Episode 85: An Unexpected Impact

Right now, I’m facing off against several guys.

Since I thought the sender of the letter was those idiots, my assumptions have been thrown way off.

I’ve already received a self-introduction from the other side. Apparently, he’s the representative.

I mean, the Sara-senpai Fan Club!?

Should I just run for it…

「Takanashi-kun, you’re a friend of the Princess, aren’t you? We knew you’ve been claiming as much.」

「We let it slide because we owe you for that rooftop incident, but during the sports festival, there were too many things that we couldn’t overlook for a mere friend. We thought we should confirm a few things.」

「Ah, it’s just a talk, so don’t worry. There’s no way we’d do anything that would make the Princess hate us, right?」

What a pain… their theatrical way of speaking is seriously a pain.

Is「Princess」supposed to be Sara-senpai?

I never expected to be summoned by these guys.

I guess standing out during the sports festival was the cause.

But well, if it’s just a talk, it shouldn’t get that far.

If anything happened to me, Sara-senpai wouldn’t stay quiet… I think.

Besides, I had something I wanted to say to these guys too.

「Hey… I want to ask you something as well.」

「Mm… and what would that be?」

「Leader, is this alright?」

「He’s not exactly an enemy, so why not?」

Can these guys not talk normally?

But with that exchange, the possibility of them doing something to me has decreased for now.

In that case, I’ll just say what I want to say.

Hayato’s probably around here somewhere, anyway.

「I get that you guys are Sara-senpai’s fan club. You’re probably doing all sorts of things for Sara-senpai behind the scenes, right?」

「Exactly. We act from the shadows, taking on the role of assisting the Princess. That rooftop incident was a regrettable mistake…」

As I thought, it seems these guys were the ones behind those involved in that incident dropping out or transferring.

But from what I heard from the Natsumi-senpai fan club, they’re causing trouble for people around them, and more importantly, Sara-senpai hates it.

If they’re continuing despite knowing that, it’s just harassment.

「I understand well enough that you guys are active. I also understand the feeling of wanting to do something for Senpai. But the person herself hates it, doesn’t she? If you call yourselves ‘shadows,’ then at least don’t come out into the light like this.」

「What are you saying? That’s just her hiding her embarrassment; in truth, she thinks of us…」

「Don’t screw with me.」

I take back what I said.

These guys are just a group of delusional nuisances.

「Don’t you guys notice that Sara-senpai hates it?」

「The Princess acknowledges us, you know? The fact that she doesn’t interfere with our activities means…」

There’s some delusion involved, but they’re probably interpreting Sara-senpai’s ignoring or leaving them alone because she doesn’t want to get involved in whatever way is convenient for them.

「Do you guys even understand Sara-senpai? You’ve never even talked to her, have you? What part of Senpai do you even like?」

「That’s obviously her lovely appearance, and that coldness and gaze that looks down on and pushes men away…」

These guys too, huh.

They probably view Senpai like an idol… how selfish.

Because everyone who approached her was either a playboy who claimed to love her based solely on her looks or guys like this, Senpai developed a disgust toward men and built up that harsh side.

But Senpai definitely isn’t cold.

That’s a mask that was created because of idiots like these.

They’re the ones who forced her to wear it.

And these guys… they’re actually looking at that side of Senpai as an ideal image.

I’m starting to get really pissed off.

「What part of Sara-senpai are you guys even looking at? Looking down on men? Cold? Save that talk for when you’re dreaming.」

I won’t be satisfied unless I say it.

For Sara-senpai’s sake, I have to shut these guys up.

「That’s not the real Sara-senpai. It’s because of idiots like you who insensitively hit on her based only on Sara-senpai’s outward appearance. You idiots are the ones who made Sara-senpai that way!」

「What are you saying? The Princess we see is the real…」

「Senpai is a truly kind person. She’s capable of paying attention to the smallest details, her manner is polite, and she’s willing to reach out and help when someone’s in trouble. She thinks things through with me…」

I’m certain that the Senpai who interacts with me is her true self.

That’s why I can’t forgive the existence of those who warped such a kind Senpai.

These guys are just self-centered, delusional bastards who treat a Senpai who hates them like an idol and push their ideals onto her outward appearance.

「Pushing your ideals on her is a nuisance to Sara-senpai. If you absolutely must continue playing fan club, don’t ever show your faces in public again.」

「You have no right to go that far. You’re just a friend anyway! Even though you aren’t even her lover, our…」

「So what! If Sara-senpai wants it that way, I don’t care if I’m just a friend for the rest of my life! That person is more important to me than anyone or anything else! I’ll say it as many times as it takes: stop pushing the ideals you made up on her!」

If you think about it calmly, there’s no way Sara’s fan club wouldn’t understand the danger of laying a hand on Takanashi-kun.

So I think it’s okay… probably.

Well, that’s what I thought when I considered it logically.

But more than that…

Yeah.

I’ll apologize in advance. Sorry, Takanashi-kun.

You think no one’s listening, right?

I think you’re cool.

It’s because you’re that kind of Takanashi-kun that I think of you as an important friend.

I’m not surprised since I heard about it from Tachibana-kun, but hearing it directly like this, I really understood how much Takanashi-kun treasures Sara. I’m happy too.

But Sara herself hasn’t heard that before, has she…

So that means…

「Er… Sara?」

「………….」

Right now, Sara is standing in front of me.

She looks happy, and surprised…

She’s standing there with a face that is「bright red.」

Well, of course she is.

Sara’s a girl too, after all.

There’s no way she wouldn’t be happy after being told something like that, right?

Sara… what did you think when you heard Takanashi-kun’s feelings?

…Ah, Sara is so cute! I want to take a picture!

But it would make a sound, wouldn’t it?