2-Still in the desert, not in the pot....




When I came home and had dinner, my sister came home too.
What's a junior high school student doing home later than a high school student? Let's scold her for being unhealthy.

You're not in any club, are you?
'Indeed. That's a good point.

The reason I didn't join a club was partly because it was too much trouble, but first of all, the sports club was too serious.
Everyone is working hard every day to become the best in the prefecture. If I joined the club, I would get killed by the heat and the club members would suffer from the trouble. I quit the cultural clubs because they all seem to be boring to be honest. It is not that the cultural clubs are bad. It's just that I couldn't picture myself in them.

So, I joined a wonderful club called the "Homecoming Club," which does not require a membership application and does not cost any money to go on expeditions.
It is as white as it gets. If you know of any club activities that are even whiter than the Homecoming Club, please let me know. Nowadays, we hear about black clubs that have problems with inhumane coercion of intense exercise, corporal punishment, and so on. I am not sure if such a breeding ground for evil has taken root in our school, but if you are in trouble, you can always come to the club at home. We have allies all over the country.
So every time I see such news, I want to invite them to join the club. It's so easy to join the homecoming club. You just have to submit a "withdrawal form" to the advisor like you do when you join a club.

I went back to my room and regretted the trouble I had gotten myself into.
I had accepted the offer out of consideration for Mr. Akakusa, but now that I cooled down and thought about it, I realized that it would be quite a hassle. I would lose my time as a member of the club. It's a complete disaster.

If Arina Hiba were an English speaker, she would probably repeat words with four letters of the alphabet prefixed with "F" in succession. No wonder she's so full of beeps when she appears on TV that she could be mistaken for a new, new language.
So what do we do now?
For now, I went online and searched for 'tongue-in-cheek rehabilitation. I was immediately stumped by all the hits I got from certain message boards. Next, I searched for 'tongue rehabilitation' and found a lot of information, which I read while fighting sleep. I read it while fighting sleep. It was difficult for a person with zero knowledge of psychiatry, so I skimmed through the contents and vaguely deciphered the symptoms of the disease.

I could understand most of the trends. I assume I've figured it out. The point is that the patient must be aware of his condition and willing to improve it. I can't be sure whether she has these two things or not, because it's been less than a day since we've talked. So I'll start tomorrow.



After school comes the time when we have finished the group learning called "class" that leads us to adulthood. If I had been a full-fledged homecoming student, I would have gone home at the speed of light, as long as nothing happened to me. But it is as if I quit the club. You don't need a letter of admission, but you don't need a letter of withdrawal either. That means I can come back anytime I want.
I have to go to the former teacher's office for the Alina rehabilitation project that starts today. The chairs and desks are probably in disarray because they have not been organized yet. So I decided to at least clean the room.

'Comet, you're up early today.
I've got some business to attend to.

Makoto Takane. He belongs to the badminton club and talks to me frequently. I was in the same class with him in the first year of high school, and we were in the same class in the second year. We were all new classmates, so I was with him a lot at first. We still talk a lot.

'Are you in such a tight spot that you have to leave right away?
No, I'm not.
'Yeah. You're going to study?'
'It's a complicated story. I'll tell you sometime.

It's a little harsh to tell him. Because he is the one who once confessed his feelings to Arina Hiba. I don't want to give him flashbacks of bitter memories. So I'll tell you when the time is right.

I went to Arina Hinoh in the next class during lunch break. I told her that we would meet after school in the former teacher's office, which Ms. Akakusa had prepared for us. You'll make me sick. But I kept my grin on my face. I decided to try not to be depressed as a way of dealing with this guy.
It would be easier for me to act like a lunatic when Arina Nippa was talking about something else, and it would also make her feel sorry for me.

I'm now in a dilemma.

Do I buy bread from the kiosk?
Or go clean the former teacher's office.

If I choose the former, I can buy bread.
If I choose the latter, I have to spend more time cleaning.
I stood there with these two choices. Which should I put first? Which is it?

Bread, of course.

I went to the battlefield.
The store was already a battlefield.
I know that. I know that this is a war like the Vietnam War. I'm standing right behind the members of the women's sports club who are reaching out to kick each other off.
Is it just me, or does the sight of a bunch of people make me want to roll them in seaweed? Maybe I'm the only one on the planet. Thinking such a silly thing, I join the girls swaying like anemones and reach out my hand to them. I'm not a pervert. This is legitimate contact.

In the end, I got nothing. All I have left is the price tag. I realized the sadness of having money but not being able to buy goods, and that the customer is not God.
I bought a cup of ice cream and went to the former teacher's office.

When I arrived at the former teacher's office, I was so surprised that my jaw almost dropped off.

What?

Alina Hiba was already there. And she was cleaning.

I didn't expect her to come, so I thought I'd finish cleaning today. I mean, it's unexpected.
'If Dr. Akakusa asks me to do something, I have no choice but to do it. Do it quickly, pervert.


Why am I a pervert? I'm a gentleman.
'I saw you at the concession stand earlier. You were touching them in the middle of the street. Stay away from me, trash.
'Trash is a harsh word. That was a legitimate fight, and I have no ulterior motive. Rest assured.

With a huff, she sat down on the desk with her arms crossed. That's not very polite.
I start cleaning to restore order to the room. I rearranged the room and moved the long desks and chairs to the center of the room to make more space for the time being.
I brushed off Alina, who was reading a book, with my hand, and she gave me a nasty look and threatened me with a 'disgusting' look on her face. But she avoided my threats. I was surprised that he listened to me. I thought she would stay like a rock, but maybe she would understand if I told her.

Alina's reputation in general is that she is pretty when she is quiet. She has long beautiful hair like a stream, shiny black hair, bright eyes and fair skin. She has a beautiful model figure and has all the elements that make her popular among men. Although girls are jealous of her, she has a strong popularity among men.
While sweeping the dust with a broom, I talk to Alina.

'You know...
'Don't make me say it again.
'Yes, I'm sorry. Alina, why did you decide to come here?

Alina put her books in her bag and opened her heavily closed mouth.

'Dr. Akakusa asked me to come, so I had no choice. 'Because you would never have done it alone. Tetrodotoxin is heaven.

That's scary. I wonder if any high school students can tell that it's tetrodotoxin. Well, it doesn't matter, because Alina seems to have a soft spot for Dr. Akakusa. It's surprising that this free-spirited, tongue-tied, and uninhibited person has a weakness.
I'll use that weakness someday, but I personally don't want to cause trouble for Dr. Akakusa. So, the first thing I have to do is to see how far I can change him by myself.

Alina can start by talking to me. Don't worry. I'm not so soft that I'll be overwhelmed and hurt by your tongue. I'm sure Dr. Akakusa chose me because of my personality.
'Why am I talking to you ......'
'Don't be discouraged. I don't hate you. Plus, I won't spread rumors about you.
''What?''
'It means that I won't treat Alina like a tumor like the rest of them. I don't like that kind of thing to begin with.
'Are you smug? If that's the case, you should know your place and choose your words accordingly.'
'Well, let's talk about the rest when you're done cleaning up.

It must be some kind of environment for her to be so hostile. I have no right to interfere. In the end, it's my problem, not something that others should be forced to twist. I kept that in mind.
After all the cleaning is done and the place looks much cleaner, I decide to call it a day. I took a break and started eating the ice cream I had bought earlier. Alina is quietly reading.
As I watched her, I thought to myself, 'She'd be pretty if she'd just shut up. Perfection doesn't exist in this world after all.

What?
'I think it's time we had a conversation.
'No.'
'We can't start the rehabilitation program without a conversation, son. Let's introduce ourselves first.

In fact, the only thing I know about Alina Nippa is her first name and last name and her poisonous tongue. Everyone who tries to touch Arina Hiba is met with her venomous thorns, so the person of Arina Hiba is a mystery.
Needless to say, she is intelligent. She is basically always ranked among the top ten students in her grade.

In other words, we only know the surface. Beneath the skin is a deep sea of the unknown.

My name is Comet Sakakiki. I am a second-year high school student. My family consists of my parents and a younger sister. My hobby is watching movies. I am not a member of any clubs, and my favorite subject is mathematics. No dream yet! (DON'T!)'

I guess that's about it.

'Here, next is Alina Nippa.
''Huh.''

He slammed the book shut.

'Alina Hinoh. Nice to meet you.

Is that it? Your certificate of residence still contains more information than this.

Well, it's nice to meet you.

I hold out my hand and ask for a handshake. But Alina looks doubtful and opens the book again. My hand was stretched out in vain, and I felt so sorry for her that I made a good-luck gesture with it. Thumbs up! His face grew increasingly clouded, so I meekly withdrew my hand.

'Alina. The first thing you need is a conversation. And communication. I'll give you a chance to be active in both. And you're welcome to it. Understand?
'Very, very, yes.'
'I have an obligation to report to Dr. Akakusa.
'...... got it.'

Dr. Akakusa is too strong. What did you tell Ms. Alina? The moment I mention your name, Alina turns into a shriveled rose. But this is useful.



That's enough for today. We'll move after school tomorrow. Second contact is over. If you need anything, please call Comet Sakakiki in the next class.
''So.''

She got up and left.
I decided to follow her and leave. It was early in the evening, but there was a beautiful red sunset in the sky. The school was filled with the sounds of the active athletic teams and the brass band playing from somewhere.
In my mind, I tackle a couple I encounter on my way home. It's only in my brain. You're going to break up with them anyway, so just keep on indulging in the brain drug of love. The next thing you know, the nightmare of the entrance exam will be upon you. Then, 'I need to concentrate, so let's go to ...... for each other, shall we? and then break up. Shuraba is born. I often witnessed similar scenes in my two years of high school and enjoyed watching the breakups.

Yes, I am a loser. This is a lonely howl.