March Towards Tomorrow (2)

"Is it just my imagination... Sakayanagi, you seem to have a very red face today."

"Don't even ask who caused it, you idiot..."

Sakayanagi complained in a low voice.

The cold, aloof queen image she had cultivated daily was completely shattered in front of Oreki.

Although Oreki didn't care at all.

Or rather, he wasn't into that type at all.

He still preferred someone small and cute.

With a bit of airheadedness added in.

Soon.

Oreki carried Sakayanagi into that Chinese restaurant.

There were very few people here.

Basically, they were all upperclassmen.

"Alright, put me down..."

"Hm? What?"

"I said, put me down..."

"Oh. But your foot?"

"It's fine now. So... hurry up."

Sakayanagi took a deep breath.

After steadying her emotions, she held down her skirt and sat down.

"Phew... let's talk about business."

"Business?"

"Yes, I know."

"What are you talking about?"

"About Class C."

"Class C... oh, you mean Ryuen Kakeru?"

"Yes."

"There really is nothing that can be hidden from you."

Oreki said with admiration.

A day ago, he still had some ideas.

Namely, he intended to cooperate with Ryuen Kakeru.

But now...

It could be said that those thoughts were completely gone.

As expected, Sakayanagi was stronger.

Not just in terms of background.

But also in her personal methods.

As for Ryuen Kakeru...

Oreki wasn't clear on his strength.

Unifying a class in a short time meant either having high popularity or using violence.

These two methods of rule were indeed highly efficient.

But they were unstable.

Especially when the ruler's prestige diminished.

At that point, the various problems accumulated internally would erupt in an instant.

Splits, mutinies, and the like would become commonplace.

"So, what is your choice?"

"Is that even a question?"

"Of course. If you choose Ryuen Shoko, I will have to treat you as an enemy."

"Ryuen Shoko? That feels strange somehow..."

"That is not the point. Give me your answer, Oreki Houtarou."

"I know, I know."

Oreki half-raised his right hand.

He swore...

No, he should have vowed.

"Rest assured, I'll be on your side for the time being."

"For the time being, huh..."

"Yeah. If I were completely on your side, it would definitely be a huge hassle."

"That's quite a harsh thing to say."

"Is it? I don't think so at all."

Oreki said while eating.

Replenishing energy feels great.

He thought.

Time ticked away, second by second.

After finishing breakfast.

The two went to Class A together and finished their morning classes.

"I have something to do this afternoon, so I'm heading out."

Oreki shouldered his bag and left his seat.

He intended to go to Class C to find Shiina Hiyori.

Refusing to cooperate with Ryuen Kakeru was one thing, but what Oreki cared about more...

Was investigating together with Shiina Hiyori.

The progress had been so slow before, entirely because there wasn't a suitable assistant.

He had to verify every single step himself.

That was why the efficiency was so low.

"Mm, I look forward to your investigation results."

Sakayanagi said calmly.

She didn't seem to mind Oreki meeting with other girls.

Perhaps it was confidence.

However, sometimes being too confident isn't a good thing.

Because one often gets blindsided by a sudden sneak attack.

"It's better not to expect too much..."

Oreki walked out the back door.

He turned left and arrived at the entrance of Class C.

Looking through the window, he could see Shiina Hiyori was still in the classroom.

She was reading a novel.

Should I call out to her... forget it, that feels awkward.

Oreki, who had just raised his hand, lowered it again.

He looked around.

A girl with light blue hair happened to walk over.

An ahoge.

Choppy hair.

A cold expression on her face.

Ibuki Mio from Class C.

It took Oreki a moment to recall her.

Her profile was very ordinary; one could say there were no highlights.

The only thing worth noting...

Was her extensive martial arts experience.

A girl who is very good at fighting? This doesn't feel great. As expected, I should ask someone else...

"Hey, you've been staring at me for a long time now."

Ibuki Mio walked up to Oreki.

She said somewhat unkindly:

"What do you want?"

"...Could you help me call Shiina-san out?"

"Hmph."

It was obvious she had mistaken Oreki for one of those people coming to confess their feelings.

Shiina Hiyori was cute.

There was no doubt about that.

Coupled with her gentle personality, most boys would surely find her irresistible.

She was simply an ideal partner.

Ibuki Mio walked into the classroom and exchanged a few words with Shiina at her seat.

Shiina looked up.

She glanced at Oreki and then offered a gentle smile.

"Thank you for coming all this way to see me."

"It's nothing."

"I was reading just now, so I apologize for not noticing you."

"It's fine. But..."

"Yes?"

"How about we exchange contact information? I feel a bit bad about always bothering people from your class."

"Sure, here is my email address."

"Thanks."

After adding Shiina's email, Oreki put his phone away.

He planned to grab some lunch first.

After that, he would go investigate the matter regarding the art gallery.

With the help of Shiina Hiyori, he was sure this matter would be resolved quickly.

"See you later, then."

"Does Classmate Oreki have other plans?"

"No, I'm just looking for a restaurant to have lunch."

"In that case..."

Shiina took out two coupons.

She handed one to Oreki.

"I recommend this place."

"Oh..."

Oreki took it.

He carefully examined the contents.

Limited-edition dessert at a huge discount.

No way... Could it be that she eats this for lunch...

Oreki was shocked internally.

He had heard of girls with small appetites, but this was just too...

"Is there a problem?"

"No, not at all."

"Then I'll go with you in a bit."

"Is that so? Alright then."

"Mm."

Shiina Hiyori returned to the classroom to pack her things.

Some students would mess around in the classroom during lunch, and if she didn't put her important belongings away, they might end up on the floor.

They might even get stepped on.

Even if it were unintentional, it would still be infuriating.

"Let's go."

"Right."

Shiina placed her hands behind her back.

She asked Oreki with great interest:

"Classmate Oreki has been with Classmate Sakayanagi quite often lately; you two seem to have a very good relationship."

"...Do we?"

"Hmm, I saw you holding Classmate Sakayanagi this morning."

"Cough, cough!"

Oreki nearly choked on the water he was drinking.

How did Shiina Hiyori know about that?

Could there have been a third person present at the time?

But Oreki had checked.

There was basically no one around, and if there were, they were just some upperclassmen.

Freshmen generally didn't get up much before seven-thirty.

That was too early.

At the very least, they wouldn't roll out of bed until after eight.

Those upperclassmen getting up so early were likely doing so to prepare for their graduation exams.

It couldn't be helped, after all.

"Um, how did you know?"

"Well, about that..."

Shiina Hiyori let out a light chuckle.

She said:

"Why, of course it's because..."

--To be continue