Iriya calls her name. He is about to pat her head
but he stops himself. He tells her, “..I like you, Kisaragi-chan. But.. no
matter how.. *tears up* no matter how, it is still no good. Always when I break
up with a girlfriend.. even if I always pretend that everything is fine but
actually, every time it happens, I have this feeling of being abandoned. It
isn’t at all because I don’t believe in you but after bearing one’s true heart
and then the other party leaves me, until now, I still felt quite afraid..”
Tears start to form on Makoto’s eyes again. She shakes her head and says that
there’s no need. “..there’s no need to.. go steady something.. I don’t need
that kind of commitment. I don’t need anything, so always until one day I’m
hated by you, please let me continue on liking you..” Iriya smiles. He says, “I
think that you already know.. I’m quite troublesome person, right? Is it okay?”
Makoto exclaims, “How can that be!! If you’re talking about the degree of being
troublesome, I also won’t lose to you!! You also clearly know that!! It’s the
same right now. I’m obviously listening to you regarding such an important
thing but in the corner of my mind, I had unexpectedly thought how come I’m
wearing such a strange shirt *holding her snail design shirt* and ran off
here..!! *teary-eyed* The recollection will become a snail..!” Iriya is
speechless. Upon seeing his expression, Makoto starts to freak out that she
shouldn’t have said that. Makoto tries to explain but she and Yusa are shock
when Iriya burst into laughter. He pats Makoto’s head and says that no wonder
it is her. Makoto gloomily wonders if Iriya laughing means it is alright. Then,
Iriya’s phone is ringing. After reading the message, Iriya apologizes and says
that today is his father’s birthday so he has come home early. Makoto and Yusa
urge Iriya to quickly go home. Iriya apologizes for not being able to walk her
home. Makoto tells him that it is alright. Iriya touches her face and says,
“Today, I’m really thankful to you. I’m very happy. *smiles* See you in the
next school term.” With that, Iriya left. After a pause, Makoto says,
“..Yusa-kun.. I wish to become strong. Want to become strong..” To her
surprise, Yusa holds her head and says, “It isn’t ‘want to’, it’s ‘will’,
right? Using your own strength.” As Yusa starts to walk away, teary-eyed Makoto
says, “Ya.” Narration: “I have never thought that I can become someone else’s
strength. Finally, I won’t gradually look away from the thing in front of me. I
won’t listen to the voice and let it just be stuck in my ear. I will become
strong.”
At school, Makoto arrives in the class to see Iriya
happily chatting with some people. She thinks that it is the normal Iriya.
Iriya spots her and happily greets her a good morning. Makoto happily greets
him back. She starts to dreamily think of how handsome Makoto is while wearing
his uniform. Bunny comments that Makoto hasn’t change that nature of hers. Iriya
tells her that he is quite happy to be noisy and everything, with the others,
like this. Then, he shouts that is his true words. Flashing an okay sign,
Makoto says, yes, she knows. Makoto smiles and thinks that Iriya only has to
say that he’s happy, she will also simultaneously become happy. Then, they
greet Uki and Nanami who had just arrived. Later on, the teacher says that
before dismissing the class, they are going to decide the committee member for
October’s Cultural Festival. Makoto wonders what their class will be doing. She
happily drools over the various food stalls that they would operate and she
hopes that she won’t give trouble to others. Bunny asks how come it is all
about food. Then, the teacher asks if Iriya wants to do it. Everyone start to urge
Iriya to go for it. Iriya asks if it is him again when he was the one in charge
of the excursion and he is already class committee. Makoto looks at Iriya and
notices that he looks troubled. She timidly thinks that it is like this every
time, no matter how high one’s popularity is, the capability of doing things is
also high. “He’s also very handsome and every kind. [<- bunny says that has
no relevance] Every time, it is quite tiring..!?” Just when Iriya is saying
that since it can’t be helped, Makoto raise her hand and shouts, “Me! I’ll be
in charge!!” Everyone including Uki is surprised by that. Makoto starts to
become nervous for she had unconsciously.. The teacher says then, that is
decided, gambatte Kisaragi! He reminds her that the first meeting will be held after
school so don’t forget it. Later on, Makoto gloomily goes out of the classroom
and wonders where the meeting room is. Iriya follows her out and asks if it is
okay for her to be the committee member or is it better that he do it. Makoto
looks at him and smiles. With hands on her waist, she tells him, “..Gee-ez.
Don’t indulge everyone like this, Iriya-kun! I’ll definitely properly do my
best and show you!” After looking surprised, Iriya lightly knocks her head and
says that if there is anything she needs help with, just tell him. Makoto
sheepishly asks where the meeting room is. After a pause, Iriya tells her it is
at the end of the west building’s third floor. Makoto smiles and happily runs
off. Narration: “Our relationship is slightly different from before. And,
currently, it is the new school term. There are still a lot of fun activities.
Going to do my best--!!”
Quote of the day:
There are no shortcuts to any place worth going. ~Beverly
Sills.