chapter 6

“S-s-sorry! I’m really sorry!”

Underneath a deserted staircase, Rinka was desperately apologizing to me. After she took away my glasses and left the washroom, I immediately chased after her. Just like that, I managed to go straight down the stairs and caught her at the shoe rack.

Rinka had told her friends that she had some business and quickly left them to return my glasses

“It would’ve been fine to return them tomorrow.”

Since she wasn’t threatening me, I could speak to her normally.

I’m almost certain that she isn’t a bad person.

Her chest size is nasty though.

“Walking home without your glasses could be bad for you… when you’re that cool…”

Her voice had gone so quiet by the second half that I couldn’t hear her. Well, she might think that my eyesight is really bad. It’d definitely be dangerous if a person with bad eyesight tried to walk home. However, my eyesight’s just fine.

“Sorry, I didn’t think they’d force me to go that far.”

“Hikage-san… I knew it.”

“We’re classmates, aren’t we? Just call me by my name. Also, your guess is probably right.”

“Hikage… Didn’t want to do those things”

“My name is Rinka. And yes, I honestly didn’t have any interest in Yoshiharu-kun. Everyone around me just pinned us together on their own, saying things like ‘You two suit each other!’”

So that’s how it was. Rinka might actually be a timid person.

“Rinka, you also had a hard time making friends…”

“Just call me Rin. While I was trying to meet everyone’s expectations, I was scared of losing my friends and I couldn’t turn back anymore.”

“Rin… Forget it, it’s easier to call you Rinka, after all”

“Hmm, well, I’m satisfied with Rinka. Can I call you Ritsuki?”

“I don’t mind if you call me Kitarou or nerd, just anything except Youkai.”

It feels like Rinka is particular about how she calls her friends. It seems like she wants to call me by my first name in a weird yet sweet voice. I don’t really get it, but I’m glad she nodded happily.

“I’d really like to make it up to you somehow.”

“Don’t worry, you’re not the first person to do this kind of thing to me.”

“I see… So I’m not the first person, huh.”

“Why do you sound a little disappointed!?”

“Anyways! I want to make it up to you, so here!”

Saying that, Rinka took out 2 movie tickets. Why would she have those on her?

“Are those…?”

“That’s right, preview tickets for the popular movie『Scramble Edge』! Let’s watch it together! ”

“It’s at a movie theater in Shibuya…”

“Ritsuki knows about it too, right!? The theme song is sung by Personia! That’s why you usually wouldn’t be able to get these tickets!”

“…Ah, is that so?”

I know about this movie all too well. There will be a surprise at the preview screening of the movie. Shion (that is, me) will appear before the movie

That’s why, unfortunately, I won’t be able to go.

“Since you had to go so far for these tickets, shouldn’t you be inviting your other friends instead of me?”

“They’d just say things like, “Rinka-san, let’s go invite Yoshiharu-san! We’ll be watching over you two!””

“…So basically, you had no one to invite”

“H-hey! Don’t say that like I have no friends! I was carrying this ticket around, looking for someone to watch it with… This time, well, it just so happens that I couldn’t find anyone to invite.”

Saying that, Rinka puffed out her chest in pride and tried to show off, but… Maybe Rinka is actually a loner?

Somehow, I came to understand more about Rinka. Rinka is only putting on a facade as “the leader of the gang”. No one knows that, behind that facade, Rinka is actually a timid person. This is why she can’t even find someone to watch a movie with her. Nevertheless, I still have no choice but to refuse her.

“Ah, Rinka, unfortunately I have some-”

While I was talking, Rinka had a look of despair on her face… And I could feel my bad habit ignite. Shion is a singer who wants to make people smile. I want her to smile, not as a persona, but as her true self. This is what I ended up thinking.

“I had some plans to hang out in the cafe right next to the movie theater…”

“O-ohh! If you’re going there then we can just watch the movie together! Actually, aren’t you free anyway?”

Rinka noticed my joke and had a genuinely relieved expression on her face. She seems to be really happy… Well, I guess one way or another, we’re just going to end up at the same place.

And just like that, I got into yet another troublesome situation. Will I be okay on the day of the movie?