Chapter 2 How about pumpkins for the season of new beginnings?
At the entrance ceremony, the gazes of us current students are fixed on the rows of new first-years.
Just last year, I was standing over there myself. Sure, there was anticipation for a new chapter in life, but there was also a fair share of anxiety about whether I’d be able to get along in new relationships.
“…Fwaa.”
Now, as I’m indulging in such nostalgic thoughts during a break in the ceremony, a yawn escapes me, and I cover my mouth with my hand.
Fortunately, I’m not the only one looking sleepy—plenty of my classmates seem the same, and there’s even a guy letting out a massive yawn without bothering to cover his mouth.
“From now on, all of you will become comrades who will strive and grow together at this school. Your teachers, and of course your senpai, will surely support you in your school life.”
As I half-listen to the principal’s heartfelt words directed at the new students, my eyes casually wander around, and that’s when I catch sight of Arisa.
Unlike me, she’s not yawning at all—she’s sitting upright, gazing straight ahead with perfect posture.
As expected, she looks impeccable just sitting there, I think to myself. Since I spotted Arisa, I figure I might be able to find Aina too, so I let my gaze drift.
“…Ah, there she is.”
As expected, since we’re in different classes, Aina’s seat is quite far from mine. Still, because I’ve spent so much time looking at her, I spot her immediately.
She’s sitting at an angle, a few rows ahead and to the side. Her light brown bob cut is distinctive enough, but what stands out even more is the way her chest protrudes noticeably past her arms—a trait that’s unmistakably Aina.
(…Identifying her by her chest is pretty low, isn’t it? Just the worst, right?)
Arisa and Aina’s figures are exceptional, standing out even among other girls who are considered to have good figures. Those two are just in a league of their own.
Of course, their stunning figures are a heart-pounding factor and part of their charm, but the reasons I’m drawn to them go far beyond that. If I tried explaining it to someone, I’d probably ramble for hours without covering it all.
“Now, we will proceed with the new student representative’s speech.”
Hearing that announcement, I turn my gaze back to the front.
The new student representative is a girl who carries herself with confidence, but her expression is so stiff it’s clear she’s incredibly nervous.
Even so, her speech flows smoothly from start to finish, earning warm applause from all the current students, including me, and the teachers.
(Hmm, this kind of thing really is nice, isn’t it?)
There’s something fresh and heartwarming about the new students. Maybe it’s a bit old-man-like to think that?
Their mix of anticipation and anxiety reminds me of myself a year ago, and that’s probably what’s making me feel this way.
After that, the entrance ceremony concludes without a hitch. The new students exit, and we return to our classrooms.
“…Phew.”
I let out a sigh as I settle into my seat.
Ceremonies like these involve a lot of sitting still, and surprisingly, staying motionless can leave you feeling more exhausted than moving around.
“Feeling tired?”
“Yeah…”
Arisa, sitting next to me, picks up on my mood and asks, so I nod.
It’s kind of wild to think about, but having Arisa this close at school still feels fresh, even though I thought the same thing yesterday.
Our conversation is casual, the kind that doesn’t hint at any particular closeness, so aside from a few guys who seem eager to talk to Arisa, I don’t feel any pointed stares.
“Sitting still can be tiring, huh?”
“It really is. Want me to lend you my lap as a pillow? That way—”
The moment the word lap pillow leaves Arisa’s mouth, I accidentally knock my foot against the desk with a loud thud.
“…Ah.”
Seeing my reaction, Arisa quickly covers her mouth as if she’s just realized something.
Thankfully, it seems no one overheard her bombshell comment, so I breathe a sigh of relief. Still, it’s clear that both Arisa and I let our guards down, caught up in the closer dynamic we have this year compared to last.
“Domoto-kun, was there any new student who caught your eye?”
It’s a sudden question, probably Arisa’s attempt to gloss over the moment, but I roll with it.
“Someone who caught my eye, huh… Not really, no. I mean, if we’re talking about someone I’m interested in, they’re already right nearby.”
“…! Fufu, is that so? And who might that be?”
“No way I’m saying that out loud. But I bet you’d figure it out in no time.”
“That might be true. If Domoto-kun says it like that… I probably already know.”
This exchange… I’m the one who started it, but it’s so embarrassing my face feels like it’s burning.
Arisa’s cheeks are slightly flushed too, and it seems she’s feeling the same mix of embarrassment and joy from this back-and-forth.
(…Would it have been even more fun if Aina were here?)
No doubt it would’ve been livelier and more fun if Aina were in our class too, but that would probably come with its own challenges—like having to cover things up more carefully. Honestly, the way things are now might not be so bad.
That said, if I told Aina this, she’d definitely pout. Still, knowing she was feeling lonely being in a different class, I’ve been thinking about ways to spend more time with her at school.
“I wanna talk with Hayato-kun at school like Nee-san does…”
When she said that to me, there’s no way I could just do nothing.
If Aina comes to me, the distance between us naturally closes, but when both Arisa and Aina are together, we draw even more attention. Plus, their friends are always around, so it’s hard to have a proper conversation.
“Yo, Hayato!”
“Hm?”
Suddenly, Kaito slaps my shoulder, pulling me out of my thoughts.
I must’ve gotten so lost in thinking about my conversation with Arisa that I didn’t even notice Kaito approaching.
“Any cool new students catch your eye?”
“Hmm, nothing really sparked my interest.”
“What about you, Arisa?”
“I’m not particularly interested either.”
At some point, Arisa had been surrounded by her friends, so I feel a bit guilty for cutting our conversation short. For now, I focus on talking with Kaito.
“What about Sota?”
“He’s in the bathroom, isn’t he? Said he’d been holding it in for a while.”
Oh, good thing he made it, I think, planning to tease him about it later.
Since no one’s in the seat in front of me, Kaito plops down there, facing me.
“Any girls you’re into?”
“What’s with the sudden question…”
I just had this conversation with Arisa, you know.
Sighing, I give Kaito a similar answer to what I told her. Apparently, it’s a boring response, because he looks visibly disappointed.
“Don’t ask and then act all let down.”
“Haha, my bad, my bad. I was hoping you’d say something like, ‘That girl was cute,’ or whatever.”
“Even if I did have someone I was interested in, you’d probably just go, ‘Oh, cool,’ and that’d be it, right?”
“Pretty much!”
I give him a light punch on the shoulder.
By the way, the moment Kaito brought up the same topic as Arisa, I felt her glance my way… No way that was my imagination.
After that, Sota comes back, so we spend the rest of the time hanging out near his desk.
“Hey, Hayato, Kaito.”
“Yeah?”
“What’s up?”
“Any girls you’re into?”
“…You too, huh?”
“I already used that one, man!”
“Wha!?”
Sota and Kaito… you two are cut from the same cloth.
That said, being around them probably means I’m not much different. In the right situation, I’d probably bring up the same kind of topic with them, so… alright, I’ll bite.
“You guys asked me, so what about you two? Who’re you into?”
When I turn the question back on them, they exchange glances and answer with slightly awkward expressions.
“Well… there were some cute girls and pretty ones, but…”
“Seeing such high-level girls up close all the time kinda… no offense, but it’s like, ‘That’s it?’”
“…I see.”
That’s definitely rude, yeah.
But I kinda get where they’re coming from. It’s not just Arisa and Aina—our whole grade has a lot of high-caliber girls.
And it’s not just the girls; there are plenty of good-looking guys too… though, naturally, that doesn’t include us, right?
“Oh, by the way, Hayato.”
“Yeah?”
Sota beckons me closer, so I lean in.
Seems like he doesn’t want others to overhear, but… what’s up?
“I heard this from a friend, but…”
“Uh-huh.”
“…you know that guy who was persistently hitting on Shinjo-san and the others yesterday? Apparently, he and his buddies have their eyes on you.”
“In a ‘he’s super popular’ kind of way?”
“Wish it was that simple.”
“…Ugh.”
I let out a sigh at the news.
Nine times out of ten, that guy’s got a thing for Arisa and the others, and he’s probably desperate to get closer to them somehow.
“Seems like he’s even annoyed that your seat’s near them. Total pain, man.”
“Petty jerk… If anything happens, let us know, alright?”
“Got it. Thanks.”
Kaito nods in agreement, clearly on the same page.
I’m grateful for their concern, but I can’t help but speak up.
“Lately, you guys are always trying to back me up, but if something’s up with you, Sota, Kaito, let me know too, okay? I wanna have my best friends’ backs just as much.”
“…Haha, yeah, we know.”
“Man, how do you say stuff like that without cringing?”
Idiots, you guys do the same kind of thing to me.
I think that to myself but don’t say it out loud… mostly because I’m embarrassed for spouting such cheesy lines.
Trying to hide my flushed face, I return to my seat just as the teacher walks in.
Even though it’s the day of the entrance ceremony, us current students have a regular schedule, so it’s not like the new students, who just listen to speeches and go home.
(Was that really how I used to act?)
Thinking back, saying something like that face-to-face with my best friends is pretty embarrassing… The realization makes me flush with shame again, and I can’t focus on class at all.
Time passes, and finally, it’s the much-anticipated lunch break.
“Let’s eat lunch together, Arisa!”
“Sorry, I actually promised to eat with my little sister…”
Just as I’m about to leave the classroom with my bento, my ears catch that exchange.
When I glance at Arisa, our eyes meet briefly, but I don’t react and head out as is.
My destination is the rooftop—our meeting spot.
I push open the slightly rusty door with a creeeak… and at that moment, someone crashes into my chest with a thump.
“Whoa!”
“Ba~n! Welcome, Hayato-kun!”
It’s Aina who’s flung herself into my arms.
Since I can always see Arisa in class, if I want to make time for Aina, it usually ends up being during lunch breaks like this. Plus, now that it’s warm enough to use the rooftop, there’s no reason not to take advantage.
“Where’s Nee-chan?”
“She’ll be here soon, I think.”
“Got it♪!”
So, Arisa’s “promise to eat with my sister” was referring to this.
Aina tugs me by the hand toward a bench, and the moment we sit, she pulls my arm into her full, unmistakable chest.
“Hey, hey.”
“Yeah?”
“You and Nee-chan do stuff like this in class too?”
“You joking, right?”
“Of course I’m joking♪!”
If I did this with Arisa in class, I’m pretty sure I wouldn’t be at school anymore.
“Sorry for the wait… Fufu, Aina, you’re already clinging to him.”
Arisa shows up a little later.
It’s the same as before, when we used to gather in an empty classroom. The location’s changed to the rooftop, but the goal—eating bento together—remains the same.
Today’s bento was made by Sakuna-san, and honestly, delicious doesn’t even begin to cover it… It’s seriously amazing!
“From now on, we’ll get to see Hayato-kun enjoying our bentos every day, won’t we?”
“Ehehe, Mom said the same, but it really fires us up!”
The bentos they make feel so special, like they’re crafted with extra care. The handmade tamagoyaki, with its perfect seasoning, is genuinely one of my favorite things.
“Thanks for the meal!”
It’s so good I finish it quickly, though they worry I might choke.
“It was just that delicious.”
“Even so.”
“Yeah, yeah. It’d be bad if it went down the wrong pipe.”
Coughing from food stuck in your throat is no joke, and eating too fast can be risky… but seriously, their bentos are just that good.
By the time they finish their bentos too, we still have about twenty-five minutes left in lunch. Aina declares she’s staying here till the last second and refuses to let go of me.
“We can hug all we want at home, but there’s something special about doing it at school, you know?”
“That so?”
“Yup, that’s how it is!”
“I totally get that, Aina. Right, Hayato-kun? Let her have her way for now.”
I was already planning to.
If Aina wants to do this, I want to let her, and honestly, it makes me happy too.
“…We’re second-years now, huh.”
“Yeah…”
“Yup.”
I get a little sentimental.
Back in middle school, and even into the fall of my first year of high school, I thought nothing much would change… but then I met them, and everything shifted, leading to how things are now.
“Since that Halloween… oh, sorry!”
Lost in memories, I let the word Halloween slip out and panic, thinking I’ve made a mistake.
That day was what brought us together… but it was also the worst day for them.
Even if I was distracted, to almost bring up that time… I’m such an idiot.
“Don’t apologize, Hayato-kun.”
“Yeah, how long do you think it’s been since then?”
“Uh…”
I didn’t mean any harm… but they both look completely unbothered.
I feel like we’ve had a similar moment before, but… anyway, their smiles don’t fade, even as they recall that day.
“I don’t intend to frame that incident as something good. But because of it, we got to meet you, Hayato-kun.”
“We were this close to being defiled… Even now, thinking about it makes me tremble. But because of that, we met you!”
Arisa and Aina say it with conviction.
Overwhelmed by their words, I recall that day myself—it started when I noticed the unnaturally open door at the Shinjo house while passing by.
…If I hadn’t acted on that feeling, what would’ve happened? I don’t don’t want to think about it.
“You were so cool back then, Hayato-kun, weren’t you?”
“Absolutely. With that awesome pumpkin mask and a toy laser sword… you were the picture of a hero of justice!”
“…Was I?”
A hero like that would probably be more scary than heroic… but I guess to them, that’s how I looked. Thinking back, it still feels a bit embarrassing.
Aina pulls away from me and picks up a thin stick nearby, swinging it with a whoosh.
“The robbers who tried to attack me, Nee-chan, and Mom-chan! You took down those vile creeps, slicing and tossing them aside!”
“Didn’t toss anyone.”
“No tossing happened.”
Even with Aina and my simultaneous retort, Aina keeps swinging the stick.
Seeing one half of the beautiful sister duo playfully brandishing a stick like it’s a sword fight is kind of refreshing… I’ll just watch for a bit.
“This girl…”
“Haha, watching Aina swing that stick like that… I don’t know, it reminds me of something. Like the old me.”
“The old Hayato-kun?”
“Yeah, when I used to swing around a toy sword, dreaming of being a hero.”
“~Oh, I see.”
Arisa gazes at me with a fond smile.
Being a hero was every boy’s dream, and for me, especially after Dad was gone, I wanted to protect Mom more than anything.
We keep talking until lunch break is down to five minutes, and we part ways.
“Come on, Aina, let’s go back first.”
“Ugh… Okay…”
Aina’s eyes plead for more time, but I just smile wryly and see them off.
I need to head back too, but I linger for just a moment longer.
…
Alone on the rooftop, I think about being a second-year now… meaning we’re halfway through high school.
New relationships and experiences that didn’t exist in my first year are waiting for me.
And… it’s probably time to start thinking about my future.
“…Ugh, that feels heavy just thinking about…”
What will our future look like…?
Well, there’s plenty of time.
I’m lucky to have people I can talk to and who’ll support me… Thinking about it, I realize I don’t have much to worry about and feel grateful for the people around me.
“Alright… time to head back… huh?”
Just as I’m about to leave because time’s running short, my eyes fall on the stick Aina was swinging earlier.
It’s just a plain stick, nothing special… but for some reason, I’m drawn to it.
I walk over and pick it up.
…
I grip the stick tightly and stare at it.
It’s strange… looking at this stick, it feels like the chuunibyou spirit I thought I’d abandoned back in middle school is stirring inside me.
“…Is it still there? Inside me—…”
Raising the stick skyward, I continue.
“The desire to cut someone down… the desire to crush my enemies and stand atop their fallen…”
I stop mid-sentence, suddenly embarrassed, and toss the stick away.
It rolls clattering back to where it was… Thank goodness no one else was here—I mean that from the bottom of my heart.
“Well, whatever I said, it’s just… like how it felt during kendo, right?”
Kendo… something I’m no longer involved with.
It’s not that I lost interest, and I still clearly remember the thrill of making it to nationals in individual matches.
But as I told Irie-kun recently, my passion for kendo has cooled off.
Still… though, the next time I’d cross paths with kendo would come just a few days later, in an unexpected way.
▼▽
I was thinking about how frustrating it felt… to not be in the same class as the person I love.
“…Muu.”
“Aina, what’s wrong?”
“Nothing~nothing at all.”
I brush off my friend’s question.
She’s still eyeing me suspiciously, though. She’s a mutual friend of both me and Nee-san, and while she’s in a different class from Nee-san now, she’s in the same class as me again this year.
“Missing Arisa, huh?”
“…Kinda, but…”
“You’re actually admitting it!”
Sure, I miss Nee-san a little bit.
But… but but but! More than that, I miss being in the same class as Hayato-kun! Last year we weren’t together either, but since Nee-san’s already by his side, it makes me feel it even more!!
“Not just Nee-san, but…”
“Oh? Could there be someone you’re into?”
“Who knows~?”
Yes, there’s someone I’m into! I have a boyfriend! Someone I love!!
Since I’m hiding the truth, she doesn’t know about our relationship… or who I’m in love with.
But honestly… even if I came out and said I have a boyfriend, knowing me as she does, she’d probably never believe it.
“I thought maybe it was Domoto-kun, but guess not?”
“…!? Why him?”
…Oh no, my heart skipped a beat for a second.
I’m pretty good at keeping a straight face, if I do say so myself… well, except maybe around Hayato-kun and Arisa, where I can only be my true self. But in situations like this, I’m fine.
“Well, you always seem to get along so well when you’re talking with him at her place, right?”
“…Oh, that’s why.”
That explains it, and I nod, convinced.
A few days have passed since we became a second-year students, and our classmates are starting to settle into the new class dynamic.
I’m getting along with my friends and blending into the classroom vibe… but really, my main goal is using visiting Nee-san as an excuse to see Hayato-kun.
(Of course, I’m not doing anything that’d make people suspicious… but maybe they can sense the vibe?)
If that’s the case, that’s not a bad thing. All our friends with Arisa are great girls, so they’d never be mean to Hayato-kun—actually, I bet they’d really like him!
As I’m lost in those thoughts, my friend suddenly exclaims.
“What’s up?”
“I forgot I was supposed to bring something to the teacher!”
“To the staff room?”
“Yup! Hey, Aina, come with me!”
“Why me? Just go by yourself.”
“Don’t be like that, pretty please!”
“…Fine, whatever.”
It’s a bit of a hassle, but it’s hard to say no when someone begs like that.
So I tag along to help her with her errand to the staff room… but on the way, as we’re heading downstairs, I bump into a first-year.
“Wah…”
“Whoa!?”
It’s a first-year boy… I don’t know his name, of course, but I apologize with a quick bow as he stares at me.
He doesn’t make a fuss or call out to me, so I make it to the staff room and wait in the hallway. Soon enough, my friend comes back.
“Thanks, Aina~! I made it in time!”
“No big deal. Let’s head back.”
I went with her, but I didn’t bother asking what her errand was about.
Honestly, I didn’t really care… or rather, my mind was mostly on Hayato-kun the whole time.
(This is week, we’re staying over at Hayato’s place-kun’s… fufu~. I’ll scrub his back for him, Hayato-kun♪)
Imagining taking a bath with Hayato-kun, I sneak a glance at my reflection in a window to make sure I’m not grinning like an idiot… Okay, I’m good.
“That first-year guy we bumped into was super cute, wasn’t he?”
“Huh? Was he?”
Apparently, the guy I ran into was good-looking.
To me, he just seemed like any other guy—nothing stood out as cool, cute, average, or unattractive. He didn’t leave any impression at all.
“Wow, you’re totally uninterested, huh?”
“No interest at all. Why would I be?”
I say it firmly, and I mean it.
The only guy who’s special to me is Hayato-kun. Every other guy might as well have the same face… okay, maybe that’s a bit much, but I just don’t pay them any attention.
“…Ah.”
Just as I’m about to enter the classroom, I spot Hayato-kun walking by.
Probably heading back from the bathroom, since he’s with his usual friends… When our eyes meet for a split second, a burst of happiness floods through me.
Hayato-kun looks briefly surprised when he sees me, but then he gives me that gentle, warm look. Is he doing this on purpose? Even if it’s unconscious, it makes me so happy!
“Huh?”
That’s when I notice Hayato-kun subtly crook his finger, almost imperceptibly.
He parts ways with his friend and starts walking off, his back to me. I dash after him.
“I just remembered something I gotta do, so I’ll be right back!”
“Wait, Aina—?!”
Ignoring my friend’s confused voice, I chase after him, heading toward an unused classroom. To me… the words empty classroom mean a rendezvous with the person I love most—a phrase that carries a special, thrilling ring.
“Hayato-kun!”
“Hey, you caught it, huh?”
Of course I did!!
That finger crook was your signal for me to follow, right?
“There’s still a tiny bit of time left, so…”
“Ehehe, thank you♪!”
We sometimes sneak off to eat lunch together, but we can’t do it every day… which is exactly why Hayato-kun makes time for moments like this, just like last year.
To him, it might just be because we don’t get as much time together compared to Arisa, but even so, I’m so happy when he invites me like this.
“Then let’s hug!”
“Let’s do it!”
With limited time, there’s only so much we can do, and I thought a hug would be it—but I wanted more… more from Hayato-kun.
“Hey, pet me?”
When I ask, he does, stroking my head gently, like he’s handling something fragile… but it’s not enough.
Wanting to make up for the time we’re apart, I plead for more with my eyes… and then, he strokes my back just a little teasingly.
“…Mmm♪!”
I don’t know if he’s doing it on purpose, but that playful touch feels so good… it fills me with excitement and a rush of joyful pleasure.
After that, we part reluctantly.
I’m wrapped in happiness from his thoughtfulness and our embrace… It’s lonely to separate, but by the time I get back to the classroom, I’m all smiles.
“Mufu… mufufu~♪!”
“Aina… did you break?”
My friends and classmates look at me like I’m weird, but I don’t care—I’m happy!
(We’re in different classes… but there’s nothing to worry about, right?♪)
In fact, being thought of like that might even be a good thing?
Nee-san might roll her eyes and call it convenient thinking, but it’s okay to think this way, right?
Hey, Hayato-kun, even if we’re in different classes, I’ll keep trying my best.
So when we’re at home, please keep giving me those head pats like you always do, okay?
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