Don't Call Me By My Username! - Chapter 34

After that, we did each other two more times, and we left the hotel well after the sun had set.

We were surprised to realize that we hadn’t even exchanged numbers with each other, so we exchanged our numbers as we laughed, and then he sent me home by taxi.

A few days have passed since then. Akira seemed to be busy preparing for his new life so we barely saw each other.

He told me that he had officially been assigned to a new school as a teacher, but he wouldn’t tell me the name of the school because it was personal information.

I felt a little lonely that we would be in different schools, but I should be happy that he was able to find a job.

I welcomed the new school year with such thoughts in mind.

I took the same train as usual and headed for school, then I found Kazuki and Yuki were also in the new classroom.

“We’re in the same class again, huh?”

I rubbed my chest in relief when Yuki bashfully said “please take care of me” to me.

Since then, things have been awkward with Yuki for a while, but now we could speak normally. Of course, I think it would take a little more time for everything to return to what it was before.

It was my selfishness that had me ask him to be friends with me again. I had to make sure I wasn’t spoiled by Yuki’s kindness, who agreed to it.

“Takumi . . . How were things after that? Hm?”

“. . . How, you ask? . . . Not much.”

Without so much as a good morning greeting, Kazuki grinned and poked me with his elbow. I ended up averting my gaze involuntarily.

“What do you mean by not much? It went well, right?”

“Ahh, well . . .”

“Hey, what are you two talking about?”

“We’re talking about me being the love cupid for Takumi!”

“What?”

“Wai— Kazuki! Don’t say misleading things like that!”

What he said wasn’t entirely wrong, but I still felt embarrassed to admit it.

Besides, it would be somewhat awkward to tell Yuki about it now.

“What do you mean by love cupid? Did you hide something from me again, Takumi?”

“Ugh . . . It’s not like that . . .”

As I mumbled my words, the school bell rang and the silhouette of a teacher could be seen in the hallway.

I quickly rushed to my seat, and I was surprised when I saw the front of the classroom. I was so startled that I almost fell out of my chair.

“Congrats on your advancement to the next grade, everyone. I’m Kaji Akira, and I’ll be officially in charge of class 2-A homeroom teacher from today.”

The chatter in class grew louder, and the shrill voices of the girls echoed loudly.

The person who was standing there was, without a doubt, Akira. When our eyes met, he winked at me. I quickly averted my gaze.

If it turned out this way, he should have told me from the start!

Kazuki was grinning and looking at me as if saying “good for you!”.  On the contrary, Yuki’s gaze was heartbreakingly painful.

But . . . I see, so we could see each other at school again. As I stared at Akira who was taking attendance, reality finally started sinking in, and my face naturally relaxed.

“Watase . . . Watase Haru.”

“Don’t just change my name as you like!!”

Haru was a username exclusive to Akira.

I wanted him to call me by that name only when we were alone.

While hearing the giggles of my classmates, these were my thoughts.

~END~