MachinedLinguist

Chapter 12     Sometime after that study session in the library. I made use of my day offs as I prepared for the midterms. And now, tests were being returned for each class, and our homeroom session went on our individual tables to inform us of our rankings.   As our tests were returned, the reaction from the students as they saw their test results varied. Some guys would strike a slight guts-pose in front of the teacher's table, while others would shrug, perhaps because their scores were much lower than they expected. I always thought about this, that since students were at an age where their emotions tend to appear on the surface, others could tell which subjects they were good at by looking at their reactions. It wasn't human observation done in bad taste.   My two best friends, looking satisfied with their test results after they received their papers, seemed like they were feeling good and would probably brag to me later about their rank. I hadn'...

Chapter 11     The sound of pages being turned over, pens writing, and curtains rustling from the wind was all there was as everybody worked silently in this quiet library without any conversation.   In the middle of all this, I was doing something a little different from those around me. I just kept staring at my two best friends writing something on their notebooks in front of me, then nodding their heads in satisfaction as they confirmed with the textbook.   Although they invited me to teach them, I couldn't play my role because of my stupid suggestion to hold it in the library. However, I was optimistic, thinking that this was a rather good situation.   Yes, two well-matched couple doing their best to study. This could a page of our youth. It was stored in a permanent folder in my brain. Good job, past me! I wanted to shout that loudly, but that wish couldn't be fulfilled here. So, I just kept staring.   Come to think of it, ...

Volume 1, Chapter 20 : Hisai Aika   I lost my mother and father when I was little. The cause was a traffic accident. Naturally, I cried and begged for everything to be just a dream. But it wasn't. The remains of my mother and father told me that this was all reality.   From then on, I was entrusted to my mother's parents. And there, I despaired again. I was still recovering from the emotional trauma of my parents' death. That's why I kept on crying, even if I was at my grandparents' house. All the time. Morning until night. I was still a kid at the time, so I cried loudly. I couldn't cry with my voice stifled.   Was this a mistake? One day, my grandmother said that.   "Aika-chan. I know you're sad, but it's time to move on, okay?"   I knew that. I knew I couldn't keep on crying forever. But I couldn't hold it in. My tears flowed endlessly.   "That's enough already!"   My grandmother yelle...

Volume 1, Chapter 19 : True Identity     I saw that girl again on my way to school this morning. It wasn't just me who noticed her. She stared in my direction as well.   A complete stranger. When your eyes meet with someone like that, it was normal to look away. And so, I turned my head to the left and did look away. But that girl kept staring at me. What was it? Did I know her? No, that shouldn't be the case. If I knew someone that showy, I would have recognized her immediately.   Next to her was that guy. Ayano's favorite person. ...As expected, those two should be dating, right? That would mean Ayano had an unrequited love. Haha, just like me. It was more difficult for me, though.   Then, what was up with that guy? Even though she had a girlfriend, she was still being suggestive to Ayano.   "That ticks me off."   Those words that came out of my mouth wasn't out of concern for Ayano. It was because I was frustrated inste...

Chapter 10     I was able to get Takagaki's, a girl's, cooperation which I had never done before. Having her was reassuring, but I wasn't going to put her on the spot. I had to get her advice, and be the one to put them into practice. It really wasn't because I was too afraid that she'd lash out at me if I relied on her too much.   That aside, it was currently the first semester. Soon would be the our first ever midterms as high school students. If one was to get a poor result, their character would be established (prejudice) up until the next exam.   And so, it was very easy to read that from my best friends who were showing those concerns from their behavior.   "Help me study for the test. I was too absorbed in tennis that I haven't been able to review." "Please teach me, too!" "No problem. But Tasuku, please move that notebook away from me first."   It was currently after classes, and Tasuku, who had the...