monosyllable echo

Silently walking with Baiyin on the path back to the dormitory, because Baiyin was unwilling to say anything more along the way, I had nothing to say all the time, so I had to entertain myself by looking up at the sky and starting to look for them one by one. Star--

Sirius in Canis Major at the bottom, Procyon in Canis Minor in the upper left corner, and Betelgeuse in Orion are connected to form the Great Triangle in winter.

Capella, Pollux, Procyon, Sirius, Rigel, and Aldebaran are connected in order to form a spectacular "winter hexagon".

Phew—it's really not easy to practice the knowledge in these books to the starry sky above my head. My neck is sore when I look up one by one.

However, it is really beautiful.

How long has it been since I looked up at the night sky?It's obviously been here all the time, and you can see it when you look up.However, I don't know when it started, but I lost the mood of looking up and admiring.

"...Ajiu, the dormitory has arrived!"

Just when I saw the lights on the roof of the dormitory, I heard Baiyin's voice beside me.

What is going on with this guy?Since I received my gift in the afternoon, it has become abnormal. Is it because I don't like it?But when I asked him, he obviously said that he liked it very much.It's the same now, it's obviously still some distance away from the girls' dormitory, and they stopped me here, obviously they don't want to accompany me to go forward.

With such doubts in mind, I turned around and faced Baiyin who had stopped in his tracks: "Baiyin, what happened to you? Could it be... because of what happened in the afternoon? If that's the case, it's really wrong—— "

Before I finished speaking, Baiyin took a step forward and approached me: "Hey~ Ajiu, I don't accept your apology, because I don't think you did anything wrong, so don't apologize anymore!"

I bit my lip hesitantly, and said again: "But..." But you are obviously very strange.

Staring behind me for a long time, then sighed silently, Baiyin seemed to have made a decision.For the first time, he took off the strange goggles in front of me, then gently put his hands around my shoulders for the first time, put his forehead against mine for the first time, and read Say my name—"Ajiu."

At such a close distance, he called my name, and from his eyes, I could clearly see my unreserved surprise.

Yes, I was very surprised, surprised why he suddenly made such a move, and also surprised that there are such beautiful eyes under the goggles.

When I regained my senses and hurriedly wanted to move backwards, he suddenly intensified his strength and locked me in his arms.

"Don't move yet! Listen to me."

His rare and forceful opening successfully stopped my struggling movements, and his warm breath hit my cheek straight because he was too close, making my body stiff unconsciously.

Lowering my eyes, I dare not stare at myself in those eyes anymore, because, I must be in a mess——I am now.

"Hey~Natsumejiu, silly girl. I've been thinking since the afternoon that I've been in the same class for two years, but I only really got to know you this semester. Why is that? What? Why? Then, just now, I suddenly figured it out."

Wait, what are you talking about?Why are you bringing this up all of a sudden now?

"Your world is too small, and you lock yourself in there. If someone walks in, you try to be tolerant, but if no one cares, you can go on forever."

...completely, do not understand.

"But! Ajiu, you need to know that there are some things you need to fight for yourself, for example, your feelings for that guy."

……

"However, it is difficult for you to understand this point immediately, so let me help you this time. Since you don't take the initiative, let me push you out! Hmm~~ just treat it as It's my Christmas present to you, Ajiu~ Let us give each other a chance...give me a chance."

After saying this on his own, he let go of his hands, put all the gift bags in my hand, and then turned and left gracefully.

After a moment of daze, I stood still and shouted: "Wait, Baiyin! You bastard! What are you talking about!"

Even so, Baiyin didn't look back, just waved his back to me, and gradually blended into the darkening night.

What a, weird guy. — Frowning, I thought again.

Forget it, I don't want to.

Turning around, I started to walk towards the dormitory.However, everything is like a TV silhouette. When I saw him standing under the shadow of a tree, I just squatted at this point and forgot to react.

"Yo, Jiu, I think...we need to talk."

# # #

The robot usually followed Kazuki Shiranui up the steps to the roof garden step by step.

I looked at his back and stretched exaggeratedly, then turned my head and said to me: "Tomorrow will definitely be a good weather, because you see, the sky is full of stars!"

Well, I admit, that's a good start, but what the hell are you going to talk to me about?Let's just say it, I think it's better that way.

Seeing that I was just staring at him unhappily for a moment and did not respond, Kazuki scratched his hair in embarrassment and said, "Ajiu, I heard from Teacher Xingyue that you took a long vacation today."

I nodded and tried to lighten my tone: "Yeah, you know, I will ask for leave at this time of year. Because I have to go back to the shrine to help Soujiro's father, he can't come to the shrine alone at the end of the year. And, after all, the holidays are coming up, and I don't want to leave him alone."

"I know that." Kazuki also nodded to express his understanding, but he asked a question: "But you asked for leave earlier this year than in previous years, and the number of days you asked for leave is also more than before. What is this for?"

"Because...it's boring after studying all the classes this semester, so I thought about going back for a few more days. Instead of staying here and repeating my life, it's better to go back and do something meaningful. Kazuki, you can understand me Right?" I replied as a matter of course, and then threw the question back.

After Kazuki nodded, he shook his head again, and then said hesitantly: "I can understand this, but I always feel that this is not the real answer for you to do this."

I shrugged and said with a smile, "Oh? Then what do you think is the real reason?"

Smiling wryly, Kazuki gave his answer: "I feel like Ajiu has been avoiding me this semester."

……

As if I heard some big joke, I immediately laughed: "Haha, Kazuki~ what are you talking about? How is this possible? I, avoid you?"

However, Kazuki was not satisfied with my reaction like this, on the contrary, he was a little annoyed. He approached little by little, stopped at an appropriate distance, and said in a low voice: "But I obviously feel like this! Can you tell me why? ? Obviously, we made an agreement before school started. Or is this the way you choose to protect?"

"..."

Kazuki, are you questioning me?

Silence, again silence.

I just watched Kazuki standing in the darkness quietly, not knowing what to say at all.

The stars in the sky are so bright, but I can't seem to see his expression clearly.

Eyes that should be shining like stars, why can't they see clearly at this time?

Seeing that I didn't answer, Kazuki curled the corner of his mouth as if mocking himself, and brought up another topic: "Then, why did you not tell me about your relationship with Shirogane? Can you tell me about that?" ?”

Hearing this, my whole body froze.

I widened my eyes in disbelief, and raised my head to look at Kazuki in front of me: "You...what did you say? Dating? Me and Shirogane? Who told you that we were dating?"

"Holding hands and walking down the street together, being escorted back to the dormitory, and kissing on the side of the street, do you need someone to tell me this?!"

Kazuki's sardonic smile raised the corner of his mouth, occupying my entire line of sight.The pores of my whole body seemed to be open, and the chill hit me from every corner unstoppably, making me crumbling.

"What did you just say?... Kissing?" Stabilizing my figure, I slowly opened my mouth to answer. There was a tremor in my voice that anyone could hear, but, unfortunately, he couldn't hear the person opposite.

"Oh, isn't it? Just now, on the street in front of the dormitory."

Press the general tone of the question, there is no question mark.

Kazuki, you...

—— "Let me help you this time, since you don't take the initiative, let me push you out!"

Before Baiyin left, the words echoed in his ears without warning.

Is that so?So this is ah.Shirogane must have seen it a long time ago, Kazuki standing in front of the girls' dormitory.

That's why they acted like that and said things like that.

Push me out, let me watch him, let me fight for it myself.

But ah...

"Hey, Kazuki. Are you looking at me properly?"

I raised my head slightly, weeping and laughing back.

It was no surprise to see the surprised expression on Kazuki's face.

hehe.Hey, this is obviously stunned.

Taking a step forward, I raised my head and repeated: "Kazuki, let me tell you, are you looking at me properly?"

You obviously think that you have made it obvious, and you are clearly trying to declare to the world that the person I like is you—— Kazuki Shiranui.

It's really just a matter of telling you in person.

So, if I don't tell you, you really won't understand?

Sure enough, it's because, in your eyes, there is only that girl—you only have eyes for Yue Jiu Yuezi who saved you.

So, when she reappeared in your life, all my efforts became meaningless and turned into - worthless garbage.

Just staring quietly at the boy's eyes that broke my heart, looking at the tears streaming down my cheeks reflected in those pupils.

Take a deep breath, exhale——

Forget it.

I began to want to give up, this painful, endless, unrequited love.

Let's get it over with.

Take a step back, and take a step back.Step back to a safe distance.

Wiping away my tears, I raised my eyes and smiled.

"Going out with Shirogane today, I want to pick out Christmas presents for everyone, yours, Soujiro's father's, Spark's. Here, this is yours."

Saying so, I ignored the other person's expression and handed over the gift I had chosen.

"The year before last it was a hat, last year it was gloves, this year it was a scarf. I hope Kazuki's winters will be warm... The reason why I hold hands is because Shirogane wants to comfort those who see you and Yaku-san together It's just me."

"Also, in front of the dormitory just now, he just hugged me and encouraged me to confess to you. He said: 'Ajiu, you have to go out, Ajiu, you have to fight for it yourself.' That's all."

"So, Kazuki, please look at me carefully, okay? I am Natsume Jiu, the only person I like from the beginning to the end is you——Kazuki Shiranui, just one."

Well, that's fine.that's it.

Blinking eyes, turned around, and went down step by step as when he came.

This time, it's up to you to see my back.