"…Ah, Fuuma. Your classical literature workbook…"
The words caused Fuuma's face, which had been laughing, to go pale.
"Huh… oh, whoa!! I completely forgot!!"
The classical literature workbook was an assignment due that day. He was supposed to have turned it in during class, but he couldn't find it anywhere, having misplaced it in his locker or bag. In the end, it turned out to have gotten mixed up with Yuuma-san's things. We had agreed that he'd take it to the teachers' office after school, when Yuuma-san apologized and gave it back to him during the break.
And now, here we were after school. Even though I'd remembered he had to turn it in during the day, it had completely slipped my mind. We had just been chatting and killing time. I checked the clock; it was already past five. The teacher probably hadn't gone home yet, but it would be better to submit it sooner rather than later.
Fuuma frantically rummaged through his desk, grabbed the workbook, and stood up in a flustered rush.
"S-sorry, just wait for me! I'll go turn it in right away!"
"Take your time. Don't trip."
I gave him a quick wave, and he hurried out into the hallway, trying not to run. The sound of his clumsy footsteps faded into the distance. It would be overprotective to follow him. While I worried if he'd be okay, I couldn't help but laugh a little at his panicked state.
Just as I took out my phone to kill some time, a voice like rolling bells came from the entrance.
"Hey, Shigebe-kun."
I looked up. If I remembered correctly, she was Katou-san from the class next door. She was a cute girl with big, double-lidded eyes and softly curled, long hair.
"Ah… Katou-san. What's up?"
She gave a sweet, lovely smile. My heart skipped a beat. She slowly approached, looking up at me as if to gauge my reaction.
"I have a favor to ask. Do you have a minute?"
Her thin lips, tinged with a soft pink, parted.
"You and Fuuma-kun are close, right? If it's okay, I was hoping you could give me his contact info… Would that be okay?"
Ah, that's what it was.
My foolish hope, which had been building, was doused with cold water. There was no other reason for her, a girl I barely knew, to ask me for a favor. I should have known that if I'd just thought about it. To hide my embarrassment and the awkwardness, I let my eyes wander.
"Um… sorry, but I can't just give it out. I'd have to ask Fuuma first."
I couldn't give out his contact info without his permission. The main reason was to avoid causing him trouble, but if Yuuma-san and the others found out, I'd be torn to shreds.
"…I see. So, I guess it's a no for Yuuma-san's and Haruma-kun's numbers, too?"
Her tone dropped slightly. Her sad eyes looked at me. I seemed to have disappointed her. She must have had a misunderstanding. I felt bad, but aside from Fuuma's, I didn't even know the other brothers' contact information.
"Well… sorry. I don't know the brothers' numbers."
Even if I did, I probably wouldn't have been able to give them out without their permission. When I apologized, Katou-san smiled and said, "I see, sorry for asking for something so difficult. Don't worry about it."
I let out a soft sigh of relief. It seemed I hadn't upset her. But. After she said that and looked down for a moment, she let out a small, strange laugh.
"You guys always looked so close, so I thought you'd definitely know… but I guess you're not that close after all. Hehe."
"…Haha, yeah."
A sharp pang.
I forced a smile. For some reason, my chest ached. What she said was probably the truth. Of course it was. After all, from their perspective, I should be their rival.
She probably had no ill intent. It wasn't a mean thing to say. She was simply stating what she truly, genuinely thought. But that only made it worse, like the facts had been shoved in my face all over again. Even if only for a little while, my feeling that I had gotten closer to the brothers was just my own wishful thinking.
"Sorry for asking for something so difficult. I'm heading home now, bye-bye."
"It's okay. Be careful on your way."
I waved to her as she went back to her classroom. A moment later, I heard the laughter of a few girls. The sound was coming from the next classroom, but for some reason, it felt like it was coming from somewhere much farther away. They were probably sharing the disappointing result of asking for a phone number and being rejected. I hope my reputation doesn't get ruined.
As I listened, I propped my cheek on my hand, filled with an indescribable feeling. I stared blankly out the window and saw some students talking happily in a building across the way.
It wasn't the first time this had happened. When you have a popular childhood friend, you get used to things like this. Katou-san was a kind person. There were other students who had done this before, but she was the first to be direct about her intentions. There were a few who would exchange contact information with me just to get Fuuma's, and their attitude would immediately change if I refused. I'm sure a lot of them just deleted my number after their goal wasn't met.
But still. While it was common for Fuuma, to be asked for the brothers' numbers was…
"...the first time I've been asked for theirs."
"What was the first time?"
"For contact info—"
I came to my senses with a gasp. I turned around suddenly, and Fuuma, with his eyes wide open, was standing right behind me. He gripped my shoulders firmly.
"Huh? Contact info…? What, did someone ask you for your contact info?! Who was it!?"
"No, no, no, no! They did, but it's a misunderstanding!"
I shook my head frantically, and he let go.
"They just asked for Fuuma's, and Yuuma-san's and the others' contact info. I didn't want to give it out without permission, so I didn't tell them…"
"Oh… I-I see. Thank you for not telling them."
"That's just normal. You don't want someone giving it out without permission, right?"
"…Hehe, you really are so kind."
He chuckled softly. I had really only done the obvious thing. But Fuuma always took it so positively, as if it were some grand gesture. That's probably what makes him so endearing. And that's why he's so likable to everyone, not just his brothers and that girl, Katou-san. You could tell just from being around him.
He smiled gently, then his expression changed as if he'd noticed something. His eyebrows lowered, and he opened his mouth.
"…Did someone say something mean to you?"
"…No?"
"Liar. I can tell when you're lying."
Ah, is this also one of those endearing things about him? He seemed so laid-back, but he was incredibly perceptive. It was a little difficult when you were trying to hide something.
"It's not like that, really. I was just thinking… I realized I don't have Yuuma-san's or Haruma-kun's contact info."
When I said that, he blinked in surprise.
"You want to know them!?"
He suddenly closed the distance between us. He looked almost... excited. His unusual behavior completely flustered me.
"I can share the brothers' contact info with you! I'll totally give it to you—"
"No, it's okay."
"…Wh-why?"
Why? That's obvious.
"You'd know better than anyone, Fuuma… You don't like it when people give out your info without permission, do you? I don't want to be a bother to Yuuma-san and Haruma-kun."
"That's not a bother at all—"
"I don't want them to dislike me. It's fine."
I swallowed the rest of the words I wanted to say.
Fuuma opened his mouth as if to say something, but then closed it again. What was wrong? He looked down, then stared straight at me. "Okay," he muttered quietly.
"…But. If those two ever ask to exchange numbers, will you agree to it?"
"Huh? …Well, if something like that ever happened, I guess. Haha."
As if that would ever happen.
I said it with a laugh, but his face looked complicated. A bell rang. Ah, if we didn't leave soon, a teacher would get on our case.
"Let's go home."
"…Yeah."
His profile looked somewhat melancholy. Did my words make him feel like we weren't close? I'd have to be more careful with how I phrase things starting tomorrow. I didn't want to see Fuuma looking so worried.
The next day, during morning homeroom, I was cornered by two forces.
"Shigebe-kun, we never exchanged contact info, did we?"
"Take out your phone. Now."
Yuuma-san was smiling as usual, and Haruma-kun was holding out his hand, gesturing impatiently. Behind them, Fuuma was beaming like a sunflower.
Did Fuuma tell them? Or is this for surveillance…? I decided that was probably too paranoid. But I was genuinely happy. The comment from the day before had bothered me so much that I kept thinking about it before I went to sleep.
Feeling a certain sense of delight, I took out my phone as they instructed.
***
"Alright, listen up!! This is way too much of a struggle!! You two need to be a little more aggressive!!"
"…We thought we were being pretty obvious."
"It's not getting through to him!! When they were asked for your numbers, he turned them down because he thought it would be 'a bother'!!"
"It's not... getting through...? No, that can't be…"
"Ah, no, I mean… he's just a little reserved, so we have to be more pushy! You don't have to get so depressed, Haruma!!"
"Yeah, that's right. He's just being reserved, it's not like he thinks we have a bad relationship."
"R-right. We talk so much, it's impossible that he doesn't feel our affection."
"Exactly!! There's no way he thinks you have a bad relationship!!"
The brothers still didn't know. Between them and Masato, there was a deep gulf that was slowly being filled—and an immense misunderstanding was taking place.