“Like I said, Kenji. Sakosh and Takuto-kun aren’t really anything like that.”
The moment I heard that voice, my arm was suddenly pulled.
I stopped mid-step and looked back.
“Shh...”
Yuri was pressing her index finger to her lips.
When I looked forward again, there was an alley to the right just ahead, and the voices seemed to be coming from there.
“Takuto-kun is just getting along with everyone because he started a band, that’s all.”
My name was being mentioned.
And there was only one girl in our high school who called me ‘Takuto-kun.’
I held my breath and looked at Yuri again.
Yuri shook her head and pulled my arm.
It seemed she was saying, ‘Let’s turn back.’
But if we did that, would I make it in time for the start of school? Was there even another path?
“Well, he also seems to be on good terms with Yuri,” a boy's voice said. It was Kenji.
“That’s right, that’s why—”
Yuri’s grip on my arm tightened.
I certainly felt like this was a conversation I shouldn’t be overhearing...
Thinking that, just as I took a step to leave—
“Kenji—, Sakosh is still not impossible at all. If anything, Erina...”
...Come again?
As I stood there stunned, Yuri pulled me away from the spot.
“...That alleyway is a favorite spot for couples.”
“Oh.”
Yuri doubled back slightly and entered a different path.
It was a longer detour, but apparently faster than going back the way we came. She was walking quite fast.
“It’s a long way around and nobody takes it, so, you know... right?”
“Ah, yeah...”
So that was a Normie Road kind of place...
“But usually people only use it after school... It was supposed to be a path where nobody is around in the morning.”
“I see.”
“Erina and Kenji aren’t a couple, though... as you probably know.”
“Right.”
Why was Erina-san encouraging Kenji and Sako to date...?
Wasn’t her plan to pretend to be close to me to get Kenji’s attention...?
“Hey, Konuma.”
“Yeah?”
“Are you okay...?”
Yuri was looking at me with concern.
“Yeah, well, I’m fine...”
I wasn’t exactly confused, but I was more than a little shaken.
I finally had no idea what Erina-san’s intentions were.
Perhaps unable to stand seeing me like that, Yuri spoke softly.
“Um, you see. Erina is just... pure.”
“Huh?”
Erina-san is pure? That person who’s like a little devil?
Yuri continued with a serious face.
“Erina said this before.”
“Yeah...?”
“Between ‘Romance’ and ‘Love,’ she’ll choose ‘Love’ no matter what.”
“What...?”
What was she talking about?
“...I don’t understand either of them.”
Yuri muttered that with unusual weakness.
When we arrived at school, morning homeroom began.
“The pre-exam period begins today. Club activities will be suspended, so everyone, please focus on studying for your exams.”
Crap, I forgot.
Starting today is the club break period before exams.
I hadn’t been in any clubs until now, so it slipped my mind...
Wait, I haven’t even submitted a club application yet. Is that going to be okay?
Just then, a certain fluffy twin-tail sitting slightly ahead of me turned around and closed one eye.
So that’s an authentic British wink...! I don’t actually know if Britain is the home of winking.
No, wait.
No matter how many authentic winks you give me, I have absolutely no idea what you’re thinking right now, so I don’t think I can be of any help...
Just then, the smartphone in my pocket vibrated.
Checking it secretly under my desk, it displayed:
『Erina has invited you to the group “Study Meeting;)”』
Wait, do returnees really use emoticons like that? Study Meeting...!?
While feeling bewildered by the little girl version of myself, I tapped ‘Join.’ (Don’t you think I’ve gotten pretty good at using LINE?)
After school.
I was in a glass-walled private room inside the library.
“W-What is this place...?”
As I sat there terrified, much like a panda suddenly brought into a zoo cage, Erina spoke.
“Eh—? When you talk about a study session, you mean Gurugaku, right?”
“Gurugaku...?”
“The Group Learning Room. This might be Konuma’s first time using it.”
“Yeah, that’s right...”
“It’s okay, Konuma. Everyone has a first time.”
Yuri, the former loner, was being kind to me as I trembled in the Group Learning Room.
“It’s my first time too, Konuma-kun!”
The Angel told me with a beaming smile.
“Eh, really?”
Wait, is amane-sama actually a loner girl too?
“Yeah, because I always study alone!”
Oh right, this person has excellent grades. Stupid, stupid!
“Me, Hasu, and Erina use this place quite often before exams. Right, Hasu?”
“Yeah.”
Kenji said that, and Sako nodded.
I see.
And so, the six of us—Erina-san, Kenji, Sako, Yuri, Ichikawa, and me—were gathered in the Group Learning Room.
Although it was inside the library, the space was partitioned off and equipped with things like whiteboards. It seemed to be a room where people could teach each other or do group research.
Amazing. There really are a lot more facilities available for those who aren’t loners.
“Alright, shall we get started!”
Ichikawa gave the order, just like she does when we start an ensemble in the studio.