Chapter 19

Chapter 19 – Sorry

Maehara Maki and Amami Yuu. The two people who were completely unrelated to each other were having a conversation. This fact made the previously lively atmosphere turn silent in an instant.

“Eh? Uhh… Me?”

She specifically mentioned my name, so of course she was calling me out, but I was freaking out, I couldn’t help but blurted that question out.

Now I gathered the curious gazes of the whole class.

I doubt anyone would’ve expected the cutest girl in the grade to call out to the most disliked person in the class. The other classmates probably found this to be a scandalous development and were loving it. I, on the other hand, hated that this may start some stupid rumors that would continue to fuel their conversations.

“Mhm. It won’t take long, I just want to talk to you about… last Friday… Do you… Mind?”

“No, I don’t mind… but…”

While the other classmates started whispering to each other, I glanced at Asanagi.

I didn’t know what Asanagi and Amami-san talked about, but maybe she told Amami-san to at least apologize to me quickly since our last meeting was pretty much an unpleasant one.

Asanagi gestured an apology with her hands… I guess this meant that even Asanagi didn’t see this coming.

“I’m sorry I made you mad last time. I didn’t know anything about you, Maehara-kun, I thought it would be fun if we were to hang out together, but I was too insensitive to notice your feelings…”

“N-no, it’s fine, Amami-san, you don’t need to apologize. I should be the one to apologize. I was the one who was insensitive, so please, raise your head.”

I didn’t even need to question her sincerity. Her face looked so gloomy, it was obvious that she was serious about this.

It wasn’t a forced apology she was giving me. It was a serious, heartfelt one.

Even though it would be fine if she were to ignore someone like me.

I knew this already, but Amami-san was really kind.

“So, will you forgive me? You aren’t angry at me anymore?”

“Mhm. I’m not angry anymore. I have to apologize for what I did too, so, I’m sorry.”

“No, no, I should be the one who’s apologizing.”

Just as we both bowed our heads at the same time, the bell rang, announcing the time for the homeroom.

I gotta say, the bell had good timing. If it didn’t ring at that moment, we would be stuck in the endless apology loop.

“Alright ~ everyone, take your seat… Huh, it’s so quiet, what’s wrong?”

Yagisawa-sensei, our homeroom teacher, came into the classroom and sent us a gaze filled with suspicion.

“Well… Let’s just say that we’re even.”

“Sure, I’m fine with that.”

“Thank you, Maehara-kun. But, I want to talk with you a little more… Do you have time today?”

“Eh? Yeah, I do, but…”

The weekends were no go, but today was Monday, I didn’t make any plans for Monday, or any other days, for that matter.

“It’s settled then! I’ll let you know the details later… I gave you my phone number the other day, you saved it, right?”

“Eh?”

“Huh?”

The moment those words slipped out of Amami-san’s mouth, the class filled with whispers.

‘Oi, did you hear that?’

‘How did he get Amami-san’s phone number?’

‘This isn’t the first time they talked?’

‘Oi oi, I’m so jealous…’

They didn’t even try to hide it, their conversations reached my ears.

“Huh? Eh? Did I say something wrong…?”

“Amami-san… That was supposed to be a secret, no…?”

“…Ah!”

The first time we talked was not at the arcade, but a while back, under the shadows of the bicycles in the parking lot.

It was when we hid and watched Asanagi’s confession together.

I’ve already apologized to Asanagi about it, but I kept the fact that Amami-san was with me a secret.

This is why it isn’t the class’ murmuring that I’m afraid of.

“Umm… Uhh… See you later.”

“Y-yeah…”

The moment Amami-san walked back to her seat with her small steps, the phone in my pocket vibrated.

I didn’t even have to look to know who messaged me.

It was the same person who took her textbook out and stared intently at the blackboard.

[We need to talk.]

As soon as I saw her message, I let out a small yelp.

Will a simple apology be enough for her to forgive me? Should I resolve myself and do a dogeza? (T/N: If you don’t know, dogeza is the prostrate apology.)