Chapter 92: Beautiful Girl, Flustered

" Ayumi-chan, —––…wake up!"

Somewhere beyond my drifting consciousness, I hear Mom’s voice. My body is being shaken a little too. What’s… happening to me? Um…?

"Ayumi-chan! Wake up, you’re going to be late!"

Finally processing what Mom is saying, I bolt upright in bed. I glance at the clock beside my pillow. The digits on the digital display show a time that is… extremely, dangerously close to being late.

"Good grief, you finally woke up! Are you okay? Do you feel sick?"

Mom stands beside my bed, peering worriedly at my face. As I sit up, I check myself over. No sluggishness, no feverish feeling—nothing. I just answer with a simple "I’m fine" and get out of bed.

"Sorry. I couldn’t make breakfast this morning."

"It’s rare for Ayumi-chan to oversleep, so it startled me."

Saying that, Mom lightly strokes my head and heads toward the doorway. Just before stepping out, she turns back around.

"We don’t have much time, but eat something light before you go. Come downstairs once you’ve changed."

After Mom leaves the room, I rush to pull off my pajamas. I’ve never been late or overslept—not once. So why today? Well… it must be because of the culture festival at Yazaki-san’s high school yesterday.

It was supposed to just be a fun visit, but somehow I ended up forced into a maid outfit, counted as one of the class staff, and by the end of it… for some reason, they even started a photo session. And then Yazaki-san’s class won the festival’s grand prize. Good for them, but is it really fair to win with an outsider mixed in? If I were some kind of celebrity, it might’ve caused a scandal… but fortunately, I’m just an ordinary high school student, so apparently it was fine.

I remember taking a picture with a little girl, but after entering the classroom and once the festival actually started, everything turned into a blur. I remember nothing except being unbearably embarrassed the whole time.

After all that, I went straight to bed when I got home—and now here we are.

I definitely understand what a “festival atmosphere” feels like now, but when our school festival comes around, I need to be careful or I really might collapse. Maybe I should start building stamina now.

I stand in front of the full-length mirror and flex my arm. There’s absolutely no bicep, and when I pinch it, it’s soft. Not fat, just… not muscular.

It’s because I’m so soft that I have no strength or stamina. Honestly, I swear… I sigh alone in front of the mirror.

I can’t just stand around in my underwear forever, so I quickly get ready and head downstairs to the living room.

The smell of freshly toasted bread hits my empty stomach. I might be short on time, but hunger is hunger. Nothing I can do about it.

I hurriedly sit down and bite into a slice of toast. Dad, who already finished breakfast, glances over at me.

"Ayumi, you’re running late today."

He lowers his newspaper slightly.

"Yeah. I overslept."

I swallow the bread and answer. Dad simply replies, "Don’t push yourself," before returning to the paper. But I can tell he keeps sneaking glances at me through the gaps. I ignore it and shovel breakfast into my stomach at top speed.

It’s not what you’d call ladylike, but there’s no time. I finish breakfast at record pace and go to brush my teeth—when the doorbell rings.

Oh, that must be Ryoji already… Mom rushes down the hallway toward the entrance. She’ll probably tell him I overslept and I’m still getting ready.

I feel bad for making him wait. Thinking that, I head to the washroom.

I brush my teeth as fast as humanly possible, check my appearance, and go to the entrance. Back when I was a boy, I never put this much effort into getting ready, but ever since becoming a girl, Mom gets fussy if I slack off. And well… I don’t want to go to school with messy hair either.

"Thanks for waiting! Sorry to keep you!"

I call out as I step outside. Ryoji is sitting on his bike, slouched over the handlebars, looking bored.

"That’s rare. Ayumi oversleeping."

"Yesterday was kind of a hard day’s work."

"So, what now? Even if we pedal at full speed, we’re cutting it pretty close."

A glance at the time makes it painfully clear: we’re in trouble.

If we sprint, we might barely make it. But if we hit a red light, we’re doomed. And besides, it’s impossible for me to pedal at full speed in a skirt. You know… things would show.

At this point, letting Ryoji go on ahead—sorry as that is—and just accepting being late seemed like the best plan… but then the front door behind me suddenly opens.

I jump a little and turn around. Dad steps out.

"Ayumi, you’re not going to make it, huh? Want me to drive you?"

"For real!? Thank you!"

Talk about a lifesaver! If he drives us, we’ll definitely make the train. We can skip the whole bike-parking-and-walking-to-the-station ordeal. Sure, I’ll have to walk or take the bus home, but that’s fine.

"Having a daughter really is wonderful… Ayumi, Papa is feeling kind of pumped right now."

Hearing my thanks, Dad’s usually stern face softens—way too much.

Even after Ryoji and I get into the back seat, Dad is still grinning like a fool. Is he really that happy to have his daughter rely on him? My dear father… maybe because I’ve been busy with part-time work and haven’t spent time with him lately, he looks genuinely overjoyed.

It’s sweet, but his face is so relaxed he looks like he’s about to melt. It makes me worried he’ll get into an accident.

"Um… Dad, are you okay?"

I can’t help but ask.

Dad starts the engine and glances back at me.

"I’m fine. You’ll make the train. Although… Papa’s license may not stay gold."

"No no NO! Drive safely! Don’t say things that assume you’re getting a ticket! And if you get pulled over, it’ll take even more time!"

"Hmm… true. You’re right."

Dad snaps back to reality. Just how fast was he planning to go?

Our car pulls out from the garage onto the road. All I can do now is pray nothing happens.

"We’re here."

Dad pulls into the rotary in front of the station and lets us know we’ve arrived.

We… made it in one piece. He didn’t speed, there were no sudden stops, no abrupt starts—just extremely safe, steady driving. I guess a gold license really does mean something. I feel bad for even doubting him.

To be honest, Mom almost always drives when we go shopping, so I rarely ever ride in the car with Dad behind the wheel. If I’m being blunt, his driving is more careful than Mom’s. Maybe I should ask him to drive more often.

"Thank you very much," Ryoji says, bowing politely.

"No, no, it’s fine. Ayumi’s always in your care," Dad replies warmly.

"But—" he continues.

His friendly expression suddenly turns sharp. The abrupt shift makes Ryoji blink in confusion.

"I can’t let you have my daughter."

"Huh!?"

Both Ryoji and I let out weird noises at the same time.

What the heck is he suddenly talking about!? Sakurai Shigeru, forty-two years old—what has gotten into you!?

"Dad! What are you saying!?" I demand, stepping toward him.

He looks a little sheepish. "Well, you know… that’s just something I always wanted to say at least once in my life."

"Honestly…"

What a troublesome man. Usually he barely talks at all—quiet and reserved. But ever since I became his daughter, he’s been ridiculously soft on me, and every now and then he pulls stunts like this.

I’m about to scold him more, but if we don’t hurry to the platform, all the time we gained by getting a ride here will go to waste.

"Seriously! Don’t say weird stuff like that out of nowhere! We’re going now—Dad, be careful on your way home, okay?"

I rattle off the words quickly, then signal to Ryoji with my eyes and head toward the ticket gates.

A train glides smoothly into the platform. Thanks to Dad driving us, we made it in time for our usual train. It eases into the station and stops with perfect precision at the marks on the ground.

Ryoji and I board and take our usual spot near the inner doors, setting our bags at our feet.

With the relief of catching our normal train, I let out a quiet sigh.

Something just feels… off today. An unusual morning, an unusual way of getting to school—even small changes feel huge. It makes me nervous, like something strange is bound to happen. And I hate how accurate gut feelings like that tend to be. For now, though, nothing comes to mind.

"What’s wrong? You’re staring down at the floor," Ryoji asks.

"Huh?"

I lift my head—

"Whoa—! Ryoji, you’re way too close!"

His face is suddenly right in front of mine, and I yelp in shock.

Oh no—this is a train! I clap a hand over my mouth and glance around. Several passengers are staring.

I shoot Ryoji a glare before dropping my gaze again. He looks completely baffled.

Well, sure… from his perspective, the girl in front of him was silently thinking, then suddenly jumped, panicked, and glared at him. Anyone would be confused.

Losing all this mental composure… it’s definitely because I overslept. I really need to start waking up earlier.

Just as I'm thinking that, the train jolts sharply as it switches tracks into the passing siding. Normally, I’d hear the announcement—"The train will shake ahead"—and brace myself, but today I somehow missed it completely.

Oh no!

By the time I realize it, it’s too late. I lose my balance and crash straight into Ryoji.

"Oof…!"

He lets out a pained grunt.

"S-sorry! Are you okay!?"

I panic and bow my head.

Because of our height difference, my accidental head-butt lands in a particularly unfortunate spot.

"I don’t mind if you want to throw yourself into my chest, but please make it a little gentler next time," he says.

"It wasn’t on purpose! I’m not the type to just fling myself at you!"

"Hey hey, I literally caught you with my body. A little gratitude would be nice."

"Ugh… well… thanks," I mutter, embarrassed.

Saying thank-you to his face feels unbearably awkward. I turn my head away.

"Whoa, whoa—that’s way too cute. I feel pumped up already!"

"Oh, come on! Don’t pat my head!"

By the time the train reaches our station, he’s teased me so much that it feels like the end of the school day already.

Today really isn’t my day.

As we walk the route to school, I yawn once, twice. Getting all excited at Yazaki-san’s school festival yesterday definitely wasn’t great for my stamina… but it’s too late to complain to my past self. Festivals make you hyper for no reason.

We reach the entrance hall, and I pull my indoor shoes from my cubby.

No more love letters recently. After running away from summons and refusing every confession, the trouble finally stopped.

I switch shoes and glance over at Ryoji—he’s frozen in place, staring into his locker.

"What are you doing?"

Even after I speak, he doesn’t move. I peek at his hands. He’s holding a single letter.

"A… Ayumi…! I-I got a love lett—"

"Are you sure there isn’t, like, a razor blade in there?"

"A-Aikawa! Don’t just pop up and say something that insane!"

Sakurako chimes in casually from behind me. Ryoji grumbles but still flicks the envelope lightly, checking to make sure it really is just paper.

"Heeey! So Takagawa-kun got a love letter!"

Moeka appears behind Sakurako.

So… Ryoji got a love letter too, huh? Oh. Why do I feel… weird about this? He’s my friend. If he gets a girlfriend and becomes happy, that should be a good thing. But maybe because we’re close, it feels like someone’s going to take him away, and I don’t like that.

Unlike Ryoji, my circle of friends is pretty small. If he drifted away, I’d… probably feel lonely. No, that’s selfish. I can’t expect him to stay the same forever.

"What’s wrong, Ayumi? Don’t tell me… you’re the one who wrote this love letter!?"

"Of course not! Come on, let’s go! Moeka-chan, Sakurako-chan!"

Leaving Ryoji—who still hasn’t even switched into his indoor shoes—I head toward the classroom with the girls.

"Hey hey, are you sure you’re okay with that?" Moeka asks beside me. I tilt my head, unsure what her “okay with that?” is referring to.

"I mean, Takagawa-kun might get snatched away, you know?"

"Totally. He’s, like, kinda handsome… if he keeps his mouth shut. Yeah. As long as he really, really keeps it shut…" Sakurako adds.

She doesn’t have to go that far… apparently, Ryoji talking is a fatal flaw.

"Even if someone ‘snatches’ him, Ryoji isn’t mine or anything…"

"Ooh, I seeee! So you’re fine with Takagawa-kun getting a girlfriend?"

Moeka giggles—softly, but with something underneath it, different from her usual cheerful tone. Or maybe that’s just my weird feelings making me imagine things.

Ryoji getting a girlfriend… It shouldn’t concern me, so why is my heart pounding? I really don’t want him to be taken away. Maybe it’s the thought that we’d stop hanging out as much, or we wouldn’t walk to school together anymore. Maybe I’m afraid of losing something important.

But I’ve played with Aoi-kun and others too. Getting upset because a friend spends time with someone else… that’s way too small-minded.

Yeah. I shouldn’t interfere. That’s the right answer.

"Yeah. If Ryoji gets a girlfriend… that’s probably a good thing."

I smile brightly at the two girls. But behind that smile, something I can’t quite name keeps swirling inside me.