A Presence Drawing Ever Closer

After lunch together, the students from Classes A and D went their separate ways.

"Hey, what exactly is going on with you? It's so obvious that girl likes you. Are you really okay with this?" As soon as they'd left, Kamuro Masumi stared at Toru Hasegawa, intent on getting to the bottom of it.

"Hmm... Does it bother you that much?"

"Of course. A girl's feelings are important. You should respond to them properly," Kamuro Masumi said, as if it were obvious.

"And then what? What happens after I respond?" Toru Hasegawa asked. "Does that mean we'll both be happy? It can't be that simple, can it?"

"You..."

"I was a little surprised you asked me to come out during the break." Toru Hasegawa gestured to Masayoshi Hashimoto to give them some space, and Hashimoto quietly walked off.

"So what? After seeing you do something like that, I couldn't bring myself to say what I'd wanted to." Kamuro Masumi scratched her head, looking a little irritated. "Hey, let me make sure I understand. Was the reason you deliberately handed me over to Sakayanagi the same as your attitude toward Sakura?"

"Maybe."

"Don't give me such a vague answer!"

"You're right... Are you satisfied now?"

Kamuro Masumi seemed even more irritated. "I don't even know whether to call you a good person or a bad one."

"Good and bad are too broad. People are just people." Toru Hasegawa smiled casually.

For some inexplicable reason, Kamuro Masumi's affection had reached 80. Toru Hasegawa had no idea what she'd been imagining all this time.

"Tomorrow, just the two of us..." Kamuro Masumi suddenly grew awkward. "Could you spend some time with me?"

"I'm afraid I'll have to decline. I get the feeling there's some ulterior motive behind this." Toru Hasegawa refused outright. He couldn't just assume he knew her intentions based on a little affection, and besides, he really did need to avoid taking on any extra activities.

At his words, Kamuro Masumi glared at him furiously. "All my concern for you might as well have gone to a dog. Fine, do whatever you want!"

With that, she stormed off, looking furious.

When Kamuro Masumi had left, Masayoshi Hashimoto came over.

"You made her mad?"

"Hmm... Seems like it." Toru Hasegawa felt uneasy. Maybe he really had misunderstood her...

He'd apologize another day.

"But I really didn't expect you to win over a girl from Class D so quickly. You really are something." Masayoshi Hashimoto grinned, changing the subject.

Toru Hasegawa gave him a sidelong glance. "I think you've got the wrong idea about me."

"Can you really be sure you won't use her as a way to get a foothold in Class D?"

"She isn't valuable enough for that."

"Anyone in another class has value. You should know that better than I do." Masayoshi Hashimoto had a very high opinion of Toru Hasegawa.

"You still haven't seen the point." Toru Hasegawa sighed. "Then let me ask you this: why do you think Kushida showed up here today?"

"Huh?"

"Take your time thinking it over. I've decided to go apologize to Kamuro now." Toru Hasegawa took out his phone, then suddenly stopped.

"Um... Can I borrow your phone?"

Toru Hasegawa had meant to slip away, but now he awkwardly turned back to ask Masayoshi Hashimoto for his phone.

"You don't... have Kamuro's contact info yet, do you?" Masayoshi Hashimoto had been about to seriously consider what Toru Hasegawa meant, but couldn't help laughing.

"Yeah. It's a bit pathetic that we sit next to each other and don't even have each other's contact info."

After getting the phone from Masayoshi Hashimoto, Toru Hasegawa just checked where she was before handing it back.

"Thanks."

Then he jogged toward Kamuro Masumi's location.

She hadn't gone far. Toru Hasegawa found her in a shop selling accessories.

As soon as Kamuro Masumi saw him, she tried to leave.

"Wait!" Toru Hasegawa called after her. "I want to apologize for what I said earlier. I'm sorry. I took too much for granted."

"...It's fine. I was at fault too. My intentions weren't exactly pure before." Kamuro Masumi hadn't expected Toru Hasegawa to come after her to apologize. After a moment of silence, she replied.

"Thanks for accepting my apology. By the way, I don't think we've exchanged contact info yet. How about we do that now?"

"I thought you'd keep forgetting about it." Kamuro Masumi suddenly smiled. It was rare to see her break into a smile after keeping her face so tense.

"Can't be helped." Toru Hasegawa was momentarily distracted, then said with a serious expression, "The school's contact list also lets you check the other person's location."

"...What did you say?"

That was some pretty significant information.

"So, now that you know, are you still willing to add me?" Toru Hasegawa asked with a deliberately mischievous grin.

Kamuro Masumi glared at him. "You really are a devious person. Most people wouldn't even notice that, would they?"

"I'm sorry, but Hashimoto told me about it. So that means he's a devious person?"

"...Never mind. I'm the one being ridiculous for getting hung up on that."

Kamuro Masumi sighed helplessly. In the end, they exchanged contact information without a hitch.

Having achieved both of his goals, Toru Hasegawa was about to leave when Kamuro Masumi called him back.

"Wait."

"What is it?" Toru Hasegawa turned around, puzzled. Wouldn't it normally be better for her to be here alone?

Kamuro Masumi glanced around. Only after making sure there was no one else nearby did she walk over and speak into Toru Hasegawa's ear.

"You don't have to keep doing this all the time, you know. Why not relax a little?"

"..."

Toru Hasegawa fell silent. A strange feeling spread through him. After a long while, he finally spoke.

"Are you trying to get through to me? If so, congratulations. You succeeded."

Kamuro Masumi had clearly come closer than Masayoshi Hashimoto to understanding who he really was. He'd suspected as much before, but now it was confirmed.

But people couldn't truly control their desires. Once they'd had a taste of something sweet, greater desires would naturally follow.

Toru Hasegawa was no exception.

He'd always helped others with ulterior motives. He wasn't truly a good person...

And that truth made Toru Hasegawa feel deeply uncomfortable.

"No. I'm just offering you a little advice as a friend. I feel like there's something about you I don't understand. Anyway, do your best."

Kamuro Masumi said it as if it didn't matter.

"Oh, and you don't have to come out with me tomorrow after all. I've already said what I wanted to say."

"Yeah. I'll remember what you told me today."

Toru Hasegawa smiled. Even if only a little, she really had touched him for a moment.

But that was all.