Ah, that's cute~

They showed it on TV.

That celebrity had it. It's really hard to get.

No way.

But next to the post office,

You can find it in that odds and ends store.

Eh~

Mitaka

Mitaka, you think this is cute too right?

What?

This, this!

Ah, I've seen that before.

Hey~ Let's all go buy different colored ones~!

By the way, what should we do about the groups for the school trip?

The 4 of us should be fine.

What should we do if it's random or by name?

Ehhh! That'd be the worst!

They wouldn't actually force boys and girls to be mixed together?

Actually, it seems like if there are any leftover people, it'll be done by lottery.

Leftover people?

Ah.

Eh, if that happens, isn't it ok if we let them join our group?

It's not like the number of people is set.

Is having 5 or 6 people bad?

Mitaka's weird~

R... Really?

Of course. Leftover people will join with fellow leftover people, so we don't need to invite them.

I, I see.

Hey, how much are you bringing?

It said to bring up to 20,000 (yen).

Isn't that too little?

I need 40,000.

But 20,000 will be enough.

For souvenirs and such.

How much are you going to buy!?

In the 2nd half of my 2nd year, I was preparing for the school trip.

Once we became 3rd years, the classes would be changed.

We would be "students preparing for entrance exams".

So I felt like now was the only time that I could play around with my friends like this.

Wearing trendy things.

And buying these matching things.

I also had a guy I liked.

Hazama-kun was a little plain, and didn't talk that much, and his face hung down a bit...... looked really great.

But when I considered that he probably didn't think much of me,

I couldn't discuss this with my friends.

I thought that it'd nice if we could still be in the same class when we become 3rd years, but...

Uh.

Ah.

Sorry.

I was spacing out.

There weren't any activities or classes that I hated.

I didn't even have any worrysome worries.

N.. no, I also wasn't looking in front of me. Sorry.

Mitaka!

They said they're deciding on groups!

They said there's no real limit on the number of people!

Ah, I'm going right now.

Yesterday, and today, and tomorrow, and the next day,

Like flipping over the same page of a thin diary, these days would continue.

That's what I thought.

The Classmate Who Broke Alone First Part

Did you bring your dictionary?

I did.

Eh?

Mitaka, did you forget? The teacher told us yesterday that we would use it for our next modern Japanese class.

Ah... That's right. I forgot.

I'm going to the library to borrow one.

Hurry~

The teacher's going to come~

It probably would have been ok to look at the person sitting next to me, but...

But the one next to me

Is Hazama-kun.

I can't say I forgot mine, so let me see yours.

If I could, I would have talked to him normally a long time ago.

Ah~... It would be nice if I'm in the same group as Hazama-kun for the school trip...

But that would be weird... Having boys and girls in the same group...

Ah.

W

...W

Wakaba...

...San.

Could it be that you forgot your dictionary?

Well.

Me too, me too.

I see.

I wonder if I can just borrow this as I please.

You actually have to write it on this card.

But when you're using it for a class, it's ok to just take it with you.

If you bring it home with you, then you have to write it.

But if it's dictionary, and it's only used for one hour, and there are lots of them,

you don't have to.

Wakaba-san, you're quite knowledgeable.

It's because I borrow lots of them.

After school and such.

Is that so. I always go home right away.

I have to read books too.

That was the first time that I had a real conversation with Wakaba.

Even though we had been in the same class since 1st year.

I thought that she was a kind of person who speaks confidentely with calm voice.

She was a little curt, though.

By the way, Mitaka-san,

Do you like Hazama-kun?

You were always looking at him.

In the hallway in front of the classroom.

I wasn't!

No, you were.

It's not like I'm going to tell anyone.

I don't have any friends to tell.

...Uh.

R, Rather than like,

He's just on my mind a bit!

...Eh, was I really looking at him like that?

Did they notice? Did anyone else notice?

I don't know, but... Is it a bad thing if they noticed?

It is.

Especially if H... Hazama-kun noticed.

Why? Would he hate you if he found out?

No... It would just be an annoyance, right, to Hazama-kun...

Why? I don't think I would suddenly hate

Someone who told me that they love me...

You think the same, right?

Saying "it might be an annoyance" without confirming is much more of an annoyance.

It was like I was suddenly scolded, shocked and left behind.

But strangely, I understood.

T, Thank you.

I hadn't discussed this with anyone.

I was a little uneasy.

Umm, so, how should I put it...

You telling me that,

Makes me happy.

I thought you would be angry.

W, Why would I be angry...?

I speak coldly.

So I usually make the other person mad.

W, Was that... cold? Yeah...

Ah, but there was only one thing... That made me sad.

Before you were done talking, you turned your back towards me.

So I didn't know what expression you were making.

When I can't see the face of the person I'm talking to,

I feel a little uneasy.

I see. I'll remember that.

With blunt words and an unsociable attitude, it was like she was isolated from the class.

After the library, I didn't talk to her much.

I was with my usual group of girls.

She was by herself, reading a book or listening to music.

In February, we had our final seat change of the 2nd year.

Did everyone draw one?

No exchanging.

Ah, am I going to be separated from Hazama-kun...

Goodbye, Hazama-kun...

I'm so scared, I can't look at it.

Mitaka, what number are you?

Whoa, I'm in the foremost.

What's Wakaba-san doing?

Is she not moving chairs?

Mitaka, what's wrong?

Hey, Wakaba's looking over here.

No, she's staring. Scary!

Mitaka? Hey.

What are you doing?

Nothing.

Here's some candy.

This is your ticket.

I don't want it. Give me yours.

Eh? That's ok, but...

Lucky, it's next to the window.

But they said we can't exchange...

Mitaka-

Hurry up and move your chair.

Ah! Ok...

Hold on.

Mitaka-san, we're next to each other again.

Sorry, right?

No, I'm the one who should be saying that.

I was happy that I was sitting next to Hazama-kun again too,

But what made me feel more happy than anything

Was that she was "helping" me.

Mitaka, what did Wakaba say to you earlier?

Earlier?

When we were changing seats!

N, nothing?

Wakaba's...

I never know what she's thinking.

Even when you talk to her, she just says ah or I see and seems really unhappy!

She'd definitely the type that can't get a boyfriend or friends.

There's no cooperating with her.

That's...

I didn't say that.

I couldn't say that.

Ah, I know!

She's someone with a self-appeal that's different from people?

Surely, in everyone else's eyes, I'm equally guilty.

2 weeks before the school trip,

One day, I accidentally got to school too early.

Hah... Like I thought, no one is here.

I'm the first to arrive.

What should I do. I'm hungry.

I wonder if I should go to a convenience store.

Oh.

Good morning.

You're early.

G, Good morning...! Wakaba-san, you're early too.

I'm always here around this time.

I see! I mistakenly set the alarm early...

...It doesn't bother me.

Eh?

Mitaka-san's group... How they don't think much of me.

I know that I'm left out of groups.

I know that I stand out in a bad way.

But,

It doesn't really

Bother me.

Ah...

Does she think I joined in badmouthing her?

I didn't. But I didn't.

I didn't? What didn't I do?

From her point of view, aren't I the same?

Because I didn't stop them.

Ah, but you didn't join in.

I know that.

I...

Ah...

That's enough.

This conversation is over.

N, No... I'm sorry...

Wakaba-san, I, umm,

Ah...

It's true, I didn't say that... But...

I, I didn't stop them...

I knew... that they were saying it

So that everyone could hear and were enjoying it...!

That's why... Next time, I'll definitely... sto...

You absolutely shouldn't do that.

Or next time, they'll be badmouthing you.

You don't want that, do you?

In your situation, you should join in.

But... That would h, hurt you...

I doesn't hurt. I'm blunt.

I'm bad at getting along with others.

I'm the type that can't cry or get angry easily.

...Maybe that's why girls avoid me.

Well... It can't be helped. It's my responsibility.

Why do you say such things?

Making deep friendships or joining a group...

I'm not suited for those things.

Even though I'm a girl. I'm weird.

...Hah.

I, Isn't that just a difference between people?

Then, I don't think

How you might be bad with groups

Is weird at all!

I think... Those things... Are "a difference between people" too.

Hah...

Mitaka-san, you're terrible at protecting people.

Yeah... But, I see.

...Then both of us are weird.

This is

The end.

I, I told you to face me when talking...

In the classroom with only us,

I thought, just a little, at that time,

That maybe she was smiling.

Hey, who was in charge of rice cooker for cooking class?

What happened?

Well...

There isn't any rice prepared for 5th period cooking class yet.

Which girl was responsible for it?

Eh, wasn't it decided last week?

I don't know.

Ah, I, I asked Wakaba to do it.

I told Wakaba that I was busy!

Hey, Wakaba

Yeterday after school, I asked you to do the cooking class duty instead of me ...there, in the classroom, didn't I!

Eh?

Didn't Wakaba go to the library after school?

I saw her go.

If we check the library entrance logs, we'll know right away...

Ah, I realized at that moment,

that I really hate that her expression of "it can't be helped".

Reply, Wakaba.

It's not your fault at all.

Yeah, sorry.

I forgot.

Hah... What the hell.

Well, whatever. We'll do it.

Actually, if you can't do it, don't accept doing it.

Hey, that's...!

Mitaka, what?

Ah

"You don't have to say anything." "It's ok."

"Don't do anything unnecessary."

It's like I'm being told these things.

Is she worried that I'll be ostracized?

But if this keeps up, then Wakaba-san will...

...Wakaba, I told you before that I wanted you to look people in the eyes when you talk to them.

But you can't stare at them like this.

You can't stare at people who are trying to help you like this.

or I'd not be able to help you.

Umm...

It's nothing...

I'd not know what to do.

Huh, Mitaka

What happened to your strap?

Eh?

Did you take it off...?

Eh, no... I guess it fell off.

Eh, you didn't realize?

Yeah...

Normally you'd realize it.

That's because Mitaka is always spacing out.

Normally,

Maybe I would have let it slide.

But that incident with Wakaba the other day

Got me a little worked up.

It's not like... I bought it because I liked it.

...Huh?

What! Are you trying to say

That we forced you to buy it?

Huh? I don't understand.

Disappointed.

S, Ssssorry, that's not what I...

Ah, whatever.

Well sorry for forcing you to buy it.

I'm being left out.

Why? Is it because I said something unnecessary?

I see...

It was a relationship where with just "one unnecessary word", I could easily be placed out of sync with my comrades.

It's very shallow, very thin, and very fragile.

That's what they call "friends".

They were my friends. Why have I always been with them until now?

...Mitaka-san, it looks like your friends already left.

We're not friends anymore.

Hmmm...

Hey, Wakaba-san, why are you so strong?

Well... Because I'm "weird".

Actually, from my perspective, you look much stronger.

When I'm not having fun, I can't smile.

Because I'm like that, I'm never part of a girls' group.

...But now that I've been cut off from the group, I don't know... What they're going to say about me somewhere.

Is it because you don't want to be badmouthed

That you became friends?

If that's what friendship is,

Then I can't become friends

With you.

I can't talk to you

While thinking that you might hate me.

Also... When talking, shouldn't you

Look the other person in the face?

Wakaba

Immediately says what's on her mind.

That's a weird face

Shut up.

Mitaka-san, now you will be "leftovers" too, huh.

L, Leftovers?

That's what all the girls call me.

How is it... being leftovers?

From that day on

The 2 of us became loners.

It's not that bad.