Chapter 35 – The Changes in Class

Ever since I got closer to Amami-san, things at school had been changing.

This happened when I arrived at school with my usual loner atmosphere while blending with the crowd of students.

"…Oh, yo, Maehara."

"Mm?! Eh? What?"

It was a boy classmate who called out to me as we both passed by each other. He was one of the more popular boys in the class, part of a group different from Amami-san and the others, the jocks.

If I recall correctly, his name was Seki-kun. He was a head taller than me and he had this typical jock look.

This was the first time that a boy other than Ooyama-kun ever called out to me in the half a year I've been in this class. That was why I overreacted a little there, it was that surprising for me.

"Oi, oi, what's wrong? It's just a greeting, and we're classmates, no need to be so worked up like that."

"R-right… Good morning."

"Ou."

'I'm going to the bathroom, see you.' He said as he walked out of the classroom.

What was that…?

"Good morning, Maehara-kun. You talked with Seki-kun just now, right? What's up with him?"

"Ooyama-kun… Don't ask me, I don't know."

As Seki-kun said earlier, it's not unnatural for classmates to greet each other like that, but that's not the point here. He greeted me, acted like we've been friends for life when we've never even spoken a word to each other prior to this, it's reasonable for me to be surprised, no?

Seriously, what's going on?

"Ah, it's Maki-kun! Good morning, Maki-kun!"

"Huh? Goo–oof!"

Right before I was about to take my seat after exchanging a few words with Ooyama-kun, a pleasant-sounding voice entered my ears as a strong force pushed me from behind.

"S-sorry! When I entered the classroom, I saw Maki-kun's back, so I got excited and did it without thinking…. Please forgive me!"

"Amami-san… No, it's fine, I don't mind."

I turned around to see Amami-san's angel-like smile. I guess this is around the time she arrived as well, huh?

"Ei!"

"Kyah! U-Umi! What's with you all of a sudden?! You're going to give me a heart attack!"

"I'm only mimicking you ~ Seriously, Yuu, running up whenever you see someone you recognize like that, what are you, a puppy? Wait, you are one, my cute puppy ~"

And of course, Asanagi was coming up from behind her, pulling her away from me after she jumped up on her. This right here is the cooler Asanagi, different from the one usually hanging out in my house.

"…Good morning, Asanagi-san."

"…Morning. Okay, okay, Yuu-chan, let's end our morning walk here and go home ~"

"Jeez! Stop treating me like a puppy! See you at lunch, Maki-kun!"

"Ah… Yes…"

Amami-san was dragged to her seat by Asanagi. Apparently, she'll be coming again on lunch break.

Sure we can talk casually now because we're pretty much friends at this point, but I hope she could restrain herself for a bit. If we look too chummy together out in the open like this, the other classmates will start gossiping about us again.

See, they've started talking–

…

Huh?

I was ready to be hurled by their insults like usual, but I noticed something strange.

Nothing was actually happening. I felt some gazes on me, but that was it, no insult, no talking behind my back, nothing.

What the hell is going on?

I took up my phone and sent a message to Asanagi.

[Maehara: The class atmosphere is unusual, what's wrong?]

[Asanagi: Why are you asking me? I don't know.]

[Maehara: Did Amami-san do something?]

[Asanagi: I doubt it. Yuu isn't the kind of person to manipulate other people.]

[Maehara: Then, did they find out that we three had been hanging out?]

[Asanagi: Guess so?]

[Maehara: So, that's why Seki-kun talked to me earlier, huh?]

[Asanagi: Seki? Ah, I see, that's why.]

[Maehara: ? Do you know something?]

[Asanagi: Ah, right, Maehara doesn't know…]

[Maehara: Hm?]

[Asanagi: He's trying to get closer to Yuu, so, he's probably trying to gain her attention by talking to you.]

[Maehara: Ah, I see now…]

Asanagi secretly exchanged texts with me while talking with both Amami-san and Nitta-san.

Everything made more sense now.

I guess some of our classmates were aware that Amami-san and I were starting to get along better.

Because of that, there would be a possibility that if they were to show their displeasure about me openly, it would bring forth Amami-san's ire on them.

You see, Amami-san was one of the centers of the class, well-liked by both boys and girls, so antagonizing her would bring nothing but trouble.

At first, they were merely amused by our interaction. I mean, the cutest girl in class and the gloomy loner? Of course, that combination is amusing to gossip about. But since they noticed that we actually got along, they couldn't just treat our relationship like a fun pastime anymore.

That was the reason why Seki-kun, who was secretly interested in Amami-san (though, Asanagi and the other girls noticed his feeling, so much for a secret), made the first move to show that he got along decently well with me even though it was just a farce. My other perceptive classmates also followed Seki-kun's lead.

That's why the atmosphere in the class suddenly changed.

And soon, it became clear that their decision wasn't wrong.