Source
https://kakuyomu.jp/works/16818093094471724561/episodes/16818792437409951681
“Um…”
“…What?”
What? You’ve got some nerve saying that in this situation.
“I’m not going anywhere.”
…Huh? Déjà vu? Didn’t we just have this exact conversation? Weird… Maybe I just blacked out?
Hisada-chan grips my sleeve tightly, making sure I don’t run away.
If my memory’s right, this should be the second time.
“…You went somewhere.”
“That time, I just returned a handkerchief to the kid who dropped it. I didn’t go anywhere.”
I saw her drop it right in front of me, so I had to return it properly.
“…Twice.”
“The second time, I just went to help because she was carrying heavy luggage.”
There was a kid staggering around looking dangerous, so I had to go help once I saw them.
“…You’re really trying to escape.”
“No, I’m not, I’m not!”
This whole sleeve-gripping thing… it’s nice, but it’s embarrassing. If I had to weigh it, the embarrassment just barely wins out, so I’d prefer you stopped.
But if you did stop, I’d feel lonely.
…Sorry for being such a pain in the ass!
“…Anyway, I’ll keep holding you until we get there.”
“Okay.”
I guess it’s best to just go along with this quietly.
Clatter
“Huh? No one’s here. We’re the first ones here.”
The club room was empty. But the fact it was open meant someone must have been here before us.
“…Yeah, you’re right.”
“Should we wait until someone else shows up?”
Hisada-chan nodded at my words.
She let go of the sleeve she’d been holding and headed for a chair in the clubroom.
I sat at the window seat, and Hisada-chan sat on the opposite side by the door.
I thought the distance had closed because she squeezed my sleeve, but it hadn’t. She naturally keeps her distance from me, so she hasn’t opened up to me that much yet.
“Want to play a board game?”
“…I’ll wait until everyone else comes.”
“Oh, okay.”
I suggested a board game, but she turned me down. For the cute reason that it’s more fun with everyone else, so she’d rather wait.
“…”
“…”
Usually I’d crack a light joke and get an exasperated look, but today it felt a little awkward.
Probably because of that sleeve squeeze earlier. Even just looking at her face feels embarrassing.
She doesn’t seem to mind though. She’s already started the summer homework she got, not caring about me at all.
It’s impressive, really. I’m the classic last-minute panicker type, so I envy people who plan ahead.
Before I was reborn, I had no friends and stayed home all the time, yet I never got around to doing my homework. Once I started, I could go for hours, but the problem was I never even bothered to begin.
No wonder my homework always got done at the last minute.
“…!”
I looked up from my homework and made eye contact with Hisada-chan.
“…Don’t look at me.”
“Sorry.”
She caught me staring at her.
This is embarrassing. Even apologizing honestly feels super awkward. Usually I’d crack a joke, like “I just got lost in your beauty” or something.
“……”
“……”
Hey! Someone come help me out here! I can’t handle being alone with Hisada-chan yet! How come she’s so totally fine with this?
If I’d known this would happen, I should’ve forced us to play board games or something!
Clatter
“Huh? Just the two of you?”
Ohhh!! Niiro came to save me! You’re my savior!
“Yeah. Just the two of us.”
I’m actually super happy, but I don’t let it show. My pretentious, socially awkward side just came out. Who knew that cool, collected me was still inside me?
“Hey, Hisada-chan, you’re sweating a lot?”
“…It’s fine.”
It is hot, but not enough to sweat that much, and besides, Hisada-chan gets cold easily.
“…Did you do something to Hisada-chan?”
Niiro glared at me with a look that seemed to despise me.
“Why are you assuming I did something!?”
This is crazy. I didn’t do anything, yet she’s suspecting me from the start. Well, if I were in her shoes, I’d suspect myself too.
Because I’m the only idiot who’d do something like that. It’s like I’m saying, “I’m the culprit, here I am.”
“Because only Mizuno would do something like that.”
“That’s awful! I’m so kind-hearted!”
Phew~ The mood brightened up instantly. This is it, this is the atmosphere I love. Thank you so much for coming.
“The club president isn’t here yet?”
Niiro looks around nervously.
“Yeah, she’s not here yet.”
“Huh~”
I wonder what’s going on? Did the teacher call her? I hope she comes soon. Just having three heroines here makes me happy.
“Speaking of which, what did she say to you yesterday?”
“What?”
“Fumizuki-senpai’s grandmother said something to you, right?”
Well, of course you’d be curious. I was the only one left behind when she said something.
“Ah~ She said she’d kill me for making Senpai cry.”
I’ll just tell a convenient lie for now.
“Huh, so Mizuno’s life is almost over then.”
“Don’t say scary things with that smile!”
She said it with an incredibly perfect smile. If what she was saying wasn’t scary, I might have fallen for her.
“Mizuno always makes girls cry, doesn’t he?”
“I don’t remember making anyone cry…”
Was I really that sinful of a guy? No, I’m an innocent man. I’ve never committed a sin in my entire life.
Just now it hit me—I’m Mizuno, so I should be a bit more popular, right? I mean, if it were me, I wouldn’t be popular, but I’m Mizuno Shota? I think I should be a bit more popular.
“Does this club run during summer break too?”
“I wonder?”
I know we have training camps, but what do we do on regular summer days? Do we just gather here and play games?
“Do we have Obon activities too?”
“No way! We’re not some powerhouse school club!”
This is the Occult Research Club, right? We’re the Occult Research Club, yet we just gather and play games? There’s no way a club like this would have Obon activities.
“…Mizuno, do you ever have free days during summer break?”
She didn’t need to ask such a normal thing while fidgeting like that.
“I’m free except when hanging out with idiots, so yeah, pretty free.”
Spending summer with guys instead of girls? That’s so unromantic.
“Huh~ You’re free. Huh~”
“…Ah! Maybe you want to go on a date with me?”
“No way!”
“If you want to go on a date, just say you want to go on a date.”
“I said no way!”
Her angry new expression is cute, making me grin involuntarily. She’s so adorable it makes me joke around too.
…It’s just a joke, you don’t have to get so seriously mad.
Clatter
“Hey! How’s it going?”
Saotome cheerfully entered the club room. Seriously, has this guy’s personality changed? The original Saotome wouldn’t say stuff like “How’s it going?”
But honestly, I like the lively Saotome we have now, so I can’t really complain. He feels like the best friend ever, and I like him way more than the original version.
“Hey! Partner!”
“Hey! Best friend!”
We’re both thrilled to see each other, acting like we weren’t just together in class a moment ago.
The heroines are watching us with that “our friendship is so silly” look, as usual. …This isn’t a show!
“Is the club president here yet?”
“The president hasn’t arrived yet.”
“So we’re just waiting until the president gets here?”
“Yeah.”
Well, even if the president shows up, we’ll probably still do almost nothing.
Piiroooon♪
“Hm?”
Niiro phone rang. A friend? I’m glad she blended in with the class and made friends.
“Fumizuki-senpai says to hurry to the student council room.”
You already know Fumi-senpai’s contact info? …I’m jealous. Maybe she’ll tell me by mistake?
“The student council room?”
“It says hurry, so let’s just go to the student council room for now.”
The student council room? Why?
…No, I have one possible idea. If that’s it, something really bad has happened. Just thinking about it is terrifying.
…Huh? What’s really bad about it?
The original story might have changed again!!
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