I followed Kuonji out into the hallway.
But Kuonji didn't stop, walking briskly down the hall.
“...Hey.”
“Just follow me quietly.”
“...Sigh.”
I couldn't help but sigh.
We’ve known each other since middle school, but I still don’t understand her well.
Not that I want to, anyway.
............
Well... lately, just a little. Truly just a little, I don't feel like I don't want to know.
What Kuonji is thinking right now.
What she’s feeling.
What she’s experiencing.
It doesn't have to be everything.
Just a little... just a little, I've started wanting to know more about her.
I look at the thread connected to my left hand.
The Dark Scarlet thread. A color that is a miracle among miracles, with only a few cases ever recorded.
Physical compatibility and economic compatibility are both the best, huh...
The compatibility between me and Kuonji is the best...
...No, I really can't imagine it.
Well, certainly, I do think Kuonji is cute.
Generally speaking... yeah, generally, okay? Generally speaking, Kuonji is a peerless beauty.
She has the perfected beauty unique to being half-Japanese, and a physical beauty that transcends high schoolers.
Her personality is what it is, but honestly, her physique is alluring.
...Ah, this is bad... Since this thread appeared, it's not just Kuonji's bad points, but only her good points that keep popping into my head.
This is... a dangerous trend.
“Hey, Kuonji. How far are we going?”
“............”
“...Hey, don't ignore me.”
“............”
Tch. As I thought, she’s annoying.
“Hey.”
I reach my hand out toward her shoulder to stop Kuonji, who is walking ahead.
However.
“!”
As if trying to avoid being touched, she crouched down to dodge my hand and performed an emergency evasive maneuver forward.
It was a movement like a veteran gladiator.
Well, I've never actually seen a gladiator, though.
Kuonji put some distance between us.
For a moment, I felt dejected, thinking she hated being touched by me that much.
But when Kuonji looked up, her face was bright red and she had an indescribable expression.
...Well, even if we're connected by a thread, I guess suddenly trying to touch her was no good. No, I didn't mean it in a sexual harassment way.
But being avoided this much was unexpected. I still think of her as my natural enemy, and it seems Kuonji feels the same way.
“Ah—... sorry. That was thoughtless of me.”
“N-No... er, ugh...”
“...? What do you mean 'no'...?”
“I-If you touch me right now...”
“If I touch you...?”
“My hands will come out!”
“Stop it, you violence woman.”
That's so violent it actually turned me off.
Perhaps Kuonji realized how dangerous she sounded, because she hurriedly spoke as if trying to cover it up.
“N-N-N-No! By 'my hands will come out,' I mean, well... like my body moves before I can think, or like I can't stop my feelings...!”
“Ah... yeah...”
“A-Anyway, just follow me.”
Kuonji walked away briskly, and I followed after her.
Still... does she hate me so much that her body moves before her head can think?
I guess just because we're connected by the 『Red Thread of Fate』 doesn't mean we'll suddenly fall in love that easily.
In a way, that's very like Kuonji.
We climbed the stairs and reached the door leading to the rooftop.
As expected, the door was firmly secured with a padlock and chain, so we couldn't go outside.
But we couldn't be seen from below, making it a perfect spot for a private meeting.
“Sanada, raise your left hand.”
“Hm, like this?”
Usually, this would be a scene where I'd say "Why?", but for some reason, I obeyed her honestly. What is this, is it like a curse or something?
Kuonji raised her left hand in the same way.
Connected there was the Dark Scarlet thread I had seen many times already.
“...It really is connected...”
“Yeah. Did you bring me here just to confirm that?”
“Of course not. ...Hey, Sanada. Have you told... anyone about this...?”
Kuonji asked while fidgeting with her fingers and looking up at me.
I felt a bit dizzy from the cuteness she rarely shows, but I'm a kickboxing practitioner. I recovered through sheer willpower.
“I-I haven't told anyone yet. Although Ryuya, Neika, and my sister Kotono have been prying.”
“I've been asked a lot by Rion too. I haven't answered yet, though.”
Ah, Kuonji and Ryuguin are very close. Of course she'd be curious.
“S-So, I want to ask your advice... do you think we should tell someone about this?”
“...I think it's better not to tell anyone.”
“Can I ask why?”
“Our thread color is Dark Scarlet, which has only been confirmed in a few cases worldwide. Plus, we're in the same school and the same class. If that gets out, imagine it. Media and researchers who hear about it will flock to us, and we won't be able to live our normal lives anymore.”
At my words, Kuonji's cheeks flushed slightly.
“I-Is that because... you think... our current life is fun...?”
“Well, yeah.”
At the very least, life now is more fun than being chased by the media, researchers, and onlookers every day.
At those words, Kuonji's eyes widened, and she turned her back to me.
“...I see... so being with me is...”
“What are you mumbling about?”
“I-It's nothing!”
...What a weirdo. Well, she always is.