Episode 4 – School’s Madonna is Being Confessed to

“I’ve got to make a quick stop today, so I’ll see you later.”

“Oh, well, good work. See you later.”

After school, I parted with Aizawa.

Aizawa had soccer practice today, so he headed to the club room with a bag full of change of clothes in his hand.

I, on the other hand, went to the library.

When I entered the library, there was a librarian and a female student on duty at the reception desk, working silently.

It was after school on a Friday, and there were not many students left in the school building who had nothing to do, so the library was deserted.

I try not to make a sound and walk breathlessly to find what I’m looking for.

This time, I was looking for a book about camping.

Originally, I started fishing under the influence of my father, but thanks to him, I was also interested in outdoor activities in general, including camping.

The weather was unfavorable this weekend, so I stayed at home and borrowed the book to accumulate knowledge.

Suddenly, I looked outside and saw that the sky was overcast. Considering that the weather was not going to last long, I should quickly borrow a book and leave the place.

I had planned to finish my selection in a few minutes, but it took longer than I had expected because there were more related and interesting books than I had expected, and the number of books I could borrow at one time was limited.

As I was walking out of the library to take the shortcut from the back of the school building to the courtyard, I heard a conversation on the way.

If I turned back now, I would lose time. I decided to pass by without thinking about it and sneak a peek over the wall to see who was hanging out there at this time of the day.

“So, you’ll go out with me, Watanabe san?”

There they were, Watanabe san and a senior male student.

As far as I could tell, she had been called to the back of the school building after school to receive a confession.

I knew that she was popular, but I had no idea that she would happen to be in a place like this, and I felt a rush of awkwardness, partly because I was eavesdropping.

“I’m sorry.”

She bowed her head, sounding sincerely sorry.

Her hair shakes in the breeze and hides her expression. Given Watanabe san’s personality, it must have been heartbreaking for her to turn down someone who had expressed a liking for her.

I felt a little calmer knowing that I did not have to see her sad face.

“I see, I knew it. Yeah, thanks for responding.”

The upperclassman easily backed down, as if his confession had been made on the spur of the moment. I was somewhat annoyed with the senior student who smiled lightly.

While Watanabe san felt guilty about her confession, the senior student’s words and actions showed that he assumed he would be rejected and that he would be lucky if she accepted his offer.

If they were comfortable with each other, that might be possible, but there is a possibility that Watanabe san will drag out this confession over the weekend.

The senior student who was dumped showed no signs of overreacting in his smile, so he is likely to be in good spirits tomorrow, enjoying his weekend.

After a short exchange, I noticed that the senior student was leaving the scene.

Why do people socialize?

I had sensed that things had started to change around me since middle school.

The boys and girls I played with began to distance themselves and become aware of each other.

I was sometimes surprised to see students who I thought were fighting and not on the same page start dating each other the next day.

I’ve been involved in problems like that myself…….

[ [Sigh.] ]

I hear a voice at the same time as my sigh. I was so engrossed in my thoughts that I neglected to check whether Watanabe san had left or not.

“Ah !”

She emerges from the wall. Her flaxen hair glistened in the setting sun peeking through the clouds.

Her crystal eyes caught mine, and her shapely lips moved.

“Did you hear that, by any chance?”

“I’m sorry. I was just passing by to get a shortcut, but there was something heavy in the air……”

It is not a good idea to peek into another person’s love life. Moreover, she had just shaken the other party. If possible, she would not want me to know.

I was ready for her to complain, and I was waiting for her to say….

“It’s not our fault that we were here, and it’s not something you should apologize for, Aikawa kun”

However, she tilted her head and smiled and showed me that it was nothing.

We walked together to the elevator entrance, somehow flowing together. There are hardly any people left in the school building, so I’m not worried that I might be seen with the school’s Madonna.

And moreover, she had just been confessed to.. She must be depressed, judging from the sigh I heard.

“Speaking of which, where were you going through the back of the school building?”

She leans forward and looks into my face from the side.

The closeness of the distance makes me momentarily shaken.

“Oh, I was just borrowing a book.”

“A book?”

I take out the book from my bag and show it to her.

“Are you interested in camping?”

“Yes, well. I can’t right now, but I’d like to make a plan to go to a campground where there is a mountain stream.”

“Aikawa kun, you really like fishing, don’t you?”

She put her hand on her mouth and smile. When I talk to her, I tend to talk too much about myself.

I guess it must be because of her soft atmosphere and good listening skills.

“Well, it’s not something I tell people too much about…….”

Fishing is not something I actively talk about. Even in middle school, I was sometimes told, [Your hobby is very unusual].

So the only people who knew about my hobby after I entered high school were Aizawa and Watanabe san.

“So, you know, Watanabe san, if at all possible, please don’t spread the word.”

I don’t mean to keep it a secret, but I don’t want to get into it too much.

“I understand. I won’t tell anyone.”

She moved her fingers as if she was putting a zipper on her mouth, and replied with a serious face.

“But I do like it.”

She steps forward and looks back at me. She smiles against the light coming through the elevator.

“The sound of the waves when we’re fishing, the silent moments of waiting, the joy when we catch a fish. And the smile on Aikawa kun’s face as he happily taught me how to fish.”

After saying this for a while, we reached the entrance to the elevator. I’m in B class and she is in D class, so we are separated here.

From this point on, we can’t walk together because some of the students are engaged in club activities and others are heading to the school gate.

We left the entrance separately and headed home.

“I had never had someone affirm my fishing hobby so earnestly before.”

With a kindness that lived up to the rumors, I decided to pray that her weekend would be as enjoyable as possible.