"Hey, Konuma!"
The next morning, on the way to school from Shin-Koganei Station, someone tapped me on the shoulder from behind.
"Oh, good morning, Azuma."
"Ah, yeah, right, good morning...!"
Azuma replied as if my 'good morning' had just reminded her. For the President of the Greeting Club to forget a greeting—now that's a rare sight.
"What even is a Greeting Club President... Anyway, what happened after that yesterday? You didn't send any updates..."
"Oh, sorry..."
...At this point, I'll just ignore the fact that she's reading my mind so naturally.
Walking alongside me, Azuma peered into my face with concern, continuing before I could answer.
"When I stepped outside for a bit during my shift, I saw Amane sprinting past the shop at full speed... I mean, Konuma, you said Amane had already gone home! Was that another misunderstanding? And what about Sakohasu?"
It was an interrogation.
"Ah, about that..."
So Ichikawa really did run all that way... I felt apologetic all over again.
"It seems Sako talked with Ichikawa, and in the end, Ichikawa came to Shin-Koganei Station alone. Apparently, she was... well, waiting for me at the studio."
I answered while scratching my cheek.
"Ehh, is that so..."
Azuma looked completely taken aback.
"Anyway, thanks to you, we were able to reconcile. Thank you," I told her.
"I see, that's good then..."
Azuma placed a hand on her chest and let out a sigh of relief. I quickly looked away so I wouldn't end up staring at where her hand was resting.
"...Umm, so, so that means Konuma, you've realized your own feelings too, right?"
Seeing Azuma tilt her head with slightly trembling eyes, I couldn't help but let out a bitter smile.
"Yeah, well, I think I'm getting close..."
I think it's a truly pathetic story.
"Huh...? Then how did you even reconcile... wait, what?"
Something seemed to occur to her. Azuma tilted her head, stopped walking, and pulled my arm to make me face her directly, staring intently at me.
"W-what is it?"
When I tried to look away, she said, "Keep looking this way," and sandwiched my face between both her hands.
What are we doing on the way to school in the morning... It’s fine because there happen to be no people around, but doing things like this is probably why Taira-chan gets the wrong idea...
After observing me closely for several seconds, Azuma's expression gradually turned into one of exasperation.
"...A difficult road lies ahead."
With a sigh, she gave my shoulder a light pat from the front and started walking again.
"Don't use <
As I said that, I trudged along beside her. This is why I hate being stared at by Azuma...
"It's your fault for having a heart that's embarrassing to read."
Eh, is that how it works?
"Well, I figured that might be the case since it's you, Konuma, but you can't keep doing that forever, okay?"
Azuma placed her hand on the strap of her bass case and muttered with downcast eyes.
"...High school and youth won't stay here forever."
"Yeah, you're right..."
Azuma's words resonated with an unusual weight.
"...Oh, that's right."
Suddenly, Azuma straightened her back and clapped her hands.
"Hm?"
"I think I'll be able to deliver a little present after school today!"
"A present?"
As I tilted my head in confusion, she replied happily while flashing a V-sign.
"If I'm delivering a present right now, it can only be 'that'!"
***
"Taa-kuto-kun!"
As soon as I arrived at school and waved goodbye to Azuma to enter my classroom, Erina-san came over to me, radiating a citrus scent.
"O-oh...?"
"I've been waiting for you!"
"What's up?"
"Never mind that, just come here!"
She pulled my arm and led me out into the hallway. Seriously, I haven't even put my bag down yet...
As I was being dragged away, I glanced at the window seat where a certain genius singer-songwriter was resting her chin on her hand, watching us with a lukewarm, judgmental stare that seemed to say, 'Hmph...?'
Stumbling along, we arrived at an empty classroom next door.
"What is it, Erina-san?"
"...Mhm."
Once the classroom door was closed, Erina-san suddenly lowered her voice and looked down quietly.
"...Takuto-kun, how was yesterday?"
Yesterday? For a moment, a question mark floated over my head, but then I remembered that Erina-san already knew about the fight.
"We reconciled."
"I see..."
Erina-san gave a poignant smile.
"You know, Erina..."
The usual little devil looked up at me with upturned eyes and continued.
"...wants Takuto-kun to be happy."
"O-oh, thanks..."
I must have looked incredibly stupid. Erina-san grimaced with dissatisfaction.
"...That's not nearly enough, you know?"
"What do you mean?"
When I asked, she let out a long sigh and pouted her lips as if thinking.
"Well, I guess you wouldn't understand... Okay, basically!"
Pointing her index finger sharply, Erina-san declared.
"Takuto-kun's happiness doesn't belong only to Takuto-kun anymore! Erina won't say any more than that! Actually, I've already said too much! I'm sorry!"
With that, she closed her eyes and turned away. Her energy levels certainly fluctuated wildly this morning.
...Even I can understand what she's trying to say now.
That's surely why Sako went home alone yesterday.
"Erina-san, thank you. ...And I'm sorry."
Erina-san likes Kenji, and to Erina-san, Sako is a romantic rival, but surely it's more than just that.
"...I guess that's what it means not to be alone anymore," she whispered sadly before brightening up.
"Just kidding! That's not like Erina at all! Let's get energized!" Erina-san laughed.
"Ahhh, Erina has to work hard on her attack on Kenji too!"
"You're going to work hard too, Erina-san?"
I felt it was somewhat unexpected for her to declare that again at this timing, so I asked.
"Of course! Erina is going to be happy too! I just said so!"
'Takuto-kun's happiness doesn't belong only to Takuto-kun anymore!'
Erina-san smiled with troubled, angel-like eyebrows.
"Everyone has to be happy, right?"