Translated: Sei, MTL-sensei-tachi
Edited: Sei, Grammarly no Danna
Source: Syosetu

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15, Non-stop


　When I entered the student council room, I faced Taketori-senpai who was there, and asked her.

"Hello. I didn't have anything special to do, but I felt someone's presence, so I just took a peek. By the way, Taketori-senpai... what are you doing alone?"

　To my words, Taketori-senpai deliberately lets out a sigh before answering.

"What do I look like I'm doing other than eating lunch?"

　Hmm, Taketori-senpai pointed at the bento box with her chopsticks and made a displeased expression.
　I see, Taketori-senpai eats alone. Until just a little while ago, I often spent my lunch break eating my meals alone.
　Because of that, I had a feeling of kinship with Taketori-senpai.

"...By the way, I usually eat lunch with my friends in the classroom. Don't look at me like that."

"If that's the case, why are you in the student council room today?"

　Feeling betrayed for nothing, I asked Taketori-senpai so.

“Yeah, my classmates were getting so excited about the sports festival during lunchtime. I couldn't keep up with them, so I ran away."

"... For the third-year students, it's their last sports festival and a break from studying for exams, so they naturally become enthusiastic about it."

"That's what I'm talking about."

“So, why aren't you joining in the sports festival talk so enthusiastically, Taketori-senpai?”

　I ask,

"Surprising?"

　Somewhat happily, she says.

"No, it's not that it's surprising or anything."

　After smiling mischievously at my words, she replies.

"Well, I'm a former student council president, so that doesn't mean I'm necessarily active in school activities."

　...It was hard to tell if she was being self-deprecating or just speaking naturally, since we weren't very close. All I could do was laugh vaguely.

"So, kouhai-kun. You said you peeked in because you thought you heard someone. ...Who did you think was here?"

　With a grin, Taketori-senpai asks.
　I was about to answer,

"No, let me guess. ...You thought it was Otome, so you entered this room, didn't you?"

　She said while looking at me with a provocative gaze.

"...What makes you think that?"

"Haruma is in the same class as you, so you know he is not in the student council room, so that excludes him. If so, the most likely candidate is Otome."

"Why Tatsumiya? What about Tanaka-senpai and Suzuki?"

　Hearing my words, Taketori-senpai said with a dumbfounded expression.

“Because Otome is likely to use you for her purposes.”

　The purpose... Is it referring to Ike? And so on, thinking,

"It seems I was right."

　Taketori-senpai raised the corners of her mouth and smiled evilly.
　
"So, what's really going on? At the request of Otome, are you going to make her get along with Haruma?"

　At this stage, it seems that she has already realized that I am being consulted by Tatsumiya.
　I don't want it to be known too much, but Tatsumiya's affection is obvious to those around her... Right now, it would be more meaningful to talk to Taketori-senpai.

　With that in mind, I decided to talk to Taketori-senpai about what I had heard from Ike.
　Hearing my story, Taketori-senpai murmured somewhat dissatisfied, "...Good grief, this bastard," but I couldn't figure out why.
　After that, I asked Taketori-senpai, who seemed somewhat grumpy.

"How many girls with the initial 'T' are close to Ike?"

　Hearing my words, she let out a big sigh,

"Geez, do you really not understand?"

　And she looks at me in amazement.

"... Do you have any idea?"

"Haa, you're pretty much an insensitive bastard yourself"

　After prefacing,














"If he says "T", there's only one person. ...It's you, Tomoki."

　







　She said as if to spit it out.

"Ha?"

"So, Haruma is in love with you."

"... No, Ike said he likes a girl with the initial 'T'."

“So that's a declaration that Haruma sees you as a woman. ...Geez, Haruma finally got up the courage to confess his feelings, but it didn't pay off."

　"Oh dear," Taketori-senpai shook her head, then held her head in her hands.
　I'm the one who wants to hold my head... earnestly.

"So what are you going to do about it?"

"What do you mean?"

　I listened to Taketori-senpai's non-brake style of stepping on the accelerator with all my might, and while preparing myself to see what kind of answer would come out, I asked her.

"... How are you going to reply to Haruma?"

　I look at Taketori-senpai, who says with a serious expression on her face, and I think.

(This girl is useless... I have to do something soon...)

"For now, I'm going back to the classroom."

　I turn my back on her, planning to escape from this place without answering Taketori-senpai's question.

"Well, what is it? Please continue to get along well with Otome and ... Haruma, too, kouhai-kun?"

"... Yes"

　I said one word to Taketori-senpai, who said it with a gentle smile, and left the student council room.

　Then I saw the kind expression on her face and wondered if maybe I was just being ridiculed by her? I thought so calmly.


☆


　Then, as I walked down the hallway to my classroom, it occurred to me that I had just thought of that.

　Taketori Kaguya.

　I had unconsciously excluded her from the list of candidates, but—that senior's initials were also "T'' for the time being.