The person who likes me is a yandere.

"...Ha." Sighing is something that can actually be controlled if you pay attention. It's not a natural bodily reaction. It's just that often, if you don't sigh, it's hard to calm your subtle emotions.

As I was checking my saved class schedule on my phone to see how many classes I had missed, I noticed that Kato Megumi had sent me a message sometime during the day. I opened it and read...

"In the infirmary?" That was all he asked. It was unusual. He wouldn't normally ask these kinds of questions. I followed his format and replied with a short, concise answer.

"Yes."

A short while later, my phone vibrated; I had replied to a message.

"Not feeling well?"

"No, I'm skipping class. Are you coming too?"

"Isn't that unnecessary?"

"...What's going on?"

The reply I received felt a bit odd. I double-checked to make sure I hadn't made any typos or used the wrong words, then thought for a moment and typed out.

"What do you mean?"

"You're almost there, aren't you?"

What's with the mysterious act, buddy?

"So, what exactly happened?"

Just as I was about to press the send button, I heard the sound of the infirmary door opening, followed by the sound of a teacher exchanging a few words with someone, and then the sound of someone's indoor shoes walking on the floor.

Pat-pat-pat-pat—the rhythmic sound of footsteps gradually grew louder.

Oh dear, I suddenly have a bad feeling.

Suddenly, the curtains that had enveloped my bed like a cocoon were abruptly pulled open. Sunlight streamed through the pale white fabric, blurring the space and making it seem like another world. But then, reality returned. I sat up in fright.

Good morning, Qianyu.

Tohka stood there with her usual upright and beautiful posture.

"Huh—!?" That's the feeling.

No, no, no, why would she be here?

"I'm sure the teachers also find it quite troublesome that you keep faking illness to come to the infirmary."

The expression on my face could only be described as terrified. I said in an extremely frightened tone, "Um, my physical condition is a little not good."

Is that so?

Just then, a reply came from Kato Megumi. To break the awkward silence, I glanced at it casually.

"After Tohka read your text message, she said she was going to drag you to the classroom. She's almost there, isn't she?"

She did come, but the timing of your notification was terrible. That girl, she doesn't understand the current situation!

"It was I who asked Kato Kei-kun to inquire about Asagao's condition."

"Ah, yes, is that so?"

"Although I had a vague idea that it might turn out this way."

Ah, I feel like she saw right through me. At least her lie about not being in good health was exposed immediately.

"If I remember correctly, we made a promise yesterday that you wouldn't avoid me anymore, right?"

"Well, how could I dare to avoid you anymore? Hmm, well."

"........."

"I skipped class because it was too much trouble, that's all."

"........."

"I'm sorry, I lied. I was just afraid of upsetting Tohka again!"

Even if I prepare a whole bunch of excuses to cover it up, if the other person remains silent, I will have no choice but to tell the truth. In fact, I confessed everything because I couldn't stand the awkward atmosphere.

"Has Qianyu done anything that would make me angry?"

"No, I didn't do it."

"Then you can do it honestly and openly, can't you?"

Well, if I could do it myself, I wouldn't have to work so hard.

"But even if a misunderstanding arises this time, just like before, I won't take my anger out on people indiscriminately."

"Aren't you getting angry right now...?"

"There's a reason for getting angry."

"Oh, I see."

There are many people in the world who get angry for no reason, but there are also many who don't get angry even when they have a reason. In that sense, Tohka is quite healthy. She sighed deeply and then stared at me as she continued.

"I think I understand Qianyu's situation a little better now."

"Huh?"

"Simply put, Qianyu is ten times more timid than the average person. If you think about it this way, you can forgive him in many ways."

No, you're just talking badly about me, okay? Just as Tohka finished speaking, the school nurse, who seemed to have been listening to our conversation from the other side of the curtain, chuckled.

"Class has already started, let's go." To help me put on my shoes quickly, Tohka neatly arranged the dirty shoes I had scattered on the side when I got into bed. She seemed a little shy. Seeing that I hadn't spoken for a while, she said with a slightly surprised expression.

"? I'm not angry anymore, okay?"

"Uh-huh."

What a disgrace! If this were a samurai, it would be so shameful that he would have to commit seppuku.

Chapter Fifteen: No Interaction Allowed

Chapter Sixteen: Are you afraid of me?

During this period, an awkward silence continued.

While others might think it's normal to remain silent while reading, other classmates would usually bring up a topic or two from time to time, and I would tactfully join the conversation. Letting silence fill the space between us only means that both of us are embarrassed by each other and find it difficult to speak.

Moreover, Tohka happens to be the type who doesn't feel pain even when she's in silence with others, and she's currently looking at the manuscript with a calm expression. Her cool profile, gazing down at the paper, alone made her seem very assertive. The article wasn't long; she finished it in about twenty minutes. After finishing her work, Sakura started packing her things, secretly glancing over here.

"Thanks for your hard work."

"Ah, um, you too."

"Is Qianyu also getting ready to go home?"

"Well, I don't participate in club activities."

"I see."

Finally, we could talk, and I started packing my things to go home. I moved as slowly as possible, waiting for Tohka, who had already finished packing, to say something like, "Well then, I'm off." But she remained seated. Finally, after packing at an incredibly slow pace, I stood up, and at the same time, she stood up too.

After I casually glanced at Tohka, she stared straight at me.

"what happened?"

"No, it's nothing."

Oh, is she waiting for me? ... Wait, why?

"Qianyu, are you taking the bus again today?"

"Ah, um, yes." I was startled and nodded.

Wow, this is bad.

Tohka and I weren't on the same bus...? Does that mean I have to seriously talk to her all the time I spend walking to the bus stop, waiting for the bus, and riding the bus—it's definitely not a short time.

Can I do such a thing? Faced with this question, the angel and the devil in my head once again united, waving their hands and saying in unison.

"Impossible, impossible."

exactly!

"Oh, speaking of which, I already made plans with Aki Tomoya in advance."

Of course, he was lying, and it was the kind of lie that sounded like a lie no matter how you looked at it.

Is that so?

"Hmm, maybe he's been waiting for me for a while. Sorry, I'll be going now."

"Okay, see you tomorrow."

To avoid giving myself away, I walked out of the classroom with a calm expression. Then I immediately ran to the boys' restroom, intending to hide there until Tohka caught the bus.

"Phew, that was close."

Although the Cold War is over, I don't think I can have a normal conversation with Tohka for that long. As expected of me, such a brilliant crisis avoidance. I recalled the scene from earlier, and then, even though I hadn't gone to the bathroom, I naturally washed my hands and prepared to open the bathroom door.

I wouldn't own something as fancy as a handkerchief, so I just wiped my hands on my school uniform pants...

"Well, we're not little kids anymore, so it would be better to have a handkerchief for wiping our hands, wouldn't it?"

"Huh?"

I just came out of the men's restroom when I found Tohka standing at the door.

"wipe----!!"

For some reason, I immediately covered my groin with my hand and retreated back to the toilet.

"Why, why are you here!?"

"I only heard it from Aki Tomoya-kun—when Asagao senses something is wrong and flees in panic, he usually hides in the toilet."

From the other side of the door came Tohka's reply.

My plan was seen through! That guy, Aki Tomoya, always says things he shouldn't!

"Didn't I already say? I already have a basic understanding of the language."

"Even so, there's no need to wait for me outside the restroom! It's not like we're playing hide-and-seek! Tohka, you idiot!"