Chapter 346: How About We Try Dating? |
"Hoshino-kun? He seems to have always been like this, completely ignoring everyone else. I always feel like... there is this indescribable vibe about him."
"The boys always say he looks down on everyone, but I honestly do not think that is the case. I cannot really explain what it is, though—"
"Anyway, despite how he acts, a lot of girls in our class and other classes secretly like him. Just last month, Akemi from the class next door even gave Hoshino-kun a love letter!"
After asking the girl sitting next to her, whom she had just befriended, she received this response.
Shirayanagi Ayaha offered a blunt, spot-on assessment: "In the end, it is just because he is good-looking!"
The girl in the neighboring seat smiled awkwardly, unable to refute the claim.
"But if he is this antisocial, does he not get bullied? The boys in our class do not exactly seem like a peaceful bunch," Shirayanagi Ayaha asked with curiosity. She had heard before that bullying in Japanese schools was quite severe, and she had harbored some concern about it before enrolling.
At the mention of this, the neighboring girl perked up again, speaking with eager excitement. "Because no one dares to! Did I not just tell you that Akemi from the next class gave Hoshino-kun a love letter last month? Do you know what happened then?"
"Hoshino-kun returned the love letter without even opening the envelope! After Akemi ran off crying, her older brother, who is a third-year student, found out about it and came to our classroom the very next day to teach Hoshino-kun a lesson!"
"Hoshino-kun asked him if he wanted his arm or his pride, and that big guy immediately started crying and begging for mercy before Hoshino-kun finally let him go!"
"Oh, right, right! Hoshino-kun's voice is incredibly nice! Since he never spoke before, we almost thought he was mute, and it was only after that incident that we found out otherwise. His voice is seriously beautiful, and he looked so handsome at that moment!"
"It was precisely because of that incident that so many girls in the class started secretly crushing on Hoshino-kun. However, everyone is terrified of becoming the next Akemi, which is why no one else has confessed..."
"Oh?" Shirayanagi Ayaha noted the sparkling eyes of the girl next to her and flashed a sly smile. "Are you secretly crushing on him too?"
"Eh— I... I am not! Ayaha-chan, do not spout nonsense!"
"Hehe, just joking!"
......
"Hey! I heard about it. Who would have thought a guy like you would be so popular at school!"
Because of the excellent relationship between their two families and their neighboring addresses, a private car would come to pick them both up together after school.
Sitting in her child seat in the back seats of the car, Shirayanagi Ayaha once again began to talk incessantly, putting on a solo comedy act for the boy on the other side, who was resting his cheek on his hand and staring at the sky outside the window.
"Why do you never say anything?"
"Do you hate interacting with others?"
"Or do you actually look down on everyone but yourself?"
"Chat with me for a bit!"
"You do not seem to have any friends at school. How about you let me be your friend?"
"...Tch— you never talk, so boring!"
......
Then, one weekend—
"I heard about it! Do you not talk to anyone because your mom and dad got a divorce?"
"Are you really sad?"
"Do not be sad! If you call me big sister, I will go home and beg my mom to be your mom too, okay?"
"Oh right, what month were you born in? Hmm... no, no, better not say it. Whether you are older than me or not, you have to call me big sister before I help you beg my mom!"
"Uhm... why are you looking at me like that... Fine, fine! Letting you be the big brother is not completely off the table!"
......
Then, on an ordinary morning commute to school—
"Hey! We have known each other for so long, and you still have not said a single word to me!"
"Do you actually have some kind of disease that makes you physically uncomfortable if you speak?"
"Do you know sign language? Why do we not go back and learn sign language, so from now on we can communicate with our hands and you will not have to speak at all!"
......
Then, during winter break—
"It is vacation time! I am going to America for my medical treatment. Thanks for helping me chase away that dog last time. As a thank you, I am going to prepare a surprise for you, so just look forward to it!"
......
Then, on January 2nd, the day Hoshino Gen turned seven.
"Happy birthday!"
"Hehe, bet you did not expect this, did you? I came back early! I found out about your birthday by asking Uncle Hoshino at the banquet last time, hahaha!"
"Huh? Why does the house still look like this? Are you not holding your birthday party at home?"
......
"...Is no one celebrating your birthday for you?"
"Maybe they are preparing a surprise for you?"
......
"...Actually, it does not matter. Birthday parties are just whatever anyway, they are really noisy and super awkward!"
"Anyway, this is the gift I prepared for you. I spent all my saved pocket money on this, so you are not allowed to dislike it!"
"Oh right, wait right here!"
......
"Happy birthday to you~"
"Happy birthday to you~"
"Hahaha! I got an advance on my allowance from my mom to buy this cake. I am still young and do not get much pocket money, so I could only afford a small one, but it is enough for the two of us to eat! When we grow up, I promise I will buy you a huge one!"
"Are you super touched?"
......
......
"Ahhh! In just a few days we will be graduating from primary school. Which junior high school are you going to?"
"You have not decided yet? Then you better think fast, and remember to tell me once you do!"
"Of course I am going to the same school as you! Look at it this way, for the entire six years of primary school, I was your only friend. It took a super beautiful girl like me persevering for so long just to pry open your mouth and get you to chat with me. If we end up in different schools and different classes, will you not go back to being completely solitary like you were in first and second grade?"
"I know you do not think there is anything wrong with that, but I just cannot stand to watch it happen!"
......
"Hehe, everyone is spreading rumors that the two of us are dating. Do we really look like a couple?"
"I kind of think so too. With so many people in the school, you completely ignore anyone else who tries to talk to you. I am the only one you respond to, and we even go to and from school together... Hmm, saying it out loud makes even me feel like there is something going on between us!"
"Hmm... how about..."
"How about we try dating for real?"