nebulancer | Kuga Issei’s Speech – “Tsukino Academy Class 1-A: Kuga Issei’s Heart, A Case File“

Kuga Issei’s Speech – “Tsukino Academy Class 1-A: Kuga Issei’s Heart, A Case File“

“Hyakunen Aoharu. Kuga Issei’s Speech: Tsukino Academy Class 1-A: Kuga Issei’s Heart, A Case File.

Tsukino Academy Class 1-A. Seat number... probably 3. Kuga Issei here.

I’m part of the Photography Club. I have an older brother Ichiru, who is in the second year.

In Class 1-A, the male students aside from me are Eichi, Roa, and Gaku. And there’s a girl, Asagiri-san. The five of us learn together.

That incident happened last week. It started from a casual, insignificant phrase uttered by Asagiri-san.

‘Everyone, how did you spend your breaks? I went to an all-girls’ high school, so I can’t really imagine how guys use their time during their breaks.’

I answered, ‘I read books.’ It was true. Most of the time, I’d be in the reading room or library reading a book that I had borrowed.

I would be alone most of the time, which people wouldn’t exactly call a common experience. Because of that, I was looking forward to the others’ responses, which I thought would provide the average image of what an ordinary guy did.

The other three’s replies were similar to each other. In elementary school, they’d go to the school grounds or gym to play dodgeball or tag. Aside from that, they’d do lots of moving around. Junior high or high school was mostly composed of chatting and occasionally playing soccer or basketball. Those were their answers.

The sports that were all the rage varied depending on their respective region, which intrigued me greatly.

‘I see... so that’s how boys ordinarily spent their breaks.’ It was convincing for Asagiri-san and me.

Up until that point, it was peaceful.

However, Eichi followed up after that. ‘And in the shadows of the staircases, there’d be a couple going out, doing couple things. I remember that, when I ran into them, I’d go, ‘Ahh! Sorry!’’

Upon hearing his words, a flash of lightning crackled behind Roa. ‘That...! I wanted to do something like that...!’

...I thought it was a cry from the very depths of his soul.

Since Roa was a member of a idol unit that boasted national popularity, the days he could even go to school in the first place were few and far between.

Even when he did attend, he’d be surrounded by people. On top of that, the agency statement forbid romantic pursuits. According to him, he couldn’t possibly cause issues for them, so he’d never gotten a special someone in school.

However, it seemed he held a deep admiration for the things that typical school couples would do.

For example, going home on the same bike. Taking a detour afterschool on a date in the school uniforms. Chatting at a fast food restaurant. Making a promise between just the two people, during the spare time while on a school trip. Sneaking out with the help of an accomplice and then going on a date. Valentine’s Day... Christmas... the cultural festival.

I did think that his thoughts were a little... off in dreamland, but regardless, I could feel his extreme level of passion for the topic.

‘Oh, now that I think about it...’ I realized. That back when I wasn’t even an idol or anything of the sort, I had no connection to such things at all.

Asagiri-san, from the all-girls’ high school, responded the same. The two of us shared a wry laugh.

Then, Eichi and Gaku looked at me, their expressions going, ‘Are you serious!?’ Like, ‘Were you seriously only engrossed in your books and nothing else?’ They cornered me, asking that.

I, who was seriously only engrossed in my books and nothing else, nodded. At some point, Roa had joined in, and the three of them clutched their heads in agony.

Gaku said to me, ‘There absolutely had to be at least one girl who started up a conversation!’ so I rummaged through my memories.

When I replied, ‘There were times I’d been asked for a number to contact me with, for matters or committee panels.’

This time, even Asagiri-san accompanied the others hounding me. ‘That’s exactly what they’re referring to!’

Was it... really like that?

The four of them nodded in unison.

Now that I think back on it, I get a feeling that the people who asked me for my number... looked as if there was something on their minds...

Of course, I do think that there really were people who actually had business with me. However, several of them... could have possibly, perhaps, quite possibly been that way.

As soon as I thought that, I felt my cheeks warm up in an instant.

I have a feeling that in the past, I used to treat anyone and everyone with a rather impersonal, perfunctory attitude. I felt embarrassed at my past self for being so slow on the uptake and guilty for acting in such a way to those people.

To think, a sparkly topic like that was right there beside me. Though I was very late to realizing, it made my heart... pound terribly.

Unfortunately, it’s a situation that had already long ended by the time we’d gotten to discuss it.

However, inside my heart came the rushing memories of... a blue spring... a youth that fiercely swept the surface.

Unresolved. Remaining unanswered.

That’s what I’ve determined this file to be.

Heh...

Because I was thickheaded.”