35 Things Left Unsaid
Lunch break.
“Onii-chan, do you have a minute?”
I asked Kokona-chan to come to our classroom to talk to Shindo-kun.
“What’s up, Kokona?”
“I’m going to teach you some techniques to instantly become popular with the ladies, even though you’re so unremarkable.”
Um, that’s a strange way to start.
I wonder if anyone would readily agree after being talked to like that.
“Please.”
Here we go.
“Kokona realized something. Popular men need sex appeal.”
“I see.”
“So I think you should unbutton your shirt and loosen your tie. Showing a bit of your chest is sexy, right?”
“…Isn’t that only allowed for handsome guys?”
“You can become one, Onii-chan—a handsome-in-spirit kind of guy.”
“Okay, got it.”
Is that really okay?
And what’s with their smooth conversation?
Is this sibling telepathy?
“Now, how’s this?”
Shindo-kun adjusted his clothes as instructed.
“Lame— no, I mean, it’s… not bad.”
“Did you just say ‘lame’?”
“I didn’t.”
“Oh, okay.”
Kokona-chan then took Shindo-kun out into the hallway.
I watched from a distance.
“Good, this is perfect. Now walk down the hallway like this.”
“I’ll show them.”
Shindo-kun strutted confidently down the hallway.
He didn’t realize it, but Kanaori-san was heading towards the student council room, coming in our direction.
If they kept going, they would pass each other.
“…Hey. I did what you said, but is this really okay?”
Kokona-chan came over to where I was watching.
“Yeah, I think it’ll be fine.”
“Why did you choose the timing when Kanaori Reika, the student council president, was coming?”
“You might not believe this, but they’re a good match.”
“Eh…?”
Kokona-chan looked at me skeptically.
Still, I desperately watched their encounter unfold.
They drew closer, only a few steps away from passing each other.
And Kanaori-san’s feet stopped right in front of Shindo-kun.
…Here it comes!
“Shindo-san, wait a moment.”
“Ah, yes?”
“Your shirt is unbuttoned. And your tie is loose.”
“This is… masculine sex appeal…”
“Do you require individual guidance?”
“Oops, my bad! I got too relaxed because it’s lunch break. Thank you, President Kanaori!”
Shindo-kun flashed a dazzling business smile and adjusted his uniform.
“Taking breaks is important, but please maintain a proper appearance.”
“Yes! I’ll be careful!”
—Stroll
Their encounter ended abruptly.
“Eh, wait, that’s it?”
“…Well, yeah, obviously.”
Kokona-chan sighed next to me.
Eh… Kanaori-san is supposed to be more aggressive with Shindo-kun.
So just his clothes aren’t enough to move the story forward…?
“Does it have to be… a harem situation…?”
“Harem?!”
Kokona-chan shrieked next to me.
Well, taken out of context, it does sound like I suddenly made a lewd remark.
“Ah, no, I didn’t mean me. I was talking about Shindo-kun.”
“So it’s not about Amatsuki Suzuna, but about Onii-chan… which still doesn’t make sense!”
In the original story, Shindo-kun is constantly being pursued by the heroines, creating a harem situation.
Unless that becomes the norm, and Kanaori-san reprimands him for it, the Kanaori route won’t be triggered…
So does that mean… it’s a dead end?
“Suzuna, what are you doing in the hallway? It’s time for lunch.”
Riri-chan appeared in the hallway.
“…Hinase Riri.”
“What do you want, Shindo’s little sister?”
The air grew heavy with their animosity…
“Sorry, but Suzuna is eating with me. First-years should obediently go back to their classrooms.”
“What’s that? Pulling the seniority card?”
“…I’m telling you to go back where you belong.”
“Kokona can do what she wants.”
Ah, these two haven’t been getting along since the bento battle.
Why are these relationships the same as in the original story, even though the routes with Shindo-kun have gone off track?
“Now, now, both of you. Let’s get along.”
“It’s because Suzuna ditched me!”
“It’s because you called Kokona out here!”
They both snapped at me simultaneously.
“…I’m sorry.”
Since it was my fault, I apologized.
I’m not confident I can win an argument against these two.
“You three, loitering in the hallway obstructs the flow of traffic.”
The clear, firm voice belonged to Kanaori-san, who was passing by.
…Shindo-kun had to try so hard to get her attention, but she notices me even when I’m not doing anything.
Such is fate.
“S-Sorry! We’ll move right away!”
I was the first to apologize.
Let sleeping dogs lie, as they say.
“…It’s you three again.”
Kanaori-san looked at us and sighed, looking exasperated.
“What do you mean ‘again’?”
Riri-chan retorted.
“It’s only been a day since yesterday. I see your behavior hasn’t improved.”
Now the atmosphere between Kanaori-san and Riri-chan turned hostile.
“Now, now, Riri-chan, Kanaori-san, let’s get along.”
“It’s because Kanaori keeps nitpicking!”
“It’s because Hinase-san lacks decorum!”
…I was scolded by both of them again, simultaneously.
But it can’t be helped that the heroines are at odds with each other when the protagonist is absent.
I want them to make up.
“Riri-chan might be acting all prickly now, but she complimented you this morning, Kanaori-san. She said you were beautiful.”
“Hey, Suzuna…?!”
Riri-chan looked flustered.
“…I find that hard to believe.”
Kanaori-san tilted her head.
“Riri-chan doesn’t lie, so it’s true.”
“Suzuna, that’s a lie.”
“Eh, Riri-chan, you lied…?”
Shocked, I looked at Riri-chan, and she averted her gaze, looking embarrassed.
“…It’s true.”
Yeah, yeah, I know.
“Th-That doesn’t excuse your usual bad behavior! You need to be more responsible!”
“That’s why I don’t like your condescending tone…”
I stopped Riri-chan, who was about to retort.
“Kanaori-san, your words might be harsh, but you’re just saying that because you’re worried about Riri-chan.”
“Ah, Amatsuki-san…?!”
Now it was Kanaori-san’s turn to be flustered.
“W-What do you mean…?”
Riri-chan tilted her head.
“Kanaori-san, you’re just trying to help Riri-chan and make this school a better place, as the student council president. You don’t mean any harm.”
“Even so, there’s a way to say things.”
“Kanaori-san is also a girl our age. And yet, you carry the burden of being the student council president and work for the sake of the students. It must be tough, so it’s understandable that your tone gets harsh sometimes. You worry a lot behind the scenes, don’t you, Kanaori-san?”
“H-Hey, Amatsuki-san?! I never told you that!”
Ah…
That was completely based on my knowledge from the game.
Kanaori-san is always struggling with her own weaknesses and worries, trying to fulfill her duties as student council president.
Knowing that side of her, the relatable Kanaori Reika, makes it easier to tolerate her harsh words.
“So, let’s all get along.”
“…”
“…”
Their animosity seemed to have dissipated.
“To be able to persuade both the gal, Hinase Riri, and the student council president, Kanaori Reika… Amatsuki Suzuna, you’re amazing.”
Kokona-chan next to me seemed impressed.
36 It’s Okay to Be the Same
“So, what was that about earlier?”
In the end, my attempt to manage the Shindo-kun and Kanaori-san route failed.
Shindo-kun disappeared down the hallway, so Riri-chan sat in his seat and we ate lunch together.
“What was what about?”
“You sounded like you understood Kanaori really well.”
…Hmm.
Riri-chan’s tone seemed a bit prickly.
It might be better not to talk too much about it.
“It was just a general observation. Being the student council president is tough, no matter who you are.”
“Is that so? I don’t think Kanaori would react like that to just a general observation.”
“…It’s true.”
Even the strict Kanaori-san will show a cuter side once she opens up to Shindo Minato.
…Well, she doesn’t break out of her student council president mode until much later in the story.
“It’s true. No one would ever think Kanaori has worries.”
“Really?”
“Yeah, she can do anything. No one worries about her.”
“Hmm…”
It might be because I have an objective perspective on this story that my impression of her is different.
“Th-That’s why I’m wondering… what’s with you suddenly understanding her so well, Suzuna?”
She’s smiling, but her eyes aren’t.
She’s definitely not happy.
“…If that’s what it means to understand Kanaori-san, then my understanding of Riri-chan is maxed out.”
“Eh, r-really…?”
“Yeah. Because what I said was just a general observation about how tough her job is. I’m not even friends with her, unlike you, Riri-chan.”
“W-Well, that’s true.”
“…So, what you said doesn’t really resonate with me.”
When I said what I was thinking, Riri-chan started nodding.
“You’re right. Compared to me, you barely know Kanaori.”
“Uh, yeah… well…”
“Okay. That’s fine then.”
Riri-chan seemed convinced and returned to her usual smile.
Her eyes softened, unlike before.
I’m glad she’s no longer upset, but Riri-chan often gets angry when other girls are involved.
She didn’t react like that with Tachibana-san, her friend. I wonder if it’s just rivalry between heroines.
…But she’s still nice to Amatsuki Suzuna (who’s also a heroine)…
Strange.
◇◇◇
“By the way, Suzuna, are you studying for the midterms?”
Riri-chan suddenly asked as we were walking home after school.
“…Not really.”
As April came to an end, midterms were waiting for us in May.
It was a topic I didn’t want to think about, a gloomy topic.
My grades as the real Yukitsuki Mashiro were average.
I think Amatsuki Suzuna is probably a bit smarter.
“Then, want to study with me?”
This is another unusual thing for Riri-chan to say.
“Okay, but were you always so studious, Riri-chan?”
She asked me to teach her during break time the other day. These are unusual actions for someone like Hinase Riri.
“Yeah, I recently started becoming more studious.”
“Why?”
“…Suzuna, would you go to karaoke with me?”
Huh, the topic completely changed.
But I can’t just ignore Riri-chan’s question.
“I don’t usually go.”
Listening to music is fine, but I don’t like the atmosphere where everyone has to sing.
I don’t want to sing, and I hate being treated like I’m ruining the mood if I don’t.
“It’s not the season yet, but what about the beach or the mountains?”
“The beach is too sunny, and there are too many bugs in the mountains.”
I’m a creature of concrete jungles, where the sun is blocked and there are no bugs.
“…I see.”
Riri-chan sighed and muttered.
What does that have to do with studying?
“Is there a rule that you can’t go out if your grades are bad?”
Riri-chan’s dad, who lets her live in a luxury apartment, must be wealthy.
He seems like an elite, so maybe he’s strict about that kind of thing.
“Yes, yes, that’s it.”
“…?”
Her tone sounded like it wasn’t the real reason, but if that’s what she says, then it must be true.
Anyway, Riri-chan seems to be serious about studying.
And Kanaori-san warned me that she would suspect Riri-chan’s bad influence if my grades dropped.
For the sake of route management, it’s best if our test results are good.
“Then, want to come over to my house?”
“…Um…”
Being invited, I recalled Riri-chan’s unguarded appearance from the other day.
I felt like steam was about to come out of my ears.
“I think… somewhere else would be better today.”
“Eh, why? Then where?”
That’s a good question…
I barely know the geography of this world.
I usually only travel between home and school.
“Ah, let’s go to that cafe you took me to before, Riri-chan.”
“Well, that’s fine too.”
Going to Riri-chan’s house again is still too stimulating, so I’d like a little more time.
“Ah, but…”
“Hmm?”
Come to think of it, Kanaori-san told me not to loiter after school.
…But this isn’t playing around, it’s studying for tests, so maybe she’ll forgive me.
“It’s nothing.”
Thinking optimistically, I followed Riri-chan.
◇◇◇
We visited the cafe again.
It’s been a while since that day, but after just one visit, I no longer felt any resistance.
Or rather, it might be thanks to Riri-chan being here.
“What are you ordering?”
Riri-chan handed me the menu.
“I’ll have pancakes and tea.”
“Oh, you’ve already decided? There are other good things here.”
“No, this is fine.”
I don’t have any reason to order anything else.
“Hmm. Suzuna, you really like pancakes and tea, huh?”
“It’s more like… you introduced them to me, Riri-chan.”
“…Hmm?”
“You’re the one who told me about this cafe, and the first thing I ate here was pancakes. And I’ve been into tea lately ever since you made it for me the other day.”
Riri-chan’s eyes widened, and she was speechless.
“S-Stop it, Suzuna. That was a surprise attack!”
“…? I was just telling the truth.”
“That’s why it’s dangerous!”
I don’t understand what’s dangerous about it.
I couldn’t see Riri-chan’s expression because she was hiding behind the menu.
But her voice was high-pitched, so I could tell that I might have said something strange.
“What are you ordering, Riri-chan?”
“Oh, I’ll have the same.”
“Eh, but you said there were other good things here?”
“No, I’ll have the same as Suzuna, on purpose.”
“Okay, but why?”
I don’t understand the reason.
“…As a memento.”
Even after asking, I still didn’t understand.
Leave a Reply