Chapter 16
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We dropped off at a parking lot a short distance from the school, and we walked along the paved road, both of us side by side.
“—Ah right, Haruyuki-kun. Since school is not in session tomorrow, why don’t we go out together?”
“Going out?”
“Yes, mainly to go shopping. You should buy things that you need at home, as well as proper loungewear and everyday clothing. Also, I’d like to get some matching mugs.”
I don’t have a part-time job tomorrow, and to be honest, I’m grateful that she’s taking me shopping.
It wasn’t too inconvenient now, but I had been thinking about getting at least one outfit that I wouldn’t be embarrassed to wear next to Tojo-san.
I feel embarrassed saying that most of my clothes are from when I was in middle school.
“All right. I’ll leave the schedule for the day open.”
“Thank you very much. I’d like to ask you this first, is there any place you want to go, Haruyuki-kun? I was thinking of using it as a reference for tomorrow’s plan.”
A place to go, huh?
I’m not sure I could think of anything in particular, and I don’t think I needed to force myself to come up with something.
“I’ll be fine as long as I can stop by the clothing store. I’ll take care of Tojo-san’s shopping later.”
“Can I ask you to carry my luggage…?”
“Sure, I don’t mind at all. As I said yesterday, I’m confident in my ability to carry heavy things.”
“… I’ll take your word for it, then, okay?”
Still, with a somewhat reserved expression on her face, Tojo-san adorably pleaded to me.
I’m sure no man can withstand this begging.
“… Shall we get going to school?”
“Ah, please.”
“Is it okay!? Is it really okay!?”
While calming down Tojo-san, who was desperately trying to persuade me, I walked away from her. Since I said I wouldn’t tell anyone about our relationship, I couldn’t do anything stupid like going to school with her side by side.
That’s why Tojo-san and I need to appear like normal classmates.
(I’m sure we both agreed on that…)
I couldn’t help but smile when I saw how Tojo-san had been looking back at me frequently to confirm my presence.
I’m sure that Tojo-san will be able to get through this without this level of worry, and it might be more dangerous for her to carry the burden of being found out. I’ve been living my life without us getting deeply involved before, after all.
It’s just a matter of continuing the same relationship, even if it’s only in school.
I walked through the school gates with many students, keeping a reasonable distance between us.
As I walked towards the classroom, Tojo-san, who was walking in front of me, was quickly surrounded by her female classmates.
“Good morning! Tojo-san!”
“Yes, good morning.”
“Tojo-san! The shampoo you recommended the other day was really great! Thank you!”
“I’m glad you found it useful. I’ll let you know if I find any more good ones.”
In the blink of an eye, she became the same ‘Tojo-san’ I had the impression of just a few days ago.
She was smiling in a moderately friendly way, trying not to make waves or provoke anyone.
I knew it was an act, but if I hadn’t, I would have never guessed Tojo-san’s true intentions.
“—Oi, Haru.”
“Hmm?”
I was about to turn away from Tojo-san and head for my seat when a familiar man’s voice stopped me.
“Masaya…”
“Are you feeling okay already?”
“Yeah, thanks to you.”
The man sitting in front of me is Nishino Masaya.
He’s one of my few friends from junior high school, and he’s also someone who knows about my living situation. It is no exaggeration to say that he is the person I trust the most at the moment.
“You’ve… been working so hard that you don’t even get a chance to sleep. I’m begging you, don’t be so reckless. Even my mom said she’d lend you a room or two, and you should try to take it a little easier.”
“I appreciate the suggestion, but…”
For some time now, Masaya’s family has been taking care of me.
I was very grateful for that, but I don’t want to rely on them feeling sorry for myself. I’m too embarrassed to say it, but I want to be on equal footing with Masaya.
I felt that if I relied on him there, I would remain with a kind of guilt.
I should probably tell Masaya about her in the near future.
I didn’t want to worry him anymore because he’s a very important friend.
“Well, today’s first-period class is maths. Are you okay about that?”
“Hmm, what?”
“Well, we learned a new formula yesterday, so I’m afraid you’re going to be left behind.”
“Oh, that’s okay. Tojo-san gave me her notes yester―”
―Ah.
“Tojo-san gave you her notes?”
I was thinking about Tojo-san when I spoke, and it seems that my words slipped out.
I said I wouldn’t tell anyone about it, but it didn’t even take five minutes from me arriving at school to reveal it.
You can never be too careful. I couldn’t help but sigh at my own carelessness.
“I’ll tell you all about it later…”
Oh, please do.”
I sighed for the second time in front of Masaya, who nodded with a wicked grin on his face.
Please report us if you find any errors so we can fix it asap!
We dropped off at a parking lot a short distance from the school, and we walked along the paved road, both of us side by side.
“—Ah right, Haruyuki-kun. Since school is not in session tomorrow, why don’t we go out together?”
“Going out?”
“Yes, mainly to go shopping. You should buy things that you need at home, as well as proper loungewear and everyday clothing. Also, I’d like to get some matching mugs.”
I don’t have a part-time job tomorrow, and to be honest, I’m grateful that she’s taking me shopping.
It wasn’t too inconvenient now, but I had been thinking about getting at least one outfit that I wouldn’t be embarrassed to wear next to Tojo-san.
I feel embarrassed saying that most of my clothes are from when I was in middle school.
“All right. I’ll leave the schedule for the day open.”
“Thank you very much. I’d like to ask you this first, is there any place you want to go, Haruyuki-kun? I was thinking of using it as a reference for tomorrow’s plan.”
A place to go, huh?
I’m not sure I could think of anything in particular, and I don’t think I needed to force myself to come up with something.
“I’ll be fine as long as I can stop by the clothing store. I’ll take care of Tojo-san’s shopping later.”
“Can I ask you to carry my luggage…?”
“Sure, I don’t mind at all. As I said yesterday, I’m confident in my ability to carry heavy things.”
“… I’ll take your word for it, then, okay?”
Still, with a somewhat reserved expression on her face, Tojo-san adorably pleaded to me.
I’m sure no man can withstand this begging.
“… Shall we get going to school?”
“Ah, please.”
“Is it okay!? Is it really okay!?”
While calming down Tojo-san, who was desperately trying to persuade me, I walked away from her. Since I said I wouldn’t tell anyone about our relationship, I couldn’t do anything stupid like going to school with her side by side.
That’s why Tojo-san and I need to appear like normal classmates.
(I’m sure we both agreed on that…)
I couldn’t help but smile when I saw how Tojo-san had been looking back at me frequently to confirm my presence.
I’m sure that Tojo-san will be able to get through this without this level of worry, and it might be more dangerous for her to carry the burden of being found out. I’ve been living my life without us getting deeply involved before, after all.
It’s just a matter of continuing the same relationship, even if it’s only in school.
I walked through the school gates with many students, keeping a reasonable distance between us.
As I walked towards the classroom, Tojo-san, who was walking in front of me, was quickly surrounded by her female classmates.
“Good morning! Tojo-san!”
“Yes, good morning.”
“Tojo-san! The shampoo you recommended the other day was really great! Thank you!”
“I’m glad you found it useful. I’ll let you know if I find any more good ones.”
In the blink of an eye, she became the same ‘Tojo-san’ I had the impression of just a few days ago.
She was smiling in a moderately friendly way, trying not to make waves or provoke anyone.
I knew it was an act, but if I hadn’t, I would have never guessed Tojo-san’s true intentions.
“—Oi, Haru.”
“Hmm?”
I was about to turn away from Tojo-san and head for my seat when a familiar man’s voice stopped me.
“Masaya…”
“Are you feeling okay already?”
“Yeah, thanks to you.”
The man sitting in front of me is Nishino Masaya.
He’s one of my few friends from junior high school, and he’s also someone who knows about my living situation. It is no exaggeration to say that he is the person I trust the most at the moment.
“You’ve… been working so hard that you don’t even get a chance to sleep. I’m begging you, don’t be so reckless. Even my mom said she’d lend you a room or two, and you should try to take it a little easier.”
“I appreciate the suggestion, but…”
For some time now, Masaya’s family has been taking care of me.
I was very grateful for that, but I don’t want to rely on them feeling sorry for myself. I’m too embarrassed to say it, but I want to be on equal footing with Masaya.
I felt that if I relied on him there, I would remain with a kind of guilt.
I should probably tell Masaya about her in the near future.
I didn’t want to worry him anymore because he’s a very important friend.
“Well, today’s first-period class is maths. Are you okay about that?”
“Hmm, what?”
“Well, we learned a new formula yesterday, so I’m afraid you’re going to be left behind.”
“Oh, that’s okay. Tojo-san gave me her notes yester―”
―Ah.
“Tojo-san gave you her notes?”
I was thinking about Tojo-san when I spoke, and it seems that my words slipped out.
I said I wouldn’t tell anyone about it, but it didn’t even take five minutes from me arriving at school to reveal it.
You can never be too careful. I couldn’t help but sigh at my own carelessness.
“I’ll tell you all about it later…”
Oh, please do.”
I sighed for the second time in front of Masaya, who nodded with a wicked grin on his face.
We dropped off at a parking lot a short distance from the school, and we walked along the paved road, both of us side by side.Ah right, Haruyuki-kun. Since school is not in session tomorrow, why don't we go out together?Going out?Yes, mainly to go shopping. You should buy things that you need at home, as well as proper loungewear and everyday clothing. Also, I'd like to get some matching mugs.I don't have a part-time job tomorrow, and to be honest, I'm grateful that she's taking me shopping.It wasn't too inconvenient now, but I had been thinking about getting at least one outfit that I wouldn't be embarrassed to wear next to Tojo-san.I feel embarrassed saying that most of my clothes are from when I was in middle school.All right. I'll leave the schedule for the day open.Thank you very much. I'd like to ask you this first, is there any place you want to go, Haruyuki-kun? I was thinking of using it as a reference for tomorrow's plan.A place to go, huh?I'm not sure I could think of anything in particular, and I don't think I needed to force myself to come up with something.I'll be fine as long as I can stop by the clothing store. I'll take care of Tojo-san's shopping later.Can I ask you to carry my luggage?Sure, I don't mind at all. As I said yesterday, I'm confident in my ability to carry heavy things. I'll take your word for it, then, okay?Still, with a somewhat reserved expression on her face, Tojo-san adorably pleaded to me.I'm sure no man can withstand this begging. Shall we get going to school?Ah, please.Is it okay!? Is it really okay!?While calming down Tojo-san, who was desperately trying to persuade me, I walked away from her. Since I said I wouldn't tell anyone about our relationship, I couldn't do anything stupid like going to school with her side by side.That's why Tojo-san and I need to appear like normal classmates.I'm sure we both agreed on thatI couldn't help but smile when I saw how Tojo-san had been looking back at me frequently to confirm my presence.I'm sure that Tojo-san will be able to get through this without this level of worry, and it might be more dangerous for her to carry the burden of being found out. I've been living my life without us getting deeply involved before, after all.It's just a matter of continuing the same relationship, even if it's only in school.I walked through the school gates with many students, keeping a reasonable distance between us.As I walked towards the classroom, Tojo-san, who was walking in front of me, was quickly surrounded by her female classmates.Good morning! Tojo-san!Yes, good morning.Tojo-san! The shampoo you recommended the other day was really great! Thank you!I'm glad you found it useful. I'll let you know if I find any more good ones.In the blink of an eye, she became the same Tojo-san' I had the impression of just a few days ago.She was smiling in a moderately friendly way, trying not to make waves or provoke anyone.I knew it was an act, but if I hadn't, I would have never guessed Tojo-san's true intentions.Oi, Haru.Hmm?I was about to turn away from Tojo-san and head for my seat when a familiar man's voice stopped me.MasayaAre you feeling okay already?Yeah, thanks to you.The man sitting in front of me is Nishino Masaya.He's one of my few friends from junior high school, and he's also someone who knows about my living situation. It is no exaggeration to say that he is the person I trust the most at the moment.You've been working so hard that you don't even get a chance to sleep. I'm begging you, don't be so reckless. Even my mom said she'd lend you a room or two, and you should try to take it a little easier.I appreciate the suggestion, butFor some time now, Masaya's family has been taking care of me.I was very grateful for that, but I don't want to rely on them feeling sorry for myself. I'm too embarrassed to say it, but I want to be on equal footing with Masaya.I felt that if I relied on him there, I would remain with a kind of guilt.I should probably tell Masaya about her in the near future.I didn't want to worry him anymore because he's a very important friend.Well, today's first-period class is maths. Are you okay about that?Hmm, what?Well, we learned a new formula yesterday, so I'm afraid you're going to be left behind.Oh, that's okay. Tojo-san gave me her notes yesterAh.Tojo-san gave you her notes?I was thinking about Tojo-san when I spoke, and it seems that my words slipped out.I said I wouldn't tell anyone about it, but it didn't even take five minutes from me arriving at school to reveal it.You can never be too careful. I couldn't help but sigh at my own carelessness.I'll tell you all about it laterOh, please do.I sighed for the second time in front of Masaya, who nodded with a wicked grin on his face.
