In a dark room that seemed to have blackout curtains drawn, even though it was broad daylight, three women were gathered around, deep in conversation.
“Is this really okay? If we make a mistake, we could be in danger…”
“Yeah. It could definitely be dangerous. But you know? This is… something we have to do.”
“She’s right. It’s something that can’t be done by anyone else.”
As they gazed at a photograph placed in the center, the youngest-looking girl among the three spoke up.
“But you know who this person is close to… And who was by their side last year… No, this person is dangerous from the start, right? If we recklessly intervene, I’m sure we’ll all end up dead…”
The girl trembled as she strongly urged the other two to back down, to please give up. It was far too risky.
However, the other two quietly shook their heads.
“Even if it gets dangerous, we vowed we wouldn’t stop the moment we stepped into this place, remember?”
“Yeah. And besides, I doubt we would die no matter what we do. This is modern-day Japan, after all? More than that… if we disappear, everyone would know the culprit is this person.”
“That’s true, but… No, I was wrong. I must have sworn not to back down from the moment I entered… No matter what happens… Yet, I’m so scared…!”
The girl slowly confessed her true feelings.
The two women wrapped their arms around her shoulders and spoke.
But even the arms of the two women embracing her were trembling just a bit.
“It’s okay. It’s something that would naturally be scary. We’re honestly scared too.”
“How could we not be? Knowing that it’s unlikely to happen, but still letting fear take the lead is part of being human. But… overcoming that fear is also what makes us human.”
“Yes… You’re right…!”
After sharing courage with each other, the three gazed once more at the person in the photo.
Her light brown hair cascaded down to her waist, shining even in the photo, and atop her head, for some reason, a silly tuft of hair was jutting out.
Her blue eyes, a rare sight in Japan, exuded a mysterious aura, and her skin was flawless and pristine.
Just judging by her appearance, she was so adorable and cute it wouldn’t be strange at all to call her a “super” cute girl.
However, the vibe she radiated from the picture was the complete opposite of her cute exterior.
Her unsmiling mouth and slightly raised gaze emitted an absolute zero chill.
That cute girl was named Kayanoh Mina.
In Shiodome Private High School, she was a super-famous figure secretly referred to as the ‘Ice Princess’.
“Although she almost always walks alone, the people she occasionally associates with are all terrifying names. Tateyama-senpai, Onodera-senpai, Miyauchi-senpai… all top-tier members of the school caste.”
“The three upperclassmen must be under her influence too…”
“Because she treats the school caste lightly…”
They spoke, already convinced.
“Yeah. I even heard that recently, she summoned Hinoshita-senpai to the school for a chat.”
“I wasn’t here last year, but Hinoshita-senpai was already famous in our middle school. And for her to summon Hinoshita-senpai to school so casually? She’s really a terrifying person…”
Of course, Mina herself, who was listening to this conversation would be saying, “W-What kind of rumors are those…?” with teary eyes, but they had no way of knowing that.
“There are rumors that saying her name should be avoided among the third-year seniors and some first and second-year students… What kind of secret could it be? Only we in the media department could uncover that!”
Those rumors had arisen from requests made to the media department by Tateyama’s group, who were well-regarded at Shiodome High School, saying, “Please don’t let any talk about Kaya come from others!”
The media department head who graduated last year had received that request, and still maintained close ties with Tateyama, so naturally, she wouldn’t convey Mina’s stories to her juniors.
To be precise, she wasn’t even aware of how much those rumors had inflated among the juniors.
“We usually can’t even meet her, much less talk, but perhaps during the sports festival, we might have an opportunity. Let’s make sure we’re fully prepared.”
“Ooooh!!!”
“Understood!”
Having concluded their meeting with the determination to successfully cover the ‘Ice Princess Kayanoh Mina‘, the media department was blissfully unaware that there was no one here to correct their assumptions.
★
Time passed, and it was finally the day of the sports festival, a Saturday.
Although I had gotten used to it, every sports festival, I couldn’t help but think how annoying it was to come to school on a Saturday.
Ultimately, Monday is a day off, so there isn’t a problem, but if you think about it, it also means six consecutive days of going to school.
“Hah…”
Even though it was early, there were more people than usual.
Glancing at the schoolyard, I recalled last year’s nightmare…? Or could it be called a memory?
In any case, those memories emerged, but of course, the throne-like setup from that time was nowhere to be seen.
Well, Hinoshita-senpai isn’t here, so there’s no way I’d be involved in something like that again.
Could that kind of event really happen again?
Feeling relieved, I turned away from the playground, entered the classroom, and, following the notice posted on the blackboard, moved to the changing room to change into my gym clothes.
Originally, I didn’t need to change, considering I wasn’t participating, but Tateyama asked me to change since she’d be accompanying me, so I had no choice.
Could it be that Tateyama has something in mind…?
That thought crossed my mind for a moment, but if I walked around in my uniform alone, it would surely seem odd to others.
Besides, Tateyama is incredibly kind, so there shouldn’t be any ulterior motive.
Yeah, I was just being suspicious for a moment, and I take that back!
★
“Let’s vow! We will participate in the sports festival based on sportsmanship…”
Finally, the sports festival began.
“Go Red Team!”
“White Team, win!”
As expected of an event filled with popular individuals, an enormous excitement surged around.
I felt like I had said something similar last year…
“Kaya! You need to cheer hard too!”
Just as I was pondering that, Tateyama urged me from the side.
But I definitely don’t have that kind of enthusiasm.
“Fighting… uhh…”
“That’s way too laid-back!”
Still, as I munched on some yakisoba bread, I tried to go along with it, but Tateyama expressed her dissatisfaction.
However, she was smiling brightly, clearly enjoying herself.
From the talk this morning, it seems Tateyama was originally the cheer captain for the red team, but Onodera was taking over the role this time to have fun at the festival with me.
To be so eager to hang out with me… it made me feel thankful.
…Yet, something felt like it was watching us.
“Tateyama… Is someone watching us?”
“Huh? I don’t know…”
We both looked around at the same time, but there wasn’t anyone actively staring at us.
The fleeting glances I felt whenever I walked with Tateyama were something I had gotten used to; after all, being an overwhelmingly cute girl, the attention is unavoidable, and I had given up long ago accepting it.
But just a little while ago, the feeling of being watched had been rather overt…
Well, it must be my imagination.
“…Kaya! Should we share a bite? I want to try the yakisoba bread too.”
“Oh, okay…”
Nodding at that suggestion, Tateyama held out the curry bread towards me.
“Ah…?”
“…Uhh?! K-Kaya?”
“…E-Excuse me, is something wrong?”
“N-No, it’s nothing… Here.”
“Okay… munch… …Oh, I always eat yakisoba bread, so I didn’t know, but this curry bread is also nice! Hehe…”
“Ah, yeah. Th-That’s right. Haha…”
I made that comment, and for some reason, Tateyama smiled awkwardly.
…Could it be that Tateyama doesn’t like curry bread?
Thinking about it, I don’t think I’ve seen Tateyama eat curry bread…
As I pondered this, I offered my yakisoba bread to Tateyama.
“Uh, um, yeah…! Ahhhh…”
“…Huh?”
Then Tateyama closed her eyes and opened her mouth, and only then did I understand Tateyama’s earlier behavior.
Did I just naturally do that as if I were with my older sister?!
“I-I’m so sorry…!”
“…Huh?”
Despite being the same grade, being with her felt like being with an older sister, and I had instinctively acted like I used to do at home with my sister.
“Um, you see… I just did it like I was with my sister back at home…”
“Oh… I knew it! Haha, I was surprised too!”
“I’m so sorry… Here…”
“Mm. I’ll enjoy this! Munch… …Yeah! Tastes good, haha…”
Fortunately, Tateyama accepted and moved past the awkward situation with a laugh.
It’s because of her kindness that I mistake her for my sister…
I couldn’t lift my head. My face was surely bright red right now.
Mistaking a classmate for my sister, of all things.
Considering my previous life, I’d actually be much older.
So embarrassing…
★
Participating in the morning event, the item-collecting relay, Tateyama walked alone, recalling the earlier scene.
The one who had silently closed her eyes, opened her mouth, and gestured to be fed was Kayanoh.
Since Kayanoh was taller, Tateyama had to look down to see her.
“That was super lewd, Kaya…”
Fortunately, when she mirrored that gesture, Kayanoh realized her actions were strange, but the past couldn’t be erased.
Tateyama was certain her face had turned bright red back there.
“If she doesn’t like it, she probably wouldn’t want to participate even if she gets picked…”
Of course, Kayanoh rushed to apologize immediately for her mistake.
However, Tateyama thought it was unfair for her to suffer alone.
“I really hope so…”
Before the relay began, she earnestly vowed to make sure Kayanoh would compete in the match today.
There was a way.
There was a possibility.
What remained was Tateyama—only her luck.
“Please…”
So, Tateyama silently prayed, her heart shouting louder than anyone else.
She wished fervently that the gods would be on her side.
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