It was Tuesday, during lunch break, right after the long weekend.
“Erina-san, are you going to the shop?”
I called out to Erina-san as she was about to leave the classroom.
Following my conversation with Sako the day before yesterday—or rather, yesterday morning—I wanted to check on how she was doing.
Erina-san glared at me and replied grumpily, “I am, but... so what...?”
Whoa, she’s scary...
“Uh, can I come with you...?”
“...I don't really mind, but who are you again?”
“Wait...”
After saying that, she turned her head forward and walked away, leaving me bewildered.
...She seems incredibly angry, but since I technically got permission, I followed her at a light jog.
“Um...”
A negative aura was radiating from Erina-san even after we started walking down the hallway, so I spoke up timidly.
“It’s the eighth day, Takuto-kun.”
Erina-san said.
“The eighth... day? Of what?”
She was saying something about eight days, but what eighth day? The life of a cicada?
“The eighth day since the last time Takuto-kun talked to Erina.”
“Ah...”
I see. It really has been since last Monday morning when I spoke to her with Azuma on the long way to school.
In my mind, I felt like I had given her some reassuring words for the live show based on Azuma's advice that day, but since she hasn't been able to talk to Sako either, I realized I had left Erina-san in an anxious state for a long time.
“I'm sorry about that...”
I was the one who intended to be Erina-san's support.
No matter how many 'charms' I made, it was obvious they wouldn't have any effect while they were still being prepared behind the scenes. What on earth am I doing?
“Ugh, if you apologize that properly, it makes it hard for Erina to stay mad...”
Erina-san gave a strained laugh, her expression a mix of slight fluster and exasperation.
“No, I really should have stayed by your side, Erina-san...”
“No, you should just stay by Amane-chan's side...”
Wait, is she beyond exasperation and actually a bit creeped out now?
“Takuto-kun is the same as always... But, well, since you're reflecting that much, I'll forgive you!”
Even so, Erina-san seemed to have regained her mood somewhat and nodded.
“It was a close call, you know? Erina was planning to ask something of Takuto-kun today.”
“Ask what...?”
Then she flashed that unpleasant, scheming grin again.
“Hey, hey, it’s been eight days, so Takuto-kun, you must be pretty backed up by now, right?”
“W-With what?”
“You want to let it all out soon, don't you?”
“I-I’m asking with what! I...”
“Things you want to talk to Erina about!”
Erina-san cut me off while I was flustered.
...I'm really glad she cut me off before I said something weird.
“Hey, hey, let’s go home together today! Let’s go to Mac! As a penalty for leaving Erina alone, you’re buying me a shake!”
“No, today is...”
Even if I were to willingly accept that penalty, I couldn't help but think about how I usually end up paying anyway even when there's no penalty, or why I’m always paying for her. Various thoughts swirled in my head.
But those things didn't matter for now.
'Got it. I'll talk to Erina tomorrow after club. Even if she tries to run away, I'll chase her persistently. ...Even if she tells me to go home, I'll ambush her at the front gate without being asked.'
Today, Sako intends to go home with her. I can't be the one to snatch that chance away.
However, it would be strange for me to tell her that, so while I was struggling for an answer—
“Hmph... Is it Amane-chan again?” she asked, pouting her lips as if acting spoiled.
“No, it's not that...”
Just as I was wondering how to explain it so she’d go home with Sako... I suddenly remembered what Sako had done back then.
What Sako did for me when Ichikawa and I were fighting.
I don't have many tools for communication. I have no choice but to mimic her.
“...Alright, I'll keep my schedule open after school.”
“Eh, really?”
Erina-san must have expected a rejection. Even though she was the one who invited me, she sounded surprised and tilted her head.
“Yeah, I’m free.”
“What about Amane-chan?”
“It’ll... be fine...”
“I wonder if that's true...?”
Yeah, I’m worried about that myself...
“It’s true! So, once club is over, let's meet at the school bus stop. You take the school bus home, right?”
“Okay... How did you know Erina goes home by school bus?”
“Well, uh... Sako goes home from Shin-Koganei, so I figured you were probably staggering your schedules.”
“Whoa, since when did Takuto-kun become able to figure out stuff like that...?”
She looked up at me with eyes full of pure admiration. It’s actually just because I heard about the current situation from Sako; please don’t look at me with those eyes, my conscience hurts...!
“But then, what are you going to do until Erina's club is finished, Takuto-kun?”
“Hm? Well, I’ll probably just practice in the studio. I don't know if it'll be open, though.”
Even though she usually says things like 'I don't care about Takuto-kun's business, just wait for me,' Erina-san was actually showing concern for me now. Could it be that all her previous devilish remarks were just jokes? (Truly a little devil).
“I see. You really are kind, Takuto-kun!”
Just as we reached the front of the shop, Erina-san gave a beaming smile and hugged my arm tightly while shouting loudly.
“Erina really loves that about you, Takuto-kun!”
...Yeah. Right. W-W-When you say it so clearly in a way that could be misunderstood, it actually makes it easier not to misunderstand, yes.
While I was trying to stay calm and consciously push the sensation on my upper arm out of my mind—
CLANG!
A sound like an aluminum can hitting the floor rang out.
In the direction of the sound was a kouhai who looked like a small animal.
“K-Konuma-senpai, what kind of nerve do you have to be cheating in broad daylight like this...!?”
...Taira-chan, who had just come out of the shop, was looking at me with a look of pure disgust I had never seen before.