Sasaki and Peeps - Volume 8 - Chapter 5.1

<The Neighbor’s POV>

I’ve arrived at the location of our off-campus class—the ski resort. I have zero experience with skiing, so naturally, I get assigned to the beginner class. For today, we’ll be at the bottom of the slope practicing the fundamentals of how to use our skis and poles. We form small groups, and an instructor lectures us.

To be honest, it’s really hard.

Every little action requires muscles I’ve never used before. Just putting the skis on and standing up in the snow makes me feel incredibly restricted. My whole body is under a weird strain I don’t understand. I’m going to be aching in the morning for sure.

“That’s my partner! Terrible at sports as always.”

My frustration is compounded by my mean-spirited demon partner making sarcastic comments at every opportunity.

Meanwhile, Robot Girl is fully engrossed in the moment, enjoying herself completely.

“Are you okay, Twelve?”

“If it’s hard for you to stand, I can support you.”

“If you put your thumbs on top of your poles, it’ll give your feet more strength to dig in.”

“If it’s too hard for you, we can call the instructor and take a break in the hotel.”

There’s an unending stream of boys around her. It’s not only kids from Class 1-A, either—even students from the other classes are joining the crowd. Some of them are actually good at skiing, and I’m pretty sure they lied their way into the beginner class.

“I am pleased by everyone’s consideration. Ah, how wonderful these ‘ski classes’ are.”

At this rate, she’ll inevitably face backlash from the girls. In fact, I can hear them expressing their envy now.

“Kurosu, Twelve is a little strange, isn’t she?”

“She’s like the exact opposite of you.”

“And she left Ivy alone. I feel bad for her.”

“Was she like this at her last school?”

“It’s actually kind of impressive how brazen she is.”

A few of the girls who usually hang out at my desk are in my beginner class group. They’re conveying the majority opinion to me. I think they’re trying to get me to do something about it.

“I’m sorry she’s causing so much trouble for you all,” I say.

“No, you don’t need to apologize!”

“That’s right. We really like you, Kurosu.”

“The boys only like Twelve because she’s pretty.”

“I think it’ll all even out before long.”

“I wonder if she’d shape up a little if we told Mr. Sasaki.”

“He’s her dad, though. It’d be awkward.”

If Type Twelve were the sort to listen to criticism, we wouldn’t be struggling in the first place. In my opinion, the best we can do is get Makeup to scold her. But if that strains their relationship, it could become a major problem—in the worst-case scenario, she might blow another crater in the Earth.

Girls like her always attract dumb boys and cause everyone around them trouble.

“Hey, I see your teacher over there.”

At Abaddon’s remark, my body moves on its own. He’s right—I can see my neighbor out of the corner of my eye. He seems to be having trouble skiing, too, and he’s in a group of little kids, practicing by himself. Just like me, he’s struggling a lot. Seeing him boosts my mood a little.

We really are made for each other. This is how it’s meant to be. He’s so charming there, all by himself.

That thought only lasts for a moment, however, because then a girl in my class goes up to him.

“Well, what have we here? One of your classmates approaches.”

“……”

After that, the voices around me fade into the background. My attention is locked on my neighbor and the girl.

She takes his hands and begins pulling him across the snow; she firmly grasps his wrists as if beckoning him, legs shaking, right into her. They look like a couple.

I can’t think of a more irritating sight. What is she up to?

A moment later, my neighbor falls over and—of all things—lands basically right on top of her.

“Oh my. They both fell.”

I almost order Abaddon to eliminate the girl, but I swallow the words down just in time.

Is that what’s going on? Is he into pigtails? In that case, I can’t waste any time. I’ll try out the style this very evening.