Chapter 174 Manager's Melancholy

Manager’s Melancholy

Manager Tachibana’s PoV

What should I do? What should I do?

Instead of going home, I went to a cafe in front of the station to collect my thoughts.

First of all, were Ikenobu Eri’s words true? Or were they false?

She was cornered and about to collapse. Maybe that’s why she lost track of the border between delusion and reality. That would explain everything. When I think about it calmly, there is no way she could’ve met Kondo-kun.

I knew it was a lie. So don’t be afraid of what she’ll tell the teacher. I won’t be afraid, but…

Suspicion of the Literature Club would definitely grow.

The teachers have already tightened the siege on us.

First of all, can the teachers judge Ikenobu-san’s delusions as delusions?

There was definitely a certain amount of reality in Ikenobu-san’s testimony. If it’s discovered that I’ve been working hand in hand with Kondo-kun in the dark since junior high school, everything could be exposed like a sack of potatoes.

“If that happens, I will have no choice but to keep Ikenobu-san quiet.”

I will pay her hush money. No, I can’t do that. It won’t calm her anger at losing everything. It will only add fuel to the fire.

Then the only way is to physically stop her from testifying.

But how?

“I can’t do anything!!”

Blame my juniors and run away? But with her testimony, it would be impossible to stop the pursuit against me.

“If this happens…”

With my last chance, I will incite a certain person.

If that doesn’t work, I’m ruined.

Eiji’s PoV

We dropped Hayashi-san off at home and went to Kitchen Aono.

Ichijo-san looked a little tired. She had worked so hard to protect me and Hayashi-san.

I couldn’t help but feel a little sorry for her.

“Thank you for everything, Ichijo-san.”

When I suddenly thanked her, she said, “What?” in a surprised voice.

“We were really saved by Ichijo-san. I can’t thank you enough.”

I honestly told her how I felt.

“Oh my, that’s so unfair.”

She smiles a little shyly and a look of melancholy comes over her face.

“What’s wrong?”

She blurts out the words as if she is having trouble saying them.

“No. I just was wondering if I deserved to be thanked so much by Senpai. You’ve always loved me, but I’m afraid that if you start to see the black side of me, the side you don’t like…you’ll be afraid of me.”

Her expression clouded over, as if she remembered a dull pain as if an old wound was tearing at her.

“Hmm, it’s true, people always have a disgusting part of themselves. But…”

“Yes, I know. I’m also aware that I’m not a saint. In fact, I have a self-hating feeling that my black side is bigger than my saintly side. Senpai is kind to me, and I think I might be taking advantage of that…”

There is no Ichijo Ai who is always a perfect idol, but a fragile high school girl. And that fragility seems to be related to the weakness I felt on the rooftop when we first met.

“Still…”

So I tell her honestly what I am.

To her, who is afraid of something, as if she were a small animal.

“I’m sure Ichijo-san only uses the black side to protect someone. She did her best to protect someone. And it’s probably because of her kindness. She is so serious that she blames herself more than others. And because she is so hardworking, she tries to overcome any difficulties.”

I can’t put it into words very well. But I think she wears herself out because of her personality.

She stopped and looked at me. Her tears were reflected in the setting sun.

“I think that’s why I fell in love with you because you are such a girl.”

These are my true feelings. What she thinks are her weaknesses are the flip side of her strengths.

“That’s really not fair. If you’re…I’m going to spoil you and show you the black side of me from now on, okay?”

“Yeah. I hope so. I want you to spoil me more and more. I want to go that way.”

I slowly held out my hand. She said, “Thank you” and took it.