Episode 29: Friends

「Let’s go then. We used up quite a bit of time, so it’s later than usual.」

「I don’t have any student council work this morning, so it’s still perfectly fine starting now.」

「I don’t mind getting there at the last second, so if we’ve still got time, let’s take it slow.」

If there’s no need to rush, taking it easy is the way to go.

I want to talk, but more than that, I want to enjoy this happy time until the very last second.

「Um, we were talking about Natsumi-senpai, right?」

「What was it?」

「Wasn’t it about the president?」

Oh, right, right.

Or rather, Sara-senpai was really paying attention.

「Right, we were talking about Daichi. Not that it’s anything special. Daichi and I are just childhood friends. Nothing more, nothing less.」

「I see. So is he like a friend to you too, Sara-senpai?」

「I only speak with the president about student council business. Takanashi-san is the only man I consider a friend.」

Whoa, it’s embarrassing being told something so straightforward…

Natsumi-senpai is shooting me a meaningful look, though?

But Senpai is completely back to normal now… she looks so happy whenever I call her Sara-senpai…

「Sara only treats the student council members, including Daichi, with professional courtesy. So don’t you worry, Takanashi-kun.」

「H-huh? I see.」

Um, does she mean I shouldn’t worry because Senpai doesn’t do anything to make enemies in the student council?

I wasn’t really worried about the student council, but if it’s fine, then it’s fine.

「Still, I never thought the day would come when Sara made a male friend. When she talked to me about it before and I heard it was a guy, I couldn’t believe it.」

「I used to avoid getting involved with men in the first place. Although, even now, I have absolutely no intention of getting involved with any man other than Takanashi-san.」

It feels like Sara-senpai has been saying things so clearly to me more often lately.

I usually don’t know how to respond, but deep down, of course I’m happy.

「Um… I’m happy to hear you say that, Sara-senpai.」

「Fufu… let’s continue to get along.」

「Hey, I didn’t think I’d be the one left behind!」

Natsumi-senpai’s retort rings out.

Honestly, that exchange just now was embarrassing for me too.

「Um, Natsumi-senpai, did you already know about me?」

「Yeah. But I only heard the gist of it. Just that you’d been helping her out for a while.」

I see.

Well, if my story gets into the details, it’s nothing but bad news, so that’s probably for the best.

「So, I’m hoping you two can get to know each other and become friends. I like you too, Takanashi-kun.」

「Ah, thank you. I’m happy to hear that.」

「I’m glad Takanashi-san and Natsumi could become friends. Now the three of us can have a fun time together starting today.」

Sara-senpai said it so happily… so cheerfully.

I met Sara-senpai, and now I have a second friend. I think Natsumi-senpai will still want to be friends even after she knows the real me.

So, I’ll tell her everything eventually.

As we get closer to school, the number of students on their way increases…

Sara-senpai is impressive enough on her own, but Natsumi-senpai is also drawing a ton of attention.

…It feels like there are more girls, though.

But honestly… why are the two of them walking in a way that sandwiches me in the middle?

The glares I’m getting in between them are especially intense… from jealousy and all that, obviously.

I know what they want to say, that I’m totally out of my league.

You don’t have to tell me, I already know.

「Good morning, Natsumi-senpai!」

「Morning.」

「Natsumi-senpai, you’re so cool today too!」

「I’m a girl, you know…」

Natsumi-senpai definitely has that vibe that would make her popular with girls too.

「Good morning, Satsukawa-senpai.」

「…Good morning.」

「Mornin’, Satsukawa-san! You’re cute today too.」

「 」

Oh. Total silence.

「…Hey, who’s that guy?」

「…How can he walk with those two with a face like that?」

Yeah, yeah, I knew you’d say stuff like that.

I don’t care anymore… wait, Senpai?

「I just heard some very unpleasant delusions. Was it just me?」

「Huh?」

What?!

She actually went and confronted them?!

「The ugliness of your personality shows right on your face. You’re a hundred years too early to be criticizing my precious friend.」

「Wha…」

「…That guy just made an enemy out of Satsukawa-senpai. His life is over.」

「…It’s so stupid to make Satsukawa-san angry right in front of Yuzuki-san. He’s going to get ostracized.」

「…More importantly, she said ‘friend.’ To think Satsukawa-san has a guy near her.」

「…It’s a friend, just a friend… she said they’re friends, so it’s fine. Friends.」

What?

Does something happen if you make Sara-senpai and Natsumi-senpai angry?

「Sara~ that idiot is done for anyway, so just leave him be~」

…I feel like something is happening, with the girls around us taking photos of those guys with their phones and whispering.

「Don’t ever stand in front of us again. You’re an eyesore.」

Senpai left those two with pale faces and a sharp parting shot before coming back.

And when our eyes met… she was all smiles.

「I’m sorry for making you wait. I just happened to hear some nonsense I couldn’t ignore.」

「Ah, um…」

「Come on, Takanashi-kun, let’s hurry up.」

「…Got it.」

I couldn’t ask what that was all about.

…A loner like me had no way of knowing that, afterward, a photo with the label “The Idiots Who Angered the Goddess and Natsumi-senpai” was passed around to a massive number of students via various RAIN communities.