Episode 84: The Content of the Letter

Normally, something like this should be read alone.

But I’m curious.

If it were a love letter, it’d be in a cute envelope (just a guess), and it’d be sealed with a heart sticker (another guess).

Besides… the day I first met Sara-senpai followed the same pattern.

「…Hmm? This is oddly simple. Being sealed with Scotch tape… that’s not very romantic.」

Since the veteran(?) Hayato gave it a failing grade, the chances of this being an unwanted love letter from a guy skyrocketed.

So I opened it right then and there.

「Come to the incinerator after school.」

It was a truly retro summons.

Since they can’t get to me in the classroom anymore, did they resort to a letter?

Well, it’s not like it’s definitely those guys.

「…Oh, quite the passionate love letter.」

Before I knew it, Hayato was peering over from behind.

It wasn’t from a girl, so I didn’t mind.

「Them?」

Apparently, he predicted that based on the interaction when he came to call me before.

I’m ninety percent sure he’s right.

Basically, it’s a「love letter」from men, likely featuring an unwelcome confession, followed by the potential use of force.

「Probably. What a pain…」

I could ignore it, but we’re in the same class, so I don’t know what would happen next.

There’s a chance it could lead to even more unnecessary trouble.

「Even if you ignore it, you’re in the same class. I mean, they’re politely telling you to come after you’ve prepared yourself.」

If…

you call someone out like this, of course that’s what happens.

Are they really idiots? Do they have some kind of absolute confidence?

I’m not letting my guard down, but if I go after taking countermeasures,

there’s a chance my school life might get even better from here on out.

「What’ll you do?」

「Er… Hayato, do you have time after school?」

Since he’s already involved this far, I might as well have him join me.

So, I decided to honestly ask for his cooperation.

「In that case, I’ll take care of being the recording crew and the backup if anything happens.」

Hayato replied with a grin.

In this situation, it goes without saying.

In the worst-case scenario, running away at full speed is also an option.

「Sorry… I’ll be counting on you after school.」

Ugh, what a pain…

After school, Kazunari and I were acting separately.

We coordinated over RAIN, and considering the possibility that Kazunari was being watched, I decided to go ahead and get into position.

I hate to say it myself, but the guys who approach me at school are always that type.

It was famous that those two would claim to be my friends and call out to girls.

That’s why I clearly told everyone around me that I hated them, but before I knew it, they had no one left to hang out with and it was just the two of them.

They were an eyesore, and honestly, I wanted them gone for Kazunari’s sake too.

In that sense, I realized all over again that smartphones are very convenient things.

「There he is! Yokogawa!! Hey, can you get in touch with Takanashi?」

It was the guy who was talking in Kazunari’s class this morning.

I don’t know his name… did something happen?

「Did something happen?」

His serious expression concerned me.

「A weird group was muttering Takanashi’s name and moving a while ago, is he okay? We should tell Takanashi…」

A group?

Isn’t it just those two this time?

If that’s the case, I don’t know what’s going on anymore.

This is bad. I have to go quickly…

「Natsumi-senpai, it’s trouble!!」

A girl who always acts as a cheering squad came running in a panic.

Sara was with me, so we both stopped and waited for more.

「Satsukawa-senpai’s fan clu…」

「Please do not say such disgusting things.」

Sara processes them in her mind as if they don’t exist, so she hates hearing about them.

But what did「trouble」mean?

「Did those guys do something again?」

「Ah, yes! The boy who’s Natsumi-senpai’s friend…」

「What happened to Takanashi-san?」

When it comes to Takanashi-san, her reaction is as fast as ever.

「That group called your friend out! I got word from a companion who gathered info, and right now those guys are at the incinerator…」

Sara was about to bolt, so I held her back.

That was close… I can’t let her go alone.

He was called out.

That brings back unpleasant memories for Takanashi-san and for me.

Even though I hated that group’s existence, since there was no actual harm and they rarely appeared before my eyes, I left them alone out of a desire not to interact with them.

But because of that, Takanashi-san…

If they lay so much as a single finger on Takanashi-san, I will never forgive them…

It doesn’t sound like a good story.

Those guys often act in the shadows, so there are actual cases where they do radical things.

If they called Takanashi-kun out due to jealousy, there’s a possibility they’ll do something.

It’s better to go check on the situation.

「Natsumi, let go! I have to go right now… if they touch Takanashi-san, everyone…」

It’s rare for Sara to use a commanding tone.

If I let her go alone, I don’t know what she’ll do to those guys.

Current Sara feels close to how she was during her worst period.

Sara, who looked at men who hit on her like dust, gets a harsh tone when she’s in a bad mood.

Now that she has someone she wants to protect in Takanashi-kun, that might have become the point where she completely transforms.

「I’m going too!」

I can’t take my eyes off Sara since there’s a possibility she’ll run wild.

I head to the site while running, making sure not to let go of her hand.

As we get near the incinerator, we proceed while checking the surroundings.

Then, I saw Yokogawa-kun lurking, hidden behind a tree. He was holding up his smartphone, so he’s probably recording.

He seemed to have noticed us too, as he had a surprised look on his face, but he immediately pointed his smartphone back in the direction he’d been looking.

Apparently, Takanashi-kun is over there.

Approaching Yokogawa-kun, I could hear voices, though I couldn’t make out the content yet.

「!!」

Sara was about to jump out, so I managed to hold her back.

「Sara… it’s okay, so calm down.」

「I am calm…」

I don’t know if she thinks she’s calm or not, but she’s making an expression I’ve never seen before. Her eyes are too sharp; it’s scary.