Interlude: An Osananajimi’s Impatience

“Those two are close lately, aren’t they?” someone said.

Following their gazes, I saw a male student and a female student chatting.

The girl was Minase Mishio-san. The one everyone said was cute.

And the other—the boy—was Aoi Sakura.

“I heard from Kuki-kun that they live close to each other.”

I had already heard that rumor. But was that really all there was to it? If living close was all it took to become close, then I should be much closer to him.

Because he and I were osananajimi.

I was surprised when I saw him right after school started. It had been five years, I think. But I still hadn’t spoken to him once.

To be honest, I was waiting for him to talk to me. I hoped he’d be surprised by how much my appearance had changed since we were kids, and that he’d approach me with a slight awareness of me as a girl.

But the days flew by in the rush of a new school life—and the situation changed.

Since last summer, he had become cynical, and the atmosphere around him wasn’t one where you could just casually talk to him. When we moved up a grade and ended up in the same class, I thought it was my chance, but then Minase-san showed up.

I looked at the two of them again.

Minase-san was chatting happily, using gestures and body language. She was always like that. She interacted with everyone and made friends quickly, regardless of gender.

His demeanor, in contrast, was somewhat detached. Yet, he didn’t seem annoyed.

I don’t know how the conversation led to it, but Minase-san leaned over the desk and thrust her face close to his, and he immediately grabbed her face and pushed her back. It wasn’t the way high schoolers flirt, but I felt a little envious. It reminded me of the old days.

Maybe I should just bite the bullet and talk to him myself.

But if I did it now, it would look like I was panicking because Minase-san had appeared, and I’d feel defeated.

If only I had a reason to talk to him...

I sighed involuntarily.

Perhaps my wish reached the heavens, because a few days later, he was the one who spoke to me.