I Went Back to Being a High School Student Again, but I Was Rejected by My Childhood Friend, Whom I Thought Was In Love With Me, So I tried to Suicide With the Most Beautiful Girl In the School. - Chapter 6

Promise

　It’s the morning after having a black history with Natsuki and Atsuta-sensei.

　I went to school, exchanged greetings with my classmates, and went to my seat.

　On the way to my seat, I passed by Natsuki, who was reading a book.

　I was unsure whether I should pass by her silently, but Natsuki had told me not to ignore her from now on, so I decided to also greet her.

“Morning, Natsuki.”

　But she didn’t even take a glance at me and continued to read silently.

　However, it’s not that she did not hear me, because I got a reaction from her.

　Her hand holding the book was shaking slightly.

　It seems that the incident on the rooftop yesterday had instilled a sense of fear in her.

　I guess it’s not unreasonable. Anyone would think he is dangerous when a boy with whom she has no friendship asks her to die together.

　I smiled, walked past Natsuki, and sat down in my seat.

　As I was opening my bag and sorting out my belongings, I felt someone sitting in front of me.

“Tokyo people can’t even greet each other, huh?”

　One of my classmates, who must have heard that my greetings were being ignored, said to me in a sarcastic tone.

“Don’t talk like that too much.”

　I looked up and replied.

　It was my childhood friend, Koyoi, who was talking to me.

“…Good morning, Koyoi.”

“Yeah, good morning.”

　Koyoi replied to my greeting but gave me a puzzled look, probably because I had spoken in defense of Natsuki.

　To change the subject, I asked her what was going on,

“…do you need something from me? “

“Nope, I was just trying to cheer up a childhood friend who was depressed because he was being ignored by the most beautiful girl in this school. “

　Koyoi said grimly.

　Although she dislikes Natsuki, I guess she admits that Natsuki’s appearance is exceptional.

“Hey, why did you run away yesterday? …I mean, you’ve been avoiding me lately, didn’t you? “

　It’s been more than a week since I confessed my feelings to her, and I still haven’t been able to talk to her properly because of the awkwardness.

　…but that’s going to have to change.

　Koyoi hasn’t done anything wrong, and it’s certainly rude to keep avoiding her.

“Sorry.”

　I apologized, and she looked surprised. I guess she didn’t expect me to directly apologize.

“I’m so broken-hearted after my beloved Koyoi-chan rejected me. I felt uncomfortable talking to you.”

　I said with a straight face, and Koyoi said, [Ha?]. Hearing an embarrassing statement from me, she was surprised, and her cheeks flushed.

　―Stupid, she said and stood up.

“From now on, please don’t ignore me.”

　After saying this, Koyoi left and went back to her seat.

　As I watched her back, I noticed that Natsuki was looking at me out of the corner of my eye.

　When I turned my eyes to Natsuki, she looked away from me.

　What’s going on? I wondered.

“I see you’ve finally come to your senses, Akki.”

“You don’t need to be in love with anyone, the day will come soon when you’ll be glad you were rejected.”

　The boys around me, who had been listening to my conversation with Koyoi, tapped me on the shoulder and talked to me in a friendly manner.

　 …They look as if they’re trying to hold back their laughter.

“Shut up.”

　After that, my classmates keep on teasing me until the morning HR starts.

* * *

　I started to talk with Koyoi normally, but I didn’t talk with Natsuki at all, and the days passed by.

　The summer vacation of this second round of my senior year of high school starts tomorrow.

　The closing ceremony is over, and all I have to do today is to go home. Most of my classmates, however, have a gloomy look on their faces.

　They have to study hard after tomorrow because of the make-up classes and the summer classes. It’s almost the summer of the examinations for the students, and most of them can’t take a rest in a carefree manner.

　――I leave my seat, thinking about the summer of the examinations.

　I walk toward the exit, thinking that I should go home, but on the way, Natsuki stands up.

　Then she looked at me and said

“See you on the rooftop after this.”

　And then she left the classroom.

　….I couldn’t even respond to this exchange, which was so quick.

　I almost suspected that I had misheard her, but I decided to go to the rooftop just to be sure.

* * *

　When I came to the door leading to the rooftop, the padlock was opened.

　It seemed that I had not heard wrong.

　So I open the door and step onto the rooftop.

　Unlike when I came here before, the rainy season is over now, and the sun is shining brightly in the sky.

　And there was Natsuki at the center of the rooftop.

　She noticed that the door was open and turned around.

　I walked up to her and asked her.

“…what do you want? “

“What did you say to those stupid gals? “

　Instead of answering my question, Natsuki asked me a question in return.

“I lied and told them to stop harassing you before they get on the teacher’s radar.”

“…you have a bad personality.”

　Natsuki smiles at my answer and says to me.

“How can you come to such a conclusion? “

“Because I thought those dim-witted gals have been quiet lately.”

“….make sense.”

　Natsuki nodded her head in satisfaction at my answer.

“The day after I talked to you on the rooftop, I didn’t get any more bad comments or harassment from those girls, so I knew it was you because of the timing…Why did you do that? “

　She seems to be questioning my actions.

“I scared Natsuki when I suddenly asked you to die together, didn’t I? So I’m just trying to make up for it.”

“That was plain creepy and actually really scary.”

“I’m sincerely sorry…”

　I bowed my head to Natsuki, who hugged herself with both arms.

“It’s okay. You’ve made my school life a little less stressful. I don’t care about that anymore. “

　Natsuki said, but I had my doubts.

“Even so, you’ve been glancing at me quite often during class and breaks… Is that because you were wary of me or what? “

　At first, I thought she only looked at me because I had a conversation with Koyoi.

　But then she was also often glancing at me the same way in class and during breaks, and I felt sorry that I had traumatized Natsuki…

“It wasn’t because I was wary… It was because I felt uncomfortable.”

“…uncomfortable? “

　I thought to myself, [Now she knows I’m in a time leap.]

　Just kidding, I guess it was too much for a high schooler to guess that…

　She looked me straight in the eye and then opened her mouth.

“Intonation.”

“….what’s up with the intonation? “

　I asked, not knowing what she was going to say.

“In class, and when you talk to our classmates, you have a country accent, don’t you?

“Okay…? “

　I just kept responding casually to her, not knowing what she was trying to say.

　Indeed, all the students and teachers at this school, including me, have quite distinctive intonations, though they don’t have local words or characteristic endings themselves.

　In my former life, after I entered a university in Tokyo and before I got used to standard Japanese, I was often asked to repeat my words when I spoke with an accent.

“But when you talk to me… you don’t have an accent.”

“That’s――”

　Natsuki doesn’t have an accent, so she speaks in standard Japanese, but there is no reason why I can speak just like her then I keep my mouth shut.

　Natsuki looks at me in silence and smiles kindly.

“I don’t know how long you’ve been studying. That’s what you said the other day, isn’t it? “

　Natsuki asks me, and I remember what I had said.

　To Natsuki, who imitated my accent, [You really just wanted to fit in with everyone as soon as possible, didn’t you?].

　That’s what she said.

“You’re a country boy, but you tried so hard to get along with me, didn’t you? That’s an auspicious attitude.”

　As if making fun of me, Natsuki said to me.

“…when I went to a university in Tokyo later, I didn’t want to be ridiculed for being a country bumpkin, so I practiced in secret.”

“Hmmm. Then I’ll just leave it at that, I guess? “

　Natsuki said to my answer without hiding her smirk.

　I’m not comfortable with the idea of being ridiculed by a high school girl, even though I’m in my twenties, but I’m glad that the mental shock I’ve given her seems to have faded away…

　As I was convincing myself of this, she suddenly turned serious.

“Okay.”

　She mutters suddenly.

　I waited for her to continue, not knowing what she was talking about.

“I promise.”

　She says in a serious voice, a complete change from her previous words.

“When I decide to die――――you’ll die with me.”

　I don’t know what kind of change of heart she has had since the last time we talked on the rooftop.

　But when I heard her say those words, I was elated…

　Together with her, I could end this meaningless second life cycle.

“Thanks…”

　I say.

“You’re welcome.”

　Then she said that and smiled the most beautiful smile I had ever seen.

　Yet her beauty was so fragile, so fragile that it reminded me of my [death].

* * *

　Thus, Mirai Natsuki and I made a suicide promise to each other.　　

　 ――It wasn’t long before we fulfilled that promise in the near future.