Chapter 3.5: Tachibana Hikari

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While Tachibana Hikari lounges in bed, fiddling with her tablet, her mother knocks and enters.

“What are you doing?”

“Looking at sandals.”

Hikari’s browsing a major fashion site’s online store.

“Didn’t you just buy some the other day?”

“I want ones with a slightly lower heel.”

“That’s unusual. You always wear high heels. Feeling like keeping it low-key?”

“A little, yeah.”

“It’s fine if you want to buy them. You don’t usually splurge.”

“Actually, I kinda do.”

Hikari scratches her head sheepishly and shows her tablet screen. It displays her e-book purchase history, with several bulk buys of shoujo manga series.

“I thought you weren’t into that stuff, Hikari.”

“I’ve been getting curious lately.”

“You’re a bit behind compared to other kids your age, huh?”

Hikari’s mother laughs, amused.

“That’s okay. Thanks to Shun-kun’s parents, the company’s doing well. You don’t need to worry about money. You’re still a kid, so you can indulge a little.”

“Mom, I’m not a kid anymore.”

Hikari says.

“I’ve started understanding people’s feelings. Like, love and stuff.”

“Sure, sure, from reading shoujo manga.”

Her mother replies.

“How’s it going with Shun-kun?”

“I reply to his messages, and we eat together once a month.”

That aside, Hikari furrows her brow, making a displeased face, and says.

“Shun-kun’s relative at school is such a pain.”

“Why’s that?”

“He acts like my boyfriend. Everyone thinks he’s my boyfriend.”

“He’s just keeping the weirdos away.”

“I don’t need that.”

“Still, be nice to him. He’s Shun-kun’s relative.”

“I know, but.”

“We’re planning to have dinner with his parents soon. You should come.”

“I’m busy with club.”

“Please do.”

With that, Hikari’s mother leaves the room.

At the same time, her phone vibrates. It’s the daily, dutiful message from Shun-kun.

Hikari tosses her phone aside without opening it.

Then, flopping onto the bed, she grabs a receipt from the side table.

It’s from the café at the station building, when Kirishima paid for everyone. Since Kirishima said he didn’t need it, Tachibana took it home. The date from that day is printed on it.

“This tea part, I didn’t need that.”

She presses her face into the pillow.

“President.”

Muttering, she kicks her legs and mutters again.

“President, President, President, President, President, President, President, President, President, President, President, President, President, President.”

After a while, Hikari lifts her face.

“I’m gonna suffocate.”