CH 49

Chapter 49 – The One and Only You

When she finished telling me about her past, she sat back down on her chair with her eyes down.

Her eyelashes were still wet and she looked like she was about to start crying again. If I was one of those popular guys, I would probably say some gentle words to comfort her in this situation. But sadly, I wasn’t eloquent enough with my words to do that, so I decided to keep quiet and listened to her words.

She let out a sniffle, followed by a deep sigh. She looked mentally exhausted.

“What can I do to help you, Arina?”

There were ten seconds of silence before she answered my question.

“…I don’t know.”

“Then, do you want to stay like this? Don’t you have something you want to do?”

Arina kept her gaze down, she seemed to be pondering about something. Most likely, she already had something in mind, but she hesitated to say it out loud.

I don’t know what she is hesitating about, but whatever things she’s going to ask of me, I’ll try my best to help her with it. We might have met each other by chance, one could say that it was a miracle that we met, but that didn’t mean I wouldn’t go all out to lend her a hand. After all, she was like me, a fellow weirdo.

I wonder what would have happened to her if Akakusa-sensei didn’t tell me to help her? We would never have met each other and she would forever be ‘the girl with venomous tongue’ to me. I shuddered when I thought of that possibility. That would be a sad future for both of us…

Human relationships were akin to a mixture of colors. Whenever we made a connection with someone, that someone would influence us in some way or another, and gradually we would change, just like colors when they were mixed with other colors. That was exactly what happened to both of me and Arina. Her presence left a big impression on me, and before I knew it, I was influenced by her.

“…I want you to help me… To tell my mom… About the real me…”

“Alright. I got your back.”

“…Thank you, Sui…”

For the first time, this toxic girl referred to me by my name.

I’ll creep you out for a second. Don’t you think my name sounds cool? Yes, of course it does, it’s the coolest sounding name in the world.

Arina then grabbed my hand and slumped her face down on the desk. Her hand was trembling and she looked so fragile at that moment. As our hands touched each others’, I felt our body temperature melded together. It was like we were connected by something… Yeah, I know this sounds perverted, leave me alone.

But, I’m sure that God will let me get away with this. After all, isn’t it a heart-warming scene? I’m a going-home club member, but that doesn’t mean I don’t have the right to enjoy a moment like this.

Today was the day when I touched Arina for the first time.

*  *  *

The next day. Well this didn’t really matter, but Makoto went out with Ruuka.

Apparently, she confessed her feelings to him and he accepted it. I knew this would happen sooner or later, but I didn’t expect it to happen this quickly.

“Sorry, Sui. I’m leaving you behind.”

“What the hell are you on about? Do whatever you like, I don’t care.”

He spoke to me with a high spirit before the homeroom started.

He seemed really happy, so I just congratulated him with all my heart.

“I’m glad for you… Finally you can find your happiness…”

“Oh crap, that made me tear up…”

“What are you, my daughter?”

Ruuka was probably in a similar mental state as him. After all, she was finally able to be together with him.

“Anyway, what about you, Sui?”

“What? You have more business with a single man like me?”

“When will you go out with Hiwa?”

“Never. Tomato juice is all I need to attain my happiness.”

“You need to get rid of your tomato juice obsession…”

“It’s too late, I’m far too deep with my obsession, blame my sister for this.”

“Anyway, you’re the only person who’s close to Hiwa right now, so make sure to get along with her.”

“If she wants me to, sure.”

What did he mean by getting along with her, I wonder?

The one I got along with… Was him… So, should I treat Arina like how I’d normally treat him?

Well, whatever, I shouldn’t think too much about it. Everything should be fine as long as both Arina and me enjoy our time together.

*  *  *

Something unexpected happened during the lunch break.

Arina walked into my classroom. I was in the middle of lunch with Makoto and her, coming in so suddenly, made me drop my sausage. It had been a while since she came here. The last time she came here was back when I met up with Shirona after school, I believe.

Makoto was also surprised and dropped his chopsticks. Oh, right, why am I having my lunch with him again? Is it okay for him to not eat together with Ruuka?

Anyway, Arina came to the classroom looking for me.

“Come to the library.”

“Got it, wait for me there.”

She said in her normal tone.

Why is she asking me to go to the library and not Rose Garden?

I quickly finished my lunch.

“Sui, are you going to die?”

“What? No.”

“Thanks for everything, man… It was fun… Being with you…”

“You *ss, are you mocking me right now?”

*  *  *

Right before I entered the library, I felt a sense of deja vu.

This was the place where I first met Arina. I remembered Akakusa-sensei dragging me by the neck back then. It felt so nostalgic.

This was the place where everything started. I wonder if she invited me here with this in mind? I mean, if she wanted to talk normally, going to the Rose Garden would be better, no? I puzzled over it for a long time before eventually stopped thinking about it and entered the library.

Inside, I found Arina sitting in the same seat she sat on back when she first met me.

I sat down across from her. Then, she opened her mouth to speak.

“Do you wanna know why I read books?”

“Because they’re interesting?”

“Correct. Books allow you to read through the soul of the author. Thinking it this way, they seem interesting, no?”

“Are you calling me out just to tell me this?”

“Yes and no. You see, because of my condition, I grew an interest in people. What lies beneath the exterior they put on upfront? And something like that. I found myself wondering about my relationship with the other me. Are we supposed to be separate entities, like oil and water? Or are we just an extension of each other? Of course, I failed to reach an answer, though, not like there’s an answer to this kind of question… But, you know… Whenever I’m reading a book, it feels like I’m communicating with the soul of the author… I couldn’t feel the existence of the other me… I feel free… That’s the reason why I’m reading books…”

She talked in a really soft voice, I almost thought that this was the other Arina.

“And that’s the same feeling I get whenever I’m talking to you. I’m not saying that you’re special or anything… After all, I feel the same way toward both Tsuru and Shirona. But that would never happen without you, Sakaki Sui. Among everyone, I trust you the most…”

“I’m happy to hear that…”

“Today… Will you accompany me to my house?”

“Eh?”

That sudden invitation caught me off guard.

“If you’re thinking of doing something strange, I’m going to kill you for real.”

I couldn’t even think, my mind went completely blank.

Will the police capture me if I were to enter a girl’s room?

“My mother… I want to tell her everything… So, please… Help me…”

“…Got it. I’ll give you my full support!”

At my words, she showed me a gentle smile.

She looks so cute… Not cuter than my little sister, but she’s right below her.