Chapter 1Who Decided that Past Chapters are Enough to Predict Someone's Thought?
"Why... ...Why isn't Hinoharu-senpai running for it...?"
"Yeah, I have a feeling so. Yeah, good luck."
We sat on a seat at the back of "Conference Room M", which could be considered a predetermined place for now. I grumbled with my face buried in the table.
"D*mn it, I've researched Hinoharu-senpai's personality and chapters before. Why didn't she run for Student Council President? Where is the plot twist in that data? In fact, tell me, what volume, what page, what line!?"
"Stop pouting like a child. It's embarrassing."
Uenohara, who was casually shading me when I suddenly sat down, was sipping on a seasonal whipped yogurt drink. How dare she, the one who put up this flag, be so indifferent!
"Yeah, no matter how well you understand someone's past and personality, it doesn't mean their actions will always be predictable."
"But it worked with Katsunuma-san."
"That's just because Katsunuma-san's thoughts and actions are directly related. In my opinion, it's more rare to find people like that. Usually, there are various complications that prevent people from acting the way they want to."
"Complications? I didn't find any complications in my research!"
"Not all problems are standing out and visible. There are some cases that remain hidden, or little things that accumulate over time."
"G-Grgh...!"
D*mn, Uenohara always makes so much sense!
I grumbled as I picked up my smartphone. The photo I took earlier and had forgotten about appeared, making me frown.
"Besides, the person running for office isn't ideal either."
"How come?"
"That's the current Secretary. I've only done a rough investigation so far, but in short, he's advocating 'Simplification Events'."
"...Hmm?"
I turned my smartphone screen towards Uenohara, who was stirring her drink with a straw.
"This is the container: 'Reduce Student Council fees by making the School Cultural Festival a 'One-Day Event' and 'Invite Famous Tutors from Famous Cram Schools for Special Lessons'. These are the two main pillars, and he also suggested things like 'Changing the Sports Day Events to Prevent Injuries' and 'Abolishing the Ball Sport Clubs.' Oh, this is not only a 'Simplification Event', but also an Anti-Rom-com'!"
"...Someone troublesome for your plans, huh?"
Uenohara muttered with her hand covering her mouth.
"Yeah, the contents do make sense, I guess. I heard that our school's academic performance has been declining year after year."
"While it's true that there is data to support that, the correlation with the 'Events' has not been proven. If they want to claim a causal relationship, they need to provide proper statistics! Ugh, this is frustrating me. I'm going to take out my frustration on a light novel, hit the protagonist with the corner of a book, tie him up with a beeper, and make him listen to a drama CD over and over again until his brain turns into a rom-com!"
"Calm down, don't get too excited just because you said so."
"Huft! Huft!"
Bring back my fun preparation time!
I took a sip of my iced coffee and sighed.
"And what's with the Secretary suddenly running for Student Council President? His policies are also very reformist..."
"Suddenly, huh? What kind of person is he? Do you have any information?"
"His name is Shiozaki Daiki-senpai, a boy from Class 2-E. He's about the same height as me, but his body is stockier, and he wears black-rimmed glasses."
"...I think I might have seen Shiozaki-senpai in 'Friends Notes', or maybe not..."
"Yeah, that's how Shiozaki-senpai is. He hasn't really stood out or done anything that stands out until now."
Shiozaki-senpai had the personality of a model student, but despite holding the position of Secretary, he had no outstanding achievements. His rom-com aptitude, of course, was E.
"Did Hinoharu-senpai push Shiozaki-senpai to run because she didn't want to? Or is he experiencing some kind of awakening? Ugh, it all boils down to a lack of information!"
It was painful because the information about the Student Council President Election was highly classified, making it impossible to understand anything beforehand. Trying to get information from Hinoharu-senpai himself was futile, and the Student Organization in general did not seem to be interested, as it was not even a topic of conversation.
"There are no other candidates, and at this rate, Shiozaki-senpai will be elected smoothly, and everything will be over. This is the crisis in everything."
"There is no point in complaining about what has been decided. We must think about what to do from now on."
While listening to Uenohara's calm words, I finished the rest of my iced coffee in one go. The heat in my head and body cooled down to a comfortable level.
Wait, is the air conditioning off? Is the air conditioning cold just because we're the only customers here?
I looked around and then slapped my cheeks, taking a deep breath to calm my agitated feelings.
After I felt that my mind was clear enough, I opened my mouth.
"...Anyway, all the planned event proposals have been canceled. First, we need to gather information to understand the current situation. The main goal is to get Hinoharu-senpai to run for Student Council President."
"Can Hinoharu-senpai still run at this point?"
"Technically, we still have a two-week grace period. It's just that, according to the rules, the nomination must be announced on the first day, and it doesn't matter if it's submitted on the last day."
The longer the announcement, the shorter the campaign period for the Student Council President Election — That's all.
If we can nominate Hinoharu-senpai to this Student Council President Election, there is a way to work with her, and most importantly, we need Hinoharu-senpai to be the Student Council President so that she can fulfill her title as "Student Council President (Tentative)-Type Heroine", if we are not careful, it might never lose the "(Tentative)" part.
Uenohara made a sound of "Hmm."
"By the way, why isn't Hinoharu-senpai running for the Student Council President Election? Did she tell you the reason?"
"That's the problem, Hinoharu-senpai was evasive when asked by me. She kept insisting, 'I'm not interested'."
"Hinoharu-senpai is evasive, huh?"
Uenohara crossed her arms with a puzzled expression on her face.
"If there's a reason, I think Hinoharu-senpai will say it. She seems to be the type of person who is always straightforward about things like that."
"Exactly. I think there may be some circumstances, and we need to investigate."
Whether it's personal circumstances, problems with interpersonal relationships, or perhaps family issues... ...We can't know anything about a situation like that.
I opened the calendar app on my smartphone and quickly entered the deadline of the self-nomination.
Including the time needed to handle this, we don't have time to relax. We must act quickly and efficiently.
"Okay... ...Let's split up and investigate for now. I'll talk to Hinoharu-senpai once more, and Uenohara, you check around Shiozaki-senpai and the others—"
At that moment, I suddenly felt a change in the airflow.
Huh, did someone adjust the air conditioning? I guess it was off until a moment ago...
Unconsciously, I looked up.
And...
"─Oh, Nagasaka-kun and Ayano!"
─Eh?
My mind froze as I suddenly stared at a familiar figure.
"─Huh?! Mei?!"
Hearing that voice, Uenohara turned her head, more confused than usual.
─In the hallway leading to the designated table.
Standing there, without me realizing it, was none other than the "Main Heroine"─ Kiyosato Mei.
"What a coincidence to meet you here! Are you two having a cup of tea together?"
Kiyosato-san smiled, like she always does.
Wh-Why... ...Why is Kiyosato-san here in "Conference Room M", a secret meeting place not used by Kyou-Nishi High School students?! How come?!
No, wait, that's not what's important right now!
Did Kiyosato-san hear what we just talked about?!
As the blood dried from my face, Uenohara calmly smoothed her slightly messy bangs and slowly opened her mouth.
"─Ah, you scared me. Don't do that again."
"Ahaha, sorry, sorry. I wanted to make sure it was you two before calling out, otherwise it would have been embarrassing."
Oh, wait! When I checked the air conditioning earlier, Kiyosato-san wasn't there yet!
If Kiyosato-san had been near me since then, I would have realized it. There's no place to hide and eavesdrop around here.
So it's okay, it's okay... ...Our 'Plan' hasn't been uncovered yet.
As I struggled to calm my erratic breathing, Uenohara continued the conversation.
"So, Mei, what about your club activity?"
"Oh, today was field maintenance day, so we just held practice and then dispersed."
Huh?! Did I miss that information...?!
I tried to recall the Tennis Club schedule, but I couldn't find the answer. This disorganized situation made my mind a mess, and I couldn't access my memories properly.
Kiyosato-san tapped the drink cup in her hand.
"Oh, may I join you? If I don't disturb you, that is."
"Eh? Oh, um..."
"Of course, go ahead. We're just talking for fun, after all."
Uenohara hesitated for a moment, but then nodded and brought her body closer.
Huh? Is that okay? What's Uenohara planning?
"Thank you! Then, excuse me!"
Saying so, Kiyosato-san didn't sit down at the space Uenohara had vacated, but, for some reason, she walked over to my side and made a pushing motion.
"Nagasaka-kun, can you move a little?"
"Huh, eh?"
"...Wait. Why are you going there instead?"
"Hmm? Because the scenery is better here!"
Scenery? Looking out the window is interesting!?
I shifted my body back as instructed, and Kiyosato-san shifted next to me.
The scent of soap wafted over, and from Kiyosato-san's short-sleeved uniform, I caught a glimpse of her white arm touching my shoulder.
W-Wait, isn't Kiyosato-san too close? Closer than usual? Kiyosato-san smells good!? Our hands just touched a moment ago!?
"..."
Ignoring my panicked state, Uenohara stared intently at Kiyosato-san. Uenohara's gaze seemed sharper than usual, but my mind was already an empty wilderness, so maybe I was imagining things.
Kiyosato-san didn't seem to mind and sipped her drink as if nothing was wrong.
"Oh, this place is very relaxing. You two should have told me about this earlier."
"It's not a very good place. It's just an ordinary branch shop."
"Really? It's not far from the school, so it feels like a hidden gem that only those in the know would visit. Plus, it's not too expensive!"
"It's not a hidden place, it's on the map."
Uenohara's face looked calm and relaxed as she answered smoothly. Seeing this, I regained a bit of my composure.
"So, in the end, you two came here for a cup of tea?"
Oh, y-yeah. That's right. I've prepared an "Emergency Guide for Unexpected Encounters with Friends" for situations like this. Remember that, me!
"Y-Yeah, that's right! There's a Nanokado Bookstore with a large selection just down the street, and I like to go there. But since Uenohara said she was bored, I told her to come with me so I could introduce some recommendations. Then, on the way back, it was hot, so we thought to take a break and enter this shop since it was the closest!"
"Ahaha, you talk so fast, Nagasaka-kun. Your recommendations are usually spot on. So, what books did you two buy?"
"Huh, hmm? Um..."
Sh*t, if I answer badly, I'll be in trouble when Kiyosato-san asks to confirm it! D*mn, I should have thought of that...!
"In the end, I didn't buy anything. Nothing really caught my attention."
Before I could say anything in my confused state, Uenohara interrupted and poked my drinking straw with her finger.
Huh? That's the 'No Need to Talk' order! Sorry!
I pretended to drink my iced coffee, soon discovering that the glass was empty, so I made sipping noises with the straw before handing it back.
Uenohara, who had narrowed her eyes and sent me the message 'You Idiot', took a short breath and turned towards Kiyosato-san.
Then, Uenohara began to speak.
"By the way, Mei, what are you doing here? Isn't this a little out of your way?"
"Hmm? My club activity ends early, and I thought I'd explore this area a bit before getting on the bus."
"You came quite far. Did you walk?"
"Oh, didn't I mention it? I also bought a bicycle! It's a parked bike there!"
Huh, what, it's not in my information database either!?
Uenohara gave me an 'I don't know about this either' look, so I blinked my eyes twice to convey 'I don't know either'.
Kiyosato-san raised her index finger and started talking.
"You see, whenever we went somewhere after school, I was always the only one walking, and I felt bad. So, I saved up my pocket money and bought a bicycle! Even so, I'll still take the bus to and from school."
Oh, I see... ...But when did Kiyosato-san buy the bicycle?
If I didn't know, Kiyosato-san probably didn't tell anyone else either.
"I was taking a walk on my bike, felt thirsty, and walked into this shop."
...There aren't many shops in this area that students can enter casually. Plus, there aren't many people coming here, so it hasn't been a problem until now.
Kiyosato-san continued with a smile.
"I saw a Kyou-Nishi High School sticker on a parked bike, but I didn't think it was someone I knew. It felt like fate!"
"...Yeah."
Uenohara grabbed a strand of hair that fell on her shoulder and shook it back.
Huh? Did the atmosphere just now become a bit tense?
Kiyosato-san didn't seem bothered and sipped her drink, while Uenohara finished her apple pie with a crunch.
Then, there was a moment of silence.
"—Oh, by the way. The Student Council President Election is coming up soon, isn't it?"
"...Huh!?"
My heart almost fell out of my mouth at Kiyosato-san's sudden question.
Y-You are listening!? This is bad, what should I do!?
"Yeah, I was just talking about that with Kouhei."
"What!?"
Huh!? You're going to say it!? Why!?
I was immediately glared at by Uenohara, and hurriedly covered my mouth.
"...Kouhei, your reaction was creepy from earlier. You're doing too much dere-dere because Mei is beside you."
"That's not it...!"
"Then what else could it be if not it?"
"Ahaha, okay, okay, you two."
Oh, I see. So, you want me to make it like that, huh...?
Uenohara tapped her cheek with her index finger while leaning on her staff. That was the gesture that said 'Leave it to me'.
─Okay, okay. I'll leave everything to you! I'll be a background character who just observes the situation!
With that determination, I crossed my arms and fell silent.
Taking my actions as affirmation, Uenohara opened her mouth again.
"Oh, does Mei know something? About Kouhei's acquaintance... ...Hinoharu Sachi-senpai, I mean. She was the strongest Student Council President Candidate, but for some reason, she didn't run for it in the Student Council President General Election."
"...Oh?"
"She is quite active, isn't she? So, I'm worried that there might be a problem or something because she doesn't want to be Student Council President."
Saying so, Uenohara looked at Kiyosato-san intently.
"Do you know anything about that?"
"...Hmm, I see."
Receiving that gaze, Kiyosato-san made a troubled face and hummed inwardly, seemingly contemplating what she should do.
"Actually... ...I was thinking of asking the same thing."
Huh? The same thing...?
Uenohara also looked confused, tilting her head slightly.
"What do you mean?"
"Sachi-senpai. We're also quite close."
Impossible!? More new information!?
Uenohara furrowed her eyebrows and was silent for a moment before slowly starting to speak.
"...Hmm, unexpected. You don't look like you have anything in common, so how did you meet?"
"It was during the Club Alliance Meeting. We talked there and hit it off, and since then we've been meeting up every now and then."
Club Alliance Meeting─ ─perhaps a meeting for the Clubs Union...!
Usually this meeting is to organize the division of places or discuss the maintenance of shared equipment. Usually, the Student Council and the President or Vice President of each club organization would attend, but depending on the agenda, the Equipment Manager from the first-year would sometimes participate as well.
Kiyosato-san was the Equipment Manager, so she probably attended the meeting because of that. It seems reasonable to assume that they became friends during the recent Community Clean-up Event.
D*mn, I didn't mean to neglect my investigation... ...Kiyosato-san's communication skills are too high, and I can't keep up with her expanding social circle...
Hearing this explanation, Uenohara nodded once in understanding and continued.
"If you two are really close, did Mei hear something? Kouhei asked Hinoharu-senpai, but she wouldn't answer him."
"No, I don't know the details either. But it seems Hinoharu-senpai has been troubled about something... ...I've been thinking about what would be the best way to help her."
Then, Kiyosato-san muttered with a worried expression.
"That's why I want to ask Hinoharu-senpai's close friends about it. But, I see. Nagasaka-kun doesn't know anything either, huh..."
Kiyosato-san sighed and leaned her shoulders.
I don't think we can rely on easily available information. We must investigate it ourselves...
─Vroom, vroom.
As everyone fell silent, the sound of a smartphone vibrating sounded from somewhere.
"Oh, sorry, that's mine!"
Kiyosato-san's face stiffened, and she began to reach into her skirt pocket.
"It's almost time to catch the bus. I'll go home first!"
Kiyosato-san must have timed it, because she stood up as soon as she looked at the screen.
"In that case, I apologize for disturbing you two! I'll consult you two again if anything comes up!"
And with one last smile and wave, Kiyosato-san left.
─
─...
"...Has Kiyosato-san left already?"
I muttered in a low voice, while glancing towards the exit.
Hearing the clerk say, "Thank you for your visit!" and the exit door ringing, I finally let out a "Huh" and slumped onto the table.
"...Sorry, I had to make you handle it alone. That was very helpful."
"It's okay. As soon as Mei appeared, I didn't expect anything, so there's no need to worry."
Uenohara cut off my words bluntly.
Yeah, that's true, but you can say it more gently...
"And why did you allow us to share a table? Wouldn't it be better to leave the shop to reorganize our strategy?"
"If when Mei comes, you panic and leave the shop. That's the same as saying, 'There's something uncomfortable going on here.' It's also a way of showing that we have nothing to worry about," Uenohara explained.
Oh, I see, so that's why you took Kiyosato-san's advice. If it were just me, I'd make running away my top priority...
"But why are you trying so hard to explain the contents of the meeting...? You could have faked it, you know..."
"Look, if we happen to be overheard, we will be suspected when we lie. I don't think she overheard everything from the beginning, but I'm not sure about the end."
Right, that makes sense... ...And gosh, the first time we met, I tried to lie to Uenohara and completely failed. I should have learned from experience, you stupid Kouhei!
"Fortunately, we didn't touch the core of the 'Project', and we were able to say that we were talking about a friend and make it seem like a normal conversation."
"Huh, I see..."
Uenohara had already thought that far ahead at that point? It was too far for me, I couldn't keep up. I'd better keep quiet.
"Yeah, whether we happen to be overheard or not makes no difference. You probably planned to steer things this way from the start..."
Uenohara ruffled the back of her hair while muttering.
"Huh? What do you mean?"
"Yeah... ...When Mei suddenly appeared, we had no choice but to do this."
Uenohara replied after quickly sweeping her hair back.
Hmm, that's a bit off-topic, isn't it...?
"Never mind, just forget about today. Nothing has changed, Kouhei should focus on investigating Hinoharu-senpai as planned. I'll look for information about Shiozaki-senpai."
"O-Oh. Okay, if Uenohara says so..."
Honestly, I had no idea what was going on, so I had no choice but to follow Uenohara's words.
I cleared my throat and regained my composure.
Well, at least we know that Hinoharu-senpai is worried about something, and we should start moving.
"And also—"
Uenohara suddenly looked around and said in a calm tone.
"We might not be able to use 'Conference Room M' anymore. We don't know when something unusually like today will happen again."
"Eh?"
That statement made my heart tense.
'Not able to use it'... ...So we can't hold meetings here anymore?
"Um, is that so? Today's case is a very unusual one, so maybe we don't need to go that far..."
"It's better to be prepared. It's not efficient to hold meetings while fearing unexpected encounters."
"That's..."
No... ...but maybe Uenohara is right.
Even if Uenohara is fine, I don't think I can be calm enough to hold a meeting. At the very least, we need to take some precautions, such as checking the surroundings regularly or not staying too long.
"Yeah... ...I guess you're right..."
As I said that, I looked around the room.
A dimly lit seat with deteriorating lighting, a window with a poor view, showing only residential buildings. I had gotten used to this familiar scene.
The sometimes lackluster voice of the waitress and the sound of the timer for the fries deflating are familiar to my ears.
—We use this place quite often, and it's a place where we can relax.
I glanced at Uenohara with just my eyes.
Uenohara sipped the rest of her drink with an expression that showed no particular emotion.
And more than anything...
This is where our relationship began.
The thought of not being able to use this place anymore makes me feel... ...lonely, am I the only one who feels this way?
"...Then, let's find another place from now on."
"...Yeah."
As Uenohara nodded, I couldn't see any strong emotions on her face—
But Uenohara's voice sounded thinner than usual.
Feeling that Uenohara might have the same feeling, I felt relieved.
*
The next morning, I headed towards the Student Council Office with quick steps.
—For now, I just want some information to get started. With the current situation, I don't even know where to start digging.
For now, I'll observe through small talk with Hinoharu-senpai and see if anything seems strange. That's the specific investigation I'll be doing.
"Excuse me," I said, knocking and calling out before placing my hand on the sliding door at the entrance.
As I opened the door, making a creaking sound, my eyes fell on a messy room. Normally, this room was filled with documents, stationery, and piles of boxes, giving it a messy feel. But today, the room seemed even more cluttered than usual.
"Good morning," I greeted.
"Good morning... ...Oh, Nagasaka-kun? One moment," Hinoharu-senpai replied, her hands full of cardboard boxes.
Hinoharu-senpai slowly moved and placed the boxes on the center shelf of the open steel shelf at the edge of the room.
What is this? Is Hinoharu-senpai cleaning?
"O-Okay... ...phew," Hinoharu-senpai replied, her voice strained as the boxes seemed quite heavy, causing the shelf to creak under its weight.
Hinoharu-senpai waved her hand in the air to loosen it, then turned to face me, patting the dust off her shirt. Perhaps because she was moving, the school tie that she usually wore neatly was not in place.
"Hmm, do we have a schedule for today? I don't remember giving you an assignment," Hinoharu-senpai said.
"No, not really. I just happened to arrive at school earlier than usual, so I thought I'd spend some time walking around and stopping by," I explained.
I could have given an excuse related to outsourcing tasks, but I felt that it would end up in the usual banter, so I chose to be spontaneous.
"Oh, that's unusual. You usually don't come for no reason. If you have free time, you should probably study or something. Time is precious, you know," She said, tilting her head in confusion.
...Yeah, that was true, but that was not the point now.
"Sometimes I do things like this. I'm not a machine, you know."
"In my opinion, you are much more meticulous than a machine. Especially when it comes to numbers," Hinoharu-senpai commented.
"That's only natural. Machines can calculate, but they can't interpret, so if humans make mistakes, machines will make mistakes too," I explained.
"I told you that you were very meticulous," Hinoharu-senpai said with a wry smile.
Hinoharu-senpai went back to sorting items, and I sat on the nearby pipe chair to observe her.
So far, there didn't seem to be anything strange about Hinoharu-senpai's response...
With the Student Council President Election campaign beginning, Senpai seemed to have nothing to worry about and was working as efficiently as ever.
Hinoharu-senpai flipped through some papers and started moving them to another box. A quick glance at the covers revealed titles like 'Regular Meeting Notulency' and 'Club Reports'.
"Are you moving or what?" I asked.
"No, no, I'm just returning the documents used in the meeting to the storage area. If I don't organize them from time to time, they'll get mixed up," Hinoharu-senpai explained.
Oh, I see...
Even so, this kind of organizational task seems like something that anyone can do. Is this really something that a senpai in a responsible position would do, alone in the early hours of the morning?
Or perhaps... ...is Hinoharu-senpai being forced to do boring tasks?
I've heard that Hinoharu-senpai's relationships with others are fine, but there might be some hidden and subtle bullying going on. Maybe there's an atmosphere that makes her feel like he has to do these things.
...Maybe I should look into it more deeply.
"Yeah, this kind of assignment seems like something that first-year students would do... ...Did your kouhais not do their assignments properly or something?" I asked.
"No, that's not it. They did what I asked," Hinoharu-senpai replied.
Hmm, so that's not it?
"In that case, is there an atmosphere that makes it difficult for you to ask for help casually?" I asked further.
"Not really..." Hinoharu-senpai was silent for a moment.
Hmm...
"First of all, this is not the kind of task that needs to be specifically assigned to someone. Whoever is paying attention should do it. I'm doing it now because I have time, and it's not a big deal," Hinoharu-senpai explained.
Now that I think about it, Hinoharu-senpai also said that overtime work is voluntary.
So, the theory that Hinoharu-senpai's relationship with others is bad is not true...
"By the way... ...do you enjoy such vague tasks or do you find office work fun? Is it one of your hobbies or something?" I asked.
"What? Not at all. I mean, does anyone enjoy doing housework?" Hinoharu-senpai replied.
"I don't think so," I said with a laugh.
Yeah, just because someone is proactive doesn't mean they enjoy it. Looking at her personal information figure, Hinoharu-senpai seemed to be the type of person who preferred more conspicuous activities.
Hinoharu-senpai tapped the pile of papers to tidy them up and then spoke, "But I think you'll enjoy this kind of thing, Nagasaka-kun. I can see you sorting and labeling, arranging them by date, and being very organized."
"You know me well. I'll classify things based on their importance and change the storage location based on how often they are used. On the desk, I keep a list of contacts for ordering supplies and such, and on the open shelves, I keep meeting minutes and monthly financial reports, which are updated regularly. Of course, whoever uses something must return it to its original place, and the students who are on duty that day will check it at the end of the day," I explained.
"Wow, that's more than I imagined. It'll be a little suffocating, though," Hinoharu-senpai said with a laugh.
I furrowed my eyebrows. The basics of data analysis are organization and neatness. That's only natural. After all, it feels better when things are neat and organized.
Hinoharu-senpai closed the lid of the cardboard boxes containing the pile of papers and gave me a glance. Then, with an exaggerated sigh, he said, "If only someone would join the Student Council, I could delegate tasks like this to them."
"Cough, cough!" I choked from the unexpected indirect blow.
Hinoharu-senpai really holds that grudge... ...I mean, I'm contributing well as an external collaborator, so cut me some slack, okay?
"But seriously, to be honest, I think the Student Council is a place where your talents would be very useful, Nagasaka-kun. It would be a shame not to utilize them more effectively."
"I told you once that I have a lot of things to do," I replied.
"And what exactly are the things you need to work on? It's not a club activity, is it?"
Sh*t, Hinoharu-senpai won't let this get away with it... ...She is an official "heroine" candidate.
Unlike Katsunuma-san, who is an extra, if I reveal too much about my "Plan" to them, it might affect the "Main Story" in the future.
Even so, they wouldn't be satisfied with vague answers either... ...I had no choice but to give them a light explanation. "Okay, long story short — I have an idealized image of high school life that I want to realize, and I want to put all my energy into making it happen."
"Well then, all the more reason to join the Student Council!" Hinoharu-senpai exclaimed, leaning forward and closing the distance between us. "Student Council is an organization dedicated to making school life more fun! We can plan and execute all sorts of events, from small-scale projects that add color to everyday life to large-scale festivals that involve the whole school, or even the whole city! There's no other place where we can do all that."
Hinoharu-senpai's eyes sparkled as she spoke enthusiastically. "Most importantly, don't you think turning the school into the best is the most satisfying thing?!"
"Ugh, yeah..." Overwhelmed by her enthusiasm, I gave a half-hearted response.
Hinoharu-senpai snapped back to reality, straightened up, and cleared her throat awkwardly before saying with a shy smile, "Yeah, I mean... ...it's not like we can do whatever we want. There are budget issues, political entanglements, and the need to get consensus from various stakeholders. There are realistic limitations."
"Hmm..."
"But there's no denying that the Student Council is the best environment to make the school a better place."
As I listened to Hinoharu-senpai, I let out a small sigh. I understood what she was saying. It's true, in terms of event planning and execution, there is no better platform than the Student Council.
But... "Honestly, the Student Council doesn't offer enough freedom to realize my goals."
"Huh? You don't think the Student Council offers enough freedom?" Hinoharu-senpai tilted her head in confusion.
After all, rom-com settings were not limited to the Student Council. Although there are light novels and anime with that kind of premise, it's not enough for me.
High school life only happens once, so it's only natural to want to experience as much as possible. "That's why I act on my own. It's much more flexible this way."
"But you can't do things alone, can you?"
"Yeah, that's why I've been working hard to reverse that impossibility. That's why I dedicated my ronin years."
Hearing my answer, Hinoharu-senpai faltered, "Eh..."
Hinoharu-senpai was silent for a moment before letting out a resigned sigh. "Oh, I see. Okay, if you change your mind, just let me know. This offer is always open." With a gentle smile, she resumed her task.
Phew, that was close. However, looking at Hinoharu-senpai's high enthusiasm, it seemed that she was not disappointed with the Student Council activities. Her spirit seems to remain as strong as ever...
So why isn't Hinohara-senpai running for Student Council President? The more I thought about it, the more confused I became...
As I mentally noted down this new information, Hinoharu-senpai snorted and picked up the cardboard boxes. "Tototo..."
Hinoharu-senpai faltered as she walked towards the steel shelves.
...Hinoharu-senpai is so clumsy. Now that I think about it, she is pretty bad at sports. So why is she doing menial tasks like this?
"Do you need help?" I asked.
"No, I'm fine. Besides, this isn't part of your contract..."
Contract? I don't think Hinoharu-senpai should be so formal about such a small task...
Hinoharu-senpai sat on the pipe bench placed in front of the shelf, trembling as she lifted a box and tried to place it on the head-high step. However, it seemed she could not lift it higher than her chest, and she reluctantly lowered it back down to her waist.
Yeah, there was an obstacle there. An obstacle that Uenohara-san did not have.
"Okay..."
Hinoharu-senpai bent her back and tensed her muscles.
Wait, is Hinoharu-senpai planning to lift it with all her might? That would be dangerous, wouldn't it?
Worried, I stood up involuntarily and rushed over to Hinoharu-senpai.
"Senpai, wait—!"
"Heave-ho!"
Before I could finish my sentence, Hinoharu-senpai lifted the box with all her might above her head.
With the force of her lift, the pipe stool made a loud clatter, and Hinoharu-senpai's body swayed unsteadily.
—As expected!
I spread my arms behind Hinoharu-senpai, ready to catch her.
At that moment, I was struck by a sense of déjà vu.
Huh? Could this situation be...?
*
—The "Senpai Heroine" fell, and the "Protagonist" (me) caught her gallantly.
Muttering "Ouch..." and feeling pain in my back, I then asked, "Are you hurt, Senpai?"
To which, Hinoharu-senpai replied, "S-Sorry, thank you... ...hyah!"
As the pain subsided, I suddenly noticed a soft sensation in my hand. I looked down and saw my arms wrapped around Hinoharu-senpai, embracing her—
—This is it!
Hinoharu-senpai has a lucky p*rvert event waiting to happen!
*
"This is it."
"Huh? What...?"
Before I knew it, the cardboard boxes had landed with a thud on the shelf, and Hinoharu-senpai regained her balance on the stool. She clapped het hands together and said, "Okay, that's done... ...Hey, what are you doing?"
"...Nothing."
I lowered my head sadly, my hands still outstretched.
Ugh, why hasn't that rom-com moment in the narrative book ever happened to me...?
Just as I was about to leave with my head down, I noticed something on the floor.
"Hmm, what is this...?"
I bent down to pick it up, and it turned out to be a small white button.
Hmm? Whose button is this?
"What's wrong? Did you find something...?"
Hinoharu-senpai, who had been talking to me, suddenly looked worried and gasped.
I reflexively looked up and saw Hinoharu-senpai holding the front of her shirt with both hands.
—Huh?
What's going on?
"...Um, that's probably my button."
"...Oh, yeah."
I slowly stretched out my hand and handed the button I took to Hinoharu-senpai.
Hinoharu-senpai gripped her shirt tightly with one hand and picked up the buttons with her other hand. She immediately turned around and ran to the back of the room, disappearing behind some objects in the corner of the room.
—Oh, I see.
Hinoharu-senpai's button must have come off when she lifted the boxes.
Oh, I see, I see.
I understand now.
...
Wait, does that mean that if I'm not disappointed, I'll be treated to a "Service Scene"?
D*mn, I feel twice as disappointed now!
*
I couldn't get a good look at Hinoharu-senpai who was sewing, and the atmosphere wasn't right for me to continue my investigation, so I returned to the classroom.
I had found some interesting things, so I would share them with Uenohara later and think about the next step.
As my classmates slowly filled the room, I talked to them occasionally, passing the time with some preliminary lessons.
"Hey, Nagasaka."
Torisawa appeared and broke my reverie. As usual, he looked haggard, his uniform shirt unbuttoned, revealing a silver necklace and a sturdy masculine collarbone that contrasted with his slender body.
D*mn, a handsome boy with s*x appeal in the morning is a dangerous sight... ...And can you be more careful with your gaze?
"Good morning — Wait, where's your guitar?"
"I had morning practice, so I left it in the Club Room."
Oh, right, Torisawa had been practicing hard lately because his band was going to have a performance outside of school. Since he also had after-school club activities, he used his morning and lunch breaks to practice.
Despite being busy, Torisawa never misses any club activities. He remained as dedicated as ever.
"Oh, by the way, I want to see your next live performance. Do you have any tickets left?"
"Yeah, of course. How many do you need?"
"Actually, we thought of going as a group. Would four tickets be okay?"
This was the plan I proposed to the "Friends Group" during the previous "Homeroom Event". Everyone seemed enthusiastic, so I was preparing to make it an "Event". Thankfully Tokiwa's training ended this morning.
Torisawa ran his fingers through his bangs, then nodded while humming.
"Hmm, I think I can handle that much. I'll bring the tickets tomorrow."
"Wonderful, thank you!"
Okay, the biggest problem was solved.
The band Torisawa was quite popular, with a professional bassist as a member. Their shows at venues in the city tended to sell out with just presale tickets.
I initially tried to get tickets through the regular channels, but they sold out within five minutes of going on sale. Because of this, I had to rely on the advantage of being friends with the band members.
"By the way, are you going to play the song from your previous music video? The original song that you guys composed?"
"Yeah, that will be the last song. If we get encore, we'll do a re-arrangement."
"Well, I really like that song, so I'm really excited!"
I wasn't just saying this to flatter Torisawa; I really liked that song. I even said that I wanted to have the audio and listen to it over and over again. It's a hard rock song, but it has a certain aura that reminds me of anime songs... ...or maybe it's just because it resonates with my soul as an otaku. Anayama even talked about making a MAD video for this song. Torisawa, who was unaffected by my praise, responded with his usual nonchalant attitude.
"Anyway, can I have a quick conversation with you later? During the lunch break is fine too."
"Huh? Oh, sure, but...?"
"Sorry for the inconvenience. I'll see you in the Club Room during the lunch break."
I think that was all Torisawa wanted to say, as he turned and walked back to his seat without saying anything.
I wonder what this is about. The fact that Torisawa didn't want to discuss it here suggests that it was something he didn't want to announce. I can't think of anything I've done that would warrant this...
Yeah, this is a good opportunity to continue the additional investigation involving Hinoharu-senpai as well.
"Sorry, Tokiwa. I guess you've heard. I'll skip lunch today."
"Okay, okay."
I turned to face Tokiwa, who was sitting next to me, and delivered the message.
Tokiwa was fanning himself with his notebook. The air conditioning in the classroom was on, but the temperature was set high as part of an energy-saving measure, so it must have been hot after morning practice.
"But it's rare for Torisawa to invite you directly like that, isn't it? I think this might be the first time I've seen it."
"Yeah, you're right..."
Usually, I was the one who started the conversation or invited Torisawa to hang out, and this was the first time he invited me like this. First of all, it was rare for the two of us to be alone together, and when we did have a secret conversation, it was often because he wanted to tell me something scary.
Now that I think about it, I'm starting to feel a bit anxious... ...I hope Torisawa doesn't eat me or something.
"Hmm, if Kouhei goes on a date with Torisawa, I think I'll go to the cafeteria. I'll go with Anayama."
"It's not a date, okay? Stop making problematic statements."
If you say things like that, the radicals will target you.
"Ugh, no way. I could handle it if it was just Eiji and Kakeru, but the fact that one of them is Senpai, that's what makes it really disgusting."
"Others who continue to make problematic statements should also shut up."
"What!? What's so problematic about what I said!?"
Katsunuma, who was talking to her group members by the window, suddenly barged in. So, I casually brushed her off.
Even after Katsunuma changed her mind towards a rom-com, she still insisted on continuing to belittle me...
"Look, can you stop with Kouhei-attacking as an introduction? If you want to join the conversation, join it normally."
"I don't want to join your conversation! I just heard something disgusting and felt the need to give a reasonable reply!"
"Yeah, yeah, that's what joining the conversation is all about. I always tell you to be honest, don't I?"
"Are you my mom or something!? Never mind!"
Katsunuma turned her face away in frustration, her hair bouncing as she puffed out her cheeks and hurried away. The classmates around us looked at her with a "there she goes again" look as they watched her leave.
*
I saw Katsunuma retreat backwards as she walked away.
But d*mn, Katsunuma really shines with that style... ...No one else fits that kind of grumpy look. Good, good.
"You two are getting along," Tokiwa said in a casual tone.
"Really? I feel like Katsunuma is even more openly hostile to me than before, anyway."
"No, no, I think that just means Ayumi trusts you. She must think that you won't hate her, no matter what she says, so she can express her opinion, right?"
"Hmm, hmm?"
So it's like that huh? Now that I think about it, it sounds like something out of a rom-com...
As I unconsciously scratched my cheek with a silly grin on my face, Tokiwa smiled at me.
"Anyway, I think it's a great thing!"
"O-Oh. Yeah, I think it's... ...good, then?"
"Yeah, it is indeed an ideal situation."
Tokiwa said, his voice sounding low.
...Huh? What did he mean by that?
For some reason, Tokiwa's voice suddenly sounded so lifeless.
"Good morning! I was almost late!"
Kiyosato-san's voice came from behind me, drawing my attention.
The three of us talked for a while before class started.
*
As soon as the lunch break started, I rushed to the school cafeteria.
Our classroom for Class 1-D was on the fourth floor, while the school cooperative was on the first floor. If I didn't hurry, the second and third years senpais, who were closer, would get there first and I would have no choice but to make do with whatever was left.
For now, I made it to the school cooperative at high speed and bought the bread I usually buy, mingling with the students who arrived early. I handed the change to the auntie at the cashier and left.
Okay, Torisawa should already be on her way there, so I should hurry too.
Ignoring the flow of students exiting the school building, I cut through the courtyard and started walking towards the arts building.
—And then, there.
'-Gagagagaga, eh, hello to all the students of Kyougoku Nishi High School.'
Suddenly, a loud electronic sound rang in my ears, making me cover my ears in surprise.
Reflexively, I turned my head towards the source of the voice.
In the center of the schoolyard, in front of the statue known as the 'Sky Statue', stood a male student holding a megaphone.
'Sorry to interrupt your lunch break. I'm Shiozaki Daiki, Student Council President Candidate of Class 2-E.'
—Oh, I see.
A person with short hair and black-rimmed glasses, with the same height as me but with a rather sturdy body — That's Shiozaki-senpai.
The other students around also turned their attention towards Shiozaki-senpai, curious about what was going on.
Hmm, I do know the platform, but... ...I guess I'll just stay and see how it goes.
After some hesitation, I sat down on the edge of a nearby flower bed. Sorry, Torisawa, please wait a moment.
'The reason I'm running for Student Council President is solely for a bright future for everyone.'
Shiozaki-senpai spoke, paying close attention to his articulation and pausing at appropriate intervals.
'Our time is limited. These three years of high school life are precious, and we must dedicate ourselves to things that we can only do now. The Student Council has an obligation to do its best to help in this regard.'
From time to time, Shiozaki-senpai looked around at the audience, as if he was speaking directly to them.
Yeah, Shiozaki-senpai did a decent job, I guess...
It's just that Shiozaki-senpai's speech was a bit too standard and original, lacking an interesting flair.
'However, I believe that our time is currently being wasted. A prime example of this is the two-day School Cultural Festival. The preparations that go along with it, such as planning, setting up booths, and various other events, are prolonged. What used to start after the midterm period now extends into the summer holidays, eating into our study time.'
It's not a waste at all! In fact, it's the preparation that makes the School Cultural Festival, and thus the rom-coms, so important! And come on, the School Cultural Festival is more of a 'now or never' thing than studying!
With a platform like that, everyone is bound to feel dissatisfied. Feel free to voice your grievances or scoff at it!
As I thought about this, I observed the reactions of the people around me.
—But.
The audience that had been watching Shiozaki-senpai, was no longer there. Everyone had resumed their lunch break activities.
...Huh? Wait, are they really indifferent? Shiozaki-senpai said some things that were quite concerning here.
'The School Cultural Festival is important. But does its value change if it's held for two days or one day?'
The noisy lunch break conversation had continued without me noticing, and now Shiozaki-senpai's raised voice was drowned out. At this rate, no one would hear the speech; it would just be background noise, a distracting sound in the neighborhood.
Since this is indeed a vote of confidence, I wonder if everyone thinks that Shiozaki-senpai's speech is pointless...
'─And by canceling the event on the second day, we'll use the budget we saved to invite tutor from famous cram schools. Our school's progress rate is currently on the decline─'
Shiozaki-senpai continued his speech in a monotonous tone. I don't think he is unaware of the situation... ...but I wonder how he feels about the current situation.
Hmm, I can't see Shiozaki-senpai's expression from here.
'—This school can be better. I can make it better. Please, I ask for your vote.'
In the end, Shiozaki-senpai ended with the standard line, 'Thank you for your attention', and bowed at a perfect 90 degree angle at the waist.
And without receiving any applause from anyone, Shiozaki-senpai left.
─Even in a situation like this, Shiozaki-senpai followed proper etiquette to the end, huh.
I felt a bit of goodwill from Shiozaki-senpai for delivering his speech even though no one was listening.
I wonder if it would be more interesting if it was a Student Council President Election battle...
While thinking about this, while looking around me as if nothing had happened, I walked towards Torisawa.
*
The Club Room for the Light Music Club is on the second floor of the Art Building.
However, since it was full of equipment and there was no room to relax, we decided to meet in front of the gymnasium next to it.
....Oh, there he is.
"Hey, Torisawa!"
I called out to Torisawa, who was sitting on the stairs next to the gymnasium, fiddling with his guitar. He seemed to be doing some maintenance, as there was oil and cloth all around him.
"Sorry, I kept you waiting."
"It's okay, no need to worry. Please eat your lunch. I'll talk to you while working on this."
I nodded and sat next to Torisawa, unwrapping the bread I'd bought.
Torisawa was rubbing the body of his electric guitar with a cloth, occasionally squinting to check for scratches or dirt.
Hah, even just sitting there with his legs crossed, polishing his guitar, Torisawa looked cool. This scene seemed to come from a different world. If I had added sparkles to the background, it would have looked like a scene from a shoujo manga instead of a rom-com.
Feeling a little out of place while munching on the peanut paste bread next to Torisawa, I moved away a little. Katsunuma's stabbing this morning wasn't entirely wrong...
Yeah, forget about that. Let's get straight to the point.
"...So, what's wrong?"
When I asked, Torisawa kept his eyes on his guitar while answering.
"Sachi-senpai, what made her hesitate? Do you know?"
─That sudden direct question made me freeze with my hand in the middle of my mouth.
"You mean... ...about the Student Council President Election, right?"
"Yeah, you often hang out with Sachi-senpai. Do you know something?"
...It's unusual for Torisawa to ask about other people like this.
I thought for a moment and decided to tell Torisawa the truth.
"Actually, I also tried to find out. I couldn't get a straight answer from Hinoharu-senpai."
"Oh, I see. What about the reason Sachi-senpai turned into a 'normal person'? Do you know anything about that?"
Huh? The reason Hinoharu-senpai became a 'normal person'...?
As I tilted my head in confusion, Torisawa blew away the dust stuck to his guitar head, then continued.
"I heard from one of the senpais on my club that Sachi-senpai used to be stubborn and insistent on her own opinions, but lately she's gotten really good at reading situations."
Hmm... ...come to think of it, there was someone in the Light Music Club who was in the same class as Hinoharu Sachi-senpai, a Class 2-A student. Torisawa must have heard it from that person.
"So Hinoharu-senpai is getting better at reading the atmosphere, huh. That means she wasn't like that before?"
"Sachi-senpai is the type of person who goes forward without regard for her surroundings, and seems to be quite bad at imposing her ideas on others. But, I don't think she said anything wrong either."
Oh, I see. Hinoharu-senpai was also like that when we first met, and that was the impression I caught from the data. Has she toned it down a bit...?
"Apparently, Sachi-senpai gradually became more flexible in the second half of her first-year, and now she is a pretty good kid. Thanks to that, she has also gained popularity among boys, it seems like that."
As Torisawa spoke, he opened his case and slowly inserted the guitar into it. Then, Torisawa closed the lid with a single snap, and stood up.
While casting a quick glance at me, Torisawa said, "If you want to find out more, investigate why Sachi-senpai changed for the better. That will give you the reason for her opportunism. That's the key to convincing her."
"Huh?"
"Aren't you planning to give Sachi-senpai some understanding and make her the Student Council President? Otherwise, you wouldn't be sniffing around like this, right?"
Wow, Torisawa can really see through me. And this is just from the small talk we had a few days ago...
As I moved my cheeks, Torisawa smiled sarcastically and shrugged.
"If that's what you're planning, I'll gladly pitch in. If you need help, just say so. If you want to do something, make it stand out."
With that, Torisawa ended the conversation and started walking towards the Club Room.
"Hey, Torisawa!"
"Hmm?"
I was a bit curious, so I called out to Torisawa as he turned to leave.
"You don't know Hinoharu-senpai, do you? ...But why do you care?"
If what I had heard earlier was true, they had never even spoken directly.
Torisawa himself wasn't the type to be interested in others. So why, in this case, did he decide to take matters into his own hands?
Torisawa stopped and turned around halfway.
"To be honest, I'm not that interested in Sachi-senpai personally. But..."
And, in a rare display of displeasure, Torisawa turned his face away.
"It pisses me off that someone who can easily bypass this system would voluntarily lock herself up."
*
The next day, after school.
Uenohara and I gathered in "Conference Room D", which had replaced the sealed "Conference Room M", at the DRAGON CAFE.
"For the time being, this place will be our headquarter. It's a bit far, but it's impossible for anyone to know about it."
It was a place that only Uenohara knew, and unlike fast food restaurants or family restaurants, it was not a place commonly used by high school students. This place should be much safer.
The cost would increase, but I had negotiated with Mr. Owner to do odd jobs in exchange for a discount. So, it wasn't too bad. It would put a strain on my time, but it was a necessary sacrifice.
"Let's start the investigation report. What have you gotten?"
"Yeah, I haven't investigated that much, but..."
Uenohara took out her smartphone and continued while looking at the memo-like screen.
"First of all, Shiozaki-senpai's nomination was voluntary. I think, after Hinoharu-senpai refused, Shiozaki-senpai raised his hand and said he would do it."
"So, Shiozaki-senpai wasn't forced, or someone told him to?"
"That's right. But everyone seemed to be surprised, and there was some excitement about the candidates because they didn't want to give a speech for Shiozaki-senpai."
Yeah, considering the contents of the platform, Shiozaki-senpai will probably buy some hate...
If someone wasn't really interested in supporting Shiozaki-senpai, they wouldn't want to do it.
"So, as Student Council Officials, they don't really want to actively support Shiozaki-senpai, but they have no choice because there is no one else?"
"They would rather not actively support and be blasphemed by other students. It seems like a policy to avoid trouble."
Even at Kyou-Nishi High School, they're like that... ...But now that I think about it, Hinoharu-senpai stands out more, while the others are quite innocent and don't really fit into a rom-com.
"That's all for now."
Uenohara locked her smartphone and sighed, "Phew."
"Thank you, you've been very helpful. But Uenohara, you're really good at investigating. This is more than enough for yesterday's request."
"It's not a big deal. I just heard it from someone else."
Uenohara curled her hair with her fingers and started munching on a donut.
I didn't think that was something that could be done casually... ...Uenohara isn't using the power of "Fast Female Messenger", is she? Uenohara must have a lot of friends.
"So, what do you think?"
"Yeah, okay."
Prompted by Uenohara, I took out my smartphone.
"Um, Hinoharu-senpai... ...She had a change of consciousness in the second half of her first-year and this year... ...If I were to borrow Torisawa's words, I think Hinoharu-senpai has gotten better at reading the atmosphere."
I continued, glancing over the notes I had quickly compiled. "I also double-checked with the people around Hinoharu-senpai, and they had the same perception. However, no one seems to know the reason behind it. They only realize that things are gradually getting better."
Uenohara nodded as she swallowed the last bite of her donut.
"Really, sweet things always disappear around you. Donuts aren't drinks, are they?"
"Besides, I dug deeper, but there's no information to suggest that Hinoharu-senpai fought with his friends or the Student Council Officials. Furthermore, it seems that she is not bored with Student Council activities either. In fact, she seems to have a stronger attachment to the Student Council than I imagined."
Seeing how determined Hinoharu-senpai was, it was undeniable that the Student Council was an important place for her.
"Hmm," Uenohara muttered as she took a sip of her cafè latte before speaking. "However, Hinoharu-senpai is not running for Student Council President."
"That's what's confusing..."
Until now, we have not found any factors that would prevent Hinoharu-senpai from running for it. Instead, the sentiment is curiosity as to why she did not run for it in this situation.
"If you read the atmosphere that leads to the current balance, it could be a reason for Hinoharu-senpai not to run for it. And then there is the question of what she is thinking..."
Uenohara muttered to herself thoughtfully, then looked up. "I don't think it's worth investigating further. The answer seems to lie only with Hinoharu-senpai."
Ugh...
"In the end, it seems we have no choice but to try and get Hinoharu-senpai to leak it somehow... ...That's a difficult order."
I didn't think that was something that could be easily achieved with my skill level.
Uenohara remained in her thinking pose for a moment before raising her index finger and saying, "Instead of trying to get Hinoharu-senpai to talk, why don't we create a situation to shake things up and try to understand her thoughts that way?"
"Hmm, I see."
In other words, we would set up some sort of "event" and try to decipher the true meaning of Hinoharu-senpai's reaction.
"But now, we must observe Hinoharu-senpai's reaction in real time. Depending on the event, we might not be able to record everything in sequence, and analyzing it later might be a challenge."
"Don't worry, I'll handle it. We don't need to work separately for this."
"Oh, right! Then there's hope!"
Uenohara wouldn't miss anything unusual, and if necessary, she could skillfully guide the conversation.
That way, I can focus on gathering observable information. Yeah, this is very efficient.
As I nodded in agreement, Uenohara muttered, "And this time... ...I think it's better in every way. We can't let another irregularity happen."
"You're very reliable. When it comes to irregularities, I really can't do anything, so please help me, Uenohara-sama."
"Yeah, yeah."
Uenohara twirled her hair with her fingers and replied in an emotionless tone of voice.
Okay, now we have a direction to go in.
"So, with that decision, let's immediately start planning the specific 'Event'."
I put my hands behind my head and stretched them left and right.
—As I did this, I found Mr. Owner standing on the stairs.
"Oh, Mr. Owner? Is there anything you need?" As soon as I asked, Mr. Owner smiled and walked over to us, placing a cup of coffee and a donut on the table.
"Here's a refill. You guys must be tired after thinking so hard."
"Huh? I didn't order this..."
"This is a gift from me. You'll be regular customers from now on, right?"
Mr. Owner bared his white teeth with a smile. "You two are so engrossed in your own world that I feel like I'm intruding. I wanted to let you have some time alone, so this is my way of saying thank you for sharing your youth with me."
""...Huh?""
"Haha, well, you two even breathe together."
We both stared at the cheerful Mr. Owner with lethargic gazes.
"Wait, you're spying on us! That's disgusting, Mr. Owner!"
"...Agreed."
Mr. Owner continued with a mischievous grin. "Okay, I did call out to you, but you ignored me. So, I guess you're in your own little world."
"..."
"You're lying!"
"Haha, yeah, that's a lie."
What a sneaky old man!
As Uenohara and I glared at Mr. Owner in silence, Mr. Owner shrugged and said, "Sorry, sorry. But you two really get along. It's heartwarming to see such a sincere relationship."
"Maybe it is!" "Not really."
"Ahahaha!"
D*mn, 'Conference Room D' is troublesome in a completely different sense...!
Mr. Owner walked away laughing, I watched him leave with a frown and sighed.
"Seriously, that man... ...He often teases us like that. I always end up being played like a fiddle too."
"And the fact that I was played the same way is really surprising. Does this mean I have the same way of thinking as this boy...?"
"Hey, don't look so upset..."
You don't have to ruffle your hair like I'm your archenemy or something...
TL: Reeze27
ED: Reeze27
PR: Reeze27
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