45 Na?veté - Part 3 (2/2)
Um.
I can't help but feel like I'm missing something here.
”What's this secret weapon that we need to skip class to set up?”
”O-oh… d-d-d-don't worry about it, Chase-dono!”
”Y-yeah. Just uh… try to get Scarlet to skip her last period and meet us in the SF clubroom.”
”Uh, yeah okay…”
I have a bad feeling about this.
But unfortunately, we're kind of at our wit's end here.
Since they seem confident about it I can only believe in them for now, but…
I don't know. Something about this just feels off.
.
..
…
…..
The final period of the day quickly comes around and I arrive at the clubroom on time.
Scarlet is already here, as I'd briefly informed her when we met up in algebra class.
She didn't seem too responsive when I told her, but she did decide to show up in the end which is a relief.
With how despondent she's being though, I wouldn't be surprised if she's still upset about yesterday.
For whatever reason…
The other two, however, seem to be taking a while.
Which is kind of awkward given the tension in the air between Scarlet and myself.
”…”
I sneak a glance her way.
”!!”
She looks away.
I guess she was staring at me.
I'm not sure what all the charades are for, but…
”You know, if you have something to say then you should probably say it.”
She clicks her tongue at my words.
”Huh? What's that supposed to mean?”
”I dunno. You just feel kinda… sad.”
”Do I?”
Well, full of regret is probably a better way of putting it but I'll keep my mouth shut for now.
”Huh, I guess I do.”
She looks down.
”I guess, I've just been thinking… that maybe I should apologize to her.”
”Really?”
”Yeah… I already know I went too far. I just… had trouble really accepting it.”
”…”
That's good.
Knowing Momo, I'm sure she'd forgive her too.
Maybe…
But she seemed really worried about us.
Just what on earth does Jennifer have in store?
”Anyway, more importantly… Are you sure we can leave it up to those two? I dunno about leaving everything up to them so close to the deadline…”
”O-of course we can. Say what you will about them, but they're loyal to a fault. I don't think they'd deliberately sabotage us just for a joke.”
Though I say that, I'm actually having doubts myself.
There was something off about how the two of them acted when they came up with the idea.
”Haaaa…”
Whatever it is, I'm sure it'll work out.
The only thing I need to focus on is the campaign.
Well, that and if I can even make it to school on Monday to begin with.
”You're not helping if you sigh like that, you know. It's making me nervous.”
”Sorry, I was thinking about something else.”
”'Something else'?”
”Well…”
Come to think of it, there's no reason not to tell her about it, is there?
She has a right to know, what with all the effort she's putting into this.
”The train running from my neighborhood to the city won't be up on Monday morning.”
”… What?”
”Y-yeah. There's maintenance scheduled to take place on the railroads from 3-7 A.M. Even if I take the first one up to the city at 7 I still won't make it in time for homeroom.”
”That's…”
She looks down.
I wouldn't call it panic, but she certainly does seem worried.
”I'll try to see if I can get Rachael to organize an uber or something, but I don't really want to keep asking her for money like this.”
”Rachael? Ohh, the waitress? What's your relationship with her anyway?”
”Uhh, she's kinda like my mentor in a way. She's the one who helped me get the job at Smooters, and she sometimes helps me with home-work and stuff during breaks.”
”Hmmmm…”
She stares at me kind of suspiciously.
”W-what?”
”Sounds like you have a lot of respect for her, huh…?”
”Y-yeah…”
I don't get it, why does she sound so accusatory about this?
Hold on, is it the same thing Chloe was worried about?
”Wait Scarlet, it's not like that!”
”Hmmm, really? So what part about her don't you like, then? Is it the Smooters tank top or the shorts?”
”I-it's… wait, are you jealous or something?!”
”W-why would I be jealous of a loser like you?!”
”You're totally jealous! Why else would we even be talking about this?!”
”I'm not!”
”You are!”
”Hmph!”
She folds her arms and looks away.
Seems like that upset her more usual.
I honestly understand women less and less every day.
Before the conversation can further progress, the door to the SF clubroom swings open as if on cue.
”Yo.”
”Osu.”
Nick and Sig offer up their greetings and stroll into the room after closing and locking the door behind them.
The energy they're giving off is much different than what I've come to expect from them.
They're both too mellow. Too quiet.
Without saying much, the two of them take their seats at the table and turn to face the two of us.
Well, to be more precise, they're mainly looking at me.
Their unsettling gazes are making it hard to focus.
”Uhh, what's up guys? You're acting kinda strange right now.”
”Y-yeah, it's kinda giving me the creeps…”
Scarlet shifts her chair backwards a bit.
Is their new demeanor triggering her Androphobia or something?
”Well, you don't need to worry about that. Right, Nick-kun?”
”Indeed, Sigmund. This is how we always act.”
Really? I don't buy it.
Mellow voices like those don't suit you two! It's like you're whispering!
”W-well, it doesn't matter. More importantly, Chase was telling me that you two thought of a way to distract Jen? I don't mind doing the interview, but you have to promise me that Jen won't walk in half-way.”
”Ohh, there's no need to worry about that, Scar-chan.”
”Hehehe… Really. You underestimate the combined efforts of the 'Fated Ones'.”
Okay, now I'm getting creeped out too.
”S-so?”
Scarlet seems to be squirming nervously in her chair.
”W-what are you going to do about Jen?”
I gulp.
I don't know.
The bad feeling I got from when they discussed this in the morning was coming back in full force.
It's like a snake is coiling itself around my body.
I can't move.
All I can do is stare the serpent in the eyes as it slowly drains the life out of me.
Why… do I feel so weird about this?
”Chase.”
”Y-yeah?”
I almost jumped out of my seat.
”Go into the washroom and change into this.”
Nick hands me a bag which I assume is full of clothes.
”… So I'm the secret weapon? What, am I going to disguise myself as a teacher or something?”
”Hehe, nevermind that. Just go do it…”
”Hurry up, Chase-dono…”
I'm not sure what this is all about, but if it's just changing into a disguise then it should be fine, right?
…
Right?