Read Novel Full Chapter 466 - I'll Say It Clearly.
Chapter 466 - I'll Say It Clearly.
<Author’s Notes>
I can’t guarantee it because I don’t have any stock chapter, but the next chapter should be scheduled to be updated around 9:00 PM on April 28th (Tuesday).
<Kashima Kobato POV>
—————-I’ve returned to everyday life.
Since then, more students have been coming back to school, and things are gradually returning to normal.
But———- only the empty seat in the classroom remains unchanged.
Ikusaba Asagi’s seat, too, is still there with just the desk and chair left behind.
Apparently, when someone is missing, it’s common to leave their seat as it is.
Especially while it’s still considered a short period.
Still, lately it feels like fewer classmates are even conscious of the empty seat.
(Today…… what should I do? Maybe I should stop by Asagi-san’s mother’s place?)
No…… today, Asagi’s mother should be working her part-time shift.
It doesn’t overlap with my schedule either.
(Then today…… I’ll do something else. Maybe go to the bookstore near the station…… Ah, maybe I could invite Itsuki-san?)
Recently, I had grown much closer to Itsuki.
Probably far more than when we were in that other world.
Sometimes we even went out together.
No——— It wasn’t just with Itsuki.
I’d also started talking a lot more with Hijiri and Ayaka.
The four of us, among the very few in this world who still remember “that world”.
Somehow, it felt like we shared a sense of being accomplices.
And I…… well, I don’t dislike that feeling at all.
Though, at school, we didn’t actively interact much.
If we suddenly became close, it would feel too unnatural.
So for now, as a first step, we were subtly letting it be known that me and Itsuki were getting along well.
(It’d be nice if, someday, I could talk with Hijiri-san and Sogou-san at school like we normally do……)
———–Through the window, the clear autumn sky stretched out.
Today was warm.
The window was open about 20 percent, letting a breeze drift in.
The curtain swelled softly with that gentle wind.
At that moment, my gaze drifted towards “his” seat.
(Mimori-kun…… are you doing well over there……?)
Right now, the class was discussing what to do for the cultural festival.
We couldn’t just stay gloomy forever over the missing student.
Hopefully, the upcoming festival would serve as some kind of turning point.
Though she hadn’t said it outright, our class’ executive committee member, Ayaka, seemed to feel the same.
I had been trying to help her as much as possible.
———–Well, in truth, there wasn’t much I could really do.
[Does anyone else have any ideas?]
Ayaka called out from the podium.
Recently, she had changed her hairstyle.
She’d taken off her headband and tied her hair into a high ponytail.
(As expected, Sogou-san really is beautiful……)
How should I say this…… ever since she switched to that hairstyle, she seemed even more dignified.
That was the impression I got.
[Gyahaha! What the hell was that!?]
At the back of the classroom, a few students had formed some sort of circle with their chairs.
[That’s hilarious, right!? Right!?]
The ones chatting and laughing were from Kirihara Takuto’s group.
The ones laughing just now were Shiba Ryotaro and Tajimi Reo.
I watched as Murota Erii tried to rein the two of them in.
[Hey, you two are getting a little too worked up…… can’t you save it for break time?]
[Haahh!? Eri, haven’t you been acting kinda like a goody-two-shoes lately!?]
Tajimi’s jab made Murota pout.
[……Being good is better than being bad, isn’t it?]
Her memories should’ve been erased too.
And yet, she gave off a slightly calmer impression than before the summoning.
Maybe it was the influence of Kariya Ikumi, who she’d been close with in the same group?
Kariya Ikumi had died during the battle in the Anti-Demon White Castle.
Which meant that, in this world, she was just another missing person.
That’s why neither she nor Oyamada Shougo were in the Kirihara group anymore.
Kirihara Takuto spoke while fiddling with his phone.
[Hmph…… a cultural festival is just non-productive in the broad sense anyway. Even if you say making high school memories leads to something in the future…… it’s basically just emotional labor to feel good through temporary unity.]
[Kirihara-kun, we’re supposed to be deciding what to do right now, so please participate.]
The one who said that was Ayaka.
But Kirihara didn’t even look up from his phone, no reaction at all.
As if he hadn’t heard her voice.
However……
[Put your smartphone away.]
That single sentence from Ayaka.
In an instant, the air in the classroom snapped tight.
Like a military unit going “rigid” at a superior’s command———-
An undeniable pressure swept through, forcibly straightening the atmosphere.
And it was obvious to everyone where that pressure was directed the most.
[……………………tch.]
Kirihara clicked his tongue and slipped his phone into his pocket.
Even Shiba and Tajimi, who had been fooling around, stood there stunned for a moment.
But eventually, they pushed their chairs back into place and sat down.
Kirihara did the same, reluctantly adjusting his desk and chair as if to respond.
“It felt like something intangible had silenced them from the inside out.”
At least, that was the impression I got.
……Or maybe Ayaka’s way of scolding was just that forceful.
That was probably all there was to it.
Thereupon……
[Y- Yeah, that’s right…… Sensei also thinks what Sogou says is correct. Well, I’m not saying everything has to be strict and disciplined, but…… at times like this, let’s take it seriously, okay?]
The homeroom teacher, Zakurogi Tamotsu, was sitting on a chair near the edge in front of the blackboard.
Trying not to provoke Kirihara, he backed up Ayaka.
His attitude, especially towards Ayaka, had changed a lot lately.
From what Itsuki told me……
“Seems like Ayaka used her position as the granddaughter of the President of the Sogou Group to pressure the school somehow. I mean, she said it herself, so it’s gotta be true. And Zakurogi must’ve found out somewhere and got scared. He probably never thought the chairman’s granddaughter had that kind of influence. Well…… honestly, I was surprised too.”
“That guy sure does suck up to power”, Itsuki had said with a grim look.
Yeah…… that certainly tracks.
Right after the summoning, he’d taken an obviously sycophantic attitude toward Vysis.
As for the classmates who had just watched all this———-
[Doesn’t Ayaka feel kinda reliable lately……? Like, she’s actually pretty cool?]
[Yeah, she’s got this cool side now, right? Maybe it’s the new hairstyle too…… like, a more dignified vibe?]
[She can be a little scary sometimes though……]
[But the Prez lately is great……]
[I get ya……]
She seemed pretty well-liked.
Then I noticed one of the boys staring at me.
Naturally, I looked back.
The moment our eyes met, his face turned red and he quickly looked away.
[ ? ]
Lately——— it felt like boys were treating me a little differently.
Maybe it was because I’d started putting more effort into my appearance than before?
And…… unlike before, I was doing it on my own initiative now.
(After all……)
My gaze drifted to her seat, still empty today.
“Even though the raw material isn’t bad, not making use of it is pretty stupid———– I’ve told you that before, right? Seriously, you’re being a big dumb-dumb~~. Sure, there’s a risk of attracting delusional stalkers or whatever, but still…… why should we hold back on fashion or makeup just because of trash like that? Anyway, back to the point…… when someone has good material but doesn’t make use of it, it honestly irritates me sometimes. Honestly, you could even say it’s a loss to society. And more often than not, they’re losing out on themselves too. Ugh…… so yeah? I’m talking about people like you, Kobato.”
I have to at least be a little mindful of it————- or Asagi-san will get mad at me again, won’t she?
△
Back when we still hadn’t resumed going to Ogito Academy———–
After I was rescued from that landslide site, I returned home.
Together with my parents.
When they came to pick me up, they were so relieved that I was safe.
They were crying——— and I ended up crying too.
It made me so happy, knowing I was loved this much.
I took off my shoes and slipped into my slippers, and there was one more to welcome me.
[Meow.]
[Fufu, I’m home.]
Just as he’s staying behind in that world with Asagi-san’s remains.
Here in this world is the beloved cat that connects me to him.
————The bond you left me…… it really was something amazing, you know?
After a few days, once things had settled down, I put on my uniform and headed out.
“Are you really okay?”, my mom asked, worried.
“Yeah, I’m fine.”, I answered lightly.
And I really was fine.
At least…… when it came to myself.
The place I went to was the Ikusaba household.
I pressed the doorbell through the front gate.
Then———– I took a deep breath.
Even so, compared to how I used to be…… I think I’ve changed a lot.
Going to visit a classmate’s house all by myself……
The old, timid me would’ve never imagined doing something like this.
“……Yeees, who is it?”
A woman’s voice came through the intercom speaker.
Even through the speaker, I could tell.
It sounded similar to her voice.
Which means…… the owner of that voice must be her————–
□■
“T- That’s…… not it! I’m not trying to be your mom…… but I think I’ve achieved it……!”
“Hehh…… Achieved what?”
“Becoming…… your f- friend……!”
Back then, when I said that……
You smirked to yourself———— and then said this to me, didn’t you?
“Yeah, sure…… let’s go with that…… my friend……”
■□
So this time, properly……
[Nice to meet you, I———–]
I’ll say it clearly.
[I’m Asagi-san’s friend———— Kashima Kobato.]