After coordinating my clothes, we go on a date... No, we had a date rehearsal.
She said that it is meaningless to have a good appearance if you don't have a good attitude.
"Look, you're hunched over again."
"Ah, yes."
Even though this is a rehearsal for a date, what we are doing is just strolling around the shopping mall.
Nonetheless, I've been getting a lot of stares from people around me since a while ago.
Of course, they are looking at Sonoda.
It is a matter of course.
She is an active model with good looks and good proportions, and her first photo book has sold more than 10 million copies, which is unprecedented.
Her beauty cannot be concealed even when she wears disguises such as hats and decorative glasses.
Walking on the streets, she has the undivided attention of everyone who passes by her.
And, of course, a man walking next to such a woman is also looked at in the same way.
Unlike Sonoda, who is used to such gazes, whenever I am aware of such gazes, my back naturally curls up because I think that they might think that I am not suitable for her or something.
"Don't worry. Be confident, no one has said anything, and the looks you are getting are not malicious."
As if she could see right through me, Sonoda called out to me.
I listen carefully and glanced at our surrounding.
Indeed, I didn't hear any whispering or other noises, and when my eyes met them, they hurriedly looked away.
Even with my previous appearance, they looked away from me, but it seemed to me that the meaning of the look was different.
"Hey, it's okay, isn't it?"
Sonoda winked at me, and I got a thrill from that gesture.
I really wish she would stop that kind of behavior when there's a guy she likes.
Still, I am grateful to Sonoda.
It may be just a little bit, but I feel like the world I see now is different from the one I saw before.
At this time, Sonoda's words suddenly came to my mind.
When our mind changes, our behavior changes.
When our actions change, our habits change.
When our habits change, our character changes.
When our character changes, our destiny changes.
Someone's words of wisdom.
Sonoda said these words yesterday.
Now, I think I understand the true meaning of these words.
* * *
After that, our date rehearsal continued.
I was having a good time, browsing the stores and playing in the game corner.
"Hey, it's Maria!"
Then, someone suddenly called out to us.
We were recognized...
When I turned around with Sonoda, I saw three girls there.
"Oh, Anna, Yuko and Haruka."
They are my classmates.
Like Maria, they were girls at the top of the caste: the outspoken gal-type beauty Anna Nakamoto, the sharp tongue cool beauty Yuko Furuki, and the calm beauty Haruka Rikuzaki.
"What the heck, Maria, you have a date with Kusakabe today?... Who's that?"
Anna, also known as Anna Nakamoto, stifled her words as her eyes met mine.
"Well, two-timing?"
"Wrong!"
Sonoda denied the disgraceful allegation and told them what had happened.
"Ugh, Kusakabe, he's the worst!"
"You have a nice face, but inside you're a disappointment..."
"Could it be that he didn't confess on purpose because he wanted to have sex with many different girls? Maria is in love with Kusakabe-kun, so he doesn't have to worry about anyone taking her away."
"Well, let's put aside the bad guy Kusakabe, who's that handsome guy next to you? Was he in our school? Could he be a fellow model? Hey, introduce me!"
Wait, handsome guy?
You're a model?
You mean me?
I mean, considering I'm the only one here.
"Yeah? Ahh, it's Inukai-kun. We go to the same school."
"I didn't know his name was Inukai. I didn't know there was such a handsome guy in our school. What class are you in? "
"Anna...We're in the same class."
"Huh? Hmm?"
Nakamoto stares quietly at me.
"Aaah! Could it be that Inukai is that "gloomy inukai" guy?"
I'm sorry...I'm a shady and gloomy guy...
I want to say something back to her, but it's a fact that gal-type girls like Nakamoto are the most difficult to deal with for someone like me.
I don't have the guts to talk back
"Hey, Anna!"
"Well, to be honest... Actually, I thought Inukai was a diamond in the rough that would shine if he was polished."
"Geez, as soon as you found out he's good-looking, you changed your mind so much that only beautiful words come out."
Nakamoto's blunt comment was met with a merciless tongue-lashing from Furuki.
"But, putting Anna jokes aside, but you really look different, Inukai-kun."
"Yeah, you look like a different person."
"Yes, yes, you're really handsome. Maybe you should give up on Kusakabe and move on to this one. If you guys are matched, then it's guaranteed to be compatible with each other."
"Anna might be right. By the way, how high is your compatibility rank?"
Compatibility rank.
It is an index to show how well you are compatible with each other.
The highest rank is S, from which the ranks A and B are assigned, and the lowest rank is G.
Rank C or higher is considered to be a good match, and in the Youth Sexual Health Guidance Law, ranks C or higher are matched.
"By the way, we were rank C! The next round is for upperclassmen too, so I'm looking forward to that."
"I guess I'd like to get at least a rank B."
By the way, the first round of matching was limited to the opposite sexes within the school and in the same grade.
Because of the narrow range, most of the matches are rank C.
The second round is for upperclassmen, and the third round is for the opposite sex from other schools.
"So, how are you two compatible? C or B?
The compatibility between me and Sonoda...It's actually...
"What, S-rank..."
"Really!?"
"It's true, i'm not lying..."
"Wow! I'm so jealous of your S rank!"
"Seriously, you should get rid of Kusakabe and catch Inukai... S-rank is the level you'd consider marrying in a heartbeat!"
"Yeah, that's right. C for consideration, B for recommendation, A for immediate decision, and S for destiny..."
"Ughh..."
Sonoda is flinching under the onslaught of his friends.
" Ah ! Hey, we have to go soon, the movie is about to start."
Sonoda received a helping hand.
"Oh, it looks like you're right."
"Well then, the rest of you young people, we'll leave you to your work."
"Maria, see you at school tomorrow."
After I told them that, the three of them left, and I was relieved that they didn't decide to play with us.
It's impossible to play with four girls...too hard. It's too hard.
Nakamoto and the others left, and we continued practicing for our date and ended the day.
* * *
The next day, I was fixing my hair in front of the mirror.
I used the hair wax that Sonoda gave me as a present...
I haven't waxed my hair since I waxed my hair at elementary school.
"Good morning."
I go downstairs to clean myself up.
My parents and sister are in the living room, and their reaction is the same as usual.
This attitude might make you think that I'm isolated at home, even though their son and brother have undergone a great transformation, but it's not true.
Because, I already got the reaction of the big transformation last night.
This morning's complete lack of response is because my family understands my characteristic of not wanting to make a fuss.
After breakfast, I head off to school.
My steps are heavy on my way to school.
The reason, of course, is the reaction of everyone.
What if they think that a gloomy person is enthusiastic making a debut in matching, or a gloomy person making a debut because he became overconfident after graduating from his virginity?
No, it's okay, it's okay.
Nakamoto and the others have praised me, I'll be fine, I'll be fine.
I try to push down my anxiety and stay positive.
"Good morning, Inukai-kun."
I hear a voice.
I don't even have to turn around to see who it is.
"Good morning, Sonoda-san. What's going on? Where's Kusakabe? "
They've known each other since childhood, they live close to each other, and they should have been going to school together. . ... ... ... ...
"He left early for morning practice today."
By the way, Kusakabe is a member of the soccer club.
Kusakabe reminds me that I should apologize to him for the incident on Saturday.
No matter how bad Kusakabe is, there is no reason for me to provoke him back.
I made up my mind once again to do so and went to school with Sonoda.
* * *
We are now in front of the classroom.
I pass a number of students on my way here, and the feeling is good.
However, they are not my classmates, so they don't know me before.
That's why they only look at me now and evaluate me.
But my classmates are different.
They know who I was before.
That's why I'm afraid of how they will react.
But I can't stay like this forever.
I open the door of the classroom with determination.
At that moment, the eyes of my classmates are focused on the open door, and they are saying silently, "Who are you?
I stopped in my tracks, and my classmates' gazes remained fixed on one another.
It was as if time had stopped in the classroom.
"Inukai, you're in my way. Don't just stand there!"
But then Nakamoto-san's one word made the time start to move.
She pushed me back and pushed me into the classroom.
" What!? Inukai? "
" No, seriously? "
" Huh, that Inukai? "
" No way, Inukai...You're so handsome! "
The reaction was positive.
Many of the boys were puzzled, but the girls generally looked at me favorably.
Among them, however, I noticed only one guy who gave me a hard look.
It was Kusakabe.
The reason is obvious.
It must be because Sonoda-san is standing next to me.
I make up my mind and go to Kusakabe.
"I want to talk to you about Saturday. Come with me somewhere else."
"If you want to talk, do it here. Or is it something you don't want other people to hear?"
No, it's Kusakabe who could be in trouble....Well, if he says it's fine, then it's fine.
"No, i don't mind, I'm fine here. I'm sorry about the day before yesterday. I didn't mean to insult you, even though you provoked me first. I'm sorry."
I bow my head and say I'm sorry.
When I lifted my head, Kusakabe looked surprised at my words.
But he seemed to come to his senses immediately.
"Well, you just have to understand, you know. I'm an open-minded guy, so I'll forgive you this time."
He reacted in such an arrogant manner.
It seems that he is not willing to admit his fault.
Well, I just did what I did to make my point.
I'm not disappointed because I didn't expect it from the beginning.
"Hey, Masato. Why aren't you apologizing? "
"Huh? "
"It's not his fault. It's all your fault, but when he was told the truth, he got mad and hit Inukai-kun... But Inukai-kun grew up and said there was no reason to insult him, and he apologized first! "
Sonoda expressed his anger at Kusakabe's attitude.
I knew this was going to happen.
I had wanted to apologize elsewhere because of the possibility of this happening...
Well, it's all Kusakabe's decision.
He is responsible for his own actions.
"Ha? I didn't do anything wrong! I only hit him because he insulted me. I hit him because he deserved it! "
"It was Masato who insulted Inukai-kun first! And yet, Inukai-kun never attacked you."
"I didn't insult him. I just pointed him the facts! And the only reason he couldn't hit me is because he's a coward who doesn't have the guts to hit me."
"You think it's brave to hit people! ? And for me? What are you saying, it's your fault! It's all your fault! Just like Inukai-kun said, it's your fault..."
Kusakabe raised his hand.
"What, you're going to hit me too? That's a brave thing for him to do."
But his hand was not strong enough to do anything.
However, Kusakabe, who did not know how to lower his raised fist left the scene
"Hey, hey, did something happen to those three? "
After Kusakabe left, the class was surprised by the sudden uproar, and silence reigned, but someone, perhaps unable to hold back any longer, uttered these words.
"Yes, as a matter of fact..."
And Nakamoto started to blurt out the truth of the matter in response to those words, and the whole class found out about the complicated situation of the three of us.
"Those two weren't dating? "
"They're in love with each other...Why didn't Kusakabe confess? "
"I guess he's only good on the outside, but he's a loser on the inside. I feel sorry for Sonoda-san and Inukai, being pushed around by a loser like him."
"Just telling them not to touch Mr. Sonoda is unreasonable, and then insulting him when he gets carried away, and then beating him up when he talks back...That's seriously disgusting~"
"Really, Kusakabe is a real disappointment. I guess it's not the face but the genes that make a man a man~"
The classroom was full of talk about us, and it was uncomfortable, but when the teacher came, we were forced to stop the commotion and we went to class.
Kusakabe never came back.
* * *
Lunch break.
"Inukai-kun, I prepared lunch box for you... Would you like to try it? "
I was about to leave the classroom to go to the purchasing department to buy some bread as usual, when Sonoda stopped me.
"What? Me? "
"You know, it's the same if you make two or three."
Two or three?
Sonoda and Kusakabe always have lunch boxes.
I see... those were Sonoda's mother's homemade lunches.
I gratefully accepted the lunch box and went to the rooftop with Sonoda.
The rooftop of our school is open to the public, and on a sunny day like today, many students have lunch there.
We sit down on a bench and open our lunch boxes.
"Oh!"
The two-tiered lunch box looks very tasty, with half of a minced chicken and half of a minced egg on the bottom tier placed on top of the rice, and the side dishes on the upper tier consist of fried chicken, tamagoyaki, and meatballs, all of which are the standard side dishes.
"It looks so delicious...Your mother is a good cook."
"I am single and have no children."
Sonoda turned his head away from me when I said this.
What?
What do you mean?...Ah, so that's what this is about!
Suddenly, I was confused by his reaction, but I understood the cause.
"Did Sonoda-san make this? "
She nodded her head.
"I see, I'm sorry. The quality was so high that I couldn't believe it was made by someone my age..."
"Is that so?"
"Yeah. It looks so good, I can't wait to try it."
"Okay... Well... Then please enjoy the meal."
I immediately take a bite of the omelet with pickled ginger and green onion.
"Delicious! The red ginger on the egg give just the right amount of spiciness , it's so delicious."
After that, I take a bite of the meatballs.
"Is this made of chicken? It feels like the meatballs melting in my mouth and it's so delicious!!"
I eat the other dishes, but everything is so delicious that I can't stop eating, and I finish my lunch in an instant.
It's over.
The food was good, but the quantity was a little small
"Would you like some more? "
Sonoda offered me his lunch box.
It was a bit bigger than my lunch box, but it was probably Sonoda's.
"No, it's fine. Besides, if i eat it, Sonoda will skip lunch."
"Hmm? Oh, mine is this one."
Sonoda brought out another lunch box.
It was about one size smaller than the one I ate.
"What? Then this is, maybe...Kusakabe's..."
"Yes. But since he's not coming back, I think it would be a waste unless Inukai-kun eats it."
If you say so, I have no reason to refuse.
I gratefully accept another lunch box, and we start eating it together this time.
"I heard that the previous one wasn't enough for you, so I'll make it the same size as yours tomorrow."
"What? You're going to make me another one tomorrow? "
"I mean, during the matching period, that's the plan, but maybe it wasn't to your liking? "
"No, not at all. It was delicious! "
I shake my head in denial.
"But I'm sorry to ask you to cook for me during the matching period. . ... . . "
"As I said before, it's the same to make two or three, and Inukai-kun, unlike Masato, eats them so deliciously that it's worth it."
"Well, then, I'll take your word for it. "
I felt sorry, but I couldn't resist my desire to eat Sonoda's lunch, so I brazenly decided to ask him for a favor.
"Well, let's go shopping for lunch box ingredients after school today. Oh, of course, Inukai-kun will pay for the lunch box."
Sonoda really knows how to smooth things over.
The cost of the lunch box is not that much, and I should have paid for it myself, but by Sonoda's suggestion, she is trying to make me feel a little less sorry for him.
I should learn from this kind of human power.
We continued to eat our lunch while chatting.
And then, when the conversation was interrupted and there was a moment of silence between us...
"I'm sorry about the things before..."
Sonoda suddenly said.
"Inukai-kun started the conversation and made it easy for him to apologize to you...I thought he'd cool down after a day."
"It's not Sonoda's place to apologize, and as I said before, I only apologized to make my point, not because I expected an apology from Kusakabe."
"Inukai-kun, you really are an adult, aren't you? Compared to that, Masato is..."
"But you still like Kusakabe. . ... . . I guess."
Contrary to his words, his voice and expression do not reveal his dislike for Kusakabe.
"In the past... It wasn't like that...He apologized when he did something wrong and had a strong sense of justice. I started hanging out with Masato in elementary school when I was bullied for being only half-Japanese, and he always helped me out."
Sounds like something out of a comic book.
Well, with an encounter like that, its no wonder she fell in love with him.
"But I think it was around the time we entered junior high school. That's when Masato started to change...In elementary school he was not interested in girls, but in junior high school he started to pay attention to what girls thought of him... I was like, "Oh, He's not interested in girls in elementary school, and then in junior high school, he started looking at girls""
That's what you call puberty.
"To be honest, if you ask me if I like Masato now, I can't say yes right away... "
" I see..."
"But childhood friends are a pain in the ass. Knowing the way he used to be, I'm hoping that he'll come back to me like he used to do. It's not that he'll change, it's that he'll come back that's really tricky....I mean, he did that once, so rather than hoping for an another change, it's an expectation that he'll come back to the way he used to be."
When I heard this story, I thought it sounded like a curse.
Sonoda makes a good point, the expectation that he'll come back to the way he used to be is higher than hoping for a change.
The way he used to be...
But will she be rewarded by those high expectations?
A tadpole that has turned into a frog cannot turn back into a tadpole.
A changed human being will not be the same as before...
No, no.
It's my wish.
If Kusakabe stays the same, I might have a chance.
That's what I want to think.
"Sorry to talk like this. Lunch break is over, let's finish eating soon."
After that, we finished our lunch and went back to the classroom in a heavy atmosphere.
Thanks for the chapter.
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