About Touma-kun, Who Wants to Spend His Time Quietly, Is Liked by the School’s Madonna - Chapter 17

Touma-kun Is Reminded and Tries to Change

Translated by AmaLynne

The first week of June arrived, and the tests were safely returned.

My grade was 7th out of 35 in the class, and 49th out of 280 students in the grade.

This is not a bad result, and not too low.

Not bad. Now my father wouldn’t complain.

Then one day, Shinji-san, who《《was appointed homeroom teacher from assistant homeroom teacher》》, says something like this.

「Well, now that the tests have been returned and I’m a homeroom teacher, I think we should switch seats.」

The people around me are all for or against it.

Incidentally, my current seat is the third from the front by the window.

Shinji-san has been moved from assistant homeroom teacher to homeroom teacher because Nakajima-sensei, who had been a homeroom teacher, had to take over the family business suddenly due to circumstances.

「It’s a rule. It’s a waste if you keep hanging out with the same people, isn’t it? Some of them talk, and some of them are unexpected and interesting. Besides, there are many events in the second semester. I’m not saying you have to get along with everyone in your class before then. But you should at least know what kind of person they are.」

…Shinji-san is being very serious.

Crap…I feel nothing but discomfort…!

No, he’s a good guy, but he was known…in certain circles as the demon Shinji.

Of course, that was more than five years ago. People change.

And since there are bozos like me, it seems to be done by fair lottery.

……Why, how does this happen?

「Y-Yoshino-kun! Pleased to meet you!」

Next to him is Shimizu, smiling like a blooming flower.

「……Me too.」

I’m in the very back by the window, a sacred place for loners.

That in itself is a joy.

But beside me is Shimizu.

And in front of me, there is Tanaka-kun.

Two people who know who I am are……

……It looks like I won’t have a peaceful day.

◆◇◆◇◆

After that, it was lunchtime, and I ate lunch in my usual empty classroom.

「Good for you, huh?」

「…It’s complicated.」

Let’s be honest.

I’m half happy and half annoyed.

「Oh, you’re getting a little more honest now? Yeah, yeah, that’s good. You know, you think too much. Be more at ease. It’s not like you have to get married when you go out with someone.」

「I know that. I’ll think about it a little more.」

「Well, you can’t change so soon, can you?」

「Right, that’s it. Shinji-san, the demon who was said to open the way for even that yakuza, is turning out to be such a good teacher.」

「Hey, don’t say that. I was a very serious young man. I had no record of being arrested, nor did I do anything that would get me arrested. I just had a little bit of blood on my hands.」

「…Hey, Shinji-san. Do you think I can change again?」

「If you wanted to change, you can, you know. You’re a busy guy――you can be a Yankee or a simple man. What, have you fallen in love?」

「Leave that part alone. I’m thinking to myself. I mean, I’ve never been in love in the first place.」

That’s the thing……No, I know she’s cute and stuff, and I kind of get it.

But if you ask me if this is love……well, what do I know?

「Ahh―…well, considering your circumstances, it’s no wonder. You lost your mother at the most such time, so you didn’t have time to fall in love…」

There’s that too.

At that time, Marina and I were full of ourselves…

It used to irritate me when everyone was happy and talking about love and stuff.

「You know…Shinji-san, thank you for that time. For taking care of me…」

Because Shinji-san was there, I was able to change my trajectory.

I don’t know what would have happened if I had stayed that way…

「Nope, don’t worry about it. I’ve been down this road too. So, love……are you excited?」

「I think so…」

「Do you miss her?」

「I don’t know about that…but I do enjoy talking to her.」

「I see…well, it’s difficult, isn’t it? Even I don’t understand it. The only thing I can tell you is that it’s not something you think about, it’s something you feel.」

「It’s not something to think about. Maybe so, thank you.」

「And then there’s that…you’re too scared. You’re afraid of making someone important to you, aren’t you? That’s part of the reason you’re being a loner, isn’t it?」

「……Shinji-san…..」

「Of course, given your circumstances, it’s inevitable. But don’t afraid of losing. That won’t help you move forward.」

「I see… I’m unconsciously thinking that, aren’t I?」

「Well, now you two are sitting next to each other. You’ll notice things, whether you like it or not.」

Then the chime rings and lunch break is over.

I return to the classroom and take my seat.

Then, it starts to rain……

It was sunny earlier, but it’s still the rainy season.

And after school comes.

I go to the bathroom and try to leave the school building.

Something seems to be troubling Shimizu……

…Am I afraid?

Well…I’ll try to change myself.

If the result is not good, I’ll think about it then.

「Shimizu, what’s wrong?」

People around me are getting noisy, but I don’t care about that.

I can’t seem to clear my mind without checking this out.

「Eh? Eh!? Y-Yoshino-kun! W-Why……」

「Just forget about it. Is something wrong?」

「U-Uhh. I have to go home early today……but I don’t have an umbrella…」

「I see, that’s why… Want to come in if you don’t mind using my umbrella?」

What? Her face is gonna be on fire…!

「Eh…? I-Is that okay? Because at school……」

「I don’t care about that. I have a part-time job, too. We go to the same station.」

「T-Thank you……then, please……」

Shimizu responds in a muffled voice.

Whatever the outcome may be, this is goodbye to the peaceful days.

All that remains is for me to confirm my feelings.