Free Web NovelChapter 92: Matsuzaki Hiroto
Compared to Hajime’s class wherein the groups were equally divided, Natsumi’s class was different. In fact, it’s pretty much ’anything goes’ regarding their class’s school trip. Their homeroom teacher, Hirano Tetsuo, couldn’t care less whether they get lost during the school trip or not— totally unlike Akamine-sensei’s ideal which was to constantly worry about her students.
Of course, Tetsuo still implemented the school trip schedule since he didn’t want to deviate from it that much. That would certainly get him in trouble despite having full jurisdiction over his class— meaning he could change anything in the schedule and it would be fine as long as it’s in the vicinity of Tokyo.
So instead of changing the schedule altogether, Tetsuo decided to give his students a little bit of freedom by making their free time, well, a legitimate free time. They could do whatever they want and they could go wherever as long as they asked permission first.
Natsumi and Fuyumi went out with the rest of the photography club members and together, the four of them roamed around the neighborhood. They were looking for a famous cat cafe nearby. For the life of them, they couldn’t find it.
Somewhat dejected, the group opted to retrace their footsteps and head toward one of the most-reviewed candy shops in the vicinity. Even though they couldn’t find the cat cafe with the rumored ’fluffiest cat in japan’ at least they get to reach the candy shop. Then again, this was the fourth time they’ve been to the neighborhood so there’s really not much to cover.
"What should we get for a light snack before we get back?" Hiroto asked out of the blue, striking out a conversation since the atmosphere had gotten awkward. It was largely due to their club president being the silent type. Natsumi and Fuyumi weren’t that talkative either, probably because they were used to each other’s company and it felt weird talking about their likes and dislikes with other people.
Besides, Fuyumi wasn’t stupid enough to not notice that Hiroto actually likes Natsumi. As for Natsumi though, somehow she was oblivious to Hiroto’s feelings despite his blatant way of expressing it like volunteering to take her home or to carry her bag all the time.
Then again, Hiroto and Natsumi had been childhood friends for an indeterminate amount of time so Natsumi was used to it. It wasn’t implicated but as it turned out, Hirotos overeagerness had backfired on him and nothing seemed to work anymore.
Unless, of course, he straightforwardly tells her everything and confesses his honest feelings in words. That way Natsumi would be more aware. With how things are right now, Natsumi would continue treating him as a friend if he doesn’t make a move soon.
’This school trip. I will confess for sure! No one can stop me.’ Hiroto sounded way more confident in his mind than in actuality. Quite frankly, he was nervous. After all, the way things are right now is comfortable. Hiroto didn’t want any of that to change.
He knew. Deep inside he knew that everything would change if he confessed to Natsumi.
But how could he not? For years he had been hinting at Natsumi but she has not noticed it at all.
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With his thoughts diving deeper into simulations wherein he had already outrightly confessed to Natsumi, Hiroto was severely distracted as the group took a saunter back to Aoi Umi Dormitory. Hiroto took deep breaths, constantly reminding himself that he has two more days at maximum before D-Day. There was plenty of time for preparation, not to mention that they were in the same Photography Club so there were plenty of chances and opportunities for the two of them to be alone. That said, when the opportune moment comes, will he be able to pull through?
Will he be able to muster every ounce of his courage to tell her what he felt about her all this time? Just thinking about it made Hiroto’s stomach violently churn as butterflies fluttered within.
Bump!
Preoccupied with his thoughts, Hiroto was a beat too late as he tried to prevent Natsumi’s fall. "Watch out! He screamed, which made everyone impulsively pause for a moment.
The accident was like a slow-motion scene unfolding right at their very eyes. One moment Natsumi was slipping downward, the next moment Hajime fell on top of her, face-flat on her chest. Both of them winced.
Out of instinct though, Hajime managed to reach out his hand and covered the back of Natsumi’s head. Had he been a second too late, Natsumi would’ve hit her head on the pavement. Fortunately, Hajime was able to react just in time. He was even impressed with himself.
"Ouch," Natsumi let out as she tried to get up, only to find out that it was actually Hajime who stumbled on her. "H-H-Hajime?"
"Hey," Hajime tilted his head upwards, his chin resting on the valley in between her bosom. Because his hand was still supporting the back of Natsumi’s head, he was incapable of standing at that moment. Adding to that, he was completely flustered that he couldn’t think straight.
It was a simple, common-sense fix wherein he’d roll to his back— that way both of them would be lying down on the pavement and Natsumi would be able to stand without pressing her ’yes’ on Hajime’s face. And yet he didn’t do it, much less think about it. free𝑤ebnovel.com
For a minute or so, Hajime and Natsumi’s appendage were intertwined, locked to the point where the two of them couldn’t move at all. As for the members of the Photography Club, they didn’t know what to do either so they were basically helplessly staring at each other and awkwardly glancing toward Hajime and Natsumi.
Fuyumi was the first one to get back to her senses, secretly snapping a photo of the two before she helped Hajime up. Grunting, she pulled Hajime up with all she could. "How long are you going to stay all over each o-THER?" Fuyumi teased, causing Natsumi to turn her head to the side as her face turned a bright shade of red that reached to her ears all the way down to her neck.
"Sorry about that, I wasn’t paying attention to where I was going." Hajime bowed, helping Natsumi in turn so she could get up as well.
"No, i-i-it’s the same for me as well." Natsumi mumbled, fumbling with her fingers as she coquettishly fidgeted in front of Hajime. It was an obvious display of interest which everyone plainly noticed.
As for Hiroto, well, he totally denied the truth.
"Hajime, are you free? Do you want to come with us?" Fuyumi invited, grabbing Hajime by the shoulder. She had to tiptoe just to reach it since Hajime was almost a feet taller than her.
’What?!’ Hiroto exclaimed in her mind, wondering why both Fuyumi and Natsumi were close to Hajime to the point that they were even on a first-name basis. This was the first time he’s heard of it and it somewhat bothered him.
"Sorry, I gotta go!" Hajime turned towards the dormitory, waving her hand to the group.
Pause.
"Ah, by the way, thank you for the lunch, Natsumi. I’ll make it up to you next time." Hajime called out, out of the blue, to which Natsumi responded with a nod as a pleasant expression was written on her face.
