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Even if a person says they’re bracing themselves, it’s not that easy to find resolve.
Staring at the empty seat in front of me, there was only one thing on my mind.
Fidget, fidget. Fidget, fidget.
“Hey, Akito.”
“……What?”
Kuonji is late. Is she not here yet…… no, don’t come yet. No, actually, hurry up and…… no, well, but still.
Fidget, fidget, fidget, fidget. Fidget, fidget, fidget, fidget.
“Akito, you’re being creepy.”
“Stop calling me creepy so naturally. It hurts when things hurt, you know?”
“No, I mean, just because your wife isn’t here doesn’t mean you should be that restless. Think about how I feel having to watch that from behind you.”
“I told you, she’s not my wife.”
Though, I don’t know about the future.
But for now…… Kuonji is my Fated Person, connected to me by the 『Red Thread of Fate』.
My feelings shouldn’t have been exposed.
And I don’t intend to reveal them yet.
Through the incident with Tsuchimikado, I’ve realized that I like Kuonji.
However, even if I’m unilaterally in love and push too hard, it’ll only trouble Kuonji. First, I need to take it slow and steady.
But…… she’s still not here.
Sigh…… I want to see her. But I don’t want to see her. What is this dilemma?
“Oh my. An ennui-filled Akky, how rare.”
“It doesn’t suit him at all, does it?”
“Right? (lol)”
““Yay!””
“I’m gonna knock you guys out.”
They’ve been saying whatever they want for a while now. And don’t high-five each other.
“But seriously. Akito has been weird lately.”
“He’s always weird, but especially so these days. I guess he gets worried when he can’t see his little wifey’s face.”
“……It’s not like that.”
I’m not worried.
But I am concerned that she’s been late so often recently.
It’s almost like she’s avoiding me.
……It’s not possible that my feelings were leaked, right……?
Could it be that Tsuchimikado did it out of spite…… or something?
……No, no, there’s no way Tsuchimikado would do that. She’s not that kind of person.
But, just in case……
When I headed toward Tsuchimikado, who was talking with Kurosetani and the others, she noticed me and flashed a brilliant smile.
She hasn’t done anything wrong…… yet, I feel a little bit of guilt.
“Sana-tan, morning!”
“A-Ah. Good morning. Tsuchimikado, do you have a moment?”
“Oho? A love call from Sana-tan!? The spot next to me is always open♪”
“That’s not it.”
She was in her usual high-tension mode, showing no signs of what happened yesterday. It was as if yesterday never happened.
I led Tsuchimikado out into the hallway. By the way, I gave a flick to the foreheads of Ryūya and Neika, who tried to follow us.
“What’s up, Sana-tan?”
“Er…… no, well…… I-I was wondering if you told anyone about yesterday……”
“Nahaha! There’s no way I’d tell. No one gains anything from it anyway. Rather, I’d just be hated for being a ‘dangerous person.’”
……She’s probably not lying.
But…… I see, that’s true. In this world, hitting on someone when both you and that person have a Fated Person is considered being a ‘dangerous person.’
You’d be hated by your friends, and if things go south, you might even lose your place at school.
“Seriously, rest assured. Hiyori has decided to support the two of you. So there’s no need to worry!”
Wink, side-eye, peace sign.
But if you looked closely at her eyes, they were slightly swollen and red. I didn't know the reason. It could be because of me, or it could be something else.
Even so, Tsuchimikado behaved stoutly, acting as usual without showing a hint of it. Strong, kind, and cute. If the 『Red Thread of Fate』 didn’t exist, I might have……
……Well, there’s no point in speaking in ‘what-ifs.’
“I understand. Thanks, I feel better now.”
“No problem! Well then, shall we head back to the classroom?♪”
………….
“……Hey, Tsuchimikado.”
“Oho?”
“……You’re a good woman, you know.”
“————”
……Huh, Tsuchimikado? ……Why are you silent?
“……Sana-tan.”
“Yeah?”
“Dummy.”
“Eh, a sudden insult?”
“Dummy, dummy, dummy.”
“Don’t say it repeatedly.”
Tsuchimikado put her hand on the door to enter the classroom…… and turned around just a little bit.
“Dummy. Bleeeh.”
She stuck out her tongue like a mischievous child and went inside the classroom. ……Why do I have to be insulted like that?
“……Oh? Sanada-kun, what is the matter?”
“……Eh? ……Ah, Sanzenin-sensei. Good morning.”
She was in front of me before I knew it.
“Good morning. Homeroom is about to start. ……Oh, that’s right. Sanada-kun, you were close with Kuonji-san, weren’t you?”
“We are not close.”
“What are you saying at this point……”
Sanzenin-sensei shook her head with a sigh. Don’t look at me with such exasperated eyes.
“B-By the way, what about Kuonji?”
“Ah, right. It seems Kuonji-san is absent today due to a cold.”
“……Eh?”
“So after school, since you are close, please take these handouts and other materials to her.”
“…………Eh?”
“Just in case, I will also ask Ryūgūin-san, so don’t worry. Well then, I’m going in.”
Kuonji, cold, absent. Handouts, me, deliver. House, visit.
…………………………………………。
“Eh?”