"Ayame-sama, this way."
"..."
"What did he do this time?"
"You see…"
♦♦♦
Ding dong ding dong
"Everyone, today we'll be visiting the university campus of Sakurazai Academy. I'll be assigning partners, and each pair will be guided by a student from the university. After the visit, you're free to go straight home." - the homeroom teacher announced.
So the teacher will decide who partners with who... I just hope Tomoki-kun doesn't get paired with that girl.
...
"Edomae-san, are you okay?" - Satou-san asked.
"Of course I am. Why do you ask?"
"Sorry, I just thought maybe you wanted to pair up with Tomoki, so—"
"Fufu~ To be honest, I did want to be paired with him. But... I think this is a good opportunity for him to interact with our other classmates."
"I see. Well, I hope we get along."
"Likewise. By the way, do you know how Tomoki-kun feels about her?"
"Her? Oh, her? I'm not really sure. I think they're just friends."
"Ah… I see. Just friends… Do you know how close they are?"
"Edomae-san… are you mad?"
"I'm just concerned for my friend's well-being, that's all."
That's right. I'm just worried about Tomoki-kun's safety. As a friend, it's natural to protect and care for him, right?
It's not like I'm… jealous or anything.
"So, Edomae-san, do you have a specific campus you want to visit?"
I wanted to pick the same one as Tomoki-kun. But I don't know what he'll choose.
Maybe something related to cooking? But after that incident… maybe not.
"I'm interested in the Management Campus. What about you?"
"I was leaning toward Agricultural, but I think I'll check out Management this time."
"I see. Then let's tell the teacher our choice."
After everyone submitted their choices, we boarded the bus that would take us around the Sakurazai university complex and drop students off at their selected campuses.
For context, our high school is located in the Education Campus.
Anyway, let's take this opportunity to learn how each department operates—and maybe narrow down my future career path...
"Whoa! I didn't know you were into this!" - Tomoki-kun said, eyes lighting up.
"Glad you like it. Wanna see more?" - said his partner.
I couldn't hear clearly, but they seemed to be having a great time.
I should be happy that my friend is getting along with others... right?
"Edomae-san?"
Still, I can't let my guard down. That girl might have ulterior motives. I need to keep an eye on her.
"Edomae-san? Are you okay?"
Or maybe he's just being polite to her. Not like he's actually interested...
"I'll tell you a secret or two about Tomoki."
"Eh!?"
"Edomae-san... you really do like him, don't you?"
"What are you talking about? Sorry if I was acting odd—I was just lost in thought."
"Lost in thought while staring at him for 15 minutes straight?"
"That was just a coincidence."
"Sure it was."
I need to calm down. Satou-san is here. If I give him the wrong impression, it might affect my relationship with Tomoki-kun later.
...
Eventually, we arrived at the Management Campus. Tomoki-kun remained on the bus.
"Good morning, Edomae-san and Satou-san, right? It's an honor to meet you both."
"The honor is mine." - I said, bowing.
Satou-san simply gave a polite nod.
"What a cute couple! You don't see many of those these days. Sorry if I'm being nosy—I just couldn't resist."
Satou-san and I exchanged glances.
"We're not a couple." - we said in unison.
"...Well, that was unexpectedly blunt. Anyway, feel free to explore the facility."
Inside, students were engaged in discussions, research, and classes. Everything was bustling.
I need to stay alert. Some of these students could become valuable assets for the Edomae Conglomerate one day.
"Welcome to the Management Campus. We focus on business administration, economics, and leadership development. As you may know, Edomae Ltd. and Satou General Supply play key roles in our research and education programs."
"I'm honored to hear that. I still have much to learn, which is why I'm eager to observe today." - I replied with a bow.
"Likewise." - Satou-san added.
"Seriously, are you sure you two aren't a couple? You give off that vibe. Maybe there's an unspoken love?"
We looked at each other again.
"Not at all." - we said in sync.
"You two seem really close… Come on, tell me the truth!"
While she was eagerly waiting for some love gossip, a middle-aged woman appeared.
"Stop it! I apologize for my student's behavior. She means no harm."
"Professor!?"
I wasn't really bothered. I think Satou-san wasn't either. Maybe we're just seen that way because of our family backgrounds.
"If you have any questions, feel free to ask."
"In that case, may I ask what your major research project is at the moment?" - I asked.
"Certainly. We're conducting behavioral studies on how different leadership styles affect group productivity, analyzing large-scale employee surveys, and recently, we've begun researching how A.I. can improve decision-making in HR departments."
"That's more than I expected. Thank you."
"However, right now we're researching how the lack of interaction with man affects the company's productivity. This is actually my student's research project — could you explain it to them?"
"It would be my pleasure professor! As you know, it's rare for women to have much contact with men due to the gender imbalance. Having a relationship with a man—or even raising a child—can be a major source of motivation for women in the workplace."
"Sorry if this sounds blunt, but is that because their… physical desires are being fulfilled?" - Satou-san asked.
"That's part of it, but not the main reason."
We both leaned in, curious about her explanation.
"As I mentioned, simply raising a child is another key motivator. But lately, with so much media focusing on romance—novels, dramas, manga, anime—the desire for a genuine emotional relationship with a man has grown stronger than just the physical aspect."
"I… had no idea." - Satou-san said, reflecting quietly.
"I've met many people who finally landed their dream job, only to later ask themselves, 'Why am I doing this?' There are many factors at play, of course—it's not the same for everyone."
"I'm looking forward to seeing your results, senpai. I hope your research is a success." - I said.
"Same here" - Satou-san added.
"Thank you both. You're always welcome here."
...
After our visit, we returned to the high school campus.
"Looks like we're the last to return..." - I said, glancing around the classroom. - "Are you heading home now, Satou-san?"
"I don't see Tomoki's bag, so I'll head out too."
"I'm going to the restroom first. You don't need to wait. Goodbye."
"Okay. Take care."
As I walked toward the restroom, I heard a voice I instantly recognized.
It was her.
"... Tomoki-san, what do you think about Edomae-san?"
I froze.
I could only listen—silently.