Apparently the Gal who Bullies me Likes me

Chapter 7.5

Together (Kyoko Tachibana's POV)

I’m waiting for the train on the platform.

It is raining today.

Everyone has an umbrella in their hand.

Each umbrella has its own personality.  

I don't really hate the rain as it changes the atmosphere of the city and I love the moist atmosphere that it creates.

The train is now coming into the platform.

The windows are fogged up due to the temperature difference between the inside and outside of the train.

It is raining and cold outside, but inside the train it’s warm because of the people riding.

I boarded the train.

I always try to stay on the opposite side of the train, near the window.

That is my fixed position.

But today, there was a passenger in my place.

It was Kato.

He was staring out the window and I ran to him without thinking.

“Hey, heeeeey”

I'm excited about this sudden encounter.

“Why are you here? Is your bicycle broken?" I asked him that without greeting him first.

“Oh, no, I just take the train when it’s raining."

“I see!"

I got excited by learning new things about Kato.

"Oh, good morning!

"Good morning."

We both laughed at the late greeting.

We are walking together down a straight road to school.

“So, do you always take the train when it's raining?”  

“That’s right”

I’m pretending to be calm but the truth is I’m really nervous.

“Why don't you just take the train every day?”

I wonder if Kato can come and go to school with me if he commutes by train too.

And if he does it will be our exclusive time.

“Hmmm”

“It will be easier for you if you do that.”

I’m saying everything I can to convince Kato to take the train.

“Maybe I would do that.”

Yes!

“Yeah, I'm sure taking the train is a lot better than riding your bicycle to school!"

This is going to work.

Kato seems to be a pushover.

“I'll think about it.”

Yes, his response to me is a positive one.

We arrived at the classroom, but since our seats are next to each other, we both went straight to our seats.

Since our seats are next to each other, we can continue talking.

I am really glad that Kato and I are seated next to each other.

If we had not been sitting next to each other, we wouldn’t have the chance to become this close.

“It will be the examination period soon”

I'm fine even if I don't study, but Kato would be in trouble if he doesn't study.

I tutored him the other day for the Math quiz, but I'd like to have another study session in the classroom with just the two of us.

“Is it that time of the year already?"

Kato looks surprised as if he had only remembered it.

"Oh, by the way, I think that there might be change in the seating arrangement. next time."

Wait, we are changing our seating arrangement? That’s a lie, right?

If we change sits Kato and I won’t be sitting next to each other anymore and we can’t have conversations like what we are doing right now.

“I see, but that doesn't mean it's decided yet, does it?"

“I just heard a guy in my class talking about it.”

“I see..."

Because of the shocked I can’t say anything.

It’s just too sad thinking that the time Kato and I sitting together will end in just a few days.

I wish I could have talked to him more about so many things.

The bell for the start of the class rang, interrupting my thoughts.

After school, Kato went straight to his club activities.

Since he has been designated as my exclusive errand boy, he can now go to his club activities after school.

But sometimes he also comes to the gym as Rina and the others would get suspicious if Kato didn't show his face even for just a moment.

But since Kato started going to his club activities, we now have less chance to talk to each other.

And if we have to switch seats, we might not have the time to talk to each other anymore.

I don't like that.

I didn't leave the school yet and I'm just standing at the entrance for quite some time now.

I thought that maybe if Kato sees me, he would call out and talk to me.

And it seems my thoughts were conveyed to him.

“What are you still doing here?”

I heard the voice I was longing for.

“I'm taking shelter from the rain. “

He is mumbling with deliberate hand gestures as well.

“Where's your umbrella?"

“It’s missing.”

Of course, It's a lie as I left it in the classroom on purpose.

I glance at Kato.

…You're not going to leave me behind, right?

“Ah, can someone share their umbrella with me?”

I was totally talking to Kato, but I pretended that I’m just talking to myself.

"If you want, I can share my umbrella with you?"

"Seriously! Thank you."

I’m really glad he was deceived by that.

We are heading for the station, under one umbrella.

I can't stop my heart from pounding, even though I initiated the whole thing.

Kato is pulling his umbrella towards me and matching his walking speed with mine.

He’s so nice.

"Aren't you getting wet?”

“Oh, no I'm fine."

"..."

“..."

I don't know what to say because of the excitement in my chest.

I could talk as much as I wanted in the classroom but it seems that this unusual environment is blocking my mouth.

It's no good if this continues it will be a waste as it's an opportunity for us to talk.

“What exactly are you doing in the art club?”

'Well, I'm usually trying to improve my skills by drawing or painting something.”

“Hmmm... I wonder if I can join your club."

If I join the art club, I might have more opportunities to talk to Kato.

"Really?"

“I can’t?”
 
“No, it’s probably fine"

“But have you ever done any drawings or sketches before?”

“I don't.”

It’s kind of frustrating as I think Kato is trying to prevent me to join their club.

“Don’t worry I'll ask the club president next time."
 
After a few minutes we arrived at the station, the train was just arriving at the platform, so we both jumped on it.

We both stand near the door, like we did this morning.

“So, it is true that there will be a change of the seating plan.” Kato said.

The teacher said so in today's homeroom.

“Yeah, so it seems….”

"I wonder if I will be separated from Tachibana."

Those words hit me hard.

Why did you say that?

I look down and falls silent.

“Well, I'm sure we'll have more opportunities to talk in the future."

I can’t even hear what Kato was saying.

The shock was so great that it’s hard to recover from it.

The station where Kato was getting off was approaching.

An announcement is made and the doors open.

"Well, I'll see you tomorrow.”

As quickly as I could, I grabbed the sleeve of Kato's uniform.

“?”

Kato looks confused and is in trouble but I don’t care about that.
“Oh, hey, what's going on?”

The bell then rings and the door closes.

Kato is looking at me with concern on his eyes.

I then gathered my courage and opened my mouth.

“Hey, let's go out somewhere together.”