Sakayanagi Arisu's Thoughts (1)

(IF route, one for each heroine, essentially pure love.)

(Japanese setting, all characters are adults. Most parenthetical content in the following text serves as a disclaimer.)

(Read the synopsis before starting, and be sure to persist until the IF route.)

Morning.

Oreki, an early riser, arrived at the bus stop.

The bus wouldn't arrive for a while yet.

Adhering to his energy-conservation philosophy, he closed his eyes, but before long, a silver-haired girl leaning on a cane walked up beside him.

The two exchanged a brief glance.

There were no other movements, nor was there any conversation.

Only silence.

Perhaps this was the typical scene of strangers meeting.

However, this silence was soon interrupted.

A bald youth stepped forward, looking at the silver-haired girl with a hint of disgust.

"I didn't expect you to be placed in Class A... Then again, with your methods of controlling people, Sakayanagi Arisu, it's no surprise you ended up in Class A."

"Thank you, Katsuragi-kun."

"I wasn't complimenting you."

Katsuragi left, looking displeased.

Before he walked away, he cast a glance at Oreki.

He likely mistook Oreki for one of Sakayanagi's subordinates.

But that was far from the truth.

Oreki was merely an ordinary person passing by.

Still, continuing to stand beside Sakayanagi would likely lead to more unfortunate events.

So, Oreki opened his eyes, preparing to move to the other side of the station.

"Where are you going, Oreki-kun?"

"Somewhere I can get away from trouble."

"That's quite harsh, isn't it?"

Sakayanagi reached out her left hand and grabbed the hem of Oreki's coat.

She wore a confident smile.

"Do you intend to join little Katsuragi's side, perhaps?"

"I have absolutely no such intention."

"Then we are companions, aren't we?"

Seeing more and more gazes focusing on him, Oreki had no choice but to give up for now.

He leaned against the station platform.

Beside him, Sakayanagi let go of his coat.

At that moment, the bus to the high school arrived.

The brief interlude had come to an end.

Oreki boarded the bus with no enthusiasm.

Hm? Did someone tamper with this vehicle?

The fuel gauge needle showed a full tank, but there were fingerprints beneath the dashboard.

Though faint.

If one looked closely, the patterns of the fingertips were still visible.

Judging by the scent, it was honey.

As such, someone must have touched the dashboard with honey-stained hands.

Oreki sighed.

He only wanted to spend his high school life in peace.

Why did he always run into troublesome matters?

"Is there a problem, Oreki?"

"Don't call me so familiarly."

"You can call me Arisu directly, you know."

"I refuse."

"Why is that?"

"I have a feeling someone would leak this, and then I'd inexplicably become your subordinate."

"How could that be... Hehe."

Sakayanagi Arisu chuckled and sat down.

She tilted her head to look out the window, falling silent.

Oreki took a quick look around.

The seats were practically all taken.

Practically...

Well, actually, there was one left.

Right beside Sakayanagi Arisu.

This was the consequence of not sitting down sooner.

So that's why she wanted to chat with me.

Oreki gave up resisting.

Since Sakayanagi was pulling out all the stops to make others think he was her subordinate, he might as well play along.

"Pardon the intrusion."

Oreki sat down beside Sakayanagi without hesitation.

He took her right hand.

"It's so cold; I thought I could use it to warm my hands."

Oreki said nonchalantly.

"...How bold of you. But it doesn't matter, as long as you join me."

Sakayanagi was indeed surprised for a moment.

But only for a moment.

She quickly returned to her initial state.

A faint sense of melancholy.

It was as if being near her made one feel illusory and fleeting.

"Just a joke. I was only checking your physical condition."

Oreki let go of her right hand.

"And what about my physical condition?"

Sakayanagi looked at him with interest.

"Your body temperature is significantly below the normal range, and your skin is clammy."

"Anything else?"

"Your pulse is weak and irregular."

"It seems you've figured it all out."

"Yeah. You... your heart isn't in great shape, is it?"

Sakayanagi did not answer Oreki's question.

She silently watched the cherry blossoms drifting outside the window.

Beautiful.

But it wouldn't last long.

Suddenly, the bus came to a halt.

Everyone wore a puzzled expression... except for these two.

That is, Oreki and Sakayanagi.

"What happened?"

"Did we hit something?"

"Ugh... how annoying, I'm in a rush."

The driver got off the bus to check, looking bewildered.

It would be fine under normal circumstances.

But for something like this to happen on the first day of school...

It was as if he didn't want his job anymore.

Although it wasn't his fault, the blame would always be pushed onto him.

As for who was doing the pushing...

"We're getting off."

"Hm? Are you that certain it can't be fixed?"

"It can't be fixed. Besides, we'd be forced to stay here."

"Then let's go."

With that, Sakayanagi stood up, leaning on her cane.

The two of them got off the vehicle together.

"Hey, you two students! Where do you think you're going?"

"..."

Oreki didn't want to answer the driver.

Explaining it would be too much of a hassle.

He quickly used his phone to unlock a bicycle.

"Get on."

Sakayanagi laid her cane flat across her lap.

"Mm."

Receiving her response, Oreki started pedaling.

"Could you tell me about it, Oreki-kun?"

"Someone deliberately tampered with the fuel gauge."

"I see. He thought there was still fuel, but in reality, it was already empty."

"Since there are fingerprints on it, it means they aren't the driver's. Otherwise, he would have wiped them clean."

"Choosing this timing... are they trying to drag the driver down with them?"

"Perhaps. But that has nothing to do with me."

"How cold, Oreki-kun."

"Don't call me that."

"Hehe... You really are suited to be on my side."

Oreki didn't continue the conversation with Sakayanagi.

He simply picked up speed, hoping to arrive before the entrance ceremony.

Being late on the very first day of school?

He'd rather avoid that.

About twenty minutes later.

"We're here, get off."

Sakayanagi picked up her cane and hopped down with composure.

"I enjoyed this time, Oreki-kun."

"My thanks, then."

"So, you're welcome to hold my hand in the future, you know."

"..."

Oreki felt like he'd been played.

It was only a moment ago that he had been the one in control.

How did he suddenly end up on the defensive?

"I'm going to the dorms to sleep, you—"

"Who sleeps during the day? Let's go check out the classroom together."

"Riding that bike drained three days' worth of my energy."

"Are you implying that I'm heavy?"

"Not exac—"

"Hm?"

"Nothing."

Sakayanagi turned around, satisfied.

She asked Oreki with curiosity:

"Do you think Katsuragi-kun and the others will be able to make it today?"

"I estimate we'll have to wait until the afternoon."

"Why?"

"Because that driver will realize someone tampered with the vehicle soon enough."

"Mm, and so they'll be kept behind to give statements."

"Most people would instinctively call the police after encountering something like that."

"If you had spoken up from the start, perhaps you could have avoided that situation."

"Stop probing me, Sakayanagi."

Oreki looked at her coldly.

"I don't like troublesome things. Besides, even if I said that bus was going to have an accident, no one would believe me."

Reality isn't like anime.

Detectives and such.

They're just things to think about.

Having said that, Oreki headed toward the dormitory without looking back.

Leaving Sakayanagi alone where she stood.

After a gust of wind blew past, she tucked a strand of hair behind her ear.

"Things... are starting to get interesting."