Source
https://kakuyomu.jp/works/16818093094101424177/episodes/16818622176151329141
Keep your voice down. But be clear.
“Hey, am I really necessary? I’m definitely not necessary, so if I can go home, I’m going home.”
“I’m not saying you can go home.”
“My bed at home is waiting for me !”
After school, I was called out.
For some reason, I, Kasugai Kotaro, was appointed as Orimoto’s partner, assistant, errand boy, and meal provider.
“And I’m not exactly satisfied with the partner thing either !”
“That’s a done deal, please.”
“Do you even know what a veto is?”
My mission is to solve the problems surrounding Orimoto Ryoka, the beautiful girl who has been cut off from the world and is now invisible to everyone except me.
(…..Why me? Why the hell me? She’s a stranger, right? Isn’t that weird? No way !)
No matter how much I questioned myself, there was no way to overturn the fact that I had been designated as her partner.
If asked why I was chosen for such an important role, or rather, why I was forced into it, I could only say it was the flow of events. The rest can only be described as bad luck.
“Sharing limited-edition sweets together….grr, grr, grr.”
“Are you ignoring what I said? So, does that mean I can go home and sleep?”
“No, you can’t. Look at that.”
As I tried to leave, she grabbed my collar forcefully, and I almost fell over.
I endured it, resigning myself to my fate.
When I looked up as she told me to, I saw a funky interior decorated in pink. Lots of katakana. Low-key atmosphere. That kind of vibe.
At least it wasn’t the kind of place I would go to, and the main purpose was for Orimoto to follow and monitor me.
“—-They’re enjoying their meal?”
“Yes, that’s the problem ! They’re sharing the limited-edition dessert parfait !”
After school, at a nearby mall.
The group radiated a sparkling aura.
“Ugh ! I want to die ! Why are you having fun without me? Or rather, why don’t you even remember me before you start having fun?!”
“Stop with the emotional rollercoaster.”
“But even Kasugai kun would feel annoyed if his close friends were having fun without him, right?!”
“I don’t have any friends. I won’t lose this argument.”
If facial deviation could be visualized, it would undoubtedly yield astonishing numbers. The scene before them was a gathering of the Sera harem.
“Oh, this is a new item.”
Sera slid his finger across the menu and smiled cheerfully.
He was a man who looked good no matter where he was.
It felt as if he had an aura around him.
“Keiichi, I’ll have this.”
“Inori really likes sweets. Okay, I’ll order this too.”
“Thanks.”
With sleepy eyes, the girl—Michikusa Inori—muttered to Sera.
Even from the sidelines, their closeness was clear.
Michikusa Inori is a second-year high school student in the same class as Orimoto and me. She is always sleepy and goes at her own pace. Her bleached blonde hair reflects the sunlight. Above all, she is Orimoto’s best friend—and a famous beauty.
Standing next to Orimoto, the class representative beauty looked happy as she waited for her dessert.
“Oh, my shortcake is here.”
“But I ordered the shortcake.”
The waiter placed the shortcake with a strawberry on top in front of me.
Orimoto casually moved it closer.
To her own side. It was a strange gesture.
“Are you a suspicious person?”
“Well, once I pick up the dish, it disappears from view, so the first move is important…”
“Just give me my money back.”
“Yes, I’m sorry.”
Orimoto, sitting across from me, bowed her head obediently. She seems to be aware that she’s causing me trouble.
I wonder how much I should ask for.
I’m sitting a bit farther away from the table where Sera and the others are gathered. Alone. The only man there.
No sign of anyone waiting for me.
I wasn’t being treated suspiciously or looked at strangely, but I felt a little uncomfortable.
Orimoto didn’t hesitate.
He continued without waiting for my response, and I had to react to his words, but if Sera and the others found out, the tailing would fail. I even had to come up with unnecessary excuses. The difficulty level was too high.
Just being able to enter the store was a blessing.
“I thought you were best friends…”
Orimoto pouts, pursing her lips.
“Well, yeah… We did compete over the same guy… But still… No way…”
“It can’t be helped since you can’t be seen.”
“It’s not just that they can’t see me, I’ve been erased from their memory too ! That’s…”
Using abstract language, Orimoto poked at the shortcake with a slightly lonely expression.
Was it because she couldn’t see the fork she was holding, or because she couldn’t see the tip of the cake? This unconventional experience, steeped in convenience, was still filled with things I couldn’t understand.
“Are you sure it’s not really your fault? Maybe you’re actually a dangerous psychic or something.”
“You read too many manga. No way, no way.”
“Right. …Haa.”
Since it’s not true, there’s no point in denying it.
Oriben ate the cake while glancing at Sera and the others from time to time.
“I’ll definitely make him remember me.”
But what should she do?
Let’s sort this out first.
Orimoto was triggered by something—maybe it was the defeat, but there’s no proof.
Anyway, she’s being treated like she doesn’t exist.
And there’s no solution right now.
No matter how many nights pass, Orimoto is Orimoto, and she’s there but not there. She was an ambiguous, vague girl.
“What if we try something unexpected?”
Orimoto blinked at my suggestion.
“Something unexpected?”
“Yeah.”
For example, I prefaced.
“Suddenly hitting Sera.”
“I don’t think violence is a good idea !”
“Suddenly undressing Sera.”
“That’s a bit—no, no way ! That might be a bit too soon !”
Orimoto’s cheeks flushed slightly as she shook her head vigorously from side to side. What are you imagining?
“…Sorry, I meant something like taking off his jacket or something like that.”
“What?! Kasugai kun, you’re being mean !”
“I’m planning something. Don’t complain. I could just cut ties with you if I wanted to.”
It was meant as a joke.
“Ah, stop it.”
A smile. But it was cold.
“Is something wrong…?”
“Umm, it’s okay.”
The atmosphere was reset.
When I looked to see if something was wrong, all I saw was Orimoto happily eating sweets.
“I order you, my partner Kasugai kun !”
After finishing her meal, Orimoto wiped her mouth with a napkin and declared loudly.
“I want you to ask Keiichi himself !”
“……Hey, are you seriously asking me to ask him if he remembers you?”
I’ll thank you for it ! She pleaded.
As an action, it was passable. The problem was my will and how I would approach Sera.
Wait, isn’t that an impossible request?
I thought about it for a moment, but there’s no need for me to go that far. I’m not interested in a partner, and there’s no benefit in taking on the hassle.
If it meant I could date Orimoto ! It might be worth it, but there’s no chance of that.
Besides, romance is the ultimate hassle.
“Impossible.”
“Please.”
“Impossible.”
“Please !”
“……Come on, think about it.”
I leaned my cheek on my hand.
“Serah and I are strangers.”
“Well, you know, this and that…”
“If we had gotten to know each other through this and that, I wouldn’t be rejecting you like this. …..Try harder.”
Orimoto began to discuss the topic with a slightly worrisome sniffle, saying, “This isn’t right, that isn’t right.” The topic was Keiichi Sera.
She prefaced her thoughts with “For example,” just like me.
“Bump into each other at the corner.”
I shook my head.
This is the beginning of a gal game, no way. Even if we were to do it, it would be the heroine’s job. Why do we have to clash with each other as unattractive men?
“Act like old friends.”
I shook my head. I have no memories of Sera. It would be obvious in an instant.
And so—after a considerable amount of time—Orimoto and I searched for the optimal solution.
Which of us thought of it first?
“Why don’t you just ask him normally?”
“I thought I should just ask him normally.”
Asking normally is surprisingly difficult, but it’s not impossible if you try. It might be easier if we embellished it with a casual excuse.
However, even though I suggested it,
I simply don’t want to do it. That’s all there is to it.
“…But, even though I said it myself, I don’t want to do it. That’s all there is to it.”
I couldn’t help but say it out loud.
I don’t want to do it. I want peace and quiet, and this path will definitely be turbulent. That’s why I don’t like extroverts and prefer to be alone.
I wouldn’t go so far as to call the connection we’ve built evil, but I do want to be freed from it soon.
“…I know I’m asking too much, and I’m sorry, Kasugai kun.”
“Hmm.”
“Right, if we decide on a specific way to thank you, will you accept it? A give-and-take relationship.”
“Specific.”
When I said that, Orimoto smiled and said, “Yeah.”
I’m still a high school boy.
A sinister thought flickered in my mind, but I quickly dismissed it. It was too sudden. No matter how attractive the proposal was, there was no way I would agree to it.
“Then, how about this…I’ll grant you one wish, Kasugai kun. How about that?”
“…Huh?”
“Anything you want? I’ll treat you to a barbecue, help you with your studies, or give you a shoulder massage.”
“Are you a kid?”
His repertoire is perfectly childish.
“Is there anything you’re bad at?”
“I’m not good at getting up early. I’m not good at studying. I’m not good at dealing with hot-headed extroverts, especially those who aren’t being watched by anyone.”
“That’s totally me.”
“It’s just my imagination.”
Orimoto glared at me with a puzzled look, then suddenly clapped her hands together as if she had come up with a brilliant idea.
“I think I’ve got a good idea.”
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