Chapter 3
Ever since I started dating Hanabi in middle school, I wasn't allowed to talk to anyone else. Her reason for this stupid ban?
"I'll say it clearly so someone like you can understand. Of course, I'm the most beautiful girl around. So if I go out with you, it'll balance things out. There won't be any uproar and no one will get suspicious. Oh yeah, don't tell anyone we're dating, got it?"
I can clearly remember her words. All I did then was nod back, not daring to reply back despite her terrible logic. I really was miserable.
After we started dating, our relations.h.i.+p was a secret to all and she ignored me at school. For example, if we pa.s.sed by each other in the halls, she would continue looking straight, not sparing any glance in my direction. Averting her gaze, she always looked p.i.s.sed off for some reason. And like anyone else who wors.h.i.+pped Hanabi, her back as she walked away was all that anyone got to see.
But now I'm free from her torture. This reality dawns on me when I happen to pa.s.s by her in the hall during lunch break. Usually I'll walk by myself, but today, a bunch of my cla.s.smates are with me. Ever since I cut my hair, so many of them have been wanting to talk to me. And so I had a lot of people follow me around today.
It's a strange feeling.
"Haha, it's weird, I never thought I'd ever talk to Ichinose. "
One of the more popular students, Aihara, said that and everyone around us started nodding. I felt quite touched by their words, as the Ichinose they were talking about was, in fact, me.
"It's nothing really. Before, you guys couldn't
Now that I think about it, this is the first time that I really had talked to them. Seems like changing my appearance really changed their outlook on me. Is that weird?
But everyone apologized already and said I was kind of difficult to approach before. I mean, I can't deny that. There's nothing I can do if I keep getting called Mop Top and such. It was Hanabi's fault anyways.
I'm deep in thought when I notice yours truly down the hall. She's standing still by the window and she's staring right at me. If looks could kill, I would definitely be dead. After breaking up with her at the hospital, I ignored her messages, blocked and cut my hair. I can probably guess why she's here. I'll just ignore her for now.
As I'm walking with my cla.s.smates, we pa.s.s by Hanabi...
"He-"
Out of the corner of my eye, I can see Hanabi hesitating as she walks towards us. It's always been her rule to ignore me at school, and yet...
"You know her?"
I turn to Aihara, who asked me that. I shake my head.
"Nah, no clue who she is. "
I hear the swallowing of saliva in Hanabi's direction. I turn back to her and see a pout form on her face. Her hands are gripped tightly on her skirt.
Whatever, this is nothing compared to the years of torture she gave me. That b.i.t.c.h is getting a small taste of her own medicine.
"Maybe you should go talk to her, she's looking a little desperate. "
"Yeah yeah, maybe she fell in love with you and wants to confess!"
Minaguchi keeps egging me on, no matter what answer I give.
Minaguchi was the one who called me a stud earlier. Rumour has it that she's an amateur model. She is cute, but she gives off weird vibes and I'm not sure if I handle her or not.
"Hey, you're that first year, Hanabi Kisaragi, right? I heard you're really s.e.xy so what are you doing here of all places? Want to confess to Ichinose-kun?"
"W-well, I just wante... "
"Wanted to?"
"Come on Minaguchi, let's go. "
"Ahh, hold on, wait up Ichinose-kun. Sorry Kisaragi-chan, bye for now!"
"... "
And so, we continue walking down the hall and pa.s.s by Hanabi completely. I can't see behind me, but I can guess that Hanabi is still staring at me.
A sudden realization dawned upon me.
This is what it feels like to be in Hanabi's position for a change.
______
Translator's Notes:
Short chapter this time around so another daily update. Wonder how long I'll able to keep the streak going lol. I'm interested to see where this is all going to go though. Hanabi definitely seems to want MC back in some capacity.
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