My Story of Falling for the Class President

Chapter 19: Various Things Afterward [Side: Rena Kashii]

I think I'm not the type to get too attached. I can do pretty much anything if I try, I have a lot of friends, and I'm pretty considerate, so people around me tend to increase rather than decrease.

But since compatibility varies with each person, I try to neither reject those who come nor chase those who leave.

Spending time next to Tachibana-kun at the Christmas party was a happy experience for me. Through him eating a lot of my homemade food and the coincidence (orchestrated) of getting each other's presents during the Christmas present exchange, I felt our distance had closed significantly.

Or so I thought.

The New Year came, the new semester started, and after a seating change, Tachibana-kun and I were seated apart.

But since we were so close and talked every day until recently, I thought he might come over to chat, right?

(Tachibana-kun isn't coming to hang out at all...?)

Could something like this really happen? He was so happy with the present and obsessed with my homemade food, but does our relationship just disappear once our seats change?

I don't chase after people who leave, but this is different, right! So I decided to ask Tachibana-kun about it.

'Hey, Tachibana-kun, it's been a while!'

It's not like me, but there was a hint of sarcasm in my voice.

'Kashii-san, what's up? I'm in the classroom every day, you know? It hasn't been that long.'

That's not what I mean!

'Since the new semester started, you haven't talked to me, have you? Are you bored of me?'

'Ah— But as you told me before, I'm making an effort to talk a little bit every day with the person next to me!'

So, because I told him before that since we were seated next to each other, we should talk a little every day, he's doing the same with the new person next to him...?

I'll say it again, that's not what I mean!

Anyway, I asked him to make an effort to talk to me too, and since then, Tachibana-kun started coming over to chat occasionally.

Tachibana-kun is such a kid...

I felt like the distance between us had closed, but it hadn't. How strange.

We became sixth graders, the class stayed the same, and the power balance didn't change.

Atsuki-kun and I kept the teasing to a minimum, making it a comfortable class.

In the new semester, Tachibana-kun became the class representative. Atsuki-kun was supporting him, and though it looked tough, he was working hard and it was cute.

I also supported the inexperienced Girls' class representative and successfully completed my term.

As the second semester neared its end, I was thinking about whether we should all do something like a Christmas party-like event this year.

Since we're such a close class, I thought it'd be nice for everyone interested to have fun together, and maybe I could somehow secure a spot next to Tachibana-kun. I was about to consult Atsuki-kun about it when a friend told me that Atsuki-kun would be transferring schools at the end of the second semester.

The Christmas party-like event fell through.

Tachibana-kun was visibly shocked. He was either dejected or laughing—it was extreme.

On the last day of the closing ceremony, Atsuki-kun's final day, during homeroom, everyone was saying goodbye to him with words of farewell. Watching this, I noticed Tachibana-kun hadn't said anything yet.

Since his mom is coming to pick him up, Atsuki-kun is supposed to leave right after. There won't be a "later."

Tachibana-kun seemed to hesitate about going up to the podium.

I couldn't help but speak up.

'Is that okay?'

'No, it's not! Thanks, Kashii-san!'

Tachibana-kun went up to the podium, expressed his gratitude, and said he had a lot he wanted to say but forgot it all.

Atsuki-kun said, "Tell me when you remember!" and then they exchanged their usual daily greeting.

'See you tomorrow!'

They fist-bumped and said goodbye.

I couldn't help but think, boys are kinda nice.

In Tachibana-kun's stories, "Acchan" comes up with incredible frequency.

I'm a bit jealous of that. He doesn't look at me the same way; "Acchan" holds a huge share of Tachibana-kun's world.

I couldn't help but say to Obata-chan, who was next to me.

'In the end, Tachibana-kun loves Atsuki-kun the most, doesn't he.'

'What?! Reina, tell me more about that!'

Recently, Obata-chan has been interested in relationships between boys.

In the third semester of sixth grade, after Atsuki-kun transferred, the class atmosphere changed.

Atsuki-kun's group split up, and Tachibana-kun, though Kousuke-kun was there, became somewhat isolated.

Tachibana-kun would step in and support weaker kids when they were teased, but he couldn't bring everyone together.

I was also overwhelmed with supporting the girls who were shaken by the change in atmosphere.

What used to be such a great class had completely turned into one with a bad vibe.

And then the graduation ceremony ended, and we became middle schoolers.

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One month after the Christmas party. At the Kashii home.

Mama came home and said.

'Rena, just now at the supermarket, I ran into Tachibana-kun's Mother! Sho-kun ate beef stew for the first time at the Christmas party, and it was so delicious he had three bowls! She said he was excitedly telling her at home how amazing the cake was too. Wasn't that great!'

'Oh, so he was so moved by how delicious it was.'

My cheeks grew hot.

My older sister interjected.

'Rena, you're such a pushover! That's what they call a "pushover heroine"—someone who can be easily conquered!'

'I'm not a pushover!'