All the classroom's a stage, and I was its star player, Kohinata Iroha. That might make it sound like I'm super popular or something, but actually, it was more that little ol' me played many parts.
See, I played a character who shared my name, but she was actually an honor student, and I had to make everyone in class believe that's who I really was. Every day for six hours straight. Mess up, and it was game over for me. I guess you could call it practice for my dream job.
Anyway, it was because of all that stuff that my day went so badly! I was trying so hard to keep that stupid grin off my face aaall day! I just couldn't stop thinking about me and Senpai riding that bike together that morning.
Senpai was almost never ever late, so I didn't get the chance to do that kinda thing with him too often. Maybe if I messed with his alarm clock to make him oversleep, we could do it again. Well, not even I'm that mean.
It was just... His back and shoulders were so broad, and he was pedaling so hard just for me, and he was all warm, and it was super nice, and, and, and...
That was what was going through my head the whole day, not just when we were on the bike. I could still feel the fuzzy warmth of his back on my chest and arms. But I was supposed to be an honor student! I couldn't go around with my head obviously in the clouds! It was frustrating, but I had to conceal my feelings.
Plus, I had more important stuff to worry about anyway: Mashiro-senpai's confession. Ever since I saw what she wrote to Senpai, I've been feeling kinda queasy. Though knowing how dense he was, I doubted even a straight- up confession like that would make him fall in love.
It was Mashiro-senpai's guts that really surprised me. I was really hoping we could just be friends and keep having a ton of fun forever and ever without either of us making a move, but I guess I was too naive.
I let out a sigh at my desk in the corner of the classroom. I didn't know what to do. I hated the idea of Senpai dating someone else, but I didn't wanna
lose Mashiro-senpai as a friend. I just wished I could get rid of this icky feeling inside me.
It wasn't long until third period was over.
"Kohinata-san! There's someone here to see you from the grade above!" "O-Oh, thank you! I'll be there in a second!" I quickly snapped back into
Little Miss Perfect mode.
It only took a split second. Unless anyone had been watching closely, they
wouldn't have noticed.
Still, I couldn't help wondering who was here for me. From the grade
above, I knew Senpai and Ozuma, but they never came to see me during school unless they were together.
When I went out into the corridor, I saw that it was neither of them! In fact it was the last person I wanted to see right now!
"Mashi—uh, hi Tsukinomori-senpai. What's the matter?"
When I was in honor-student mode, I didn't call older students by their first names, and I always went with "-senpai." I had to keep up my polite image, after all.
Anyway, it was Mashiro-senpai who came to see me. She was trembling like a terrified kitten under the stares of the boys walking past and the curious students from my own classroom.
"I-Iroha-chan. Thank goodness you're here. I thought I was going to get molested..."
"Tsukinomori-senpai, it's midday and we are in a school! You shouldn't say such indecent things."
"H-Huh? You seem kinda different than usual, Iroha-chan."
"Different? Don't be absurd! What a ridiculous notion!" I winked at her, hoping she'd get the message.
C'mon... Hint hint...
"Oh, um... Um... Right!" Her face lit up, though she took her sweet time. The next moment, she winked back at me and made a cute pose. Omigod, no!
Why was she posing for a selfie like one of those self-obsessed
influencers?! I mean, sure it was extra super cute because you'd never expect it from her, but she totally missed my message!
I held back the urge to say something or smack her by smiling at her as sweetly as possible. The silence that followed was unbearable.
Image Here
"Um, did I do something wrong?" she finally asked.
"Yes, I'm afraid so."
"U-Um..." Mashiro-senpai's face turned red before my eyes. "S-Sorry, I
just thought that's what high school girls did. So they put it on TickTack or Instorgram? That's what I thought you wanted, um... Ugh, this is embarrassing..."
She was just adorable, even more up close. It was kinda annoying, actually. I could hear the boys in my class wondering about her, noting how pretty the both of us were, and saying something about her being a transfer student. I already knew she was objectively pretty, but this just cinched it.
I didn't like the way we were being watched so closely, though.
"Let's go somewhere else. C'mon," I whispered to her.
"O-Okay."
I led her to a corner of the hallway, where there were far fewer people to
stare at us. I felt safe enough to switch off my act.
"So, why'd you come see me, Mashiro-senpai?"
"Ah, you're back to normal."
"Well, maybe not completely. I might slip!"
"Oh, okay. Anyway I wanted to ask you something."
"Oh? You wanna learn how to put on make-up? Or how to use tampons?" "N-No, um... It's about Aki."
Shit. That was what I was scared of. I wished she asked me about anything else! She didn't know that I knew she confessed to him! I didn't want her to find out, because I couldn't support her, but then I didn't want to sabotage her either.
So whaddya wanna know, Mashiro-senpai?!
"Aki came to class later than usual today. I mean, I don't think he was technically late but, I just wanted to ask if you know what happened."
"Uh, well, if he wasn't late, then it's no problemo, right?"
"But he always comes to class at the exact same time. That's why I'm worried."
"Aw, c'mon, he's still human. He's gotta have bad days like everyone else, right? What was he, like, a few seconds out?"
"Sixteen minutes and thirty-four seconds."
"Huh?"
"That's how late he was, compared to normal. That's more than just a
'bad day'!" ...
Was she really tracking his habits so carefully? What other data did she
have on him? I mean, sure, I could be kinda stalkerish too but... Ugh! Why couldn't we be in the same class too?! It's not fair! I wanna sit next to him! Who knows what kinda dirty secrets I'd have access to?
Meanwhile, Mashiro-senpai was looking downcast. "He's not, um, sick or something, is he?"
"Wait, that's what you're worried about?"
"Yeah. It's not like him to cut it so close. I thought something might've happened."
"Well then, why're you asking me? Why not just ask him?"
C'mon, girl. You sit right next to him.
Her nose turned red, and she continued like the lovesick protagonist of a shoujo anime. "It's just way too embarrassing to talk to him. I mean, I can't say why, but I can't say anything to him right now."
I'm sorry, Mashiro-senpai, but I already know. You had the balls to send him a confession and now you're dealing with his reply, or his non-reply, or whatever, but still I know what you did! Quit taunting me! Ugh! The guilt is killing me. I wish I never saw that dumb message!
"That's why I'm asking you. Because, um, you're my only friend, Iroha- chan."
She really doesn't know I know, right? 'Cause she couldn't have said anything more guilt-trippy than that!
I knew it was normal to hate the girls who were after your crush, but I just couldn't do it. Not that I wanted to, anyway.
I couldn't keep quiet anymore after a knockdown line like that.
"I think he overslept. He was probably just tired."
Tired racking his brains about what to do with your confession, I bet.
But I didn't say it out loud. She only needed to know the most basic truth. "He's not sick?"
"I doubt it. He's a bit of a health freak."
"Oh. Well, I'm glad to hear it." Mashiro-senpai finally smiled, putting a
hand to her chest in relief.
She must genuinely have been worried.
"So he's tired? I guess I'll eat lunch by myself then. He'll probably feel
rushed if I eat with him."
"Nah, you're overthinking it. I bet he's always eating alone, so I think he'll be super happy if you ask to eat together."
"No, he'll probably only say yes because he can't say no. I'll leave it, I think." Mashiro nodded to herself.
Now she was resisting eating with the man she loved out of consideration for his feelings. She really was strong. For some reason, it seemed she was holding back around him. I was glad for that at least, 'cause if she showed him her true self, he'd fall for her in two seconds flat! Ugh!
Just then, the bell rang, and the corridor and nearby classrooms began to fill with chatter.
"Oh, I should be heading back. Thanks for your help, Iroha-chan."
"No biggie. I just told you what I knew. See ya!"
"Bye... Oh, wait." Just as she was about to scamper away down the stairs,
Mashiro-senpai stopped and turned to look at me.
"Do you mind me coming to your classroom like this? I-I mean, I'd kind
of like to come again, as long as it's not a bother..." she murmured shyly.
I sighed as dramatically as I could. Mashiro-senpai obviously thought it
meant she did annoy me, and started to panic. I smiled at her reassuringly. "You didn't need to ask something like that! We're pals, right? So come
whenever you want!"
"Oh! O-Oh, um, thanks. I'll be back, uh, sometime, then!" Her face
bloomed with a bright smile, and Mashiro-senpai turned and left.
I saved my next big sigh for when she was completely out of sight. To be
honest, I felt like I had a zillion sighs left in me.
"Maybe Senpai is sick or something..."
Senpai had never ever been interested in romance, but I felt a girl like
Mashiro-senpai might be enough to change that. She was plenty cute, after all.
"I don't think he'd change his mind about dating after all this time, and I sure hope not. But..."
He'd never fallen for anything I did. Maybe it was because of that promise he made me all that time ago, about how he wouldn't treat me as a potential girlfriend. If that was true, then it didn't matter how cute or beautiful or kind or wonderful or perfect Mashiro-senpai was. He wouldn't go for her at all. Right?
The unease continued to bubble up in my stomach through the whole next
lesson, and well into lunchtime.