the end, Mr. Hayasaka's true intentions remained unclear.
I don't know what Hayasaka san thinks, but I feel comfortable during this time. It's not hard to talk to Hayasaka san, and I don't particularly dislike the silent moments.
I don't want anything. I just wish this time would last forever. Secretly I was hoping in my heart.
I've been talking with Hayasaka san over the past few days, and I've learned a few things.
Hayasaka san seems to have often changed schools since she was a child. The shortest she has been to a school is half a year, and the longest is just over two years. She says that she changed schools four times in elementary school. It seems difficult just to listen to her talk. In such a situation, she would have a hard time making friends.
What I found out later is that Hayasaka san's family seems to be fairly wealthy. So, her financial sense is a little different from mine. When I tell them there is something I want, they say, ``Why don't you just buy it right away?'' When I say something is broken, they say, ``Why don't you just buy a new one?'' As a high school student who doesn't have a part-time job, Hayasaka has no idea that buying something worth several thousand yen requires careful consideration.
"If you don't mind the old one, I can give it to you?"
"What?"
"earphones."
That happened yesterday. The earphones I was using suddenly started malfunctioning for unknown reasons. Now I was wondering if I should replace it. The one I used before cost just over 3,000 yen, but considering the amount of money I have this month, if I were to buy something of the same amount, I would have to give up a lot of other things.
" I was just thinking of buying a new one."
"But I don't think that kind of thing is good."
"what?"
``I think it's fine if very close friends do it once in a while, but if it's not the case, it will become like they're being given favors and their relationship will get really strained.''
There will be a hierarchical relationship, there will be conflicts of interest, and it will no longer be a relationship of equals. No, it's not that I think Hayasaka san and I are equals. Hayasaka san and I are as different as dolphins and plankton, not to mention the moon and the soft-shelled turtle.
"Oh yeah. It's fine if you don't want it."
Was the interaction just now bad? Maybe it made Hayasaka san angry. But I didn't end up having a strange relationship with Hayasaka san. Even if we can't be friends, I'd still like to be a classmate who I can talk to.
" I'm not angry at all."
I don't think my inner feelings were conveyed, but Hayasaka san suddenly said something like that.
"I kind of understand what you want to say."
There was no conversation between us, and we spent the time in silence. We both look down at our smartphones and paperback books. This was now our daily routine.
Today is the day the latest novel I'm reading is going to be released, so I stopped by a local bookstore on the way home from school.
I randomly browsed the new books section and picked up some new books that had been released before I knew it. After reading around light novels, I finally turned my attention to my favorite novel corner.
I picked up one of the books stacked flat and looked inside. There was a new story written there that I had never seen before. Of course the content is perfect. I bought it.
I stack the novel I picked up on top of the manga and head to the cash register.
Along the way, I spotted a familiar face.
It seems that the other side has noticed me as well, and approaches quickly.
"Iojan, how have you been since a while?"
A former classmate of mine, wearing a different uniform than mine, called out to me, looking just like she did in middle school.
"Yeah. I'm fine. ... How about Yo-chan?"
I felt a little nervous when she called my name. That's the name I took for granted back then. But now...
"I'm fine and healthy. But at my school, I didn't know anyone from the same class, so I was really dead for a few days after entering the school."
Yo chan was interested in fashion and went to a high school that had a subject in that field. As a result, there are very few students attending the same junior high school.
"How about Io? Are you doing well at school? "
My whole body froze at those words. I only talked to my friends from middle school on the first day and haven't talked to them since. New friends are a dream come true. I can't even hold a conversation with my classmates. How can I do well in such a situation?
" My new friend is really beautiful."
Before I knew it, words were flying out of my mouth.
"It looks like a quarter, but it already looks like a model."
"Hmm. I'd like to see that."
Fortunately, Yo chan didn't seem to notice my lie and just started talking normally.
"It would have been nice to have a photo."
"Then, send it over next time and show me. If your friend says it's okay, of course."
"Huh? Ah, yeah. I'll ask."
"What's wrong?"
Yo chan looks at me with a strange look as I struggle in my heart.
"No, it's nothing."
" Ah yes, I have to go now. I'm going to have a part-time job now."
"Do you have a part-time job?"
"Yeah. I've got a lot of stuff in there. I'll line up again then."
"Ah, yeah."
As I watched Yo chan wave off, I felt like I could go back in time just a little bit.