Episode 155: Reaching a Sort of Conclusion…

「Well… that left a bitter aftertaste, but I guess it’s over for now?」

Maybe trying to brighten up the heavy atmosphere in the room even just a little, Natsumi-senpai raised her voice as she regained her composure.

「Yeah. Sasagawa-san’s situation was a shame, but at least we got her away from Yamazaki… the rest is up to her now.」

Hayato gave a slightly more upbeat reply to match Natsumi-senpai’s tone.

「Come to think of it, what’s going to happen to Yamazaki in the end?」

Tachikawa-san’s question was surely on everyone’s mind.

What’s going to happen?

Not just to them personally, but what about the company? What about the future? Even though the revenge is done, the truth is we’re all curious about that part.

「I know a little bit, at least.」

Nishikawa-san seemed to know something and began to answer Tachikawa-san’s question.

「First, the part I don’t know is whether those two will be punished as criminals after this. And if they are, what kind of punishment… that part is up to the police and prosecutors, so we ordinary people can’t know for sure. Other crimes might even come to light.」

Ordinary people… I wanted to point out whether Nishikawa-san even fits into the category of an「ordinary person,」but I let it slide.

Regardless, if you consider the possibility of an eventual trial, that’s all a total mystery.

「And according to my father, the company will be bought out by a firm from a certain small country that Nishikawa has ties with. As for those two, I haven’t been told the details, but my father mentioned he won’t let them set foot in Japan again. Well, he’s long since divorced his wife and is estranged from his relatives, so it shouldn’t be a problem.」

Not letting them back in Japan… does that mean they’re being sent to the country of the company that bought them out?

It sounds complicated and I don’t really get it, so I guess we have no choice but to leave that to Nishikawa-san’s father.

「Then it looks like we’ll never have to see Yamazaki’s face again. I wish he’d just get arrested anyway, though.」

「I’m just relieved. Now that I’m done investigating people I don’t even want to look at, I can finally go back to a normal high school life.」

I totally agree with Tachikawa-san’s opinion.

Oh, come to think of it, I feel like Hanako-san said something about telling me her name once the Yamazaki thing was settled.

「Hanako-san, the Yamazaki matter is dealt with, so I’m kind of interested in hearing your name now.」

I’ve gotten used to calling her「Hanako-san」, so I felt like that was fine too… but I asked because I was curious.

「…Are you actually interested in me?」

Hanako-san smirked and shot the question back at me.

What is it… I definitely asked because I was curious, but with such a meaningful reply, I feel like the nuance changed somehow…

「…Are you interested, then?」

Shudder.

Sara-san behind me probably just said it normally… yet for some reason, I felt a chill.

I turned around in a hurry to see Sara-san wearing her usual smile.

But why… there was this strange pressure.

「I see… I’m sorry for not noticing. To think I’d charmed Takanashi-kun before I even knew it.」

「Kazunari-san……?」

When a loli-type character like Hanako-san says a line like that, it’s almost cute because she’s trying to act older, but please give me a break right now.

Regardless, Sara-san was questioning me again, so I had to explain fast!

As I leaned toward Sara-san in a panic, she said,

「Hah!」

With a cute little shout, Sara-san lunged from the side and hugged me as if capturing me. She wrapped her arms all the way around to the other side, securing me firmly in place.

「Eh!? Sara-san!?」

「…Is something the matter?」

I couldn’t see her expression well, but did her mood improve at least a little?

「No… well, you weren’t angry?」

「…I’m not angry, you know?」

Looking closely, her cheeks were puffed out.

So, saying that didn’t have much weight…

For now, I decided to let Sara-san do as she liked and continued the conversation.

「So, about your real name…」

「No need to rush. When the time comes for our destinies to cross once more, I’ll tell Takanashi-kun my True Name.」

…Meaning, she’ll tell me the next time we meet?

She’s so dramatic.

However, maybe because the goal of crushing Yamazaki was achieved, Hanako-san seemed to be in a better mood than usual.

「Then will you tell me too? Kazunari isn’t the only one who’s curious.」

「Yeah. I’m actually getting pretty curious myself.」

Hayato and Yuji jumped on my conversation.

Was I overthinking it to think they were helping me out with Sara-san by joining in?

Still… if you ask in that casual way, you don’t get interrogated. Hayato’s good at this… or so I thought, but Hanako-san made a slightly displeased face.

「It’s impossible for you two because the flags haven’t been triggered. Especially the handsome one.」

「「………」」

I noticed Hanako-san wasn’t great with Hayato, but that was pretty blunt.

「Oh? Is Tachibana-kun interested in Hanako-san too?」

I didn’t expect Natsumi-senpai to join in here.

And… I didn’t think she’d poke at Yuji instead of Hayato.

I couldn’t tell if she was teasing or not, but those two might be closer than I thought.

Considering the previous talk, I’m sure Sara-san is watching them with the same feeling, so I turned my gaze to check…

For some reason, her cheeks were still puffed out, and this time she was staring at my face as if glaring. Wait… why?

「What happened between you and Hanako-san? It seems Kazunari-san gets special treatment, and you two seem quite close…」

「No, I have no idea…」

「Tachibana-kun, come to think of it, you’ve had a relationship with Hanako-san for a while, and you were in contact, right? I wonder if you two are close?」

「N-no, that was only about Yamazaki, and nothing more than that…」

「Sigh… I’m a sinful woman.」

I could tell just by looking that Hanako-san was enjoying this, but those two pairs had the same reactions, which was actually kind of funny… Sorry, Takanashi-kun.

But I get Takanashi-kun and Satsukawa-senpai since they’re a couple, but maybe Tachibana-kun and Natsumi-senpai too?

I don’t know much about Tachibana-kun yet, but they go to different schools, so what’s their deal?

I’m kind of curious, but I wonder what’s up with Yokogawa-kun?

He looks a bit lonely… is he okay?

「Yokogawa-kun, is something wrong?」

I took the plunge and spoke to him.

We didn’t have any contact at school, so I’d never thought about talking to him… but we’re allies now, so it’s fine, right?

「Eh? No, it’s nothing.」

He seemed surprised that I was the one talking to him, but he immediately replied with a smile.

Hmm… I do think he’s handsome.

Seeing him up close like this, it’s only natural he’s popular with the girls… though I’m not really into that.

But judging by his interactions with Takanashi-kun, his personality seems serious and he cares about his friends, so he’s probably different from the image you get from his looks.

Does he lose out because of that? Or does he gain?

Anyway, he doesn’t have the face of someone who’s「fine」…

Hmm… maybe… ah, I know!

「Here, Yokogawa-kun, have this.」

I remembered I had the candy I usually give to Mio-chan, so I handed it to Yokogawa-kun.

「Ah, thanks.」

Yokogawa-kun looked at the candy curiously, then tore open the bag and popped it in his mouth.

Did his expression soften a bit?

「Eating something sweet makes you feel better, doesn’t it?」

When Mio-chan is fussy or in a bad mood, she smiles if I give her candy…

I hope it helps Yokogawa-kun change his mood even just a little.

「………」

Wait… what happened?

Is he spacing out?

「Yokogawa-kun, something wrong?」

「N-no, it’s nothing. Yeah, thanks. I’m happy.」

This time, he gave me a solid smile.

Yeah, good, good.

To skip to the conclusion, Sara-san’s mood fixed itself immediately after that.

She suddenly got a startled look on her face and then apologized to me.

「I am so sorry… I know you are just close as friends… but this is a bad habit of mine…」

「Sara-san… I told you before, I’m happy even when you’re jealous, so please don’t apologize.」

I meant that from the bottom of my heart.

Of course, I’d never intentionally try to make her jealous, but the feeling makes me happy, and I think that side of Sara-san is cute too.

Thinking the dejected Sara-san was cute too, I stroked her head to reassure her.

「Fufu… thank you. I feel safe when you do this… I’m happy.」

After I stroked her head for a while, she gave a happy smile and her mood was fixed.

That part was fine, but.

「Yeah, I’m always being treated like this by Sara-san, so I understand the feeling of being happy. Sara-san, you’re cute.」

「…In that case, it is Kazunari-san’s turn to feel happy next.」

「Huh?」

No sooner had she said it than she easily caught my head like usual, pressed it into her chest, and hugged me tight.

「Fufu… this is definitely the most calming. Kazunari-san, how is it?」

I always wonder… is Sara-san just indifferent, or does she just not realize yet?

I’m a guy, after all. Having my face pressed into the chest of the person I love while being hugged tight…

I mean, of course I’m happy.

「I’m happy…」

「Yes, I am happy too… Kazunari-san, you’re cute.」

I wanted to stay like this forever… I wanted to surrender myself to that comfort.

「Should we kick them soon?」

「…By the way, which one?」

「Takanashi-kun, obviously.」

「If you do that, won’t that intense slap come flying your way?」

「…That would be the end of me.」

「Tachibana-kun worked hard this time. He seems pretty good at managing things… personally, his points are pretty high?」

「Eh!? No, I just did it for Kazunari… if you’re gonna say that, I think Natsumi-san, who handled that many idiots on her own, is amazing too. I respect you.」

「Huh?」

「「…………」」

Um… everyone… I’d like to talk about what we’re doing after this…