Novel Bin Volume 9, 2: “A Changing Relationship” Part 1
Volume 9, Chapter 2: “A Changing Relationship” Part 1
Even though the cataclysm caused by Hirata and Kei in the morning has yet to die down, rumors of yet another love affair caused an incident in Class C.
“Excuse me.”
Nearing the end of school, some students are heading to their own clubs while others are heading back and in the midst of it all, an extremely unexpected person showed up.
“Is Yamauchi Haruki-kun here?”
The students still left in the classroom all turned simultaneously to face Yamauchi in surprise.
He was probably to head back to the dorm with Ike and play games because Yamauchi was opening up a strategy guide about some game at that moment.
“Ehh, that’s me but… you need something?”
Yamauchi usually gets excited when looking a cute girl but right now he seems scared out of his wits.
The leader of 1st year Class A, Sakayanagi, showed up and named Yamauchi.
“Would you mind giving me a few moments of your time?”
“O-of course I’m free…”
“…This isn’t quite the right place so I’ll be waiting for you in the corridor by the stairs.”
Perhaps the stares from the other students are making her uncomfortable, Sakayanagi disappeared out into the corridor with downcast eyes.
A silence fell upon Class C.
“No, no, no, no! This cannot be happening!”
The one who broke that silence was Ike, standing beside Yamauchi who had just been nominated. If Sudō were here, it would be even rowdier but he had already left for basketball practice.
The other students, including Yamauchi himself, could not wrap their heads around that absurdly bold entry and invitation.
Yamauchi then immediately grabbed his bag. Maybe he’s just acting on instinct.
“Sorry! I’ve got business to take care of!”
“Y-y-yeah…”
“Hold it, Yamauchi-kun.”
“W-what is it, Horikita?”
Currently, Yamauchi is making a beeline out of the classroom. And as though she were taking the wind out of his sails, Horikita blocked the entrance.
“Maybe she’s trying to do something to knock Class C down.”
“Huh? Why do you think that?”
“The very fact that you’re being asked out is abnormal in and of itself.”
Despite maintaining a serious expression from start to finish, what Horikita is saying is far too straightforward and pointed.
It’s on the level where an ordinary person would realize they’re being insulted.
But Yamauchi was rather positive about it on the contrary.
“Bumping into a transfer student with toast in her mouth on a street corner and falling in love… You ever heard about that sort of plot?”
“Eh? Toast…? Street corner?”
Unable to understand what he’s talking about, Horikita wrinkled her brow.
To be fair, if you’re only listening to Yamauchi’s remarks then it wouldn’t make any sense. But after seeing Yamauchi collide with Sakayanagi back at the training camp I can tell he’s talking about that incident.
“I’m going because Sakayanagi-chan is waiting for me.”
Not even hearing or heeding Horikita’s warning, Yamauchi walked off. Yamauchi did not even make an attempt to believe her.
“I am indeed this class’s lethal weapon. But that is exactly why it’s okay. On the off chance anything happens, I’ll take care of it.”
I’d like to hear in detail his countermeasure for taking care of it.
In all likelihood, he hasn’t even given it any thought.
“…I get it. If you say you’re going then I don’t have any right to stop you. Just don’t carelessly let anything about the class’s internal affairs slip out.”
“Don’t worry about it. I am well aware of that.”
After saying that, Yamauchi gave a cheeky laugh and left the classroom. A portion of the students, which includes Ike, hurriedly followed Yamauchi.
“We should go too.”
The one who said that to me was Haruka. Apparently, she had also said the same to Keisei and Airi because the two of them are tagging along with her.
Since I don’t really have a reason to decline, I gave a light nod and stood up. When we stepped out into the corridor, we immediately spotted a few boys there including Ike.
“Ahh, stop stop. This way, this way!”
When we tried to pass through, the Professor noticed and stopped us.
“The two of them are talking over there right now.”
“…Ehh, what’s with that speech?”
Haruka whispered that to herself after noticing that the Professor no longer uses ’gozaru’ as part of his speech.
“Apparently he got set straight during the training camp.”
I offered an explanation regarding the Professor’s serious tone.
“How should I put it, it feels like he’s lost his individuality. Well, I’m not interested though.”
Haruka quickly lost interest in the Professor and so turned our attention to Yamauchi and Sakayanagi.
“Umm, so what did you want to talk about…”
Yamauchi nervously spoke to her.
Sakayanagi too, was using her left hand to shyly play with her hair.
If we look at this from a psychological perspective, it would be described as an unconscious reflex meant to make one look more attractive for a member of the opposite sex they’re interested in.
“Could it be that Sakayanagi is legit interested in Haruki?”
While looking at the two of them, Ike muttered that in frustration.
He probably deduced that unconsciously from Sakayanagi’s expressions and gestures.
However, in this case, we should assume Sakayanagi is deliberately creating that sort of image.
But in contrast to my calm analysis-
“No, no, this is way too stupid. She’s super cunning. There’s absolutely no way she’s actually into Yamauchi-kun.”
Haruka spat that out. Perhaps this is what you’d call a woman’s intuition.
“I-I think so too.”
Airi also agreed with Haruka, maybe because she felt the same way too after seeing this.
“Men really are simple, how could they possibly fall for something like that? She’s definitely acting.”
“…Is it really an act?”
Keisei couldn’t tell from just looking. Well, I wouldn’t have been able to tell either if I hadn’t read between the lines though…
“She’s definitely acting.”
Haruka said so with certainty.
“Maybe she’s trying to acquire information on Class C like Horikita-san said.”
“But isn’t that way too obvious? There should be a better way to go about doing that. She has a higher chance of succeeding if she makes contact with Yamauchi in secret and she wouldn’t put us on guard either.”
“That’s true but…”
Keisei’s right too. If her intention here is to ensnare Yamauchi in a trap, there are plenty of ways for her to make contact with him.
She’ll only be incurring severe damage by acting in a way that tips off all of Class C. If this leads to a problem, Sakayanagi herself would definitely be ruled as having been involved.
Considering that, maybe she really is interested in Yamauchi like Keisei and Ike are saying… That would make more sense.
But Sakayanagi is aggressive and bold, so both of those are equally possible.
“The truth is, I’ve been wanting to talk to you for a while now, Yamauchi-kun.”
“R-r-r-really, really, really?”
“I don’t have time to lie about something like this, you know?”
As I conducted my analysis, a conversation began starting up between the two of them.
“I won’t be able to calm down here, shall we go elsewhere?”
“T-That’s right. Yeah, let’s do that, let’s do that.”
“In that case, please accompany me for a while.”
The two of them started walking side-by-side.
Yamauchi is trying to match Sakayanagi’s slow pace.
Looks like he is capable of being considerate, even if it’s only the bare minimum amount.
The other students saw the two of them off, perhaps having determined that following them any further would be difficult.
(Part 1 End)