Escape Galge Chapter 7

Heightened mental-verbal abuse towards Aoi 😄 Some new content but no new plot this chapter.
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Kōryaku Taishō-sha na Watashi wa Gyarugē Shujinkō kara Nigetai wake de!

"Nn! I've slept well!"

　As I retired to bed early so that my skin won't get harmed from the stress, I'm able to wake up in a good mood.

　I even drank milk, so I've secured calcium too.
　Anger is bad for the mien after all.

　Looking out the window, I see that the weather is good; the sunlight may get strong later.
　Let's put some sunblock.

　Being able to take my time preparing, I open the door of the entranceway while feeling refreshed.
　May something good happen today!

"Kii, good morning."

　Why.

　This act of God betrayed my expectations in less than a second.
　Isn't this too much?

　Today, too, with his cream-coloured silky hair swaying in the wind and an overflowing smile that is uselessly sparkly, it's the scum.
　It'll be best if only the insides can be changed.

　It's scary that nothing seems to get to him even though I rejected him that strongly. Gross.
　Are the synapses in his brain connected?

"This, I bought it yesterday. I thought it'd suit you. This gem has the same colour as your eyes. Will you accept it?"

　Perhaps he's confident; what he holds out with a happy-looking smile is a necklace.

　Certainly, it's to my liking. And that's scary.

"No, thank you."
"Kii!?"

　『To think I can receive such a wonderful thing from senpai, it feels like a dream』I reflexively jumped at it, but then I came to my senses and let go, apologising with a reddened face. Was he expecting such a development? What an idiot.

　Even though I put on my shoes in a good mood, to think that my mood will take such a dive just by opening the door.
　Ignore. Ignore!

"Ah, Kii! Wait, this."
"I don't need it! …… ah."

　The necklace drops on the floor from the impact when I shook off his hand that was persistently trying to pass it to me.
　The silver chain tangles up, and the key-shaped charm lands in a mess.

　Silently picking up the necklace, he looks towards me with an extremely lonely appearance, like an abandoned puppy.

　What I'd seen had been nothing but serene smiles.

　… What should I do?

　Prick, pain ran through my heart.

　No good, these eyes are no good.
　I can't look at them.

"… I see you won't accept it."
"I will not. However… I am sorry."

　… I must escape.

　I break off into a run to shake him off.

Even though I know that he's the most despicable scum.

　That the likes of『a gift for a girl』is nothing special.

　Things more horrible were done to me, so the likes of that extent!

　… Even though I think so.

　I turn back, but he isn't there.

　My heart still hurts.

　On the contrary, the thing stabbing into my heart sinks deeper whenever I recall his sad-looking face.

"Why do I have to feel this way…"

　I give a small sigh to the asphalt at the end of my gaze as I hang my head down.

xx

xx

　As foreseen, the sunlight is strong.

　It's terrifying how I used to think『It's lonely when we can't meet』around this timing.
　I'm really glad that my eyes are opened now.

I haven't recovered from the damage this morning, but I decide to pay it no mind.

　I warn myself that it was『that type of tactics』and I can't be moved by them.

　Being on class duty that day, I was requested by the homeroom teacher to move the notes and print-outs from the staff room to the classroom.

　There’s still a ways to go on the long corridor.
　I regret not having called out to someone, asking them for their help.

"Kii!"
"Yikes."

　This feeling where my hair stand on end… it's him!

　Though, in terms of being gross, they’re certainly of the same level.

　Hastily adjusting my posture, they didn't end up falling. However, it seems like they may start collapsing again if I ease up.

"I'll lend a hand."
"No, thank you!"

　Mayhaps he sees that I'm having a hard time keeping the pile in order. He stretches out a hand, which I dodge.
　I refuse to beest indebted to thee!

The heck?

　That lonely expression has been remaining in my heart, and whenever it surfaces, I erase it… an endless cycle.
　I see, I'm an idiot, aren't I? I can only let out dry laughter, haha.

"I'll hold them, so let's go to the classroom together."

"I can't leave you be when you're carrying heavy things, Kii."

　I'll be more grateful if you leave me be!

　What should I do? I don't want to walk with him.
　But as long as I've this baggage, I can't run and escape.

　Any ideas? I look around while thinking so, and findd a boy who's from my class nearby.

　He's terribly 'average Joe', and is much like the exemplar of background characters.

　A true『Classmate A』.

"The A-kun there!"
"Ei-kun!?"

　When I call out to him, Classmate A-kun is so surprised that he seems like he'll spring up.

　Come to think of it, this may be the first time we converse?
　I feel sorry to suddenly call out but please save me!

"Sorry. Hold half of this, and come with me to the classroom!"

　For me to suddenly hand him what I'm holding, he appears bewildered.
　He has an expression that says『What's this?』but if we dally here, I'll be caught by gross-man!

"Follow me!"

　Calling out to A-kun, I advance through the corridor in a quick pace.
　Confirming that he's following me in a hurry, I raise my speed.

"Kii, wait!" [2]

　I hear his voice but I'm not looking back.

　Turning at the corner, when I'm just a short distance away from the classroom, I look back.

"Great, he's not there."

　Just as I pat my chest, the classmate who's walking beside me while holding the papers, speaks up.

　I forgot about your existence for a moment.

"I'm sorry for the abruptness. Thank you for your help!"
"Yeah. More importantly… I was surprised that Torida-san called me『Ei-kun』."

　I felt apologetic that his name doesn't come to mind even though he's my classmate.
　A little more and I think I can recall…!

"Um, sorry…"

"Eh?"

The moment I wonder how it came to this, I remember.

　I said『A-kun』, but he heard it as『Ei-kun』.
　What a miracle… is this coincidence a good or bad thing?

"C-can't I?"
"Sure thing. Ei-kun."

　When I smile at him in reply, Ei-kun's face also went bam!, brightening as though flowers are in bloom.

"Thank you! Ki-kii-chan!"

Maybe he's shy. His bashful look is cute.

　It may have started with my discourtesy, but I'm glad it sorted out well.

"Is that okay?"

"Um… Kagurazaka-senpai, he seemed like he had business with you."

"I-is that so."

　Perhaps the curt way I spoke stunned him; he's giving a slightly-strained courtesy smile.
　Shucks. I couldn't stop that from coming out of my mouth, but he's probably being strangely considerate because he knows that we[3] were on good terms until recently.

"Did you guys have a fight? You weren't getting along well recently, right?"

　My heart skips a beat at the question that was asked meekly.

　… I don't want to attract too much attention.
　Looking at me whose face scrunched up, Ei-kun starts panicking.

"S-sorry! Sounding like I'm prying. It's just that, it's becoming a rumour."
"Rumour?"

Rumours and the like, please give me a break.

　The furrows between my brows only continue to deepen.

"That Kii-chan wasn't on good terms with Kagurazaka-senpai anymore. To tell the truth, the guys were rejoicing."

"Ah, because Kii-chan is popular! For some reason, all the popular girls in this school likes Kagurazaka-senpai. It's dull for the other guys, or so to speak…"

　It's my first time hearing I'm popular.

　I feel like I'm about to grin while laughing『Dehehe』.

　It doesn't ring a bell because it's about myself though…

　At any rate… it's also the first time I find out that the male students are envious of that guy.

　Perhaps that's why it's news to me.
　I do chat with some, but it's only that guy whose relationship I had was one whereby we would meet up during holidays.

　… It's upsetting somehow.

　I don't need a『boyfriend』, but I do want male friends I can chat with.

"Also, there's compliments on how your atmosphere changed and how you became prettier, Kii-chan."
"R-really!?"

That's delightful, really delightful.

　I wonder if I can take it that they do acknowledge things outside of twin tails!

"Un! I-I… think so too."

"Gasp!"

I can't repress my happiness, nor the grin that creeps up my face.

　I'm getting all shy.
　It'd be perfect if only the memory of『that guy and I being on good terms』disappears too though.

"What's wrong?"
"N-nothing!"

For some reason, Ei-kun's face is completely red.

　Not having many friends of the opposite gender, I'm the same.

Of course, I'm not considering that guy as someone of『the opposite gender』; he's a creature known as scum.

　I'll absolutely love to be good friends with Ei-kun.

"Nn?"

　The corridor of another building that can be seen from the window.
　I catch sight of a person with cream-colored hair who halted his movements.

"I-Isn't that Kagurazaka-senpai?"

　He has a crease between his brows, and is glaring in this direction.

　Ei-kun winces and seems to be backing away.

"Let's go."

　Calling out to Ei-kun who's standing stock-still, I move on.

　Gross as expected.

x

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[1] Pretty sure she's referring to a cockroach.

[3] Aoi and herself.
[4] Aoi.

Chapter end