What If I Told Tomori-san, The Girl Who's Cold Only Towards Me, That I Knew Her Secret Account? - V1 Chapter 6.5

Events on a Snowy Day ① 5

“Kagisaka-kun!”

Time returns to the present.

It’s the evening, and I’m calling out to Kagisaka-kun just as he steps out of the school building.

The strong wind that was present in the morning has calmed down.

“Are you feeling better now?”

“Yeah, um… Thank you for helping me today.”

In the end, I followed his suggestion and left the LHR midway.

It was my first time faking illness, but I rested in the infirmary bed for a while and returned to the classroom in time for the end of the day.

Now, I’m stopping him on his way home to express my gratitude.

“You liar. You lied to the whole class.”

“I don’t have as much popularity as Tomori, that’s why. Well, I don’t want to take charge of the class again.”

“What a waste. You have the ability, so you should use it.”

“I don’t have any abilities, really.”

For some reason, Kagisaka-kun’s voice sounds slightly self-deprecating.

“More importantly, it’s rare for Tomori to come and express her thanks.”

“You, on the other hand, are as aloof as ever. Won’t you just accept my thanks sincerely?”

“I didn’t specifically do it because I expect something in return, though.”

“That might true. But…”

As we walk along the cherry blossom trees adorned with fresh green leaves, I look up at the face of the boy taller than me and honestly convey my thoughts.

“Even without saying ‘help me,’ Kagisaka-kun, you helped me again.”

“Again?”

“On the day of the entrance exam, you helped me too, didn’t you?”

“That happened, huh?”

“You have such a bad personality. Even though you remember it clearly.”

“I got caught. Well, it’s no surprise that it left an impression. Even though I insulted you when we parted ways, you came and thanked me politely after the entrance ceremony.”

“Of course. Because I know you deliberately chose to play the role of the villain.”

Back then, I couldn’t see through his intentions, but Kagisaka-kun is perceptive.

Realizing that he couldn’t convince me through a normal conversation, he intentionally acted in a way that would provoke my anger.

It was all for the sake of getting me to the exam venue.

I didn’t realize it at the time and left him behind in anger.

And…

“…I’m sorry. I heard rumors that weren’t favorable towards you after the entrance ceremony, so I made sure to deny them to everyone…but…”

[Azusa-chan, you’re as kind as ever.]

[You don’t have to lie to protect Kagisaka!]

[That guy helped the dog and Tomori? I can’t believe that.]

Conversations like that, where no one took me seriously.

I can understand why, considering how Kagisaka-kun appears at the academy.

He lacks cooperativeness, doesn’t show kindness to others, and is a loner. But——

“Please stop, it’s getting on my nerves.”

“Ehh…”

“Don’t suddenly put on that apologetic face. The bad reputation around me is my own fault. It’s not Tomori’s fault.”

“Kagisaka-kun…”

Yes, the real him is different.

[I know it, even though no one else does.]

[K-kun is a really kind and reliable person.]

I mutter it like bragging as if boasting about it on my smartphone tucked in my pocket.

(That’s why I wanted to reform him. I wanted to liven up the class together as class representatives. I wanted us to become friends.)

Looking back now, at that moment of reunion——Maybe I undoubtedly fell in love with Kagisaka-kun.

(And a new goal was born.)

The boy who helped me, who always helped someone else.

Yes, from now on, it’s not just about helping someone…

[I want to become someone who can make him like me. That’s why no matter how much I like K-kun, I won’t confess my feelings first. Because…]

[Because I want to hear the words ‘I love you’ directly from K-kun’s mouth!]

Just as we reached the school gate, Kagisaka-kun stopped.

Before I knew it, he was looking at the smartphone in his right hand.

“What’s wrong? Are you watching another dog video or something?”

“Uh… well, something like that.”

“Hmm, it must be a really cute video for you to even walk while using your smartphone.”

“Ah… yeah, I also think I’ve been looking at it too much lately.”

Despite my sarcastic comment, he surprisingly showed sincere reflection.

Perhaps it’s because of the sunset, but his face looks a bit red.

Could it be that he’s actually looking at my secret account…? I was about to doubt that, but…

(There’s no way that’s true.)

Looking back, I was being overly self-conscious.

He gave me the canned coffee, ate my karaage, and gave me a photo.

It wasn’t because he had been looking at my private account.

It was all because Kagisaka-kun is a kind person.

(I should thank Chifuyu. Friends are the best thing ever.)

Despite everything that has happened, I’ve realized what’s truly important, and it feels like I can get closer to Kagisaka-kun.

Ah, as expected of Chifuyu Kazami.

With the character ‘風’ (wind) in her surname, she brings a favorable wind to our relationship—!

(TN: “Kazami” (風見) is a Japanese surname composed of the kanji characters for “wind” (風) and “see” or “observe” (見). It can be interpreted as “one who observes the wind” or “one who sees the wind.” This surname may evoke the image of someone who is perceptive, aware, or attuned to their surroundings.)

“!?”

I may have been too carried away with my excitement.

Suddenly, a gust of wind blew!

It must have been a remnant of the strong morning wind.

Completely defenseless, I took the full force of the wind.

My hair became disheveled.

My arms couldn’t defend against it in time.

My skirt fluttered wildly.

“Ah—”

Wait.

I completely forgot about the fact that Kagisaka-kun helped me with LHR.

Come to think of it, what’s under this skirt…

“!”

Kagisaka-kun’s face beside me froze, or rather, turned red.

And it’s definitely not because of the setting sun this time.

“…Did you see?”

Feeling my own face burning as well, I asked with a trembling voice.

“Hey, did you see?”

“I didn’t see.”

“Really?”

“Of course.”

“Please, tell me the truth. I won’t get mad.”

“…”

He took a deep breath and prepared himself with a certain expression on his face.

“Hey, isn’t that underwear a bit too revealing? It’s black with side strings, it’s clearly giving off a sl*tty vibe–“

“So you did see it, huh?!”

“Wait. You said you won’t get mad—”

“No, I’m not angry! I just want to yell… But anyway, please listen, Kagisaka-kun! There’s a reason why I’m wearing something like this!”

“…what kind of reason?”

“Well… It’s all because of Chifuyu! She’s the one who makes the wind blow…!”

“Well, yeah, I mean, the wind earlier was quite strong, but…”

“Wait, that’s not what I wanted to say—”

“But blaming Kazami for it is unreasonable, don’t you think?”

“Hey, wait! That’s not what I meant to say!”

I didn’t want to hear these words!

While complaining in my mind, I decided to change my initial plans and walk with Kagisaka-kun along the commuting route to somehow explain myself.

(TN: She’s the one who makes the wind blow…!, The pun lies in the word “風” (kaze), which means both “wind” and is a part of the character’s name, Kazami (風見).)