I moved my chair to Yuuko’s desk once the morning classes finished.
The guys started to mock us upon seeing that.
“What’s with those two, so disgusting. Aren’t they lesbians?”
“That should be true. Seeing how fast they get close to each other.”
“So the reason Oono always rejected men is because she only like women?”
Provoked by one of the guys, the class began to jeer us as lesbians.
Haah. Highschoolers nowadays sure are childish.
Are they idiots?
Even though I was speechless, I paid no more attention at them and opened my lunchbox.
However, Yuuko was crying as her shoulder trembled.
I forgot. Unlike me, she’s just an ordinary girl.
This kind of thing really hurt her.
I closed my lunchbox and stood up.
One of the guys made a ridiculing sneer.
“Err, what’s your name again?”
His countenance changed upon hearing my words. His pride got damaged or what?
I really don’t know his name though.
“It’s Takami! Don’t get conceited just because you’re a bit cute!”
The crowd who supported him quieted down.
The class’ atmosphere became tense.
I located Hashimoto whom I sent flying yesterday and beckoned him.
Hashimoto made an ‘are you pointing at me?’ pose in response.
Then he swiftly separated himself from the people around him as he approached me cautiously.
“W-What is it? Aren’t I did nothing today?”
I confronted him on his face.
Hashimoto reacted by averting his face as he blushed.
I see, so he’s interested in Natsumi, huh.
“Hashimoto-kun, do you like me?”
Hashimoto looked at me dumbfoundedly.
He gaped with his face really red.
Nahaha. What a silly expression.
“Hey, answer me. Do you like me or not?”
Hashimoto nodded as he gulped down his saliva.
Takami shook his shoulders.
“Hashimoto! Don’t get seduced by her! Step aside! I’ll knock her out!”
Hashimoto shook of Takami’s hand and hit him in return.
Being hit by the heavyweight Hashimoto, Takami rolled on the floor.
“I won’t be merciful on anyone who approached Natsumi!”
Oooh. So hot. Fighting for the girl you like.
This too, must be youth.
Well, I won’t go out with him though. How bad of me.
“Uoooh!!”
Several people got knocked down by the currently on fire Hashimoto.
Then he kicked those who already fell again.
Oi oi. Are you some sort of soldier or what?
Go easy on them. Go easy.
Hashimoto finally stopped when I grabbed him with my hand. He was breathing heavily.
He looked at my face and displayed a bashful smile.
“Natsumi! I’ll fight for your sake!”
I let out a sweet grin and drew close to Hashimoto. Then I stood on my tiptoe and kissed his cheek.
Hashimoto clutched his cheek and fell to his knees.
Oho, was it too much stimulus?
“As expected from Hashimoto-kun. So manly. So charming. But but, can you protect not just me, but Yuuko-chan as well? She’s an important friend of mine. Please!”
Hashimoto raised his thumb with face full of smile.
Nice. Maeda is probably the only one who can defeat Hashimoto in this class. So Yuuko should be fine with him.
“Did you hear that, Yuuko-chan? Hashimoto-kun said he will protect you. Thank goodness.”
As Hashimoto quietly went over to my seat, Noriko kicked a desk.
Her eyes were glaring.
“Hashimoto! Do you understand the consequences of going against me!?”
Hashimoto’s composure vanished from his face and he lowered his head.
“Maeda! Give Hashimoto a lesson!”
Maeda detached himself from the crowd and approached Hashimoto.
“Hashimoto, sorry…..”
Being hit by Maeda, Hashimoto could only grimace. He gritted his teeth and endured the strike.
Seeing that he didn’t resist, it must be because they grasp his weakness, huh?
Hashimoto, I apologize for using you.
It was my fault that you’re unable to do anything even with your strength.
Will Noriko be satisfied if I get hit? It’s worth trying.
“Noriko! Aren’t I the one you’re angry with? Stop involving unrelated people!”
“What I’m angry with is that composure of yours! Why do you look like you’re above this! Hashimoto! Hit her! Quick!”
Hashimoto turned flustered.
I went to his side and whispered to his ear.
“I’m sorry for involving you. Just hit me, it’s fine.”
I stood in front of Hashimoto with my face pushing out.
“Hit her! Hashimoto! If you don’t, I’ll tell my papa to stop doing business with your place!”
I faced Hashimoto and nodded.
“S-Sorry.”
Hashimoto closed his eyes and swung his fist to hit me.
Being hit by the heavyweight Hashimoto, I was blown away by 1 meter and struck a desk.
My eyes were prickling, and scenery seemed to shake.
This idiot, why didn’t you go easy on me.
That wasn’t a force to be used on a girl whose weight doesn’t even reach half of yours.
I tried to stand up, but failed because I couldn’t put any power on my legs.
Great. I wonder how many years ago the last I get to be like this?
Yuuko lent me her shoulder as she cried.
“Nacchan. Uuuu….. This is so cruel…..”
Supported by Yuuko, somehow I managed to rise.
My cheek was throbbing hotly.
Something trickled from my nose.
I rubbed it with my hand. It was blood.
Did it break? My well-shaped nose?
Hashimoto looked at me as if he want to cry.
Don’t worry about it. You didn’t hit me because you wanted to.
With my feet unsteady, I rotated my upper body and turned at Noriko.
“Are you satisfied now?”
Noriko scowled at me for a while before leaving the classroom together with Keiko.
Hashimoto approached me and held my hand.
“Sorry, Natsumi. I-I…..”
“I said it’s fine. You didn’t hit because you wanted to, right? Even yesterday, you were going easy on me, right? I understand your circumstances.”
Other people in the classroom also left one by one.
Oooh. I sure is hated.
Supported by Hashimoto and Yuuko, I sat on a chair.
“I’m sorry. That was hurt, right?”
I gave Hashimoto a sidelong glance.
“Of course it’s hurt. Aren’t you a heavyweight? How many kilos are you again? I’m only 43 kilograms. You should be twice as heavy. You should’ve adjust your power. But, well, that was a good punch.”
Hashimoto looked at me with a surprised face.
Yuuko who was crying until just now chipped in.
“Nacchan is not just beautiful, you know? She’s really tomboy as well.”
I giggled and puffed out my chest.
“Well spoken! I am someone who aim to be a woman among women after all.”
Hearing my mischievous words, both Yuuko and Hashimoto clapped their hands and laughed.
Somehow, it seems I’m friend with Hashimoto now.
“But, please stop being so rash. Getting your beautiful face ruined like this…..”
Yuuko poked my cheek that was hit.
Ache ran through my face and I grimaced.
“Yuuko-chan, it’s hurt! It’s already swollen after all. Why don’t we eat our lunch now together with Hashimoto? For the commemoration of our friendship.”
“O-Ou!”
At this moment, Maeda who was still in the classroom got near.
“Nn? Maeda-kun also want to eat together?”
“No, I don’t. I only want to say you sure talk big even though you’re just a woman.”
“Haah? Are you trying to show off or what? Even though your face blushed when talking to me yesterday. Aren’t you just interested in me?”
“N-No. That was because I do think Oono is cute. But don’t tease me, okay? I’m bad with women. Please.”
“All right. I also have to thank you for helping to clean the garbage this morning, huh.”
Yuuko asked “Garbage?” as she tilted her head.
I giggled and shook my head.
Maeda swiftly left the classroom.
Hashimoto came back bringing a convenience store bag, smiling.
He descended to a chair and sat.
This guy sure is huge despite still a first year highschooler.
“Being able to eat lunch together with Natsumi, it’s like a dream…..”
“Fufu. Is that so? Ah, I’ll say this first. Don’t go hoping to be my boyfriend or anything.”
From a smile, Hashimoto’s face plummeted as if this world is going to end.
Arara. The way I said that was bad, huh.
“Err, it’s not because I dislike you or anything. It’s just currently I don’t want to go out with anyone. That’s why let’s just be friends. Alright?”
Hashimoto closed his eyes and folded his arms to contemplate.
Isn’t this good? Even I never had a female friend, you know.
But well, I understand what’s going on in his head.
Friend -> Close friend -> More than friend but less than lover -> Lover
He must be thinking about that sort of naive schema.
In the past, I had such thoughts as well.
Well, I only had that kind of positive outlook until the first year of middle school though.
Hashimoto’s breathing got rough and he nodded deeply.
“Alright! I’ll become Natsumi’s true friend from now on!”
Eh? This guy, he arbitrarily raised his rank by one.
“No, you don’t. You’re a friend. Friend. Nothing more.”
Ara? He turned dejected once again. What an amusing guy.
“Look now, stop thinking about me and greet Yuuko-chan as well.”
Hashimoto turned towards Yuuko and stretched out his hand.
“Ou. Please treat me well, chubby girl.”
I smacked Hashimoto on his head.
“What are you thinking, calling a girl chubby? Pay more attention to your words!”
“That hurts. I didn’t know you’re this stern, Natsumi. Even though you’re so cute…..”
“Nacchan, it’s fine. I’m chubby after all. My weight is 70 kilograms. So he wasn’t wrong.”
“Look now, why’re you belittling yourself like that again? You hear me? The person I know was even more miserable, you know? Even the old ladies around the neighborhood called him ugly, and his niece called him a monster. In his office, if he handed out some documents to a woman, she would use a disinfectant spray afterwards. When he caught a handbag snatcher, the police mistook him as the criminal. Nothing good ever happened to him. Aah, now I remember about it, I want to cry. Damn it. I sure was pitiful.”
“Nacchan, you’re talking about the person you respected again? Don’t cry, I’ll also get sad.”
When I wiped my tears with the handkerchief given by Yuuko, pain ran through once again.
I looked at Hashimoto and wanted to weep.
This rascal, he hit me so hard.
Somehow I got angry and smacked Hashimoto for the second time.
“It hurts. Natsumi, please stop…..”
“You idiot! Anyway, you should be kinder to women! Think about Yuuko-chan’s feeling before speaking, and go easy when you hit me! You hear that? Do you get it?”
“I get it. Besides, it’s not like I wanted to hit you.”
“Now that you mentioned it, why are you and Maeda-kun obey whatever Noriko says?”
“Aah. About that. Noriko’s father has a lot of business, you see. My family sellsake, and the restaurants and bars owned by Noriko’s father buy their sake from us wholesale. If our dealings are stopped, my family’s store would probably go bankrupt, so I had no choice but to obey her. Moreover Natsumi, previously you were good friends with Noriko, right? Sometimes, I get to be together with you because of that, and that made me happy. But then I was suddenly told to ignore you, it was perplexing. As for Maeda, he should be in similar situation. His father works for Noriko’s father.”
“I see. So it’s to not trouble your parents….. Pretty tough, huh.”
“Yeah. I also thought this is no good, but what else can I do…..”
Indeed.
If that’s the case, I can’t really blame them.
When their family’s livelihood are on the line, of course they had to obey. And that’s all because I went against her in the first place.
I smacked Hashimoto’s shoulder.
His face became bewildered.
“Hashimoto, you have to stay strong. Quickly become an adult and make you father and mother happy. Parents will usually die before their child after all. When that happens, you can’t be filial even if you want to.”
“O-Ou. Somehow, Natsumi, you’re acting like a geezer. That’s pretty much what I’m thinking as well.”
Yuuko agreed with Hashimoto.
“Yeah, I also think so. Nacchan sometimes acts unusually manly. The feeling is identical to what I get when I’m with my Onii-chan, even though he is 10 years older than me.”
“Well, I hit my head in the accident after all. My memory become a bit strange because of that.”
Afterwards, Yuuko, Hashimoto, and I eat our lunch while chatting happily.
“Ou” is Hashimoto’s way of saying yes. Sometimes you hear it in anime as well, said by a character like him. It seems to be his trademark so I just keep it as it is.
By the way, the chapter is getting longer once again…..
I moved my chair to Yuuko’s desk once the morning classes finished.
The guys started to mock us upon seeing that.
“What’s with those two, so disgusting. Aren’t they lesbians?”
“That should be true. Seeing how fast they get close to each other.”
“So the reason Oono always rejected men is because she only like women?”
Provoked by one of the guys, the class began to jeer us as lesbians.
Haah. Highschoolers nowadays sure are childish.
Are they idiots?
Even though I was speechless, I paid no more attention at them and opened my lunchbox.
However, Yuuko was crying as her shoulder trembled.
I forgot. Unlike me, she’s just an ordinary girl.
This kind of thing really hurt her.
I closed my lunchbox and stood up.
One of the guys made a ridiculing sneer.
“Err, what’s your name again?”
His countenance changed upon hearing my words. His pride got damaged or what?
I really don’t know his name though.
“It’s Takami! Don’t get conceited just because you’re a bit cute!”
The crowd who supported him quieted down.
The class’ atmosphere became tense.
I located Hashimoto whom I sent flying yesterday and beckoned him.
Hashimoto made an ‘are you pointing at me?’ pose in response.
Then he swiftly separated himself from the people around him as he approached me cautiously.
“W-What is it? Aren’t I did nothing today?”
I confronted him on his face.
Hashimoto reacted by averting his face as he blushed.
I see, so he’s interested in Natsumi, huh.
“Hashimoto-kun, do you like me?”
Hashimoto looked at me dumbfoundedly.
He gaped with his face really red.
Nahaha. What a silly expression.
“Hey, answer me. Do you like me or not?”
Hashimoto nodded as he gulped down his saliva.
Takami shook his shoulders.
“Hashimoto! Don’t get seduced by her! Step aside! I’ll knock her out!”
Hashimoto shook of Takami’s hand and hit him in return.
Being hit by the heavyweight Hashimoto, Takami rolled on the floor.
“I won’t be merciful on anyone who approached Natsumi!”
Oooh. So hot. Fighting for the girl you like.
This too, must be youth.
Well, I won’t go out with him though. How bad of me.
“Uoooh!!”
Several people got knocked down by the currently on fire Hashimoto.
Then he kicked those who already fell again.
Oi oi. Are you some sort of soldier or what?
Go easy on them. Go easy.
Hashimoto finally stopped when I grabbed him with my hand. He was breathing heavily.
He looked at my face and displayed a bashful smile.
“Natsumi! I’ll fight for your sake!”
I let out a sweet grin and drew close to Hashimoto. Then I stood on my tiptoe and kissed his cheek.
Hashimoto clutched his cheek and fell to his knees.
Oho, was it too much stimulus?
“As expected from Hashimoto-kun. So manly. So charming. But but, can you protect not just me, but Yuuko-chan as well? She’s an important friend of mine. Please!”
Hashimoto raised his thumb with face full of smile.
Nice. Maeda is probably the only one who can defeat Hashimoto in this class. So Yuuko should be fine with him.
“Did you hear that, Yuuko-chan? Hashimoto-kun said he will protect you. Thank goodness.”
As Hashimoto quietly went over to my seat, Noriko kicked a desk.
Her eyes were glaring.
“Hashimoto! Do you understand the consequences of going against me!?”
Hashimoto’s composure vanished from his face and he lowered his head.
“Maeda! Give Hashimoto a lesson!”
Maeda detached himself from the crowd and approached Hashimoto.
“Hashimoto, sorry…..”
Being hit by Maeda, Hashimoto could only grimace. He gritted his teeth and endured the strike.
Seeing that he didn’t resist, it must be because they grasp his weakness, huh?
Hashimoto, I apologize for using you.
It was my fault that you’re unable to do anything even with your strength.
Will Noriko be satisfied if I get hit? It’s worth trying.
“Noriko! Aren’t I the one you’re angry with? Stop involving unrelated people!”
“What I’m angry with is that composure of yours! Why do you look like you’re above this! Hashimoto! Hit her! Quick!”
Hashimoto turned flustered.
I went to his side and whispered to his ear.
“I’m sorry for involving you. Just hit me, it’s fine.”
I stood in front of Hashimoto with my face pushing out.
“Hit her! Hashimoto! If you don’t, I’ll tell my papa to stop doing business with your place!”
I faced Hashimoto and nodded.
“S-Sorry.”
Hashimoto closed his eyes and swung his fist to hit me.
Being hit by the heavyweight Hashimoto, I was blown away by 1 meter and struck a desk.
My eyes were prickling, and scenery seemed to shake.
This idiot, why didn’t you go easy on me.
That wasn’t a force to be used on a girl whose weight doesn’t even reach half of yours.
I tried to stand up, but failed because I couldn’t put any power on my legs.
Great. I wonder how many years ago the last I get to be like this?
Yuuko lent me her shoulder as she cried.
“Nacchan. Uuuu….. This is so cruel…..”
Supported by Yuuko, somehow I managed to rise.
My cheek was throbbing hotly.
Something trickled from my nose.
I rubbed it with my hand. It was blood.
Did it break? My well-shaped nose?
Hashimoto looked at me as if he want to cry.
Don’t worry about it. You didn’t hit me because you wanted to.
With my feet unsteady, I rotated my upper body and turned at Noriko.
“Are you satisfied now?”
Noriko scowled at me for a while before leaving the classroom together with Keiko.
Hashimoto approached me and held my hand.
“Sorry, Natsumi. I-I…..”
“I said it’s fine. You didn’t hit because you wanted to, right? Even yesterday, you were going easy on me, right? I understand your circumstances.”
Other people in the classroom also left one by one.
Oooh. I sure is hated.
Supported by Hashimoto and Yuuko, I sat on a chair.
“I’m sorry. That was hurt, right?”
I gave Hashimoto a sidelong glance.
“Of course it’s hurt. Aren’t you a heavyweight? How many kilos are you again? I’m only 43 kilograms. You should be twice as heavy. You should’ve adjust your power. But, well, that was a good punch.”
Hashimoto looked at me with a surprised face.
Yuuko who was crying until just now chipped in.
“Nacchan is not just beautiful, you know? She’s really tomboy as well.”
I giggled and puffed out my chest.
“Well spoken! I am someone who aim to be a woman among women after all.”
Hearing my mischievous words, both Yuuko and Hashimoto clapped their hands and laughed.
Somehow, it seems I’m friend with Hashimoto now.
“But, please stop being so rash. Getting your beautiful face ruined like this…..”
Yuuko poked my cheek that was hit.
Ache ran through my face and I grimaced.
“Yuuko-chan, it’s hurt! It’s already swollen after all. Why don’t we eat our lunch now together with Hashimoto? For the commemoration of our friendship.”
“O-Ou!”
At this moment, Maeda who was still in the classroom got near.
“Nn? Maeda-kun also want to eat together?”
“No, I don’t. I only want to say you sure talk big even though you’re just a woman.”
“Haah? Are you trying to show off or what? Even though your face blushed when talking to me yesterday. Aren’t you just interested in me?”
“N-No. That was because I do think Oono is cute. But don’t tease me, okay? I’m bad with women. Please.”
“All right. I also have to thank you for helping to clean the garbage this morning, huh.”
Yuuko asked “Garbage?” as she tilted her head.
I giggled and shook my head.
Maeda swiftly left the classroom.
Hashimoto came back bringing a convenience store bag, smiling.
He descended to a chair and sat.
This guy sure is huge despite still a first year highschooler.
“Being able to eat lunch together with Natsumi, it’s like a dream…..”
“Fufu. Is that so? Ah, I’ll say this first. Don’t go hoping to be my boyfriend or anything.”
From a smile, Hashimoto’s face plummeted as if this world is going to end.
Arara. The way I said that was bad, huh.
“Err, it’s not because I dislike you or anything. It’s just currently I don’t want to go out with anyone. That’s why let’s just be friends. Alright?”
Hashimoto closed his eyes and folded his arms to contemplate.
Isn’t this good? Even I never had a female friend, you know.
But well, I understand what’s going on in his head.
Friend -> Close friend -> More than friend but less than lover -> Lover
He must be thinking about that sort of naive schema.
In the past, I had such thoughts as well.
Well, I only had that kind of positive outlook until the first year of middle school though.
Hashimoto’s breathing got rough and he nodded deeply.
“Alright! I’ll become Natsumi’s true friend from now on!”
Eh? This guy, he arbitrarily raised his rank by one.
“No, you don’t. You’re a friend. Friend. Nothing more.”
Ara? He turned dejected once again. What an amusing guy.
“Look now, stop thinking about me and greet Yuuko-chan as well.”
Hashimoto turned towards Yuuko and stretched out his hand.
“Ou. Please treat me well, chubby girl.”
I smacked Hashimoto on his head.
“What are you thinking, calling a girl chubby? Pay more attention to your words!”
“That hurts. I didn’t know you’re this stern, Natsumi. Even though you’re so cute…..”
“Nacchan, it’s fine. I’m chubby after all. My weight is 70 kilograms. So he wasn’t wrong.”
“Look now, why’re you belittling yourself like that again? You hear me? The person I know was even more miserable, you know? Even the old ladies around the neighborhood called him ugly, and his niece called him a monster. In his office, if he handed out some documents to a woman, she would use a disinfectant spray afterwards. When he caught a handbag snatcher, the police mistook him as the criminal. Nothing good ever happened to him. Aah, now I remember about it, I want to cry. Damn it. I sure was pitiful.”
“Nacchan, you’re talking about the person you respected again? Don’t cry, I’ll also get sad.”
When I wiped my tears with the handkerchief given by Yuuko, pain ran through once again.
I looked at Hashimoto and wanted to weep.
This rascal, he hit me so hard.
Somehow I got angry and smacked Hashimoto for the second time.
“It hurts. Natsumi, please stop…..”
“You idiot! Anyway, you should be kinder to women! Think about Yuuko-chan’s feeling before speaking, and go easy when you hit me! You hear that? Do you get it?”
“I get it. Besides, it’s not like I wanted to hit you.”
“Now that you mentioned it, why are you and Maeda-kun obey whatever Noriko says?”
“Aah. About that. Noriko’s father has a lot of business, you see. My family sellsake, and the restaurants and bars owned by Noriko’s father buy their sake from us wholesale. If our dealings are stopped, my family’s store would probably go bankrupt, so I had no choice but to obey her. Moreover Natsumi, previously you were good friends with Noriko, right? Sometimes, I get to be together with you because of that, and that made me happy. But then I was suddenly told to ignore you, it was perplexing. As for Maeda, he should be in similar situation. His father works for Noriko’s father.”
“I see. So it’s to not trouble your parents….. Pretty tough, huh.”
“Yeah. I also thought this is no good, but what else can I do…..”
Indeed.
If that’s the case, I can’t really blame them.
When their family’s livelihood are on the line, of course they had to obey. And that’s all because I went against her in the first place.
I smacked Hashimoto’s shoulder.
His face became bewildered.
“Hashimoto, you have to stay strong. Quickly become an adult and make you father and mother happy. Parents will usually die before their child after all. When that happens, you can’t be filial even if you want to.”
“O-Ou. Somehow, Natsumi, you’re acting like a geezer. That’s pretty much what I’m thinking as well.”
Yuuko agreed with Hashimoto.
“Yeah, I also think so. Nacchan sometimes acts unusually manly. The feeling is identical to what I get when I’m with my Onii-chan, even though he is 10 years older than me.”
“Well, I hit my head in the accident after all. My memory become a bit strange because of that.”
Afterwards, Yuuko, Hashimoto, and I eat our lunch while chatting happily.
“Ou” is Hashimoto’s way of saying yes. Sometimes you hear it in anime as well, said by a character like him. It seems to be his trademark so I just keep it as it is.
By the way, the chapter is getting longer once again…..
