As I watched puzzled, the girl quietly removed her hands, let out a small sigh, and murmured.
“……Guess I’m not scared after all, huh… me……”
Seems like she wants to be scared. Huh. I see. …What kind of feeling is that, anyway?
What would it take for someone to end up thinking like that? The more I dwell on it, the more curiously it pulls me in.
Shoulders slumping (?) at her own lack of intimidation, Shiranui talks to her reflection in the mirror.
“……Maybe change my hair……? Like, buzz it all off or something……?”
Tucking back her reddish-brown, slightly long hair, Shiranui tilts her head.
Apparently, she’s mentally picturing herself with a buzz cut. What even is “buzz cut visualization”…?
Her large, round eyes narrow slightly. Even through the mirror, it’s clear she has strikingly refined features—shaving all that off would be a waste in every sense.
I should probably stop her, but…
Who’d have thought we’d meet again like this?
Never saw this coming, but… I did want to talk to her one more time.
“…Alright.”
For now, I decide to reach out—calling to her from behind.
All human connections are calculated.
Stay detached. Just focus on the goal.
“—Hey, you—”
“GYAAAH—!?”
“Whoa!?”
My voice seems to have genuinely startled her—Shiranui lets out a cartoonish scream and jumps.
“Wha—wha-wha-what!? Who!? Creep!?”
Panicking, the girl whirls around—Shiranui Natsuki.
Trying to calm her down, I deliberately keep my tone steady.
“Pretty sure I’m the one who should be asking that.”
“Wh—who’re you calling a creep!? I’m a legit student here, you know!?”
“Same here. Shiranui Natsu—gack—cough—”
“—Uh, you okay!?”
The moment I say her name, my body reflexively rebels.
Get a grip. That’s in the past now. My stomach doesn’t hurt anymore.
“Sorry, nothing. Don’t worry about it.”
“O…kay…?”
“Just normal for me. No issue.”
“If this is normal, then there’s definitely an issue!?”
Not sure if she’s concerned or just weirded out.
Either way, Shiranui soon narrows her eyes.
“Oh… right. You’re that guy from—”
Her suspicious squint snaps wide open. I nod.
“Long time no see. Thanks for guiding me back then.”
“Uh… uh…!”
Mouth flapping soundlessly,
she blinks rapidly before finally speaking.
“…The… Shadow guy.”
“You forgot my name, didn’t you.”
“Eep…!”
Called out, Shiranui flushes red, visibly embarrassed.
Can’t blame her, though. To me, she was unforgettable—but for her, I was just some rando who caused trouble. The fact she remembers my face at all is a miracle.
“N-not totally forgotten! I-it’s like… up to the ankle…?”
“That’s barely anything. Or what, do memories start from your feet?”
“Wrong! I meant… temples! I was gonna say temples!”
“Then it already slipped past your throat.”
“I’m pulling it back down from my head!”
Arguing just for the sake of it. What even is this conversation?
But more importantly—Her vibe is nothing like when we first met.
Not a trace of that actress-like aura from the entrance ceremony morning. Hard to believe this is the same person. The transformation is that extreme.
Leaning off the window frame, I head for the door.
“H-hey!?”
Ignoring her flustered protest, I touch the doorknob.
Unlocked. Confirming that, I swing the door open and step inside.
Now on guard, Shiranui backs away, glaring sharply.
“Wh-why’re you barging in!?”
“…………”
“Why’re you ignoring me!?”
READ THE ORIGINAL TRANSLATION AT LOCALIZERMEERKAT.PAGES.DEV
Since she’s openly wary, I’d need to tread carefully to ease her up.
But I’m no psychology or communication expert. Friendships (or even basic interactions) require mutual willingness—something I still struggle with. Guess that’s a personal flaw to work on.
So, for now, I stick to logic.
“Before that—mind if I ask why the door was unlocked?”
“Huh…?”
“I’m the one who’s supposed to have the key to this shed. So was it left open?”
Not like I tested it—maybe the key Hiyama sensei gave me was wrong. But there’s a likelier explanation.
“Oh… you mean the staff room key?”
Shiranui murmurs, nodding to herself. So—
“There’s another key, then.”
“Yeah, but…”
Sure enough, a second key sits on the small table inside.
I press further.
“So you people the one using this place? Regularly?”
“‘You’—”
“My bad. Uh… what was your name again?”
“You just remembered it earlier!! Ugh, fine, I did forget, okay!?”
Face burning, Shiranui shouts. Teasing her this much is enough.
This version of her—neither the soft spring morning persona nor the raging inferno—is new. Back then, I only caught a glimpse, but it seems the real Shiranui is… kinda fun.
I shake my head slightly before explaining:
“Nah, my bad. The homeroom teacher asked me to check this place out. That’s why I’m here.”
“Hah? Homeroom teacher—”
“Hiyama from Class A. Math teacher.”
“……Oh. That makes sense.”
She exhales, shoulders relaxing.
Her expressions are really transparent. Did I scare her that much?
“Sorry if I startled you. But yeah, that’s the situation.”
“Then tell Hiyama-sensei. If he knows I’m using it, he’ll get it.”
“Hmm…?”
Not sure how those dots connect, but she seems confident.
Fine by me. Switching gears, I ask:
“So, remember now?”
Shiranui tilts her head, eyes narrowed. I clarify:
“My name. If you’re still blanking, I’ll reintroduce myself.”
Meant as a lead-in for my name, but surprisingly, Shiranui answers flatly—eyes still squinted.
“…Kageyuki, right? Kageyuki.”
“Oh, you did remember.”
“I told you I didn’t forget!”
“You literally admitted it earlier.”
“…Don’t remember that.”
She looks away abruptly. Her ears are bright red again.
At the very least, she’s definitely stubborn. Talks faster than she thinks.
Honestly, this is nothing like that morning. If she claimed to be Shiranui Fuyuko, her twin, I might’ve believed it.
Stifling a laugh, I steady my breath and say:
“‘Shiranui’ is fine to call you, yeah?”
“Huh?”
Her eyes widen, bewildered. Then—
“W-wait—first-name basis outta nowhere…!?”
“…I didn’t use your first name, though…”
If anything, I avoided it.
But Shiranui’s face is now tomato-red.
“Last names are part of your full name, y’know!?”
“I mean, technically, but… what should I call you, then?”
“How should I know!?”
“Jeez, what’s your deal? High maintenance much?”
“High maintenance—!?”
She looks genuinely offended. Is it that big a deal?
Not to me, but clearly, it’s serious for her.
“…Ugh, is this how other schools are…? But normally, this stuff happens gradually, right? Like, getting closer after you’re friends…?”
She mutters, visibly conflicted.
“Closer”? We’re not even remotely there. If anything, we’re drifting apart at record speed.
“…Can’t think of anything else, so ‘Shiranui’ it is. Cool?”
I double-check.
Her face stays red, but I has no alternatives.
Reluctantly, she gives a tiny nod.
Not so much proper as inexperienced, maybe. Hard to believe this is the same girl who turns heads effortlessly. Is this an act too?
Hard to imagine—but then again, I’ve seen her acting chops firsthand. No way I could tell if she’s faking it. …Probably not, though.
After a pause, she speaks up.
“W-well, fine…! But then I get to call you by your last name too, okay!?”
“Sure…”
“Really!? Wait, seriously!?”
“Is it that shocking?”
“O-okay, then! I’ll do it! No take-backs!?”
“Go ahead…”
“Uh, um… K-Kageyuki… …kun!”
“…………”
“…………”
“…Couldn’t do it?”
“You expect me to casually drop honorifics with a guy I just met!?”
I get scolded. She’s embarrassed.
Turns out, she’s way more entertaining than I thought. I’m starting to like Shiranui.
Meanwhile, her opinion of me is probably plummeting by the second.
Well, call me whatever you like. Kageyuki-kun or whatever.”
“Ugh, shut up, Kageyuki! See? I said it! From now on, I’m calling you Kageyuki!!”
“Congratulations.”
“Huh? Oh, thanks. —Wait, no! Are you making fun of me?!”
“No, of course not. There’s no room left to mock you anymore.”
“Well, good then… Wait, hold on, what’s that supposed to mean?!”
Shiranui froze in shock.
Quick to react—or maybe just sharp-tongued. Either way, it made me want to tease her even more.
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