Episode 39 – The beginning of a turbulent period

It was mid-November, and the university had been in session for a month.

That day, an incident occurred.

It must have been quite cold in Japan, so I think it was the day I went to university thinking that I needed gloves.
No, unless there is a very irregular (Kotoha) that the stage suddenly changes to America, it won’t happen.

Well, there was no particular warning or sign of an incident, and it was so easy to tell where it was an incident and where it was not.

“Whee~, it’s so cold!”

I had underestimated the cold I felt in the morning and was walking to the auditorium, melting my numb hands with my breath.

As usual, I took classes, ate lunch in the cafeteria, and then took classes again.
The usual routine of life as usual.

That routine was fleetingly shattered in front of the economics building where I always took classes with professor Omori.

I was surprised to see a beautiful girl standing at the door before entering the building, who stood out conspicuously for a college student.

She looked too good to be here. But I knew that person’s name.

—–Mizuno Shizuku.

She is a successful voice actor of the moment, who I had also attended a handshake session with about two months ago.

The popularity of the brand shows no sign of fading, so much so that it is hard to say how long this “now” has been in season.

Such a successful voice actress among the best-selling ones was standing right there.

A certain amount of crowd had already gathered and students from the university were looking at her, but no one tried to talk to her and there was little space around her.
That’s why she stood out.

Now, even I know a very popular voice actress like that.

Sure enough, when she noticed my presence, she waved her hand at me.

“!?”

I turn around in a hurry. But there is no one around me.

“Hey, you!”

I am at a loss, but she comes up to me.
Naturally, the eyes around me are on me at the same time as on her.

“Eh, me?”
“Yes, you”

Oh no, I can’t think straight.

Why did you go to college, Shizuku san? Why did you come to me?

I try to think, but the turbulence gets in the way and I can’t think straight.

“Hey, Nagishiro kun?”

“Y-Yes !?”

Suddenly, my name is called, and I can’t help but turn my voice inside out. I am embarrassed.

“Fufu”

Shizuku san, on the other hand, seems to be trying to enjoy my upset, smiling with plenty of room to spare.
Perhaps she feels like a great success

“Hmmm~”

Then Shizuku san turns her head slightly and the corners of her mouth hang up again.

“W-Why?”

I had a bad feeling about this, so I asked ahead of time.

“Hey, Nagishiro kun? Nagishiro kun is……”

She suddenly comes close to me and whispers in my ear.

“—-Kazashiro Rei, right?”

And those words made my mind go blank.

“Uh, first of all, I’m sorry.”
“No, no, no, I just barged in!”

Eventually, after that shocking encounter, I remembered I had class and hurried to the classroom.

In the meantime, I had to wait for Shizuku san because I needed to talk to her.

“So, what’s the story? If it’s a confession, I’m okay with it.”
“The confession was made earlier by Shizuku san with tremendous power. ……”
“Hahaha~!”

There is something innocent and childish about Shizuku san. I don’t mean that in a bad way. But my impression of her has changed since the handshake session.

“S-So, on to the main topic. ……”
“Hmmm ?”
“Why do you think I’m Kazashiro Rei? ……”
“Aaah~”

Now, incidentally, I’m at a coffee shop, and she is poking at her parfait with a long spoon while she listens.

I’m not talking that lightly! It’s a matter of life and death for me!

“I asked my manager to look into it, and after a lot of work, he found it.”
“Why!?”
“I knew that you were that Kazashiro sensei. All I had to do was to get the backstory.”
“How did you know!”
“And then that famous Shirakawa Kotoha walks into your house. Makes me sure”
“Well that is yeah !”

It was me who was bad. The security was lax.

“Well, it seems that Shirakawa san’s side came in discreetly, but our side has Nagishiro san’s house staked out, so… You know that, don’t you?”

I know, I know. Sorry, Kotoha.

“S-So, what do you want from me, Shizuku san? ……”

I wonder, will she threaten me or something? How much money do I have to pay her to get her to forgive me?

“Hmmm~”

I wait for her reply with a pounding heart. I feel like I’m being rushed, but it’s probably just my imagination.

She slowly opens her mouth.

“I didn’t come here to do anything in particular. Well, if I say I’m here on an errand, I just came to make sure you are real?”
”I-Is that so?”

At least it’s a relief. Shizuku san doesn’t seem to be a bad guy, and I’m sure I can just get her to calmly keep her mouth shut.

“I’ve been thinking about it a lot, but college seems to be busier, so I’m not going to do it.”
“I don’t know what it is, but thank you.”
“Ah, but yes.”

Just as I was about to take a breath, Shizuku san looked at me as if she had a flash of inspiration.

“Call me ‘Shizuku’ from now on!”

Well, now, the turbulent times of college life. It is a start.