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"Let's not talk about this"
Tachibana Rika is obsessed with Kusuba Ren.
These kinds of rumors vanished within a week.
Most major rumors last around 75 days.
So, around a week is basically negligible. This is because of my powers as a “mob”.
There is a reason they got tired of the topic.
This is because there was no addition to that rumor.
Tachibana and I haven’t been in contact since the day we had lunch together.
I never talked or saw her with familiarity.
If I’m not good with it and do poorly, I may not even approach Tachibana within a radius of 3 meters.
Well
 It is to be expected that I have seen her a few times from afar.
After all, beautiful girls tend to stand out, unlike someone like me.
To be honest, the relationship between me and Tachibana is completely normal.
At that time, our paths of life had slightly overlapped but were now separate again.
Well
 Now that it’s over, we are back to normal.
“That is why it’s all over. So, stop talking about this.”
In the classroom after school, I do not hide my feeling of annoyance and say so to the person sitting on the opposite seat.
But he just gives a bright smile and say’s, “NOPE!!”
I expected those words but I still involuntarily sigh.
“You have a chance to get close to the “Takatsuki no Hana”?! This is a very rare, no, not only rare, this opportunity might never happen again!!”
“I am not doing it again,” he said. “I don’t want to get any closer.”
“See you later.”
My only “friend”, Natsume Kyoya came close to my face.
(TN: Kyoya is “きょや” in hiragana.)
This skinship, aura, and overflowing energy.
The exact opposite of me, in every way.
“
 Anyway, why is she called “Takatsuki no Hana”?”
“Hmmm
? You don’t know that?”
Kyoya claps his hands as if he realized something.
As expected, he understands me. I’m sure if that’s good or bad though.
“Tachibana Rika. She is cute, good at studies, and she is very famous in school. The delicate but dignified aura is super popular among boys who want to strike. But, maybe, because of that personality, she doesn’t have any male friends. That’s why she is called “Takatsuki no Hana”.”
“Yes
”
“You have no interest?!”
I don’t have any interest.
I was more impressed with Kyoya, who somehow knew that.
The skills he has been as strong as ever.
“That’s a complete waste of this precious opportunity! Just try your best, what’s wrong with that?”
“Basically, I have no reason to.”
As I say that, Kyoya can’t stop grinning.
Kyoya is like a power charge of the world.
And a big one at that.
Handsome, good in sports, exceptional socializing abilities.
Naturally, he has a lot of friends and is usually the center of class.
A race that is different from me.
A human, but yet not.
So, why am I friends with such a normie?
“Don’t look so surprised, I have known Kusuba Ren for more than 10 years. I know what you are thinking”
“Shut up, if you know, then read the mood.”
So, that’s what it is.
To put it simply, we have a long relationship.
Children from elementary school can become friends easily if they live close together or their parents are friends.
The nature of the person is not that important.
However, Kyoya has been maintaining a relationship with me for a long time with the friendly nature of his possessions.
Apparently, Kyoya has been in touch for a long time now. After all, he is gifted with his friendly nature.
I think it’s quite a big deal.
If I were, to be honest, I am grateful that he is my friend.
Still, I can’t say I agree with his point of view.
“I’m not going to be able to do that,” he said.
“You don’t like to expect and regret, do you?” he continued.
“Yes. Discouragement and negative emotions come from expectations. If you quit from the beginning and don’t take any challenges, you can live peacefully.”
“But to hit a ball, you have to swing,” he tried to explain.
“That logic only works at the person on the batting line,” I replied. For someone like me, I am not even on the audience bench.
Kyoya opened his hands and shook his head.
Well
 we do have a long relationship.
“But I got accepted in this school thanks to you, and Tachibana is also in this school. Naturally, I want to repay the favor, right?”
“If you really think so, leave the topic quietly, that’s the best repayment.”
Also, what about the examination?
I have brought up another old story.
Kyoya was not very good at studying.
But, for me, that was like the only thing I was good at.
I had no energy to drive away Kyoya who came to visit my house to study.
And
That’s all.
I don’t expect anything in return.
“I don’t think I’ll regret coming here, Tachibana is too cute.”
“That is the issue here.”
If I could see through Kyoya’s eyes, I could see everything in an optimistic manner.
But I already know what life is actually like.
I don’t want any high hopes.
In 16 years of experience, that is the conclusion.
“Kyoya, are you there?”
Suddenly, the classroom door opened, and a girl came in.