The Day He Noticed That Girl.

“Some people eat during class. Even in a school that values club activities, banning early lunches is a given. Even more so in a public school.”

During homeroom, after all the classes had ended, I watched absentmindedly as the small discipline committee member continued speaking despite the obvious disinterest in the room.

Her name is Kinoshita Minami. We’re in the same class this year. She’s serious and clumsy. Small. A discipline committee member.

That’s about all I know about her.

Even though she’s on the discipline committee, I’ve never seen anyone so determined to do their job while being so disliked by those around them. In some ways, she’s really clumsy.

“Thank you, Kinoshita. So, everyone, please be mindful of that. Does anyone else have anything to share?”

At the end of homeroom, the homeroom teacher asked if anyone had any announcements. Usually, no one raised their hand, eager to rush off to club activities as sophomores. Kinoshita’s presence might indeed be stressful for them.

After all, starting tomorrow, clubs are banned due to exams. Today is the last day for club activities.

“I have more.”

“There’s more!?”

“Yes. Many people in our grade don’t follow the rules for the bicycle parking area──”

As Kinoshita continued to speak standing up, I glanced around the room.

Protest, irritation, boredom, emptiness. Clearly negative feelings were directed at the small girl in the center seat.

“──That’s all.”

“O-Oh. Haha, everyone, be careful!”

“Sensei, this isn’t something to laugh about──”

When the teacher laughed to change the atmosphere, Kinoshita, who seemed to think he wasn’t taking her seriously, tried to pursue it further.

Saiga clapped his hands and said loudly.

“Alright, let’s go home!”

Using his words as an excuse, the club members rushed out.

Kinoshita didn’t even have time to stop them.

The teacher walked over to Kinoshita, looking troubled, and offered words of encouragement.

“I’m sure everyone heard you.”

Kinoshita looked down.

Saiga, the instigator, avoided Kinoshita and circled around to leave the classroom. He gave me a look as if to say, “It’s up to you now,” but I ignored him and headed to the bathroom.

“…”

As I left the classroom, I felt like I made eye contact with Kinoshita. Her eyes seemed filled with a sense of helplessness rather than frustration or anger.

“…It’s none of my business.”

I thought as I walked down the hallway.

Whenever I try to interfere in situations like this, things don’t go well.

I know I’m better than others in some ways. I have confidence in my ability to keep working hard. But that also means I don’t understand the feelings of those who can’t.

For example, if someone has a problem they need to solve. If I help them, I end up more involved than they are, and eventually, they say:

‘Then you can just do it all.’

Someone asked me to help them study to get good grades. I used all my time except for bathing, eating, and sleeping to teach them. They gave up halfway, and I became the top student.

Someone shared their dream of becoming a voice actor and asked for my help. I gathered a lot of information and created a roadmap for them. They turned away, saying it was impossible to do all that.

Someone knew I trained regularly and wanted to get stronger, so they joined me. After three days, they quit, saying it wasn’t fun.

I probably overdid it, and as a result, I’ve lost friends.

My deceased father, despite his great achievements, ruined himself with excessive kindness and left no rights or business to my mother and me.

So, I don’t want to interfere in others’ lives anymore, and I strive to be perfect so no one interferes with mine.

Wanting to help or support someone means they have faults.

I’m perfect as an individual and don’t show any weaknesses. That way, fewer people will try to get involved with me.

And, I ignore others’ faults and problems. That way, I won’t get hurt.

Yes, this is fine. This is fine.

“Phew.”

I stopped at the bathroom door. I wasn’t sure why I didn’t immediately step out into the hallway. It might have been a habit formed from the many people who followed me closely.

In front of our classroom, Kinoshita stood alone for a while after closing the door behind her.

It would be annoying to join her and play into Saiga’s scheme, so I waited and overheard her mutter.

“Maybe it’s just me… It’s not working out…”

Her voice was mixed with tears and sobs.

She walked slowly towards the back stairs, probably intending to go straight home.

“…This won’t work even if it’s not me.”

Knowing it would be another scar on my perfect life, my feet moved on their own.

──Hey, me, didn’t you just say you don’t want to interfere in others’ lives?

──No… I don’t have to do anything myself. I can just subtly convey it through her friends. That way, it won’t count as interference.

Convincing myself of this, I headed back to the classroom, passing by her.

“Hey, Ryoma-kun!”

“Forgot something?”

There were two groups of girls and one group of boys still in the classroom.

“Yeah, something like that.”

I didn’t actually forget anything, but I returned to my desk to give that impression.

Then, I asked the group of girls.

“Kinoshita seems to have dropped something, but I couldn’t catch up with her. Does anyone have her contact info?”

“Huh, Kinoshita-san? Contact info… Does anyone know?”

“I don’t think she’s even in our group LINE.”

“Seriously? Wow, she really isn’t. Maybe she doesn’t even use LINE.”

“Is that even possible? But I don’t think any of us know.”

Looks like it’s no good. Seriously. I can’t believe there’s someone else besides me who’s not in the group.

“Oh, by the way, Ryoma-kun! Let’s exchange LINE IDs!”

It shifted to me. I couldn’t help it.

“Sure. I’ll get it ready by the sports festival, so wait for it.”

When I said that with a smile, they nodded happily.

But it seemed they didn’t know anything about Kinoshita.

I also asked the other group of girls, but they started prying unnecessarily into my relationship with Kinoshita, so I left. As a last resort, I turned to the boys’ group──specifically, my manga buddy, Kono.

“Kinoshita-san’s contact info…? Do you think I’d know if the girls don’t…?”

“Don’t make that ghostly face…”

“Goda, you shouldn’t underestimate me. I’ve never been asked to exchange LINE with a girl. Twice, girls reluctantly exchanged it with me.”

“What are you boasting about?”

The other boys didn’t even make eye contact with me.

They even told Kono they were impressed he could talk to me, but I don’t care. Despite trying to be a perfect man, I make an effort to be friendly with everyone.

“…Damn it.”

I left the classroom and sighed. Saiga, you really stirred things up.

“In the end, I guess I have to do it myself.”

If no one knows her contact information, I have no choice.

In my mind, I could hear Saiga laughing, saying, ‘You really are that kind of person.’

…It seems I need to punish myself. Maybe add a hundred more sit-ups.