In order to observe Kiyokawa, I first need to get her to stop monitoring me.
So as soon as I wake up, I send a chat to Kiyokawa.
[I'm not going to have a talk to Rinka. So don't tail me today.] (Kazuto)
A few minutes later, I get a reply from Kiyokawa.
[I couldn't believe it. Rejected.] (Ayane)
[Please. I just want to have an easy day without being monitored sometimes. If I talk to Rinka, then I'll take responsibility and shave my head.] (Kazuto)
[I understand. It was only just for today, okay? I'd start monitoring you again tomorrow.] (Ayane)
.......
An so, I succeeded in escaping Kiyokawa's surveillance for today.
In hindsight, I wonder why I'm being so cautious to a younger one.
Should I be more dignified?
But I'm hesitant to act like a pompous a** to a popular idol.
No, even if the person isn't a popular idol, just the fact that the person is a girl makes me feel self-conscious. I'm really a chicken.
"Kiyokawa's classroom is...... right this way, isn't it?" (Kazuto)
It's lunch break. I'm visiting the first-year floor after Saito had told me which classroom Kiyokawa belonged to.
I'm filled with nostalgia somehow. Is it my imagination, or do I feel like an adult when I see first-year students passing through the hallways?...... It's probably just my imagination. I'm a nerd gamer, after all.
I walk down the hallway, while thinking self-deprecating thoughts.
Kiyokawa's classroom is the third class of the first year. When I arrive, I take a peek inside the classroom.
So far I haven't taken lunch, and I haven't taken any detours to make the way here.
If Kiyokawa has something to do and is planning to go somewhere I'll know it, so she must be in the classroom right now.
My prediction is hitting the nail on the head, and Kiyokawa is sitting in the middle of the classroom.
She's sitting in a seat near the center of the classroom with a straight back and a beautiful posture. Even though she's just sitting there, she's full of grace.
Some of the remaining students in the classroom look at her with a sparkling mixture of respect and admiration.
While some of the male students who seem to be fans of Kiyokawa, are secretly taking pictures of Kiyokawa's back with their phones from the back of the classroom. ......It's voyeurism, isn't it?
"............!" (Kazuto)
There's a tense atmosphere hanging in the classroom. And then, Kiyokawa stands up.
With just that, the atmosphere in the classroom completely changes.
She takes out a small lunch box wrapped in a white cloth from her bag, unconcerned about the attention she's drawing. Holding the lunch in her hands, she slowly walks towards the doorway of the classroom.
This is bad.
I move away from the classroom and hide myself in a nearby corner, sneaking a glance down the hallway.
Kiyokawa has just left the classroom and is walking down the hallway with her back to me.
I'm lucky to get a good position to observe.
But I'm witnessing for a surprising sight not long after.
"It's Kiyokawa-san......." "She looks beautiful today~" "Look at those fingertips and legs of hers. Really beautiful, aren't those." "Moreover the way she walks, it is so elegant~" "She must have grown up in a really rich family."
She is the envy of not only boys but also girls. She is very popular.
And Kiyokawa is smiling softly at them.
It's no wonder she's so popular. If I'm in a different position, I'll have become a fan of Kiyokawa.
The most amazing thing is that the other students moved to the side of the hallway to give way to Kiyokawa, who was walking the hallway down.
It's as if the commoners are bowing down to a noble young lady who's visiting the city.
An image of a young lady who has the overwhelming support of the commoners.
Neither rebellion nor riot is likely to occur.
"...... it's magnificent." (Kazuto)
My true feelings leak out. They reacted completely differently compared to Rinka and Kurumizaka-san.
In the case of Rinka, her cool and serious personality tends to make other students keep their distance.
While in the case of Kurumizaka-san, she is cheerful, friendly, and enjoys spending time with other students.
Whereas Kiyokawa, however, is neither of these.
She is extremely popular with the people around her, but she is kept at a distance.
Even though she is not the type of person that people can get close to, she is still a high-class lady that people admire.
That's Kiyokawa Ayane, the neat and tidy young lady.
"I wonder where's she going?" (Kazuto)
I wonder where she'll go with her lunch now that she's no longer being watched.
Maybe she has lunch plans with one of another class or one of the upperclassmen.
Kiyokawa seems to have a lot of older friends.
I continue to follow Kiyokawa down the hallway.
I'm tailing her and finally, I'm brought to the next school building. This is the school building where the special classrooms are located. And there's no one around.
"Could it be......?"
A boy? Might Kiyokawa actually have a guy that she's been going out, and they're going to have rendezvous?
If not, there's no reason for her to come to such a deserted place.
It doesn't even look like she's going to meet up with her friends, either.
"......" (Kazuto)
For some reason, Kiyokawa is looking around to check the area.
When she's sure that no one's around, she enters the nearby women's lavatory.
"Did she stop there to use the lavatory?" (Kazuto)
Does she have a sudden urge? I wonder where Kiyokawa's original destination is.
Well, she'll be sure out of the lavatory soon.
Taking it easy, I hide myself in the corner and wait with my back against the wall.
Five minutes later.
"Still not yet?" (Kazuto)
Kiyokawa still hasn't come out of the women's lavatory yet.
But, there's a fact that women are known to take a long time to use that room, so I guess that's how it is.
I decide to wait a little longer.
Another ten minutes later.
"......still hasn't come out yet." (Kazuto)
As I thought, isn't that indeed too long?
Maybe there's an incident inside there.
I'm getting a little worried.
However, there's no way I can go in and check.
So I decided to wait a little longer.
Another ten minutes later.
Finally, Kiyokawa comes out of the women's lavatory.
On the edge of her mouth, there's a grain of rice――――