Hinako, maintaining her Young Lady mode, gave a thoughtful nod.
"Since her classroom is right next to mine, I don't know all the details, but I have certainly heard rumors that she can be... intimidating."
"Guh."
Narika’s face fell in genuine shock.
When I had first spotted Narika at this Academy, her expression had indeed been incredibly stiff. As I suspected, the problem lay entirely with her face.
"Narika, could you try smiling for a second?"
Come to think of it, Narika rarely smiled in front of others. She smiled occasionally when she was alone with me, and if the people around her could just see that side of her, she might seem a bit more approachable.
I made the suggestion with the best of intentions, but—
"L-like this?"
Narika forced an incredibly awkward grin. It looked less like a friendly greeting and more like a criminal mastermind boring holes into my soul with a sinister leer.
"Terrifying."
"Stop ittt! If even Itsuki says it, then I’m finished!"
My honest reaction had slipped out before I could stop it. Narika clutched her head in despair.
"It’s true that you’ve had some bad luck, but you definitely have some work to do on your end, too. For now, we have to do something about your habit of getting nervous immediately, and the way your face turns into a mask of stone whenever you do."
"Uuugh, but what am I supposed to do...?"
She was worrying because she didn't have the answer to that. In the end, she had no choice but to make friends who she could talk to without reservation—friends like us.
Narika became a bundle of nerves the moment she had to deal with complete strangers. In that case, if we could just decrease the proportion of "strangers" in this Academy, she should start to feel more at home.
"Let’s brainstorm some ways to get on good terms with people. For example—"
We spent some time discussing how people usually become friends. I offered my thoughts, and Hinako came up with several suggestions as well. From that list, we picked the ones that seemed most manageable for Narika.
"Alright, we’ve got a few operations ready."
For the time being, we had finalized three plans. They weren't complex enough to really be called "operations," but for Narika, each one would require her to muster every scrap of courage she possessed. Still, they were all worth a try.
"Then let’s start testing them out tomorrow."
"T-tomorrow!? W-wait! I’m not mentally prepared for this yet...!"
"There’s no time left before the Athletic Festival, so I don’t think you have the luxury of hesitating."
When I said that, Narika fell silent. She clearly couldn't suppress her anxiety, and I understood that feeling well. I wasn't some kind of omnipotent person, after all. Back when I had first been appointed as Hinako’s caretaker, I had been filled with uncertainty every single day.
Back then... what kind of words would have helped me?
"...Narika."
I spoke softly, trying to offer her some support.
"Let’s work hard together."
"............Together."
Narika whispered the word, repeating it as if to herself.
"...That’s right. I... I have Itsuki."
She seemed to be trying to convince herself. Then, she looked up.
"I’ll do my best...!"
Narika had steeled her resolve.
◆
After school the next day.
The three of us stood in a huddle near the Class B classroom.
"Just in case, let’s review the plan we’re about to execute."
Narika and Hinako both nodded.
The sunset was beginning to dye the world in shades of orange. Since about thirty minutes had passed since classes ended, the halls were mostly empty. With fewer eyes on her, the burden on Narika should be much lighter.
"Phase one: join a study session."
I explained the first part of the plan we had settled on.
"Study sessions draw all sorts of people, so they’re perfect for expanding your circle of acquaintances. Plus, since we were just doing one recently, it should be easy for you to visualize how it works."
Narika gave a firm nod. We had studied together before, and if she could just channel that same energy, things should go reasonably well. I personally felt that our previous session had helped me get closer to Tennoji-san, Asahi-san, and Taisho. The effectiveness was proven.
"However, hosting one yourself is a bit much right now, so we’ll start by joining someone else’s. Luckily, there are already people in your class doing one, right?"
"Yeah. There should be about three people staying behind to study together."
It seemed the students of Class B were quite diligent.
"You really do keep a close eye on your surroundings, Narika."
"..................I was just jealous that they were hanging out after school."
"..................I see."
The more I poked, the more depressing the stories became. I’d have to invite her to a tea party or something soon.
"Well, all that's left is to go join them."
"I-I’m getting nervous..."
"Stop it, don't get nervous. Your face gets scary when you're nervous, remember?"
"W-wait a moment... I’ll calm down... I can do this...!"
Narika took a deep, shaky breath. The trembling in her hands gradually subsided.
"I’m going in...!"
With determination written all over her face, Narika marched into the classroom. Hinako and I lurked outside, peeking in to monitor her progress.
Narika didn't have much in the way of conversational skill, but the students of Kikou Academy were a serious bunch. I figured that even if she couldn't liven up the room with small talk, showing a sincere attitude toward her studies would allow them to find common ground.
In a corner of the classroom, three students—two girls and a boy—had their desks lined up. Narika approached them and—
"A-a-hello!"
She fumbled the greeting spectacularly, and her voice was way too loud. The three students jumped, their shoulders nearly hitting their ears in surprise.
I couldn't see Narika's face clearly from our vantage point, but judging by her profile, she was stiffening up fast.
She’s getting flustered because she tripped over her words...
Her ears were turning bright red, but her expression remained terrifying. She had stumbled at the very first step.
"M-Miyakojima-san... is something the matter?" one of the girls asked tentatively.
"Th-that is..."
Narika tried to answer, but she couldn't quite bring herself to the point.
"Ah!? D-don't tell me this seat is... Miyakojima-san's!?"
"Eh—!? S-s-sorry! We’ll move right away!"
The students scrambled to pack their things, clearly terrified.
"N-no! You’ve got it all wrong!" Narika shouted, hurriedly stopping them.
Good, she was speaking up.
"Um, you’re studying, right?"
"Eh?...Y-yes. We are, but..."
"C-could I join you?"
Yes!
I unconsciously pumped a fist. It felt like I was cheering for a kid at a track meet.
Hearing Narika’s request, the three students whispered among themselves.
"W-what should we do? Is it really okay for Miyakojima-san to study with us?"
"But if she's here, maybe she can teach us..."
"True..."
The atmosphere shifted toward acceptance. However...
"Ah, no, well... I-I’m not actually smart enough to teach anyone..."
"Eh?"
The three students blinked at her.
"U-um, we’re actually studying specifically to rank high on the next exam..."
The girl’s words weren't meant to be mean. As long as the motivation was there, it shouldn't have been a problem. If anything, they were just saying they intended to focus on work rather than socializing. This was the perfect chance for Narika to show her serious side, but—
"I............ beg your pardon!"
Dripping with cold sweat, Narika bolted from the room.
The moment she reached the hallway, our eyes met.
"Itsukiiiiiiiiii...!"
Narika came crying to me.
"Why... why does everyone think I’m some kind of genius...!"
"I feel like that’s better than everyone thinking you’re a total idiot... but that was definitely unexpected."
Even if she had joined them and tried to fake being smart, the truth would have come out soon enough. Narika was already at her limit just trying to join the group; she didn't have the mental bandwidth left to correct a sudden misunderstanding.
Come to think of it, we didn't know her grades at first either.
During our first study session, when we realized Narika’s grades were actually quite average, everyone—including Asahi-san and Taisho—had been shocked. People’s image of Narika always seemed to run wild, far ahead of the reality.
"Don't worry about it. We’ll try the next plan tomorrow."
I did my best to comfort the teary-eyed Narika.
Phase one: failure.
◆
The next day, we gathered at the Academy again. Today, we were starting early—before classes began.
"Phase two: image change."
A simple, direct plan. Narika nodded in agreement.
Well, I only thought of this because of Hinako...
When I glanced at Hinako standing beside me, our eyes met.
"Is something the matter?"
"...No."
Hinako, in her Young Lady mode, tilted her head cutely. Even though she was incredibly lazy in her private life, she was the most popular girl in the Academy because she committed so thoroughly to her public persona. In a way, Hinako was undergoing an image change every single day. She was a master of the craft.
"The goal here is to reduce that unapproachable aura you give off. To do that, we’re going for an image that’s the polar opposite of strict or serious."
"I understand the logic, but..." Narika made a pained face. "...Be honest. Is it really that bad? Am I really that scary?"
"Hmm... You’re perfectly natural when you’re with us."
Actually, I didn't find Narika scary at all. I knew she looked intimidating from an objective standpoint, but because I’d known her since she was a little kid, I couldn't bring myself to feel frightened.
"Let’s do a test."
"A test?"
I nodded and led the way. "There’s still time before homeroom. Let’s head outside for a bit."
Narika and Hinako followed me out of the building. The Konohana family servants were always stationed near the school route in case Hinako needed anything during her commute. I didn't want to wander too far and make their jobs harder, so I looked for a spot nearby.
Across the street, a group of elementary schoolers was walking along.
...They’ll do.
I approached the children and called out to them.
"Hey there, do you have a second?"
The kids turned around, looking curious.
"Whaat is it?"
"Hey, we’re not supposed to talk to strangers...?"
"Wait, I know that uniform! It’s the super rich school!"
"It’s Kikou Academy!"
The Academy’s reputation apparently preceded it even among kids.
"I have a quick question for you guys," I said, crouching down to match their height. "Between this lady here..." I pointed at Narika, then pulled a photograph out of my pocket. "...and the man in this photo, which one is scarier?"
"H-hey, Itsuki, why on earth do you have a photo of a yakuza boss?"
"Apparently this guy tried to mess with the Konohana Group in the past, so his photo was in the archives."
The man in the picture was a grizzled, terrifying old man with a scar running across his forehead. Under any normal circumstances, the yakuza would win this contest by a landslide.
The children looked back and forth between the photo and Narika.
"...Narika, try a gentle smile."
It was a meaningless test unless we compared the man to how Narika looked when she was trying to be social at school. Hearing my instruction, Narika forced that same stiff, awkward grin.
"He... hehe..."
At the sight of that smile, the children’s faces went pale.
"The lady's way scarier!!"
"Uwaah...! Just kill me now...!"
The children bolted as if their lives depended on it. Narika slumped to the ground right where she stood.
"Do you see why we need the image change now?"
"...Yeah. Do it. Do it thoroughly."
Narika was still reeling from the shock.
"Alright, from here on, I’ll need Konohana-san to take the lead."
"Understood," Hinako replied.
Since this would involve changing her hair and clothing, it was best for Hinako to handle the details. I was glad she was willing to help.
"Narika, you mentioned you wanted to try dressing a bit more casually, like Asahi-san?"
"Y-yeah. Honestly, I’ve admired that for a while. My family was pretty strict, so seeing someone like her felt so fresh... She has so many friends, too. I want to learn from her."
Narika spoke bashfully. I had only recently learned this, but Kikou Academy had almost no rules regarding personal appearance. The administration simply assumed that the students would exercise self-restraint without needing a handbook.
Asahi-san was a bit of an outlier, but even she didn't dress in a way that truly disrupted public order. She just changed her shirt color occasionally or wore a few accessories.
"Well, if we go too far too fast, it might actually make people more intimidated. Let’s just aim for a slight change in impression for now."
"T-that’s probably for the best. I appreciate it."
We returned to the building, and Hinako and Narika disappeared into one of the changing rooms. After about ten minutes, they emerged.
"H-how do I look...?"
Narika fidgeted, looking completely devoid of confidence.
She had undone the top buttons of her uniform jacket, leaving it open, and her skirt had been shortened slightly. Her shirt was untucked, with both the top and bottom buttons left open to create a relaxed, casual silhouette.
On her slender wrist sat a bright pink bracelet. I wouldn't have thought the color suited her, but it actually worked perfectly for the image change. It was elegant enough that it wasn't garish, but just eye-catching enough to soften her look.
"...It’s amazing how much a little effort can change things."
The current Narika looked like a "modest gyaru." Her hair was mostly the same, just a bit softer and fuller. This level of casualness wouldn't leave a bad impression at a school like this.
"Narika, what do you think?"
"M-my heart is racing... but I think I can handle this."
It seemed we had found the perfect balance for her.
"But is it really okay for the collar to be this loose? I feel a bit exposed..."
Narika tugged at her collar, clearly still adjusting to the new feel.
"Wait—"
For a split second, her shirt pulled away enough for me to see her underwear. I whipped my eyes away instantly.
Talk about being defenseless...
"...Maybe you should fasten that top button after all."
"Eh?...Ah!?"
Realizing exactly what I had seen, Narika hurriedly covered her chest, her face turning crimson.
Awkward...
As Narika scrambled to fix her buttons, I felt a sudden, sharp pain.
"Ow!?"
Hinako had planted a kick squarely into my shin.
"Um, Konohana-san...?"
"My apologies. My foot slipped."
"I-I see..."
The young lady was clearly cross. Her smile was terrifying.
"A-alright! All that's left is to go to the classroom like this!"
Narika was pumped up now.
"We can't follow you any further, so you’re on your own. Good luck."
"Y-yeah! I’m going to make it work this time!"
Determined, Narika marched off toward her classroom. The changing room wasn't far; in just a few minutes, her new look would be revealed to the world.
"...Itsuki."