Episode 2 – The Ice Princess From The Neighboring Town Has a Bad Sense Of Distance

“Hey, hey, you know what?”

“I don’t know.”

“Isn’t she cold? The Ice Princess from the high school next doo–ah.”

“Ice Princess?”

When I asked that back, Eiji let out a voice saying, {Oh no].

As I stared at him….Eiji let out a sigh, and said,

“The girl that you liked”

……?

……Oh.

“You mean that girl on the train? I don’t like her or dislike her or anything. ……Or rather, why is she called the Ice Princess?”

“……Yeah. I didn’t mean to ruin your dreams, okay? Is that okay? The reason why the girl from the high school next door is called Ice Princess is~~.”

Eiji then explained one by one.

Ice Princess.

Her gaze was sharp and her expression was stiff. Everyone who spoke to her, both boys and girls, were struck by her sharp gaze. Her family seems to be one of the upper class, and it’s rare that anyone goes to talk to her.

She doesn’t let anyone in. Her appearance has earned her the nickname {Ice Princess.}

“I just recognized her from the way you said she looked. I don’t think she’s going to talk to you, so I thought it would be better to let her stay in your imagination.”

“I see. ……Well, you know, what the heck. I appreciate your concern.”

But….. the expression on her face doesn’t change, huh?

I bet she’s been through a lot of pain.

….Let’s put aside whether mending is good or not for her. Don’t misjudge my priorities.

Right now, the best thing to do is decrease her phobia.

◆◆◆

Morning. I get on the train. Usually I pack in the back of the train, but not today.

I stay near the entrance and exit, getting off to make room for the people who were about to get off, and then getting in and out again.

Then……a few stations later. I called out to the girl who came in.

“Shinonome.”

“……Ah.”

As soon as she found me. She came closer.

And then. I moved with her to the corner and put her against the wall. And I put myself in front of her.

“……Thank you, very much.”

“Don’t worry about it.”

I guess she could tell that I was casually…..taking care of her not to bump into guys.

After saying a few words, I kept quiet.

Silence falls over the place. …..Well, I was just asked to stay. I guess I’m free to do whatever I want after that. Or rather, I should. There’s no point in bothering her by talking to her

“….Um, Minori kun.”

But my thoughts were shattered.

“……What is it?”

“Um, I’m sorry if you don’t like it. I’ve never really talked to many people before. ……If you’d like to, I want to train on how to talk to people.”

Oh, She’s being very honest again. Well, there’s no reason to say no to this either.

“I don’t mind.”

“Thank you.”

Then she bowed slightly.

Silence fell.

“……What should we talk about?”

I almost slipped down.

“W-well. You’re not used to it. That doesn’t mean I’m used to it either. …..Oh, yeah. Do you have any hobbies?”

“I do a little flower arrangement……,and I like tea ceremony and Japanese dance.”

“Oh…..”

She’s saying something amazing. Come to think of it, there are rumors that her family is from the upper class.

“……What are your hobbies, Minori kun?”

“Me? Anime and reading, I guess. When I say reading it’s mostly light novels and such.

“Anime……? I haven’t seen much of it.”

Silence fell over the place again. We’re not too good at conversing, I guess.

“…Um, oh yeah. Is there a reason why you started doing tea ceremony, flower arrangement, or Japanese dance?”

“I was told by my parents to take up these subjects. At first, I felt it was boring. But when I tried it, I found it very interesting. I started to get into it when I was in elementary school. ……Unfortunately, people don’t get excited when I tell them that.”

“……I see.”

It’s true that there may not be many high school girls who have those as their hobbies.

“Speaking of which, are you doing club activities?”

“It’s the tea ceremony club I mentioned earlier….”

“So there are clubs like tea ceremonies….”

“I’m the only member of the club. It’s more of an association.”

“I see…….”

I’ve been amazed from the beginning. Tea ceremony, flower arrangement, traditional Japanese dance…it’s like what you see on TV, not that I ever watch one.

“What about you, Minori kun? Club activities and so on.”

Then, this time, Shinonome  looked at me and asked.

“……I’m in the go-home club. I’m going through an ordinary day every day.”

“Ordinary, you say?”

“I’m living like a commoner.”

As I said that. ….She smiled.

“…I envy you a little.”

“The grass is always greener on the other side. ……Well, I’m aware that I’m living the life I want.”

It might change once I do club activities. But I’m just fine the way I am now.

……I’m sure Eiji would be furious if he heard me talking about this stuff. Well, I’m not going to put it into words.

“Minori kun–“

Shinonome was about to say something. At that moment, she arrived at her destination.

“–No, it’s nothing. Well then, see you tomorrow.”

“Yeah, see you tomorrow.”

And so it went. The day was over.

◆◆◆

“Oh? What? Are you in a good mood today?”

“……Is that so? Isn’t it just your imagination?”

As soon as I arrived in the morning, Eiji said that to me.

“What is it? Did you finally find a girl you like?”

“I wish I could……”

“O-oh. My bad.”

“Eiji, are you doing well with your girlfriend?”

“Of course. We’re very much in love.”

“I’m happy to hear that……”

Eiji has a girlfriend. They were classmates in middle school, although they went to different high schools, they seem to be getting along well. For now, I have an acquaintance too.

“I want you to get a girlfriend soon. It will change your world, you know?”

“No, I don’t need one right now.”

“If you say so. But if you don’t mind,  I’ll introduce you to some girls.”

“Someday.”

And then we talked. The usual routine at school goes by again.

◆◆◆

“Good morning.”

“Oh, good morning.”

Another day. The day begins.

“Minori kun. What shall we talk about today?”

“You’re dumping it on me…..I see. How about your studies as a student?”

“It’s not bad.”

I replied to Shinonome. She stared at me intently.

“Ah-. Are there any subjects you are good at or bad at?”

“I’m good at world history and Japanese history. It’s an interesting subject. I’m also good at other subjects in general….but, I’m not good at English. Really.”

I was so surprised to hear that, I rolled my eyes.

“You can’t understand English?”

“……Yes. I’m ashamed of it. I get flustered when foreigners talk to me on the street.”

…….I couldn’t help but giggle. Then, Shinonome pouted.

“My bad. The gap is too big. ….Then let’s talk about me.”

I felt a little. So I opened my mouth.

“I’m good at English. But I’m not good at classics.”

“……You’re not good at classics?”

Shinonome widened her eyes as if she was surprised.

“Yeah. I don’t understand what the old people were thinking. I’m not good at science subjects like physics.”

“I see…….The classics certainly have different values than today. It also changes with time. ……If you don’t mind, I can teach you. If you have the textbook, that is.”

“Are you sure?”

“Yes. ….I never taught anyone. I wonder if I can help you, even if it’s only a little.”

I wonder if this is a way of saying thank you as usual.

I wonder if this was her normal gratitude.

If I refuse her, it might make her worry.

“Then please. We don’t have much time left today, so maybe tomorrow.”

“….I see, I’ve almost arrived.”

Shinonome who muttered to my words……

Just a little bit. I thought she seemed to show a lonely expression. However, as soon as I noticed, she returned to her original expressionless face.

It’s probably just my imagination. I guess.

“Then I’ll see you tomorrow.”

“Yeah, see you tomorrow.”

Shinonome then left the train.

◆◆◆

“……Sigh.”

“What’s wrong? Eiji. You’re sighing.”

“I don’t want to. You know that the midterm test is less than a month, right? I’m already depressed.”

“….Is that so?”

“I’m fine, but……my girlfriend .”

“Oh-……you mentioned that.”

Eiji’s girlfriend is apparently unable to study. He said she’s on the verge of a red mark and he always has a hard time teaching her.

“Well, it’s going to be a part of youth anyway. Teaching her to study.”

“That’s true. It’s not that I’m not serious. I can set up a reward, you know? We can do things at the end of the test.”

“…..Are you boasting in a roundabout way?”

“Who knows.”

Even though I know that Eiji is already evil when he laughs. I sighed.

“If she’s really good, she probably already has one.”

“If she’s really good, she should be able to do it.”

“Haha. Aren’t you mistaken?”

Then I let out another sigh to Eiji, who was laughing.

◆◆◆

“That means…..”

In the morning. I had started studying with Shinonome.

At first it was only the classics, but the subjects gradually increased. 

I never actually learned about something other than English.

“And here are….”

I felt bad about it. When she said [Teaching is more fun than I thought] and seemed to be really enjoying it…and so, this is how she taught me.

However, There was one problem.

Her distance. It’s rather very close.

Well, it can’t be helped. We’re looking at the same textbook. Her finger that pointed at something occasionally touched mine, and her face somewhat very close.

And it smells really good.

“……? Is there something wrong?”

“N-no, nothing.”

Seeing me like that, Shinonome tilted her head slightly. And then she nodded her head as if she was convinced.

“It’s true that it’s a little cramped. If you could sit down, I could teach you while I write……”

“Y-yeah……you’re right.”

I agreed because she kind of misunderstood it.

Then, Shinonome began to glance at me. As if to say something, she cleared her throat.

“……If it’s okay with Minori kun. Would you like to have a….study session?”

That’s what she said.