Chapter 5 | “Preparations for Farewell”
Nearly a week had passed since the video incident, and Saturday had arrived.
“Akihito-kun, I’m ready,” I announced.
We were about to head to Hiroshima Prefecture. Akihito-kun needed to discuss something with Kannagi-kun, and despite his protests, I insisted on joining him, worried for his safety.
“Are you really coming?” Akihito-kun asked, his voice laced with concern. “It could be dangerous…”
“That’s true for you too,” I countered. “In fact, I think it’s more dangerous for you.”
“But Emma-chan is with us…”
“That’s—”
Before I could respond, my smartphone buzzed to life. Glancing at the screen, I saw it was Mom calling.
“It’s from Mom…” I murmured.
“Take it,” Akihito-kun said gently. “I’ll watch Emma-chan.”
He moved toward Emma, who was dozing on the sofa, her tiny form half-curled in sleep. Our conversation would have to wait.
“Good morning, Mom,” I answered, stepping aside.
《Good morning, Lottie. Have you been doing well?》 Her voice was warm, familiar, but it carried the weight of weeks spent apart. She likely had no idea how things had unfolded here.
“I’m fine. But what’s up?”
《Sorry, but can you come over now? I have something important to discuss.》
Something important…? My curiosity piqued.
“Can’t we talk over the phone?”
《I’d rather discuss it in person.》
“I have plans soon, though…”
《If you want to stay with him, come here right now.》
I froze, a sharp gasp escaping my lips. I hadn’t told her about dating Akihito-kun. When I left Emma with her, I’d only mentioned hanging out with friends. Could the school have contacted her about the video incident…?
《What’s wrong? Don’t you want to be with him?》
“Ah, um…” My throat tightened, words failing me. If she knew we were living together, would she try to pull us apart? The thought wrapped around me like a cold shadow.
Suddenly, gentle arms enveloped me from behind.
“Akihito-kun…?” I whispered, startled.
“Go see her,” he murmured, his voice so soft Mom wouldn’t hear over the phone. He knew my sharp ears would catch his words. “I’ll be fine.”
“But…”
“It’d be worse if you clash with your mom unnecessarily. Please go.”
Akihito-kun was already grappling with the Himeragi conglomerate’s troubles and the slander from that video. I couldn’t add our family issues to his burden.
“I understand…” I relented, my voice small. “But please, be careful, okay…?”
“Of course,” he assured me. “Is it your mom’s hotel? I’ll take you there.”
“But you’ll miss your meeting with Kannagi-kun…”
“It’s fine. Riku will understand. Let’s go.”
Akihito-kun always put me first, caring so little for his own safety—as if it barely mattered to him. That indifference scared me more than I could say.
After ending the call with Mom, I sent a quick message to someone via a chat app. Then, with Akihito-kun and Emma in tow, I left the house.
◆◆◆
“Well then, have a nice time with your mom,” Akihito-kun said, waving with a warm smile. “See you later, Emma-chan.”
We’d taken a train and bus to the international hotel, a towering symbol of luxury. But as he turned to leave, Emma’s small hand clutched his clothes.
“Onii-chan, aren’t you gonna meet Mama…?” she asked, her voice tinged with hope.
Emma adored Mom. Though Mom stayed at the hotel now, back in England, they’d been inseparable. Emma must have wanted to show off her mother to Akihito-kun, proud of the woman who raised her.
“Sorry, Emma-chan,” Akihito-kun replied gently. “I can’t meet her just yet.”
We didn’t know how much Mom knew about him or what she thought of him. Parents always want to protect their children, and with Akihito-kun’s tarnished reputation—fueled by rumors that, though false, were treated as truth by those who didn’t know him—one misstep could lead her to try to separate us. I couldn’t bear the thought of Mom looking at him with cold, judgmental eyes.
“Muu…” Emma pouted, her cheeks puffing out.
“We’ll meet someday,” I said, patting her head to soothe her. “Be patient until then. Let’s go see Mom now.” I offered Akihito-kun a reassuring smile. “Come back safely, okay?”
“Haha…” He chuckled softly, as if my words had caught him off guard. “I never thought I’d hear that in real life. I’ll be fine, I promise I’ll come back. See you.”
With a final wave, Akihito-kun walked away, his figure disguised by a hat, fake glasses, and a mask. He’d be fine… or so I told myself, silently praying for his safe return.
Once he vanished from sight, I stepped into the hotel’s grand, opulent lobby. Since arriving in Japan, Mom had been living here, surrounded by its lavish decor.
When I reached her room, faint voices drifted through the door.
《—Why does that boy always get caught up in such troubles…? If he’d been able to go with Onee-sama back then, he wouldn’t have faced such misfortune…》
The voice was calm, refined, and clear—likely a girl around my age.
《I don’t think that’s necessarily true. Kanon-chan was good to him, after all.》
My heart skipped at the name Kanon-chan. That was unmistakably Mom’s voice. A coincidence…?
《I share President Bennett’s view. At the very least, being with Ojou-sama must have been a happiness for him. The fault lies entirely—》
A third voice, low for a woman, cut in. President Bennett…? Mom, a president? She’d never mentioned anything like that.
Though… I hadn’t told Akihito-kun, but back in England, we lived on the top floor of a luxury apartment. This hotel, too, dripped with extravagance, its every detail screaming wealth. I’d always vaguely known we were well-off, but could Mom really be a company president…?
Lost in my swirling thoughts, I barely noticed the low-voiced woman had fallen silent.
“You’re here,” a voice said as the door swung open, pulling me back to reality.
A woman, roughly Hanazawa-sensei’s age, stood before me in a maid outfit, her gaze fixed downward.
—A maid outfit…?
A maid!?
“Kaguya, ease up. Your staring might scare her,” came a gentle admonishment.
As I stood captivated by the maid, the woman seated across from Mom offered a wry smile. She rose with graceful poise, approaching me with elegant steps. Her long, straight black hair cascaded down her back, her skin as fair as mine, her expression kind yet imbued with a dignified air—a true Yamato Nadeshiko.
“Nice to meet you, Charlotte-san,” she said warmly. “I’m indebted to your—mother.”
The Yamato Nadeshiko bowed with refined grace, and I hurriedly returned the gesture.
“I’m Charlotte Bennett. Thank you for always looking after my mother,” I replied, though a faint unease stirred within me. Her greeting… had she deliberately avoided sharing her name? And with a maid in tow, she must be a lady of high standing.
…A maid…
My gaze drifted back to the tall, cool, and strikingly beautiful maid. A real maid! Could I possibly ask for a photo with her? The thought sent a thrill through me—faced with a maid said to serve elite families, my excitement was uncontainable. Maids, after all, were wondrous beings, straight out of manga and anime.
“It seems she’s more interested in you than in me,” the Yamato Nadeshiko remarked with a teasing lilt.
“The maid outfit must be novel to her,” the maid replied smoothly. “Plus, she seems quite fond of Japanese culture. So please don’t sulk, Ojou-sama.”
“I’m not sulking,” the Yamato Nadeshiko huffed. “No, I’m not thinking anything like being overshadowed by my sister—not at all.”
“You’re clearly thinking exactly that…” the maid muttered, a troubled look crossing her face.
The Yamato Nadeshiko’s lips curved into a faint smile as they bantered. Sister? Did that mean she was the maid’s older sister? They didn’t look alike, though…
“Oh, well. Charlotte-san,” she said, turning to me.
“Y-Yes!?” I yelped, startled by the sudden address after eavesdropping so intently.
“…You have clear, beautiful eyes,” she said softly, her gaze locking onto mine.
For some reason, her words carried weight. “Things must be tough, but keep going. We’re watching over you from the shadows.”
Yamato Nadeshiko-san…?
“Ojou-sama,” the maid interjected, her tone reproachful as she regarded the Yamato Nadeshiko’s lonely smile.
“I understand,” the Yamato Nadeshiko replied. “Well then, we’ll take our leave. Farewell.”
She pinched the edges of her skirt and bowed gracefully. As she straightened, her eyes met Mom’s, and a silent understanding seemed to pass between them. Then—
“Little Angel-chan, goodbye,” she said, waving kindly at Emma, nestled in my arms.
Emma, shyly pressing her face against my chest, hesitated before returning a small wave, perhaps touched by the gentle smile. The Yamato Nadeshiko’s expression softened with delight.
“Sophia-sama, Charlotte-sama, Emma-sama, excuse us,” the maid said, bowing before opening the door and following her mistress out.
Though questions swirled in my mind, I sensed no hostility from them. Above all, they didn’t seem like bad people. But this encounter… it couldn’t be mere coincidence.
“Don’t just stand there,” Mom’s voice cut through my thoughts. “Why don’t you sit? Come here, Emma.”
“N…!” Emma wriggled in my arms, eager to move.
Fearing she might fall, I gently set her down, and she scampered to Mom with quick steps.
“Mama…!”
“You came, Emma,” Mom said warmly, lifting Emma onto her lap with a tender smile reminiscent of Akihito-kun’s.
I couldn’t read her thoughts. Sitting across from her, I asked about the two women before diving into the main topic. If my suspicions were correct, there was much I needed to understand.
“Who were those two?”
“I can’t tell you now,” Mom replied, her tone firm.
“You’re meeting people you can’t even tell your daughter about?” I pressed.
“They’re work associates,” she said, redirecting. “More importantly, I called you about the video circulating. Can you explain the situation?”
As expected, the school must have contacted her. She was using this to dodge my questions.
“The video was just something a student recorded and uploaded online. It’s not like we did anything. But I want to know about those two.”
“No matter what you ask, I won’t talk about them,” she said, unyielding.
“Why? Your daughter’s worried and asking you.”
“It’s not something you need to worry about.”
Her refusal was resolute. Her gaze, fixed on me, wasn’t that of a mother to her daughter.
“Mama…? Lottie…?” Emma’s small voice trembled, her eyes darting between us, sensing the tension.
This wouldn’t do. I needed to stay calm to get answers.
“It’s okay, Emma,” I said, offering her a reassuring smile before taking a deep breath and facing Mom again.
“Does Mom have connections with the Himeragi conglomerate?” I asked directly, watching for her reaction.
“Hehe, no matter what you ask, I won’t answer,” she said, dodging with a playful smile.
Was that an indirect confirmation, or was I just hoping it was? Or perhaps… something more?
“More importantly, Lottie,” she continued, “you’re going back to England, so what are you planning to do about making a boyfriend in Japan?”
“—” Her unexpected shift to a topic I’d buried deep caught me off guard, and I gasped.
“Can’t answer?” she teased.
“I… I want to stay with Akihito-kun. I want to stay in Japan,” I admitted, my voice faltering.
“You mean you want to marry him?”
“Eh!?” Her blunt question sent heat rushing to my face. I’d braced for practical objections, not this.
“Wanting to be together means wanting to marry, doesn’t it?” she pressed.
“Th-That’s… true, but…” I nodded, my cheeks burning with embarrassment. What was I saying to my mother?
But Mom’s expression softened. “I see… Hearing those words is enough,” she said, her smile gentle.
“Mom…?”
“Sorry, I can’t tell you about those two yet. We have our own circumstances.”
Her words felt sincere, and I couldn’t push further.
◆◆◆
“Why are you here…?” I asked, a wry smile tugging at my lips as I spotted an unexpected figure after parting with Charlotte-san and heading to the station.
“Sorry, Charlotte-san asked me to come,” Shimizu-san replied, flashing an exaggerated “tehe” smile.
Charlotte-san… I understood her concern, but was it okay for me to be alone with another girl? Normally, she’d be jealous or at least a bit upset. Did she trust Shimizu-san that much, or was there another reason she felt secure? Either way, I wished she’d consulted me. If she had, I’d have refused outright. She probably knew that and stayed quiet…
“It’s your day off; was that okay…?” I asked.
“Well, you’re going to see Riku, right?”
“Yeah, but…”
“Then it’s better if I’m there. By the way, if Charlotte-san hadn’t told me, I wouldn’t have found you. Those fake glasses suit you. Kinda intellectual.”
Was she teasing, or did she mean it? I should’ve at least contacted Akira… Being alone with Shimizu-san was painfully awkward. Guided by her, I headed to meet Riku.
“Heh, cheating?” Riku, waiting in disguise at the park, grinned and tossed out something outrageous.
“Where do I even start?” I muttered, a headache brewing.
“Hm? Oh, the disguise? I’m kinda famous too, especially around here, so it’s risky,” Riku said, tugging at his clothes proudly to explain his getup.
No, that wasn’t it.
“Our disguises are the same…” Shimizu-san pointed out, noting that Riku’s hat, glasses, and mask matched mine perfectly.
“Doesn’t it make us look like brothers?” Riku quipped.
“So you deliberately chose a disguise Aoyagi-kun would wear,” Shimizu-san said, her tone sharp.
“Haha,” Riku laughed, brushing off her jab.
Yeah, that gave me chills.
“Fine, forget the clothes,” I said. “But if you don’t want attention, wouldn’t your house have been better?”
“What’re you talking about? If we did that, my parents would freak out thinking Arisa brought her boyfriend, and it’d be a hassle.”
I’d never met Riku’s parents, but given his personality, it sounded plausible.
“The whole family would probably gather and cook red rice. No thanks,” Shimizu-san added, half-joking, before deadpanning, “No thanks.”
Sounded like it was really like that. Good thing we didn’t go to Riku’s house. That aside… cooking red rice? Did that mean Shimizu-san had never had a boyfriend? She seemed so at ease with guys.
“Then don’t go saying stuff about cheating, Riku,” I said.
“Sorry, sorry. So, what’s the talk about?”
Riku’s smile remained, but his eyes were serious, unreadable as ever. Shimizu-san stepped back a few paces, signaling she wouldn’t join the conversation, keeping watch over our surroundings so I could focus on Riku.
“First, let me respond to your earlier offer. I’m going to have to decline.”
“Oh?” Riku’s interest piqued.
He’d likely expected this. He even seemed more curious about what came next.
“You didn’t come all the way here just to turn me down, right? You’re a dutiful guy, but you’d handle something like that over the phone. So, after declining my offer, what kind of talk are you bringing?”
His grin carried a provocative edge, applying subtle pressure. It was a natural reaction, I supposed.
“You probably already know, but a certain video has sparked a lot of slander about me on SNS. I need your help to stop it.”
“You decline my offer but ask for my help? Isn’t that a bit selfish?” Riku said, his smile unwavering as he studied me.
“I know it is. But right now, there’s something I can’t compromise on.”
I wasn’t blind to the irony of refusing his request while making one of my own. But for what mattered, I couldn’t care about appearances.
“So this is a request as a friend.”
“…Hmm, a friend, huh?” Riku mused, his hand at his mouth, eyeing me as if testing my resolve.
Then—
“You get it, don’t you? Helping a friend doesn’t need a price,” he said, dropping his hand with a wide grin.
Looks like I’d made the right call.
“Sorry for the trouble.”
“It’s fine. I’ve been waiting for this day.”
“…?”
“Haha, you look confused. I haven’t heard the specifics yet, but this isn’t just about putting out the fire, is it?”
“…You can tell?”
“Roughly. To settle this, there’s something we have to do. You’re ready to make an enemy of the Himeragi, aren’t you?”
As Riku said, my plan to quell this uproar meant picking a fight with the Himeragi conglomerate.
“Yeah, that’s right. To protect what’s important, I’ve decided to become a demon or devil if I have to.”
“Even though you owe them, you’re drawing a bow against them—huh. Honestly, I wasn’t sure if someone as dutiful as you would make that choice.”
Wasn’t sure? That sounded like he’d heard it from someone else, not his own judgment…
“Good thing my preparations weren’t for nothing.”
“Preparations…? You’ve said a few things that are bugging me…”
“Oh, right. I started actively appearing in the media to be useful when you made up your mind. Three years ago, I couldn’t do anything.”
That was news to me.
“You hated the media, yet you’ve been showing up a lot. That was why… But why go that far?”
Riku wasn’t a childhood friend or teammate. We’d only grown close because he kept approaching me, and we talked often. He shouldn’t have cared about me after I quit soccer…
“You probably don’t know, but… you’re the reason I could change and be where I am now. Without meeting you, I’d still be a selfish, solo-playing striker relying on individual skill.”
Riku gazed at the sky, lost in memory.
“I was full of myself. I thought I was the best, and if everyone moved for me, we’d win. That’s probably why I wasn’t picked for the national team.”
True, in our first-year match, Riku was a standout on the opposing team, but he wasn’t hard to handle. He rarely passed, didn’t act as a decoy, and barely ran, staying up front with minimal defending. I’d pegged him as selfish. But by our second-year match, he was different—pressing opponents, buying time for his defense, and creating space for other forwards. That shift had caused chaos single-handedly. Apparently, facing me had sparked that change.
“I never thought a guy tipped to carry Japan’s national team would say something like that…”
“I don’t know how you felt, but I’m grateful to you.”
“It’s not like I did it for you…”
It was just strategy—targeting his weaknesses to win. His growth was his own doing, born of his personality and mindset. I hadn’t done anything special.
“Doesn’t change that you’re the reason I’m here now. That’s why I regretted not being able to help when you were cornered. I moved to be ready for the day you’d break with the Himeragi.”
Riku’s eyes burned with resolve. He wasn’t lying. He’d become an influencer with fans nationwide.
“That was another question. How did you know I’d break with them? You said you were half-sure, so did someone tell you?”
“Three years ago, the Himeragi’s Ojou-sama told me. She said a day would come when Akihito faces his fate, and asked me to help you then.”
“Kanon-san…?”
The unexpected name made me pause, hand to my mouth. It made sense—Riku knew Kanon-san from when she was often around me. Since he frequently visited, they’d met often.
“She’s your biggest ally, wishing for your happiness. That hasn’t changed.”
“…Yeah.”
I nodded to Riku’s gentle smile. Kanon-san was part of the Himeragi, but I didn’t see her as an enemy. I might’ve upset her back then, but she’d always been kind. I decided to trust her again.
After that, I laid out our plan to Riku.
“—I see, turning the SNS attention against them. Count me in.”
I’d secured his agreement.
◆◆◆
The next day, Sunday, outside a certain café—
“You’ve got some nerve showing your face,” a maid said, glaring at me like I was vermin.
Her name was Kusanagi Kaguya-san, from a family that had served the Himeragi for generations. She’d been Kanon-san’s dedicated maid since childhood, likely around Miyu-sensei’s age. And I was terrible with her. By the way, I’d called her earlier.
“Thank you for making time today. Is Kanon-san already inside?”
“…You’ve gotten somewhat more presentable,” Kaguya-san said, her tone flat and disinterested, as she opened the café door.
That must mean Kanon-san was inside. I was nervous, but far less than I’d expected. I’d thought Kaguya-san would be the biggest hurdle, yet she’d let me through easily.
A familiar staff member guided me inside. This café was one Kanon-san loved; we’d come here often. That was likely why she’d chosen it. As I ventured deeper—
“—You’ve grown, Akihito,” a woman, more mature than I remembered, said with a smile from her seat.
It was Himeragi Kanon-san, who’d called herself my big sister since childhood. Even in middle school, some called her a Yamato Nadeshiko, and now, grown, she truly embodied that ideal. We hadn’t met since her middle school graduation—about three years ago.
“It’s been a while, Kanon-san. You’ve become even more beautiful,” I said.
“Hehe, to think Akihito can give compliments now—such growth,” she teased.
It wasn’t flattery, just pleasantries. I wouldn’t normally say this, but I was treading carefully—messing up this negotiation would be disastrous.
“By the way, you’re alone? I thought I’d get to meet your cute girlfriend.”
So the Himeragi president wasn’t the only one who knew—Kanon-san was aware of Charlotte-san too.
“I haven’t settled things from the past, so I can’t talk about the present yet,” I said.
Charlotte-san had wanted to come, but I’d convinced her to stay. I hadn’t properly spoken with Kanon-san since our rough parting. Introducing my girlfriend before resolving that felt wrong.
“As serious as ever. That’s one of your good points… but since it’s a rare chance, I wanted to talk with her too.”
Kanon-san likely meant it. She wasn’t the sarcastic type, always friendly and kind.
“I’ll introduce her when the time comes.”
“Hehe, I look forward to it. Akihito with a girlfriend, huh? As your sister, I’m thrilled,” she said, her warm gaze almost overwhelming.
“Can we stop talking about her…”
“No need to be shy. It’s been about three years since we last talked like this. I want to catch up on old times, not just talk about your girlfriend.”
Her talkative nature hadn’t changed.
“If it’s old times instead of her…”
“Oh, you’re hopeless,” she said, laughing as if exasperated, before sipping her tea.
Kaguya-san silently handed me a menu from behind, urging me to order. Always so harsh. I chose coffee, and Kanon-san glanced at the ceiling.
“It’s been nearly ten years since we met. Back then, you were so wary; it was tough.”
“You appeared out of nowhere, saying you’d be my sister from now on. That’s a natural reaction…”
Yes, Kanon-san had shown up abruptly while I was practicing soccer in the park. I still remembered that first meeting, especially since it came right after my sister left.
“Choose your words carefully,” Kaguya-san warned, her hand grazing my neck, sending sweat down my cheek.
Her cold glare was fierce—she adored Kanon-san, and any hint of rudeness triggered this.
“Kaguya, stand down. I keep telling you not to react to every little sibling banter,” Kanon-san sighed, scolding her.
“My apologies,” Kaguya-san said, releasing my neck and bowing deeply, though her eyes still warned, You get it, right?
She was the one who didn’t get it.
“Let’s get back on track,” Kanon-san said. “You were wary at first, but once we bonded, you listened to me and worked hard, didn’t you?”
Listened to her? More like I was coerced by the demon behind me, but I lacked the courage to correct her. Honestly, I owed much of who I was to them. Kanon-san had Kaguya-san tutor me, their Spartan methods shaping my academic success. As for soccer, Kanon-san funded it, hiring a retired pro coach to train us since no strong local team existed. Her plan to build our own team faltered—rumors and the Himeragi name scared others away—but it gave me an incredible childhood.
“Thanks to the incredible environment you provided… Looking back, I had an amazing childhood. I was always shocked by what you did.”
“Hehe, I was young, wasn’t I?”
Young? She was still young, and was “I was young” really an excuse for all that? I had questions but stayed silent.
“I don’t want you to misunderstand,” she continued. “We did all that because you were a kid who could work hard. We wouldn’t have helped someone who couldn’t.”
“I’m grateful for that.”
I had no complaints about their support… well, plenty about Kaguya-san, but it all fueled my growth.
“Honestly, without those middle school days, your future would’ve been very different,” Kanon-san said, her eyes lowering sadly.
My chest tightened—she still felt guilty about back then.
“Please, let me apologize first,” I said. “In middle school, I said something very rude to you. It was like betraying your kindness. I’m truly sorry.”
I’d finally voiced the guilt weighing on me. During that incident, I’d accused her: “You were only good to me to use me, weren’t you?” In hindsight, it was absurd, but back then, I’d lashed out. I didn’t know how much I’d hurt her.
“Raise your head, Akihito. You have nothing to apologize for. If anything, I’m the one who should,” she said.
“No, you have nothing to apologize for… I was the one who said something rude…”
“I think your words were fair. Regardless of the truth, we ended up using you. And I couldn’t protect you. I’m sorry,” she said, bowing deeply.
I recalled her tearful apology from middle school. She’d been as clueless and used as I was. She had no fault—she’d only tried to help a homeless kid.
“Please stop. It’s harder when you apologize…”
Her blameless bow only deepened my guilt. Maybe this was how Akira felt.
“Then let’s both drop this topic. I don’t want you apologizing to me either,” she said.
She was right—endless apologies would trap us.
“Alright, I’ll take you up on that.”
“Yes, do. I’m your big sister, after all.”
That wasn’t quite what I meant, but her big-sister role was unshakable, so I let it slide.
“By the way, it’s a relief. Since you have a girlfriend, you’re not bound by the past anymore, right?”
Kanon-san understood me deeply, perhaps more than Akira. She grasped what my girlfriend meant for me.
“Well, it’s thanks to her… Without her, I’d probably still be wallowing alone.”
“She must be a wonderful girl.”
I thought she was the best in the world, but I couldn’t say something that sappy aloud… not with the demon behind me.
“A girl who can change your mind isn’t common. You need to cherish her,” Kanon-san said.
“Of course, I intend to. She’s almost too good for me.”
I felt a chill from behind, but please, forgive a little gushing.
“Hehe, I see,” Kanon-san said, laughing happily, unlike the icy presence behind me.
But her smile vanished abruptly.
“—But you still don’t understand. If you did, you wouldn’t have come to see me alone. At least, if you’d brought her, you might’ve learned some truths. Though, since you’re not saying anything, it seems we’re even.”
Her serious gaze unsettled me.
“What do you mean…?”
“I understand not wanting to cause unnecessary worry, but hiding things from a lover causes more problems, don’t you think?”
Was she seeing through my silence about the fiancée issue? But discussing it wouldn’t help—it’d only worry Charlotte-san.
“Thinking rationally is fine, but people aren’t that simple. You don’t realize what your actions mean to her.”
Was she upset I hadn’t brought Charlotte-san? I didn’t think she was that petty…
“Oh, well. I didn’t come to lecture you,” she said, lightening the mood.
So that was a lecture. Awkward…
“Shall we get to the main point? You have a request for me, right?”
Kanon-san’s smile returned, but I wasn’t ready for the swift shift. Still, I couldn’t waste her time—she was likely busy.
“Actually, I’m planning to make a certain video.”
“A video? That’s an unusual request,” she said, laughing as she studied me.
She might’ve already guessed my plan.
“Are you aware that my issue is blowing up on SNS?”
“The video of you two sparked it, right? Of course, I know.”
With the uproar, the school must have informed her. I was surprised she’d waited for me to raise it.
“To resolve this, I want to make a video. But—”
“You don’t need to say more. It’s something disadvantageous to the Himeragi, right?”
Her sharpness was daunting—her intelligence far outstripped mine.
“I’m sorry for causing you trouble, Kanon-san…”
“It’s fine. This is our reckoning. Tell me the details.”
Her smile, despite the disadvantage to her family, was genuinely kind. I explained our plan in full.
“Hehe, it’s a great plan. Add this to it,” she said, showing me her smartphone screen.
It displayed black-and-white footage of my confinement.
“How did you get this…?”
“I had Kaguya secure the surveillance footage for when this day came. Use this to corner them thoroughly,” she said lightly, her bright smile sending chills down my spine.
Was I the only one unnerved? Surrounded by people who smiled when angry… because they were kind?
“Thank you. I’ll use it gratefully,” I said, bowing before turning to Kaguya-san. “Thank you too, Kaguya-san.”
“Hmph, I only followed Ojou-sama’s orders. It wasn’t for you,” she said coldly, brushing me off as usual.
Kanon-san, amused by our exchange, smiled.
“Um… there’s actually one more thing, not just this,” I said, refocusing.
“Another request?”
“No, not a request. I have another idea and want to discuss it…”
“Oh?” Kanon-san’s curiosity sparked—she hadn’t anticipated this.
“Please lend me your ear.”
With that, I shared the other idea with her.
