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I cut my hair. Yesterday—on the last day of summer vacation.

I took the black hair that had grown down to my waist and chopped it right off. I’d just been letting it grow out without any real care, so it’s not like I had any sentimental attachment to it.

During the summer, the sweat would make it cling to the back of my neck, and it felt gross. Really, I probably should’ve cut it at the beginning of summer. But for whatever reason, I left it as-is through the break, and then, on a whim, went for the big cut the day before school started.

In the mirror, the short-haired girl reflected back at me was—of course—me. No shock, no emotional wave crashing over me. I accepted it instantly. Maybe the stylist was just that good.

Mom asked if I’d had my heart broken or something, but I didn’t have any such romantic reason. Honestly, do people really get the urge to impulsively cut their hair after a breakup? Is it that whole “I’ll show them by looking cuter” kind of thing?

Hard to wrap my head around.

Anyway, with no particular concerns, I headed off to school for the opening ceremony. The sun, which had felt oppressive just yesterday, seemed a little more tolerable now. That alone made the haircut worthwhile.

When I walked into the classroom, my friends were already there, and the moment they saw me, they all blinked in surprise.

“Morning.”
“Ritsu!? What happened to your hair!?”
“I cut it.”
“Well… I mean, it’s not like you’re old enough to be going bald, so I figured…”
“Is it weird?”

Twisting a lock of hair around my finger in an exaggerated motion, I tossed the question at them. Even if I didn’t ask, they probably would’ve started commenting on their own.

“No way! It looks great on you!”
“Total makeover, huh?”
“Kinda makes me wanna cut mine too!”

Unanimous praise, across the board. Well, of course. Nobody’s gonna say something critical to your face—not unless they want to be the one everyone turns on.

“Thanks. Honestly, I was a little nervous.”

But I shoved that cynical thought down into the pit of my stomach and thanked them with a smile.

My friends then launched into a lively conversation about hairstyles and fashion.

The six of us—guys and girls alike—talked loudly, like we’d left the concept of modesty behind in infancy.

Off in the distance, a quiet girls’ group sent us disapproving glances. Not that anyone else in my group noticed. So the noise continued, unchecked.

Just then, a familiar face peeked into the classroom.

“Ah, Shouya! Look, look—Ritsu!”

One of the girls in our group noticed him and called out.

Really? It’s about me, and yet you’re the one rushing over to report it? I didn’t particularly mind, but somewhere deep inside, an irrational frustration started to stir.

“Whoa, seriously? You look totally different.”

Despite his words, Shouya’s voice was flat, lacking any real inflection.

“It was getting too hot.”
“Huh. Looks good, though.”
“Thanks.”

As if it were the most natural thing in the world, Shouya casually walked over and took the spot beside me as he gave his comment.

Technically speaking, Shouya was my boyfriend.

There hadn’t really been any spark or turning point that led to it. If I had to name something, maybe just that we were in the same class last year. He was also part of this six-person group that now surrounded me.

From there, things just kind of happened—what people call the flow. Everyone kept hyping us up, saying that the most attractive guy and girl in school should obviously be together. Eventually, Shouya confessed.

Personally, I didn’t particularly like or dislike him. Sure, his face was nice enough, I guess, but I couldn’t recall ever feeling anything in my chest over that.

Even so, giving a vague answer wasn’t an option.

I was boxed in by the walls of social expectations. Turning him down hadn’t been a choice I was allowed to make.

Everyone around me was convinced that I was head-over-heels for Shouya. Or… maybe they weren’t really convinced, who knows. But one thing was clear: they just wanted to sit back and enjoy the little romance drama unfolding between us.

I used to think romance was supposed to be more cheerful and fun. But in reality, it was stifling—a cage for everyone’s egos. There was no room for what I wanted. Or rather, I wasn’t even trying to speak up for myself.

Because… it’s a pain. I didn’t want to stand out unnecessarily. I guess it’s a typical problem for any “normal” student, but when it happens to you, it’s genuinely suffocating.

If I’d known it’d be like this, maybe I should’ve joined that quiet, plain girls’ group that clearly doesn’t get along with ours. They don’t have much say in the class, but they’re not being excluded or bullied either.

They’re probably enjoying school life more than I am. That thought made me feel both jealous—and weirdly irritated.

Trying to escape the ringing noise of my friends’ voices, I turned my gaze to the window.

Summer vacation was over, but Japan hadn’t even reached the tail end of summer heat yet. Just one look at the glaring sun told me the opening ceremony in the gym later would be brutal.

Still… maybe it would be better than staying here. This classroom was suffocating.

“I’m going to the restroom.”

I left the classroom like I was fleeing. And just like that, the fog that had been clouding my chest seemed to thin out a little.

It was only the first day of the second term, but the school building was already buzzing with energy. I guess everyone had just carried the momentum of summer vacation right into the new semester. Give it a week, and I’m sure that vibrant mood would fade back into the usual sluggish atmosphere.

On my way to the restrooms at the far end of the building, I passed by a girl.

With light brown hair in a half-up braid, she had the kind of neat, refined appearance people might call “graceful.” But she wore a bright, lively smile that contrasted with that image as she walked with a carefree bounce.

“Oh, it’s Kaidou-san!”

She noticed me and turned around, calling out. We weren’t particularly close, though.

“Good morning, Yarai-san.”

Ignoring her outright would’ve been too cold, so I turned slightly and gave a half-hearted reply.

Yarai Tsuzuri. Classmate. That pretty much summed up our relationship.

“Huh? You cut your hair.”

She widened her eyes in a clear, exaggerated gesture, gaze zeroing in on my head.

“Yeah. It was hot.”
“Hmm…”

Her eyes casually swept down my entire body and back up again in a smooth motion, like she was sizing me up. It made me fidgety, like I was being silently judged.

“I liked it better when it was long.”

She said it without a hint of hesitation.

“…Huh. I see.”

The bluntness of it left me speechless.

Who just says that so directly? Normally you’d soften it a bit, wouldn’t you?

“You know, I always thought you had this ‘refined lady from a good family’ vibe going on before. I liked that.”

I had to admire how confidently she could say she “liked” something so openly.

But…

“Refined lady…?”

Needless to say, I was born into an ordinary household. We don’t have maids waiting for us at home or anything.

“Well, hair grows back eventually, right? I’ll be looking forward to it!”

With that, Yarai-san hurried off toward the classroom.

I didn’t cut my hair for her entertainment, you know…

Staring in the direction she’d vanished, I stood there, dumbfounded, until the bell rang, signaling five minutes until morning assembly.

“Crap.”

I didn’t even need to go to the bathroom. That had just been an excuse to get away from the classroom. With a reluctant sigh, I started walking back, dragging my feet just a little.

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