ON THE MORNING of December 28th, as the end of the year approached, I looked at my cell phone beside my pillow.
About 30 minutes prior to 7 a.m., a message had arrived.
The content was a modest message from Kei informing me that she had recovered.
Having seen the message as I laid on my back, I got up and switched to lying face down.
[Are you awake?]
I sent the message and a read notice came in less than 3 seconds.
It was clear that she was holding her cell phone the whole time, waiting for my response.
[Yes, I'm awake.]
I had reached out to her several times to check up on her condition since she caught the flu, but that was it.
There were no signs of her usual high-spirit self, and she didn't send any stamps.
[What's your plan for today?]
I tried to ask. I had intended to invite her if she told me she was free, but…
[Sorry. I plan to hang out with Maya-chan after this. She encouraged me the entire time I was bedridden and followed up a lot, so I wanted to thank her too. Is that bad?]
Of course it wasn't bad. That was something she should prioritize— something important.
If she prioritized me and neglected Satō, that would betray true friendship.
Naturally, I wouldn't try to rain on her parade with this matter. And I shouldn't.
[Understood. Can I call you tonight? Around 9 pm? I want to talk about things happening tomorrow and beyond that.]
What happened during the Christmas we were supposed to spend together and the growing distance between us lately.
There were many things we should discuss as boyfriend and girlfriend.
[Yeah.]
Shortly after, she sent another short message.
[Then, I'll be waiting for your call.]
At least her physical condition had improved; that was a relief.
It was important that we scheduled something before the end of the year.
The only question now is how I'm going to spend today.
Either show my face at the gym, which I hadn't visited for some days, or spend the day in my room not going out.
Ideally, I wouldn't want to overlap with the time Kei and Satō would spend together.
So, I crossed off the option of going to the gym from my list as well as Keyaki Mall.
If Kei and Satō kept worrying about my presence, they wouldn't be able to enjoy themselves.
When I was about to pick up my cell phone again to let her know my intention to stay in my room all day, a sound rang out.
Thinking it might've been Kei, the thought quickly vanished when an unregistered number showed on the display.
However, I remembered this number.
What a dilemma.
I continued to stare at the screen for a while.
It seemed unlikely that the ringing would stop anytime soon, so I decided to answer it.
"Hey, answer it faster when I call."
Ryūen, on the other end of the line, expressed his dissatisfaction before I could respond.
"I was in the bathroom."
"Really? Didn't you just try to ignore me until it stopped ringing?"
Good job. Be it Sakayanagi or Ryūen—both seemed to be getting better at reading my everyday thoughts.
"Lend me some time. Meet me at Keyaki Mall's north entrance in 30 minutes."
Without any interest in my excuses, he only conveyed his own business.
"What about my plans? I have a tight schedule, you know."
"Postpone it."
He unilaterally cut off the call after forcefully demanding us to meet.
"He's still so self-centered."
His attitude wasn't surprising. It was just like Ryūen's usual behavior.
1
The peak of the snowfall had passed, and the thickly piled-up snow painted pictures as it melted.
There was still some snow left in the shadows, but it was probably just a matter of time.
However, getting called by Ryūen around the end of the year like this…
There was a chance for him to converse with me at the school festival, and we even coincidentally ended up in the same group for the school trip, but we shouldn't have had any interactions after that.
In the midst of winter break, it was hard to imagine any conversation related to exams.
Not knowing what the matter was, I arrived at the Keyaki Mall's north entrance almost exactly at the promised time.
Ryūen wasn't there, but instead, another person was leaning against the wall with their arms crossed.
"Katsuragi? This isn't a coincidence, is it?"
Keyaki Mall hadn't opened yet. There was no reason to be there at that time unless you needed to be the first person in the store.
"You got a call from Ryūen, didn't you? It's the same for me."
If Katsuragi was also being called, it didn't seem to be just some small talk.
"It's a bad habit of Ryūen to unilaterally call us out whenever something happens."
Since transferring from Class A to Ryūen's class, Katsuragi had been active with Ryūen in many instances.
"You've become quite the strategist. It seems that even Ryūen trusts your abilities."
"That would be nice."
While he didn't show a happy expression, it didn't seem like he was completely displeased either.
"So, what's the reason for the call?"
"I don't know. You'll have to ask Ryūen directly."
It seemed that even Katsuragi, who was likely called out in the same way, wasn't informed of the details of the conversation.
"You must have guessed it would be some unpleasant scheme. I'm sure you're aware of that as well."
"Well, there's a possibility of it being a troublesome matter."
"Then you could have ignored it."
"Wouldn't that just make it more troublesome later?"
"That's limited to ordinary students. Your name comes up occasionally, but he mentions it with the highest praise. It's proof that he understands that you're an opponent he can't beat now."
"Praise? ...I can't imagine."
"Erase him, crush him, kill him. Any of them would be a great compliment, right?"
"That's not a compliment. It's a disaster."
Half of it might've been Katsuragi's teasing, as he slightly raised the corners of his mouth and smiled.
"There's no one outside of the class who's equal or better than him. And there's no one who can truly talk to him. In that sense, your existence is also important to him."
Sakayanagi would also be fine in terms of being his equal or better, but she was the opponent right in front of him that needed to be taken down.
We didn't have a relationship where we could honestly talk to each other.
"Still, it's amazing that you were able to defeat Sakayanagi, even though it was a special exam where you had advantageous elements. It would be nice if this broke her pride a little."
"Sakayanagi did what she could and lost, so the impact of the defeat will be limited. We were just riding the wave that was coming along due to multiple things lining up to our advantage."
"Riding the wave, huh? But it's also a special exam where you can't win without having strengths, even if you do handstands."
Katsuragi praised that our victory was undeniably due to the strength of the class.
"On the other hand, your class seemed to be far behind Ichinose's class."
"That class takes on any special exam with a positive attitude, adheres to the basics, and holds itself together."
It wasn't an opponent that could easily be defeated, Katsuragi analyzed.
"Our class's task is clear. Our academic ability is overwhelmingly inferior compared to other classes. We have to do something about it; otherwise, we'll have to face several unfavorable battles in the future."
The challenges were visible, but improving them would be incredibly difficult.
Academic ability wasn't something that could be acquired overnight.
"In the last special exam, I told them to give up short-term gains and raise the academic ability of the entire class, but Ryūen didn't seem to want to listen."
If they couldn't win with a straightforward approach, they tended to rely on underhanded tactics and surprise attacks.
"However, just leaving it alone won't lead to a breakthrough or resolution to the current situation. People are interested in that they unconsciously choose their opponents. Ryūen uses all the members of the class like his limbs, but even so, there will always be students that he values and those that he hardly uses."
"It's not just about abilities, is it?"
If there were obedient students like Ishizaki and Albert, who tended to get involved in trouble easily, and those who were rebellious and disliked wrongdoings, it was natural for Ryūen to value the former.
"Yes. It's not just about abilities. You can see signs of it elsewhere. Strange, isn't it?"
"Yeah."
"That's why I think those students, who Ryūen doesn't often use, have extra time and can actively learn to study. Of course, without him knowing."
If Ryūen heard about this, would he berate Katsuragi for doing unnecessary things? Even if he showed anger on the surface, he might not actually stop Katsuragi's actions. Ryūen, who had grown this far, should judge it as a necessary measure. It was also one of the reasons he paid a large sum of money to poach Katsuragi.
"Is it okay for me to hear something so important?"
"It's strange, but by sharing a secret with someone, it can sometimes help with your mental well-being."
"As a result, I might tell Ryūen."
"If you were that kind of person, I'd only have to reflect on my mistake in judging you."
He expressed his trust in me in such a way.
And he artfully applied pressure to prevent a betrayal.
At that point, Katsuragi interrupted the conversation and turned to face my back.
"Here comes the brazen man. He doesn't seem to be reflecting on his tardiness."
Following Katsuragi's gaze, who backed away from the wall exasperatedly, I saw Ryūen slowly approaching us.
On his left wrist was a plastic bag, perhaps from stopping at a convenience store.
"It seems we're all here."
"Shouldn't you apologize to Ayanokōji at least?"
"I don't know. Just be grateful that you weren't called out during the New
Year's holidays."
Despite Katsuragi urging him to apologize, he ignored it and started walking. For a brief moment, Katsuragi and I exchanged glances that seemed to express, 'We're in for some trouble.' Ryūen pulled out a hamburger from a plastic bag and placed the empty bag into his pocket.
He tore open the wrapping paper and started eating as if he missed out on breakfast.
Katsuragi looked at him with a baffled expression, wondering why he couldn't at least have finished his meal beforehand.
"I'd like to hear why you called both me and Ayanokōji out."
Although he was asked with a strong tone, he had no intention to answer immediately. Instead, he continued to silently chew his food.
After repeating this several times, he finally began to speak once his stomach was satisfied.
"I heard interesting news from the third years. Apparently, a big obstacle awaits us in the third term where we'll face others from our same year."
"A big obstacle? You're talking about the final exam, right? It's nothing surprising."
Preparations for the more intense final exams were confirmed several times and in various forms.
It was hard to believe that Ryūen called us out just to tell us something we already knew.
"Isn't it possible that it's not just the final exam?"
In response to Katsuragi's reply, I cut in after a slight delay.
"We've been focusing on the end of the third term, but there might be something else."
"Did you hear something too, Ayanokōji?"
"I heard that there might be a special exam at the beginning of the third term that could result in some students being expelled. I don't know how true it is though."
Ryūen might've heard the same thing, and upon hearing this, he grinned.
"By the way, when did you hear this?"
"On December 25th, three days ago. The source was Kiryūin of Class 3-B."
"On the same day, my source was Class 3-D's Ibeyama."
"If there truly is a risky exam, how come both of you heard about it at almost the same time?"
"Just a coincidence... or perhaps—"
"Or perhaps the school controlled the information and released it at that time."
As this idea began to appear more certain, Ryūen forcefully bit into his hamburger.
Horikita's Class B heard it from Kiryūin in Class 3-B.
Ryūen's Class D heard it from Ibeyama in Class 3-D.
The fact that the information sources matched our classes intrigued us.
If Sakayanagi heard from Class 3-A and Ichinose from Class 3-C, then our assumptions would be correct.
"However, can we really be sure of this? Couldn't someone just be spreading false rumors after talking to the third-year students? Besides, we're in the middle of winter break right now."
"Heh. That's precisely why it's credible."
Students naturally lose their sense of urgency during the break. The relaxed atmosphere made their days enjoyable. If this was a false rumor, making the students prepare for battle early on wouldn't accomplish much. Any mental strain causing unease couldn't be expected either.
"A warning to be prepared for a shock—it's natural to think that way."
Given the situation that both Ryūen and I knew the same thing, Katsuragi calmly analyzed it.
It was a message aimed at a specific class of third-year students, and the information flowed smoothly.
"Has anyone else heard something similar?"
Upon Katsuragi's question, I shook my head from side to side, and Ryūen didn't react, but he likely shared the same answer.
If Ishizaki and the others had heard it, they would've immediately reported it to Ryūen.
"Should we assume that it was announced to one representative from each class?"
"We can't be sure, but it's probably safe to assume that Sakayanagi and Ichinose have been notified as well. They wouldn't be so stupid as to miss this kind of information, no matter how indirect."
"But then a question arises. Why was Ayanokōji chosen for class 2-B? If we were to consider it in order, wouldn't it be Horikita? Or maybe you being chosen was just a coincidence, and there's a possibility that someone other than
Sakayanagi and Ichinose was chosen... No, that's unlikely."
Halfway through making a new hypothesis, Katsuragi denied himself.
"The school's ultimately neutral. If they're going to give a warning, they should've prepared the leaders in advance. It was necessary to select someone who could understand and accept the third year's warnings, at least."
"Suzune has been getting more powerful, but it wouldn't be surprising if the school and third-year students interpreted Ayanokōji as the leader and chose him.
It's not particularly shocking."
Indeed. Recently, I've had many opportunities to talk to Nagumo and Kiriyama when dealing with the student council.
Still, Kiriyama likely would've chosen Horikita.
More importantly, why Kiryūin had made contact with me wasn't resolved yet.
If I had to interpret the situation, I'd say that the third-year leaders were instructed by the school to deliver the message to the second-year leaders.
Kiriyama intended to inform Horikita, but Kiryūin, who had overheard the conversation, volunteered and chose to approach me and deliver the message—
I couldn't tell if this interpretation was correct, but since I had come to know the content of the message, it was my duty to inform Horikita.
"If we assume that the same thing happened last year, there might be a special exam hinted at before or after the mixed training camp."
Katsuragi muttered and then organized his scattered thoughts once more.
"There will be several special exams in the third term—one in early January and the other in late January—and another one in early March with the class voting special exam. This will be followed by the final exam for a total of four."
Adding to the three first-year exams, there might've been a total of four second-year exams, meaning there were more possible exam opportunities.
However, this was all mere speculation, and I mustn't forget that.
Apparently, the class voting special exam was an unexpected event that wasn't held every year.
If it didn't exist, there would be a total of three special exams conducted in the third term.
In the end, last year was last year. It was merely a reference.
There was even a possibility that no special exams would be held, but this was highly unlikely.
It couldn't be said for sure that there weren't or couldn't be cases where there were more than four exams.
"Class voting, huh? You had Totsuka expelled by Sakayanagi, didn't you?""...Yes."
As Katsuragi's expression darkened, perhaps recalling last year's bitter incident, Ryūen, who had finished his hamburger, cheerfully added.
"Depending on the situation, it won't be just one or two expulsions, right?"
As he casually said, it was better to be prepared for the risks that came with the truth.
"Expulsions, huh? I'd prefer not to have any."
"Don't say such soft things. There are still too many students in our year. It won't be interesting unless we have an exam that can thin out even five or ten students."
Against Katsuragi, who would likely be thinking about his classmates, Ryūen expressed the opposite idea.
"Don't forget that you also have the risk of being targeted, Ryūen."
"Bring it on. Whether it's Sakayanagi or Ichinose, if they come after me, I'll just crush them."
"It's fine if it's an obvious enemy. But there's no guarantee that someone won't come and kick you from within."
Within—that meant his own class.
Ryūen, who always took a stand against his enemies, surely had many foes.
However, he wasn't the kind of guy who would feel anxious about such things.
"It'll be easier to talk if we don't have to choose someone to cut from here."
"Indeed... But I must say, if you arbitrarily decide to abandon your own people, I'll resist."
"Do as you like."
Even if Katsuragi, who previously intervened in the class vote, seemed to be a hindrance, Ryūen would have no mercy. However, he still functioned as a stopper to a certain extent.
Yet, the mystery didn't fade away.
Katsuragi, who walked next to him, must have harbored the same concerns since his expression remained stern.
There was no need for the three of us to gather and converse like this if the sole purpose was to iron out our differences in the face of the impending special exam.
"In the next special exam, if the rules allow a one-on-one battle, I'll take on
Sakayanagi."
Those were the words that came out of Ryūen as if he'd seen through both my and Katsuragi's thoughts.
"What's your intention, Ryūen? Isn't a direct confrontation at the final exam enough for you?"
"It's not enough. I want to see that woman's face covered in humiliation at least one more time."
Naming the opponents he wanted to fight meant that he was telling us not to interfere.
"Even without a warning, there's a low possibility that Horikita would actively desire a confrontation with Sakayanagi's class. Currently, unless the special exam places a heavy emphasis on teamwork, there's no merit in fighting against her class, which has a higher overall ability."
If she had to choose between the lowest-ranked class and the top, she would probably opt for Ichinose.
"It's not advisable to nominate Class A at this point. If the special exam revolves around academics like the previous one, we would be facing a formidable opponent."
Indeed, there was no need to nominate at this stage.
But Ryūen seemed ready to fight, even if it meant taking risks.
"Sakayanagi probably thinks I'm the one she can defeat anytime. I'll correct that misconceived notion."
"...I don't want to agree."
"So, Katsuragi. Will you go with Ichinose? Ichinose has become quite a troublesome opponent."
It seemed that even Ryūen had noticed that Ichinose was beginning to change. Though Katsuragi might have to revise his understanding, he would still object to naming Sakayanagi.
"Evaluating Ichinose as troublesome isn't bad. But overall, she still falls short compared to Sakayanagi. Even if the assessment was overturned, they were still incomparable. For now, we should wait for information to be disclosed in the third term."
Katsuragi, who didn't underestimate Ichinose, suggested that they should choose who to fight after learning about the special exam's contents.
"Does the reason even matter? Ryūen simply wants to fight Sakayanagi."
"That's the problem. A leader should choose the most promising method and pick the best option. Confirming a fight with a powerful enemy at this point is like throwing away victory."
The three of us continued our stroll and discussion around Keyaki Mall without stopping.
It seemed my release wouldn't be granted anytime soon.
2
The big Christmas tree that should've been adorning the entrance had already been removed.
As she gazed at the empty space, Karuizawa showed a melancholic expression.
"Haah—"
A heavy sigh slipped out unintentionally.
Satō, who had just arrived at the meeting place, heard it from behind Karuizawa.
"Kei-chan, did you wait long?"
"Ah, Maya-chan. No, not at all. I just got here too."
Having fully recovered on the 28th, Karuizawa had invited Satō to hang out.
As she had explained to Ayanokōji, she had relied on Satō's help many times during her bout with the flu.
Satō had provided her with anything she needed, regardless of the time.
She replied promptly to any messages when she was feeling lonely.
She even listened to the painful feelings that Karuizawa wanted to express to Ayanokōji so many times but couldn't.
And she happily accepted Karuizawa's sudden invitation without any dismay.
"Sorry for inviting you out of the blue."
"It's totally fine. I'm just glad you're feeling better. I'm really happy for you."
"Thank you. But isn't this too much fuss over just the flu?"
"It can be serious for some people, you know."
Satō held Karuizawa's hand and joyfully celebrated her recovery like a child.
"I might be overstepping my bounds, but... did you properly tell Ayanokōjikun that you're better now?"
"Yeah, I told him this morning. We also agreed to talk about the promise we couldn't fulfill on Christmas night."
"Oh, that's great, isn't it?!"
Although Satō jumped to the conclusion that everything was resolved and they had made up, she quickly withdrew her smile upon seeing Karuizawa's uneasy expression.
"We might be able to keep our promise to meet, but... I don't know about anything beyond that."
"What do you mean…? It was just a little fight, right?"
From what Satō had heard, it didn't seem like an issue as serious as the people involved claimed it to be. If anyone was at fault, it was Ayanokōji.
However, there was another issue that had been lingering on Karuizawa's mind for some time.
"Kiyotaka might actually have started to like Ichinose-san."Falling in love with someone else.
Karuizawa had been continuously pondering this worst-case scenario while she was feeling under the weather.
"No, no, no, that's absolutely not true. Don't worry, okay?"
"...Yeah..."
With her answers returning to normal, Satō was relieved to confirm that her words were reaching Karuizawa.
At the same time, she regretted digging her own grave and, unable to take it back, desperately tried to change the subject.
"It-it'll be New Year's soon, right? Time flies, doesn't it?"
The Christmas tree had been removed. The decor was already set for New Year's.
"Yeah, I guess... I really wanted to see the Christmas tree."
"Uh...!?"
Karuizawa, still clinging to her lingering regrets, remained still, gazing at the spot where the tree had been.
They were supposed to decorate the tree on the 24th and take a commemorative photo together while the ornaments sparkled.
Having dug her own grave yet again, Satō pulled at her own cheek.
"Well, there's always next year, right?"
"Yeah... Yeah, that's true."
Next year. It was impossible for Karuizawa to think about something a year ahead at this time.
Even tomorrow's prospects were unclear, shrouded in darkness.
While Karuizawa kept her gaze fixed, Satō repeatedly glanced around their surroundings.
She wanted Karuizawa to cheer up—that was her top priority. But Satō also had another goal in mind when she readily agreed to hang out with her: a chance encounter with Ayanokōji.
If they hadn't resolved their issue yet, it'd be difficult for them to intentionally meet up. So, she decided to leave it up to fate.
Thankfully, they had already arranged to meet up tomorrow, but it wouldn't hurt for it to happen even sooner.
She thought that, as long as Ayanokōji could cheer her up, it wouldn't matter if he was her boyfriend.
All that remained was for the two of them to meet up spontaneously in the midst of their shared time together.
In that scenario, Satō hoped to smoothly facilitate their reconciliation, creating an ideal outcome.
However, it was always tricky to meet up when they actually wanted to.
Satō thought to herself, if Ayanokōji knew that she was hanging out with Karuizawa today, he may have wanted to avoid showing his face.
The evidence was right in front of her—Karuizawa didn't even show a hint of trying to find her boyfriend.
It didn't seem like malice, but rather an act of consideration so as not to interfere with their day out.
If a chance encounter seemed unlikely, then it'd be up to Satō to stay strong."Come on, let's forget about all the unpleasant stuff and have fun!"In a do-or-die spirit, Satō firmly grabbed Karuizawa's shoulders.
Seeing Satō's eyes full of determination to encourage her friend, Karuizawa reflected upon herself.
She had called out her best friend to express her gratitude, yet she'd ended up worrying her once again.
At this point, it would be unclear why she even invited her in the first place.
"That's true."
Karuizawa decided to put on a brave face, at least for now.
She was a truly good friend—her best friend—whom she met after fleeing to this school.
While treasuring the warmth of their friendship, she held out her hand.
Satō didn't initially grasp the meaning behind it, but she quickly understood her intentions upon seeing Karuizawa's smile.
She grabbed the offered hand back, and the two held hands.
Their fingers were still cold, so they laughed it off as they compared their frigid hands to each other.
It wasn't the first time they held hands in the spur of the moment.
It also wasn't the first time they reluctantly went along with it, feeling somewhat embarrassed on the inside.
Even now, there was a feeling of shyness between them.
Yet, their feelings were connected.
To an outsider, it may seem childish, or they might fantasize about some kind of romantic feelings between the two.
But they were just best friends, wanting to hold hands simply because they wanted to show their connection.
No more, no less.
There was a certainty between the two that they wouldn't be bothered by the noise around them just for today.
"He, he, he. I will make you forget about everything."
"Ah, how scary!"
A world just for the two of them.
Karuizawa and Satō decided to spend the whole day enjoying themselves at Keyaki Mall.
3
We left Keyaki Mall, strolled leisurely along the school route, and returned back to the mall's vicinity, taking our time as we walked along a road with a view of the sea.
It wasn't unusual for three boys to casually walk together during winter break, and that scenario wouldn't attract attention under normal circumstances.
However, adding a conspicuous presence like Ryūen, a strategist Katsuragi, and the oddity of myself, we carried some risk of standing out.
Even so, Ryūen didn't choose to be anonymous, refusing means such as indoor facilities or phones.
Considering the content of the special exam, it was somewhat reckless.
Any observer's evaluation would greatly depend on whether they deemed this group's meeting as carelessness or an intentional act.
"Can I assume that the discussion is over? We're just going around in circles now."
As we neared the spot where we had met up, Katsuragi, who had stopped walking first, checked in with us.
We couldn't figure out the number or content of the special exams, and he wouldn't permit Ryūen's request for a match against Sakayanagi.
Continuing to waste time like this wouldn't be meaningful.
"Yeah, maybe you're right. It's fine then."
Without looking back, Ryūen slightly raised his left hand and conveyed his agreement.
"I owe you a lot, Ayanokōji. If you have any problems, feel free to consult me. There are things I can help you with besides class competitions."
I nodded my head in gratitude at his unexpected consideration, and Katsuragi turned his back and started walking ahead.
Well, I should get going too.
"I'm going to stop by Keyaki Mall now. What will you do? If you want us to hold hands and go on a date, I might consider it."
Ryūen grinned and gently held out his left hand in a welcoming gesture.
Shopping together with just Ryūen would be much more eye-catching than we had expected.
Above all, Kei and Satō were likely to be at the mall at this time.
"Well then, I'll be off."
Accompanying Ryūen on a hand-holding date to the Keyaki Mall wasn't part of my plan, so it was time to return home.
There was no sign of him stopping me, so I started walking.
"Our match will be in the third year. Don't forget that."
As I moved farther away from Keyaki Mall, those were the last words Ryūen said to me.
I didn't forget, but whether it would come true was a different story.
Even so… just a short walk had left me feeling strangely tired.
Feeling more exhausted than after sweating for an hour in the gym wasn't just my imagination.
Having lost sight of both Katsuragi and Ryūen, I continued walking.
I returned to the dormitory and, as initially planned, holed up for the day.But before that, I had to clear up something that had been bothering me.
After walking for several tens of seconds, I stopped as I sensed someone approaching.
I stood right in front of a vending machine that was installed along the exterior wall of Keyaki Mall.
Looking at the displayed items, to a third party, it would seem like I was just considering buying a drink.
I directed my gaze between the foliage that was likely put out by the employees as the store opened.
"What are you doing in a place like that?"
"Eh!?"
I called out to Yamamura, who was hiding in a shaded blind spot.
"You've been following me for about 10 minutes, right? Earlier, you seemed to be hiding behind a tree on the other side of the road."
It was easy to hide with the thick-trunked trees planted along the tree-lined road.
It was quite impressive that she managed to follow Ryūen and his group without being noticed.
"No, not at all..."
Yamamura tried to answer deceptively but was quick to give up, perhaps due to my accurate answer.
"How... did you know?"
"How did I?"
At first, I thought nothing of it, but if it was the old me, I probably wouldn't have cared about Yamamura's presence.
Now that we had spent time with each other on the school trip, she was already in my consciousness.
It was like a single image. At first glance, you saw only Shape A or Composition A, but once you know that changing your perspective would reveal Shape B or Composition B, your brain will recognize the image as B.
This might've been similar.
From just being a female student in Class A, she was now Yamamura Miki. That was all. I knew I was being followed and that my conversations were being overheard, but I didn't stop her.
Yamamura was a student from Class A and a friend of Sakayanagi.
If I had reported her stealthy actions to Ryūen and his group, it would've been seen as taking sides.
Of course, whether or not I took sides was up to me, but I didn't think it was the best strategy for the moment.
"You can relax. There were no signs of Ryūen or Katsuragi noticing you."
"Really? I felt like Ryūen-kun was trying to lure me out..."
It seemed that Yamamura's intuition was right. He didn't stay in one place and deliberately moved around conspicuous locations. Perhaps he was waiting for his prey to be trapped.
It didn't seem like Yamamura was just accidentally drawn into such a lure.
"Then why not just tell me without making me ask if they found out or not?"
Yamamura was probably convinced that no one had noticed her. Otherwise, she wouldn't have looked so surprised when I found her.
"It seems that you've been tailing not just today, but yesterday as well."She didn't confirm, but her silence spoke volumes.
Despite being closely watched, Yamamura skillfully tailgated them.
On the other hand, Ryūen probably had no choice but to give up the chase, seeing no results from his schemes.
Even after parting with me, there were no signs of Ryūen following me.
That was probably why I felt comfortable enough to call out to Yamamura.
"I was honestly hesitant whether to call you out or not, but since we were in the same group during the school trip, I thought I might as well greet you."
To me, who knew of her existence, not calling out to Yamamura would've felt like ignoring her.
It was a strange feeling to ignore a familiar face in this unpopular place.
In fact, Yamamura thought that she'd go unnoticed, and I thought she would've wanted to be ignored.
"You're not going to ask why I was following you?"
The final exam was coming up, and Ryūen wanted to fight Sakayanagi. As for Sakayanagi, she would want to know his every move and scheme, so it couldn't hurt to gather information.
"There's no need to ask that."
"Is that so?"
"And after this, I have no intention of reporting you to Ryūen, so you can rest assured."
I added that, thinking Yamamura probably wouldn't be reassured by mere words that those two hadn't noticed.
"But you all seemed very familiar with each other. At the very least, you don't recognize him as an enemy, do you? If you turn that around, wouldn't that make you an ally of Ryūen-kun?"
Yamamura's questioning tone was mixed with doubt.
"Unfortunately, I'm not Ryūen's ally. That's not to say I'm an ally of Class A either. Anyway, I have no intention of divulging that we met here to anyone. You can trust me on that."
"Really?"
I was about to nod to dispel her anxiety, but a faint sound of footsteps stopped my head from moving.
Immediately after, dry applause rang out several times, slowly repeated.
"You're amazing, Ayanokōji. How did you find the rat?"
Yamamura was no longer looking at me—her gaze was fixed on Ryūen.
Ryūen, who was supposed to have disappeared, reappeared now of all times... I see.
"I guess Sakayanagi asked you to gather information about me?""It's not like that..."
Yamamura denied it, but she couldn't hide her poor acting skills.
"Kuku. It's a good thing I decided to follow Ayanokōji just in case. Even if you're sensitive to being watched, you would let your guard down if there's no one following, isn't that right?"
He was correct. I was confident that I would notice his or anybody else's presence if they were obviously tailing me, but it seemed that Ryūen had already taken that into account.
From where we split up, there were only two paths for me to take: one which went straight to Keyaki Mall, or the other that led to either the school or dormitory.
In practice, Ryūen disappeared into Keyaki Mall.
If he started following me at a distance after waiting for time to pass, there was a high probability that he would naturally catch up with me. No matter how sensitive I was, if no one was tailing me, there was no way to prevent being tracked.
The reason for his remarks that kept me from going to Keyaki Mall was to narrow down my route choices.
Moreover—
As I watched Katsuragi come back from the front, I felt even more apologetic to Yamamura.
"So there was a connection between Yamamura and Sakayanagi."
Katsuragi, who seemed to have been scouting, was surprised by Yamamura's presence.
He pretended to go home and was looking for people lurking around.
"I apologize, Ayanokōji. I just got word from Ryūen a few minutes ago and came back."
If Ryūen was going to track me anyway, involving Katsuragi would increase the probability of success. That was Ryūen's plan.
He had kept it a secret from his ally so as not to arouse suspicion.
"Is it surprising that this girl has a connection with Sakayanagi?"
"Yes, it is. At least while I was a member, I've never seen her have any relationship with Sakayanagi. I think she's just one of many reconnaissance units."This was something only an insider like Katsuragi could understand.
Yamamura was clearly struggling more than she had a while ago.
"Even though I went through all this trouble, I only caught a small fish. I thought Hashimoto might be up to something... Or maybe it's precisely because you're trusted by Sakayanagi that you were assigned this task?"
Ryūen's sharp gaze, full of suspicion, pierced through Yamamura.
As she didn't expect to be surrounded like this, her expression couldn't hide her anxiety.
Unexpectedly, this expression helped answer any question Ryūen may have had.
"Anyway, your ability to notice things is quite impressive, Ayanokōji. But your role today is over."
He lost interest in me and told us that frightened Yamamura was his only target now.
"If Sakayanagi thinks she can beat me just by snooping around, she's easy to read."
Even if I didn't find Yamamura this time, and Yamamura was able to continuously collect information, whether it was able to pass as useful info to Sakayanagi was another matter.
If there was contact that you wanted to keep hidden, it was naturally not done outdoors.
A room belonging to a trustworthy friend, a karaoke room, or a restroom, if the individuals were of the same gender, would work. It would be easy to proceed secretively, depending on the purpose.
However, there was also an unavoidable aspect for Sakayanagi.
Information was needed, and Ryūen was supposed to investigate Class A in the same way.
However, unlike Ryūen, who could gather information by himself, it was difficult for Sakayanagi.
She couldn't gather information without using students like Yamamura, Kamuro, and Hashimoto.
"Being investigated doesn't feel good, does it?"
"Are you in a position to say that? You're watching Sakayanagi in the same way, aren't you?"
It seemed that it wasn't a one-way surveillance from Sakayanagi's side.
Already, they seemed to be watching each other in preparation for the final exams.
"So, do you want to try another move? I'm willing to listen if you have a brilliant idea, Katsuragi."
Ryūen suggested an attack on Sakayanagi, but Katsuragi denied it.
"I have no intention of making a big move. Monitoring Sakayanagi is the only hand we can play right now."
Katsuragi seemed to think that keeping their distance and simply having a staring contest was the best strategy.
"Don't forget that the final showdown should take place in the special exam, not outside."
"Sheesh. You're stubborn."
Ryūen and Katsuragi's basic policies were almost polar opposites, but Ryūen listened to Katsuragi's words with a smile.
"Why don't you guys stick around with us for a bit?"
"Drop it."
"Huh? Drop it? It would be such a waste not to grill her now that we caught her."
"Are you planning on threatening her? It should be enough that you've figured out Yamamura's involvement. You should go."
As he said that, Katsuragi gestured for Yamamura to leave immediately.
"Ex-excuse me..."
Wanting to escape the uncomfortable atmosphere, Yamamura hurriedly tried to leave.
"Wait."
"Huh!?"
However, Ryūen called out to stop her, leaving her petrified as if she was a frog facing a snake.
"We'll keep the fact that we noticed you a secret."
"Why...?"
"Because we feel sorry for you. It goes without saying what would happen if we reported that we found you."
"That's..."
"You weren't found by us, huh? If we don't report it, your value won't be lost. Well, whether you believe me or not, it's up to you."
While she was in a tight spot, Ryūen said that, as if dropping a lifeline.
"If you can't keep quiet about it, then tell her this: if you want information, come visit me alone in my room anytime you want. That's only if you and that girl have the courage to do so."
Yamamura nodded slightly and began to quietly leave the scene.
It seemed like she had planned to return via Keyaki Mall as she headed in that direction.
When Yamamura was far enough away, Katsuragi approached Ryūen.
"Ryūen—you bastard."
"What?"
"This hobby of yours isn't something to be praised."
"Huh?"
"I won't say you shouldn't be interested in the opposite sex. But Sakayanagi is a child. You can't lay your hands on her."
Thinking he was being serious, he warned him against doing anything outrageous.
It was an interpretation of Ryūen saying to visit the room.
That was just Ryūen's joke, but Katsuragi probably didn't understand it.
"There are plenty of girls in this school. Don't rush into anything."
"What kind of nonsense are you saying? Do you think I'd be excited by such a cheeky brat? It's obviously just a provocation."
"Huh? No, but just now you said to visit your room alone. That's what it means, right?"
While shaking his head, Ryūen tossed a fundamental argument at Katsuragi.
"You're right. She's not my taste at all, but Sakayanagi's technically our age too."
He contradicted himself by saying that it was fine to touch people of the same age, but not Sakayanagi.
Katsuragi, who hadn't noticed this, froze, lost in thought for a while.
Finally, he picked up on the meaning of Ryūen's words and began to speak.
"...You're right. No, but at her size, she doesn't look like we're the same age at all. She's even smaller than my sister, so it's really—"
While recognizing her as a formidable enemy, Katsuragi was also a brother. He probably let his protectiveness get ahead of him, not wanting her to be seen as a sexual object because of his younger sister that he hadn't seen in a while.
One thing was for sure: if Sakayanagi heard these two talk, she'd be angry.
They clearly treated her like a child (though, only in appearance).
"For women, it's best for them to be normal in everything. Neither flashy nor plain and neither big nor small—that's my taste."
Though I didn't want to know, he seemed to prefer very ordinary women.
It wasn't just an arbitrary preference—it sounded like a conclusion that came from experiencing both the bitter and sweet.
I don't know about his high school life, but during middle school, he seemed to be quite into women.
"I'm relieved that you haven't reached the level of falling for her."
On the other hand, Katsuragi seemed to feel reassured by something completely irrelevant.
"Well? Do you still have some business with me, Ayanokōji?"
"Using me for your own convenience and then saying such harsh things is quite unfair, isn't it?"
"It's your fault for being used. If you want to blame something, blame your own wild intuition."
Indeed, there was no point in holding a grudge about being tricked here.
It was just difficult to use this experience as a lesson for the future.
Tailing someone without actually following them closely.
Even if the same method was used again, it would be difficult to prevent.
Being cautious without feeling someone's presence was just restricting one's own actions.
However, keeping in mind that I might be followed every time would be even more stressful.
There's no point in staying here.
Besides, there's still something I want to talk to Yamamura about, and I might be able to catch up with her now.
"Weren't you going home?"
I was asked as soon as I started walking towards Keyaki Mall.
"There are countless routes inside the mall. I don't want to be chased around by you anymore today."
Informing him that, with multiple escape routes, I could avoid him, Ryūen snorted.
4
Since I entered Keyaki Mall, what should I do about Yamamura?
She might've already returned to the dormitory through another exit...
I tried to think, putting myself in Yamamura's position—what would I do if I were her?
Undoubtedly, she must've been struggling with whether to report her failure of being noticed to Sakayanagi or not.
During times of mental instability, people would seek a place to rest.
If I exclude the option of going straight back to the dormitory and assume that she's still in Keyaki Mall, where would she be?
Yamamura wasn't fond of crowds and disliked contact with others.
Busy streets and stores could be ruled out right away.
Karaoke rooms could be used alone, but there was always a hurdle for solo singing.
A toilet stall was a relatively high possibility, but I also didn't think she would cause inconvenience to others by making it unusable.
So, then—
A while ago, she was between the outdoor vending machine and the indoor plants.
Near the rest area, there were also several vending machines installed in a secluded spot.
If it was around there, it was inconspicuous and not crowded.
Perhaps due to the time, there was no one in the rest area's vicinity.
Naturally, there were no other people at the vending machines in the back either.
I cautiously approached and peeked around the blind spot of the vending machine.
"Wha—!?"
Upon finding Yamamura sitting next to the vending machine with a mini bottled tea in each hand, she dropped one of them in surprise. Fortunately, the cap was on, so it was fine.
"I can't believe you're really here."
Although I narrowed it down, I still wasn't completely sure...
I picked up the rolling bottle and handed it to Yamamura."H-h-how did you know I was here..."She hurriedly searched her own pockets.
"No, I don't have a GPS or anything like that."
"But, if not that, then how…? D-did you track my phone's location…?"
"I didn't do that either."
It was a bizarre delusion, but perhaps she was so surprised that she wanted to believe it.
Yamamura stood up, peeked out from behind the vending machine, and surveyed the area.
"Ryūen and Katsuragi aren't here."
"R-really…? Umm, is there still something you need from me?"
"I didn't get a chance to apologize earlier. I'm sorry, Yamamura. If I hadn't called out to you, you wouldn't have been found."
If that hadn't happened, there would be no need for her to worry about this between vending machines.
"It was my fault that you found me… Please don't worry about it."She kindly covered for me without openly blaming me.
"Did you report to Sakayanagi that they found you?""Yes, I did. I think my role is over now."To my surprise, she casually replied.
She seemed to be at a loss because of Ryūen's sweet whispers…
If she had already reported it, there would be no need to delve deeper into that matter.
As for me, I still had things left to do for Yamamura.
"I'll make it up to you somehow."
"...Huh?"
During the school trip, it wouldn't have been surprising if Yamamura and Kitō were watching and following Ryūen since they were in the same group.
It was highly likely that Sakayanagi simply ordered them to keep an eye on him.
Even if it wasn't directed by Sakayanagi, keeping a close eye on Ryūen would be natural for them since they were in the same group.
Yamamura was always concerned about Ichinose's class's every single move.
However, this case was completely different, and the surprise was shown by Katsuragi.
The fact that Sakayanagi might've treasured Yamamura and used her as a spy—Ryūen's analysis of Sakayanagi's class strength had advanced slightly after obtaining this information.
From now on, Ryūen's approach with Yamamura would undoubtedly escalate.
If I hadn't noticed her presence and carelessly called out to her, the likelihood of Ryūen and Katsuragi capturing Yamamura would still have been high. There was no need to repeat who bore the responsibility.
"Making amends or something like that isn't necessary. It has nothing to do with you, who's from a different class."
While I understood Yamamura's point, I still had my own thoughts.
At this stage, it wasn't something that could be explained to anyone, so I thought of another reason.
"It just makes me feel uncomfortable. No matter how you look at it, you only suffer from this."
"But... it's wrong to follow someone around, to begin with, right?"It seemed that Yamamura felt guilty about that.
So maybe that was why Yamamura didn't show any signs of dissatisfaction towards me either.
"Really, don't worry about it anymore."
It looked difficult to get a positive response from Yamamura here. Rather, it might've only confused her more if I stayed too long.
"Understood. I'll be there to help if you have any troubles. I'm not sure if I can be useful, but feel free to ask me."
By saying this, I should be able to get Yamamura to accept without any pressure.
Regardless of whether she was in trouble or not, it would be Yamamura's decision to keep in contact.
"In that case, yes, I understand."
Yamamura nodded, accepting my suggestion.
"Well, I'm going to go now."
"...Take care."
Yamamura probably intended to stay in that spot for a while and didn't attempt to move away from the vending machine.
I tried to leave the scene after saying goodbye to Yamamura, but—
I accidentally found Kei and Satō walking towards us in the direction I turned around.
Reflexively hiding, I crouched down in the vending machine's shadow with Yamamura behind me.
"Ah, Ayanokōji-kun...!?"
Feeling guilty about Yamamura's puzzled look, I quietly placed my index finger on my lips to signal to be silent.
With that, she seemed to understand my intent and quickly fell silent.
"Hey, where should we go next!?"
"Well~"
The cheerful exchange between the two reached my ears, and they were getting closer.
They probably wouldn't detect us with just a brief glance.
However, that would only be the case if they didn't need to use the vending machine.
No matter how much we were hidden behind the vending machine, we would be exposed if they came to the front.
"Hey, how about taking a break? Want something to drink?"Apparently, Satō had suggested the worst possible outcome."Hm..."Kei hesitated.
If we were to be found afterward, hiding would have been counterproductive.
Being close together with someone of the opposite sex in the narrow space between vending machines.
It would be difficult to make an excuse that nothing was going on.
"Yeah, maybe we should just take a break for a bit."
"That's a good idea. You are just recovering from being sick, after all."
I was prepared for the worst, but it seemed they had no plans to use the vending machine.
It appeared their intention was to rest on the bench nearby rather than using the vending machine.
However, that didn't mean the problem was solved.
There was only one exit, and as long as Kei and Satō were sitting on the bench, we couldn't leave.
"Thank you. I'm sorry for making you worry."
"No, it's not a big deal. I mean, helping each other out when we get sick is normal, right?"
"Yeah, if you ever collapse, I'll take care of you, Maya-chan.""Thanks. I'd appreciate it."
"I feel like I'm always being supported by you."
"R-really?"
"Do you remember when we weren't as close as we are now, and you confronted me about Kiyotaka? You know, right after we became second-year students?"
"I think I said something like, 'When did you start liking Ayanokōji-kun,
Karuizawa-san? Answer without dodging the question...' or something like that."
While blushing and feeling embarrassed about reminiscing, Satō covered her face with her hands.
"Yes, that's it. You hit the nail on the head and wouldn't let me escape."
The two of them talked in normal voices, but their conversation was clearly audible in the quiet area.
Yamamura silently looked up at me.
I slightly raised a hand to signal an apology for having her witness something she didn't want to hear.
There was no need to forcibly listen if she didn't want to.
Even though it might've been a little difficult, if you covered your ears with both hands, you wouldn't be able to hear it.
However, surprisingly, Yamamura seemed to be enjoying herself.
In an "it doesn't bother me" kind of way, she silently listened to the conversation.
Yamamura should be responsible for collecting information about someone at the behest of Sakayanagi every day.
If so, eavesdropping would be an everyday routine.
One or two stealth missions might be fun, like playing detective for everyone, but there weren't many people who didn't feel guilty about eavesdropping on conversations they didn't want to hear.
I thought Yamamura might've also been fed up with her role, but apparently, that wasn't the case.
With her natural ability to blend in, she was very comfortable in this situation.
The two talked for a while, but eventually, the break came to an end.
"Shall we go soon?"
"Are you okay now?"
"Yeah. It's my first time going out in a while, so it would be a waste not to have fun."
"Right. But, make sure you make up with Ayanokōji-kun, okay?"
"Y-yeah. I'll do my best...!"
Those were the last words I heard from them as they slowly moved away.
At times like this, there was a fear that the two might unexpectedly return or look back. I thought I should tell Yamamura to stay for a while, but before I made a move, Yamamura silently stopped me with her hand.
It seemed like she thought that was enough, and she moved almost simultaneously with me.
"They're gone, I think."
"Yeah."
First, Yamamura stepped out from behind the vending machine and checked the surroundings, making sure there were no problems before signaling for me to do the same.
"You're quite efficient, aren't you?"
"...Is that so? It's just what I always do..."
After softly clearing her throat, Yamamura said something unexpected.
"Will you properly make up with Karuizawa-san?"
"Why are you saying something like Satō?"
"I was just curious. She's your girlfriend, right? I didn't know you two were fighting."
"So even information collection specialists have things they don't know."
"Are you teasing me?"
"Look who's talking."
As I said that, Yamamura looked surprised for a moment, but then she slightly relaxed the corners of her mouth.
"You're a strange person, Ayanokōji-kun. It feels odd."
"I get that a lot."
"Is that true? Or is it a joke?"
"Who knows."
Although she still seemed hesitant, Yamamura's calm way of speaking was easy to understand and wasn't unpleasant. Perhaps it was because there were parts that overlapped with me, such as her consistently low tension.
"By the way... what about the question I asked earlier?"
"You didn't forget?"
"I remember it clearly."
Surprisingly, Yamamura had a rather pushy side to her, or perhaps one of the walls between us had been removed.
"I'll make up with her properly. It's already planned."
"I'm glad to hear that."
Despite having no involvement in the matter and no connection with Karuizawa, she seemed somehow happy.
"You don't have to report this to Sakayanagi."
"I can't promise that."
"Harsh."
After taking a breath, Yamamura took out her cell phone and looked at the dark screen. After hesitating a bit, she turned to face me.
"About the incident with Ryūen-kun earlier... I actually haven't reported it yet."
"Is it about finding him?"
"Yes... I apologize for lying. I just wanted you to go home as soon as possible..."
"I see."
"I understand that I need to report it. But... I'm probably afraid of being cut off. As someone without any other merits, that was the one thing I was good at….
If it becomes clear that I can't even do that... I'm useless to the class."
It wasn't about academic ability or physical ability. Yamamura was simply unable to recognize her own self-worth.
"I don't mind if you blame me, but that's not the case."
It was probably Yamamura's fault, but the fact that she was caught was important for Sakayanagi to know to make future decisions. This would inevitably weaken her function as a spy in the future.
"Should I not keep quiet about it...?"
"Do you believe Ryūen's words?"
"For now, clinging to that is the only way for me to survive..."
"I understand how you feel, but you should report it honestly."
"But until it is revealed, I can maintain the current situation. He might really keep quiet. Ryūen-kun may be expelled by Sakayanagi-san, and everything may get swept under the rug... I don't know."
Postponing the exposure of her failure. Imagining a choice to be saved without basis.
"That's the worst choice. Ryūen is just taking advantage of the cracks in your heart, and if necessary, he will definitely expose this fact. Even if you manage to get him expelled, there's a risk of him leaving a parting gift."
For Ryūen, the results of finding Yamamura weren't that great. However, if he didn't report that Yamamura was found, he could use that information to devise a strategy.
It wouldn't just end with her removal from her role.
"Don't be easily used."
"But..."
"I don't want you to be expelled. Please take this as advice for that reason."
"Why? I have no relation to you."
"We were in the same group on the school trip. Isn't that enough of a relationship?"
"...I am..."
Yamamura clenched both hands tightly and brought them close to her eyes.
Then, when she opened her eyes wide, she took out her cell phone and typed a message.
['I've been caught by Ryūen-kun and Katsuragi-kun. I'll tell you the details by call.']
After showing the text to me, she sent it to Sakayanagi.
"I thought I might run away again if I hesitated."
It seemed that she chose a way to cut off the path of retreat by reporting it on the spot.
"Ah, umm, I'm going to... excuse myself now...!"
Having suddenly become aware of her situation, Yamamura hurriedly uttered those words.
"She turned out to be easier to talk to than I'd imagined."
That was my immediate impression of Yamamura after parting ways with her.
I told her myself, but I genuinely didn't want her to be expelled.
Sakayanagi likely wouldn't punish Yamamura for being exposed, but it'd be best to keep an eye on the situation, just in case.
"Ah, right… I should at least inform Horikita."
Making a phone call would be a hassle, so it'd be best to summarize the key issues and send a message.
Also, Kei and Satō are enjoying themselves at Keyaki Mall. I should head out so I don't run into them and cause them trouble.
Thus, I decided to leave the mall.
5
In the evening, I performed the ceremony of unpacking the products that arrived from my online shopping.
I got my hands on a yogurt maker for 3000 yen.
I skimmed through the thin instruction manual and mastered how to use the machine. It was finally in my possession.
Then, I finished what I needed to do and bought the necessary ingredients— milk and yogurt.
"Alright, let's do this."
I hadn't thought about it much, but making yogurt was incredibly simple.
First, I took out 100 ml from a one-liter milk carton. I could drink the milk I took out, or use it for cooking. This time, I decided to drink it.
Then I added 100 grams of yogurt to the empty space in the carton.
Now, the milk carton had a ratio of 9:1 milk to yogurt. All I had to do was set it in the yogurt maker.
The timer was set to 9 hours, so once the time was up, all the milk inside the carton would turn into yogurt.
One might argue to just buy yogurt the usual way, but the true value was in doing this for the next batch and in the long run.
The next morning, I'd eat the 1000 grams of yogurt I made, but the important thing was to save 100 grams.
By buying just milk and mixing it in, I could apparently continue 'planting' more yogurt.
The power of lactobacilli was amazing.
I could feel it as I started to make it, even though I knew of its function in theory.
But I had only just turned the switch on, so what could I say?
Of course, if I could do this indefinitely, it wouldn't be a hassle.
The milk was fermented by lactobacilli to turn into yogurt, but it was inevitable that the lactobacilli would weaken over time.
As a result, the solidification weakened, so to avoid this, more time was required for fermentation. The strength of the initial bacteria was lost.
I planned to be cautious about hygiene when starting, but there were unavoidable factors such as airborne bacteria, which weakened the work of lactobacilli.
In the end, for a better deal, I should probably finish with three or four batches at most.
I'd just have to gain experience making yogurt and get a feel for it.
That was part of the fun of making my own yogurt.
When I set the timer, it was approaching 9 p.m.
This meant it would be ready at 6 a.m.
"Well then."
I picked up my phone, which was charging on the bed.
It was about time to contact Kei, or so I thought...
I tried to call Kei from my call history, but my phone rang instead.
I thought for a moment that Kei had gotten impatient and called me, but it didn't seem like it.
"Hello?"
"Errr— H-hi, good evening."
"It's unusual for you to call, Satō."
I remembered exchanging contact information with her a long time ago, after last year's sports festival.
"Um, well, there's something I really want to confirm with you.""What is it?"
"...It's about Kei-chan."
As a best friend, I could understand why she'd be worried.
Perhaps she wanted to figure out the emotions I held without telling Kei.
"About Kei? What do you mean?"
On purpose, I decided not to answer directly and instead threw a curveball.
"You've been fighting lately... haven't you?"
"Did you hear that?"
"Well, I guess. It's more like, 'I figured it out from the flow of the conversation.'"
Instead of saying that she had been explicitly asked for advice, she claimed to have noticed something unnatural while talking with Kei.
"It's almost the end of the year... You're going to make up, right?"
Rather than doubting whether we would meet, she was more concerned about what would happen when we did meet.
Feeling the unease, she must've been acting out of concern for Kei's wellbeing.
She might not have been considering the impact of this phone call on the other party, but for now, I wanted to appreciate the feelings she had for her best friend.
"I was just about to contact Kei just now about the promise."
"Is that so? That means… you're going to make up with her, right?"
"Of course, that's the plan. Unless Kei has other plans and can't make it."
Even though we had made a prior appointment, she hadn't confirmed it at
all.
It was only natural that you couldn't force a meeting by imposing only your convenience.
Of course, since I hadn't received any information stating otherwise, I believed that there should be no problem fulfilling the promise.
On the other side of the phone, Satō gulped. A soundless voice faintly reached my ears.
"I'm glad! Yeah, that's good! I'm getting in the way, so I'll hang up now!"
Deciding that any further conversation would just make Kei more anxious, she tried to hang up.
"Wait a minute. There's something I want to tell you."
"What is it?"
Satō became cheerful after knowing I would contact Kei later.
Being able to support someone whilst putting their feelings and themselves second was a sign of a genuinely strong heart.
That was why I could delve a little deeper into the matter.
"Of course, as a boyfriend, I'm supposed to protect Kei. But that's not enough."
"What do you mean?"
"You never know when, or where, or what kind of problems will come. It's not just about love, is it? Troubles can arise from tangled friendships, and there's a risk of expulsion due to the school's unique rules. Just like how you felt uneasy about Kei and me, human relationships can break down at any time, and any place. Even if you feel absolutely secure, it can change to insecurity the moment a crack appears."
"That's—"
For Satō as well, it would be an undeniable fact.
When Satō acknowledged the relationship between Kei and me, she must've felt relieved at the same time.
Ayanokōji would protect Kei and cherish her—she must have had that kind of baseless confidence.
However, she panicked at one unexpected situation and felt anxious.
That was why, despite the risks, she made this phone call.
"You had to support her as a friend—no, as a best friend. Of course, this was based on the premise that you acknowledged Kei as such."
"That's obvious!"
Without a moment's delay, Satō declared that she would protect Kei.
"Then that's fine. But in return, I'll guarantee the opposite as well." "...The opposite?"
"If you can't protect Kei, I will protect Kei."
"Can I trust you…? Is that okay?"
"Of course."
Our true intentions, essence, and real feelings didn't matter.
It was better to make Satō think that way—to make an invisible contract.
Even if I abandoned Kei, the chances of Satō devotedly continuing her help would increase.
If Satō were to be expelled or something, there would be no way for her to know if I would continue to protect Kei afterward. There would be no grudge even if I went back on my promise.
However, Kei currently had an important role to play in maintaining Horikita's class.
"Today, I was told by Kei that she wanted to meet with you. She wanted to say thank you."
"Ah, I see."
"Thank you."
"No, no need to thank me. If you two get along well, that's all I need."
"Alright. Then please hear tomorrow's report from Kei."
"I'll prepare myself for the lovey-dovey story."
After finishing the call, I felt a subtle change in my emotions within the empty room.
Manipulating others with my own words.
That is, for me, classified as 'fun' behavior.
It didn't matter if the words were true or false.
The fact that I even found the other's attempts to manipulate me 'fun.'I even wanted to welcome being deceived unknowingly.
To know and learn about people. To be taught.
Many more people—or perhaps, bigger and unknown, giant opponents.
If I could control and master such people, I couldn't help but think it would be even more enjoyable.
But still, Satō had improved her skills little by little.
Even in just one phone call, I could see her growth.
"Well—"
I was a little late for our promised time, but I decided to call Kei.