A Few Chaotic and Complicated Days (2)

"...Wake up."

"Did you not sleep well last night?"

Oreki felt the surroundings grow noisy by his ear.

He forced his eyes open.

Sakayanagi's face was inches away.

The two were almost kissing.

This woke Oreki up instantly.

Any trace of sleepiness vanished.

Realizing the issue, Sakayanagi quickly put some distance between them.

She had only intended to wake Oreki up.

After all, it was already nearly one-twenty.

If they dawdled any longer, they would be late.

That would result in a deduction of class points.

Though, how many...

"It's already this late... Let's go."

Oreki got up awkwardly.

He instinctively reached into his pocket.

Out of battery? Already...

After trying a few times, Oreki gave up.

There was nothing to be done if it was dead.

He just wondered if anyone had sent him a message at this hour.

Once Oreki left the room.

Sakayanagi, still inside, held something in her hand.

It was a phone.

To be precise, it was Oreki's phone.

"Is this really necessary?"

Kamuro Masumi stepped out from the corner.

She had arrived twenty minutes ago.

She was also carrying a phone identical to Oreki's.

The only difference was...

The one she brought wouldn't turn on.

"Mm, I can leave others be, but Shiina Hiyori is an exception."

"Are you saying you look down on the others?"

"I never said that."

"Sigh... do as you please. I'm leaving, goodbye."

Kamuro Masumi slung her bag over her shoulder and walked out.

She was supposed to be enjoying the afternoon breeze on the rooftop.

But the call from Sakayanagi had forced Kamuro Masumi to rush over.

Even though she had agreed to work for her...

She should at least consider the feelings of her subordinates, right?

If she kept bossing her around so casually...

She would just go and seduce Oreki, leaving Sakayanagi as the loser.

That was what Kamuro Masumi thought.

A few minutes later.

Only Sakayanagi remained in the room.

"Feelings, they really are complicated."

She stroked her chest...

Carefully feeling that "doki-doki" heartbeat.

Even though she didn't know the reason.

But...

Perhaps that is the charm of love.

Of course, this refers to true love.

Not the fake kind, dominated by a love-addled brain.

Elsewhere.

Oreki arrived at the classroom and sat in his seat.

"Tsk... it won't charge. Is it really broken?"

He tossed his phone into the drawer.

He would find a shop to check it after class.

Although the phone wasn't very expensive, it contained a lot of data.

If a phone is lost, you can just buy another.

But if the data is gone...

It is truly gone forever.

After all, the phones they brought in could not connect to the internet.

Of course, one cannot rule out individuals who secretly brought phones that could.

Being able to bring one in counts as a personal skill.

As of now...

Sakura Airi should have a phone that can connect to the internet.

Oreki had seen it through binoculars last time.

It seemed to be... Bluebird?

Posting photos of herself on social media—is she trying to be an idol or something?

An idol, huh...

Sounds decent enough.

Although it relies somewhat on looks.

But as long as the looks pass muster and one learns a few tricks to liven up the atmosphere, one can basically earn a good income.

Oh, and a bit of intelligence is required too.

Because if the intelligence is lacking, it is very easy to collapse.

Like a certain toothpick.

Or perhaps a certain...

"Troublesome..."

"My luck doesn't seem to be very good today..."

"Should I go to a shrine and draw an omikuji?"

Oreki looked out the window, bored.

There was still some time before class, and Sakayanagi Arisu hadn't arrived yet.

If he had known, he wouldn't have walked alone.

What was there to be shy about...

Before long.

Outside the classroom.

Sakayanagi was the same as always.

She entered through the back door and leaned her cane against the desk.

A smile that was impossible to tell as real or fake hung on her face.

"Don't forget our appointment this afternoon."

"I know. Four o'clock, right?"

"Mm."

"...You haven't been doing anything behind my back, have you?"

"I don't understand what you are talking about."

"...As I thought."

Oreki sighed.

Thinking it over, he had done nothing but take a nap.

Although he hadn't checked the battery level before sleeping.

It had still been over eighty percent this morning.

Suddenly the power cut out, and it wouldn't charge either...

What a coincidence.

But knowing this didn't help much.

Whatever Sakayanagi wanted to do, Oreki couldn't stop her.

If he had known in advance, there might have been a chance.

But now...

The odds were practically zero.

Still, she had two sides to her.

Oreki preferred the shy Sakayanagi.

Because she was cute.

The other, less shy version wasn't bad either.

It was just...

A bit annoying.

She knew exactly what he was saying, yet she still put on an "I don't know" act.

It wasn't a big problem.

There were many remedies.

The most effective one was to give her a good ___.

But there was a prerequisite—the girl had to like you and not be opposed to such things.

Don't try this if she doesn't like you.

The nature of the two is completely different.

If she likes you, it strengthens the bond.

If she doesn't...

You might as well eat a good meal before heading inside to stitch sewing machines for the people.

Time passed quickly.

In the blink of an eye, school was out again.

A little past three.

It was good not to waste time or grind for meaningless things.

Market demand was only so high.

Someone always had to fill the gaps at the bottom.

Why bother grinding?

Grinding until the people at the top have bulging wallets.

Grinding until your spirit goes numb.

Grinding until you've aged before you even had a chance to enjoy your youth.

Your body breaks down, and your spirit withers.

A cult-like method, brainwashing you that bitterness comes before sweetness...

Have you not heard of seeking out your own suffering?

Copying someone else's path is one thing, but doing so without considering the consequences...

Japan has a small population.

It took decades of lying flat to barely recover.

But in a place with many people...

As expected, the Renaissance shouldn't come too early.

Oreki shook his head.

Sigh! Why is Japan so bad? (doge)

Enough with the snark.

He still had plenty to do.

One of those things was figuring out what Sakayanagi was actually planning.

"Do you have anything to do for the next hour?"

"I don't."

"Is that so? Then I'm going to find a shop to look at phones."

"Wait a second..."

"Hmm?"

Oreki turned back with a meaningful look.

This was unexpected.

Did she take the bait after only one cast?

The Sakayanagi in his memories wasn't this simple.

"Here, this is 300,000 yen."

"???"

"Don't get the wrong idea."

"No, wait, you..."

"I just want Oreki-kun to buy a better one so it doesn't break again next time."

"..."

The corner of Oreki's mouth twitched.

He didn't know what kind of expression he should be wearing right now.

Fine, fine, fine.

Then let me ask you.

Who exactly was the one who broke it? Hmm?

After mentally roasting Sakayanagi, Oreki nodded in agreement.

And so, another large sum of points hit his terminal.

Regarding this...

Sakayanagi smiled without a word.

--To be continue