Hinako, who had been standing there almost entirely wordlessly for some time, was staring fixedly in our direction.
"Y-yeah. Well, we've known each other for about ten years."
"Ten years, you say...?"
Hinako’s eyes narrowed into thin slits.
Perhaps sensing that something was wrong, Yuri leaned in and whispered into my ear.
(H-hey, Itsuki! Is it just me, or is Konohana-san glaring at me!?)
(She's definitely glaring...)
I wasn't entirely sure why, but it seemed Yuri had somehow managed to offend Hinako.
Making an enemy of the daughter of the Konohana Group... I suppose our decade-long friendship ends today.
I was only joking to myself, but looking closer, I realized I was being glared at as well. It was getting dangerous to let this atmosphere linger any longer.
"B-by the way, Yuri, shouldn't you be getting back to your part-time job soon? You're still in the middle of your shift, right?"
"Ah!? I completely forgot!"
Panicking, Yuri hurried back toward the main building. Halfway there, she turned around one last time.
"I’m working at the cafeteria here! Come see me if you're there!"
With that, Yuri made a quick exit.
"She was certainly an energetic individual."
"...Yuri has been helping out with her family's diner since she was little, so she’s dealt with all kinds of people, from the elderly to children. She’s got real guts."
I could say that with absolute certainty, given how often those guts of hers had dragged me along for the ride.
Just then, Hinako gave my sleeve a light tug.
"Itsuki... let's go for a walk."
"O-oh. Right."
My mental fatigue was hitting me hard, so I figured we should just wander around the immediate area today. Fortunately, the hotel grounds were vast enough that a simple stroll would kill plenty of time.
"Is there anywhere in particular you want to go?"
To my question, Hinako replied in a tiny voice.
"...Anywhere but the cafeteria."
The next morning, after a relaxing stroll with Hinako the day before.
We were in the cafeteria of the main building. Yuri gave a polite bow in front of us as we ate our breakfast.
"Nice to meet you, I’m Yuri Hirano."
Tennoji-san and Narika, who were at the same table, looked up at her.
When we had met up in the cafeteria earlier, I had warned them that "an acquaintance might come by to say hello," so they weren't particularly surprised. Since Hinako had already met her, she simply sat there with the elegant smile characteristic of her Young Lady mode plastered onto her face.
"I’m currently working as a part-timer at this restaurant. By the way, my main job is being Itsuki's childhood friend!"
"Don't act like it's a profession," I retorted, setting down my glass of orange juice.
Since it was a buffet, our plates were a mismatch of different dishes. Tennoji-san had salad and an omelet. Narika had soup and bread. Hinako had a well-balanced selection of various items, but that was likely only because she was currently "on stage." The real Hinako would never touch vegetables.
The raw vegetable and sashimi salad I was eating was refined and rich in flavor. It wouldn't have been out of place even at a Konohana family breakfast.
"So you are Tomonari-san's childhood friend."
"Itsuki's... childhood friend..."
Tennoji-san and Narika both looked intrigued.
"You're on the clock, aren't you? Is this okay?"
"I just came over for a quick greeting. The head chef said I could do as I like as long as it doesn't interfere with my work... though, if I'm in the way, I'll step back."
"No, I don't think you're in the way, but..."
Just to be safe, I checked the expressions of the others.
"You are not in the way at all," Tennoji-san said, setting down her teacup. "This is a rare connection for us, and I have no reason to refuse it. I would be delighted if we could get along."
"O-oh... Wow, so this is how a real Young Lady handles things..."
The tolerant words and the calm, elegant grace of her movements seemed to be a brand-new experience for Yuri.
Seeing Yuri like that reminded me of my own past. I had been just as shocked by every little thing the Young Ladies did at first... and in Tennoji-san's case, the impact was likely doubled by her striking blonde drills.
"I-I feel the same. I want to be friends."
Narika spoke up as well, looking at Yuri.
However, perhaps because she was nervous meeting someone for the first time, her face was stiffer than usual—the "villainous" face that made Narika so feared at the Academy had surfaced. I worried there might be a misunderstanding, so I whispered to Yuri.
(Yuri. Narika is just a little socially awkward...)
(It's okay, I get it. We have regular customers like her at the diner.)
Yuri wasn't intimidated in the slightest. With an easy smile, she faced Narika directly.
"You're Miyakojima-san, right? The one Itsuki mentioned meeting when he was a kid..."
"Y-yes. That is likely correct. When I was young, I was in Itsuki's care for a time."
I had mentioned to Yuri that I'd stayed at Narika's house for a while during our childhood. Since Yuri had always been curious about that story, she focused her attention on Narika.
"Hmmmm. To think that Itsuki would actually take care of someone else." Yuri shot me a meaningful look.
"...What?"
"Oh, nothing~. It’s just, since I'm the one who's always taking care of Itsuki, it felt a little fresh to hear that he actually looked after someone once."
As Yuri said that, the two Young Ladies reacted instantly.
"Taking care...?"
"Taking care... of Itsuki...?"
Hinako and Narika both tilted their heads, their focus sharpening on that specific keyword.
"By the way, since you three are all Young Ladies, aren't you staying in three-star rooms? I thought those rooms came with meal service, so I didn't think you'd have any reason to use the cafeteria..."
Hinako was the one to answer Yuri's question.
"Since we are here, I thought it would be nice to eat together with everyone like this."
"I see. Well, this has more of a vacation vibe, and it is more fun," Yuri agreed.
In reality, the reason was "I want to eat with Itsuki." Tennoji-san and Narika had also claimed they wanted to enjoy a meal together, but since they were both kind people, I couldn't rule out the possibility that they were just being considerate of my status. It would be tactless to bring it up, though, so I decided to simply appreciate their kindness.
"...Right, my break is about to end, so I'll be heading back."
Checking the clock on the wall, Yuri prepared to leave.
"Ah, Yuri. Wait a second."
I walked over to her and spoke in a low voice.
"Like I told you yesterday, I'm hiding my background at Kikou Academy. These three know the truth, so it's fine, but please don't say a word to anyone else."
"Got it. I'll be careful." Yuri looked me in the eye and nodded firmly. "Still, do you always hang out with such... intense people?"
"Well, yeah."
"...I wonder if those blonde drills are common among Young Ladies?"
"No, Tennoji-san is a special case."
Even at Kikou Academy, she was the only one with that hairstyle.
"Hmm... Itsuki, you sure have a lot of girls in your circle, don't you?"
Her voice had a slight, prickly edge to it. With a somewhat sulky expression, Yuri glanced toward Hinako and the others.
"And they're all so cute. Is everyone at Kikou Academy that pretty?"
"N-no, those three are just special..."
"Then why is it that those 'specials' are always gathered around you?"
"That’s really just a coincidence, I think..."
"Is that soooooo?"
She glared at me with half-lidded eyes. She clearly didn't believe me. I hadn't really thought about it before, but now that she mentioned it, I wondered why myself.
"By the way, Itsuki."
"What?"
"You don't think I'm completely satisfied after yesterday, do you?"
I went silent.
"When you ignored my messages, I was so sad."
"Ugh."
"When I saw you at the arcade, I wanted to ask a million things, but I read the room and held back for your sake."
"Guh...!"
She definitely remembered. Regarding the message I'd received right after I became a caretaker, I had tried to find the right time to reply, but I couldn't deny that I'd left her on read for a while. To be fair, Hinako had basically confiscated my phone, but regardless, the job had been so hectic that my responses were sloppier than usual. I felt genuinely bad about it.
"Come to my place tonight. I'm free from the evening on."
"...Yes."
I found myself unable to refuse the command.
After parting ways with Yuri, we headed to the venue for the Summer Seminar.
The lectures were starting today. We entered the cottage-style building and opened the classroom door to find nearly twenty students already gathered.
"Hey, look... aren't those the people from Kikou Academy?"
"Real Young Ladies..."
"They're all so beautiful."
"But there's one guy there who looks like he might actually be approachable..."
That last comment was probably about me.
Before the Athletic Festival, I had realized how others viewed me while helping Narika with her problems. I had resolved then to carry myself in a way that wouldn't seem out of place by Hinako's side.
Remembering that resolve, I straightened my posture. I wasn't used to the attention like Hinako and the others were, and I was nervous inside, but at the very least, no one looked at me as if I didn't belong. A short while ago, that wouldn't have been the case. I likely would have been the target of a mocking comment or two.
"Oh, it seems the seats are assigned."
At the front desk, a sheet of paper with names and seat assignments was taped down. It seemed seats were determined by the order of registration. Narika was next to Hinako, and I was—
"My, it looks like we are neighbors."
Tennoji-san approached me. My neighbor was Tennoji-san. I took out my writing utensils and sat down. After a while, a man who appeared to be the instructor stood before the podium.
"Good morning, everyone. Let us begin the first period immediately."
The textbooks for the Summer Seminar were passed back. They were thin since it was only a week-long course, but the density of the content was staggering. It made me feel a bit faint. Still, I had been keeping up with the curriculum at Kikou Academy. I pushed my brain to its limit and somehow managed to follow along.
(...Finally, the first half is over.)
The seminar ran from 10:00 AM to 6:00 PM every day. It was a grueling schedule, but fortunately, it included lunch. Since it was hosted by Kikou Academy, the bento boxes were high-end, making the students from ordinary schools look on with wide-eyed wonder.
When the lunch break ended, the afternoon sessions began. An elderly male instructor walked in.
"Now, we will begin the lecture on Microeconomics."
"...Microeconomics?"
I tilted my head at the unfamiliar term. While I sat there dazed, Tennoji-san whispered an explanation.
"Did you not check the pamphlet? For this Summer Seminar, many professors from prestigious universities across the country have been invited to give special lectures on modern business and services. We will be studying commerce, management, law, and science and engineering."
"I-I see..."
I nodded, but it still didn't quite click. Perhaps sensing my confusion, Tennoji-san gave a small smile.
"To put it simply, it’s Kingcraft."
So Kingcraft actually existed... I remembered the seminar’s concept was learning things outside the normal curriculum, but I hadn't expected this. Looking through the textbook, it seemed Macroeconomics followed Microeconomics. I didn't know anything about either.
By the time the economics lecture finished, I was utterly exhausted.
"Tomonari-san, are you all right?"
"I'm... not all right..."
"The textbooks were just handed out, so preparation was impossible. It can't be helped."
Tennoji-san’s consolation was gentle. Looking around the room, I saw several other students clutching their heads. The lecture really had been exceptionally difficult. As she said, things might have been different with some prep work, but Tennoji-san herself looked perfectly fine. I suppose she studied these fields regularly.
As I’ve grown used to life at Kikou Academy, I’ve come to realize just how incredible these girls are. Hinako of the Konohana Group, Tennoji-san of the Tennoji Group, and Narika, daughter of a major sports manufacturer. The world they live in is noble and incredibly demanding. Standing alongside them is no easy feat.
I let out a slow breath to clear the fog from my head. Then, I heard voices from the next seat over.
"Konohana-san? You look a bit worried. Is something the matter?"
"No, I am my usual self."
Hinako's voice sounded a bit heavier than usual, so I glanced over. Our eyes met; it seemed she had been looking at me too. Was she worried about me?
I'm okay, I'll find a way to keep up. I gave a small wave to convey that sentiment, and Hinako looked relieved before turning back to the front.
The break ended, and a woman in a suit entered the room.
"Now, we will begin the Introduction to Multimedia lecture. In this class, we will learn about the basic technology behind the media we use every day—specifically audio and video."
This instructor was apparently a professor from the faculty of science and engineering. As the lecture proceeded, I started feeling a sense of déjà vu.
(Wait... I know this.)
Before the Academy’s summer break, I had been studying for national IT certifications with my classmate, Kita. This lecture overlapped perfectly with what we had covered.
"Now then, for this problem..."
The instructor scanned the room for a student to answer. Except for Hinako and Tennoji-san, most of the students looked away.
I... didn't.
"Tomonari-san, if you please."
The instructor confirmed my name from the seating chart and called on me.
"Um... it's quantization."
"Correct. Well done." The instructor smiled, looking impressed. "In PCM, which converts analog data to digital, quantization follows sampling. Please remember that this is followed by encoding, which converts the values into binary."
A murmur of "Ohh..." went through the classroom.
I was lucky it was something I’d happened to study. It was definitely a stroke of luck, but the praise from those around me made me happy, giving me a real sense of being a student of Kikou Academy.
"Konohana-san, you seem to be in a good mood for some reason."
"Is that so? I am my usual self, hee hee."
Hearing their voices, I looked over at Hinako, who was puffed out her chest with inexplicable pride.
"Tomonari-san. You understood that problem very well," Tennoji-san praised me in a low voice.
"It just happened to be a field I’ve been studying recently. I got lucky."
"Do you intend to go into the IT field in the future?"
"It’s not set in stone, but that’s the plan for now."
Initially, it was just to support my fake background as the successor of a mid-sized IT company. I had started studying to make the lie convincing, but after Ms. Shizune offered to introduce me to IT firms for future employment and after getting to know Kita—the actual successor of an IT firm—my motivation had spiked.
"In that case, I should introduce you to some of the Tennoji Group companies."
"Wait, is that really okay?"
"I will properly vet your abilities, but an introduction is no trouble at all."
Knowing Tennoji-san’s dedication to proper conduct, I hadn't expected her to offer a back-door entrance. Not that the Konohana Group would either.
"However, personally, I would prefer to see you at one of our core companies—perhaps a non-ferrous metal manufacturer or a general chemical firm."
"Why is that?"
"Why? Well, that is, um..."
Suddenly, Tennoji-san looked away bashfully.
"Depending on your performance, you could be appointed to a vital post within the group... and, well, that would mean we could work together..."
I see. So that was it.
"That sounds great. I think I’ve said this before, but working with you seems like it would be fun, Tennoji-san."
"Hahya...! Y-yes, I agree! I feel the same way!"
Tennoji-san looked incredibly happy.
"You two over there, please focus on the lecture."
The instructor glared at us. My earlier praise was immediately canceled out. I’d let my guard down a bit too much. Tennoji-san and I bowed our heads and fell silent.
"K-Konohana-san, you seem to be in a bad mood all of a sudden...!?"
"Is that so? I am my usual self, hee hee."
I could hear them talking again. I glanced over at Hinako, and for some reason, she was directing a scornful, "looking at trash" gaze right at me.