Part-2 Ch-01 Ep-03

 “--Yes, then, shall we go with Nagase-san for the girls’ physical education committee member?”

“Uh, ah, y-yes…”

“Okay, then it’s decided. Next is the library committee member—”

“…Huh, why?”

This took place in my first classroom, on my very first day, during the first homeroom of the year, when we were deciding committee assignments.

The small murmur that escaped my lips was immediately swallowed by the noisy bustle of the classroom.

“What’s wrong, Mari?”

Without giving me any opportunity to voice my opinion, the homeroom proceeded smoothly and came to an end.

--Leaving behind a lingering sense of frustration in my heart.

And the cause of all this, I am sure, is the angel—no, the heroine—Ichinose Maki, who is tilting her head beside me with an innocent expression.

“…Could you please stop grabbing my upper arm?”

“It feels so nice to touch, I just can’t help myself.”

Even as she says that, she shows no trace of remorse and continues to gently pinch my upper arm.

“Sometimes the way you touch me feels kind of lewd, you know.”

“Does that mean that depending on how I touch you, Mari ends up feeling something lewd?”

“……………………”

Stunned by my childhood friend’s remark, I turn to her to deny it, only to find her staring at me with sparkling, expectant eyes. I have no idea why she is looking at me like that. Maybe she really is sexually frustrated or something.

“Lately, I feel like I don’t understand you at all anymore, Maki.”

As I hold my head, drained of the energy to argue back, she responds with unnecessary cheerfulness.

“Then we should just get to know each other better. We’re in the same class now, after all.”

I wonder why she is so optimistic, and then I remember that I am the one who raised her to be this way.

“For now… shall we head home?”

Today was essentially nothing but an extended homeroom, with no actual classes. Around us, our classmates were already preparing to leave as well.

“…By the way, why did you choose the beautification committee, Maki?”

I ask her this while changing into my outdoor shoes at the shoe lockers. It refers to the committee decisions made earlier during homeroom.

Normally, the beautification committee involves a lot of work and is something most students avoid, yet Maki volunteered without hesitation and had it settled immediately.

After thinking for a moment, she replies, “Hmm. I don’t really like cleaning, but the beautification committee also takes care of the flower beds, right? I thought I’d like to try that.”

Now that she mentions it, she does like flowers.

“Hmm, I see.”

I respond that way to Maki’s explanation. If she volunteered because she was genuinely interested, then that should be fine. It should be fine, but—

--In the game, Maki became a member of the physical education committee in her second year of high school.

Her appointment as a physical education committee member was an important turning point, one that created connections with capture targets and triggered later events.

That path has now been avoided. Which means I will have to find another way to create those connections.

“I ended up becoming the physical education committee member, though.”

In our class, there are not many students in athletic clubs, and even those who are involved in sports were reluctant to take on the busy role of physical education committee member.

In the game, it was treated as a given from the start that Maki would take the position and become involved in sports-related events, so I had vaguely assumed it would turn out the same way this time.

--Because of that assumption, before I realized it, my name had been proposed and written up on the blackboard.

“What’s wrong? It’s unusual for you to be this passive.”

I feel bad for making Maki worry, but the truth is that she herself is the reason I am troubled.

“No, I did accept it, but I just think that someone like you, Maki, who naturally becomes the center of the class, would be better suited for a prominent role like physical education committee member…”

Or rather, as I clutch my head again, I wonder why it really is not Maki. With a dry laugh tinged with resignation, Maki furrows her brows, lets out a confused “Huh?” as if she has seen something strange— And in the next moment, she suddenly reaches out her hand.

“--Huh?”