Collapse, the Ordinary Daily Life of the Valkyries

By the way, did my expression make her feel unhappy?

"I, I'm not unhappy. It's my honor to be with a lovely girl like you..."

“Eh…”

Wow!

Idiot! I'm such an idiot! What the hell am I talking about? How could I say something like that to a girl I'm just meeting for the first time? That was undoubtedly one of the worst jokes I've ever made. She'll definitely run away. Someone, come and turn back time!

"I, I'm not as cute as you say..."

However, contrary to my expectations, she blushed and lowered her head, seemingly avoiding any development that would distance her.

And, how should I put it, even this action is as beautiful as a painting.

She was really cute, and I was completely blown away. It was only natural that she would blurt out something like that.

Let's just leave it at that.

After that, it was difficult to start a conversation between them. After walking on the complicated road for a while, they finally saw the shadow of the post office.

"Ah, I saw the post office."

"Is that it?"

Spotting the post office, she turned to me.

"Thank you so much. Well, I'll take my leave now..."

"what……"

She walked towards the post office, her figure moving further and further away.

Seeing this scene, the anxiety that had been accumulating for a long time suddenly emerged.

Is this okay? Say goodbye without asking any questions.

Even though she is a beauty that I am not worthy of, she is the right one for the job.

While I was hesitating, her figure became smaller and smaller.

No time to worry!

"Classmate. Wait a minute!"

“Wha-what!?”

I plucked up the courage to shout at her back, and she turned around immediately as if startled.

"C-Can I ask... your name? My name is Nagisa Aizawa."

No matter how you think about it, the action of suddenly asking a strange girl's name and giving her own name should be a strikeout.

There are obviously several more elegant ways, but I just can't think of them at the moment.

However, I still wanted to give it a try. After all, even if I was rejected, it wouldn't be a loss.

"Well……"

As a result, she replied stiffly:

"My name is Kurama Meika... Thank you for your guidance."

With a shy smile, she disappeared into the post office.

“I got it…!”

She was willing to tell me her name!

How can I put it? I'm so happy I'm speechless.

I was so happy that I was walking slowly and absent-mindedly, and before I knew it, I was late. So I had no choice but to switch to jogging.

“I’m such an idiot…! Idiot…!”

At the same time, I also feel regretful.

If you want to ask, you should ask what school she attends, or her phone number and email address. What's the point of just asking her name?

Ahhh, but she is so cute~ She is completely imprinted in my mind.

But even if I turned back, she wouldn't be there. Besides, I would definitely be late if I turned back now.

"call……"

There are five minutes left before the bell rings.

If you just use all your strength, regardless of your appearance, you'll still be able to make it. A samurai's strength allows him to unleash extraordinary leg and arm strength. However, drawing attention to himself would be very dangerous.

Ultimately, even if one possesses special blood and special powers, there are very few situations where they can be used. Furthermore, using extraordinary powers will only lead to being disliked. This is especially true during childhood.

Rather than power that improves athletic ability, I want power that improves intelligence. Specifically, the kind that allows me to get good grades without studying hard.

…Alas, there is no such good thing in the world. I sighed inwardly and ran to school like an ordinary person.

At this moment, there was a sound of brisk footsteps approaching me rapidly from behind.

"Hey, isn't that Nagi? It's rare to see you at this time."

"It's Nami."

This person, wearing the school uniform, running and talking, is my childhood sweetheart, Nami. She's one of the few girls I can have a normal conversation with, and her full name is Izawa Nami. Incidentally, "Nagi" is my nickname, and only Nami calls me that.

She had a healthy complexion, a vibrant voice, and a vibrant expression. Her long black hair was tied into a ponytail, which swung vibrantly with a large pink bow. The girls said her hair was as smooth as silk, but even at my age, I still didn't have the courage to ask her to let me touch it.

Seeing her running and talking without getting out of breath, I can tell she has good basic stamina. I really don't understand why she doesn't join a sports club.

"What were you doing this morning? It took you this long."

"A child asked me for directions, so I took him to the post office."

"Oh...there. So, Sayu left you behind and went out first?"

"She's on duty today, so she went to school first."

Sayu is my younger sister. Due to family reasons, we lived away from our parents in a student dormitory, and usually we went to school together.

"Yes—oh. By the way, did something good happen to you? Your philtrum has become longer."

Nami asked me this with half-closed eyes.

“Eh!”

I couldn't help but reach up to cover my philtrum. It shouldn't have stretched...right? Speaking of good things...maybe it was because I chatted with that girl for a bit...

"Did anything happen?"

Nami pressed on. Why? Was there something about me that bothered her?

"No, nothing..."

"What happened between you and the kid who asked for directions? Nagi, confess now!"

"Why should I tell you!"

“That’s because…! Because your mother asked me not to let you do anything bad!”

Mom, you're so stupid...! Anyway, why does this topic sound a bit like a landmine?

"So, what kind of person is the other party?"

"........."

"Why aren't you talking?"

“No, no, it’s not what you think…!”

"The child you're talking about is probably a girl, right? Tell me the truth!"

Woohoo. Looks like I slipped up. I should have called it a person instead of a child.

"She's a girl from another high school. It seems she moved here recently."

After he confessed the truth unwillingly, Nami's expression became more and more unhappy.

"I see. It's because I'm so close to that girl that my philtrum has become longer... I see."

"You're being too paranoid, aren't you?! I don't even know what high school she attends!"

"But, don't you know that he's moving?!"

"I was just wondering why she didn't know where the post office was. Only after I asked did she tell me!"

Nami's tone was even more aggressive than usual. Without understanding what was going on, I couldn't possibly change the situation!

“…Never mind. It’s alright.”

However, it seems she doesn't intend to pursue the matter further. Great.

"I'll interrogate you thoroughly once we get to school."

Oh no. I didn't do anything bad, did I?

"Nami, I always feel like you're very harsh on me."

"You made me do this, didn't you?"

"When you promised me marriage, you were supposed to be more honest and gentle than you are now..."

I murmured softly, and Nami's face suddenly turned red.

"ah!"

Then he stumbled and lost his balance.

I grabbed Nami's arm and pulled her up before she fell. Soon she was back on her feet and resumed her running speed.

"Thank you. I mean, do you still remember that promise?"

"I don't know why, but I still remember it. During that time, you often told me, 'Nagi, Nagi, I love you the most!'"

“Ah—! Ah—! Forget about that old past—No! You absolutely cannot tell anyone about it! If you don’t want me to correct you!”

“Ah—! Ah—! Forget about that old past—No! You absolutely cannot tell anyone about it! If you don’t want me to correct you!”

"Why aren't you talking?"

“No, no, it’s not what you think…!”

"The child you're talking about is probably a girl, right? Tell me the truth!"

Woohoo. Looks like I slipped up. I should have called it a person instead of a child.

"She's a girl from another high school. It seems she moved here recently."

After he confessed the truth unwillingly, Nami's expression became more and more unhappy.

"I see. It's because I'm so close to that girl that my philtrum has become longer... I see."

"You're being too paranoid, aren't you?! I don't even know what high school she attends!"

"But, don't you know that he's moving?!"

"I was just wondering why she didn't know where the post office was. Only after I asked did she tell me!"

Nami's tone was even more aggressive than usual. Without understanding what was going on, I couldn't possibly change the situation!

“…Never mind. It’s alright.”

However, it seems she doesn't intend to pursue the matter further. Great.

"I'll interrogate you thoroughly once we get to school."

Miscellaneous: Random Thoughts

I stopped my bike and looked at the map again.

My destination was only twelve minutes away from the station by foot; by bike, it would be less than five. Since it was on a main street, it was easy to find. Besides, I'd lived here for four years and wasn't completely unfamiliar with the area, so a map wasn't really necessary. But I'd been frantically checking the location since last night, and I knew I was getting incredibly nervous.

After putting the map away, I put the pedal to the metal again.

Elysion, located just down Inokashira-dori from Kichijoji Station, is a rehearsal room available for rent. It's not a studio with built-in sound equipment, but more like a dance studio. The walls are covered in large mirrors, and the floors are wooden. I've never been there before; these impressions are from my website, which I just read yesterday.

Yesterday, I looked at the official website's schedule and noticed that every Monday, Thursday, and Friday for the entire year was booked. This makes sense, as Elysion is a dedicated rehearsal studio for a theater company. It's only rented out when the company isn't practicing, and Mondays, Thursdays, and Fridays are their rehearsal days.

But in today's Japan, where the very mention of theater troupes conjures up images of poverty, and the very mention of poverty inevitably leads to the mention of theater troupes, how many are wealthy enough to afford their own rehearsal studios? The dense network of small theater companies along the Chuo Line has each managed to eke out a living by gritting its teeth. In a world where accounting is easy with a red and black ballpoint pen, how high does a theater have to be to earn its own dedicated rehearsal studio?