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Chapter 241. [Class Reunion]
"Hey, Iroha-chan~. We'll be late soon. Shall we go?"
"Ugh, such a hassle."
"Oh, come on! Stop complaining and let's go~"
I'm pulled along by Mai's arm, heading outside.
I wanted to skip if possible, but there's no way she'll let me off.
"...It's hot."
"Yeah yeah. It'll be cooler once we're inside the shop~"
It's already the end of August, and well into the evening.
Yet, the oppressive heat still lingers.
Maybe I've gotten too used to the dry summers in America.
There are pros and cons, like now I can't go without a humidifier.
"Everyone's looking forward to seeing Iroha-chan, you know~?"
"Even if you say that..."
I don't particularly want to see anyone. Watching streams would be more meaningful.
In fact...
"What's wrong, Iroha-chan~?"
"Oh, it's nothing."
I shake my head, cutting off my thoughts.
The shop is nearby, and we soon arrive—.
***
"So, to celebrate the reunion... Cheers!"
""""Cheers!""""
The smell of grilled meat and the sweet scent of sauce fill the large room.
The venue for the class reunion is a yakiniku restaurant.
"Iroha-chan, it's been a while~! You're still as cute and tiny as ever~!"
"Yeah, it's been a while. You haven't changed a bit."
People greeted me. But I have no idea who anyone is.
I didn't remember many of them, but everyone seems to have changed drastically.
Children grow up so fast. After two years, everyone looks like different people.
"Hey everyone, if we all talk to Iroha-chan at once, she'll be overwhelmed~"
"Oops, sorry~"
"My bad. Oh yeah, Iroha. I still have that Ukrainian printout you gave me..."
Mai and the others are exchanging words above my head.
It feels oddly intimate for a reunion. Then, I catch snippets of a conversation from a distant table.
"Come to think of it, we haven't really talked since middle school, have we?"
"Well, we were in different classes."
Ah, I see. Now I realized. Most of us must have gone to the same middle school.
That's why there's so much attention on those of us who took the entrance exam.
"Iroha, what are you up to these days?"
"Well, right now I'm..."
"Hey, slowpoke!"
Just as I was about to answer, a voice echoed near the entrance.
Someone is entering the room.
Instantly, everyone's gaze is fixed there.
Or rather, they seem captivated by her beauty.
It's particularly evident with the boys sitting nearby.
As she removes her hat, her silver hair flows smoothly, and then.
"Sorry, I'm late. Huh!?"
"Huh!?"
Our eyes meet with a snap.
We both freeze.
Sweat starts dripping from all over my body.
Then, a joke about being late flies to her from the side.
"Hey~? Did you transfer again today?"
"Wha, what're you talking about? That was years ago."
She... No, the former transfer student is back in action.
I quickly avert my gaze, but.
"Hey, there's a seat near Mai-chan. Hurry and sit down."
"Huh!?
"EH!?... Oh, th-thank you very much."."
The former transfer student sits down right next to me.
I ponder for a moment, then force a smile and greet her.
"Lo... Long time no see! It's been 2 years, right!?"
"Y-Yep! Long time no see!"
"Both of you, isn't that a bit too much~?"
"N-No! Who'sdoing that Mai-san!?"
No, aren't they perfectly in sync?
I see. Come to think of it, if she hadn't gone back to Ukraine.
"Ilye... cough. So, did the former transfer student go to the same middle school as Mai?"
"Not just the school. They've been in the same class all along. They're like best buddies~"
"So, it's not true!? Totally not true~!"
"But after school, they often went to each other's houses..."
Wait, they did that!?
I had no idea at all.
What's going on? I feel a slight sense of alienation. No no, that can't be.
I watch Mai and Ilyena, who are being teased by those around them—.
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