Escape Galge Chapter 15

(OДO;;) This chasing thing must be contagious.

Kōryaku Taishō-sha na Watashi wa Gyarugē Shujinkō kara Nigetai wake de!

"So it's cloudy today."

　It's dark outside even though my alarm clock should have rang at the usual time.
　Causing me to misjudge that it's still early.
　I wake up not feeling fresh.
　Sluggishly leaving the bed, I sluggishly change my clothes.

　Dazedly chewing a slice of bread in the kitchen.
　Whoa… so much crumbs fell.

　The weekly weather forecast is projected on the television screen. A rain icon is shown for today.
　I guess I'd better bring an umbrella though it hasn't rained yet.
　While this isn't a『refreshing morning』, I suppose it fits my current mood perfectly.
　The soft curls that I curled properly[1] are limp, as though reflecting my listlessness.

　I was unable to sleep well last night.
　Because I repeatedly slept and woke, my head hurts.
　This is all Kagurazaka Aoi's fault.
　… Anyhow, he's probably here today too.

"G'morning, Kii."
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　See, I knew it.
　He has his usual gentle smile on.
　Thank goodness.

　…Nn?

　What did I mean by『Thank goodness』?
　I reflexively make a comeback at myself.
　It's no good; my head may have turned strange because I didn't get proper sleep.
　I must get myself together.

　Just as I'm thinking that, my gaze stops at his foot and I recall.
　His foot was sprained yesterday but…

"Senpai, your foot…"
"Un, it's fine. Thanks for the concern."
"Is that so. I wasn't concerned at all, but… thank goodness."

　I purposely speak in a disinterested manner and walk pa.s.s him.
　I start walking in a quick pace that simply shouts『I want to walk alone』, but for some reason, he wears a happy expression as he walks beside me.
　Even though he favours his leg and seems to be having a hard time walking, he frantically follows me.
　My anger bubbles at both how my intention wasn't transmitted and at that grin on his face.

　… Let's walk slowly.
　It's not as if I'm particularly concerned about how the guy beside me is having trouble walking.
　I just feel doing so.

"… Sigh."

　I don't like this『naturally, we'll head to school together』feeling.
　There's also the matter about Mashiro.
　I unknowingly let out a sigh.

"I've a favour to ask you, Kii."
"Do allow me to reject it."
"There isn't an issue when I walk, but I doubt I'm able to chase you if you escape. That's why, can you give escaping a rest today? Besides, today's the Friday that I tend to spend with you. I want to be together with you."
"…"

　I want to say, 'First of all, listen to what people have to say'.
　It's tiring to retort every single time so I won't say it though.

　『Friday』, he says.
　I almost blurt out『Isn't it because it's the day the favourability rating raises easily?』but I swallow it down.
　I don't want to think about it. I don't want my mood to turn even gloomier than this.
　It will rain.

"Shall we go somewhere after school?"
"I am definitely not going."
"I'll pick you up when cla.s.s is over."
"Like I said… can you hear me? Are your ears working properly? I am not going!"
"I'll come and pick you up."
"…"

　He shoots me a smile the same moment his words are fired. This smile that charms a large number of girls is nothing but a threat to me now.
　My cla.s.sroom has completely transformed into the opposing team's turf.
　If I ignore this guy when he comes to pick me up, the favourability rating people have of me will be reduced again.
　If these days of being chased around throughout the day and ignoring him continues, I think I’ll get stabbed by the girls.

"If you stay quiet during the other break times, I'll accompany you if it's just after school…"
"Kii! Yes, I promise!"
"… It's just for today."

　Let's treat it as thanks for shielding me from my fall off the stairs yesterday and endure it.
　We'll probably go out of school when school ends so let's take it that I've managed to protect the peace of the school… yep.

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"How serene."

　The weather forecast is still off its mark at this point; it hasn't rained.
　I stretch and loosen my body as I gaze at the cloudy sky beyond the window.

　The morning cla.s.ses are over and it is now the long break time:『lunch break』.
　As that guy promised, he's yet to appear today.
　It's been a while since I can spend my time in school undisturbed… at the instant I'm thinking so.

"… Yikes."

　The moment I relax, I encounter that guy in a totally unexpected place.
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　Perhaps it's due to the lack of sleep; my head's a blank. Hence I decided to take a nap and went to the backyard.
　An iron bench sits there, its coat of paint peeling off slightly.
　The bench isn't exactly pretty, but it's perfect when you want to lay down horizontally.
　The large tree by the bench provides some amount of shade. It's a little-known place people rarely drop by.
　I thought that there won't be anyone here with the weather being so unpredictable today, but someone beat me to it.
　It's him.
　What's he doing in a place like this?
　I hide myself and stealthily peek out. He's engrossed in reading a book.
　I'm curious about the book he's reading so I strain my eyes but I still can't see it clearly.
　I think it's some kind of magazine…

"『Understanding her preferences』will give you a high evaluation. Your choice of the shop and your choice of the present is key…"

　He scans the page pensively while muttering about something.
　Is the contents of that magazine so complicated?

"Present… nuh huh, what you've to take note is that depending on her mood when she receives it, it may feel oppressive or shallow… so the timing is important too. If it's the previous Kii-tan, she'd like cute… and girlish things, but the current Kii-tan seems like she prefers pretty and fashionable things, huh."

　I hear something about me from his mutterings?
　Actually… is it me or it sounds like he's thinking about what to give me for a present?

　Watcha doin', to the extent of hiding in a place like this!?
　For some reason, I grow embarra.s.sed; my face turns hot.
　No, this isn't due to bashfulness nor happiness.
　It's because I was called『Kii-tan』again, such an embarra.s.sing nickname…!
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"Moreover, she seems to admire Shiori… should I ask Shiori for suggestions? I wonder if she doesn't like accessories anymore… I didn't manage to get her to accept it after all. Also, where should we go today? It's so hard… ahh, egaddd, what should I do!"

　『Egad』!?
　Eh… is he actually 'a grandpa who reincarnated' on the inside, or something!?
　I wonder if he's going all brouhaha because his body became young.
　If so… I think it's forgivable.
　If I treat it like daycare, I'm not too unwilling to go for just a 1-day date y'know.

　… Wait, it's not the time for that.
　It's the same when he was murmuring by himself previously too, but this gives a different impression from the normal Kagurazaka Aoi.
　Is this the『true Kagurazaka Aoi』?
　I realize the moment that came to my mind.

　『Maybe I wasn't looking at senpai either.』

　Just as how he wasn't looking at my true self, I, too, wasn't looking at the true Kagurazaka Aoi?
　The instant that thought crosses my mind, I receive an impact as though my heart is being gouged.
　My head goes completely blank.
　Did I shut my eyes to my own faults, yet found fault with him?

"Isn't this harder than the bar exams…!?"

　… Even though I was reflecting on myself seriously.
　I hear a line that completely cuts the tension.
　Let's give up on napping and go back.
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"To think it'll be so tough without the capturing data… I really had it easy so far, huh."

　He's still muttering away but I bet it's something foolish.
　I'm starting to want to escape after school…

　I see a silhouette on the other side of the bench he's occupying.
　Someone’s hidden within the bushes, observing him.
　That shiny, platinum silver hair belongs to Mashiro.
　I can't see her expression but I can tell that she's staring unmovingly at him.
　It doesn't seem like she intends to call out to him.
　Neither has he noticed her presence.

　I ended up having an appointment with him after school but I wonder what Mashiro thinks of that.
　Will she think that I'm stealing a march on her?

　My feelings of wanting to be friends with Mashiro are currently one-sided and unrequited.
　I called out to her when we came across each other in the corridor this morning but was ignored.
　I want to talk to her before school ends. However, I can't call out to her now because he'll discover me too.
　Just as I wonder if I should hide and approach Mashiro by taking a roundabout route, she left.
　How regrettable.
　It'll be good if I can catch her in the remaining break time…

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[1] She's talking about her hair.