The Lie and What Follows

Monday

Last weekend was a mess for me, making it as if there was no weekend at all.

A gloomy Monday.

Even those certain green-colored singers summarize tomorrow and the day after tomorrow in just one phrase, so I’d like the same treatment for my Mondays and Tuesdays. Oh, you can leave out Sunday, please.

In my mind, I distract myself from the anxiety and fear I feel toward Adachi-san, who I will meet in the classroom, by planning the ideal week-off. No, it’s impossible. I really don’t want to go to school.

I bitterly smile at thoughts that never occurred to me when I was a loner. Being rejected (strictly speaking, we weren’t dating to begin with) has torn my heart to shreds, to the point where one more push would break it completely.

I want to become a hermit crab.

Wait, if I think about it, those flirty guys have confessed to that Adachi-san multiple times and still face her despite being rejected. They must have a mental fortitude like orichalcum. Flirty guys are amazing.

I want to become a flirty guy.

Alright, should I inherit the flirty guy mentality and aim to be the next flirty guy? Wait, does that mean I have to face Adachi-san again? That’s impossible for me, made of clay. Just standing in front of her makes me hold back vomit, leading to a dive into the infirmary, where I have to listen to the nurse’s complaints about her married life.

Hmm. I might be stuck.

I really don’t want to go to school.

Even if I’m a loner, even if I have no friends, my justification for attending middle and high school without missing a day has been crushed here.

Well then, I guess it’s time for some out-of-season cleaning…

“Tooru! We’re going to school!”

“Alright.”

The classroom atmosphere was as usual, unaware of the chaos I experienced over the weekend.

Well, it’s natural they don’t know. If they did, my title of “loner” would evolve into “pathetic loner who got falsely confessed to and was toyed with by a beautiful girl who already had someone else.”

Should I write a novel with this material?

In that case, wouldn’t Adachi-san be a terrible woman?

Hmm. Let’s not.

As usual, the attractive girls were shining in the classroom with what they call “sunshine.”

I, who am a “shade,” quietly enter the classroom and quickly take my seat.

Even my “shade” moves are clearly observed by a third force that doesn’t fit into the categories of “sun” or “shade.”

“Good morning, Endo-kun.”

“Good morning, Ninomiya-san.”

It’s Ninomiya-san.

…If someone comes to the seat behind us, we’ll get caught. That’s obvious.

“Endo-kun, thank you so much for Saturday! My grandma was really grateful!”

On Saturday, I had helped Ninomiya-san’s grandma a little. I had received her thanks then, but receiving more thanks now feels somewhat awkward.

“Ah, it’s okay. I didn’t do much, so being thanked so much is making me feel awkward.”

“Well, if anything troubles you, just tell me. I’ll help you out.”

Troubles… I desperately want to escape from this classroom where Adachi-san is, but telling that to Ninomiya-san won’t help.

“I understand. I’ll consult you if something comes up.”

“Great, I’m looking forward to it.”

While feeling happy inside that I was able to have a relatively long conversation, I was shocked by what Ninomiya-san said.

A “consultant.”

A consultant?

Wait, is this what they call a friend?

…Calm down. There’s such a thing as consultation fees.

Consultants get paid for giving advice or management guidance. This is also consultation.

Ah, the sound of hope turning into despair echoed.

It’s still too early for me to have friends.

Such futile thoughts continue, but the voices of the attractive girls still reach my ears.

“Whaaat? So many people went to Kenta’s game?”

There’s a voice of lament echoing in the classroom. It’s from my old crush, the flirty guy.

So, almost all the attractive girls had gathered at the basketball game on Saturday?

From the reactions, it seems that Tamura-kun, who is dating Mai from the girls’ basketball team, was also there.

Hang in there, flirty guy. You’re beautiful.

“Mai is in the girls’ basketball team, and Tamura is cheering for Mai. I just went as part of the cheer squad, so it’s not like I was ignoring you.”

Kiriyu-san. The flirty guy just wanted to be called if there was such an occasion.

Being the only one left out hurts the most.

Well, I don’t have friends to begin with, so it’s more like I’m the one who’s always leaving everyone else out.

I admit that’s a poor excuse.

“Thank you all for coming. It was fun to have you all at the after-party too. I really wanted to get further, but well…”

Kondo-kun, the refreshing handsome guy, smiles with a bit of a shadow. His ability to make even such a dark joke sound charming is amazing.

Could he be the strongest one here?

“By the way, did Adachi go too? To cheer?”

Flirty guy. I can never aspire to be you.

He went directly to Adachi-san, who hadn’t been very vocal until now.

As expected of orichalcum.

“Mm. Just watched.”

Adachi-san answered in a listless voice. It sounded like an indirect message not to ask further, but the flirty guy didn’t seem to catch on.

“Whoa, so you didn’t go to the after-party? Then we’re buddies! I’m so glad!”

The atmosphere became slightly tense.

“What? I never intended to become your buddy. It’s normal for unrelated people like me not to go to the after-party.”

“Eh, sorry! Why are you mad? I’m sorry.”

The flirty guy completely surrendered to the pressure suddenly emanated by Adachi-san. Yeah, it was scary.

After a brief moment of interference, the flirty guy rebooted and started talking cheerfully again.

“So, we’re going to be in the same group for the upcoming field trip, right? We need to prepare, so let’s gather somewhere!”

“You just want to hang out, don’t you?”

Oh? Tamura-kun rarely interjects.

He usually watches the attractive girls from behind. Occasionally, Ishimura-san passes him the ball, forming a tag-team, it seems.

Despite the light complaints, everyone seemed to agree to gather.

As the homeroom period approached, the group of attractive people began to disband.

Throughout, Adachi-san’s mood was low, and she seemed to glance my way occasionally, but she never actually turned to look at me.

So, the field trip, huh. Ah, I don’t want to go.

After School

The homeroom teacher told us to decide our field trip groups by this week.

In my high school, the field trip takes place during the first week of May in the third year.

Despite being a school focused on higher education, the event exists to refresh the worn-out students through school activities, as the entire curriculum is crammed into the second year.

Unnecessary consideration.

The classroom buzzes, but it doesn’t concern me.

I’ll just be absorbed into a group that needs more people. I’ll perform well in group activities and not cause any trouble. This is where a loner shows his resolve.

I’ll be fine for today, being Monday. My group will automatically be decided based on the groups that are formed. I quietly get up, holding my bag, when someone calls out to me.

“Endo-kun, want to be in the same group?”

Yes, it’s Ninomiya-san.

“Um, I’m supposed to be in the acceptance group.”

“Acceptance group? What’s that? Groups haven’t been decided yet.”

Ninomiya-san seemed amused by my term “acceptance group.”

Even so, Ninomiya-san is a girl. Well, it’s obvious, but if I team up with Ninomiya-san, there’s a high chance I’ll be in the same group with other girls, which makes me cautious.

If it’s a group of boys, I’m confident I can handle it, but being in a group with mostly girls for a three-night, four-day trip is honestly something I don’t think I can endure.

I thought Ninomiya-san would understand that.

“Why not? It’s a rare break. Let’s go around together.”

Ah, she didn’t understand.

There’s plenty of time, so I’ll just have Ninomiya-san swap me with a girl from the acceptance group.

Yes, it’s settled.

“Alright. I look forward to it.”

“Leave it to me!”

Ninomiya-san’s smile was dazzling.

“…Endo, you’re teaming up with Ninomiya?”