Chapter 293: Exchanging Names
Translator: RaidenTL
Chapter 293: Exchanging Names
Hiyori was being called over by Miyuki.
The reason for Miyuki’s sudden action became clear the moment I saw the uniform skirt Hiyori was wearing.
I was genuinely curious to see how they would react, so I decided to eavesdrop on their conversation, even if it meant being late for second period.
Hiding in a spot where I could just barely hear their voices, I focused as hard as I could, and their faint conversation reached my ears.
“Don’t you think… your skirt is a little too short?”
“Nope! I think it’s just right…”
“...This is?”
“Is it not?”
“Not at all…? Please, look around.”
“Hmm… Ah, I guess mine might be a little on the short side.”
It wasn’t just a little on the short side; it was significantly short…
Our Hiyori has a bold side to her.
I suppose her conservative senpai will have to discipline her well.
“You’re a new student enrolling in our academy, correct?”
“That’s right.”
“May I have your name?”
“Why my name? Oh! Don’t tell me… have you got your eye on me?”
A direct question, completely at odds with her innocent tone.
A flustered Miyuki frantically shook her head.
“N-Not like that… It’s just that your skirt is far shorter than the permitted length… I was just going to check on it before the semester officially starts. I’m willing to give you a grace period until then.”
“Oh… so that’s what it was. But the hem on this skirt doesn’t have enough fabric to be let out… Guess I’ll have to buy a new one?”
“.....”
Miyuki was left speechless by Hiyori’s nonchalant mumble.
Hiyori glanced at her, flinched slightly, and then said.
“Ah, I didn’t mean I’d come to school wearing it like this. I’m Asahina Hiyori.”
“Asahina Hiyori… I understand. Um… if you really want to shorten it, please do so within the permitted length. The school rules should have been included in the notice you received. You’ll find the details in the third section.”
“Yep.”
“...For now, please head over that way for further guidance. And take a pamphlet with you.”
“Yep.”
After Hiyori’s cheerful reply, I heard the sound of footsteps.
It seemed she was walking away.
It was the conversation I’d expected, so why was I acting like a stalker?
A sudden wave of self-loathing washed over me. As I revealed myself, Miyuki, who had been guiding other students, widened her eyes.
“Matsuda-kun? What are you doing here?”
She recognized me the moment I stood up. That’s Miyuki for you.
I walked over to her with a casual gait and placed a bag of jelly I was holding into her hand.
“Here, have this.”
“What’s this… Did you buy it for me?”
“Yeah.”
“I’m really touched, but… hasn’t class started already?”
“Two minutes left.”
“Really? Thanks for the jelly. You should hurry.”
“Got it. Everything okay? No trouble?”
“Nothing too difficult, but there was this one… very bold underclassman.”
She was talking about Hiyori.
I mean, even I thought her skirt was short, so I could only imagine what Miyuki must have thought.
Deciding to feign ignorance, I asked.
“Bold?”
“She seems like a bit of a prankster. And her skirt was incredibly short.”
“Did you give her demerits?”
“They don’t even start until the spring semester. Why would I give her demerits already? I just told her to stay within the rules if she wants to shorten it.”
“How do you know she’s a prankster?”
“Just the impression she gave off. And she was really pretty…”
“Oh yeah? Got a picture?”
“Of course not…! You idiot.”
She let out a small laugh at my joke and playfully pushed my arm.
I chuckled and, at Miyuki’s urging to get back to class, said my goodbyes and headed toward the school building.
As a bonus, I kept looking back, exchanging several waves with Miyuki.
Feeling a youthful flutter in my chest, I thought today was off to a great start as I returned to the classroom.
* * *
“Hi, Matsuda-kun.”
Lunchtime.
I was waiting for Tetsuya, who had gone to the restroom with Miyuki, when an unfamiliar female student’s greeting made me look up with a bewildered expression.
“Hey. And you are?”
As soon as I returned the greeting, Miyuki, who was standing next to me, jabbed her elbow into my side.
Then she spoke in a hushed, urgent voice.
“Matsuda-kun…! She’s a student council senpai…! Can’t you see the badge?”
Just as Miyuki said, a gold badge symbolizing the student council was pinned to the student’s chest.
Miyuki never wore hers, so how was I supposed to know just by looking at that?
Anyway, what a very, very authoritarian-looking object.
It makes me want to smear that badge with the whitish fluid from my own body.
I scratched my head, feeling a bit embarrassed, and gave a slight nod in apology.
“Ah, my apologies.”
“It’s fine. We saw each other at the gym last year. Don’t you remember?”
“The gym?”
“Yeah. During the admissions briefing for the new students’ parents.”
Was that when I went to check if Hiyori’s parents were there?
Now that she mentioned it, I think I might have seen her then.
“Ah… I think I remember now.”
“We’ve made eye contact a few times here and there, too. I’m a little hurt.”
Is she showing interest? Or is this just a polite formality?
Her deadpan expression made it hard to tell.
“I’m kidding, so don’t be so tense. Miyuki, could you stop by the student council room for a bit after afternoon classes today?”
At her next words, Miyuki, who had secretly nudged my back, replied.
“Yes, senpai.”
“Okay. Well, enjoy your lunch.”
She left with a bright farewell.
Miyuki watched her senpai’s retreating back for a moment before suddenly grabbing the sleeve of my uniform.
“What.”
“Matsuda-kun, you don’t even know the faces of the student council members?”
“Am I supposed to?”
“It’s the club I belong to.”
“As long as you know them, that’s all that matters.”
Did she secretly like my answer?
The corners of Miyuki’s mouth, which had been set in a scolding expression, crept upward.
It was so subtle you wouldn’t notice at a glance, but since I was staring right at her, I caught it instantly.
Looking down at her, who was clearly pleased, I said.
“You like that?”
“What are you talking about… Who likes it? I’m scolding you right now.”
“Oh, really? I’m so, so scared.”
“What was that tone just now?”
“Was it bad?”
“Not bad, but it was super weird. It doesn’t suit you.”
Miyuki gave a soft smile and shook the hand that was still holding my sleeve.
She couldn’t be openly affectionate for fear of a teacher seeing, but I was delighted by these small, indirect gestures.
Considering how incredibly conservative she was last summer, this behavior was such a drastic change it felt like a world of difference. I was more than satisfied.
“I’m back.”
A gloomy voice came from behind.
Seeing Tetsuya stand next to Miyuki, I wondered when that guy would finally take a hint as I headed to the cafeteria with her.
Then, I froze when I saw two girls approaching from the opposite end of the hall.
“Hiyori, are you going to pack a lunch?”
“That’s the plan. I looked it up online, and apparently, the food at Yebonie Academy isn’t that great.”
“Oh, really? Still, shouldn’t we sign up for it just in case?”
“You think? Well, I’ll talk it over with my parents when I get home.”
The two of them were chatting with bright smiles on their faces.
It was Hiyori and her friend from the bookstore.
It was like the fresh, zesty scent of lemon was already tickling my nose.
With that thought, I resolved to pretend I didn’t know Hiyori and kept walking.
“Ah! The student council senpai from the gate! Hello!”
As we got closer, Hiyori recognized Miyuki and bowed her head.
She really has bright, cheerful manners. It puts you in a good mood just watching her.
“Hello, Asahina-san. Did you get a good look around the school?”
Miyuki asked, her eyes flicking down to Hiyori’s skirt.
Hiyori beamed and replied.
“Yes! We’ve seen almost everything and were just on our way out.”
“I see… Have you eaten? Lunch is free for all the prospective students who came today.”
“No. We were going to eat out… Huh…?”
Hiyori’s puzzled exclamation was directed at me, standing next to Miyuki. Thinking, Here we go, I let out a dopey sound of my own.
“Huh?”
“Wha…? Whaaaat!!”
Following that, Hiyori’s already large eyes grew even wider.
As Miyuki and Tetsuya tilted their heads at her reaction, looking back and forth between us with confused expressions, Hiyori stared at my face with an almost burdensome intensity and shouted.
“Aren’t you the guy who works at the café!?”
I get that you’re surprised, but if you shout that loud, everyone’s going to hear.
Her voice was so loud it startled me for a second.
What’s the right way to react here?
Should I act surprised too? Or should I play it cool and pretend I recognized her all along…
After a brief moment of deliberation, I decided to go with the latter.
“You’re the customer who came to the café a few times, right?”
“Yes! You go here? You’re a senpai?”
Her energy was so high, it was hard to keep up.
The friend next to her is supposed to be her best friend… how on earth does she manage?
“Well, I’ll be a second-year soon…”
“Oh, really!? I’m enrolling here!”
“Is that so…? As a first-year?”
“Yes! Wow… this is so cool…! Hmm…?”
Hiyori, her eyes sparkling, turned her gaze to Tetsuya.
Then she tilted her head.
An expression of uncertainty.
Tetsuya and Hiyori had only crossed paths once at the café, so it seemed she was having trouble placing him.
Still, he was second to none when it came to being gloomy, so he must have left some kind of impression.
“Hellooo…?”
After a brief glance at Tetsuya, Hiyori gave him a perfunctory greeting and lost interest.
She turned back to me and continued.
“Please take care of me during the spring semester! My name is Hiyori. Asahina Hiyori.”
“I’m Matsuda Ken.”
We finally exchanged names. For some reason, I feel deeply moved.
One of Hiyori’s quirks was shortening people’s names however she pleased.
For example, Miura Tetsuya was called Mitetsu, and Miyuki was called Hanami-senpai.
In my case, would it be Matsuken?
The thought of Hiyori calling out to me in her bright, cheerful voice, “Matsuken-senpai! Matsuken-senpai!” made my heart feel refreshed.
“Senpai, what’s your name?”
The friendly Hiyori asked for Miyuki’s name as well.
Miyuki, who had been staring blankly between me and Hiyori, finally snapped out of it and introduced herself.
I took a step back to listen to their conversation and couldn’t help but chuckle to myself when I saw Miyuki looking so flustered.
She rarely showed that side of herself unless we were doing something naughty…
The moment Hiyori appeared, she completely captivated everyone.
She and Miyuki might not become bitter rivals, but their different personalities would surely lead to frequent clashes. But that’s how people become friends.
Maybe, just maybe, the two of them would get along surprisingly well.