"You are so close with Megumi, Masa."
"Are you jealous, Taki?"
When the class was about to start, Megumi and Eriri returned to their seats, but Taki Midori, who sat by his side, started to talk with him.
"It's not about being jealous or not, but... isn't it inappropriate?"
Taki thought that the closeness between Megumi, Eriri, and Masa was quite inappropriate, especially when they held each other's hands as they walked together.
"What do you mean?"
"I mean... holding hands like that?"
"Isn't it normal?" Masa's expression didn't change as he said, "Haven't you held the hand of the opposite gender in the past?"
"That was when I was a child, when no one understood the difference between the opposite gender."
"So, as we have understood the difference between the opposite gender, it isn't okay to hold each other's hands?"
"...I think so." Taki showed a moment of hesitation, then said, "I think that... I won't let a person of the opposite gender hold my hand."
"Including your father?"
"That's different, right?"
After all, her father was her family, but then again, it wasn't like her father would hold her hand carelessly; instead, probably, her father only held her hand when the street was crowded, so they wouldn't part away, or when they walked past the road.
Or, probably, when she was walking toward her husband during the wedding ceremony, too, which somehow made Taki look at Masa subconsciously.
"Are you okay? Your face is red, Taki-san."
"...I am fine."
"Still, what if it's me? If I hold your hand, do you think you are okay with it?"
"Well..." Taki was stunned as she looked at Masa, who was asking her that question. Her reddened face became even redder and also grew hotter.
"I mean, if you have a hard time walking or walking in a crowded place, you might fall. Do you think it is inappropriate for us to hold hands?"
"That's..."
"It's the same thing we've done before." Masa then looked at Taki with a smile and said, "Probably because you have dirty thoughts, you think it is inappropriate.
"So, our student president council is such a pervert~!"
His teasing smile was probably something that Taki would never forget, but even so, she was sure that her face was scorching hot!
"I was just kidding, but don't say that again, Taki. I am still thinking of you as my friend, so let me say that to determine what is normal and not for others based on your standard, that's not good, right?"
"I-I am sorry."
When she heard those words, Taki realized how ugly she was. Was she someone who judged others by her standards? If the others didn't understand her, would she tell them that it was bad?
How low had she become?
Yet, was she always like this?
No, if she were, then she would talk about many bad things to those students, who made many weird clubs or societies, such as an aquarium club. Yet, when facing those students with weird interests, she never said anything and tried to understand them, but why was it different with Masa?
Even though Masa was just holding Megumi's hand with Eriri by their side, what was wrong with it?
Wasn't it just to show how good their relationship was?
However, why did she feel so disrupted that she couldn't control herself and talk in an unpleasant manner to him?
Why did she feel uncomfortable when she thought of Megumi holding Masa's hand?
Still, Masa glanced at Taki, who lowered her head with a sigh, thinking that he had made her depressed, yet frankly, he didn't like others to point out what was right and wrong to him, as the concept of right and wrong was different from others.
Well, considering the majority of the time he dated Megumi along with Eriri, it was wrong, as people would say that he was two-timing.
Yet, if the result was happiness for all of them, was his decision wrong?
However, with this, he could imagine that his relationship with Taki might become distant after he said those words. Still, he didn't think that he was wrong, and he also wasn't going to take the initiative to become closer to Taki, especially after he said that. If someone had to fix their relationship and take the initiative, it had to be Taki, yet while he thought so, he also felt that his thoughts were quite childish.
After all, if one wanted to make up with others, it wasn't about whether one was wrong or right; it was all about whether one wanted to or not.
Masa didn't want his relationship with Taki to become distant and for Taki to become a stranger once again, so he said, "It's fine. While it is normal for us, it might be different from all of us in your eyes, and the others might see the same way, so thank you for your reminder."
"No, no. You are right. I shouldn't have judged you based on my standard of what is close or not. Your relationship with Megumi is close, but..."
"But..."
"I-I might just get jealous..."
Taki's voice was low as she explained why she had sounded so unpleasant previously. Thinking of Megumi, who was about the same status as her, could become so close with Eriri and Masa happily, she couldn't help but wonder how she could be in Megumi's place.
Whether it was a face, a grade, or many other things, Megumi and Taki were quite similar.
If Megumi took the initiative to become the student council president, then she would become Taki.
If Taki didn't do anything and just went with the flow, she would become like Megumi.
The two were quite similar, except for their hairstyle.
"I won't do it again, but when I do, please remind me."
"This is what I like about you, Taki-san."
"Was it?"
"Yup."
"Well, me too. Thank you for not lashing out at me or giving up trying to talk with me."
If Masa gets annoyed or angry with her, then he stops talking, even if Taki wants to do something. She could do nothing, yet he talked to her, telling her that her worry was normal, which made her understand his kindness.
"You make it sound like a big deal. Like you, who tries to make up with me, I also want to make up with you."
This should probably be a time for him to hold her hand, telling her whether she wanted to try it, but as the class started and many people, including Eriri and Megumi, stared in their direction, Masa stopped himself from saying so.
"The class is starting."
"Yes."
Yet, even so, when Masa prepared for the start of the class, Taki stared at his hand, wondering how it felt to be held by him. Was it good?
Still, while everything was smooth after all of that, when the break came, Masa thought to quickly go to the 2D Research Club, and naturally, Megumi and Eriri followed him.
"What did you talk about with Taki, Masa?"
"Nothing."
"Really?"
Just when Eriri wanted to press him further, blushing and breathing heavily, which caused Megumi to sigh helplessly, the door of the club was opened roughly.
"S-Senpai, I HAVE FINISHED!"
Like a zombie, Ririsa came to the clubroom with a similar disgusting expression.
"...."