“What, it’s just a light joke, so you don’t need to worry too much~? Still, seeing the youngsters getting along and leaving this old man out, I can’t help but feel a bit hurt…”
Takamachi Hoshino pretended to be gloomy, looking down. But honestly, it was absurd for anyone not to notice that fleeting jealousy that crossed my mind.
I mean, how many lovers does one have? I’m so sensitive to those glances that I’ve become accustomed to them; I can feel them at a glance now.
“That’s a misunderstanding.”
“Oh really? I’d love to hear where the misunderstanding is, so please enlighten me, Misono Mika~.”
“No… It’s not a misunderstanding.”
No way, I’m going crazy. The way Sunaokami Shiroko was supporting Hoshino is more annoying to me than Hoshino herself.
What do you both have against me to act like this…?
Desperately seeking help, I turned my gaze to find Okusora Ayane pretending to be busy off in the corner. I heard Izayoi Nonomi was out in the city, and Kuromi Serika was working part-time.
That meant I had to fight a lonely battle between these two beasts.
“Shiroko, it’s inconvenient for you to act like that here.”
“I know how to make it less inconvenient.”
“…I really don’t want to know, so please don’t say it.”
“Umm.”
How on earth am I supposed to deal with this natural girl with a crazy my-pace attitude?
Honestly, discussing morals with a kid who has the mindset of “Bank? Let’s rob it!” is ridiculous in many ways.
“Huh~ I get it now. So it’s Mika’s fault~.”
“No, wait a minute! Why am I at fault?!”
“Well, you’re having a relationship with this old man and toying with Shiroko’s fragile heart. That’s a crime, right? Totally out~?”
“…Is that really true?”
Shiroko gave me a dangerously intense look. My breath hitched for a moment. The sense of crisis shot straight up to the ceiling.
No, please put away that primal side of you, Shiroko.
I’m seeing my third slice of roll cake for the year floating in front of me.
“Is it the truth…?! I mean, it’s not entirely wrong, but we just took a nap together, and besides, it was Hoshino who dragged me there half-forcibly to show me a good nap spot. How is that my fault?”
“Wow, Mika-chan, you’re really shameless… Diminishing our passionate nap like that makes me so sad, old man.”
“W-Wait! Hoshino, using ‘old man’ like that makes it sound dangerous. Please, can we calm down a little? Huh…?”
“Then let’s put the jokes aside for now. Shiroko, isn’t it about time you stepped back…?”
“Umm… I don’t want to.”
“Huh…?”
…Ah, should I just close my eyes and get a pet instead?
But she’s not a pet; she’s a wolf full of thoughts to devour me.
This is the definition of a dilemma; no matter where I step, it’s a landmine waiting to explode.
“Uh… Hoshino-senpai, Shiroko-senpai, how about you both ease up a bit…? Mika looks genuinely troubled.”
“Ayane-chan…!”
“If you end up being hated, you might lose even the opportunity to have a chance.”
“Whoa—oh. Well, that chance was never here in the first place?”
…This place feels like Abydos, where not a single trustworthy ally exists. Cancelling out the fact that Abydos suits me better than Trinity.
Nonomi, who’s not here, would have only made the situation even messier, and I can’t expect any help from her.
Serika is someone I shouldn’t expect in the first place; she might actually stab me in the back and pretend not to know.
In the end, stuck with Shiroko, who has no intention of letting go, and enduring their peculiar mental duel, I decided to play my strongest card.
“Uh, I’ll head back for today.”
“Shiroko, hold on.”
“Okay.”
“…Guys, can you let me go…? Huh?”
No, really. I can’t just throw them away. This is awkward.
“Ugh. What’s so good about a girl with four boyfriends…?”
“No, Mika-chan, you need to flip this around. Having four boyfriends means you have the charm to endure such relationships; at least that’s how I see it.”
“Well… I completely agree with Hoshino-senpai. I think Mika should transfer to Abydos like this.”
“Huh?! Wow, Shiroko, that’s the first time you’ve said something I like~. Just wait a moment, Mika-chan. Ayane-chan will prepare the papers.”
“Hahaha… If you want to see Abydos disappear that much, I won’t stop you?”
It’s not a joke, I know, and the two beside me know it too. So the transfer talk is obviously a joke.
“What a shame~.”
…Seeing Hoshino looking genuinely disappointed and Shiroko with her ears down makes it seem like it’s not a joke…?
“Anyway… The work talk is done, and I should head back soon… Oh, by the way. If you have an extra umbrella, could you lend me one? It doesn’t seem like the rain will let up.”
“I’ll walk you back.”
“Heueng. Just lending me the umbrella will be…”
“…No?”
Wow, seriously. Shiroko is sharpening her knife.
The subtle charm that shakes my heart indiscriminately… I can’t deny it.
“Umm… This old man feels like he might catch a cold, so I’ll have to pass—so sadly, I’ll let Shiroko have this one.”
Hoshino, who had been sitting, stood up and smiled brightly. The blanket around her fell down, revealing her in gym clothes.
Coming right up to me, Hoshino sat on the opposite side of Shiroko and leaned her head on my shoulder.
“Instead, let’s just stay like this for 10 minutes… No, 20 minutes… Hmm. Just stay for one more hour before going~.”
“Okay, I agree.”
Fortunately, ten minutes later, my savior arrived. Nonomi returned from the city, quickly taking down Hoshino, allowing Kivotos to finally regain its peace.
I think I need to correct my earlier statement.
Nonomi is a goddess and invincible. The foolish one who spewed nonsense about her not being helpful should just shut up and stay quiet.
*
On the way back, Shiroko surprisingly maintained a reasonable distance. Perhaps because the rain had eased a bit, making it unnecessary to stick close, I doubt Shiroko is someone who would care about such things… Hmm, I’m not sure.
This time, I was allowed the leisure to walk while looking around without complex thoughts.
The city of the Abydos Autonomous District hadn’t regained the vitality it had before the desertification became severe, but compared to my first visit, it felt like a completely different world brimming with life.
I saw kids frolicking in the rain. Some people, while walking with umbrellas, stretched their hands outside, as if curious about the situation.
“It’s still amazing.”
“Huh?”
“The world that used to turn yellow has regained such beautiful colors. That sandstorm seemed unstoppable. Hmm, what I like the most now is not needing a mask and goggles while riding.”
“Heueng. Riding…”
“Speaking of which… Mika, did you throw away those clothes I gave you back then? I was fond of those…”
“Heh, no way! I might return them, but Shiroko can’t wear them thanks to the hole for wings…”
“Okay… That was my first. Please cherish it.”
“Shiroko, are you doing this on purpose?”
The way she avoided my gaze likely meant it was affirmative.
Honestly, her choice of words was way too blunt. It’s even more impressive that her face doesn’t change even while saying that.
So she can openly act brazenly in this manner.
“Let’s go riding together next time. I’m always looking for party members.”
“What, maybe when I have time… I could hang out for a day. That’s not a hard thing to do.”
“Okay. Then let’s make it an overnight trip.”
“…Pfft. Hey, Shiroko, isn’t that a bit too honest about your desires?”
It was absurd, to the point of laughter. Hearing that, Shiroko glanced at me suspiciously for some reason.
After that, our conversation briefly halted. Soon, the station came into view. It indicated when we would part ways, a start and a finish line.
We entered the station and folded the umbrella.
First, let me get the train ticket, and while waiting for the train, process the backlog of Momotalk or something.
As I processed that idea, Shiroko suddenly grabbed my hand…
“Ugh…?”
And pressed me against the wall next to us. My gaze briefly shifted to Shiroko’s hand resting beside my face and then back.
Honestly, I never imagined a day would come where a girl my size would slam me against the wall.
“Uh, Shiroko…?”
Shiroko looked up at me from below, and still, I felt a shiver. Getting closer, Shiroko took a slow breath against the nape of my neck.
“Yeah… This scent. I definitely…”
“…Scent?”
Is she talking about perfume? It surely can’t be sweat.
“When Hoshino-senpai mentioned we napped together in the clubroom, the scent was there too.”
Burying my inexplicable shame quietly, I tried to push Shiroko away.
Or rather, I wanted to push her away.
“…Excited?”
“W-What?!”
“Yeah… I get it now. So you like this sort of thing.”
Shiroko, who chose to take a step back on her own, silently stared at me. Her gaze felt hot, as if it would set me on fire.
“I’ll see you next time, Mika.”
She waved her hand, leaving those words without a hint of regret. In a daze, I slowly responded, mirroring her wave.
“Whoa—oh.”
When Shiroko disappeared from sight, a stream of thick curses involuntarily escaped my lips.
The heat I felt in my lower body clouded my reason.
No, this can’t be normal. Isn’t this a bit too much to appeal to oneself…?
