5
“Hey, Misaka-san. Why did you do your hair like that today?”
“Huh…”
“Well, you know, it’s in braids now, but it was different yesterday. You had your hair down, but the vibe was totally different. That’s why I didn’t notice until someone told me, and it’s such a waste.”
“I know, right? She looked super cute, and it totally suits her better. Don’t you think so, everyone?”
“Yeah,” “Definitely,” I couldn’t help but hear the voices of agreement.
I glanced around the room, and even those who didn’t say anything were nodding.
(What are they saying such arbitrary things for…!)
Misaki likes her hair like that.
She’s always had it like that, and no one has ever said anything about it before.
Just because she was on TV for a bit, they’re suddenly paying attention and loudly saying that the other way is better. Who are they to say?
Do they think they’re giving her advice? No, they’re not. All they’re doing is pressing Misaki.
Misaki is fine the way she is. That’s the way that suits her best…!
“See, I knew you’d agree. Look, Misaka-chan, what I said was right, wasn’t it?”
As I fumed inwardly, I heard a voice speaking to Misaki.
“Even the guys are saying that the other way is definitely better. Why don’t you take off your glasses for a bit and put in your contacts today? Like I said yesterday, you brought them with you, right?”
It was a strangely sweet voice.
Perhaps it could be called a “honeyed” voice. The speaker might have thought she was speaking gently, but there was something flattering, almost theatrical about it.
“Oh, Kishima-san… U-um. Well, I did bring them with me, just in case…”
“That’s great. So, why don’t we change it up a bit right here? That’s what everyone’s expecting, right?”
Suddenly, the classroom erupted in cheers.
I couldn’t help but want to cover my ears at the reaction, as if they had been waiting for this moment.
(Damn it…)
I had heard the name Kijima before.
I think she was the leader of the girls in our class.
I remember her dying her hair a light brown and being the stereotypical gal, but she was the type of person I didn’t like.
She was the type who became a leader because of her loud voice and strong personality, and I had heard some bad rumors about her, like how she bullied weaker students behind their backs.
I didn’t want to get involved with her if I could avoid it, and I’m sure Mio felt the same way.
But for some reason, Mio was now being harassed by her.
On top of that, she was even controlling the flow of the situation.
At this rate, Mio would continue to be the center of attention in the classroom and be forced to act the same way she did yesterday.
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Even through the screen, she had attracted so much attention and became such a hot topic.
I’m sure there were many students who wanted to see Mio in person, as she was at that time.
No, the people who had gathered were definitely expecting it.
What if the composed beauty who had been inside the TV appeared before their very eyes, fulfilling their expectations?
Just imagining it made my hair stand on end.
It wasn’t just a matter of being in the spotlight.
It was only yesterday. The topic would become even more popular, and even more people would gather around Mio.
Some of them would just be curious onlookers.
But there would also be good-looking guys, nice guys, and athletic guys.
Even those kinds of guys would surely surround Mio. Regardless of gender, they would all try to get close to her.
What would I do then? What would I do?
(I’m…)
I’m not good-looking. I’m gloomy and introverted. I’m not athletic either.
And most importantly, I hate standing out.
I don’t want anyone to pay attention to me. I just wanted to finish out my junior high school life quietly and peacefully.
If people found out that I was Mio’s boyfriend…
(It would be the worst…)
Really, it was the worst possible thing I could imagine.