My Sun and Your Star (GL) - Episode 6

I was so tired today.

I was supposed to have cram school from 6 PM, but this was the first time I’d skipped since starting high school. I went back to the house I normally don’t want to return to, the house where someone is always there but no one ever welcomes me, and shut myself in my room right away.

The anger I’d felt earlier had vanished somewhere, leaving only a restless, unsettled feeling in my chest.

I had tried to throw everything away to feel free, was suddenly stopped, got yelled at, got angry back, cried, and was given a handkerchief.

My emotions were a tangled mess.

I didn’t even know why I had been crying, and I’d suddenly lost touch with my own feelings. More than anything, I didn’t understand this handkerchief.

This is the one I used to have. It’s not a coincidence that Endo-san had the same one.

This is a one-of-a-kind handkerchief that my older sister handmade for me when I was little.

Sometime ago, I thought I’d lost it. I’m not attached to material things, and it came with unpleasant memories of being from my sister, so I hadn’t even bothered to look for it.

But I can’t help wondering why Endo-san had it.

The handkerchief I placed by my bedside just sits there.

I should stop thinking too deeply about it.

Too much happened today, and I’m tired, so I’ll stop thinking about it.

I’ll return the handkerchief tomorrow.

I’m sure this handkerchief is mine, but since she asked for it back, I have to return it.

“I don’t wanna go to school tomorrow…”

But being in this suffocating house is even more painful. Maybe because I was tired, I fell asleep while thinking such thoughts.

Perhaps because I went to bed early last night, my body felt very light. I woke up feeling good too. My mood was terrible, but I went to school as usual and met Mai. She greeted me, looking very sleepy.

“Mornin’.”
“Morning. Did you stay up late?”
“Got too into a game yesterday and before I knew it, it was 3 AM.”
“Serves you right.”
“That’s cold, first thing in the morning.”
“It’s normal.”

Maybe because of that silly conversation, I started feeling like my usual self again.

Mai seems unserious, but she’s in the basketball club and apparently practices pretty seriously. I’ve heard she’s the type who changes when she steps onto the court. I remembered her saying before that she’s in the same club as Endo-san, so I asked her.

“Mai, you’re in the same club as Endo-san, right?”
“Yeah? What’s up?”

This was a good opportunity, so I decided to ask Mai to return this handkerchief for me. I really didn’t want to see Endo-san right now.

Part of me wanted to ask why she had it, but I also felt creeped out that she’d had it, so I decided to just drop the matter.

I need to avoid getting involved with popular, outgoing types like her, or I might get dragged into other problems too.

I spoke to Mai when there was a break in the conversation.

“You have club today, right? Can you give this back to Endo-san for me?”
“What’s this?”
“A handkerchief.”
“Well, I can see that. Why do you have Hina’s handkerchief, Zora? Were you two close?”

Even though I thought, ‘It’s mine,’ I hadn’t expected that question and panicked a little, but decided to brush it off.

“She dropped it yesterday. Can you give it to her?”
“You should give it to her yourself.”

I grabbed Mai’s favorite bun hairstyle and squished it a little. “Just give it to her,” I said, pushing it into her hand a bit forcefully.

Mai was complaining, “My bun!” but it seemed she’d agree to my request, so I let go of her bun.

Anyway, today’s mission was accomplished.
Now I should be able to focus in class.

It was sunny again today.

Birds were flying in the distance.

I kinda hated this perfectly clear blue sky.
Like a bird that has lost its wings, my heart had forgotten how to fly sometime ago.

I don’t have cram school today, so I’m supposed to study at the library.

I go to cram school three times a week. On the other days, I don’t want to be home, so my routine is to study at a library near my house that’s open until 10 PM.

“Phew…”

I’d been concentrating for quite a while. Looking at the clock, I saw it was past 8 PM.

“Maybe I’ll go home after a little more work.”

Just as I muttered that, someone came and sat down right in front of me. The library had several round tables, so it wasn’t strange for someone to sit opposite me. But I gasped when I saw who it was.

“Good evening. I got this from Mai, but why didn’t you return it to me directly?”

I just wanted to hand it over and be done with it, without any further involvement. I never expected her to come here.

“Sorry for not returning it directly. I thought asking Mai would be less bothersome for you. If you want some thanks or something, I can buy you something nearby.”

Why is Endo-san here? Mai must have told her. I thought to myself that I’d have to make Mai pay a little for this tomorrow.

“Thanks, huh? Well then, how about you teach me until the midterm exams?”
“Huh?”
“You’re the one who said you’d show thanks, right?”

Endo-san was looking at me with a happy, smiling face. I couldn’t understand at all how we got to this point.

“Well, yeah, but normally people would think of snacks or something, right?”

“I want to get along with you, Takizawa-san, and I thought this would be a good chance. Takizawa-san, you’re the top student in our grade, right? If I could get taught by someone like that, I might even become second in the grade! Just kidding. Takizawa-san, your first name is Zora, right? Zora? Can I call you Zora?”

I thought again, I really don’t like this type of person. The type who scatters charm around without a care for your opinion, barging rudely into your personal space.

“I don’t particularly want to get along, and I don’t want someone who isn’t even a friend calling me by my first name so familiarly.”

My tone had become quite cold. But it was Endo-san’s fault. Whenever I talk to Endo-san, my rhythm gets thrown off. I treated her coldly, hoping she would go away.

“Okay then, Takizawa it is. I’m Endo Hina. You can just call me Hina.”

Even though I was being cold, Endo-san didn’t drop her usual fabricated smile as she said this. The situation made it hard to refuse, and even if I did, she gave off the impression that she wouldn’t give up easily, so I thought I might just have to be the one to yield.

I let out a big sigh, loud enough for her to hear, and reluctantly agreed. “Fine. Until the midterm exams. I can teach you on the days I don’t have cram school.”

“Yay!”

Endo-san raised her voice in the quiet library. “Be quiet!” I said, a bit too loudly myself.
“Your voice was louder, Takizawa,” she pouted and complained.

I could foresee a difficult road ahead. Why did things turn out like this? Lately, nothing but strange things keep happening. I just want to live in peace…

And so, my days of studying with Endo Hina, the most beautiful and popular girl in our grade, began.