Editing BlazBlue:Phase Shift 1 Chapter 1 (section)

===Part 5===

A fork was winding around above a plate, intertwining bolognese sauce and spaghetti.

While carrying it to her mouth, Celica casually stared directly at Kazuma who was sitting in front of her.

"So, Kazuma-san also doesn't talk much except with Trinity-san?"

The topic surrounding the lunch was about the relationships within Kazuma's classroom.

Kazuma, having already finished eating the hardboiled egg, was now somewhat poking the pudding he received from Celica. The table might now look distinctly showy compared to his usual, but still, the hardboiled egg had tasted so wonderfully delicious.

"Hey, Celica. What do you mean by 'also'? That guy and me aren't in the same level."

The first one to open her mouth at Celica's words was Nine. Dissatisfaction was clearly mixed in her explicit tone which had been going on until now.

But not minding her sister's complaint, Celica instead gave her a straight answer.

"But Onee-chan, if Trinity-san weren't here, wouldn't you only have me as a partner to eat a meal with? When you went for a vacation, it was with just Trinity-san and me."

"...It's meaningless to associate myself with people whose level is far from mine."

"See, you said it again. That's why you're considered as a scary person."

As the sisters began quarreling all of a sudden, Kazuma was dumbfounded while grasping the pudding spoon tightly.

No one had ever thought that there existed a person who could speak so bluntly to the talented Nine who was feared because of her tight personality. On the contrary, Nine was overwhelmed. It was hard to believe that the sudden spectacle could happen to the exceptional prodigy who was enrolled in the same class as him.

But different from Kazuma, Trinity, who seemed to be used to seeing it, nonchalantly proceeded to eat, smiling as she watched the sisters.

Celica once again got her sight back to Kazuma.

"Ah. I'm sorry, Kazuma-san. Please continue with your story."

"Even if I continue... As you say, I also speak on daily basis with just Trinity-san."

"'Also'?"

From diagonally in front of him, Nine's sharp voice came.

"Ah, no..."

Kazuma quickly closed his mouth with his hand.

Beside him, Trinity laughed a little.

"Hey. Why are you laughing, Trinity?"

"Fufu... So-sorry, Nine. I don't mean anything bad."

"I'm not asking about that. Good grief."

Pouting, Nine folded her arms beneath her plump chest after she brushed her hair.

Kazuma tried to keep showing a smile while scratching his cheek. Since he wasn't used to being involved in a setting like this, he was actually troubled. Easily creating such awkward atmosphere seemed like one of the strong points of women.

Setting aside the peevish opinion, Kazuma hesitantly opened his mouth.

"I'm sorry. I didn't mean Nine-san and I have the same level... I was trying to say that Trinity-san is a nice person since she greeted me even though I'm low profile."

"Oh. But Kazuma-san isn't low profile."

"No, no, that's not true. It's unthinkable."

Even when Kazuma seemed to be giving in, he raised both of his hand at the height of his chest and shook his head to Trinity as she tried to dismiss it.

Seeing that, this time it was Celica who laughed. She curiously let out a girlish laugh, or rather the tone of someone who laughed delightfully.

"Kazuma-san is an interesting person. At first, I thought you aren't that good at chatting. But I learned that you have lots to speak about. I'm somewhat happy."

"Oh... is that so?"

"Umm. Can I talk to you more often from now on? I want to know more about Kazuma-san."

"Eeh!? Err, that's..."

Couldn't answer her right away, Kazuma's eyes wandered as he panicked.

He didn't look back at Celica's eyes that staring directly at him.

Someone who hated this girl called Celica must be rare. Somehow, even if someone was overwhelmed by her nonstop vigor, his heart would quickly be snatched by the honest good will and that adorable laughter. At times, Celica's behavior was similar to the innocence of puppy or kitten.

However, Kazuma for some reason wasn't fond of Celica. He didn't know why... Looking at her eyes gave him trouble breathing. It made his chest felt tight.

(She shouldn't be a bad girl though...)

While Kazuma was still trying to decide his answer, Nine stood up as if interrupting his thought. The chair which was pushed roughly made one think that she wasn't composed no matter how optimistic a person was when he looked at it.

"Celica. Come here for a second."

"Huh?"

As Celica was about to finish the spaghetti bolognese, her arm was pulled as Nine left the table. Celica followed her sister while still wide-eyed.

The girls stopped at the sandwich and bread counter which was always immediately filled with lines of students as soon as the noon recess starts. It was a bit away from the table where Kazuma and Trinity were left behind, but it wasn't a distance where they couldn't see the girls' expressions.

Along with Trinity who was peeling off the pudding's seal, Kazuma watched over at the situation. No sooner after she suddenly looked over her shoulder, Nine spoke.

"Stop getting involved with that suspicious man! It'll only get you into trouble!"

The flowing disapproval came flying to Kazuma's ears. It cleared up the question as to why the she felt she needed to leave the table to talk to Celica.

The powerful tone was enough to make someone cower, but it didn't even make Celica wince.

"Kazuma-san isn't suspicious! He might be a bit of a strange person, but it's harsh to brand him like that when we don't know him enough!"

"It's not necessary getting to know about him. You should know when you see him. Such a questionable man, whose thought can't be figured from his expression, isn't a decent person."

"That's not true!"

"Anyway, don't get familiar and approach that mysterious guy. You have a cute face and personality, but something crucial is missing. It will make sly and dishonest people take advantage of you."

"What are you saying!? You seem to accuse Kazuma-san of being a sly and dishonest person!"

The eyes of many students who were finishing their lunch gathered on the pair of quarreling sisters. Others began to look towards the table that Kazuma was sitting at, having guessed that he was the Kazuma-san in qustion.

Unable to bear the situation, Kazuma fixed his eyes on his pudding as if turning his eyes from reality.

What was quite shocking was Celica's remark when she completely denied the 'questionable man whose thought can't be figured from his expression' Nine had said.

(...I wonder if I'm that questionable?)

He tried to place his hand somewhere on his stunned face. As the mouth his fingers touched expressed a stiff smile that he was unaware of, he got shocked again.

"Umm, Kazuma-san?"

While the paralyzed Kazuma had his hand on his cheek, a worried voice came from beside him.

With a dry smile and trembling shoulders, Kazuma spoke to himself.

"...From now on, I wonder what kind of face would be good when facing them..."

"Uh, umm... please don’t worry about it too much ~. Nine somewhat loses control when it comes to Celica-san. She will just disregard her surroundings~."

Even Trinity was wearing a bothered smile. She must often given this explanation to others from time to time. Experiences with troubles seeped from how she talked.

"Besides, I like Kazuma-san's politeness and modesty. I think of you as a good-natured person."

"Haha... Thanks for that."

It's more preferable by far than a harsh criticism, but getting praised straight to his face was embarrassing. Kazuma awkwardly loosened up while scratching his mouth.

"Even so, Trinity-san is also a person who burdened with troubles, right? Like with her and me, you associate with people who aren't used to the class."

"Fufu. But compared to Kazuma-san's hardship, it feels pleasant."

"My hardship?"

"Your memory. It hasn't returned, right?"

"Aah..."

Kazuma had memory loss. It was a story that was known among his classmates.

The first time around, it wasn't a common thing. But now he practically didn't know just how many people had learned about it.

Kazuma also didn't wish for the issue to get mentioned too much. Getting inquiries out of curiosity would only bother him. Also, Kazuma usually didn't care about it too much.

However, sometimes Trinity was concerned about Kazuma.

It was by no means troublesome.

Trinity had a sort of enthusiasm where it would be fine to ask 'how are you doing?' to someone who had chronic disease. She made serious sounding words like 'memory loss' sound like something lighthearted.

"Well, it hasn't returned at all. I even think that I might not have a past to remember."

"Oh, please don't say about such a thing."

"Aah, no no. I'm aware of it."

Kazuma gave a loose smile to the rebuking Trinity who had a gloomy expression.

"It's not like I'm pessimistic about it, so don't worry."

Even if he was pessimistic, he didn't know if having nothing to remember was something to be delighted about or to lament with.

Kazuma suddenly realized something and raised his face. Before he had realised it, the sisters' quarrel could no longer be heard.

When he looked at them, both of them were silent while still stood in the same place as before. They stared at the large television which was installed in the cafeteria as if devouring it. Their expressions were too pale to have been drawn to it by interest only.

Following the girls' line of sight, Kazuma also looked toward the television.

Inside the rectangular screen, the usual news program was airing. The newscaster talked on and on while somewhat trembling.

It was a news that arrived from a particular country.