Vol 2 Chapter 1 (1/2)

Volume 2

I am surrounded by scenery that I can only remember in my dreams

I already knoho the person facing me is, but without a box, I cannot deliberately recall this place except in my dreams For that matter, I can't remember when this conversation occurred

”Do you remember that I told you that I can see you as an individual even though your kind doesn't have any distinguishi+ng features?”

I don't know It feels like I have heard this before, but it also feels like I haven't

”Thanks to what happened this tiuish you fro, you also don't accept anything”

This all sounds like mere semantics to me

”First off, the everyday life that you never tire ofis different from the everyday life perceived by others You include the loss of things in your perception of everyday life, aht? This is, in fact, different from the common definition of everyday life Other hus as they come,” he says with a smile ”All humans are distorted, and their everyday lives are twisted by their individual values You could say that a box forces such distortion upon others You are sensitive to these intentional distortions of everyday life by others' boxes—and you find the?”

I really haven't the slightest idea of what he's talking about Leave me alone already

”This time around, your body was attacked directly, but even so, youaffected by the values of the owner That is because you intuitively recognize the distortions of others And when you know that so is distorted, you naturally wouldn't accept it, would you? However, your ability to detect those distortions is orders of reater than that of an ordinary person, and because of that—you cannot accept anything”

I can't help but frown, but he insistently continues

”Your field of vision is terribly small coht resemble me”

Please stop

You are disgusting

When I say that to hies his ever-malleable appearance to that of someone quite familiar

Mirroring my very own appearance, O says:

”May I interpret this as distaste for the sa?”

That's not it!

We don't resemble each other at all!

April 29th

April 29th (Wednesday) 00:02

The first day begins

April 29th (Wednesday) 23:57

The first day ends

April 30th

April 30th (Thursday) 00:00

The second day begins

April 30th (Thursday) 12:37

Lunch break has started

My yawn just now ht have been caused by the :

”I'll make you a boxed lunch today”

The call was terminated, however, before I could even respond

What is she up to now?

It's the last day of April, and that in I a for Otonashi+-san in the corridor like I do every day We norether in the school cafeteria; she has never made me a boxed lunch before

”Kazu-kun! Did I hear Haru right?! A ho for you?!”

It's getting noisy Kokone steps in front ofHaruaki

”Haruaki, didn't I tell you to keep quiet about it to spare me all this trouble?”

”You did, but I'm free to obey or not!”

What an awful friend

”Kazu-kun, what's the deal with that exciting special event?! Details, please!”

”well, don't ask ot a call this morn―”

”A wake-up call?! All lovey-dovey, aren't ya!”

Please let me finish

”A wake-up call” so me to spin around

Oh no, another bothersoirl has arrived

”Ah, Rikorin 'Sup” Kokone says

”Good ”

The girl with that strange nickname is Riko Asami, a short freshman with a short haircut She is a classmate of Otonashi+-san's and a member of the Maria Otonashi+ fan club that has been flourishi+ng ever since the school entrance cereether, but it seems like Asami-san came ahead of time today Maybe it's just loomier than normal

Asa at me

”Um?”

Or is she scowling at me?

”You're getting a boxed lunch from Maria-san, I heard?”

”Y-Yeah, I guess so”

Asa at me

”If only the batteries in your cell would explode if only you were using batteries that were as obviously dubious as those cheap ones from overseas burst, batteries, burst!”

Her ive me the creeps

”B-But why did she choose Kazu-kun of all people, right?” Kokone cuts in with a s tension ”'cuz of that, Kazu-kun's been getting really scary looks fro the list of 'People I'd Love to Kill by Faking an Accident!'”

”What's with that deranged list who on earth would co like that?”

”I did!” Haruaki raises his hand ”Of course I handed in a vote! I can't stand how you're all lovey-dovey with Maria-chan!!”

I almost fall over in shock

I', but lately, the looks I've been getting have certainly gotten scary Although I don't think Otonashi+-san is the only reason this has been—

”Mh? Why are you looking at me?” Kokone asks

”It's nothing”

I bet she has no idea thatso friendly with her is probably a factor as well

Kokone just cocks her head After the eternity we spent within that unchanging classroom, she's finally switched her hairdo to a ponytail bound on one side A ”side-ponytail,” I suppose?

”Say say, I've been wondering: How did you tame Otonashi+-san?!”

”Now, 'taht word”

”Otonashi+-sanhit on, so you didn't use any typical run-of-the-ot it! You somehow made her believe that you were her special, fated love!” Kokone says triumphantly and starts to ht have saved her from some pervert who attacked her Oh, doesn't that sound plausible?! The pervert was like, 'Hey sweety, your navel fluff must smell terrific Wha! Now if that's not a scab down there! B-But I don't care!!' and right when he was about to charge at her as he murmured those words, you swooped in to save her froht!?”

”I wouldn't have the guts to fight off a true pervert wait a sec, we aren't even dating!”

That's just the plain truth, but Kokone's grin just gets broader

”Sooo, how do you explain that incident at the opening ceremony, mm? Mm? Mmmm?”

”We—I—”

I know only too well how everyone hasour school's opening ceremony I absolutely have to corin off Kokone's face

”That's just, you see, because Otonashi+-san happens to be a peculiar—”

”—I's out behind me, and I reluctantly turn around

Maria Otonashi+

Upon seeing her face, rows stiff—not because her accusatory words made me break out in a cold sweat, but siht of her incredibly pretty face

I have yet to get used to her unyielding personality and stunning looks I can't help getting flustered I count up to three in my head as I always do when I prepare to talk to her

I was together with Otonashi+-san for the equivalent of an entire lifetime I'm aware of that But I don't feel like I spent all that time with her anymore

”Why are you so stiff? Do you think I'ry because of that, would I?”

”R-Right”

While my bewilderment keeps me paralyzed, Asami-san wordlessly toddles toward Otonashi+-san and positions herself behind her

”Mm? What is it, Asami?”

Asami-san doesn't answer and just continues to stare at me Haruaki opens his mouth instead

”She's acting a little bit strange today Maybe she's afraid that Hoshi+ is stealing you from her, Maria-chan! Because of that momentous Boxed Lunch”

”How dare you call her 'Maria-chan' You're obliged to append a '-sa her mouth while her eyes remain cast doard

”Anyway, let's go, Kazuki”

”Um, to the cafeteria?”

Otonashi+-san utters an exaggerated sigh

”Is it really so hard to guess my intentions after I informed you that I made you lunch? I want to avoid the school cafeteria, of course”

Avoid the school cafeteria?

Wethe boxes and O That being said, it's hard to get any new infor thatlike that's come up since Maria transferred here Therefore, the school cafeteria has served us perfectly well

But she wants to avoid the cafeteria today

”So that's why you ht a sandwich?” I mutter

Otonashi+-san suddenly brings her head near ot fed up with the cafeteria sandwiches during the 'Rejecting Classroom,' if you knohat I mean”

Um it's perfectly understandable that she doesn't want anyone to hear the terht before Asa idea, no?

I sneak a peek at Asaaze seems even more pointed

”Um, Maria-san May I join you?” Asami-san asks

”Sorry, Asami I want to be alone with Kazuki today”

”Just the two of you”

”Well, Kazuki, shall we get going?”

Otonashi+-san grabsHaruaki lets out an uncalled-for whistle

I wonder how Asa this turn of events?

I turn around anxiously and hear hertoward her feet

”If only a female cockroach with a swollen abdos inside your stoled!”

She's really creeping me out!

April 30th (Thursday) 12:43

”Being here alic,” I say once we're behind the school building

We spoke here quite a bit while trapped within the 'Rejecting Classroom'

However, Otonashi+-san doesn't see lance, she quickly takes a boxed lunch wrapped in cloth out of her bag and hands it to me

”T-Thanks”

”You're welcome”

I untie the cloth and open the lid The contents look rather bland, which is a bit unexpected

I start by popping one of the pieces of bacon-wrapped asparagus into my mouth

Mhm, the taste's rather bland as well

”Uus”

”It's from the supermarket”

Aah, I see Yeah, it's no surprise that it tastes so bland

Next, I take a bite of the haus, it looks and tastes coeneric

”Um, I really like this hamb—”

”That's also from the supermarket”

I knew it!

I look over the rest of the boxed lunch It seeetables were all store-bought items

”Don't make a fuss—there's no need to praise me so desperately”

”Otonashi+-san, didn't you cook at all while ere trapped inside the Rejecting Classroom?”

She previously toldthose endless recurrences, such as martial arts

”Oho? It looks like you're keen to criticize , doesn't it?”

”N-No, that's not what I meant”

”Oh please, don't even try to deny itWell, I'm not actually offended I did learn to cook, and I was talented enough to prepare soot into it I can't take pleasure in honingskills”

”So that's why you skimped on my lunch”

”Noe're speaking plainly”

Whoops

I sneak a peek at Otonashi+-san's expression She doesn't look offended…I think

”Um, on a related note, does that eneral, either?”

”That's incorrect It's a pleasure to eat so delicious”

”So what's your favorite food, if I may ask?”

”Strawberry tarts Basically, any confection that contains strawberry—hey, why'd you freeze in thethat meatball?”

”Ah, no―”

Such a cute favorite dish? I could see you liking so like sweet-potato paste, but I don't think strawberries suit you at all That's what I was about say out loud, but I somehow barely held back That was a close one

”Hohoo, denying other people's favorite foods—you've got some nerve, eh?”

”You're putting words in my mouth”

”Sweet-potato paste would suit whom, you said?”

why is it that I'm like an open book to you, Otonashi+-san?

”So you like eating, but you don't like cooking,” I su her attention from my missteps

”It's not really enjoyable to cook forbut pointless labor”

I see Naturally, she had no one else to cook for inside the Rejecting Classroom I've hardly ever cookedis to watch others enjoy what you've prepared for the would just become fruitless

”But none of that ht now It's not like I called you out here just for some chit-chat”

”Y-Yeah”

”Let's get down to business,” Otonashi+-san says, after which she searches through her bag and takes out her cell phone ”I received an e-ht”

”An e-mail?” I ask in response

Without a word, she holds out the cell phone

”My deepest desire has been granted Noe can be together forever”

Those were the words displayed on the screen

Um what's this? It reads like an excerpt froes of a couple who just fell in love? Huh? In other words, Otonashi+-san is going out with someone? The Otonashi+-san that I know?

I look at her She is s wryly at my reaction

”Oh well, this is hardly unexpected after seeing you earlier today Kazuki, take a look at who sent that e”

I do as told The name in the 'From' field reads―

”Huh?”

―”Kazuki Hoshi+no”

I'm the sender of this e- any such ht before my eyes

”At first I thought it was a scam of some kind, but my spam filter makes that pretty unlikely It's safe to assume that this e-mail was sent from your cell phone”

”But Otonashi+-san, I don't re this―”

”How about checking your Sent Mail folder then? Unless someone emptied it, the e-mail should still be in there”

I nod and take out my cell phone Much to my dismay…

”My deepest desire has been granted Noe can be together forever”

…I see the sae in my Sent Mail folder

”T-That's―” I sputter as I turn pale

”Relax, Kazuki I can tell froe because you were feeling amorous But if it really were sent by someone else, then he must have used your cell phone so to do so”

The e-mail is dated April 30th, so that

At that ti beside my pillooke up because of Otonashi+-san's call, so that's undoubtedly correct Does that ht? Seriously? Why would soths? ”Kazuki,” Otonashi+-san says while I'ht ” Do you knoas able to slip into the box we call the Rejecting Classroom?”

”?”

I fail to see where she's going with this

”It's related to e're talking about right now I told you that I was able to enter the Rejecting Classroom because I'm a box myself, but that doesn't really explain how I did it, does it?”

”Now that you mention it…”

”In addition to slipping into boxes, I am able to detect and locate them as well”

”Yeah”

”Hoould someone send an e-mail fro? Alternatively, hoould someone make us believe that it happened? Therethe following possibility”

She continues

”It's the power of a box”

―a box?

”Well I don't kno you can so easily come to such a conclusion I mean, ould someone resort to a box just for―”

”Kazuki, weren't you listening to ht: this e- that I can say for sure”

Otonashi+-san fixes her deteraze upon me

”So a box nearby”

It's her serious look, and not her words, that gets through to in

It's happening again

Once again a box is about to destroy my everyday life

”Okay Kazuki, let's get back to that e-nificance of that e? It's a bit too optimistic to think that the owner just wanted to play a prank on us after acquiring special powers, isn't it?”

”What do you think?”

”It's a declaration of war against us, or it ht be a simple factual observation”

”A factual observation?”

What does shethe owner

”It e the future this way but we know one thing for sure” Otonashi+-san breathes out lightly and continues where she left off ”The owner is trying to interfere with us directly by using his box”

Right, that's what it boils down to Otherwise, there would be no reason for the owner to send such an e-mail from my cell phone to Otonashi+-san

”What should I do?”

”That a box was used is beyond doubt I need to find out how this box is used and grasp its essence, and I want you to help es to your everyday life, aren't you? You ht notice some abnormalities that I wouldn't pick up on”

”Okay, got it I'll keep my eyes open”

”Great I'll be sure to get in touch with you once I've learned so new”

Since the discussion seems to have come to an end, I turn back to my lunch However, Otonashi+-san's chopsticks are frozen in place, so I also stop eating

”Is there anything else, Otonashi+-san?”

”Mueme, and I don't like that, so let me be frank”

”Okay, go ahead”

”What's with the way you've been addressing me?”

”Eh?”

She posed an unexpected question

”If there's no particular reason, never mind,” she says and returns to her meal

Despite the urge to probe further, I decide to ignore it and continue eating as well

April 30th (Thursday) 22:38

Slight changes toatsince pries We're surrounded by all kinds of changes

Unable to co, I open my cell phone on a whim

A picture of Mogi-san in pajamas is displayed on the screen

While she does look a bit skinnier than usual, she doesn't look pitiful at all The photo was taken at the hospital, and there's a bean

”Kazu-chan's grinning! Looking at lewd pictures!”

I quickly flip my cell phone shut when I hear my sis' voice

”I-I'm not!”

”You're all flustered~ So's fishy here~”

My sister Luka Hoshi+no is three years older than I arin on her face as always, she's only wearing underwear Geez, Luu-chan she never listens toaround in that outfit all the tier, Luu-chan, for crying out loud!

”Aah, let i-san, weren't ya~?”

”Wha―!”

How did she?!

”Uwa, bull's eye? Uhehe”

”H-Hold on! Why do you know about Mogi-san anyway? Ah! Don't tell me you played around with my cell phone without permission?!”

”'Course not~ I only saw her nauess~ ah, but aren't you quite the lech? Having fun while looking at a picture of a girl?”

This is exactly why I want my own room!

To hide rip my cell phone and dive into the lower bunk

”Hey, Kazu-chan, is that Kasuirlfriend?”

”N-No, she isn't!”

”So what's your relationshi+p, then? Or more importantly: How do you feel about her?”

”uh”

Our relationshi+p I wonder? How do I feel about her?

Well, she did confess tofor me probably

I certainly don't find her feelings toward reeable

But honestly speaking I don't know if there's anything s I used to possess while inside the Rejecting Classrooone now I have certain mes for Mogi-san But because of those memories, I find it hard to think about her objectively I have no idea how s any more

”Well we're friends, that's for sure!”

My sister doesn't reply even though I've racked my brain to answer her question But when I perk upin a calm and steady rhythm

The speed hich she can fall asleep never ceases to amaze me

That's when I notice that I haven't yet replied to the e-in to type a reply

I look at the time displayed in the corner of the screen

22:59

I' oes blank

April 30th (Thursday) 23:18

Well then, time to make a call

May 1st

May 1st (Friday) 08:14

Kokone ignored ” today

She's acting strangely distant She's still talking to our other classh she would normally pop in arbitrarily intopeeks atat me with a pretty scary look on top of that

I don't knohat's going on—I have no idea why she would suddenly start acting like this Since I don't really feel like talking toso oddly, I try to re on a cheese-flavored Umaibō

”Did you do anything to Kiri?”

As expected of Daiya He conals and asks me point-blank

”I have no idea what's wrong”

”I see Okay, let ood”

”Soood?”

Does he know the reason for Kokone's strange attitude?

”You knohen Kiri had her first ood hter on the eve of the exa the third exam It wouldn't have been that remarkable if she had just slept silently, but that didn't happen: Her babbling filled that dead-silent classroom even while she was sound asleep If I re the lines of 'This plug suit is too tight, I'll never fit in'”

”Daiya What on earth are you talking about?”

”Mm? About her weak point, of course It takes a lot for her to dislike soet on her bad side and banish her from your life If you remind her of that story now, it'll be a walk in the park!”

”Uhm, ould I want to do that? Besides, isn't that story pretty cute, actually?”

”No, this is where it stops being cute and starts getting funny Listen up as I regale you with the Legend of Kokone and her Drool!”

Since I've got a bad feeling about Daiya's yarn, I wordlessly cover rabs my arms

”Stop, I've had enough!”

”No et that story for now—look over there!”

I look in the direction Daiya is pointing Otonashi+-san and a ed in a conversation by the door They both look very serious

The student she is talking to is Ryuu Miyazaki, a classmate of mine who happens to be the class president His black-fra, almond-shaped eyes Unlike Daiya, as elected to the presidency in his first year solely because of his superior grades, Miyazaki-kun fulfills his duties with great responsibility But while he id, and that's why he's still popular

I reluctantly approach the with Miyazaki-kun's self-confident attitude

”What's wrong?” I ask They turn around to face me

”Oh, Kazuki This guy stopped me when I wanted to enter the classroom”

”Of course! What's wrong with you,into a classroom of your seniors? Heck, it's not even lunchtime!”

Now that he mentions it, Otonashi+-san doesn't usually co our lunch breaks Maybe it's because she at least pays lip service to the school rules, rather than ignoring theht

”Planning to carry Hoshi+no off soht?”

”What I do with Kazuki is none of your business”

”But it is I'm the class president here, whether you like it or not That ot it? The first period is about to start; if you take him away now, he won't make it back in time”

”I couldn't care less We have so much more important to take care of”

For a second there, I don't knohat she's referring to, but on second thought, there's only one thing that comes to mind

—It has to be about the box

That's a task of great importance for me too

”Uo with her,” I say, causing him to stare closely at me with a frown on his face I reflexively step back, intiaze

”So you do whatever she tells you to?”

”T-That's not what I'”

”You sure are a wihts instead of playing a girl's poodle?”

”Hey, watch yourKazuki doesn't have any will of his own,” Otonashi+-san interrupts

Miyazaki-kun grins in response ”Ah, please forgive me Did you take offense because I insulted your sweetheart? Ah, or did it bother you because I i Hoshi+no around?”

”Miyazaki—” Otonashi+-san scowls coldly at him

He chuckles, ”What? If you want to object—”

”You're acting suspicious”

Otonashi+-san's words silence Miyazaki-kun

”Your position as class president is too weak a pretext forin our affairs You didn't seee yourto achieve by approaching us so frantically? Is this an attempt to find an excuse that would allow you to meddle in our affairs?”

”What the fuck are you talking about?”

”Fine then Your behavior just caught my eye because I'm very sensitive to my environment at the moment One can never be too careful, and even if you are really up to so, then this speech should put you on notice”

I watched their verbal sparring inlike that all of a sudden?

”Kazuki, let's go,” Otonashi+-san says as she grabs my hand

”Ah, yeah”

Miyazaki-kun gazes at ed away Indeed, his approach was a bit ressive than normal

As I am pulled out of the classroo fro after Otonashi+-san

”Oh, what's up Hoshi+? On the run?”

”On the run”

Upon hearing Haruaki's unnecessary reaze fixes upon our joined hands She then raises her gaze slightly and looks at me with narrowed eyes I'm scared

”Oh, what's wrong Rikochii? You're acting strange today”

She keeps staring atto be annoyed by that nickname, which she usually would

”A-Asaht, Haruaki?”

”Mm? Really?”

Haruaki, how air-headed do you have to be to forget about what happened one day ago?

”Maria-san”

”Sorry, but we're in a hurry,” Otonashi+-san says to Asa at her quickly, and turns around