COTE : Student Exchange

Chapter 4

Monday night. I decided to leave my room and go to the department store to buy my monthly needs which were running low.

"It's better now, before it's really running out, right?"

Bath soap, perfume and other items that are synonymous with femininity.

After all, I am a young girl who always pays attention to my appearance.

Forgetting the many things that happened in the last few days, I tried to move forward with the remaining strength of my heart without thinking about negative things.

But it seems my efforts were in vain.

"Karuizawa Kei"

Someone called me from 5 meters behind me.

I looked back and all I saw was a man alone.

He looks very familiar, but I don't really remember him.

"Who?"

The person was quickly disappointed because of my ignorance.

After I looked at him in more detail, I remembered.

"Ah, Kiriyama-Senpai, right?"

He is a third year student, Kiriyama-Senpai.

He is a Student Council member who I met at Christmas last year with Kiyotaka.

"It took a long time for you to recognize me, but that's not important. The most important thing now is that you have to come with me. There is someone who wants to meet you."

"So sudden isnt it?"

"You'll know once you see it for yourself. Come on!"

Kiriyama-Senpai turned his back to me and started walking in the opposite direction to my original destination.

Of course I didn't follow him, nor did I have to.

He realized that I still hadn't moved from where I was looking behind me.

"What are you doing?"

"What makes you think I would happily say 'yes, let's do it', like that?"

I 'attack' him a bit to emphasize my position.

It is very important for me to maintain the reputation I have built over the two years here.

It doesn't matter whether he is a classmate or upperclassman. I have to show how tough I am.

"(Sigh). You have to come."

"Why?"

"Because that man grasps your 'weakness'"

I paused to help hear his words. Like a wax statue that looks hard but fragile, I started to panic.

Many wild ideas came into my head about what these people meant by my weaknesses.

But then, a dark light appeared in my brain. Illuminates with darkness. I was lost in confused thoughts.

I have no other choice but to follow this person.

*******

I walked down the aisle of the convenience store which was starting to get quiet because the night was getting late.

Following Kiriyama-Senpai who led the way.

We've been walking for 5 minutes, but we haven't seen any signs that we'll reach our destination.

"Its really far, isn't it?"

"Keep walking"

When I started to realize the road I was on, my mind went to the cafe that Kiyotaka and I usually visited.