The Complicated, Chaotic Days (6)

The winner had been decided.

Oreki hadn't wanted to see who would win in a fight with Kiyoko.

He'd simply prepared ways to deal with all kinds of situations.

"There aren't any cameras here, but that doesn't mean we can do whatever we want."

Ichinose turned off her phone.

She pressed her hands together and spoke gently:

"Let's pretend we didn't see that this time."

Kiyoko dropped her aggressive stance as well.

"Houtarou Oreki... I'll remember you."

"Also, you just bought that phone recently, didn't you?"

"If so, next time you'd better bring an older one to fool people."

With that, she left with Sakura Airi.

She seemed unwilling to stay here for even a moment longer.

"So she noticed after all..."

Oreki shrugged.

Kiyoko was right. He hadn't had time to make a backup yet.

He hadn't expected Kiyoko to have a video like that.

Oh, right...

When all was said and done, the blame should fall on Hashimoto Masayoshi.

"Hey, don't tell me you deliberately had Ayanokoji record that video?"

"Eh—how could I?"

"You're really suspicious..."

Hashimoto Masayoshi waved his hands repeatedly.

He looked completely innocent.

"Whatever. It doesn't matter."

Sakayanagi cut into their conversation.

She glanced at Ichinose Honami from Class B.

Tsk...

Why was there another one with such a huge chest?

Did girls all develop this much at this age?

Oreki reassured Sakayanagi in his mind.

It was all right.

She still had a few years left.

She'd definitely grow more.

"So, Houtarou, who's this little kitty?"

"Class B's Ichinose."

"Hmm, can I call her 'Fatty Honami'?"

"...Better not. It's rude to give people nicknames without permission, Arisu."

"Oh? 'Oreki-stick' is calling me by my name on his own initiative."

"..."

In the end, Oreki gave up resisting.

But was it really a good idea to talk about this in front of other people?

Just as Oreki had expected,

Ichinose Honami smiled awkwardly.

"Um, you can just call me Honami."

"Sure, Fatty Honami."

"...Yes, Arisu. Was there something you wanted?"

"When did you get in touch with him?"

"Well... that's a se."

Ichinose put her index finger to her lips.

Then she said it one syllable at a time.

It seemed that she was only easygoing on the surface.

She wasn't some goody-two-shoes.

"Ahem... How about we all try to get along?"

"Shut up, Oreki-stick."

"Arisu won't let you."

Oreki had just tried to mediate, but he hadn't expected...

Sakayanagi and Ichinose to gang up on him.

This...

Never mind. He'd just let them keep at it.

"I get it, I get it."

Hashimoto Masayoshi nodded beside them.

He seemed to understand everything.

"Get what?"

"That's harsh. Even if you're arguing with your girlfriends, don't use me as a punching bag."

"Hey!"

Oreki hurriedly covered his mouth.

Sometimes, he couldn't tell whether this guy was doing it on purpose or just pretending to be careless.

He thought to himself.

He knew full well that things were tense right now.

And he still had to add fuel to the fire.

"Girlfriends? How interesting. We'll talk about this properly when we get back, Houtarou Oreki."

Sakayanagi looked at him as if he were a dead man.

This was bad...

Very bad.

"Come on, Houtarou and I are just ordinary friends."

Ichinose said with a cheerful smile.

Sigh...

He really shouldn't have brought Sakayanagi along.

According to Oreki's plan, he should've come with Shiina Hiyori.

If he had, this wouldn't be happening.

"I know, I know."

Oreki raised his hands in surrender.

There was no dealing with Sakayanagi.

"We'll talk about the rest when we get back."

"Just now... she—Kiyoko must have realized I hadn't had time to make a backup. Otherwise, she wouldn't have rushed over and tried to snatch my phone."

"Her approach was dull, but I won't deny the ability she showed earlier."

As Oreki had said, Ayanokoji was someone who couldn't be ignored.

But he wasn't enough of a threat to warrant constant surveillance.

After this incident, Oreki was sure Kiyoko would pick a fight again next time.

In that case...

He just had to wait for Kiyoko to make her move.

He didn't need to worry about her in the meantime.

It was time to turn his attention to unifying Class A.

Whatever he did, the first step was to secure his rear.

Otherwise, there was no point.

If the enemy could stir up trouble and throw the group into chaos so easily,

he might as well work alone.

"Thanks for today."

"No, helping each other is only natural."

"Right. About your side, I—"

"See you~"

Ichinose didn't wait for Oreki to finish.

She waved goodbye to the three of them.

It was understandable that she was in a hurry.

After all, Ichinose was the central figure and leader of Class B.

She had to deal with a crowd of people every day...

Just thinking about it seemed exhausting, right?

Of course, that was just Oreki's opinion.

As for Ichinose...

She was probably enjoying it.

"I should get going too. See you."

"Hey!"

"Good luck, Houtarou!"

Hashimoto Masayoshi made a quick getaway.

He was probably afraid Sakayanagi Arisu would settle the score with him later.

Well...

Now only Sakayanagi and Oreki were left here.

"Aren't you going with them?"

"Of course not..."

"Oh?"

"Ahem. I'm spending the day with you."

"Right? Then I want to go..."

"Where?"

"To bed. Want to come with me?"

"I— No, no, what?"

"Hehe..."

Sakayanagi smiled knowingly.

It was pretty fun to tease Oreki every now and then.

"Get ready over the next few days. My father is about to make his move."

"...Could it be?"

"Yeah. A few people won't be coming back."

"Scary... Looks like there's no escaping power struggles here, either."

"Wherever there are people, there are power struggles."

"That's true."

Oreki looked at the darkening sky.

He sighed.

It was already March 5.

Time was passing faster than he'd imagined.

He hadn't mentioned it before, but he didn't belong in this world.

For some unknown reason,

as soon as he woke up, his big sister called and told him to go to Advanced Nurturing High School.

But Oreki clearly remembered.

He hadn't listed this school among his choices.

Over the past few days, he'd discovered the truth.

He had most likely transmigrated into another world.

And the way to return was to live through the events of this world's story.

No...

To be precise, he'd have to die of old age.

After living a whole life, he might return to his original world.

But that was only Oreki's guess.

He might instead cross over to another world at the same age.

Anything was possible.

If that was the case, Oreki hoped to visit a world with superpowers first and get himself a powerful ability.

Then he'd be able to protect himself.

"What are you thinking about?"

"!... No, nothing."

"Is that so?"

"Yeah... Arisu, what's the meaning of being alive?"

"To seek love and to be loved."

--To be continued