The Girl I Like Forgot Her Glasses: Our Secret Classroom Ch.7: Sakurazaka's Question and the Unspoken Word

The cleanup after the culture festival finished faster than expected. We put the desks and chairs back where they belonged and picked up the confetti and scraps of tape scattered across the floor. Everyone had to be exhausted, yet there was something reluctant to let go in the air—small bursts of laughter echoed from every corner of the classroom. I—Komura Kaede—set my bag down on my desk by the window. It was already dark outside. The autumn night wind slipped through the open window and chilled the back of my neck. "Komura-kun, good work!" A hand pounded me on the back, and I pitched forward. When I turned around, there stood Someya Narumi, her brown twin-tails swaying, her big eyes sparkling. "Ah, yeah. You too, Someya." I answered while rubbing my sore back. "Hey, why don't we do a celebration party today? Let's all go to the family restaurant! I'm starving already!" Someya pressed her hands together in a pleading pose. "I, uh, kind of have something to do." I looked away. "That again? Komura-kun, you're totally going home with Mie-san, aren't you!" Someya grinned slyly. "N-no, it's not like that. I really do have something to do." My face grew hot. It wasn't that it wasn't like that. More like—not so much "something to do" as "walking Mie-san home." "Well, whatever. Komura-kun, the lighting today was seriously amazing. I actually got a little emotional!" Someya gave my shoulder a light pat. "...Thanks. You were amazing too, Someya—with all the prop prep." I said it honestly. "Ehehe, you think so? I may not look it, but I'm a hard worker!" Someya laughed happily. Just then, the back door of the classroom slid open with a rattle. "Ah, Mie-san!" At Someya's voice, my heart gave a thump. I turned, and there was Mie Ai, just stepping into the classroom. She wore her round black-rimmed glasses. The same ones she'd worn during today's presentation—proper prescription lenses. Mie-san looked around the classroom, and when she spotted me, her face relaxed with relief. "Komura-kun, I found you." Mie-san came toward me at a quick trot. "Good work today. I'll help with the cleanup too." She stood beside me. "Ah, yeah. But we're pretty much done already." I couldn't look Mie-san straight in the face, so I stared at a scrap of paper on the floor. "I see. Then shall we head home?" Mie-san tilted her head and said. "Eh—ah, yeah." I nodded. "Wait, wait, you two—are you going on a date now?" Someya's eyes lit up as she looked back and forth between Mie-san and me. "It's not a date. Komura-kun is simply walking me home." Mie-san said it firmly, in her soft, dreamy voice. "That's basically a date already!" Someya burst out laughing. "Is it?" Mie-san looked up at my face. "I-it's not, okay? I'm just walking her home." I denied it in a panic. "Komura-kun, your face is bright red!" Someya's voice rang through the classroom. Around us, classmates were stealing glances our way. Stop it. Seriously, stop it. I screamed it in my head. "Come on, just go already. I've got a celebration party to plan!" Someya gave my back a firm shove. "O-okay, okay, stop pushing!" I hitched my bag back onto my shoulder. "Mie-san, shall we go?" I looked toward Mie-san. "Yes." Mie-san gave a small nod. We left the classroom. From behind us came Someya's "Have a happy life together—!" and my ears burned all the way to the tips. Once we passed through the school gate, the night air brushed cool against my skin. Stars dotted the sky, scattered here and there. It felt like the afterglow of the culture festival still lingered somewhere. "Komura-kun, thank you so much for today." Mie-san said quietly as she walked beside me. "Eh—ah, yeah. I didn't really do anything." I answered, still facing forward. "The lighting was so beautiful. From the stage, I could see the light you were shining on me, Komura-kun." Her voice sounded a little brighter than usual. "You think? I'm glad it turned out okay." I scratched the tip of my nose, embarrassed. "I was able to do it properly because you were there, Komura-kun. And you brought me my glasses, too. I'm truly grateful." Mie-san stopped and bowed deeply. "H-hey, don't do that. Don't bow." I said in a fluster. "I'll repay you for this someday, without fail." Mie-san lifted her head and looked at me. Behind her glasses, her large dark eyes caught the streetlight and glinted. "You don't need to repay me." I looked away. My heart was so loud. ...This is bad. Today, Mie-san feels a little closer than usual. No—am I imagining it? Am I just being too conscious of her? "Komura-kun." "Eh, what?" I flinched. "Um, would you walk with me along Sakura Slope?" Mie-san said, her gaze dropping a little. "Of course. That was the plan." I nodded. "Thank you." Mie-san smiled, looking relieved. We passed through the arcade of the Tokiwa Station shopping street and headed toward Sakura Slope. A few people were still strolling through the shopping district. As we passed the bakery, Muginoka, a sweet smell drifted out. Mie-san glanced at the bakery's display case. "The melon bread is still on sale." Her voice sounded a little wistful. "Want to buy some? Are you hungry?" I asked. "No. I have a curfew." Mie-san shook her head. "Right. Six o'clock, huh. Though it's way past that already." I checked my watch. It was already past seven. "Yes. My mother said that just for the culture festival, I could stay out late—but I should still get home as early as I can." Mie-san quickened her pace a little. "Got it. Then let's hurry." I matched her stride. As we reached the entrance to Sakura Slope, the number of streetlights dropped sharply. The hill road looked much darker than it had in daytime. The cherry trees swayed in the wind, rustling softly. "Komura-kun." Just as we started up the slope, Mie-san called my name. "Yeah?" I looked at her beside me. Mie-san had stopped. "What's wrong?" I stopped too. She turned toward me and stared fixedly at my face. ...No, not staring—peering into it. Even though she was wearing glasses, it felt just like when she went without them—so close. "M-Mie-san? What's wrong?" I took a step back. "Komura-kun, is there something you want to say?" Mie-san said quietly. "Eh?" I froze. Something I want to say. At those words, everything from today's culture festival came flooding back. The moment I saw Mie-san's smile in the wings of the stage. "I—about you, Mie-san..." The moment I started to say it, and Someya's voice drowned it out. Had Mie-san noticed, back then, that I was trying to say something? "...Why do you think that?" I managed to get that much out. "Today, you looked at me and seemed like you wanted to say something. I couldn't see, but I could hear your voice, Komura-kun. But Someya-san spoke so loudly that I couldn't hear the end." Mie-san took a step closer to me. "So I want to hear it again. Komura-kun, is there something you want to say to me?" Her voice was a little more serious than usual. My heart was pounding so hard. Something I want to say. Of course there is. I want to tell her I like her. That I like her. That I want to stay by her side forever. But there's no way I can say it. Someone like me, saying that to Mie-san. If I said it and it troubled her. If she came to hate me. If this—what we have now—fell apart. Just thinking that, the words caught in the back of my throat and wouldn't come out. "...Um, Mie-san." I squeezed the words out. "Yes." Mie-san was watching me intently. In the dim streetlight, her glasses glinted faintly. "Please don't forget your glasses again tomorrow." That's what I said. Even I didn't know why I said it. But it was all I could say. Mie-san looked blank for a moment, then broke into a soft, melting smile. "Yes. I'll try not to forget. I'll listen properly to what you say, Komura-kun." Her smile was close. So close. Close enough that our noses might touch. I forgot how to breathe. "...S-so, shall we go? You have a curfew, right?" I managed to say just that, and started walking. "Yes." Mie-san walked pressed right up against my side. Our arms brushed, now and then. And every time, my heart leaped. ...This is bad. Today, Mie-san really is close. No—am I just being too conscious of her? My head was a mess. Just before we reached the top of Sakura Slope, Mie-san stopped again. "Komura-kun." "Yeah?" I halted. "Can we walk home together again tomorrow?" Mie-san looked up at my face. Her eyes seemed to hold a mix of hope and worry. "...Of course." I nodded. "I'm glad." Mie-san's face lit up. Seeing that smile, the mess in my head quieted, just a little. I'm being saved by Mie-san's smile. ...But at the same time, it makes me feel pathetic. Just one word—"I like you"—why is it so hard to say? "Um, here is fine. My house is right there." Mie-san pointed to an old apartment building partway up the slope. Mie Manor. Mie-san's home. "Yeah. See you tomorrow." I waved. "Yes. Komura-kun, thank you so much for today." Mie-san bowed. "You don't need to thank me anymore." I gave a wry smile. "I'll repay you for this someday, without fail." Mie-san said it again. "...Then I'll look forward to it." I said quietly. Mie-san smiled happily, then spun around. "Komura-kun, good night!" Without looking back, waving her hand, Mie-san ran up the slope. Her black hair swayed in the night wind. "Good night." I said it softly to her retreating back. I stood there, rooted to the spot, until her figure disappeared into the entrance of Mie Manor. My chest was full of something—tight and aching, or maybe warm, I couldn't tell. Is it really okay for someone like me to be beside Mie-san? That thought doesn't go away. But right now, more than that— I want to be beside Mie-san tomorrow, too. That feeling is just a little bit stronger. I began to walk slowly down Sakura Slope. When I got home, I heard Mom's voice before I even opened the door. "Welcome back! You're late!" "I'm home." I took off my shoes and headed to the living room. My mom, Komura Sayo, was sitting on the sofa watching TV. "How was the culture festival? Was it fun?" Mom leaned forward to ask. "Yeah. Well, it was a success." I set my bag on the floor and sat beside her. "Oh, that's great! Kaede, you were on lighting duty, right? Did it go well?" "It went fine. There's no way I'd mess up." I said it with my chest puffed out. "Oh my, so confident. How cool." Mom giggled. "...The girl who sits next to me worked really hard. Her glasses got fixed, so she could see properly, and her presentation went well too." I said it quietly. "The girl next to you—you mean Mie-san?" Mom tilted her head. "Why do you know about Mie-san, Mom?" I was startled. "You said it in your sleep the other day, Kaede. 'Mie-san, glasses...'" Mom grinned. "Th-that's a lie..." My face went hot all at once. Saying Mie-san's name in my sleep. And glasses, of all things. ...This is the worst. "So that Mie-san was working hard?" Mom asked in a gentle voice. "Yeah. She worked so hard. Even though her glasses broke and everything was a mess, she never complained. And on stage, she was so composed." I talked while picturing Mie-san from today. Her profile as I handed her the bouquet on stage. Those sparkling eyes. "Kaede, you talk so happily." Mom stared at my face. "Eh? Do I?" I touched my cheek. It was hot. "Yeah. Happier than when you talk about yourself." Mom smiled happily. "...You think?" I looked down. "Hey, Kaede." Mom's voice turned a little serious. "Yeah?" I lifted my head. "That girl—she's important to you, isn't she?" Mom was looking straight at me. I was at a loss for words. Important. Of course she's important. Mie-san is someone special to me. But admitting that in f

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The Girl I Like Forgot Her Glasses: Our Secret Classroom Episode 7: Sakurazaka's Question and the Unspoken Word