A Small Being

"A Small Being" (小さな生き物) is a short story released as the appendix booklet for Monthly Comic Alive February 2019 issue.

Summary
Ayanokōji was reminiscing about an event that took place before the results of the end of the term exam were announced.

After school, Ayanokōji had planned to take a trip to a convenience store before heading to the dorms. However on his way there, he saw Ichinose walking together with her friends.

Even though he felt that passing by them would be easy, he discarded that thought, not wanting to be called out by Ichinose. The reason to that being he wasn't acquainted with the other girls who were accompanying her. Ayanokōji slowly followed them, trying not to be noticed by Ichinose,but suddenly, Ichinose was called out by some girls running behind him. Ichinose and her group turned back to look at the source of the voices, making Ichinose notice Ayanokōji in the act. Even after recognising Ayanokōji, being considerate of his feelings, she did not call out to him. Ichinose's group then began talking again without much thought.

Arriving at the convenience store, Ayanokōji bought all the necessities and quickly left the store. He then began heading towards the dorms, away from Ichinose's group, but he was suddenly called by Ichinose, who was standing somewhere among the trees away from the road. She then urged him to come there and asked him to sit with her, to avoid being noticed by others. He was hesitant to sit due to the cold, but she said she was being considerate for him, who didn't want to be surrounded by girls he wasn't acquainted with. They then began chatting about end of the term exams. Ichinose said that she wouldn't want to lose anyone even if they were her rival. Ayanokōji felt that things like that would be said just for appearance's sake but for Ichinose, it was an exception, believing it whole-heartedly. They then began talking about the regions from which the school enrolled students. She asked Ayanokōji about his middle school, but he refused to answer saying it was a secret. Not understanding why he refused to answer, Ichinose probably convinced herself that it might be because they were in rival classes.

When Ichinose apologized for the question, Ayanokōji downplayed himself that it was just him and said that he was a gloomy and dark existence in his class. Ichinose disagreeing with him said rather than dark, he was more calm or stoic. He thought that it was just her praising him but then suddenly Ichinose asked if she can come to his room later. Feeling his heart skip a beat at the sudden question, Ayanokōji agreed to her proposal.

Thus, Ayanokōji and Ichinose made a promise to meet in his room, sitting by the trees along the road.