[Final Chapter: The After-School Kingmaker (Day 165)]

 

“Hey, Banjo, hurry up already~”

“Ugh… Takanashi-san, don’t rush me…”

One evening, as the summer heat began to relent, I found myself at Kurumaza, the board game café where I worked. My coworker, Takanashi Mifuru (17, a vibrant high school gyaru), was loosening the ribbon on her uniform’s chest while coming on to me with fierce intensity.

“Don’t tease me like that~ Come on, give it to me. Please. Your… pent-up~… the~re!”

“N-No, I mean, uh, it’s just… this feels kinda wrong, like I’d feel guilty…”

“Guilty? To who, huh?”

“T-To who, you say…”

Desperate to escape Takanashi-san’s relentless teasing, I turned my gaze to the other person at the table.

And there was—

“Tokiwa-kun… You get it, right?”

—Usa Itsuki-kun, Takanashi-san’s boyfriend, a blond, strikingly handsome young man. His gaze, cold and piercing, bore into the scene of his girlfriend’s bold advances toward me.

Trembling in an almost comical panic, I stammered out a frantic excuse, my virgin, shut-in, socially awkward nature on full display. “N-N-N-No, Usa-kun, it’s not what it looks like! Takanashi-san was just, uh, being forceful…”

“Hmm… So that’s the excuse you’re going with, Tokiwa-kun. Kind of disappointing.”

“Guh!”

Usa-kun’s expression, heavy with disdain, cut deeper than any hostility from my crush’s boyfriend could. For reasons I couldn’t quite grasp, his contempt stung far worse than mere jealousy. Turning my body to deflect Takanashi-san’s advances, I pressed on with my defense. “N-No, really, I had no intention of letting Mifuru-san ‘take’ anything…”

As I fumbled through my words, Usa-kun flashed his signature heartthrob smile, the kind that could make even guys swoon. Then—BAM!—he slammed the table, leaning in so close I could feel the weight of his presence. “Then you wouldn’t mind if I took it, right, Tokiwa-kun?”

“Fwa?!”

His impossibly perfect face was inches from mine, sending my heart into a frantic sprint. W-Wait, oh no, am I… questioning my entire sense of self here—

“Hold on, Banjo!”

—In that instant, my shoulder was seized and spun around. Takanashi-san loomed before me, her allure overwhelming as she closed the distance. Still gripping my shoulder, she pleaded with glossy, teary eyes. “Come on, pleeease, Banjooo~ Let it out for meee!”

“Hyu.”

That, dear readers, was the sound of a virgin’s brain short-circuiting under the weight of a gyaru’s seduction.

Frozen in a daze, I felt a smooth finger—almost too delicate for a guy—slip under my chin, gently turning my face. There, so close I could feel his breath, was Usa-kun’s captivating gaze. “Just give it up to me, Tokiwa-kun,” he murmured, voice dripping with allure. “I’ll make it feel real good for you, you know.”

“Gyacche!”

And that’s the sound of a virgin’s sense of identity twisting into knots. Quite the rare symphony, wouldn’t you say?

Caught in their escalating battle, I was utterly overwhelmed. The two pressed closer, their voices intertwining in a heated duel.

“I can’t hold back anymore! Come on, let it out! I’ll take care of it for you, Banjo!”

“No, no, Tokiwa-kun’s heart is definitely leaning this way, right?”

“Forget your heart, just surrender to your instincts, Banjo!”

“No way, Tokiwa-kun. True paradise lies beyond mere instincts.”

“Hey, Banjooo!”

“Tokiwa-kun!”

And so, cornered and pressed by the two of them, I… my virgin brain—

—did a full loop, slipping into a mode close to sage time, and managed to fire off a calm, straightforward retort.

“Wait, this is just resource trading for Catan, isn’t it?!”

I slammed the table, making the pieces on the Settlers of Catan board quiver. Even in my frustration, a pang of regret hit me for not hitting hard enough to disrupt the game. In an instant, the overheated seduction contest dissolved. The two of them, now perfectly composed, stated their true intentions.

“Come on, Banjo, give me your ‘wheat.’ You’ve got a ton hoarded, right? I could even take it off your hands if you want,” Takanashi-san said.

“No, Tokiwa-kun, let me take that ‘wheat’ off you. Be brave and hand it over. It’s a good deal for you too,” Usa-kun added smoothly.

“Why did you turn a simple resource request into something so suggestive?!”

To my perfectly reasonable question, the couple exchanged a glance, their voices laced with exasperation.

““Because you’re so indecisive.””

“Ugh!”

Their synchronized jab left me speechless. Takanashi-san pulled back with a bored expression, adjusting the ribbon on her uniform. “This is, like, the umpteenth time your turn’s stalled the game. What’s that board game term for this annoying waiting time?”

“Downtime, maybe? Though for him right now, ‘overthinking’ might be more accurate,” Usa-kun quipped, his annoyingly quick grasp of board game jargon adding an unnecessary jab.

Feeling increasingly out of place, I watched as Takanashi-san nodded in agreement. “That’s it, that’s it. This right here~ This~. The kind of thing that gets you pretty hated at our café.”

Her harsh words stung, and I scrambled for a counterargument. “N-No, overthinking in board games is actually a sign of taking the game seriously…”

“Nah, when someone like Banjo, who’s got no shot at winning, overthinks, it’s just straight-up toxic,” Takanashi-san shot back.

“Gah!”

Her razor-sharp critique hit like a critical blow, the sting amplified by coming from the girl I liked. As I reeled from the emotional wound, Usa-kun stepped in with what seemed like support. “Well, I get where Tokiwa-kun’s coming from. It’s a tough spot to be in, this… how do I put it…”

He paused, choosing his words with care, but his mercy was short-lived. “Being stuck in third place with no chance of winning while Mifuru and I are fighting for the top spot.”

“Ugh…”

His brutally accurate analysis made me hang my head. He was right. We were playing Settlers of Catan for some nostalgic reason tied to this couple’s history. It’s a classic game, accessible even to beginners, but dice rolls can create brutal gaps. This time, I drew the short straw. In a race to 10 points, Takanashi-san and Usa-kun were neck-and-neck at 9, while I languished at a pitiful 4. I had no hope of winning.

My turn, and who I traded with, barely mattered. I could’ve breezed through carelessly, but not with this couple. My choice of trade partner would decide the winner, sparking that bizarre seduction showdown.

Takanashi-san, fanning her neck with her resource cards, tilted her head. “But this feels kinda weird, right? The total loser Banjo, who can’t even compete for first, holds the key to whether me or Usa-kun wins, yeah?”

“True,” Usa-kun agreed, his tone genuinely intrigued. “It’s a unique situation you don’t get in two-player games like shogi or go—something special to board games with three or more players.”

I noted his odd shift from “shogi” to “go” but let it slide. Pushing up the bridge of my glasses, I seized the chance to explain. “This is what’s known as the ‘Kingmaker Problem.’”

“Kingmaker Problem?”

Usa-kun asked earnestly, his curiosity genuine. Heh, what a great guy. Meanwhile, Takanashi-san, picking up on my enthusiasm, snapped at her boyfriend with unusual sharpness. “Ah, idiot!”

Ignoring her concern, I dove into my explanation. “Exactly, Usa-kun. When someone outside the race for first holds the deciding move, the board game community calls it the ‘Kingmaker Problem.’”

“That’s pretty interesting,” he replied, leaning forward.

“Right? Setting aside how messy it can get, the phenomenon itself is fascinating.”

“Yeah, yeah!” Usa-kun nodded eagerly.

“Ugh, you guys are hopeless…” Takanashi-san groaned, her exasperation clear as she watched us geek out over board game trivia. Why couldn’t she appreciate the intricate dilemmas of game systems? Normal people love this stuff, don’t they? Usa-kun’s clearly into it…

“Hey, don’t get cocky just because it’s three against two here, Banjo,” she cut in.

“Wait, how did you know what I was thinking?! Are you an esper?!”

“No, you’re just broadcasting your thoughts. You’re so obvious,” she said with a wry smile.

…Crap. I know she’s exasperated, but for some reason, the fact that my crush understands me so well just makes me stupidly happy. I’m about to grin like an idiot.

“……”

I suddenly noticed Usa-kun staring at me intently. I quickly cleared my throat and returned to my explanation.

“Anyway, it’s not exactly a healthy situation. Having a third party hold the key to the top spot is…”

“Yeah, if personal feelings get mixed into that decision, it’s basically asking for a fight.”

“Exactly. But sometimes, there’s nothing else to base the decision on.”

“That must be tough for the kingmaker, too.”

“Right?”

It’s like being the final vote in a tied election. No matter who you side with, someone’s going to be upset. The situation itself is practically a checkmate.

Takanashi-san suddenly cut in, her tone dismissive, so unlike a Kurumaza employee but so very her. “Hold on, it’s just a board game, right? Who cares who wins?”

“Well said,” I replied, grinning. “As expected of the socially adept Takanashi-san, that’s a remarkably mature perspective.”

“Heh heh, ain’t that right?” She beamed at the praise.

Smiling back, I said, “Yeah, really,” and smoothly handed my resource card to Usa-kun. “Then, I’ll give the ‘wheat’ to Usa-kun this time.”

“Thanks!” he said brightly. “I’ll use it to build a settlement, and… there! I win!”

“Wait, Hehhhhhhh?!” Takanashi-san shot to her feet, glaring at me with fiery indignation. “What’s that about?! I’m totally not okay with this, Banjo!”

“That’s exactly the ‘Kingmaker Problem,’ Takanashi-san. Got it?”

“Grr!” She stomped her feet in frustration. Wow, people still throw tantrums like that in this day and age…

With a wry smile, I tried to defuse the tension. “Come on, Takanashi-san. Let’s call it a ‘draw’ and let it go.”

“A draw?”

“Yeah. You’re upset because you lost, and I’m definitely earning some resentment…”

Usa-kun nodded, adding, “And for me, winning doesn’t feel satisfying at all. It’s super anticlimactic.”

“That’s right. The Kingmaker Problem runs deep.”

“When you guys act like that, it makes my loss sting even more!”

“That’s right. The Kingmaker Problem runs deep.”

“Tokiwa-kun’s turned into a bot,” Usa-kun chuckled. “This Kingmaker Problem is seriously deep.”

And so, each of us nursing our own brand of bitterness, we began cleaning up the game. After a while, I noticed Takanashi-san had stopped helping. Assuming she was slacking as usual, I couldn’t resist calling her out. “Hey, Takanashi-san.”

“……”

Something was off. She was twirling the Catan robber piece between her fingers, staring at it with a wistful murmur.

“…Kingmaker… huh.”

“?” I tilted my head, puzzled.

She looked up, meeting my eyes. Bracing for a complaint about the game, I was caught off guard by her smile—radiant yet tinged with an almost painful sadness. “Banjo, why did you let Usa-kun win?”

“Huh? Well, like I said, it was because of what you said right before…”

“But you knew I’d be mad if you let Usa-kun win, right?”

“W-Well, yeah, I guess so,” I admitted, unsure where this was going.

Still toying with the robber piece, her expression bittersweet, she continued. “If you’d let me win, Usa-kun probably wouldn’t have gotten too mad. My karepi’s a super handsome gentleman, after all. Right, Usa-kun?”

“Hm? Yeah, I guess so,” Usa-kun replied casually, unfazed by the “super handsome gentleman” label. That kind of confidence was beyond me.

Takanashi-san pressed on. “Even so, you chose to let Usa-kun win.”

“L-Like I said, it was because you were egging me on right before—”

“No, that’s not it,” she interrupted, her smile bitter. “The real reason is… because I told you Catan is a nostalgic board game for me and Usa-kun, right?”

“……”

I swallowed hard, silenced. She’d seen right through me.

Taking my silence as confirmation, she continued. “I was frustrated losing to Usa-kun in teaching the game, but I was also super hyped seeing his cool side, like I told you at the start. So you wanted to recreate that moment, right? To make both of us happy by reliving that memory.”

“…Uh…” My face burned. She’d nailed it. The moment I realized I was the kingmaker, my naive virgin brain thought letting Usa-kun win would make them both happy, reliving their nostalgic moment.

Usa-kun murmured, impressed. “Oh, so that’s why you handed me the wheat so fast when Mifuru slipped up, Tokiwa-kun. Like it was the perfect chance.”

“Uurgh…!” I groaned, staring at the floor, mortified. I thought I’d been clever, but having it laid bare was humiliating.

Chuckling, Usa-kun watched my embarrassment. If my discomfort meant they could end the game in good spirits, maybe it was worth it.

Takanashi-san’s shy, adorable smile caught me off guard as she gently set the robber piece down with a soft clink.

“That side of you, Banjo…”

Standing from her chair, she looked down at me, her radiant smile laced with frustration.

“I’ve always found it absolutely infuriating.”

“…Huh?”

I froze, unable to process her words. Usa-kun paused his cleanup, looking surprised.

Meanwhile, Takanashi-san—“Oh, right, I gotta go restock some supplies. No customers right now, so I’ll head out.”

“Huh? Wait, it doesn’t have to be today—”

“Later! You board game nerds have fun!”

—before I could stop her, she untied her apron and strode out of the café. The entrance bell jingled with a jingle, and even its echo faded before I finally spoke.

“Uh… Usa-kun.”

“What’s up?”

“From a boyfriend’s perspective… did I step on some kind of landmine with Takanashi-san?”

“Hmm… I’m not sure,” Usa-kun said, scratching his head awkwardly. “Mifuru’s got a moody streak, but even I was surprised by that. If anything, it felt like the conversation was leaning toward her appreciating you.”

“Yeah… right?”

I didn’t think I’d done anything to upset her, but Takanashi-san’s reaction was undeniable—and serious in a way I’d never seen before. My crush… hates me.

“…Haah,” I sighed, my shoulders slumping.

Naturally, I was crushed. Usa-kun tried to lift my spirits. “Hey, Tokiwa-kun? No need to get that down about it.”

“No, getting hated by a coworker is totally depressing,” I said, the weight of her being the person I like making it sting even more.

“Hmm… about that,” Usa-kun continued, his voice thoughtful. “Sure, Mifuru was upset, but I don’t think it’s because she hates you.”

“? What do you mean? Did you figure out why she got mad, Usa-kun?”

The blond heartthrob flashed a refreshing smile. “Well, it’s just a guess, but I think Mifuru was probably—”

The shop’s bell cut him off with a sharp jingle. Thinking Takanashi-san had returned, we both glanced toward the entrance.

But there—

“Excuse me. One beginner here, is that okay?”

—It wasn’t a coworker but a customer. And for me, a far too familiar one. A young man in a pristine suit, looking like a polished salaryman. His youthful appearance could pass for a college student job-hunting, but he was well over thirty.

…Truly, he hasn’t changed a bit since back then.

My chair scraped as I stood, murmuring nostalgically, “…Sensei.”

“Sensei?” Usa-kun echoed, tilting his head, his gaze darting between me and the newcomer.

The man directed a calm, clear gaze at me—one that, as always, effortlessly captivated people—and spoke.

“Hey, Kotarou-kun. I’ve been looking for you… since your expulsion, I suppose.”

“…Yeah… Hagiri-sensei,” I replied, my face paling. If possible, I didn’t want to see this guy yet. Meeting him brings nothing good… at least, not for me.

Yes, he—Hagiri Omitora—was indeed a customer, but—

—to me, Tokiwa Kotarou, he was the ultimate “unwelcomed guest.”

＊

If I had to sum up my relationship with Hagiri Omitora in one word, it’d be “mentor.” He taught me academics, society, ethics—morality—through his actions. And above all—

“Wait, so Hagiri-san is the ‘Shishou’ who taught Tokiwa-kun board games?” Usa-kun asked, pausing as he sorted his cards, eyes wide.

About five minutes later, we’d moved to the same table where we’d played Catan, now setting up a new card game, Vulture’s Prey, as an odd trio of guys. Hagiri-sensei, studying his hand, gave a wry smile at Usa-kun’s “board game Shishou” comment and shook his head. “No, no. As I said when I came in, I’m practically a complete amateur when it comes to board games.”

“Oh, come on,” Usa-kun pressed. “The guy who got Tokiwa-kun hooked can’t be an amateur. That Tokiwa-kun?”

What’s with the emphasis on that Tokiwa-kun? Does Usa-kun think I’m some board game legend or something? Struggling to keep up, I watched as Hagiri-sensei continued, his smile wry. “Well, I was just the one who first introduced Kotarou-kun to board games. If I recall, it was Catan back then, right?”

He directed the question at me. Swallowing hard to suppress the flood of emotions, I managed a calm smile. “Yeah. Playing Catan with you and Natsumi-san was my first real board game experience.”

“? Natsumi-san?” Usa-kun asked, puzzled.

“Oh, Natsumi-san is Sensei’s wife,” I clarified.

Usa-kun nodded but quickly tilted his head again. “Wait, a teacher, his wife, and a student playing board games together? What’s that about?”

““Ah—”” Hagiri-sensei and I said in unison, exchanging a glance. How do we even explain this? It’s a hassle, and I’d rather not dig deeper…

But Usa-kun’s relentless curiosity—his “I’m not stopping once I’m interested” vibe, so like Takanashi-san’s—overwhelmed us. I caved. “Fine, I’ll explain. To start, my meeting with Sensei wasn’t as a student and high school teacher.”

“Oh, really? Then how…” Usa-kun paused, looking between us before his face lit up. “Oh, I get it. You’re relatives, right? I thought you two seemed similar from the start.”

““Ah—”” Our reactions synced again. Sure, we’re similar in some ways… for better or worse.

But that’s it. I shook my head. “There’s no blood relation at all. It’s just a coincidence we seem alike. Hmm, like how the Asagaya Sisters look similar, maybe?”

“Huh. So what’s your relationship then?”

“Well, to put it simply, he’s like the ‘cool neighborhood onii-san.’ Before high school… back in middle school, he was the guy next door who hung out with me.”

“Oh, I see…” Usa-kun seemed satisfied, and I exhaled, thinking I’d dodged further questions. But then, Sensei—always one to stir trouble—carelessly added, “Well, more precisely, I’m the ‘husband of the cool neighborhood onee-san.’”

“? So Tokiwa-kun was originally close with Natsumi-san, your wife?” Usa-kun asked.

“Exactly. And I’m the interloper who crashed the party—”

“Ahem, ahem!” I coughed loudly, cutting him off. Sensei apologized with a quick “S-Sorry,” but the damage was done.

Usa-kun’s eyes gleamed, his curiosity fully ignited. He’s so Takanashi-san’s boyfriend. “Oyaoya, so that onee-san was Tokiwa-kun’s first love, huh?”

“Guh…!”

I averted my gaze and stammered, “L-Like, a kind neighborhood onee-san is someone any normal boy would naturally admire, right? It’s just that. Not some serious crush or anything…”

As I fumbled, Sensei, ever the troublemaker, piled on. “Wait, but Kotarou-kun, didn’t you glare at me super hard when we first met? Honestly, I was more nervous than when I met her parents.”

“Sensei!”

“Haha, it was a serious crush, wasn’t it?” Usa-kun laughed heartily. He’s so Takanashi-san’s boyfriend.

Still, he didn’t tease further and moved the game along. “Alright, everyone done picking their cards?”

“Oh, uh, sorry. Give me a sec,” Sensei said, hurrying to choose his card.

As Usa-kun smiled and said, “Take your time,” I glanced at the rules for Vulture’s Prey, trying to refocus on the game.

The rules of Vulture’s Prey are dead simple. Each player holds a hand of cards numbered 1 to 15, playing one per turn to compete for points. The highest number wins the points—that’s the core. But there’s a twist: if your card matches another player’s, both are canceled out, like a mutual KO or “clashing” in board game terms.

For instance, if Sensei and I both play a 15 in the first round and Usa-kun plays a 1, our 15s clash and are voided, leaving Usa-kun’s 1 to take the points. Since cards are one-use, Sensei and I lose our 15s for future rounds, while Usa-kun keeps his, free from clashing risks—a massive edge.

The points up for grabs range from a high of 10 to a low of minus 5, so you want to go big for key moments, but you’re always second-guessing whether others will match your play. That’s the heart of Vulture’s Prey.

“Alright, I’m ready,” Sensei said, finally placing his card face-down. The points for this round were 5—decent but not worth going all-in, a middle ground where strategies diverge.

You’d think clashing would be unlikely… or so I hoped.

“Okay… on three!” I called.

We flipped our cards. The result—

Usa-kun played a 3. Sensei and I both played a 9, a perfect clash.

“Yes!” Usa-kun pumped his fist, gleefully collecting the points. “Chou~jou~! Lucky break, thanks!”

Sensei and I exchanged stunned looks. “Why a 9, Hagiri-sensei…?” I muttered.

“That’s my line, Kotarou-kun…” he replied, equally exasperated.

We sighed in unison, discarding our used 9s. Usa-kun, watching us, laughed brightly. “You two are so alike. But why 9?”

I pursed my lips. “No reason, just…”

“I just wanted the points, even if it meant pushing a bit,” Sensei admitted.

“Same here,” I said, then added, “Oh, and…”

Sensei chimed in with another reason. “For me, it might’ve been a nod to my club.”

“Club?” Usa-kun tilted his head.

I explained, “Oh, Hagiri-sensei was also the advisor for the baseball club. Last year, they even went to Koshien.”

“Whoa, seriously? That’s awesome… Wait, past tense? You’re not the advisor anymore?”

“Well, not just the advisor…” Sensei glanced at me briefly, then scratched his head. “I’m actually not a teacher anymore. Kotarou-kun keeps calling me ‘Sensei,’ so I might’ve caused some confusion.”

“Wait, really?” Usa-kun’s eyes widened, turning to me for clarification.

I deliberately avoided his gaze, and Sensei continued instead. “Yeah, not long after Kotarou-kun’s expulsion, I left too. Now I’m helping with my father-in-law’s business… It was a promise, you see.”

“?” Usa-kun tilted his head, confused.

It was clear Sensei’s “report” was aimed at me, not him. I kept my face impassive, giving no reaction. Sensing the tension, Usa-kun steered the conversation forward. “Well, whatever the case, to think you both left the school around the same time…”

After a brief pause, Usa-kun added casually, “You two really are similar in a lot of ways.”

His words made me clench my teeth for a moment, but since Usa-kun meant no harm, I let it slide with a gracious nod. “I’m glad you think so. Hagiri-sensei was someone I looked up to.”

“Looked up to? Even though he stole your first love?” Usa-kun’s bluntness was as sharp as ever.

Sensei looked startled, but I understood now—this was Usa-kun’s way of looking out for me. “Usa-kun,” I said, feigning annoyance.

“Sorry, sorry,” he replied with a grin, backing off easily.

Hagiri-sensei watched our exchange with a fond expression. “I’m a bit relieved. It looks like you’ve made good friends here, Kotarou-kun.”

“You bet!” I said enthusiastically. For once, Usa-kun looked embarrassed, averting his gaze.

Sensei’s curiosity sparked. “By the way, I haven’t asked about your relationship. Are you a worker and a customer?”

“No, Usa-kun is the boyfriend of a coworker I’m close with.”

“…I-I see… Heh~…”

Sensei gave a slightly awkward reaction. …Yeah.

……

Now that I think about it, I just realized—this group is made up of the partners of my crushes! Well, one’s an ex-crush, but still! What is this? How did I end up playing a board game with this lineup? What did I do in my past life to deserve this?

Groaning internally, my hands in an Ikari Gendo pose, I watched Usa-kun reveal the next point card: minus 5.

“Oh, a negative point round,” he noted. “If I recall, it’s not the highest bidder who takes it…”

“It’s the lowest bidder who has to take it, right?” Sensei chimed in.

I clarified, “Exactly. But the ‘clashing’ mechanic still applies. For example, if Sensei and Usa-kun both play a ‘3’ and I play an ‘8,’ normally the ‘3’s would be the lowest. But since they clash and cancel out, I’d end up as the lowest by default.”

Usa-kun let out an impressed hum. “Such an elegant rule.”

His refined taste shone through, despite his casual demeanor. Staring at his hand, he tossed out some small talk. “Oh, by the way, Tokiwa-kun, no ulterior motive here, but what kind of person is Sensei’s wife, Natsumi-san?”

“Huh? Hmm, that’s tough to answer,” I said, hesitating.

“…Is she anything like my girlfriend?” Usa-kun pressed, his face hidden behind his cards.

“Eh?” I glanced up, my heart racing. Calming myself, I answered slowly, “N-No, not really. Natsumi-san’s more of the, uh, ‘gentle type,’ I’d say. Right, Sensei?”

“Yeah,” Sensei agreed, placing a card face-down. “Though she can be pretty strong-willed with family like me.”

I nodded, setting my card down too. “True. To me, Natsumi-san was just a ‘kind older sister,’ but when she got mad at Sensei or her family, she could be really intense.”

“Yup,” Sensei said, a bit deflated. “She’s the type to keep things bottled up, so when it comes out, it’s fierce.”

I knew the feeling—those times I’d seen Natsumi-san chew him out were vivid. Usa-kun murmured, “That’s surprising,” as he placed his card face-down. “Hagiri-san seems like he lives so carefree.”

“Haha, not at all,” Sensei replied. “As a son-in-law, I live a pretty constrained life.”

“Son-in-law… Right, you said you joined Natsumi-san’s family,” Usa-kun noted.

I elaborated, “Yeah, Natsumi-san’s—the Hagiri family—is a prominent one. Their house is practically a mansion, with a spacious living room and table. It was honestly ideal. As a board game space.”

““As a board game space,”” Usa-kun and Sensei said in unison, chuckling wryly. I puffed out my cheeks and moved the game along.

“Alright, everyone, reveal your cards!” I called out.

We flipped our cards. Usa-kun had a 5, Sensei a 4, and me… a 2. A total loss. Reluctantly taking the “minus 5” points, I caught Usa-kun’s slight glare.

“A ‘2’? Were you even trying to win?” he asked, skepticism sharp in his tone.

“Hand management, hand management,” I deflected. “Just wait for what’s next.”

“Hmph,” he huffed, unconvinced.

…He’s sharp. That keen intuition reminded me of a certain regular from before. Why is that? They’re nothing alike… Or are they?

“Kotarou-kun?” Sensei’s voice snapped me out of my thoughts.

“Oh, right,” I said, hurrying to prepare for the next round. “We were talking about how the Hagiri house was the perfect board game spot.”

“No, it was about Hagiri-san being under his wife’s thumb,” Usa-kun quipped, exasperated.

Sensei gave a wry smile. “Under her thumb… Well, that’s not entirely wrong.”

His words made me pause. “Natsumi-san can be scary when mad, but I wouldn’t say she’s that domineering…”

“Oh, no, I didn’t mean Natsumi herself,” Sensei clarified. “More like I can’t stand up to the Hagiri family as a whole. You know, because of the support…”

“…Oh, right, yeah,” I mumbled, catching his meaning.

“?” Usa-kun tilted his head, puzzled by our exchange.

It was a private matter, so I stayed quiet, but Sensei, staring past his cards as if steeling himself, spoke up. “Sorry to bring up something heavy in a fun setting, but to be honest, I owe the Hagiri family a debt.”

“A debt…?” Usa-kun echoed.

I wanted to object to that phrasing, but Sensei’s glance silenced me. He continued, “Yeah. The Hagiri family covered my family’s medical expenses.”

“Medical expenses?” Usa-kun asked, leaning in.

“Yup. A close family member had a serious illness, even given a terminal prognosis. But recently, a groundbreaking treatment was discovered… except it was cutting-edge North American medicine.”

“That sounds insanely expensive,” Usa-kun said.

“Exactly. Far beyond what a commoner could afford. Waiting for it to become widely available wasn’t an option…”

“So Natsumi-san’s family stepped in to cover it.”

“Yup,” Sensei nodded. “So ‘under their thumb’ is accurate—not so much Natsumi, but the Hagiri family.”

“…Sorry about that,” Usa-kun said, his tone softening.

Sensei brushed it off with a smile. “No, no, I might’ve given the wrong impression, but this is actually a good story for me.”

“A good story?” Usa-kun asked, curious.

“Yeah. Thanks to the Hagiri family, my family member’s illness was treated. My marriage to Natsumi was purely for love, and after moving in as a son-in-law…” Sensei looked at me. “I made an amazing friend to play board games with.”

“Sensei…”

Usa-kun smiled and tapped the table. “Come on, you’re stalling the game. Pick your cards already!”

Prompted, Sensei and I exchanged a glance and dove back into Vulture’s Prey with renewed focus.

 

Utakata Tsukino

 

“Well then, I think I’ll head out,” Hagiri-san announced suddenly after one round of Vulture’s Prey.

“Huh, already?” I blurted, reacting more as Tsukino than Usa.

A single game takes about fifteen minutes. Maybe I’m too used to shogi’s pacing, but leaving a board game café after less than thirty minutes is unthinkable. Plus, I was dissatisfied with that round. I came in second, fine, but Banjo-san… He seemed to have a strategy, yet he ate all the negative points for no reason. It felt like he was blatantly letting our “guest,” Sensei, win, and I didn’t like it. Not one bit.

I shot Banjo-san a protesting glance, but he just gave me—Usa Itsuki—a gentle, scolding smile before standing. “I’ll see you to the door.”

“Oh, let me settle the bill…”

“No need. You didn’t order anything, Sensei.”

“I can’t just—”

“Honestly, it’s more hassle to ring you up in this situation.”

Banjo-san’s laughing insistence made Hagiri-san relent. Watching them, the unease in my chest grew stronger.

“(Something’s off about Banjo-san today… especially since Hagiri-san showed up. He feels… fake.)”

Almost like me—Usa Itsuki—right now. The usual Banjo-san—clumsy with words but cheerful, earnest, hardworking, someone I genuinely like—was gone. In his place stood a robotic “board game café employee.” Not bad, but… lonely.

I found myself following them to the entrance. Hagiri-san turned at the door, flashing a teacherly smile that, to me, felt sleazy. “Thanks for humoring an old guy like me today, you two.”

“No, no, I had fun playing with you after so long, Sensei,” Banjo-san replied, his smile mechanical, like an AI facing another AI.

Unable to stand the unsettling vibe, I—leaning into Usa Itsuki’s cheeky persona—threw out a pointed question. “So, what did you really come here for, Hagiri-san? It’s not just to play board games, right?”

“……”

His sleazy smile twitched slightly, but he rubbed his cheek to mask it, slipping on another facade. “To see an old student, I suppose. I heard about you through the grapevine.”

“Huh? Now, of all times? It’s been a while since he got expelled…” I pressed.

“Usa-kun,” Banjo-san scolded, his expression unusually stiff.

Sorry, but that wasn’t enough to stop me—Utakata Tsukino—especially when it concerned an important friend. Hagiri-san scratched his head, looking troubled. “Truth is, I haven’t been able to contact Kotarou-kun since then.”

“Huh?” I glanced at Banjo-san.

He averted his gaze awkwardly. “…Sorry. I moved with my family right after the expulsion. Oh, but the move was totally unrelated to that, just my parents’ circumstances.”

“I know,” Hagiri-san said. “But ignoring my calls and leaving my LINE messages on read? That’s not a coincidence, right?”

“Haha… yeah,” Banjo-san admitted with a bitter smile.

That expression—so pained it nearly brought me to tears. My better judgment urged me to stop, but the ferocious part of me, enraged at whatever caused that look, roared louder. In the end, Usa Itsuki’s mask won out.

“You must’ve done something awful to make Tokiwa-kun hate you, Hagiri-san,” I said sharply.

“Usa-kun…!” Banjo-san grabbed my shoulder, trying to stop me.

I didn’t back down, glaring as Hagiri-san responded with that infuriating smile. “…Who knows? Maybe it’s because I didn’t do anything that things turned out this way.”

“Didn’t do anything? You mean regarding his expulsion?”

“Yeah. It sounds like an excuse, but I never imagined Kotarou-kun would do something like that. I was so stunned, I just… went along with it.”

“? Sorry, I’m not following,” I said, confused by Hagiri-san’s cryptic words.

“? Oh, right, you really don’t know anything about his expulsion,” he replied, his tone implying we weren’t as close as he’d assumed.

That jab, paired with the unease I’d felt toward Hagiri Omitora all day, pushed me over the edge. “Sounds like you’re awfully familiar with Tokiwa-kun’s expulsion,” I shot back.

“Who knows?”

“…This is out of the blue, but could I have your business card?”

“Usa-kun,” Banjo-san warned, trying to rein me in.

Ignoring him, I kept my glare fixed on Hagiri-san, who smiled and pulled a cardholder from his bag. “Of course. Oh, but sorry, I’m out of my latest cards. If an old one from my maiden name days is okay…”

“That’s fine. As long as I have your contact info,” I said, snatching the card and shoving it into my pocket.

Banjo-san grabbed my shoulder firmly. “Usa-kun, that’s enough. If you’re so curious about everything… I’ll tell you all about it later.”

“No, Tokiwa-kun, it’s not just nosiness. As your friend—”

“Usa-kun.”

His hand, gripping my shoulder, trembled. For the first time, I saw the raw emotion beneath his composed facade.

“…Alright,” Reluctantly backing off, I couldn’t help but avert my gaze, sulking. …Not because of Usa Itsuki’s persona. Honestly, it was unmistakably Utakata Tsukino’s reaction. I was surprised at my own childish behavior. When was the last time I sulked like this? At some point, anything involving Banjo-san had become something I absolutely couldn’t compromise on.

Silence settled over us. Banjo-san broke it. “Anyway, Sensei came to check on me, right?”

“Huh? Well, yes, but more than that, I wanted to apologize—” Hagiri-san began.

“Oh, speaking of apologies!” Banjo-san cut him off, steering the conversation. “I forgot I still have that jacket I borrowed from you!”

“Jacket? Oh… that one. It’s really no big—” Hagiri-san tried to brush it off.

“Are you saying I don’t have to return it?” Banjo-san pressed.

“Huh? Oh, yeah, of course.”

“Thanks, Sensei! Then, about this matter—” Banjo-san’s eyes lowered briefly, as if resolving something, before he smiled.

“Let’s call it ‘even.’”

“…!”

Hagiri-san’s mask slipped, revealing a flicker of regret and near-tears—the first glimpse of the real him I’d seen today.

But he quickly recovered, flashing that sleazy smile. “Alright… See you, Kotarou-kun. Until—”

“Goodbye, Sensei,” Banjo-san interrupted, his smile carrying a firm “don’t come back.”

Hagiri-san’s bitter smile mirrored his. “Farewell, Kotarou-kun.”

With that, he left Kurumaza, the bell’s cheerful jingle ringing with an odd chill.

“Well then.” Banjo-san murmured, resetting the mood. He swiftly gathered the Vulture’s Prey cards, packed them with a Mobilon band, and returned them to the shelf. With practiced ease, he disinfected and wiped down the table, finishing in about a minute.

“So, Usa-kun,” he said, sitting back at the Catan table and calling out to me, still lingering by the entrance. “You really want to know about my expulsion?”

His tone was curt, tinged with annoyance. Normally, I’d avoid trampling on someone’s feelings with such probing, especially someone I cared about. But a stronger urge drove me.

“Yeah, I want to know,” I said, slipping into Usa Itsuki’s bold persona as I plopped into a chair across from him. “As your friend. Even if it means you end up hating me.”

—I wanted to truly, deeply understand him. That desire was unstoppable.

Banjo-san seemed taken aback, his edge softening. “You’re unfair, Usa-kun, seriously,” he muttered with a wry smile, leaning back in his chair.

Looking at the café’s ceiling as if recounting someone else’s tale, he began his confession—the utterly shocking reason for his expulsion.

“I got caught coming out of a love hotel with a female student, and to top it off, I got her pregnant.”

…………

“Hyoa?!”

That was, hands-down, the weirdest sound I’ve ever made in my life.

＊

“That… surprised me,” Banjo-san said, wide-eyed at my outburst.

“That was your voice, right, Usa-kun? Pretty high-pitched. Almost like a girl’s…”

“Uh, yeah, sorry. I was just so shocked…” I averted my gaze, embarrassed. That was 100% pure Utakata Tsukino, and not just that—it was one of the most “girly” screams I’d ever let out in my life.

“…Your voice sounds kinda familiar somehow…” Banjo-san mused.

“M-more importantly!” I slammed the table, desperate to redirect. “Your expulsion reason! That was a joke or a misunderstanding, right?!”

“? Oh, the part about me getting the baseball team’s female manager pregnant?” he said casually.

“Whoa, the phrasing just got even harsher!” I exclaimed, clutching my head.

“Sounds like a tagline for a movie sequel,” he laughed heartily.

I couldn’t maintain Usa Itsuki’s cool persona at all. But given the topic, Banjo-san didn’t seem to notice. Instead, he continued with unnerving calm. “See, I warned you it wasn’t something to bring up in front of Sensei, right?”

“Y-Yeah… No, I mean! Is that really true?”

“If it was made-up, my tastes would be way too twisted,” he said dryly.

“F-fair point… But still!” I struggled to organize my thoughts. “You’re not that foolish of a person!”

“What do you know about me, Usa-kun?” His tone was dismissive, his gaze dark and deep, like a shogi player in a tense midgame.

That only strengthened my resolve. With the determination of a defender facing a challenge, I repeated clearly and slowly, “You’re not that foolish of a person.”

“……”

Banjo-san fell silent, exhaling deeply and leaning back further.

His demeanor screamed he had no intention of saying more. …Fine by me.

As a women’s Meijin, as a board gamer—no, as a friend—I accepted his challenge. Sitting deeply in my chair, I closed my eyes and began to think.

…He’s probably not lying. The phrase from my Utamaru days, Crushing Dropout Episode: Hellish Quagmire Edition~, aligns with his “expulsion reason,” so it’s likely true.

Tokiwa Kotarou was expelled due to suspicions of illicit relations with a female student. That’s the undeniable “fact.” He was expelled, after all.

The issue is the “truth” behind it.

“…”

I cracked my eyes open to study his expression. It was utterly blank, a stark contrast to his usual warmth. For someone so smiley, it was painfully jarring. I don’t know what’s causing it, but he clearly doesn’t want to delve into the truth of his expulsion.

What I’m doing is tactless, a barbaric intrusion against a friend. Our bond is just playing board games together—a “playful connection,” nothing more.

But that’s exactly why I can’t help but—

“(—I want to touch your core.)”

Not as a serious shogi opponent.

Precisely because he’s a “mere playmate” I care about.

I can’t ignore his pain, his suffering.

All so we can truly enjoy the “play” here, the board games…

“…?”

Lost in thought, I absentmindedly picked up the Catan robber piece from the still-open board.

In that moment, I felt several “dots” from today’s events connect organically.

The first “dot” was the board game term explanation from when we were playing with Takanashi-san before Hagiri-san arrived.

A peculiar issue not found in shogi: when a third party, uninvolved in the race for first, holds the key to the winner.

The next “dot” was the unnatural flow of Vulture’s Prey with Hagiri-san. Banjo-san’s odd behavior, aggressively taking negative points.

And the final “dot”: the awkward talk at parting about borrowing a jacket and the premise that they looked somewhat alike.

—Reflecting on those three dots, I finally realized.

The unbelievable “expulsion reason”—where it truly came from.

In other words.

Who took on that “negative,” and from where.

I looked up, meeting Banjo-san’s eyes.

Holding up the robber piece, I spoke to his core.

“You’ve always been a natural ‘kingmaker,’ haven’t you?”

At my words, his eyes widened in surprise. The next moment, he broke into a clear, almost playful smile and gave an exaggerated bow.

“Well done. You got me.”

＊

“Well, it’s hard for me to say, but I think you’ve pretty much got the gist of it, Usa-kun,” he said, trying to brush it off vaguely.

I pressed forward mercilessly. “That lecherous teacher, a baseball club advisor no less, slept with the team’s manager?”

“‘Slept with’? Yikes.”

Banjo-san gave a wry smile at my colorful phrasing. No, no, this is no laughing matter. “And what, he strutted out of a love hotel, got spotted by a fellow student, and was dumb enough to get photographed?”

“The malice in your prepositions is intense,” he replied, “but yeah. Luckily, it was just his back in the photo, so that was a small mercy.”

“Lucky? Are you kidding me?” I spat, startled by the raw anger in my voice—my true feelings as Utakata Tsukino.

Still burning, I urged him on. “So what? He asked you to take the fall for him?”

“No, no, it’s not like that, Usa-kun. Sensei’s not that kind of guy,” he said, shaking his head frantically. He let misunderstandings about himself slide but fiercely protected Sensei’s honor. His goodness was both infuriating and heartbreaking.

Sensing my emotions, Banjo-san lowered his tone, explaining solemnly. “As luck would have it… or maybe you’ll get mad at that phrasing too, but I saw that photo early on, before it reached the school… before Sensei even knew. There was a bit of time. So…”

“…You went to borrow his jacket without explaining anything,” I finished.

“Yeah. And I got the manager to play along too.”

“…You’re scary good at ‘prep,’ Tokiwa-kun, whether it’s board games or this.”

“That’s flattering.”

“Not a compliment.”

“Sorry,” he said, then continued to the conclusion. “So, Sensei’s actions might deserve contempt, but please don’t think of him as ‘the guy who pinned the blame on me.’ That part’s entirely my fault.”

He confessed earnestly, meeting my eyes. …Sorry, but this story didn’t make me reevaluate Hagiri Omitora one bit. If anything, my overwhelming frustration grew at the situation where Tokiwa Kotarou, someone far too kind, was bearing all the negatives alone.

I slammed the table, letting my feelings spill. “I don’t get it. Why go so far to protect that scum—”

“Well… I mentioned the baseball team went to Koshien last year, right?” he interrupted.

“!”

His words made me pause.. An advisor sleeping with a team manager would be a scandal that could taint their Koshien achievement. If it was just an unrelated student, the impact would be far less.

…Still…

“But that’s got nothing to do with you!” I protested.

“Not entirely. I had a classmate on the baseball team, so I wasn’t completely uninvolved. He worked so hard every day, and when they clinched Koshien, he was crying with joy. It got to me, you know? Like real-life Netto Koshien.”

“Sure, but… was he a close friend?”

“Nah, just a classmate, nothing more, nothing less. In the end, he cut ties with me, saying I ruined his youth and cursing me out.”

“You took on way too much of a burden!” I exclaimed, still unconvinced.

Banjo-san continued with a wry smile. “Oh, by the way, just a small tidbit to salvage Hagiri-sensei’s honor. The female manager did have a relationship with him, but… it turns out she was also involved with quite a few baseball team members. You know, what you’d call a, uh, bi—”

“A floozy?” I cut in.

“…Usa-kun, your choice of words is so old-fashioned sometimes. Come to think of it, that’s kinda like Utamaru-san—”

“Anyway, about Hagiri!” I redirected hastily.

“Even if she was a floozy, how does that salvage his honor?”

“Oh, right. This came up after I was expelled, but… it turns out the kid the manager was pregnant with was actually the baseball team captain’s.”

“Huh?”

“By the way, she’s now married to the captain and living happily,” he said, showing me her Instagram. A joyful family of three beamed back. …The backstory’s infuriating, but a cute baby picture just washes it away, doesn’t it? So adorable.

Banjo-san smiled at the photo, clearly feeling the same, before putting his phone away. This guy was the epitome of “good person.”

“Ahem. Anyway, regarding the ‘getting her pregnant’ part, Sensei’s technically innocent.”

“Even so… a teacher, the captain, and others? This backstory’s way too messy,” I said, deflating.

“Yeah, she apparently had flings with other team members too… Dark Netto Koshien, right?” he said, his voice heavy.

We both slumped, struck by the ugly side of youth. “But for you to go through all that for such a messy baseball team’s Koshien run…”

“N-No, most of the team didn’t do anything wrong!” he protested. “And honestly, the Koshien thing was only about 20% of why I took the fall for Sensei. The biggest reason was more personal—”

“Natsumi-san, right?” I guessed immediately.

Banjo-san nodded, visibly surprised. “Wow, Usa-kun, spot on. Like we mentioned, Natsumi-san’s usually calm, but because of that…”

“Heavy?” I ventured.

“Well… yeah, honestly, that’s the vibe. She’s kind of fragile. Not joking or overthinking, but if Sensei’s cheating got out, it felt like it could lead to something violent.”

“Even so, that’s his own fault, isn’t it?” I pressed.

“Sure. But I didn’t want to see Natsumi-san—my admired older sister—have her heart broken.”

“…Maybe, but…” I trailed off, still unconvinced.

Naturally. As much as he cares about Natsumi-san and, though he won’t admit it, Hagiri-sensei, I want my friend to be rewarded. I don’t care about some lecherous teacher, a messy baseball team, or an unstable first-love stealer. I want Banjo-san, this unbearably kind person, to be happy.

……

“? What’s up, Usa-kun? Your face is suddenly all red…” he noticed.

“N-No, I was just surprised at how invested I got…” I stammered.

“?”

“I-It’s nothing,” I coughed, covering my fluster. …Cold as it sounds, my anger had dissipated. Stoking bad feelings seemed pointless, especially since Banjo-san had been trying to calm me down. Besides, this happened over a year ago for him. Digging it up now would only trouble him……

……

“So, why did that lecherous jerk come here today?”

“That’s the question,” Banjo-san sighed, finally showing irritation toward Hagiri Omitora. Picking up the robber piece I’d placed on the board, he set it near his “village” with a soft clink. “You’ve heard enough to get it, Usa-kun, but for a lot of reasons, I really don’t want to see Sensei right now.”

“Makes you wanna kill him, huh?”

“N-No, not like that. If we have unnecessary contact, it risks bringing up the whole thing again. That’s why I shouldn’t see Sensei… or above all, Natsumi-san. For their sake.”

“…You’re really…” I clutched my head in exasperation. Is he just wired to be a kingmaker? Even his anger is for someone else’s sake.

He muttered, genuinely exasperated, “Seriously, what was he thinking, coming to see me? Truly an unwelcome guest.”

“From how he acted, maybe he wanted to apologize?”

“Probably. …It’s pointless. He has no reason to apologize to me. Instead of easing some petty guilt, he’s got plenty of things he should be protecting.”

I smiled at his words, layered with complex emotions. “So that’s why you played Vulture’s Prey so aggressively, taking all the negative points? To shoo him out quickly?”

“Yup. Now that you know the context, you get how uncomfortable that game felt, right?” he grinned mischievously.

I laughed along. “Yeah, that was a masterpiece.”

“Right? Though, honestly, doing that in a board game meant for fun makes me feel a bit guilty. I owe Alex Randolph an apology.”

“…Who?”

“The creator of Vulture’s Prey, obviously.”

“…You…” He’s even apologizing to the game’s creator? I was disarmed. This guy’s unbeatable.

As I chuckled, he said something unexpected. “…Thanks, Usa-kun.”

“? For what?” I asked, genuinely confused.

He scratched his head, embarrassed. “The expulsion was my choice, my fault. But… when you got mad for me, it felt like something in me was saved.”

“…I see.”

“So, thanks.”

“You’re welcome,” I said, meeting his gaze with a soft smile.

He blushed and looked away, his reaction flustering me in turn. Th-That reaction’s making me flustered!

““……””

An awkward silence settled.

To break it, I tossed out, “Man, overall, it’s still a messed-up story.”

“Is it?”

“Totally. The ones who came out on top are the ‘lecherous teacher,’ ‘messy baseball team,’ ‘floozy manager,’ and ‘unstable woman.’ What’s with that?”

“Your phrasing makes it sound like an Ushijima the Loan Shark episode,” he quipped.

“That’s how dark everyone but you is in this story.”

“N-No, it’s not like that… Oh, right, I forgot to mention,” he said, a slight smirk forming as he recalled something. “There’s one clear innocent ‘third party’ who benefited. And that was a big reason I took the fall for Sensei. Maybe even more than Natsumi-san.”

“? Who’re you talking about?”

“You know, the family member getting that ‘cutting-edge treatment’ with the Hagiri family’s support—Sensei’s family.”

“…Oh!” It clicked. That treatment was happening at the same time? If Sensei’s cheating had come out…

As I pieced it together, Banjo-san flashed a sparkling smile. “See? There was an innocent third party who benefited. Phew, good, good.”

“Though from the Hagiri family’s perspective, dutifully paying for the treatment of a cheating jerk’s family, it’s kind of a bad ending,” I pointed out.

“You can be brutally sharp sometimes, Usa-kun.”

“And you’re sometimes too compassionate of an idiot.”

“Guh… B-But, Usa-kun, I’m not trying to play the saint. I made sure Sensei paid a price.”

“A price?”

“Yeah. Remember how Sensei quit teaching soon after my expulsion? That was because of my demand… no, my blackmail.”

That jogged my memory—something about a promise. “Oh, that thing he mentioned about a promise with you?”

“Yup. I covered for him to protect his family and others, but I had no intention of condoning his betrayal as a teacher. At least for me… I didn’t want someone who’d do that to a student to keep teaching. So…”

“…I see.”

“…Yeah.”

Silence fell. When I glanced at him, he looked like a sinner confessing a grave crime. I burst out laughing. “What’s with that face for this story?!”

“W-Well, it’s still about my blackmail…” he mumbled.

“Blackmail?! You took on most of a lecherous teacher’s sins and just asked him to ‘quit teaching’ as accountability, and you’re guilty about that?!”

“W-Well, yeah…”

“Ahahahahahaha! No way, you’re too much… ahaha!” I clutched my stomach, laughing.

Banjo-san pouted briefly but soon joined in. “Geez, what’s that about… haha!”

The door burst open with a loud jingle, and a bright, almost jarring voice echoed through the café. “I’m baaack!”

Takanashi Mifuru stormed in, arms laden with bags, kicking the door so carelessly her underwear nearly flashed. …Even as her fake boyfriend, I cringed. Banjo-san was clutching his head too.

As she stomped toward the backroom, grumbling about the heat, Banjo-san hurried after her. The moment she saw him, she tossed a bag at him. “Whoa, wait—that’s heavy! What did you buy so much of?! Was our café this low on supplies?!”

“Totally was, totally! Like this giant bottle of adzuki bean toner!” she chirped.

“That’s not café supplies!” he retorted.

“Whatever, whatever. You should use it too, Banjo. It’ll make you, like, bihin!”

“Cold! Stop—!”

“Haha!” she laughed, unfazed.

Watching them banter near the counter, I felt a strange awe. “(Wow… Takanashi Mifuru.)”

In seconds, she’d swept away the heavy atmosphere—the murky worldview Hagiri Omitora left behind. At the same time, I thought, “(I really love this board game café… Kurumaza, as it usually is.)”

Letting that warmth wash over me, I slipped my hand into my pocket, feeling something crinkle. It was the crumpled business card from Hagiri Omitora. After a moment’s thought, I headed to the trash can. I’d grabbed it in anger, but now…

“Hey, Takanashi-san, this fancy hairdryer is…”

“…C-café supplies?” she tried.

“Oh, is that so? Then please explain in detail why a board game café needs this…!”

“Ugh, Banjo, you’re so annoying!”

…If I have time to contact Hagiri Omitora, I’d rather watch their banter.

With that, I went to toss the card—then noticed an unexpected kanji peeking from the crumpled edge. It wasn’t part of Hagiri Omitora’s name.

For a moment, I thought he’d given me someone else’s card, but then I remembered.

“(Oh, he said it was his old maiden name card…)”

Curiosity piqued, I unfolded the card before tossing it.

In that instant, the remaining questions in my mind connected dramatically.

Why does that girl work at this café despite having no interest in board games?

Why was she so eager to show off her “happy self” to a mere coworker?

Why did she get so upset about the “Kingmaker Problem”?

And above all:

Who was the family member—the one who benefited most from Hagiri Omitora’s affair staying hidden—

—the one whose life, in a sense, Banjo-san saved?

Connecting all that information cleanly,

the old maiden name card Hagiri Omitora left behind read:

〈Takanashi Omitora〉