Is It Okay to Fall in Love?

†

Today’s bento was a cute but low-key affair with octopus-shaped sausages, sweet rolled omelet, and rice with furikake. If I consider this low-key, I might be the one with the problem.

Having shaken off the girl who follows me from 20 meters behind and encountering that female teacher again today.

Apparently, Saiga told her that “I was looking for the teacher.”

…That jerk absolutely sold me out to save his own skin. I’ll remember this.

I kept a forced smile and managed to get through the conversation with her, finally letting out a sigh of relief, when I unexpectedly ran into a familiar face.

“──Ah. Godai-san!”

The instant someone called me from behind, I almost flinched and thought “Who is it this time?” But I, the perfect man Goda Ryoma, held it together and turned around. There stood Kinoshita Minami.

I didn’t expect to see her in the hallway far from our classroom on the fourth floor, but I was relieved.

“What are you doing here?”

“I’m glad I ran into you.”

“Huh…?”

A refreshing balm for my frayed nerves. It might be odd to arbitrarily designate someone as soothing, but I was genuinely glad it was Kinoshita. If it had been another bothersome person, I would have had to rename my lunch break to HELL break.

“Well… yes. I’m also happy to see you.”

Her shy smile was incredibly cute.

“It’s kind of embarrassing to be told that.”

“Wh-what!? But you just said it too, Goda-san!!”

Is it my fault? Well, I guess it is.

“I was just really tired. Sorry.”

“You don’t need to apologize… but you always seem so busy during lunch.”

Kinoshita giggled and then pointed her finger as if she remembered something.

“Oh, right. Please listen, Goda-san. I recently found out that your disappearing act during lunch is one of the school’s seven mysteries. Seven mysteries! I had no idea our school had such things. Apparently, there are six more!”

“Really? I’ve been spoiled on one of the school’s seven mysteries from the start…”

“Hehe, since it’s about yourself, that makes sense.”

Standing with her hands clasped behind her back, Kinoshita chatted beside me, looking like she might burst into song at any moment.

Watching her, I thought she seemed in high spirits. When our eyes met, she smiled brightly. Yeah, she’s definitely in a good mood. More than just high spirits, she seemed almost euphoric.

I wondered what had happened.

“Uh, well…”

Kinoshita looked up as if she remembered something and met my gaze again. This time, she quickly looked away, hesitating as she spoke.

“The other six mysteries… should we look for them?”

“Huh?”

“Oh, I mean, yes! It might be a waste of time, so don’t feel obliged! Really, what am I saying? Even if we work hard, it’s not like we’ll gain anything. And I don’t intend to take up your time.”

The school’s seven mysteries, huh. I never thought about it, but I wonder if they actually exist.

Reflecting on my school exploration memories, the water tower area seemed interesting──.

“Really… I don’t want to be a bother… I’m not trying to take advantage of my ability to talk to you, Godai-san, to slack off… I don’t want to betray your expectations…”

Huh? Her braids were swaying sadly in front of me before I realized it.

“Kinoshita?”

“Yes… Sorry…”

“No, it’s my fault. I wasn’t really listening.”

“…So you’re saying to forget about it?”

She seemed to have said something important. Her face looked deeply sorrowful.

“I was imagining that the areas around the water tower and disaster prevention storage seemed like good spots for the mysteries. I don’t really have anyone to talk about these rumors with.”

“…Huh?”

“It’s surprising you’re interested in this, but it sounds fun. If you’re up for it, I’d like to explore with you… how about it?”

“Oh… yes! Yes, please!”

Good. Making Kinoshita look like she was about to cry would have made me feel like a terrible person.

But to think there are still seven mysteries around. I thought they only existed in manga.

“Maybe we could make our own maps. Divide the school into zones, color in the checked areas, make copies for verification──”

“That’s very thorough…”

Kinoshita already had a plan in her head, suggesting ideas one after another.

She sometimes spoke quickly, much like Kono. Both would probably get annoyed if I said that.

Looking at her beside me, I thought how much she seemed ready to hum and skip. Seeing this cheerful Kinoshita was a good thing for me too. It’s a situation I couldn’t have imagined from when we first met at the bookstore.

And then,

Someone blocked our path, standing with hands on hips, looking as if she owned the place—Kisaragi Airi.

Why do Kinoshita and Kisaragi show up in such deserted places? There are only prep rooms and reception rooms on this floor.

“You seem to be having a lot of fun.”

What a villainous line.

“You are…”

Kinoshita seemed slightly surprised, widening her eyes. I better check.

“…Surely you know who this is?”

“What do you take me for? Of course, I know my classmates’ names and faces! She sits right in front of me!”

“Impressive. That’s different from Kisaragi. What else do you know?”

“Huh… I thought she was pretty… She’s always with someone at school, quite popular. Also, she’s quite famous online? Or so I’ve heard.”

Quite famous online, huh. Heh.

“Don’t laugh! I can’t help it if I don’t know these things!”

Kinoshita pouted and glared up at me like an instant boiler.

So, that’s Kinoshita’s understanding. Now, as for Kisaragi, who said she disliked Kinoshita──oh, she seems angrier than expected.

“You’re having a lot of fun!!!!”

“Yeah. But as you can see, we’re just friends. There’s nothing for you to worry about, Kisaragi.”

“…Thank you so much for showing me!!!”

Kisaragi’s glare was intense. Hmm, I thought explaining our relationship would alleviate her concerns. I wanted Kisaragi to understand there was nothing to worry about between me and Kinoshita.

Or was it that being told Kinoshita didn’t know her hurt her pride? No, Kisaragi isn’t that petty.

Then maybe Kisaragi is hiding her true feelings, and there’s another reason she dislikes Kinoshita…

“What were you doing alone?”

“I just happened to run into her here. By the way, what were you doing, Kinoshita?”

“What!?”

Her braids jumped up in surprise. What’s going on?

“Uh, um…”

Under our gazes, she pointed firmly at a nearby door.

“I had business here!!”

It was the chemistry prep room.

“Kinoshita, do you take chemistry?”

“N-no, but! I-I was just curious about what they do here!”

“Really? Giving up your lunch break? Coming all the way to this deserted area?”

Kisaragi raised an eyebrow, suspicion in her eyes.

Kinoshita’s explanation indeed seemed far-fetched. But I was more interested in what she was hiding. I had let it slide because she was in a good mood… but maybe there’s something going on?

The morning LINE message too…

“What… what about you, Kisaragi-san!?”

“I was looking for Ryoma.”

“Ugh, if you have business, go ahead!”

“I have no business.”

“Huh?”

“I was looking for him because I wanted to see him. But I found something extra attached.”

“Something extra!? Are you talking about me!?”

“Who else? If you’re done with the chemistry prep room, this is goodbye.”

“I-I was actually looking for Goda-san!! I finally found him!! I have no business, but I don’t want to leave!! Is that okay!!”

“Jeez… I had a feeling.”

“Did I just say something huge…?”

“Hey, Ryoma, you and Kinoshita──wait, Ryoma!!”

Should I investigate more? If I ignore the possibility that Kinoshita is caught in trouble because I didn’t delve deeper, it would negate everything I’ve done──huh?

“What? Is the chemistry prep room thing settled?”

“…You weren’t listening at all. Yes, the chemistry prep room doesn’t matter anymore.”

Kisaragi’s eyes were filled with frustration. Kinoshita was glaring at Kisaragi, her face red. But since Kinoshita’s change doesn’t seem to be because of Kisaragi, it’s not a pressing issue.

“Letting Kinoshita get beaten down like this means you’re not interested in her anymore?”

“Beaten down…!?”

Ignoring Kinoshita’s shock, I shook my head.

“Kinoshita’s initial impression of Kisaragi told me Kisaragi isn’t an obstacle. Kisaragi isn’t the kind to use her likes and dislikes to manipulate others, so she’s not secretly tormenting Kinoshita.”

“…Don’t act like you know me.”

“I only know you up until six months ago, but if the exam covered just that, I’m confident I’d be world number one.”

“Shut up. A lot has changed in six months.”

Kisaragi stuck out her tongue. She doesn’t seem to have changed much.

“Uh… Goda-san.”

A small voice pulled at my sleeve. Turning, I saw Kinoshita’s innocent expression.

“A-are you two… dating…?”

“What!?”

Kisaragi was taken aback. It’s a common assumption, but it’s been a while since someone asked.

“No. We were just working towards our own goals. There was a time we thought it might be good to go that way──”

“…”

I glanced at Kisaragi’s sullen face and continued.

“But our goals were different, so it didn’t happen.”

“Goals? Goda-san’s?”

“Yeah. My goal is to become a perfect man.”

I smiled lightly. Kinoshita looked puzzled, while Kisaragi twisted her face in discomfort.

“You’re telling her that?”

Indeed, the number of people who know my goal is less than a handful, and even I acknowledge its vagueness, so I don’t often mention it.

But I felt it was okay with Kinoshita. Not just because she wouldn’t blab like everyone else, but because I thought she’d understand.

“Is that so… that’s why you work so hard… always.”

Effort for a goal… My goal is distant.

Studying for tests, practicing for the ball game tournament. Life-long efforts to reach such goals.

Not wasting a single day is my way of working towards my goal.

Even if it doesn’t make sense to most people, or if I’m just fumbling through, trying whatever I can, I am driven by this vague goal.

Most people laugh and say, “Goda, you have some odd goals.”

I don’t mind the laughter, but voicing something so vague isn’t what a perfect person does.

If only those who can understand grasp it, that’s enough.

“That’s about it.”

I smiled lightly, and Kinoshita nodded.

“I support you!”

Being someone to support Kisaragi Airi forever wouldn’t be bad, but not choosing that path led to the present.

“…I don’t like this.”

Kisaragi muttered.

Pointing sharply at Kinoshita, she declared.

“I still don’t like you.”

“Suddenly? Well, not many people like me anyway, so I don’t mind.”

That’s sad to hear.

“Fine! But let me tell you! No one can truly understand Ryoma.”

“If Kisaragi-san understood, we wouldn’t be like this.”

Wow, Kinoshita’s ready to fight too.

“!! Ryoma!!”

“Yeah.”

“…You’ll regret this!”

Watching Kisaragi storm off, I thought.

“Let’s try to get more people to like you, Kinoshita.”

“Haha, yes. But, Goda-san.”

“Hmm?”

Kinoshita pressed her hands to her chest like holding something precious and murmured.

“Knowing even one person likes me… is enough to fill my heart.”

Hmm…

“…And one more thing, sorry, Goda-san.”

“What is it?”

Kinoshita glared where Kisaragi had left and said.

“I hate Kisaragi-san.”

“I see…”

She said the same thing as Kisaragi. I’ll keep that to myself.

But now there’s a bigger problem. And it’s my fault.

To become a perfect man, I must at least turn them into friendly rivals who don’t hurt each other.

It seems challenging, but I have no choice but to try.