CotE: Year 2 Volume 5 Translation

Chapter 2- Part 2

By Kei's bold action, our relationship, which few people knew about until now, became known to the whole class. It will probably spread to the entire school year by the end of the day. 

 Well, I'm sceptical about how many students would be interested in the relationship between me and Kei. The pair of Ike and Shinohara, who became a couple during the summer vacation, didn't make as much noise as I expected in terms of buzz. Rather, it was a combination that had been expected.

 Although some of the boys were defensive and honestly jealous of some of their friends, the fact that they were blessed by so many made no difference, and they are slowly but surely developing a relationship as lovers. The frequency of seeing them together, going home together, going on dates together, etc., was rapidly increasing. And the scenes that were fresh at first will someday become commonplace.

 I'm sure it's the same for me and Kei, but we'll probably be making more noise than the IkeShinohara pair for a long time. I'm not sure how many of the students could have predicted our relationship.

 Anyway, the first day after school lunch arrives and the whole class knows about the relationship.

 As they've known since the afternoon class, one girl has been around since noon but She never turned her eyes to me once since lunch.

 "Hey, Kiyopon, you wanna come home with me?" 

Haruka, a good friend and mentor of Airi, comes up to me and calls out. I was expecting Kei to suggest that we go home together after school, but when I looked at her, I saw that she was still surrounded by girls asking her questions.

 "Are you sure?"

 With Haruka, I was sure she would do something to help or watch over Airi. Airi silently and quietly prepares to leave.

 "I know, but there's nothing I can say to her now. Well? If there is a reason why Kiyopon can't go home alone with me, that's a different story."

As she said this, Haruka's expression hardened for a moment. 

"All right."

 Now that our relationship has become more open, the opportunities to get together with the Ayanokoji group will inevitably decrease. Then the two of us grabbed our bags and headed for the rear exit to the front door. 

On the way, Haruka walked along without saying a word. I stole glimpses of her from time to time, and she looked angry, sad, or something like that.

 As I put on my shoes and leave the school, she finally looks at me. 

"It's no use asking in a roundabout way, so I'm going to ask you straight out, is it true that you and Karuizawa-san started dating? I still can't believe it." 

"As you saw, it's true."

 When I told her that, Haruka's lips twitched and then she quickly nodded.

 "... I'm sorry. But I was so shocked. It's not that I don't care who Kiyopon goes out with, it's just that I didn't expect it to be Karuizawa-san, of all people. You don't think?" 

Kei Karuizawa's reputation from the other side is not very high. Most of them probably have the impression that she was a selfish woman who got together with the popular Yosuke too early and dumped him for her own reasons. 

"So this is what you were talking about in the pool before, getting a little mental shock. You know, it's not a little shock at all, right? She was trying her best to hold it together in the classroom, but she was crying all through lunch break."