To think that the true identity of the young lady who reigned at the top of Kikou Academy's school caste was actually this disappointing and two-faced. The gap between her refined outward behavior and her true nature was so vast it was terrifying.
……For a moment, I almost found myself nodding along, thinking, "Well, she's better than Hinako."
I’ve been quite tainted myself.
Then again, I was faking my own social status too, so I wasn't really one to talk… No, actually, I think I was allowed to say something about this.
"…Isn't that photo a candid shot?"
"It is fine as long as I am not caught."
There's no way that was true.
Suminoe-san abruptly bowed her head toward the photo of Tennoji-san pasted in her notebook.
"Tennoji-sama, I am terribly sorry for accidentally dropping you… You must have been so repulsed to be touched by such a filthy boy, Tennoji-sama…"
I was the one who picked it up, though…
If anything, didn't that make me a benefactor?
"Um, does Tennoji-san know about your feelings, Suminoe-san?"
"Of course she does not. If she found out, I would die."
Setting aside whether Suminoe-san would actually die or not, I had expected that answer. No matter how big-hearted Tennoji-san might be, she would surely be taken aback by love this heavy. They seemed to be having a normal conversation during the tea party, so it appeared Tennoji-san didn't know Suminoe-san’s true nature.
"…But I understand. Tennoji-san has a charm that draws people in."
I felt like it would be dangerous to provoke her too much, so I tried to settle things by appealing to her as an ally.
However, for some reason, Suminoe-san’s eyebrows shot up.
"May I interpret that as you picking a fight with me?"
"Wait, why!?"
"My apologies. I thought for certain you were saying, 'I know more about Tennoji-sama than you do.'"
"I would never say that…"
If I said that to Suminoe-san, she’d probably kill me.
Since I also respected Tennoji-san, those were my honest feelings… Even though I had thought "I might get along with Suminoe-san" just a few minutes ago, how did it come to this?
"…Either way, I do not acknowledge you."
Suminoe-san glared straight at me and spoke.
"Since we are being honest, let me say it clearly. I dislike you."
"…Is that because I’m close to Tennoji-san?"
"Please do not lump me in with such vulgar jealousy. Although, that is indeed one of the reasons."
So I was right…
"Tennoji-sama has changed. In the past, she was more…………"
Ignoring my exasperation, Suminoe-san muttered to herself.
I couldn't catch the latter half of what she said. Suminoe-san probably hadn't intended for me to hear her talking to herself anyway.
As I tilted my head in confusion, a car pulled up right beside us.
A servant stepped out of the vehicle and bowed to Suminoe-san. It seemed to be her ride.
"In any case, what you saw today remains strictly between us. Understood?"
"Yes."
Even if I told someone about this, they wouldn't believe me.
Suminoe-san got into the car and drove away.
A sigh escaped my lips—one so deep it even surprised me.
◆
9:00 PM.
Sitting in front of the computer in my room at the manor, I took a breather as I finished a session of the game.
"Phew…"
I had returned to my room immediately after dinner to continue playing, but perhaps because I was so focused, 9:00 PM had arrived in the blink of an eye.
(…Because I was thinking about Suminoe-san, my progress was poor today.)
Even after returning to the manor, my head had been in a state of confusion for a while. Suminoe-san’s true identity had been that much of a shock to me.
I lightly slapped my cheeks to psyche myself up.
Honestly, I was running out of time.
My knowledge wasn't keeping pace with the game's progression. Management studies were a necessity, of course, and alongside that, I had to consider strategies to scale the business.
I had intended to preview and review my school lessons after nine, but the Management Game was a limited-time event. I decided to prioritize studying the game for now.
(The game is taking up too much of my time. Am I becoming a bit too immersed? But things are finally going well, and I don't want to stop this momentum…)
I had told Takuma-san that I wanted to become a director of the Konohana Group.
I had told Tennoji-san that I was also aiming for the Student Council.
I couldn't afford to start whining over this level of effort.
I would have to prepare to stay up late tonight. Just as I thought that, there was a knock on the door.
"Itsuki… are you free right now?"
"Hm? Oh, yeah."
The door opened and Hinako entered the room.
"Hinako, what’s up?"
For just a split second, I saw the hem of a maid uniform on the other side of the door. Ms. Shizune must have guided Hinako to my room. It seemed she still managed to get lost even inside the manor if she was alone.
"I brewed some tea."
Hinako was pushing a small cart with her own hands.
On top of the cart were a British-made teapot and cups for two.
"You brewed it… You brewed this yourself, Hinako?"
"Mm."
I was surprised, as this was the first time.
Hinako looked back and forth between me and the tea, her expression suggesting she was eager for me to try it.
When I lifted the cup, I caught the familiar scent of herbs. They were tea leaves favored by the Konohana family. As I slowly brought the rim to my lips and took a sip, a faint sweetness filled my mouth.
"H-How is it…?"
Hinako asked, sounding somewhat nervous.
"…Thank you. It’s delicious."
"I’m glad… Ms. Shizune taught me, and I worked hard."
In truth, it was a bit watery compared to the tea Ms. Shizune brewed. However, the emotional impact far outweighed that. That Hinako—the Hinako who usually did nothing but lounge around once she returned home—had gone out of her way to brew tea for me.
I was so happy I felt like I could cry, but at the same time, a question arose.
"…Did you have some kind of change of heart?"
"Eh!? W-Why…!?"
"No, I mean, you don't usually do this kind of thing, right?"
When I said that, Hinako looked down, her cheeks flushing red with embarrassment.
"From now on… I thought I’d start doing things like this too."
Hinako replied bashfully and adorably.
I was very happy about her feelings, but…
"But won't you get tired? You usually go to sleep right away, don't you?"
"…Strangely, I don't feel that tired," Hinako said in a calm tone. "…I think I’ve changed."
"Changed?"
"Mm.…Lately, I feel a surge of energy."
Hinako placed her hand over her chest as she spoke.
"Doing things for you, Itsuki… I like it."
Hinako gave me a soft smile.
I felt as if beautiful flowers had suddenly burst into bloom behind her.
For a moment, I thought my heart had stopped. From that smile as gentle as a flower… from those slightly flushed cheeks and moist eyes, I felt a special sentiment that went beyond words, and my mind went blank.
Calm down, calm down, calm down——.
I tried desperately to settle my racing heartbeat.
"…I like doing things for you too, Hinako."
"…I know."
Hinako nodded happily.
…Good.
I managed to maintain my composure somehow.
Lately, Hinako had been intense, restless… and she occasionally made my heart skip a beat.
I didn't know what had happened, but it wasn't very good for my heart.
Of course, I didn't dislike the feeling at all.
"Fuwah…"
Hinako let out a yawn.
"Want to sleep for a bit? I’ll wake you when it’s time for your bath…"
"Mmm… No, I’m still awake…"
Perhaps wanting to move her body to ward off the drowsiness, Hinako walked aimlessly around the room.
She stopped right beside me and looked at the top of my desk.
"…You’re studying a lot."
"Yeah. Since the game started, I’ve been seeing more and more things that I’m lacking."
There was an unprecedented amount of reference material on the desk. All of it was what I felt was necessary to progress in the game—things related to management. Lately, I had also been studying stocks to complete Takuma-san’s homework.
"Is it hard?"
Hinako peered into my face and asked.
"Well, yeah. But it’s rewarding and fun."
"…Then that’s good."
Hinako gave a soft, relieved smile.
"How was the study group after school?"
"One of my worries was resolved.…Sorry I had to let you go home alone again today."
"It couldn't be helped… I’m not in the IT industry."
Since the purpose of this study group was to gather only managers from the IT industry, Hinako had read the room and declined.
"Who was at the study group again…?"
"Kita from our class and Suminoe-san."
"Hmm," Hinako acknowledged.
To be honest, the interaction with Suminoe-san had been so shocking that I didn't have much memory of the study group itself. I had taken notes, so it wasn't an issue, but…
"…Hinako. What kind of person is Suminoe-san?"
I wondered what everyone else thought of her.
When I threw that question at her, Hinako suddenly glared at me with sullen, narrowed eyes.
"Why are you asking that?"
"Eh, no, even if you ask why…"
How should I answer…?
I couldn't exactly ask, "Is that person hiding her true nature properly?"
"…Itsuki, you have no shame."
"No, it’s not like that…"
I wished she wouldn't talk as if I were hitting on every woman I met.
Especially regarding Suminoe-san, she had just flat-out told me, "I dislike you."
"…Suminoe-san is a very solid person."
It seemed she was going to answer the question, at least. Hinako thought it over and continued.
"But she’s a little scary."
"Scary?"
"Mm… She has this glaring intensity."
She probably couldn't express it well herself. Hinako spoke with a solemn look on her face.
"She talks to me occasionally in class, but… I think she probably doesn't like me very much."
It didn't look that way to my eyes, but Hinako probably wasn't just saying it randomly.
Perhaps Suminoe-san was still hiding her true nature from me.
Though I didn't know if she had anything left to hide beyond what I'd already seen…