"Come to think of it, we used to feed the carp here all the time."
"Mhm... it was peaceful."
Back when I had first become her caretaker, Hinako would head to the campus store after school to buy bread, then tear off pieces to toss to the carp.
"I remember you saying you wanted to be just like them."
"I did..."
She used to tell me how she envied them because they got fed just by opening their mouths.
"But I don't feel that way anymore. A lot has changed... thanks to Itsuki."
"Thanks to me?"
"Yes. It changed everything."
Hinako placed a hand over her chest.
"Thanks to Itsuki, internally... it feels like two Big Bangs have happened."
"...That's quite the transformation."
Apparently, explosions on the scale of birthing the universe twice over had occurred within her.
But she certainly had changed. She interacted with others more than she used to, and I felt like she had become more expressive. If I had played any part in that, it was truly an honor.
Ignoring our conversation, the carp swam gracefully through the pond. They looked exactly as they had the first time I visited this garden. I felt a gentle sense of healing wash over me. Amidst a world where so many things were in flux, facing something that remained constant felt good.
"Oh, right. I heard this pond was actually built by the Student Council from years ago."
"It was...?"
"During the Management Game, I visited an IT company whose CEO was a Kikou Academy alumnus. He was the one who told me."
It seemed that if you joined the Student Council, you gained the authority to build an entire pond. Of course, they must have needed the support of the students and faculty, but it was still a staggering display of power.
Upon hearing this, Hinako suddenly sank into deep thought.
"...Itsuki. On second thought, are you sure you don't want to run for Student Council President?"
"Wait, where did that come from?"
When I asked, Hinako's eyes began to sparkle.
"If Itsuki became the President... I'd want you to build a Nap Room!"
"...A what?"
"A room filled with nothing but soft, fluffy cushions! And a potato chip buffet!"
"...Both of those sound like a tall order."
Actually, a Nap Room might be surprisingly practical. It was premature to make plans, but perhaps I would casually sound out the President once I was officially the Vice President.
As we were talking, someone approached us from the school building.
It was the Vice President.
"Tomonari-san, I've been looking everywhere for you!"
She shot me a sharp glare.
"Honestly, if you don't want people prying, just say so beforehand. It's not as if we want to infringe on your privacy; we're perfectly capable of being flexible if you just communicate."
"I-I'm sorry..."
So it would have been fine if I'd just said something? I had assumed that being upfront would only make me look more suspicious, but it seemed I had been worrying over nothing.
Having vented her frustration by scolding me, the Vice President turned her attention to Hinako.
"By the way, did you just happen to run into Konohana-san here?"
"...Yes."
"...Um, really?"
She was prying quite a bit for someone who claimed not to.
Then again, she looked as though she felt a bit guilty. Her attitude suggested she knew she shouldn't ask, but the question had slipped out anyway.
While I was debating how to answer, Hinako spoke up.
"It is true. I happened to run into Tomonari-kun while taking a walk, and we were having a leisurely chat while heading back to the classrooms."
"...I see."
Enveloped by the pure, refined aura Hinako projected in her Young Lady mode, the Vice President backed down without a fight.
The three of us headed back to the building together. Along the way, I leaned in and whispered to Hinako so the Vice President wouldn't hear.
"Sorry. I wish I could have handled the excuses better."
"It's not just your problem..."
Hinako shook her head, reassuring me it was fine.
"Besides... if strange rumors about Itsuki spread because of me... it might affect the election."
By "strange rumors," did she mean something like a scandal over inappropriate relationships?
I didn't think there was a need to worry that much, but given the overly stiff and serious culture of Kikou Academy, the slightest hint of a romance could potentially blow up into a major incident.
"Thanks for having my back."
"Mhm. I'm a woman who knows how to exercise self-restraint!"
Hinako said this with a triumphant, smug look.
We entered the building and began walking down the hallway.
Just then—Tennoji-san's voice drifted out from the Class 2-C classroom.
"I see! So all of Tennoji-san's recent successes are entirely thanks to Tomonari-san!"
"Yes! Exactly so!"
"Tennoji-san, you feel a deep sense of gratitude toward Tomonari-san for solving your troubles! Does this mean there is a powerful bond between the two of you!?"
"Exactly! Exactly so-o-o!"
Tennoji-san was nodding enthusiastically, clearly in a fantastic mood during her interview with the Student Council.
"..."
The life drained from Hinako's eyes as she watched the scene.
She turned to face the Vice President with a completely deadpan expression.
"...Regarding what I said a moment ago. May I correct the record?"
"Eh? Oh, yes."
"Actually, Tomonari-kun and I spend every single lunch break alone together."
"A-Alone together!?"
Hey, hey, hey, hey.
Whatever happened to being a "woman of self-restraint"?
◆
After school.
While my classmates were leaving one by one, I stuffed my textbooks into my bag.
"Tomonari-kun."
As I was getting ready to head home, Kita-kun called out to me.
"Kita-kun, what is it?"
"I thought this book might suit you, so I wanted to lend it to you."
The book he held out was a reference manual for IT technology.
I looked at the cover and grimaced slightly. It looked like a technical manual for engineers. In the past, I would have borrowed it without hesitation, but now that I had decided to become a consultant, it was a low-priority field for me.
"Thank you. But I think I'm probably moving away from the IT side of things..."
"I believe that book will be useful to you, Tomonari-san."
As I was gently declining, Suminoe-san joined the conversation.
"It is difficult to tell from the cover, but that is less of a technical guide and more of a book for business management. I believe it contains many things you would find valuable to study."
"Is that so...?"
When I opened it to the table of contents as suggested, it did indeed contain topics that were not apparent from the cover alone.
Kita-kun looked at Suminoe-san.
"I see you read these kinds of books too, Suminoe-san."
"Yes. My family's company often deals with high-level architecture. It seems you are prioritizing the technical side, Kita-kun."
"Yeah. My family's company's main selling point is our technical skill, so my parents are very strict about the fact that if I don't have the skills myself, I won't be able to manage my subordinates..."
"I see. That is a rigorous path, but a rewarding one."
Kita-kun nodded happily at Suminoe-san's words.
He didn't seem to have any sense of inferiority about it; he clearly found the technical path fulfilling from the start.
"And so, the book essentially argues that even within the IT sector, organizational management differs vastly depending on the nature of the firm. I think it is worth a read, Tomonari-san."
"That was very helpful. Thank you."
I bowed to Suminoe-san, who had provided a summary of the book along with the small talk.
"Kita-kun, I'd definitely like to borrow this."
"Sure."
Kita-kun looked at me and Suminoe-san and let out a little chuckle.
"Suminoe-san, you're actually supporting Tomonari-kun in your own way, aren't you?"
"What!? I am doing no such thing!"
She denied it with terrifying intensity.
The surrounding gazes focused on us. Realizing this, Suminoe-san let out a very deliberate, fake cough to compose herself. She wasn't quite at Hinako's level, but this woman was also mostly wearing a facade.
"...He is, after all, someone who defeated me once. I simply do not wish to see him look unsightly, that is all."
"No, well, as I keep telling you, that wasn't about winning or losing..."
"Oh my, oh my... humility becomes poisonous if you overindulge, you know?"
"That's my line..."
If I were to just brazenly brag about winning, I had a feeling Suminoe-san would genuinely snap.
Right then—.
"O-ho-ho-ho! I have arrived!"
"Hwah!?"
At the sound of that familiar voice, Suminoe-san let out a strange yelp and practically jumped.
Tennoji-san, with her signature blonde ringlets, entered the classroom.
"Oh, Suminoe-san. Good day."
"G-G-G-Good day, m-m-m-ma'am!"
As always, Suminoe-san turned into a nervous wreck around Tennoji-san. She simply liked her too much.
Tennoji-san walked straight over to me.
"Tomonari-san, I have come to invite you to a Tea Party."
"Wait, right now?"
"Yes. Is that a problem?"
"No, I don't mind, but..."
If it was a Tea Party, she'd be gathering the rest of the group too. I looked over at Hinako, who caught my eye and nodded. Taisho and Asahi-san, who were luckily still in the classroom, had overheard and nodded as well. That just left Narika...
"By the way, it seems Miyakojima-san is attending."
As expected, she was efficient.
"Then it seems we have everyone. Still, this feels a bit sudden."
"During the Management Game, our tea parties were primarily for business meetings. I felt it was time we held one in its original spirit, simply to relax and enjoy ourselves."
True, during the Management Game, we were always busy exchanging information, and there wasn't much room for casual conversation. The original atmosphere of the Tea Party was supposed to be much more laid-back.
"Besides..."
Tennoji-san glanced toward the hallway.
The Student Council officers were still there, observing our every move.
"...The Student Council members seem to be familiar with the name 'The Noble Tea Party.' I thought we might show them a glimpse of it to assist with their reporting."
"I see..."
The Noble Tea Party. That was the name given to our group of six—me, Hinako, Tennoji-san, Narika, Taisho, and Asahi-san—or rather, the word used for the gatherings that had spawned the name. I didn't know who had originally come up with it, but the moniker had spread, and based on what Tennoji-san said, even the third-years had heard of it.
Since our tea parties were irregular, there was a chance we wouldn't hold one at all before the election. But—and I hoped I wasn't being conceited—since the name had become so famous, there would surely be students interested in seeing what it was like. If the President's "Daily Lives of Candidates" feature didn't mention The Noble Tea Party at all, the students might feel short-changed. Tennoji-san was clearly being mindful of that.
We had decided to be natural for the interviews to convey our true personalities, but we did actually have these tea parties, so it wasn't as if we were staging something fake.
"That's a good idea."
"Is it not?"
Tennoji-san puffed out her chest proudly.
I was just about to suggest we head to the cafe when a girl from our class approached.
"U-Um, Tennoji-san."
"Oh, what is it?"
The female student from Class A spoke to Tennoji-san with a nervous expression.
"Um, by any chance... were you and Tomonari-kun on a date during the Management Game!?"
"Da—!?"
The blonde ringlets bounced.
My heart did a somersault.
Where did this come from? How did she know!?
"Tomonari-san."
Suminoe-san fixed me with an icy, murderous gaze.
"Please. Explain. In detail. While I. Am still. Sane."
Every muscle in her body seemed to be tensing up as she approached me with stiff, mechanical movements.
This was bad; I felt my life was in danger.
"No, wait, it seems there's been a misunderstanding. There's absolutely nothing—"
"But I saw you! I saw the two of you walking together at the art museum!"
As I tried to defend myself, the girl blurted that out in a loud voice.
While the classroom began to buzz with gossip, the memory came rushing back to me.
When I was running myself ragged during the Management Game, Tennoji-san had forcibly dragged me out to clear my head. We went to a museum, visited a cafe, danced together...
"........................Ah."
"Ah!? Did you just say 'Ah'!?"
Suminoe-san grabbed me by the collar.
The girls in the classroom erupted into squeals of excitement. I could hear words like "Unrequited love!?" and "Love triangle!?" being thrown around. Great, now Suminoe-san was being dragged into the mess.
The atmosphere was a total disaster. Cold sweat poured down my back.
"Looks like the agenda for the tea party has been settled, eh, Tomonari?"
"Yeah, Tennoji-san certainly has impeccable timing for a gathering."
Taisho and Asahi-san approached with wicked grins.
They looked like children who had just found a brand-new toy to break.
"Tomonari-kun."
Hinako called my name with a clear, beautiful voice.
In her Young Lady mode, she wore a smile full of benevolence as she spoke.
"The time for leisurely enjoying your academy life is over."
Her merciless words pierced my heart like a dagger.
Hinako was the one who told me I should relax until the election period, but... if I didn't explain this properly, I'd be spending my days in misery both at school and at the mansion.
◆
"—And so, I was merely accompanying Tomonari-san to help him relax."
As soon as the tea party began, Tennoji-san moved quickly to clear up the misunderstanding.
"Hmm... well, that makes sense."
"It does sound like the kind of thing Tennoji-san would do."
Taisho and Asahi-san were satisfied, and Tennoji-san let out a long sigh of relief.
Hinako and Narika had been convinced early on, but it had taken quite a while to satisfy Taisho and Asahi-san. To be honest, I felt like they'd been convinced a long time ago and were just dragging it out for their own amusement. But looking at them now, the fact that these two were interacting so casually with Tennoji-san was an incredible change from the first semester.
I took a sip of the tea on the table; it had gone completely lukewarm. If I took that as proof that we were having such a good time that we forgot to drink, it wasn't a bad thing, but I'd prefer not to have another conversation like that for a while. It was bad for my heart.
"So that is how it was! Please be very careful when you write your article!"
"Understood!"
Tennoji-san spoke to the Student Council officer observing us from the next table. As I'd thought when I saw her earlier, that officer was incredibly high-energy.
The Student Council members certainly seemed to have strong personalities. Then again, most students at Kikou Academy were "strong" in their own way...
"I'm sorry, Tennoji-san. For making you explain the whole thing."
"I was the one who started it, so it is no problem. I have no regrets about my actions at the time, but I suppose I completely forgot to account for the aftermath of the Management Game."
Tennoji-san drank her tea while dabbing at her cold sweat, looking like she’d just finished a grueling day of work.
Something about her phrasing caught my ear.
What did she mean by the "aftermath" of the Management Game?
"I'm sure you've noticed, Tomonari-kun, but everyone has been really relaxed since the game ended, right?"
Sensing my confusion, Asahi-san explained.
"At Kikou Academy, it's a long-standing tradition for romance-related incidents to spike right after the Management Game. It's partly because people are finally letting their guard down, and partly because all the relationships shifted during the game. People look back and think, 'Wait, that person was actually really cool...'"
"I-I see..."
The Management Game had been a massive event. I certainly felt how much it had changed my own relationships.
The tradition Asahi-san described was likely common knowledge among the students. That was why everyone was so primed to link any hint of romance to that tradition and get worked up about it. In other words, the students were starved for romantic gossip right now.
"It does not sound very convincing coming from me after I caused such a stir, but it seems there are students who get swept up in the atmosphere and act recklessly during this season. You should all be careful."
As Taisho and Asahi-san nodded in response to Tennoji-san's warning, two people—Narika and I—secretly locked eyes.
Romantic incidents happen right after the Management Game.
Students get swept up in the atmosphere and act recklessly.
(........................Are they talking about us?)
Whether Narika had reached the exact same conclusion, her face turned a bright, vivid crimson.
It seemed we had been following the academy's traditions to the letter without even realizing it.
"...Oh? Is something wrong, Tomonari-san, Miyakojima-san?"
"N-N-N-No! Nothing at all!"
"Y-Yeah... It's nothing... I think?"
My reaction couldn't have been more suspicious if I'd tried, but Tennoji-san merely tilted her head in confusion.
"Even setting romance aside, human relationships really did change during the game," Asahi-san noted.
"Indeed. Lately, I often see Miyakojima-san being admired by all sorts of people."
"A-Ah. Yeah. I can feel that change around me, too. I'm... really grateful for it."
Narika spoke with genuine happiness.
Honestly, I felt like "admired" was a bit of an understatement, but I decided to keep that to myself.
The important thing to remember was that in Narika's case, these relationships hadn't changed by accident.
Narika herself had changed, so her world had changed with her. This was the result of all her hard work.
"It was worth the effort, Narika."
I told her that almost reflexively. I wanted to tell her so badly that I forgot the awkwardness between us.
Narika's eyes widened for a moment, but then she gave me a gentle smile.
"Yeah... it's all thanks to Itsuki."
We looked at each other.
This time, there was no awkwardness; instead, a peaceful, warm feeling enveloped me—
"...Wait, what is this vibe? Tomonari-kun, don't tell me you actually have something going on with Miyakojima-san instead of Tennoji-san—"
"S-Speaking of change, isn't Konohana-san a perfect example!?"
Faced with Asahi-san's razor-sharp intuition, I made a desperate move to pivot the conversation.
Hinako was staring intently at me. Her eyes said, You're using me as a distraction, aren't you... and I apologized to her repeatedly in my mind.
"That's true, Konohana-san has changed too. Just looking at our class, I feel like people talk to her way more than they used to."
Taisho, oblivious to the subtext, agreed with me.
"...Yes. As you say, I have been approached far more often than before."
Hinako read the room and picked up the topic.
Sorry, Hinako. And thank you, Taisho.
But in truth, I had wanted to discuss Hinako's growth. Through the Management Game, Hinako's own social circle was undergoing a transformation.
"From what I have heard, the catalyst was the meeting I held toward the end of the game. Come to think of it, I had never relied on others like that before. I feel as though that helped bridge the distance between us."
"Yeah, the whole class was talking about it. They were honored that Konohana-san relied on them."
Asahi-san nodded.
The "meeting" was, of course, the one held to save Konohana Motors after the recall cover-up came to light.
At home, Hinako was a lazy girl who relied on others for everything, but in the classroom, she rarely asked for help. To maintain the facade of a perfect young lady, she felt she had to be able to do everything on her own.
Her classmates must have been thrilled to be needed by her.
As her caretaker, I understood that feeling perfectly. To be relied upon by someone who usually carries a heavy burden is an honor—it makes you feel proud.
I was certain everyone in the academy was starting to feel something similar to what I felt.
They wanted to be equals with Hinako Konohana. Deep down, that desire had taken root.
"Gunuuu... if Hinako Konohana learns how to lead people, my own specialty will be in jeopardy..."
Tennoji-san was muttering her frustration in a low voice.
The strength Tennoji-san had that Hinako lacked... I had told her at the beach during summer break that I thought it was her charisma. I still felt that way, but things might change depending on how much Hinako grew.
"I, too, have realized there is still much I must learn as a daughter of the Konohana family. I must work hard to keep up with everyone's growth."
Hinako wore a dazzling, radiant smile that seemed to emit a divine light.
"O-Ohhh... so sublime..."
"Konohana-san... truly an angel..."
Taisho and Asahi-san began to offer silent prayers to her like devout pilgrims.
In reality, though, Hinako would probably never become a charismatic leader like Tennoji-san.
Because she had absolutely no desire to be one.
She was already bad enough with people as it was. I could easily imagine the "real" Hinako slumping over and groaning, "Leading people is such a pain..."
◆
"See you all later!"
"Yes. See you on Monday."
Hinako gave a polite smile and a bow to Asahi-san as she waved from her car.
Once the tea party ended, everyone headed to their respective rides for the trip home.
Hinako and I were about to leave as well, when—
"I-Itsuki!"
Narika called out as we approached the school gate.
"U-U-U-Um, do you have a moment? I want to talk...!"
"A-Ah. Sure."
I nodded, feeling a bit bewildered by Narika, who was even more flustered than usual.
I had a pretty good idea of what this was about.
I looked at Hinako beside me.
"Konohana-san, um..."
Narika clearly wanted to talk in private, so I needed Hinako to give us some space. Sensing my intent, Hinako nodded quietly.
"Well then, you two. I shall take my leave."
I caught Hinako's eye as she bowed.
You can head home ahead of me, I told her with my gaze.
Hinako gave a small nod and walked through the school gate.
Left alone, Narika and I moved toward the edge of the athletic field. While looking out over the grounds bathed in the orange light of the sunset, I turned to her.
"So, Narika. This talk... it's about what happened then, right?"
"Y-Yeah. Right after the Management Game..."
I knew it.
The cause of the tension between us.
The fact that Narika had kissed me—.
"Um... I-I wanted to confirm something..."
Narika asked me, her voice small and fearful.
"I-Itsuki... you don't... you don't hate me, do you...?"
The question was so unexpected that all my tension evaporated instantly.
"...Hate you? Why would you think that?"
"B-Because I did that so suddenly...!"
Narika looked like she was on the verge of tears.
"I've been agonizing over it ever since! I thought I'd just lost control and completely ignored your feelings! Ugh... I... I'm so sorry...!"
I stood there, stunned and speechless.
...She had been worrying about that?
We had both felt the awkwardness, but it seemed the kind of awkwardness we were feeling was different.
Narika had simply been terrified that I now hated her.
"T-Tennoji-san said it earlier at the tea party, right? That many people get swept up in the atmosphere during this season. S-She was talking about me...!"
I'd thought the same thing.
To be precise, I'd thought she was talking about us, but...
"........................Phew."
I took a moment to steady my own heart before trying to calm her down.
When she'd called out to me, I’d braced myself, thinking I had to give her an answer right here and now.
But it seemed Narika hadn't even reached that point yet.
The kiss back then was certainly a shock.
But the idea of me hating her because of it...
"...I don't hate you."
I looked her in the eye.
But then I found myself stuck.
Saying "I don't feel anything" wasn't right.
Saying "I'll forget about it" wouldn't even be comforting.
And if I told her I was actually happy... wouldn't that be an answer in itself?
The kiss had only happened two days ago. I felt bad for Narika, but I still needed a little more time to sort through my own feelings before giving a real answer.
If we were still in our old relationship, I could have just said "Don't worry about it" and been done. But given how things were now, it felt like my options for what to say were severely limited.
"D-Do you really... not hate me?"
Seeing me struggle for words, Narika asked again, her voice trembling.
I didn't hate her. That much was absolutely true.
"Yeah. Of course I don't."
"Oh... thank goodness..."
Narika breathed a massive sigh of relief.
At the very least, it was good to have cleared up that misunderstanding.
"It did surprise me, though. I never imagined you'd do something like that."
I decided to be honest and at least share my reaction.
I had been shocked. My mind had gone completely blank.
"A-At the time, well..."
Narika fidgeted, looking as though the words were hard to say.
"I..."
"You?"
"I just... couldn't... hold back anymore..."
She turned her face away, her cheeks burning red.
Seeing her like that, reality finally hit me.
What an incredibly embarrassing conversation we were having...
My own face felt hot now. I was probably blushing every bit as much as she was. Looking at her pure, raw emotion, I felt my own feelings becoming just as transparent.
"Ah!? My ride is here!"
Narika said, suddenly checking her phone.
"W-Well, I have to go! Itsuki, I'm so glad you don't hate me!"
With that, she turned and hurried away.
I let out a long, slow breath. I hadn't realized how tense I still was until she left and I felt my muscles finally relax.
(............Wait.)
Watching her walk away, a thought struck me.
(............What am I supposed to do now?)
Having been relieved of her anxiety, Narika was practically skipping toward the gate, looking like she didn't have a single care in the world.
As if her problems were all solved.
........................Does she not care about the answer?
I still haven't actually given her an answer to the feelings she expressed...
Does she consider the matter closed now?
(...No, there's no way.)
That kiss counted as a confession, right?
Which means I have to give her an answer, right?
But based on her behavior just now... maybe she isn't looking for one?
She did say she'd "lost control," after all.
Could it be that she isn't even thinking about what comes next?
(...That's possible.)
Knowing her, it was very possible.
Narika could be a bit—okay, a lot—of a scatterbrain. Combined with her innocence, she might not even be considering the possibility of our relationship actually becoming romantic.
I pressed a hand to my forehead.
If that was the case... what should I do?
Wait, even then, I should still give her a proper answer, shouldn't I?
I was starting to confuse myself.
(If she isn't even looking for an answer...)
The thought made my heart feel lighter for a moment.
But that lightness felt cowardly. It was probably just wishful thinking on my part because I wanted to avoid the responsibility.
Or was it a form of kindness toward her?
If she didn't want an answer, then not giving one could be considered a form of sincerity.
(............No.)
That's wrong.
Think back.
What did she say to me then?
—I... I won't listen to the answer! But don't you dare come regret it when it's too late!
If she truly weren't thinking about the future, she never would have used a word like "regret."
In that moment, she had clearly summoned every ounce of courage she had.
She'd looked so embarrassed, yet she'd stared straight at me.
—Because the one who told me to just go for it... was Itsuki!!
Narika had gone for it.
The result was that kiss.
There was no way she wasn't thinking about what came next. If she really weren't, there would have been no reason for her to muster up that much visible courage.
Narika was scatterbrained, and she was innocent. But her defining trait was that she was negative.
I should have known...
She was the kind of person who would always prioritize not being a nuisance over her own feelings.
"...Narika."
I called her name.
But she was already too far away to hear me.
I broke into a run toward the gate.
I could still make it!
"—Narika!!"
I called out loudly to her back.
She turned around with a startled expression and walked back toward me.
"I-Itsuki? What's wrong? You look so serious—"
"—I'm going to give you an answer."
Narika's eyes widened.
It was as if I'd hit the nail on the head... as if I'd struck a possibility she had tried to push to the very back of her mind. Her expression became taut with tension.
If she didn't want an answer, then staying silent might be one way to be sincere.
But she had summoned her courage for me.
Narika—who was always on the verge of tears, always troubled, always negative and timid—had been inspired by my words to go for it.
In that case, I felt I needed to muster some courage of my own.
"I'm still sorting things out right now... but I'll give you a proper answer. So, please wait for me."
I spoke while looking her straight in the eye.
"...Is it really okay for me to wait?"
She asked in a tiny voice.
She stared at me with wavering eyes, then spoke once more.
"Okay. I'll wait."
With that, she stepped out past the gate.
This time, I watched her go in silence. I had nothing left to say.
But...