{Resonance of Sensibility with Sato-san}

In the morning, my feet felt heavy on the way to school.

It’s not like something specific happened or that I should feel any sense of guilt. Everything should be normal, just like any other day, but I couldn’t shake this feeling.

It felt awkward to face Sato-san.

I didn’t know what kind of expression I should have.

What does a normal face even look like? I couldn’t recall what kind of face I usually showed her. Now that I think about it, I can’t remember.

Unable to muster any expression that felt right, I frowned until I reached the classroom.

“Oh, Yamaguchi-kun. Good morning!”

When I finally arrived at my desk, Sato-san called out to me.

I responded quietly as I set my bag on the desk.

“Good morning.”

I felt my cheeks flush and looked down.

Then I noticed Sato-san standing up from the desk next to mine and coming over to me. I could tell from the movement of her skirt.

“Thank you for yesterday.”

Sato-san’s voice was as usual.

Bright and childish, just like always.

“Yeah, well… I didn’t do much.”

In contrast, I only muttered a response.

There was no need for gratitude.

I hadn’t done anything. I wanted it to stay that way.

“After that, I managed to write the book report,” Sato-san said, clapping her hands together softly.

“And you know, when I showed it to Ms. Murakami, she praised it. She said it was well done and that it passed.”

“Oh… That’s great.”

I was a little relieved by this news.

I had been curious, just a bit.

I knew she had worked hard on it and had been watching her. So I had been worried if she managed to submit it properly.

“It’s thanks to you, Yamaguchi-kun.”

“No, I don’t think that’s true.”

Hearing Sato-san’s words, I furrowed my brow in disbelief.

— Though that was my intention, I found myself smiling wryly.

Strangely, my mouth relaxed into a grin. It was so unsettling that I quickly pinched my cheek in secret.

“Isn’t it because Sato-san worked hard?”

I said, trying to sound casual, and pulled out my chair to sit down.

I intended to treat it as someone else’s problem.

I didn’t need thanks or gratitude. Sato-san was persistent, but it was over now. It was better if she focused on studying hard to avoid facing similar problems in the future.

Also, I hoped she’d learn to be more efficient and not work too hard on everything. This was quite important.

“But,”

Sato-san continued persistently.

“Ms. Murakami also said that it was thanks to you.”

“Huh? Why would Ms. Murakami say that?”

I asked, trying to brush it off, but my face suddenly heated up.

Today was the first time I looked at Sato-san’s face directly.

Even seeing her smile up close, I didn’t have time to feel embarrassed.

There was no reason to feel embarrassed, but she was sitting next to me and I was used to it. That aside.

“Why would Ms. Murakami say something like that?”

I asked, naturally curious.

Yesterday’s conversation was just between Sato-san and me.

There was no one else in the classroom at that time, and no teacher watching us from the hallway.

In fact, while I was leaving the classroom and heading to the entrance, I didn’t see Ms. Murakami or anyone else.

So, no one else should know what I said to Sato-san.

“Well, why do you think?”

Sato-san’s tone made it seem like my question was the strange one.

“I submitted the book report…”

“No, that’s not what I mean.”

“Yesterday, you gave me advice, so I was able to write it.”

“That’s exactly it. So why does Ms. Murakami come into this?”

“Because Ms. Murakami asked me, ‘How were you able to write it?’”

She said casually.

“I told her that you explained things clearly and taught me the word ‘empathy,’ so I was able to write the report.”

The morning classroom was bustling, but this corner by the window was quiet.

It felt like every internal tremor and the sound of my throat clearing were being overheard.

Sato-san maintained her usual, unpretentious smile.

“W… why?”

I stuttered, even though I found it odd myself.

“Why would you say that? It would be fine if you just stayed silent.”

“Why?”

“Well…”

It was difficult to answer when she looked straight at me.

Looking away, I answered only in my mind.

My advice wasn’t really that significant. It would be better for the teacher’s impression if Sato-san said she completed it on her own.

“Ms. Murakami praised you a lot. He said, ‘Yamaguchi-kun’s sensibility resonated and had a good influence.’”

“No, that’s not it.”

“I think so too. Without your words, I don’t think I could have written it.”

Whether Sato-san truly felt that way was unclear.

I didn’t know how much she understood phrases like “sensibility” and “resonance.”

I didn’t think so myself.

Being praised that much just from that exchange was overwhelming. Sensibility and resonance aren’t things you encounter in everyday life. They’re not even common in the biographies of great figures.

I hadn’t done anything.

Sato-san was able to write the book report solely due to her own ability. It would be better if it stayed that way.

Yet, due to her natural ineptitude, Sato-san blamed others for the quality of her report.

“And, Ms. Murakami told me to make sure to thank you.”

Sato-san said, handing me something she had been hiding behind her back.

It was a box of chocolates. Given that it was Sato-san, it was probably bought from a convenience store.

“You like chocolate, right? I remembered you said so around Valentine’s Day, so I got this for you. Will you accept it?”

She remembered that so well.

I was at a loss and couldn’t bring myself to accept it.

After all, despite insisting I did nothing, she still wanted to thank me. It was exasperating.

“No need for thanks.”

I said sincerely, but Sato-san shook her head.

“I was really helped, and I’m always grateful to you.”

“It’s nothing…”

“It’s fine. Thank you, really. I’m very grateful.”

Placing the box of chocolates in my hand, she smiled shyly.

I was troubled, not knowing what kind of face I should make.

No matter what expression I tried to create, it wouldn’t match what I wanted.

Moreover, I was finding it hard not to smile, drawn in by Sato-san’s grin.

“Thank you for this.”

I couldn’t stop laughing.

I received the chocolates from Sato-san, grinning so much that it felt uncomfortable.

I probably looked quite creepy right now, but there was nothing I could do.

“Yeah. Thank you too.”

Sato-san nodded and added.

“You’re amazing, Yamaguchi-kun. I really thought you were very smart, especially after yesterday’s discussion.”

It’s Sato-san who is amazing.

She can make me feel like smiling for no particular reason.

I remembered that not so long ago, I had trouble with Sato-san.

Reflecting on that like a distant dream, I realized once again that I might actually like Sato-san quite a bit now.

This might be what they call a resonance of sensibility.