"Phew..." Shizuka Hiratsuka took another drag of her cigarette. "As long as you don't turn out like this guy Doma, I can overlook it. Of course, that's assuming your grades don't slip..."
"Hey..." Sogo Doma was stunned. He had only been imagining it just now—who would've thought this filthy backroom deal would actually unfold right in front of him?
"Shut up..." But the moment he opened his mouth, Shizuka Hiratsuka snapped, "I've overseen at least eight or ten events. Which one of them didn't end easily and pleasantly? Only this one, because of your sudden involvement..."
"So it's my fault?" Sogo Doma felt innocent too. All he had done was compliment a few people, hadn't he? Although he had been quite sincere when praising them, he refused to take the blame if that was enough to pin it on him!
"..." Shizuka Hiratsuka fell silent for a while.
"Kasumigaoka, could you leave me alone with this guy Doma for a few words?"
"Of course..." Sogo Doma: "???" Was she really getting ready to dump the blame on him?
"Hey, hey..." After Utaha Kasumigaoka left, he finally couldn't help saying, "What exactly are you trying to do? There's no way the Yuihama thing could..."
"This isn't about Yuihama!" Shizuka Hiratsuka cut him off before he could finish. "Doma, have you forgotten what you promised me?"
"Hm?"
"Hikigaya and Rumi Tsurumi!" Shizuka Hiratsuka flicked away some ash. "Although Hikigaya has changed a little, it's only a little. And Rumi Tsurumi..."
"Wait a minute!" Sogo Doma interrupted her as well. "Hiratsuka-sensei, do you think I'm a god? How long has it been, and you're already telling me..."
"So you know time is tight too?" Shizuka Hiratsuka smiled. "Then how long had Taihei and I known each other when you started thinking about making