The Classmate Who Is Adored by Everyone Smiles Teasingly Only at Me-Chapter 1Volume 3 .8 - November Sun
November Sun 8
“Ah, don’t run away! You said you’d hold hands with me forever. Breaking promises isn’t good!”
Naturally, Chika chased after him, splashing water with every step.
“Shut up! I’m not helping someone who goes all out just to embarrass people!”
“Isn’t it good to give your all in everything you do?”
“Don’t give your all in making people suffer!!”
Weaving through the crowd of people enjoying the water, their game of cat and mouse continued.
“You said you were bad with water!”
“I overcame it just now, all to see Sōma-san’s most embarrassed face!”
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“What was all that special training for then!?”
While fleeing, they passed a group of high school boys who looked on with envy.
They clicked their tongues overtly, but Sōma, desperate to escape, didn’t hear a thing.
***
“I’m tired…”
Sōma slumped into the back seat of the bus, looking up at the ceiling and muttering to himself.
“We’re completely worn out, huh?”
“Whose fault is that?”
He glared sideways at Chika, who had taken a seat next to him.
In the end, they had continued their chase until the park’s closing time.
It was now completely dusk.
“Playing tag in the water wasn’t such a good idea.”
His muscles were sore from lactic acid, and he felt the unique fatigue that comes after swimming.
Moving even a single finger felt like a huge effort.
If he let his guard down even a bit, he’d fall asleep right away.
As the bus started moving, he slapped his cheeks to ward off sleepiness when something gently landed on his shoulder.
Turning to the side, he saw Chika resting her head on his shoulder, eyes closed.
“Hey, wake up. I won’t be responsible if you miss your stop.”
“I’m so sleepy…”
When he knocked on Chika’s head, she rubbed it against his shoulder like a cat even more.
“Just so you know, more than half of this exhaustion is your fault.”
“Chasing after Sōma-san was so much fun…”
“Don’t find enjoyment in such things.”
He muttered under his breath, “This sadist…”
“You’re heavy and in the way. If you really must sleep, go over there.”
“Ah, come on. Sōma-san, be my pillow.”
“Don’t use your classmate as a pillow.”
He pushed her head in the opposite direction as she tried to lean on him.
The bus, carrying a sleepy Sōma and a nodding-off Chika, slowly made its way through the traffic-jammed roads and arrived at the bus stop nearest to the Satomi residence after about thirty minutes.
“We’re here. Get off.”
“Okay.”
Chika, shaken awake, rubbed her sleepy eyes and stood up, heading towards the bus exit.
Her steps were unsteady, resembling the staggering walk of a drunk, even though she hadn’t had any alcohol.
“Can’t be helped… I’ll walk you home.”
It would be too much of a nightmare if she had an accident on her way home alone.
With a heavy body, he stood up and followed after Chika.
“Come on, hurry up and get off. The driver is waiting.”
“I feel so sluggish~”
“Me too.”
He pushed her back gently, apologizing to the driver as they got off the bus.
Stepping off the bus, the cold evening breeze did nothing to stop Chika’s head from continuing to bobble like a balloon.
“Hey, are you okay?”
“No good. That’s why you should give me a piggyback ride.”
She reached out her hands like a zombie, weakly begging for a piggyback ride.
“I refuse. I’m just as exhausted.”
Sōma felt like he could use a piggyback ride himself.
“Sōma-san, stingy. You always brag about exercising and being fit.”
“I’m not bragging.”
“Then at least pull me along.”
This time, she extended just one hand.
It seemed she wanted him to take her hand and pull her along.
He hesitated for a moment but then realized that they had been holding hands all day, so it was too late to be concerned about it now.
“Watch out for cars.”
He took her hand and walked towards the Satomi residence, mindful of the headlights of passing cars.
“It’s really autumn, huh? It’s quite cold.”
“Yeah, it’s easy to catch a cold if you’re not careful.”
Just as the drowsy Chika said, the late autumn evening was dim, and the wind was cold enough to make one shiver.
However, Chika’s hand, warm in his grasp like a hand warmer, helped fend off the cold.
“Look, we’ve arrived.”
As they reached the familiar Satomi residence, he let go of her hand with a bit of reluctance.
“Thank you for today. It was a lot of fun.”
“We’ve got to keep up the swimming practice. We’re going to the beach next summer, right?”
“Yes, I’ll work hard with that goal in mind. Then, let’s meet again the day after tomorrow at school.”
After bowing her head slightly in farewell, Chika reached for the gate but then paused and brought her face close to Sōma, sniffing.
“Sōma-san, you smell like chlorine.”
“Of course I do. I’ve been in the pool.”
Since it was an indoor pool, the chlorine smell was particularly strong.
After getting out of the pool, Sōma had quickly rinsed off with a shower, but that wasn’t enough to completely remove the chlorine smell.
“Chika, you must be the same, though.”
“No, I properly washed myself with shampoo and body soap.”
Sōma sniffed, but instead of chlorine, he could smell the pleasant scent of soap coming from her.
That’s typical of a girl, he thought.
“I’ll take another bath when I get home, so this is fine.”
“In that case, why don’t you come and take a bath at my place?”
“Huh?”
Caught off guard by the unexpected offer, Sōma was left dumbfounded.
“Sōma-san, you must be tired, right? As a thank you for joining me in swimming practice, I’ll wash your hair for you.”
“No-no, there’s no need for that. I’m tired, but I can take a bath by myself. Besides, you must be tired too, right?”
“I’ve regained my energy since getting home, so please don’t hesitate. This is the least I can do to show my gratitude.”
Whether she had truly regained her energy or not, the strength with which she pulled his arm was considerable.
“…What’s the real reason?”
“I want to try it.”
“I thought so!”
“What’s wrong with that? It’s just washing hair. Please think of it as helping me practice for being a beautician.”
“You’ve never once said you wanted to be a beautician.”
“If I wash Sōma-san’s hair, I might start to think so!”
Does this girl have a special organ that converts curiosity and sadism into energy?
She was completely exhausted on the bus, but now she seemed lively again.
