Chapter 15.2: Me and Her II


    Whoa! Your first name is unbelievable! So cool!


    Ugh!?<em>FWE</em>


    I wondered when she had taken out my student ID card, and Hyuga was right next to me, her eyes swirling as she raised her voice.


    Return it to me, you idiot!


    When I attempted to catch her, she lightly dodged and slipped away.


    Your name is so striking that even the sparkling names of the day would be beaten by it. Can I call you by your first name from now on?


    No!! Absolutely not!!


    I gnashed my teeth while howling like a demon. Yeah, I was being serious.


    HuhEven though its so cool!


    Its not cool at all! People always say its not a good name! Its a name that doesnt do me any good! I hate it! I mean return that!!


    Oops!


    Hyuga was running away from my arms cheekily. As far as I knew, nobody was more talented at running away and having such sticky fingers than her. Unlike her appearance, she was always moving around for no reason at all. Yet, when satisfied, she would easily return it and apologize to me.


    So why did she steal from me to begin with?


    Heres your student ID card. Sorry, I took it without your permission.


    You do you do things like this to your friends too?


    No, I dont. If I did, they wouldnt like me.


    Dont say that so brazenly.


    You mean its okay for you to do stuff like this to me?


    You know, you get mad at me, saying youll beat me up all the time, but youll forgive me and despite all that, you never beat me up.


    Hah<em>Trantor: MadHatter</em>


    You were totally messing around with me. While on the subject, Hyuga turned away and let out an ehehe sound.


    Youve got a lot of nerves messing with the upperssmen, you little sses-wearing prick, Im going to crush you.


    Youre so foul-mouthed and scary!


    In contrast to what Hyuga was saying, she didnt even feel that way. For some reason, Hyuga jumped up and down joyfully.


    From that day on, she started showing up in front of me like a phantom after club activities, when I skipped ss or was leaving school. It was most often when I was alone that she would pop up.


    At unpredictable times, she appeared from behind me, right next to me, or even out of the shrubbery the other day.


    Who the hell was this guy?


    What did she want, what did she want me to do, and what was so enjoyable about chasing me around? She was so cryptic to the level that I seriously couldnt grasp her.


    Despite the fact that she was a girl, she defiantly climbed the fence, pulled a caterpir from the wall and presented it to me, mimicked a gori, unexpectedly began dancing, delivered one-liners, and didnt even freak out at the sight of a cockroach; instead, she ran after it.


    Wasnt it normal people like her didnt exist?


    Ever since Hyuga came in contact with me, she repeatedly did this. Whenever I encountered her, I was swept along and ended up hanging out with her because of her strange conduct while I didnt have any intention of associating with her since I didnt want to get into trouble with her.


    On the exterior, she indeed had a more girlish appearance than those girls with their gaudy makeup.


    On the inside, though, she was nothing like a girl.


    And yet, she was not mannish either. She was an enigmatic creature.


    Acting liberally, she delighted in everything. Rather than flouting school regtions or getting into trouble, she diligently attended her lessons and achieved high academic standing. So to speak, she was an honor student.


    She was a tomboy at heart, nevertheless.


    Every time I saw her in a ss held in a different room or passing by during recess, she was always at the center of the ss with a clear voice that always went straight through.


    At times surrounded by arge number of girls, at times by a group of boys, at times by a couple of teachers, and at times by members of the same brass band club.


    Each time she shook her shoulders gleefully andughed dazzlingly. Though she was one grade below me, I knew her well enough to notice that. She would draw everyone around her and gather them together with her own distinctive ambiance.


    Her adept use of words and her intriguing and unpredictable behavior all drew people to her. And I supposed I was one of those people who was drawn to her.


    Hey, a person can mask their appearance, right?


    On the roof of the main building, I was conversing with Kinoshita and the others while drinking a banana auit. It was time for the open-ended art ss. Our assignment was andscape painting. Lacking motivation, we used to hang out on the rooftop with our canvases in hand and ditch ss.


    Ah, whats up, Masa?


    That guy.<em>Not shared on aggregator sites</em>


    Ahead of my line of sight was a pair of vigorous pony-tailed sses chasing a ser ball in the schoolyard right below us.


    The girls were chattering and clumping together and were aggressively pursuing the ball. Though the girls were more subdued and boisterous than the boys ser team. When Hyuga entered the game, the pace of y immediately shifted.


    Even those who were not so enthusiastic about the game somehow started to try to stop her from scoring, and the atmosphere became that of a ser game. She continued to kick the ball and avoid each opponent as they came at her, nevertheless, no matter how many yers wereing at her.


    That girl is impressive! What ss is she in!?


    Wow! Shes peerless!!


    Even Tanaka and Nishimura, who were at the back, turned their attention to Hyuga after hearing the apuse from below.


    She ran for the goal at a high rate of speed, leaving the four of us speechless and mouths wide while being transfixed. Her buddy received a pass from her that was aimed toward the goal, and thetter kicked the ball at a great height for the goal.


    The ball, however, was unable to get in the.


    Hyuga stepped in at that point and unleashed a spectacr header that might have contended with anything in the J-League. The ball went straight into the of the goal.


    From below, cheers and apuse surged up, apanied by the whistle.


    Jumping up and down, the girls surrounded Hyuga as she ran up to them, raising her hands in the air, looking pleased with herself regardless of her mildly misced spectacles or her slightly muddy hair.


    Shes interesting, isnt she? I think shes from the 4th ss, 2nd grade, in the brass band, her name is Hyuga.


    Ah! That rumored girl!?


    Wow! Even though she seems to be a mature girl!


    At Kinoshitasmentary, Tanaka and Nishimura simultaneously shouted out.


    You guys know her?


    Ive at least heard of her name.


    Yeah. She is a picture-perfect honor student with excellent sportsmanship, outstanding grades, and a wless interpersonal rtionship with her peers.


    Apparently, Hyuga was quite a celebrity in the entire schoolmunity.


    An honor student huh though a fairly entric one at that


    With a wry smile, I looked at Hyugas face. She had such a face, and yet she caught insects with her bare hands. I wondered if these guys knew that.


    Youre interested in her?


    Kinoshita took a sip of my banana auit. Hey, stop that.


    No, not really. Its just that she attracts a lot of attention even though she seems so quiet, you know I think that shes incredible.


    After saying that, I covered that mouth of mine. It was toote, though.


    Shut up! You guys are being too loud!!


    Haha! I mean! Masa! You said that shes incredible! That, that, that! You rarely say such things buahahahahahahaha!!


    Whats more! More than anything, shes not even interested in the girl!!


    Its gonna be incredible! Tomorrow its gonna rain spears!


    Spears arent going to descend, you idiot!!


    Once they started bursting out intoughter, no matter what I said, it wouldnt stop them.


    It was probably something I unconsciously uttered, which I deflected in an attempt to let it slide and pass over. Now, I was certain I meant those words.


    Incredible. I didnt often acknowledge other people, but Hyuga was incredible. Did I really think so Yeah, that was right.


    She stood in stark contrast to me, who was always on the watch for anything that mighte my way and made it difficult for others around me to be close to me, and Hyuga, who was outgoing and popr and embraced everything.


    The dexterous Hyuga who could handle everything without a hitch.


    Without conflicts, everyone adored her. She always seemed to be having a good time.


    Unlike me, who hid myself away in my shell, she waspletely different from me.


    She possessed a lot of things that Icked.


    A mass of fascination.


    Even if I tried to be normal, I would never be like that. Yet she went on living her life that way. She was inexplicable, not being swayed by others, nheless, she was on a straight line.


    I couldnt possibly imitate that. Perhaps that was why I genuinely thought she was incredible.


    Oh, no way. Masa.


    What?


    Nishimura put his arm around my neck and pulled me close.


    Could it be Youre in love with her?


    Huh!?


    Is it for real! Hey! Hakamada!


    Are you in love with her!? Masa!!


    Of course not!!


    Hey, dont hide it!


    Im not hiding anything!


    For real! With a girl one grade below you!? Eh!!


    Dont stir things up! Tanaka!


    Sekihan! Somebody make sekihan!


    Kinoshita! Do you want to get your dick thrown straight up in the air!!


    Idiot! Youre not suitable for her! Ill take her first! Then Ill let you have a taste! Hehehe!!


    You can jump down from the rooftop now, Nishimura!


    The underssmen below us spotted us and were staring up at the rooftop as we were making a lot of noise and getting into a mess. Oh, no. The gym teacher was sending us a stern re.


    Hold the canvas! The canvas!


    In a panic, I held up the canvas that I had left on the floor and made an appeal to show that I was working on it. It was a rather shameless lie.


    Ah


    At that moment, my eyes locked with Hyugas who was on the ground. She put her hand over her mouth and giggled softly.


    I signaled to her by waving the pencil I was holding in front of the idiots.


    Then Hyuga grinned and ran to the other side of the schoolyard.


    What was I doing?


    I pulled my pencil back and felt embarrassed. There was no particr need for me to do that.


    Fuu


    She easily disrupted even my obstinate pace. Hyuga was terrifying.


    But youd best hold off on pursuing that girl Kinoshita muttered as he watched Hyuga run away.