Monday, on the way to school.
“Man, even if it was just a practice match, a game that close makes me a little uneasy.”
Natsumi-senpai was currently talking about yesterday’s girls' tennis practice match.
With an invitational match scheduled for the school festival, she had approached this game as their final piece of practical training before the big event. Apparently, while she hadn't been careless enough to expect a total cakewalk, she had assumed they could win with at least a bit of a lead.
“But you won your match, didn't you, Natsumi-senpai?”
“Well, yeah. In terms of an individual match, that’s fine, but since it was an inter-school match, it doesn't mean much if I’m the only one who wins.”
“I guess that’s true.”
By the way, Natsumi-senpai had won her sets straight. As expected of the girls' tennis ace. I could easily picture her fan club making a massive scene at the venue.
“There isn't much time left, so I suppose all you can do is practice as much as possible before the school festival.”
“Yeah. We’re going out of our way to invite another school to our campus; we can’t afford to play a pathetic match. I’m scheduled to help with the intensive training starting today, too.”
“I see. So, you can’t afford to look bad in front of Tachibana-kun… is that it?”
“Y-Yuji has nothing to do with this!”
“Hmm. So you don’t care? You’d have no regrets even if you lost?”
“Ugh, that’s…”
“Hehe… Why don’t you just honestly admit that you want to look cool for your lover?”
“She’s as dishonest as ever.”
“Well, excuse me! Fine, I’m not honest, whatever!”
“Pfft…”
“Hmph.”
Oops, better be careful.
The interaction between the three of them was so amusing that I accidentally let a laugh slip, earning me a sharp glare from Natsumi-senpai.
But she really was weak when teased—or rather, easily rattled. I agreed with Yuji that this gap between her usual self and this side was one of her good points.
“Did you have something you wanted to say to Kazunari-san?”
“I’ll listen in his place.”
“Guh… as usual, whenever it comes to Takanashi-kun, you two are…”
As if to shield me from Natsumi-senpai’s glare, Sara-san and Hanako-san stepped in between us. Their voices sounded serious enough that Natsumi-senpai actually recoiled.
“Is it not perfectly natural for a wife to protect her husband?”
“An older sister protects her younger brother. That is the truth.”
“Sigh… fine, fine, I was in the wrong…”
Natsumi-senpai slumped her shoulders in defeat, letting out an exasperated sigh at their emphatic declarations.
I knew the two of them weren’t being entirely serious with her, but I wasn’t quite sure what I was supposed to say in a situation like this.
Well, either way… it was another peaceful morning.
“So, you fill this part in like this…”
“Aaaah, don’t do anything unnecessary!”
“Wait, it’s getting on my hands!”
With the school festival approaching, I had started to see my classmates busy with preparations in the classroom even outside of after-school hours. Today, the groups for signboard production staff and costume staff had been working since the morning, making it feel like the festival was just around the corner.
“What’s wrong, Kazunari?”
“No, I just felt a bit guilty just watching without helping out…”
“I understand how you feel, Kazunari, but we have our own duties for the Student Council. You should just keep them separate in your mind. Besides, if you suddenly try to jump in midway through, you’ll likely just get in the way.”
“Urgh…”
Hanako-san was exactly right. If I, someone who didn't understand the specifics of the task, tried to help half-heartedly, they would have to spend time explaining things to me, which would only increase their workload. That would be completely counterproductive.
“Hanasaki-san is right~”
“Takanashi-kun, you’re working hard on the Student Council stuff, so you can leave this to us.”
“That’s the long and short of it.”
“…I understand.”
I suppose so. Even if I felt bad about not helping when everyone was so busy, they were kind enough to say that. I should just accept that we have different roles and leave it to them.
“Hehe… Kazunari is a kind boy… there, there.”
Pat, pat.
“Um, Hanako-san?”
As soon as I sat down, Hanako-san began stroking my head as if she had been waiting for the chance. Since everyone was watching, I couldn't help but feel this was a bit much, but seeing her happy smile, I didn't have the heart to stop her.
So, well… I guess it couldn't be helped.
“…Lately, I’ve started to understand what Hanasaki-san means when she calls Takanashi-kun her younger brother.”
“…Me too. It’s definitely a bit different from how a lover acts.”
“…But if that’s the case, it means she has an extreme brother complex.”
“…Either way, I’m jealous…”
“…And his girlfriend is Satsukawa-senpai… guuuuuuh.”
“…There, there. Kazunari is a good boy.”
“……”
I really wasn't sure what to do. Hanako-san looked so pleased that I couldn't bring myself to ask if she was done yet. However, we were attracting way more attention than I expected, and frankly, it was getting embarrassing.
I wasn't worried about it causing any misunderstandings at this point, but still, how must it look from the side—seeing a boy getting his head petted by a female classmate in the middle of the room?
“…………”
“…Yamakawa, I know it’s hard not to let it bother you.”
“…Shut up, I know.”
“…You still have lingering feelings, don't you? I get it, man.”
“…Guh.”
Clatter.
“Excuse us.”
“Pardon the intrusion~”
“Excuse me.”
Suddenly the classroom door slid open, and a trio I didn't recognize stomped inside. Well, even if I said I didn't recognize them, I had very few acquaintances to begin with… but putting aside my self-deprecation, the distinctiveness of each of the three caught my eye.
One was a boy with glasses who looked like the living embodiment of a "studious" intellectual. Another was a Flashy Guy-style student who immediately started ogling the group of girls near the entrance. And the last one seemed the most normal, yet he carried a smug air about him. His expression was subtly unpleasant; unlike the Glasses Boy, he seemed brimming with confidence—though I had no idea what he was so confident about.
It was rare to see such a mismatched trio. Were they even friends? They had walked in together, but they seemed to be completely ignoring each other.
“Sorry to barg in, but is Takanashi…”
“Oh, there he is, Mr. Vice President~ Hey, what do you think you’re doing?”
“?! Hmph. You’ve got some nerve two-timing, don’t you?”
“…Huh?”
I didn't quite follow what they were saying, but the moment they looked at me, their expressions shifted. It seemed they had business with me, and since they’d come all this way, it likely wasn't for anything good.
As that thought crossed my mind, the trio walked straight toward me—only for Hanako-san to step in and block their path. This was starting to feel like a serious case of déjà vu.
“Whoa, it’s the Student Council’s little angel! You’re in this class?! Crap, she’s seriously cute up clo—”
“Do you have business with Kazunari?”
“No, just ignore—”
“Shut up, Flashy Guy. I’m not so bored that I have time to deal with kindergartners.”
“Wha?!”
At Hanako-san’s merciless preemptive verbal attack, the Flashy Guy was left speechless. But since the loudest one was now quiet, we could actually move the conversation forward.
“Heh. 'Kindergartner' is an apt description. It suits an idiot like him.”
“What did you say?”
“You guys, if you want to fight, take it outside. And you, miss, such a sharp tone doesn’t suit someone as cute as you. You’re facing your seniors, so you should at least use formal speech…”
“Nauseating. Calling me 'you' when we just met—your self-importance is so excessive it's embarrassing to watch. You’re trying so hard to maintain a persona that it's just painful.”
“?!”
With Hanako-san’s detached venom, the handsome guy joined the Flashy Guy in silence. I didn't like his smug face either, but he probably never expected to be told by a girl he just met that his whole character was painful. It felt a little refreshing.
Still, it really didn't seem like these guys were actually a group. I checked their lapel pins just in case; they were all second-years. I had no intention of treating them as seniors.
“How pathetic. Well, whatever, these two don't matter. More importantly, Takanashi, I have something to discuss with you. Come with me.”
“Fine by m—”
“There’s no need to move. You can speak here.”
“…I’ll listen here.”
I figured that was fine. I could guess what they wanted to talk about with ninety percent certainty, and if so, it was something my classmates already knew.
“H-Here?!”
“Is it something you can’t say in public? If so, it isn’t worth listening to.”
“No… well…”
“Sigh… all of you standing there together, and you don’t even have the courage to talk about the girl you’re interested in? Men like you are a hundred years too early to be competing with Kazunari.”
“““What?!”””
When the word "girl" left Hanako-san’s lips, the three of them looked stunned. My classmates, meanwhile, looked like they were thinking, "I knew it," and to me, it wasn't a surprise either.
Regardless, I should probably have Hanako-san step back now.
“Hanako-san, thanks. I’ll take it from here.”
“…Understood. I’ll stay behind you.”
Nodding, Hanako-san obediently took up a position directly behind me. Like, literally right behind me.
Well, she’d stepped back, so I’d take what I could get. More than anything, I wanted to avoid letting Hanako-san stay on the front lines and attract unnecessary hate. I was the only one who needed to be the target of their hostility.
So, how to handle this? I’d said I would talk here, but if things got messy, it would undoubtedly cause trouble for my classmates. I wouldn't back down an inch regarding Sara-san, but that was a separate matter. In that case, maybe moving wasn't such a bad idea…
“Fine. You’re the one who’s going to be embarrassed for talking here. I’ll be blunt: stop making advances on Satsukawa-san.”
“Seriously. Because you’re hitting on her, weird rumors are spreading about Satsukawa-chan, you know? Actually, aren’t you the one spreading them?”
“You’re a coward, using the Student Council as an excuse to approach Satsukawa-san because you know she can’t bluntly refuse. On top of that, you’re spreading irresponsible rumors about being her fiancé, which is troubling her. So why don’t you just back off?”
“…Huh?”
What were these guys even talking about? I couldn't believe there were people who would resort to such warped interpretations.
Until now, most people simply assumed the rumors were fake. But these guys were a different breed of idiot—they knew the content of the rumors and had somehow reached a convenient, nonsensical conclusion. This was going to be a massive pain.
“I don’t know what kind of rumors you’ve heard, but Sara-san and I are legitimate fiancés. Saying I’m 'making advances' is just your own wishful thinking.”
“Y-You’re on a first-name basis?!”
“Whoa, how overly familiar can you get?”
“Good grief… your delusions are painful to behold.”
'Overly familiar' and 'painful'… I wanted to say those words right back at them. That’s exactly what they were.
“…Pfft… Talk about a massive boomerang.”
“…There’s no medicine for stupidity.”
Hearing the audible sarcasm from Yamakawa and the others, the trio scowled. But people this slow on the uptake were always a hassle. Dealing with them properly was a waste of time, so the fastest way was to show them clear evidence and send them packing. The problem was the nature of that evidence.
If they just didn't believe the rumors, a photo of me and Sara-san might work. But these types would likely deny a mediocre photo, and I could already see them making excuses for any simple picture of us together.
Which meant…
“I’ve had my share of experience with this, so I know that talking to people like you is a waste of time. You’ll just keep throwing tantrums like children until you have no choice but to admit the truth, right?”
“Hah? What the hell are you talking about?”
“You should do something about your own delusional habits…”
“Shut up, you idiots.”
“““?!”””
I put some effort into applying pressure with a surprise attack to take the initiative. There was no point in explaining things in detail, so it was faster to corner them until they couldn't talk back. Besides, once the school festival came, I’d be able to show them a scene that would stop these ridiculous people from ever fantasizing again.
I decided to go all out.
“You’ve been talking like you know everything, but are you Sara-san’s friends? Or even acquaintances? Don’t tell me you’ve never even spoken to her. I can ask her directly, so I’ll know immediately if you’re lying.”
“……Tch.”
“W-What’s with this guy all of a sudden…”
“………”
“The fact that you can’t answer means you’re strangers, right? So you’ve been talking as if you know her despite having no connection at all. Then who said Sara-san is troubled? If it’s not just your own selfish delusion, you can answer that, right?”
“Y-You, listen to you talk…”
“You bastard…”
“Who do you think you’re talking to…”
“Of course, I am talking to fools who cannot even recognize reality. Though I suppose with those pathetic brains of yours, you wouldn't be able to understand that.”
?!
Wh-Why?!
“Hah?! You bastard, who do you think you’re talking t—… o… are… you?”
“Sa-Sa-Sa…”
“Satsukawa-san?!”
Standing in the open classroom doorway before I even realized it was Sara-san. She was staring at the three of them with eyes full of scorn, as if she were looking at trash.
The three of them froze as if they were unable to move.
But wait, why was she here?!
“…Uh oh… the wife has arrived.”
“…Did she sense her husband was in a pinch?”
“…Wait, isn't that bad?”
“…She looks even scarier than before… no, seriously, this is bad…”
“Haa, I caught up. You go too far when it comes to Takanashi-kun.”
Even Natsumi-senpai showed up?! What was going on?!
“S-Sara-san, Natsumi-senpai, why are you here?!”
“Huh? Well, why…”
“I called them.”
“Eh?!”
Hanako-san, when did you?! When I looked back at her, she had her smartphone in her hand. She must have contacted them immediately after stepping back.
While I was happy Sara-san came, I honestly hadn't wanted to involve her in such a farce…
“I understand how you feel, Kazunari. But having the wife come is the quickest way. You said it yourself—trying to persuade idiots through conversation is a waste of time.”
“I think so too. Though I didn't think she’d sprint through the school at full speed… she was like a track star!”
“Natsumi, save the idle chatter for later.”
Sara-san admonished Natsumi-senpai in a sharp tone, then moved to my side while glaring at the three. Once she reached me, she placed her hand on my left arm and looked up at me with a worried expression.
“““Whaaaa?!”””
“Kazunari-san, are you safe? Did they do anything to you?”
“…I’m fine, but—”
“I will hear the details later. More importantly…”
For the first time, Sara-san showed her anger openly. Sara-san, who was usually calm and handled opposition with detached efficiency, was expressing her rage directly. It was truly a rare occurrence. That was how much these idiots had provoked her.
“To be honest, I would like to eliminate these fools who have troubled my precious Kazunari-san right this instant… but I will ask just in case. What business did you have with him? Answer me right now.”
“P-Precious?!”
“S-Satsukawa-san, that’s really…”
“I believe I said… answer me?”
“Hiiieee?!”
Sara-san’s language was as polite as ever. And yet, her voice was frigid, enough to make even me feel a chill. Her gaze was sharp and powerful, radiating an overwhelming intensity. Receiving the full brunt of it, the three of them winced, their faces twitching as they fell completely silent.
“…S-So scary…”
“W-What is with Satsukawa-senpai… this is bad…”
“…S-She’s looking right at us…”
“U-Um, you see, Satsukawa-cha—”
“ANSWER ME RIGHT NOW!”
“Hiek?!”
The Flashy Guy’s idiotic tone seemed to be the trigger, and Sara-san let out a fierce roar of anger. Because she was usually so quiet, the impact was tremendous. Even the classmates who had been watching the situation fell silent, their expressions filled with shock and fear.
“What is all this commotion?! What happened?!”
Through the entrance Sara-san and the others had used, the homeroom teacher came running in. This was completely unexpected! The first bell hadn't even rung yet; he had never come this early before. Why today of all days?
The teacher looked at us, then back and forth between us and the trio. I hadn't done anything wrong, but I absolutely wanted to avoid Sara-san getting in trouble. Even if I had to force my way in, I had to do something…
“Teacher! This is…”
“Takanashi, stay quiet. I have a general idea of what’s going on.”
“…Huh?”
After saying that to me, the teacher glared only at the three of them with a stern expression.
“You three, come to the staff room with me right now.”
“Why me?!”
“H-Hey, I haven't even done anything!”
“W-Wait, please. I…”
“Teacher~, those seniors were making false accusations against Takanashi and trying to corner him!”
“““?!”””
I almost wanted to retort to Yamakawa’s remark with, “Are you in elementary school?!” but I kept quiet because I knew he was trying to help. However, upon hearing Yamakawa’s voice, the teacher’s expression grew even grimmer as he glared at the three, while they averted their eyes guiltily.
“It’s not strange for Satsukawa to be here because of Takanashi, but what is your reason for being here? I’m not going to believe everything Yamakawa says, but since you’ve caused a commotion, I’ll need an explanation.”
“Well…”
“T-That is…”
“No… well…”
The three tried to speak, but no words came out, and they hung their heads in defeat. They began walking toward the door as the teacher urged them along.
“Wait.”
But Sara-san’s voice stopped them in their tracks. As she approached them, I tried to follow, but Hanako-san grabbed my hand.
…Does she mean I should leave this to Sara-san? The teacher was there, so I figured it would be okay, but I remained on guard, ready to jump in at a moment's notice.
“Since you have gone this far, I assume you are prepared for the consequences? You all are my enemies from this moment on. I will respect the teacher’s presence for now, but if I see your faces again… I will show no mercy.”
Having spat those words out, Sara-san returned to me. She stood in front of me and placed her hand on my chest with a worried look.
And the trio…
Whether it was because Sara-san had declared them enemies, or because seeing us like that finally made reality sink in, they left the classroom with looks of total despair. The teacher gave us a nod, then chased after them.
It was like a storm had passed. In the end, I wasn't sure if it was truly resolved or not… but I was reminded once again that things like this could very well happen in the future.