Ever since I confessed, she has been acting strange. - CHAPTER 3: THE LADY WHO COMMUNICATES AND THE SONG ARC

CHAPTER 3: THE LADY WHO COMMUNICATES AND THE SONG ARC

Episode 11: Blades Crossing

The news that the Songstress, who had been on hiatus, was transferring to the school spread throughout the academy in an instant.

“Wow! It’s the real Habataki Otoha!”

“Why did you transfer to our school?”

“If it’s okay, could I get your contact information?”

“Um! I’m a big fan! Please shake my hand!”

As soon as the first period ended, a crowd gathered around her. During second and third period, the crowd grew with each recess, and by the end, a crowd had formed outside the classroom.

By lunchtime, the student council had to step in and warn the crowd.

“I never thought she’d transfer to our school…”

The young lady has been hunched over her desk since morning. It’s rare to see her so depressed, but I have no idea what’s making her feel this way.

“I guess the transfer procedures were probably completed a while ago, so it’s just bad luck, huh…”

Yukimichi gave the young lady a sympathetic look.

…Is it just me? I feel like I’m the only one left behind.

Anyway, due to the overwhelming crowd, we couldn’t even get close to Otoha-san, let alone talk to her, from the morning until the last class.

The young lady, perhaps feeling uncomfortable, doesn’t make any effort to approach her either.

Even though we talked quite a bit in the car on the way back during the last vacation… Maybe it’s because I’m the only thing they have in common, but I remember her asking things like, “What’s your relationship with Kagehito?” or “Is Kagehito serving me?” I hope this broadcast will help the young lady and Otoha-san find more topics to talk about.

That way, the young lady might be able to form a close friendship with Otoha-san.

“Um, Habataki-san! It’s your first day transferring here, so you’re probably not familiar with the school yet, right?”

“If it’s okay, let me show you around!”

“Hey, are you trying to sneak ahead?”

A fierce competition quickly erupted for the coveted role of Habataki Otoha’s guide.

Once again, the riots began to spread, and it seemed that the student council would have to step in once again-but…

“…Thank you. But it’s okay.”

Otoha-san, who had been standing still, suddenly got up from her seat and walked quietly toward our desks.

“…I’ll let Eito show me around.”

With these words, a silence fell over the noisy classroom, as if all sound had disappeared. Then…

“”Whaaaaaaaaaat—-!?””

The students’ voices erupted in unison.

“H-hey, Yugiri! Do you know Habataki Otoha-san!?”

“First of all, what is your relationship with her?”

This time, the wave of classmates rushed towards me.

I guess it’s natural for them to react like that when they find out that I know the famous singer.

But when they ask, “What is your relationship?” I don’t know how to answer. Calling us “friends” might be presumptuous. Or perhaps “runaway companions”? I can’t find the right words.

“My relationship with Eito is …………”

While I was racking my brain, Otoha-san, who seemed to have already sorted out her thoughts, took action. Her slender, beautiful forefinger touched her lips, and the elegance of the gesture left the surrounding students speechless as they watched with bated breath.

After a brief moment of silence, Otoha-san finally spoke.

“…………It’s a secret.”

She smiled – a fleeting, snowy, yet beautiful smile.

…A secret relationship, huh? It’s true that words like “running away” aren’t something you want to spread around, and the fact that she “can’t sing anymore” hasn’t been publicly announced.

Wrapping it in the veil of secrecy is probably the safest move. As expected from a singer. She’s a pro at handling situations like this.

“A secret relationship… you say…!”

“Could it be… like a romantic relationship?”

“That’s a secret too.”

Otoha-san gave the same answer to the female students who pressed her with excited questions, while maintaining her smile. It’s probably because if she gave more details, things like “running away” or “not being able to sing” might slip out. Keeping the information to the bare minimum is probably her way of protecting herself.

“Young lady, the way Otoha-san is handling this is really impressive. It’s something to learn from.”

“Handling? You mean it’s more of an offensive strategy… The experience she gained from dealing with the media has made her so annoying…!”

The young lady sounded somewhat frustrated as she spoke.

“…Eito. Let’s go.”

Otoha-san wrapped her hands around mine-hands as white and beautiful as snow.

“Young lady, is this okay with you?”

“Hmm. I think it’s fine. It’s probably more comforting for her to have someone she knows around.”

The young lady smiled warmly and then got up from her seat.

“Well then, shall we go? I’m sure none of us wants to waste such precious after-school time, right?”

As she said this, the young lady hugged my arm tightly.

For some reason, it feels like she’s pressing her chest against me. Maybe it’s because the words from the “Life Game (Tentative)” incident are playing in my head.

“…If it’s just a tour, Eito alone is enough.”

“Don’t worry about me. Let’s go around together like we did last vacation, okay?”

“……………………”

“……………………”

“That time, it wasn’t the three of us. It was just Eito and me.”

“Oh my. Weren’t the three of us together in the park? Did you forget that we also talked a lot in the car on the way back?”

“………………………………”

“………………………………”

For a moment – just a moment – I could’ve sworn I saw the two of them cross their blades, sparks flying between them.

Strange. Am I just tired? I know that taking care of my health is fundamental, but I guess I’m still inexperienced.

“‘Three people’…? Just like on vacation’…? Was Tendou-san there too?”

“What? So it’s not just Yugiri and Habataki-san, Tendou-san is part of the group too?”

“Well, that makes sense. After all, Yugiri serves Tendou-san.”

It seems that our classmates have found some kind of understanding about our relationship.

As expected from the young lady. To hide Otoha-san’s circumstances such as her “running away” and “not being able to sing” that she doesn’t want to be exposed, she deliberately drew attention to her own presence to divert everyone’s focus. Otoha-san’s ability to handle the situation is impressive, but the young lady is no slouch either.

“Hey, Eito.”

“Hmm? What is it, Yukimichi?”

“Man, Eito… you’re stuck between all that pressure, but you’re so calm… If it was me, I’d be chopped into steak cubes in a second. I respect you…”

“You’re saying something I don’t quite understand… But just to confirm, are you coming on the tour? You’re well informed, so it would be a big help if you came along.”

“Hey, hey, Eito, watch your mouth.”

Yukimichi let out a weak, fleeting smile and shrugged.

“……………………………………”

“……………………………………”

Nearby, the young lady and Otoha-san stared at Yukimichi in silence.

“You know, there are lives in this world that can disappear with a single word, right?”

“You’re being dramatic again…”

My goodness. It’s Yukimichi’s bad habit.

He sometimes says these exaggerated things.

“…Well then, shall we go, Habaku-san?”

“…Sure. Let’s go together, Tendou-san.”

They seem to be getting along quite well.

Maybe they will become good friends.