“So that happened. ……”
When I told Ayana that I had talked to Shu, she slowly fell on her face.Naturally, from Ayana’s point of view, it seems difficult to accept this easily. It is often said that time will tell, but perhaps that is really all that can be said about this matter.
“Well, we have our own pace. We’ll figure things out as we go along.”
“……Yes, that’s right. I was surprised, but at the same time I thought it was quintessential.”
“About?”
“The connection spun by Towa-kun is unbreakable.”
…I wonder, just like everyone else, there are things I like and things I dislike. There are people I can’t get along with or don’t want to be involved with. I’m not a saint, I just value spending everyday life with important people.
“…but it’s really hot, isn’t it?”
“Yes, it is. Just standing here makes me sweat a little.”
It’s summer vacation, so of course the season is summer. The temperature is high, so sweat naturally comes out. Although the air conditioning is working indoors, my work with Ayana is done, so we don’t need to be there anymore. On our way back from throwing away the trash behind the school building, we had this conversation.
“The track and field club is working hard too, just like the baseball club.”
“Yeah, I respect them for working hard in this damn heat.”
We pass through the schoolyard, so we can see the students who are participating in club activities. In the track and field club, Mari-chan is running, and in the baseball club, Aisaka is taking knocks while sweating. When we were watching together, Aisaka noticed us and waved, but he was scolded by the coach for not paying attention and the people around him laughed.
“Aisaka-kun is like a mood maker, isn’t he?”
“Yeah, he’s also well-liked by his juniors. He has a good personality and works hard.”
Watching Aisaka like that, it’s strange that I feel like I need to work hard for the sports festival too. Of course, I intend to do what I can since I have been given a task, and I have no intention of slacking off or cutting corners.
…but no matter what I say, it’s just too hot!!
“Ayana, shall we go home?”
“Yes, let’s. Towa-kun, would you like to take a bath when we get home?”
“Sure…together?”
“? Sure”
Ayana tilts her head, I see…it seems that it’s been decided to take a bath together with Ayana. I wonder if it’s too much to think that we’ll be sweating in different ways in many senses.
Our uniforms are sticking to our skin because of the sweat. We wouldn’t embrace each other in this condition, but we do hold hands, although that’s relatively in the morning or evening when the temperature is low.
“After taking a bath, I want to relax.”
“I want to turn on the air conditioning, eat some ice cream, and just relax.”
“Fufu, that sounds nice.”
As we were chatting happily and trying to leave the schoolyard, it happened.
“Hey, Otonashi-san, Yukishiro-kun.”
“? Oh, Tachibana-san.”
“……..”
It was Tachibana who called out to me. The moment I heard this person’s voice, Ayana’s expression turned into nothing and she hid behind me to escape his gaze. I said earlier that there are people I don’t want to be associated with, and this person might be one of them. It may just be my own selfish assumption, but I don’t think I can trust this person intuitively.
“Were you on a field trip?”
“Yes, I’m just finishing up preparations for the gymnastic festival. I’m on my way home now.”
“I see. Well, thank you for your hard work.”
“……, Towa-kun.”
I tried to end the conversation early and leave the place, but it seems that Ayana felt the same way. Even though I was about to leave the place with Ayana, Tachibana was still calling to me.
“It’s actually lunch break now for the track and field team. I have some free time, so how about having lunch together? I know a nice place with a good atmosphere, and I think you, especially as a girl, would like it, Ayana-san.”
“No, thank you.”
“Don’t say that–“
Ayana pulled my hand and said briefly.
“Let’s go.”
Despite her insistence, Tachibana persisted. However, an accident occurred when a softball from the baseball club hit Tachibana in the back. I tilted my head, as I thought high school baseball used hard balls.
Tachibana winced in pain, but Aisaka rushed over from the baseball club to apologize.
“Sorry about that. Are you okay?”
“Yeah, I’m fine. If it had been a hardball, it could have been dangerous…”
Aisaka signaled to Tachibana to hurry up, and we walked to the school gate without looking back.
Aisaka, who was out of sight of Tachibana’s smiling face, motioned with his chin as if to tell us to hurry up and go. Ayana and I took our eyes off Tachibana and walked to the school gate.
For now, I felt relieved that Ayana was with me, but I couldn’t afford to take my eyes off other girls. Even Maria… However, my conclusion about Tachibana was based on my own assumptions. If I were wrong, it would just be a baseless accusation that would only cause trouble if I reported it to the teachers.
Feeling frustrated, I took Ayana home, and we took a bath together before spending time in a cool room, enjoying some ice cream. Ayana also had something on her mind.
“Towa-kun, I also think there’s something off about that guy. It’s frustrating, but we have similarities.”
“Similarities?”
“Yes, hiding our true feelings behind a mask of smiles… It’s just like me a little while ago.”
…Ayana’s words sounded convincing, perhaps because she had been hiding her feelings of revenge under a mask for so long and had been in contact with Sho and his family.
“I’m worried about Maria-chan too.”
I nodded at her words.
We had already settled things with Ayana, Seina-san, and Shu, but now we had to deal with an outside coach. Sighing deeply, I felt a little disheartened that there were so many men in this world who seemed like they belonged in a game.
“…Haa.”
“It’s troublesome, isn’t it?”
At that moment, the intercom rang as the two of them let out a sigh again. As I tried to stand up, Ayana stopped me with her hand and walked to the front door instead… which was strange, considering that this was supposed to be my house.
After a while, Ayana came back with Kanzaki.
“Kanzaki-san?”
“Yaa, Towa-san. It’s hot again today, isn’t it?”
I was surprised by Kanzaki-san’s sudden visit, but this kind of thing had happened before since we had eaten together once. Apparently, she had finished her work and was going to be in town for about a year.
As we enjoyed the ice cream that Kanzaki-san had bought for us, she seemed to have noticed our troubles and asked about them.
“Well, actually…”
If she was asking, it might be a good idea to tell her as part of seeking advice. So Ayana and I explained our situation to her, and Kanzaki-san crossed her arms and began to ponder.
“I see… wait a minute.”
“Huh?”
“…Sure.”
Suddenly, Kamizaki-san took out her smartphone and started contacting someone. Ayana and I looked at each other and tilted our heads.
“Hello, Morita? There’s something I want you to investigate a little. It’s about the child of Sis and his lover’s troubles.”
Kanzaki-san winked at us and continued with the conversation.
“I think we’ll know something by this evening. Just be patient.”
Saying that, she began to concentrate on eating her ice cream again… but Ayana and I couldn’t help but be curious about Kanzaki-san in various ways. We knew that she was my mother’s younger sister, but that was all… Ayana and I nodded to each other and I decided to ask.
“Hey, who are you, Kanzaki-san?”
“What do you mean? I’m just an ordinary sister… … What, are you trying to say I’ma middle-aged woman or something?”
“I don’t mean it like that, but…”
“Just kidding. Well, let’s see… I’m from a family that’s connected to the underworld, I guess. When I was being stupid, I picked a fight with Sis and ended up falling for her because I got beaten up.”
… Could it be that my mother had crossed a dangerous bridge?
Laughing dryly, Kanzaki-san told us about it, but I couldn’t bring myself to ask if “connected to the underworld” meant yakuza or something like that.
[Ayana’s revenge is depicted on the fan disc, but she didn’t get everything she wanted on her own. She has a collaborator, but she is not in the main story. The staff cut corners a bit there. ……]
A nostalgic memory just came back to me.
I realized that Ayana didn’t achieve revenge all by herself… she had a collaborator. I looked at Kanzaki and couldn’t help but smile at the thought.
“Speaking of which, Ayana…”
“Yes?”
“Isn’t your appearance a bit… sexy? Towa-kun might turn into a wolf.”
Since it’s summer and I’m often the only one around, Ayana’s attire is quite revealing. I’m used to it, so it seems normal to me, but I suppose her appearance could be considered sexy.
“It’s okay. We took a bath together earlier, and he already turned into a wolf for me.”
“Heh… Tegoho!? Keho!?”
Oh, Kanzaki choked on Ayana’s words.
She blushed and complained to Ayana not to say such strange things… I couldn’t help but laugh at the contrast between her reaction and Ayana’s words.
“Haha, Kanzaki also has a cute side, huh?”
“What!? Towa, don’t make fun of adults!!”
“Eto is usually pretty …… No, she’s beautiful.”
“…Why does it sound like an insult when Ayana says it?”
And so time passed, and it became evening.
