Matsushita Chiaki POV
"..."
"..."
"..."
Silence
As if everyone went mute for a couple of seconds, the previously lively Sports Festival was deadly still
No one cheered
No one cried out in frustration
Not even the wind blew
That's how silent it was after one strange event after another
"W-What was that...?"
A classmate of mine bravely asked the question everyone had
Breaking the ice, one after another posed a question of their own. The previously silent field, echoing with shock and surprise
No one really paid attention to the other competitors, not even to the previously winning Year 2 Class A
Everyone's undivided attention only fell to a certain brown haired boy
Casually wiping his forehead as he basked in orange hue radiated by the setting sun.
Standing, relaxed as if he didn't just break all of common sense
Then
"WHOOOOOOOOOOOOOO—!"
Cheers bellowed
Surprise grew
Even those who wasn't in our Class cheered for the spectacle the brown haired boy displayed.
Of course, that brown haired boy being;
"Kiyotaka-kun...?" The name escaped my slowly smiling lips
That boy who didn't want attention did this?
Stealing the first place who we — our Class — had the lowest possibility of acquiring?
It's no wonder that I was dumbfounded and silent for so long
I am beyond shocked. Especially since I know Kiyotaka-kun quite well.
But what was that?
"Hahhh..."
In the end, all I could do was smile. A smile that contained a little bit of smugness as my fellow classmates rushed to the returning boy
"You're really making it hard for me to not like you..."
I murmured in a way only I could hear
Smugly looking at the scene where my Classmates asked all sorts of questions, I was at peace at the fact that they finally knew. That yes, he's amazing isn't he?
Well, at least for a short moment of time
"Uhmm... Matsushita-san?"
I looked to my side only to see a slightly red Satou-san
"Yes? What is it Satou-san?"
"Uhmm.. I just wanted to ask a question"
Finding her behavior strange, I took the scenario a bit more seriously
"Go on...?"
Only to be left utterly speechless at the words she said
"You're close to Ayanokouji-kun right? Does he have a girlfriend?"
"...."
Huh?
Wait....
W-Wait wait wait
Huh?!
This behavior!
"W-Well, I was just curious that's all. And since your the closest person to him that I know, I decided to asked you" Satou-san added, scratching her cheek awkwardly
Wait!
Hold on!!!!
Don't tell me....
....you fell in love with him just because of that?!
Satou-san?!
Are you that fragile?!
...
...
...
Okay...
Maybe that shouldn't be coming from someone who also fell in love with him just because she found him interesting and decided that stalking him was a great option
Yep
But still!
Kiyotaka-kun was just heaven and earth compared to any other boys I know if you get to know him well
And besides!
I'm a Highschooler with a Highschooler's heart!!
...
...
...
So is Satou-san!!!!!
Looking around for a brief moment, whispers totally out of the topic of the sports festival was already circulating around the girls
Mind you, most agree that Kiyotaka-kun has the looks. The only reason he's often forgotten and ignored is because he's quote on quote "boring"
But now that Kiyotaka-kun just did what he did.....
Oh no...
"Matsushita-san?"
"Ahh"
My thought flew by, and I finally noticed the girl Infront of me innocently waiting for my answer
"Uhmm... As far as I know.... Kiyotaka-kun doesn't"
"Great!"
"..great?" I forced a kind smile to her obvious behavior—
"Ah nothing. Ignore that... Then. Do you like him?"
—only to crack with her following words
"A-Ahaha... As a friend, Yes.... Why?"
"Ohh! Then!"
...
...
Sighhh...
"Can you help me get to know him?" Satou-san excitedly asked. Pure innocence glowing from her eyes
Kiyotaka-kun....
Why are you the way you are?
I was proud of myself to have found you, a hidden gem unfairly burrowed among the rubles of trash in this School...
But now...
Though a fraction... Everyone knows how amazing you are...
I was happy at first.... But I didn't expect this
"...sure" spurred on by her momentum, I absentmindedly agreed to Satou-san's request
Looking back at the scene of a slightly flustered brown haired boy, answering a barrage of questions
I stared silently
Only this time, without that smug smile
...
Kiyotaka-kun... I...........
Sighh
Competition for Chiaki, as if there weren't a lot already LoL
Anyway, I was always trying to look for a reason for Chiaki to fall in love with Kiyotaka
Because you know... Her feelings just seemingly came out of nowhere?
Until I remembered someone who fell in love with him just because he
Cough* Cough*
"Ran Fast"
And so I ultimately just used the reason that she's a teenager. Which isn't that out of place I guess
I mean,
I question the existence of the entirety of the universe just because a girl said 'hi'
Sooo.... Yeah