Chapter 2 — Coming of age, a ceremony needed for emanc.i.p.ation .  Part 13

“You looked very fierce yesterday, but today you are really cold . ”

In a highly exaggerated manner, she lowered her head and pretended to cry .

Upon seeing that, the entire cla.s.sroom grew noisy and I felt slightly nauseated .

“Alright everyone, I know this might be really unusual, but shut up now . ”

The teacher spoke in a strong, almost rude manner, and once the cla.s.sroom was silent again, homeroom continued .

Tsukasa’s seat turned out to be the one right next to mine .

The teacher ordered the previous person to move backwards so as to allow for it .

He was hopeless when he tried to be caring, and when he was angered, he would shout so loudly .

I sighed internally .

“Sacchan, it’s nice to be with you . ”

Her smile was reflected in the window .

“…Yeah sure, whatever . ”

I sighed again, but this time it wasn’t only internally .

“Sacchan, can you show me your notes?”

“No . ”

“Sacchan, let’s have lunch together . We can join our desks and exchange some of the food in our lunchboxes~”

“Eat by yourself . ”

I usually ate in the cafeteria in the first place .

“Sacchan Sacchan Sacchan!”

“What is it now?”

“I just felt like calling you . ”

I felt like killing her .

“Sacchaaaaaaaaaan!”

“Shut up . ”

“The teacher is calling you . ”

“…” I stood up silently .

“Just kidding~”

An urge to slap her face infected me, but when I saw her smile, I didn’t feel like doing even that .

Having been fully occupied by Tsukasa, cla.s.s ended . Absolutely nothing from the entire cla.s.s remained in my head .

I felt mentally exhausted, and I found myself sighing in relief now that cla.s.s was over .

Tsukasa started scurrying nimbly around the now-noisy cla.s.sroom from one side to another like a cat .

“Sacchan, should we go play somewhere to enjoy the rest of the day?”

“Good bye . ”

I tried to run away, but she reached out and grabbed my long hair, which in turn drew a black arc behind me .

“You know, about that dog, I decided that I’d definitely give it some food if I ever saw it again,” s.h.i.+na said in a low voice .

“Your hand,” I mumbled, but she refused to let go .

“I wanted to show it that there’s many more fun things in this world than starving to death . ”

“Let go of me . ”

I didn’t want to hear any more of her nonsense .

Biting my lip, I turned around and faced her . Deep in her friendly eyes, there was a hidden sorrow, and reflected on them was me—cold as the middle of winter and sharp as ice .

“Though I guess you are more like a wolf than a dog . A truly majestic and solitary wolf . ”

She let go of my hair and it fluttered back down .

“Shut up!” I shouted, and the entire cla.s.s turned around to look at me in fear .

Immediately afterwards, I froze back my heart that had started to throb .

Immediately afterwards, I froze back my heart that had started to throb .

Then continued with a cold stare and a chilly voice that resounded with a steely note .

“Starving to death would be a much better outcome . ”

“You know, I also like it when you are this grim . ”

Her voice sounded painfully gentle . And most likely, anyone could tell that she wasn’t pretending .

But even though I knew that she was being sincere, I couldn’t understand it . I couldn’t understand a single thing about s.h.i.+na Tsukasa .

I just left quickly, as though running away .

In the blink of an eye, I had run past the school gates as well as countless street lamps, stopping after a while to lean against one and calm my ragged breath .

“What happened? Why are you so unsettled?” s.h.i.+ro asked in astonishment, having leapt down nimbly from a street lamp .

And once again I could feel the aura of blood emanating from him .

It made me wonder just how many wolves still remained in the forest .

“I’m simply tired from having to deal with a weirdo that followed me everywhere . ”

“Now that’s a pity . ”

“Yeah, I feel rather defeated right now . ”

“Well, no, I meant for the person who followed you around,” he said without delay .

I crouched next to him without saying a word, then pulled on his cheeks .

“Dis ‘urts y’know” He was probably trying to say ‘This hurts you know’ .

I crouched next to him without saying a word, then pulled on his cheeks .

“Dis ‘urts y’know” He was probably trying to say ‘This hurts you know’ .

My lips stretched into a smile, and I just continued pulling on his cheeks .

He remained silent so I started using two hands .

“I’m ‘eely sho’ee . ”

“Was that ‘I’m really sorry’?”

He quickly nodded .

I smiled even more and released him .

“Alright, I forgive you . But you should try to avoid saying such thoughtless things to a frail maiden . ”

“I was just trying to make a silly joke . ”

“I haven’t really been in a good mood lately . ” Because you are not by my side .

He groaned, seemingly troubled .

After lightly stroking his chin, I stood up .

Then we started walking back home, me being in the lead . We encountered the stand again, but didn’t near it this time . I was tired, and the bandana guy wasn’t there . Instead, a ‘Closed’ sign was hung upon it .

Back at home, my crazed mother’s screams quickly put me to sleep shortly after I had changed into my bathrobe .

I still had one third left to read of ‘L’Etranger, the book I had borrowed from the library, and the main character had been thrown into court where I left off .