Chapter 4

Chapter 4 – "There Are Other 4 Girls?!"

The classroom had grown quiet again.

Not silent, but calm enough that the steady hum of the lights above and the occasional scratch of pencils could be heard.

Kazumi leaned back in his chair, his handheld console softly chiming in his hands. The screen glowed with another save point. For now, he didn't feel like progressing. Just staying on the menu screen was fine.

Minami and Hanami sat on either side of him, having finally accepted that their "proper conversation" had turned into occasional chatter and long stretches of doing nothing.

Then, without warning, Minami broke the silence.

"…Hey, Kazumi."

"Mm?"

"Have you ever had a girlfriend?"

Kazumi glanced at her from the corner of his eye. "What kind of question is that out of nowhere?"

"C'mon, answer it!"

Hanami leaned forward with interest. "Oooh, I wanna know too."

Kazumi blinked. "What's with the sudden interrogation?"

"It's not sudden," Minami said, puffing her cheeks. "We've been curious for a while."

Kazumi shifted in his chair. "You could've asked me last year. We've known each other since first year, right?"

Minami looked away, a little awkward. "…Back then we weren't that close."

Hanami nodded. "Yeah. We weren't really friends at the start. Now it's different."

Kazumi leaned his chin on one hand, watching the screen dim slightly.

"…You're making it sound like I'm about to be interrogated under a spotlight."

"You are," Minami said.

"Spill it," Hanami added.

Kazumi sighed in defeat. "…Fine. No, I've never had a girlfriend."

Minami blinked. "Never?"

"Never."

"Not even once?" Hanami tilted her head.

"Nope."

Minami looked skeptical. "But you're… you know… kind of good-looking."

"Don't say that like it's a conspiracy."

Kazumi turned off the screen of his console and placed it on his desk.

"…I've had a crush, though."

"Wha—wait, really?" Minami's voice shot up.

Hanami leaned in closer. "You liked someone before?"

Kazumi smirked. "Yeah. Back in first year."

"Who is it?" both girls asked in unison.

"I'm not saying."

"Eh?! Why not?!" Minami whined.

"It's in the past."

"But I wanna know!" Hanami pleaded, leaning on his shoulder slightly.

Kazumi simply closed his mouth, tilted his head up, and looked at the ceiling like a monk who had taken a vow of silence.

"Oh, come on," Minami groaned, tapping his shoulder repeatedly. "You have to tell us."

Kazumi didn't respond. He didn't even blink.

Hanami tried tugging on his sleeve. "At least give us a hint. One syllable?"

"…No."

"Color of her hair?"

"…No."

"First letter of her name?"

"…Still no."

Minami slumped against her desk dramatically. "Ughh. I'm gonna explode from curiosity…"

Then, with a sharp tone, she asked another question.

"Okay, fine. Then how many girls like you right now? Besides me, Hanami, and that flat-chested little witch."

Kazumi raised an eyebrow. "Witch?"

Minami pouted. "You know who."

"…Rino?"

"Hmph."

Kazumi chuckled softly, then looked up at the ceiling again, thinking.

Hanami blinked. "Wait… are you actually counting?"

"Yeah."

Minami's mouth fell open. "You're seriously counting!?"

After a moment, Kazumi spoke.

"…Four."

"FOUR?!" they both shouted.

Hanami's eyes widened. "Wait, four more girls like you?!"

Minami slammed her hands on the desk. "That makes seven total! SEVEN!?"

Kazumi blinked calmly. "Apparently."

Hanami leaned back in her chair, whispering to herself, "That's way too many rivals…"

Minami stared at Kazumi like he'd just declared he had a harem hiding in his closet.

"I can't believe this. You don't even try, and they still fall for you."

"I don't ask for this, you know."

"Seriously, what's wrong with this school…"

Kazumi picked up his console again, turning the screen back on and resuming where he left off.

Honestly, he wasn't too surprised by their reactions. But he was starting to feel that maybe, just maybe, his quiet days were numbered.

And then, as if summoned by his wish for time to move faster—

Riiiiiiiiing…!

The school bell rang.

Kazumi didn't even flinch.

That bell was music to his ears.

He stretched his arms and stood up, slinging his bag over one shoulder.

"Well. Time to go home."

Minami and Hanami immediately looked up.

"Wait, you're just leaving?! We're not done talking!"

Kazumi waved his hand lazily. "You can finish the interrogation tomorrow."

"Oi!"

"Hold it!"

"Bye," he said plainly, walking out of the classroom.

Minami stood up, reaching out. "Kazumiii—!"

But he was already out the door.

She slumped back down in her chair with a dramatic sigh.

Hanami leaned her cheek into her palm, chuckling. "He's really good at escaping."

---

Kazumi walked the hallway in silence. The footsteps of students echoed here and there as they rushed to gather their things.

He made his way to the shoe lockers near the front entrance, hands in his pockets, just thinking about the soft futon waiting for him at home.

That nap would be legendary.

But then—

"Hi."

A quiet voice stopped him.

He turned slightly to the side.

Standing near the lockers, with her bag neatly over her shoulder, was Rino.

Still small. Still expressionless. Still looking straight at him like he was a science experiment.

Kazumi blinked. "Yo."

Rino stared for a second. "You look tired."

Kazumi gave a small shrug. "I've been surviving all day."

"I see."

A pause.

Then, Rino tilted her head slightly.

"Do you want to walk home together?"

Kazumi looked at her. For a second, he thought about saying he was too tired. But then again… he was tired. Just not from walking.

"…Sure."

Rino gave a tiny nod, and the two of them walked out of the building side by side.

The late afternoon sun cast long shadows down the street. The breeze was cool, brushing past their arms and hair. Cars passed by slowly, and a few kids played down the block with a soccer ball.

"Did your class do anything interesting?" Rino asked.

Kazumi glanced at her. "Two girls sat on either side of me and interrogated me for half the class."

"…Sounds intense."

"It was."

Rino was quiet for a moment. Then, "Did you answer everything?"

"Almost everything."

Another pause.

"Did they ask about me?"

Kazumi gave her a side glance. "Yeah."

"What did you say?"

"That your cheeks are squishy."

"…I see."

Rino touched her cheek briefly, then continued walking without a word.

After a few steps, Kazumi asked, "Is it weird if I say I'm getting used to walking home with you?"

Rino looked at him.

"Not weird," she said softly. "Nice."

Kazumi nodded. "…Yeah. I guess it is."

They walked quietly for a while longer, not saying much. But it didn't feel awkward. Just easy.

Simple.

Comfortable.

Like walking home was something they always did.