In the end, Saturday and Sunday passed without a band name being decided, and the next week began.
Has it already been a week since Ichikawa found out about my composing...?
"Huaaa..." As I was walking down the hallway while yawning, I passed by Azuma.
Just as we were about to pass each other with a small nod that only we would recognize, a soft sensation suddenly wrapped around my right arm.
"Good morning, Takuto-kun!"
""Huh!?""
Looking at my r-r-r-right arm, Erina-san was h-h-h-holding my arm.
Seeing her from such a close distance, she really did have a very well-featured face, just as one would expect from someone called Princess Erina. The description "like a doll" fit her perfectly.
"Wait, Erina, Konuma, what's this about!?"
Azuma, in her bare mode, interjected.
"Wow, Yuri, you know Takuto-kun?"
"Takuto... kun...?"
"No, Azuma, this is..."
As I stood there faltering and opening and closing my mouth like a fish,
"You can't, Takuto-kun."
I heard a whisper in my ear, as if she were softly tickling me.
"Now, let's go to the classroom!"
Eh, we're going like this!?
Leaving behind a stunned Azuma, Erina-san dragged me along as we entered the Class 6 classroom.
The moment we stepped through the door,
"Hohe!?"
A clear voice echoed through the classroom for a moment.
Looking toward the source of the voice, a black-haired beautiful girl was staring blankly at us with her eyes wide open.
No, you've got it wrong, Ichikawa—while I was wondering why I was feeling so strangely panicked, Erina-san's hand suddenly let go.
"Thanks."
Muttering that quietly, Erina-san trotted off toward her own seat.
Even while dazed, I sat down in my seat. Ando, who sits behind me, said something, but I don't remember it at all.
Lunch break.
While I was walking down the hallway to go to the restroom, as I passed in front of Class 4,
"Konuma!"
I heard a voice.
When I looked back, Azuma was there.
"Hey, give me a moment of your time."
Saying that, I was led once again to the front of the Audiovisual Room.
"What was that about this morning?"
She crossed her arms and glared up at me.
My eyes wandered in various directions.
"What do you mean by 'what was that'..."
For the sake of the plan, I probably shouldn't reveal Erina-san's intentions.
That said, Azuma-neesan is scary when she's angry.
"...No, I already know that you and Erina aren't dating, okay?"
"Ah, is that so?"
A startled voice escaped me.
"Don't get ahead of yourself, you idiot."
Azuma let out a snort through her nose.
"Anyway, Erina probably said something to you like, 'Hey, let me act like we're close, Konuma-kun,' right?"
"No, well..."
"Bullseye?"
"...Yes."
I'm sorry, Erina-san...
Azuma sighed and held her forehead as if saying, "Good grief."
"I can pretty much tell. I understand Erina's intentions too."
"Hoh..."
Normies are incredible...
"Azuma, do you... know?"
"Know what?"
"That Erina-san is, well..."
"Yeah."
Azuma gave a gentle smile.
"Konuma, you have your good points, don't you?"
"Eh, what?"
"You thought you shouldn't say anything about Erina's feelings, right?"
"No, well..."
She laughed again at my confusion.
"If you watch Erina, you'll know," Azuma said.
"Is that how it is?"
"Yeah, that's how it is."
I didn't understand it at all...
"Azuma, it's because you have that kind of insight that you can write such good lyrics."
When I voiced my impression,
"Wait, what are you saying all of a sudden!?"
Azuma's cheeks flushed, and she started hitting my shoulder.
"No, I just said what I thought."
"Are you stupid!"
From between the arms I used to block her strikes, I could see a bit of a grin on Azuma's face.
After Azuma finished hitting me for a while,
"Even so..."
She let out another melancholy sigh and,
"I don't think things will go well for Erina even if she does that..."
She muttered that and bit her lower lip.