Chapter 29 Mail

Mail

“Sniff… Senpai…”

“Mikoto…”

The two of them were finally starting to regain their composure.

Yeah… At this rate, we’ll never get to eat lunch…

“C-Come on, come on! Let’s eat already! We can catch up while we eat!”

Uh, um… Why are both Kakizaki-san and Mushakoji-san glaring at me like that…?

“Sigh… Yuuta.”

“You really can’t read the atmosphere, can you…”

The two senpai, looking exasperated, lightly patted me on the shoulder.

“Honestly, you’re hopeless…”

“Ahaha… But maybe that’s part of what makes Naoe-kun so likable, too?”

Ugh… Even Kakizaki-san…

But thanks to that, we were finally able to start eating.

“Wow… Naoe-kun, this is delicious!”

“Haha, yeah, it really is.”

Eating the cafeteria’s daily special lunch, Kakizaki-san’s face lit up with joy.

Watching her enjoy her meal always makes me happy.

“So… Hatsune-senpai, what have you been up to until now?”

“Ah…”

Mushakoji-san asked directly, and Kakizaki-san glanced at me with a troubled look.

“It’s okay, Kakizaki-san. We chose this spot so no one can overhear. Besides, Sasaki-senpai and Kinoshita-senpai already know about you.”

“Hatsune-chan… We want to support you too.”

“Yeah, so don’t hold back with us, okay?”

“…”

Even so, Kakizaki-san bit her lip and clutched the sleeve of my shirt tightly.

After everything she’s been through these past two years, I know it’s not easy for her to trust people.

I understand how she feels.

“Haha, of course, you don’t have to force yourself to talk, okay? Honestly, Mushakoji-san, I think you could be a bit more considerate, though.”

“Oh? You’re one to talk.”

“!?”

With a frosty smile and a chilling tone, she said that, sending a shiver down my spine.

T-This next seminar, I might need to prepare myself…

“N-No, Mikoto! You shouldn’t be so casual with Yuuta-kun!”

“Eh!? H-Hatsune-senpai!?”

Taken aback by Kakizaki-san’s unexpected words, Mushakoji-san looked completely shocked.

“Oh Yuuta, you sly dog!”

“Sasaki-senpai, that hurts.”

After getting a hard slap on the back, I protested to Sasaki-senpai.

“But Yuuta-kun, you better be careful. Hatsune-chan might be the possessive type.”

“Eh!? T-That’s not true at all!”

When Kinoshita-senpai teased her, Kakizaki-san turned bright red, waving her hands frantically in denial.

And so, our lunch break passed in a cheerful, relaxed atmosphere.

“Well then, we’ll be going.”

“Hatsune-chan, let’s eat together again next time!”

Sasaki-senpai and Kinoshita-senpai waved with smiles as they headed back into the campus building.

“…Hatsune-senpai, please… please teach me again sometime.”

“Ahaha… At this point, I don’t think I can keep up with you, Mikoto…”

“T-That’s not true! Hatsune-senpai, you’re far more talented than I am!”

“Ah, ahaha… Thank you…”

Mushakoji-san leaned in closer, and even Kakizaki-san couldn’t help but step back with a wry smile.

“…Naoe-san. If anything happens to Hatsune-senpai, the entire Mushakoji group will erase you.”

“Why!?”

Leaving only those terrifying words behind, Mushakoji-san exited the scene.

And then.

“Uh, um… Kakizaki-san, I’m sorry for acting on my own…”

Facing her directly, I bowed deeply in apology.

Even though I meant well, bringing her—someone already struggling with trust issues—to meet three people so suddenly was entirely my responsibility.

But.

“Ahaha… Naoe-kun, raise your head.”

“B-But…”

“Introducing me to the two senpai you trust, and even bringing me to meet Mikoto, it was all for my sake, wasn’t it?”

“…”

“If that’s the case, you have nothing to apologize for. Rather, thank you so much for worrying about someone like me this much.”

As she said that, Kakizaki-san smiled gently.

Truly… This girl is…

“Haha… Yeah.”

“Alright, let’s head to the afternoon lecture!”

“Yeah!”

Kakizaki-san took me by the hand, and we headed to the afternoon lecture together.

“Nfufufu~…”

During dinner, Kakizaki-san was smiling from ear to ear, clearly delighted.

In fact, she’d been like this since recalling the day’s events at the university.

“Haha, I’m just glad you’re happy, Kakizaki-san.”

“Yeah! I’d love to attend another lecture again…”

“Of course, let’s go together again. Honestly, we could attend lectures together every day from now on.”

“A-Ah!? N-No, that would be too much for you!”

At my suggestion, Kakizaki-san looked flustered, hesitating with a troubled expression.

Hmm… I really wouldn’t mind at all, though…

“Anyway, today’s simmered yellowtail and radish is amazing! The flavor is soaked all the way in—it’s perfect!”

“Nfufu~ Right? I was pretty confident in today’s dish!”

“Ahh… Ever since I started living with you, my stomach has never been happier…”

“Ahaha… Hearing that makes me really happy…”

As I spoke earnestly, Kakizaki-san shyly smiled, clearly pleased.

Really… She’s so cute…

“A-Ah, stop! Don’t stare at me so much!”

“Eh? But we’re sitting across from each other, so I can’t really help it…”

“E-Even so! I-It’s embarrassing…”

As I was scolded rather unreasonably, I slumped my shoulders.

—Thud

“Hm? What was that sound?”

“Not sure… It came from the entrance, right?”

I stood up and checked the door.

“A letter…?”

I picked up an envelope dropped in the mail slot—it had no name on it.

…At this point, even I could guess what it was.

And so could she.

“Ah… Ahhh…!”

With a pale face, Kakizaki-san looked back and forth between me and the letter.

Silently, I tore open the envelope and pulled out the letter inside.

[Kakizaki Hatsune is the daughter of the president of the Kakizaki Farm massive fraud case. Expel the criminal immediately!]

Such cruel words were written on it.