Secret × Secret
SPRING BREAK. TSUWABUKI HIGH SCHOOL. AT a table in the broadcasting room, bathed in the last vestiges of the evening sun, sat two girls. One was clearly a student. The other, not so.
“Thank you for your invitation, Senpai,” said the one in the long, one-piece dress. Nukumizu Kaju, second-year of Momozono Junior High, lowered her head. Around her neck hung a visitor badge.
“I’ve been very interested in meeting you, Kaju-san. Please, drink your tea before it cools.” Forehead glistening, Asagumo Chihaya, gestured to the cup in front of Kaju.
She sipped from her mug with wandering eyes that betrayed her curiosity. “Are you in the broadcasting club?”
“No, but we’re on good terms. They were kind enough to give me a spare key.” Asagumo stood and approached a shelf, where she retrieved a large volume requiring both of her arms to carry. It thudded against the table as she placed it down.
Kaju studied the cover inquisitively. “Wiring diagrams?”
Asagumo nodded proudly. She opened it with a wide wave of her arm. “In here, you’ll find everything you need to know about Tsuwabuki’s electrical and sound systems!” She breathed deep, a portent of the avalanche of information to come. “Nothing has been more troublesome in my investigative work than finding ways to power my equipment, but this has been an absolute lifesaver! What’s more, look at this: By comparing past years’ diagrams, I’ve been able to suss out unused or obsolete connections. The applications of which are numerous. You could, for example, modify a speaker to function as a microphone or—” She swatted herself in the forehead. “Goodness, sorry about that. I can ramble sometimes.”
Kaju shook her head. “Please, do go on. I’m very interested in these applications.”
Asagumo lit up. “Oh, then excellent! But I must preface with a warning: This knowledge is not to be used for wrongdoing. My personal intentions are only to, shall we say, enhance my perception. Decidedly well-meaning, I assure you.”
“You’re of good character, Senpai, that much is clear to me. By the way, does this happen to be yours?” Kaju placed a small, black chip on the table.
On it was simply written, “No. 3.”
Asagumo-san stared hard at it. “Ah. I was wondering where that had gotten to. I’m surprised you… Where did you find it?”
“It’s the funniest thing. It was just sitting there in Momozono’s gardening club, just out of sight.”
“Now isn’t that just curious. Did I mention I have quail sablés? Have one.”
“Don’t mind if I do.”
They ate with wordless smiles. The flaky texture and maple aroma paired well with the tea.
“Asagumo-senpai,” Kaju spoke up, “has your ‘perception’ extended all throughout Tsuwabuki, by any chance?”
“Provisionally, in an experimental sense. With well-meaning intentions, of course.”
More wordless smiles. Well-meaning smiles.
“So you might, for example, happen to know where I was and what I was doing before meeting you here?”
“Only that which has reached one of my many ears. As I recall, you made a stop by the student council office.”
“Your ears hear quite well.” Kaju stuck her tongue out cutely.
“You spoke with Vice President Basori-san. Then a Tsuwabuki boy asked you out in the courtyard. After turning him down, you made your way to the west annex.” Asagumo maintained her perfect smile. “You spent an awfully long time alone in the literature club room. What preoccupied you, might I ask?”
A brief silence. Followed by a stony smile. “I dozed off. I’ve been very busy lately, you see.”
“Well, we can’t have that.”
“No, I suppose not.”
Smiles. More tea.
“One thing is clear to me,” Kaju said. “Your talents are certainly beyond me. I’ve studied abductive reasoning myself, but you, Senpai, are in a league of your own.”
“Ah. The practice of inferring probable conclusions from cursory observations. Tell me, what do you arrive at when you observe me?” Asagumo’s eyes shone with genuine interest.
Kaju examined her. “Well, I suppose you went out for food with your boyfriend in between your extracurriculars yesterday.”
“I did. We had dinner together. It was—”
“Curry udon,” Kaju interrupted. “Nowhere makes it like Segawa Honten, do they?”
Asagumo’s big, squirrely eyes got bigger and squirrelier. “How did you know?”
“There’s a stain on one of your ribbons,” Kaju replied with a grin.
She quickly looked down and inspected them. But she saw no stain. Not a one. “I’m sorry?”
Kaju tittered. “Got you.”
There was another moment of silence before Asagumo smiled again. “I see. A little prank, was it?”
“Just a little one. I happen to have a friend in the same cram school as you.”
“You certainly got me, Kaju-san. Would you like some more…?” As Asagumo stood, her expression wavered again.
Kaju followed her eyes, then put her hands together. “Ah, that amplifier happened to be left on when I came in. I took the liberty of switching it off for you.”
“That was very kind of you. And awfully silly of me.”
“You would have accidentally recorded our entire conversation!”
“What an accident that would have been.”
Asagumo giggled, and Kaju giggled. Their laughter sank into the artificial silence of the soundproofed room.
Asagumo poured another mug of steaming tea. “I think you and I will be the best of friends, Kaju-san. Don’t you?”
“I do, Senpai. I do.”
Asagumo offered her hand with a smile, and Kaju accepted. With a smile. And so friendship blossomed.