The Approximation of the Distance of Two: Prologue: Simply Running Is Too Long; Past: One Day Ago4 min read

2. Past: One day ago

After school, I was in the clubroom reading a pocket book. In the novel, it depicts a young man who, in the future, becomes a big spy. This book has a profusely interesting pattern and is addicting.
The number of humanities club activities is abundant. Every year in Kamiyama High School, some clubs get cancelled, some clubs get made. At the turn of the year, the clubrooms are often changed. However, only the Classics Club’s clubroom did not move to another classroom. It wasn’t of any significant emotional attachment. Like last year, residing on my ‘usual seat’ was the same. I had encamped, as usual, the third seat on the third row from the back, overlooking the sports ground from the window.
I was finishing up a chapter in my novel to the very punctuation when I lifted my head up and my breathing was cut off when I saw the door open. Ibara was scowling at something as she entered that I had a puzzled look on my face.
Ibara Mayaka, who is now a second year student, was a little unusual. Clearly, I’ve known that she’s been in two clubs at the same time. The other is the Manga Club, which I’ve heard she had quit. The herds of new students were thrown out in the hall and from there, second year students were recruiting new members. It seems that again, she hasn’t gotten at least one person from a hundred people.
Recently, it’s come to the point that she has to use a hair clip. Until Satoshi and the others started talking about it, I mostly never noticed it.
There was only me and another person in the room. Until some time ago, there were three people in here.
Ibara said.
“Hey, is something the matter?”
“No…”
I mumbled when Chitanda came.
Chitanda Eru has served as the continuing Classics Club President. Because she did not cut her hair, it seems that it has grown a little.
Ibara looks back down the corridor and with a hushed voice said.
“Just now I was certain that somebody passed by that was going to join but it seems that they’re not.”
“Uhh…”
“Somehow, it was all in my head. Have you been crying?”
Chitanda was speechless. And without answering the question, she slowly said to herself.
“…Is that so?”
I did not know what happened.
One year has passed, from coming here as freshmen, we had become second year students. The Classics Club as well was recruiting new members. There were ups and downs, but, we have secured one member.
Oohinata Tomoko issued a provisional club enrollment notice. After that, she can issue a real club enrollment notice. It seems that Ibara and Chitanda as well have become attached to her, as they laugh and tell stories. However, she seems to be a quite noisy kid that it didn’t seem that she has the same hard-heartedness that I do. I was wondering whether everyone can peacefully make Oohinata permanently join the club. No. Actually, after the provisional club enrollment is the needed procedure for the real club enrollment. I’m hoping that everyone would not forget about that.
I’ve been told that she did not suddenly join the club. While this was happening, I went to reading a number of pages in my book. Did everything just turn back?
Chitanda was facing Ibara’s direction. Her lips were once again quivering. With all her might, she once again repeated an “Is that so…” Ibara wanted to hear the reason why while I, however, swallowed the words I was going to say.
“Chi-chan, are you all right? What’s wrong?”
“As I thought… It’s because of me.”
“What is? If it’s because of that girl, it’s not Chi-chan’s fault. Because of what they said, hah.”
“No. I’m sorry. I’m going home.”
It seems useless to force her to talk that we stopped asking her. Chitanda grabbed her bag and ran out and left the classroom. There was something that only I saw.
Ibara was following Chitanda with her eyes and turned around. Practically expressionless, I asked her with a monotonous voice.
“Hey, did something happen?”
However, I could only shake my head as she gapes at me with her open mouth. (tl/n: Mayaka’s surprised that he’s concerned, just in case it confuses you at first like me)