Vol 1 Chapter 21 (1/2)
I returned to my room and reflected.
“…Why did I have to show off like that…”
I wanted to curse the nature of men which makes you want to show off in front of cute girls. Nature like destiny. Not like gender.
“Oh well, too late now…”
While I lied down on my bed, I kept thinking.
This is all about creating a chance, huh?
At times when the hooks had went into everyone that deep, you needed some kind of setting.
But what kind would…
And then Aika came in through the door.
“Club activities are on hiatus today.”
“Eh? Why?”
“It’s been a week since you’ve created the club. It’s an anniversary holiday.”
“Oh, I see… Then see you tomorrow.”
When she was about to close the door…
“——Wait, it hasn’t even been a week! You almost tricked me!”
“You’re really amazing.”
“A COMMONER IS MAKING FUN OF ME?!”
“But, well, today’s really——”
“…How’s Arisugawa Reiko?”
“Eh?”
“You went to see her, right?”
“Why do you know?”
“……I saw you going there.”
“How so? Our places are pretty far apart.”
“It’s been weighing on my mind, so I tailed you.”
After saying that, she got fl.u.s.tered and covered her mouth.
“It’s too late to do that now, you know?”
“I-It’s fine anyway, isn’t it?! …So, how is she?”
“Pretty down.”
“…Hm…”
“The cla.s.s is how it is too, pretty difficult, isn’t it? If I leave it alone too much, it might get stuck like this.”
“…………”
“Aren’t you glad?”
“OF COURSE I’M NOT!”
“Ah… yeah, of course not. Sorry.”
“Anyhow, you’ve been thinking about what to do?”
“How do you know?”
“‘Cause that’s how you are. Wandering around restlessly, like the male version of a maid.”
“Wouldn’t you call that a butler?”
“I-I wouldn’t! You’re merely some busybody commoner!”
Oddly enough, she had said something that reminded me of my middle school nickname.
Why, I wonder? I was pretty sure I totally wasn’t like that.
“Then don’t just stand around and sit down here. Ah, do we need some tea?”
Aika sat down on a cus.h.i.+on.
“…So? Did you come up with something?”
“Nope, nothing yet. Only that I’ve gotta create some kinda chance.”
“Chance?”
“In these situations, it’s important that others set some kinda stage, you know? To give it some new vibes. Well, the most simple thing would be for someone to step in and talk it out with them, but…”
“…………”
“This time, the whole cla.s.s is involved, and everyone has this complicated feeling they’re not used to. Thinking about Arisugawa-san’s situation… some kinda ‘event’ could be needed, I guess…”
Aika listened and opened her eyes with an ‘Oooh!’ feeling.
“That’s probably the first time that I feel like rethinking my impression of you.”