My Classmate Whom I Helped Seems to Be Mentally Sick, So I've Been Trying My Best to Hide My True Identity, But It Seems Like I've Been Found Out - Chapter 11

I Should At Least Say Hello

“Books to read tomorrow…”

On the way home, Sumire Murasaki was quiet.

She would occasionally start a casual conversation, but there were no probing questions like there had been until yesterday.

In a way, the peace was nice, but it also felt somewhat eerie.

It was like the calm before the storm.

It even felt like some kind of omen.

And then there was the dark expression she had shown earlier in the clubroom.

When she’s in a bad mood, there’s a dangerous air on her.

“I guess I need to keep my promise… hmm?”

As soon as I returned to my room and started rummaging through my bookshelf, I received a message on LINE.

When I checked my smartphone, there was a message from Sumire Murasaki.

【I’m looking forward to tomorrow’s book. Let’s do our best in the club.】

Receiving such a message made me feel a little warm inside.

It was the first LINE message I had ever received from a girl.

And when that girl is Sumire Murasaki, it’s only natural for any guy to feel at least a little excited.

Whatever the reason, I couldn’t have imagined a few days ago that the school idol would be looking forward to talking to me tomorrow.

“… What should I reply?”

I’m exactly the sort of guy who’s never really talked to girls.

I can’t come up with a witty response.

As I stop what I’m doing and stare at the message from her, pondering what to write, another notification sound rings out, and a new message arrives.

【Hey, what are you doing right now?】

【Hey, are you actually looking for the book?】

【Hey, is there someone at your house, by any chance?】

【Hey, being left on read is kind of painful.】

” …. ”

Her messages fill the screen.

I lost my words to her momentum and the indefinable pressure I felt.

And then I remembered.

She’s sick, or rather, she’s a mentally unstable person.

I realize anew how foolish and naive I’ve been to be a little elated.

I shouldn’t let my guard down with this girl.

It’s insane for her to send so many messages when it’s not even confirmed that I am the one she has feelings for.

If this is how it is in a friendship, I can easily imagine it wouldn’t just be a commotion of confinement if we actually started dating.

Scary.

But today I also learned something.

I shouldn’t upset her.

【Sorry, I didn’t know what to say. I am actually looking for the book right now.】

With my unskilled hands and trembling fingers, I somehow managed to send that message.

And immediately,

【Thank god, I thought you were ignoring me. Let me know how it went tomorrow morning, okay?】

After that message came, I sent 【Okay, I’ll do my best】 and the messages stopped.

After heaving a sigh of relief, I went to take a bath.

Then after calming my nerves, I checked my smartphone as soon as I got out of the bath.

Feeling relieved again that there were no messages from her, I finally started looking for the book to use in tomorrow’s club activity.

She said she likes light novels.

I also like light novels, but if we talk about genre, I prefer stories with tsundere heroines.

I decided to let her read something I liked.

If her mentally unstable nature is not inherent but influenced by books, then reading different books might change her personality.

Believing in such a slight possibility, I packed several books filled with tsundere elements into my bag.

***

“Good morning, Takizawa-kun.”

“Ah, good morning, Murasaki-san.”

Morning.

Today, unbelievably, Sumire Murasaki came to my house to pick me up.

It wasn’t a coincidence she was in front of my house.

She came to the front door and rang the bell to call me out.

My mother was in the living room, but the moment the bell rang, I, who was just ready to leave the house intuitively knew it was Sumire Murasaki.

Then I grabbed my stuff and rushed out.

“Hayate, a guest? Oh, who is she?”

“Mo-Mom? Didn’t I tell you that you don’t have to come out?”

Of course, I never had a friend who came to pick me up in the morning before, so my mother also came to the front door with a curious look.

If possible, or rather, I didn’t want to introduce Sumire Murasaki because it would complicate things, but it’s too late now.

While I was flustered, trying to make up a suitable excuse, my mom talked to Sumire Murasaki without paying attention to me.

“Isn’t it Sumire-chan? Did you come all this way to pick up Hayate today?”

“Good morning, auntie. Yes, it’s the same way, and actually, we joined the same club yesterday.”

“Oh, is that so? This child never tells me such things. Well then, please take care of Hayate.”

My mom nudged my back, pushing me out of the front door.

Then, with a grin, she said, “Have a good day,” and closed the front door.

“Ah…”

“What’s the matter, Takizawa-kun?”

“Uh, no… well, did you know my mom?”

That was the first thing that came to my mind.

My mom knew Murasaki’s name, but I had never mentioned her, and my mom is a housewife, so it’s unlikely she had a chance to meet her outside.

Then, how do they know each other?

She explained it to me with a laugh when I asked.

“I often see your mom at the supermarket when shopping in the evening. I heard that her son is my classmate.”

“I-Is that so? I see, you knew each other from before.”

“Right? The world is so small. Becoming friends like this with a classmate who is the son of someone I know.”

“Yeah, really.”

Being completely on guard due to her mentally unstable nature, I assumed she might have approached my mom when I was not around.

I was imagining unnecessary things, but it seems I was wrong.

Well, we live nearby, so maybe such coincidences do happen.

I convinced myself and headed to school with her.