Whether she was keeping her word that ‘I’ll always be right there,’ or if it was simply because it was lunch break, I wasn’t sure.
Either way, I found Airi Hirosue sitting silently in a corner of Class 1-5, radiating an aura that kept everyone else at a distance.
Even though it was a lower-classman's room, I hesitated to even step inside, let alone call out to her. As I stood there wondering what to do...
“Is that blonde girl the one you have business with, Takuto-kun?”
Erina-san asked from beside me. Honestly, what is with her today? Why is she sticking with me this far?
“Yeah, that’s her.”
“Hmm. Ahaha, she’s just like Sakosh back when we were first-years.”
After a gentle smile, she called out to a female student nearby.
“Hey, hey, you.”
“Yes! Eh... E-Erina-senpai!?”
The girl, who had just been about to leave the classroom, froze up completely when she realized a senior was talking to her. It seemed she knew who Erina-san was. Is she some kind of celebrity? This school is just full of famous people, isn't it?
“We have some business with that blonde girl over there. Could you call her for us?”
“The blonde one... Do you mean Hirosue-san?”
“Is it Hirosue-san?”
Having received the question, Erina-san tilted her head and looked at me. A through-pass.
The girl had a face that said, ‘Wait, isn’t Erina-senpai the one who needs her...?’ Well, anyone would think that.
“Yes, Airi Hirosue-san.”
“I-I understand.”
The student nodded to us and then, with a tense expression, crept up toward Airi from behind.
“It seems like they aren't on very good terms, huh?”
“Well, I suppose so.”
If they had any kind of relationship, she could have just raised her voice and called her, but apparently, there was no one around Airi capable of doing that. I had only just heard about the situation myself.
But I hoped this would be a chance for her to have more people to talk to. With that thought, I watched closely.
...Am I actually starting to worry about other people? Me? But I felt like I should be careful not to get too ahead of myself.
Just as I was trying to brace my own heart, Erina-san muttered something ominous beside me.
“I mean, since you know her name, you could just call her yourself, right?”
“Eh.”
“Hey— Hiromu—!?”
I hurriedly covered Erina-san’s mouth with my hand. Just when that girl might actually make a speaking acquaintance, don't do something unnecessary!
“Mmph!?”
“Wait, there’s a reason why it’s better for that girl to talk to her.”
After explaining that to Erina-san—who was making muffled protesting noises—I released her. Her face instantly shifted into that of a mischievous demon, and she looked up at me with a broad, teasing grin.
“How bold, Takuto-kun. I’m going to tell Amane-chan, you know?”
“No, it’s not like that...”
When Erina-san gets like this, it’s best to stay calm rather than panic. If I react, I’m just giving her what she wants.
...Well, it’s true I overstepped a bit by touching her, so I’d rather just let this pass quietly.
Eventually, when the student timidly called out to her, Airi’s face brightened instantly as she looked up.
Seeing that expression, the tension seemed to drop from the other girl's shoulders as well.
“So cute...!!”
Erina-san was gushing beside me.
When the student pointed toward us at the classroom entrance, Airi began walking our way.
“Well then, see you, Takuto-kun.”
For some reason, Erina-san purposely leaned her lips close to my ear to say that before walking away.
“Takuto-san, did you have a girlfriend?”
Airi tilted her head, a slight frown forming between her eyebrows.
“Are you talking about her? No, it’s not like that...”
“Eh? Then, what is she?”
“A classmate... I guess.”
At my answer, her eyes turned toward me as if she were looking at something incredibly filthy, and she pointed at my chest.
“...You’re strange, aren’t you?”
“I guess so...”
“‘I guess so’... What is that, your catchphrase?”
“...I guess so.”
Come to think of it, I felt like I hadn't said that in a while.