sweet!sweet!sweet!(II)

The next morning.

Oreki woke up just before seven.

He had no idea when he'd fallen asleep last night.

Probably before Sakayanagi finished...

But that didn't matter.

What mattered was...

Where was Sakayanagi?

Oreki glanced around.

She wasn't in bed.

She wasn't at the desk, either.

He quickly got dressed and climbed out of bed, then headed into the living room.

"You're up?"

Sakayanagi was wearing an apron.

She was making breakfast.

"...Yeah."

Oreki nodded, puzzled.

Didn't they usually go out for breakfast?

Why had she taken to making it at home these past few days...

Had something happened?

"You don't look very well. Did you have a nightmare last night?"

"No. I'm probably just tired from the past few days."

"Is that so? Then remember to get plenty of rest."

"Thanks."

Oreki and Sakayanagi sat together.

They finished eating in about ten minutes.

"Let's go."

"Okay."

After they stepped out, Oreki couldn't shake the feeling that something was off.

But he couldn't put his finger on it.

The feeling was awful.

He was so close to figuring it out.

"What are you planning to do tomorrow?"

"Tomorrow?"

"The weekly test. We talked about it just last night."

"Oh... Don't worry too much about that."

Oreki hesitated for a moment.

In the end, he spoke up.

"By the way, did something happen?"

"Nothing happened."

"But I can't help feeling like you..."

"Have I changed? Houtarou, people change."

"No, it's just..."

"Could you give me a ride again?"

Sakayanagi pointed to Oreki's bicycle, parked downstairs.

She seemed eager for him to give her a ride.

"Sure."

Oreki didn't hesitate.

He'd done it before, back when the school year started.

What was the harm in doing it again?

He quickly wheeled the bicycle out.

Sakayanagi Arisu leaned against the back seat.

Her slender feet dangled above the ground, and her white skirt flowed like clouds.

A few strands of hair fluttered in the breeze beneath her beret.

After a long while, she curled a finger around the hem of Oreki's jacket.

"If only time could stay frozen in this moment forever..."

"..."

Oreki didn't reply.

He simply slowed down.

The wind swept past.

Her skirt billowed like a flock of white birds...

And stirred the moonflowers lining the roadside.

Oreki couldn't focus on class that morning.

His eyes stayed fixed on Sakayanagi.

Something had definitely happened.

No...

Maybe there was something Sakayanagi hadn't told him.

"Don't rush off. There's something I need to tell you today."

The homeroom teacher tapped the blackboard.

He announced tomorrow's weekly test to the whole class.

"So, you need to choose a leader before tomorrow. Anyone can do it. You're just drawing lots, after all."

"That's all."

When no one asked any questions, he gathered his things and left.

The classroom immediately grew noisy.

But Oreki couldn't bring himself to listen.

Maybe he should spend lunch with Sakayanagi again.

He thought.

If he didn't find out what was going on, he'd definitely regret it.

"Um..."

"I have something to do at lunch, so go back by yourself, Houtarou."

"Is that so..."

"Yeah. See you."

Sakayanagi left, leaning on her cane.

Something about it...

Felt sad.

Oreki had wanted to take Sakayanagi's hand.

But for some reason...

His right hand hung frozen in midair, unable to reach out. All he could do was watch Sakayanagi Arisu disappear from sight.

The magic called "love"...

Wasn't always a good thing.

It could leave people feeling conflicted.

If he stopped her, would their relationship change?

That was a gamble Oreki didn't dare take.

"Houtarou, did something happen?"

Hashimoto Masayoshi came over after greeting him.

He was sharp.

He could tell at a glance that Oreki wasn't himself today.

He'd come to ask...

Probably because he was worried Oreki might ignore the task because of it.

Namely, getting Class A and Class B into the same group for the weekly test.

The importance of this went without saying.

If they pulled it off, Class A and Class B would have the beginnings of an alliance.

After that, they could work together to leave Classes C and D far behind.

Once they were sure the other classes couldn't catch up...

They could end the alliance.

The two classes could fight and compete all they wanted.

In the end, neither Class C nor Class D would win.

"Nothing's wrong. I'm leaving."

Oreki picked up his shoulder bag and left his seat.

He had no intention of continuing the conversation with Hashimoto Masayoshi.

He probably thought it was a hassle.

"How cold."

Hashimoto Masayoshi shrugged.

He glanced at Katsuragi nearby, then smiled smugly.

Meanwhile.

After leaving the classroom, Oreki went up to the rooftop.

He took out his phone.

The screen was on his contacts list.

Sakayanagi Narimori.

In other words, Sakayanagi Arisu's father.

After hesitating for a long time, he pressed the number.

"Beep, beep—"

After a few rings...

Sakayanagi's Father answered.

"Houtarou? You're calling me out of the blue. Did something happen to Arisu?"

"...No. I wanted to discuss the art museum case with you."

"Oh, I see."

"Yes. The real culprit was the janitor. He wanted to frame the sponsor's daughter and take revenge on her for his son."

"Just as I thought..."

"Just as you thought?"

"No, it's nothing. Go on, Houtarou."

"Right. The method was simple. First, he used a timer to cut the power in the main exhibition hall. Then he hid the painting in a compartment inside a food cart and took it to the staff dormitory."

"Impressive as always, Houtarou."

"If you look now, you should find it under the bed."

"No, there's no need."

"Pardon?"

"The 'culprit' has already been arrested."

"But..."

"Houtarou, you should be the only one who knows the truth about this case. Don't discuss it with anyone else."

"Understood..."

"By the way, is there anything else?"

"...There is."

Oreki called out before Sakayanagi's Father could hang up.

He'd let one opportunity slip by just now.

If he let this one pass, there might never be another.

Otherwise...

He wouldn't have shown Sakayanagi's Father what he could do.

Now that he knew Oreki's worth, surely he'd answer his question.

"Is Sakayanagi... planning to drop out?"

"..."

"Her heart condition was already so severe that..."

"Houtarou, Arisu was happy and lucky to have met you. So there's no need to say anything more. Let her decide how to spend the time she has left."

With that, Sakayanagi's father hung up.

Leaving Oreki alone, standing there in silence.

Sometimes, he wished he weren't such a good detective.

He had known the reason for a long time.

He just didn't want to believe it.

That was why, just now, too.

Oreki was afraid that if he stopped Sakayanagi, he would hear her say it with his own ears...

There was no point in saying anything now.

It was time to choose.

Would he run to Sakayanagi's side right now and stay with her?

Or would he keep lying to himself?

Tell himself that Sakayanagi would come back once she recovered.

That everything would be all right.

Now!

Make your choice, Houtarou Oreki...

"Sakayanagi IF Route Begins"

--To be continued