Chapter 143

It was after school, and I was doing my job as student librarian. “Excuse me, Shizuka, may I speak with you?” It was Himeji. She didn’t usually come to the library. “I’m still on the clock, but I can hear you out.” It was also rare for her to talk to me, even in the classroom. I couldn’t concentrate on my book anymore, so I just looked up at her, sitting on the counter. “I’m basically just going to monologue at you,” she prefaced before explaining what had happened. I had to listen to her gushing about going to the concert with Takamori and having dinner at a fancy restaurant. I knew it was in her nature to boast, so I just let it slide… But then she cut to the chase. In short, Takamori found the CEO who’d humiliated Hiina, and he punched him. I tried to imagine myself as Hiina in that situation, and just the thought of Takamori doing such a thing for me made my heart leap… But back to reality. I’d thought he considered me special, but as it turned out, I wasn’t the only one he saw that way. “And?” I looked up at her again. Himeji looked beyond frustrated, loosely cradling her arm and fiddling with her uniform. “I just thought that he wouldn’t do that for you or me. Only Hina.” You think…? …Yeah, maybe. What she said resonated with me, and that bummed me out. So that’s why she’s got that look on her face. “…Wait, but you didn’t need to brag about your little date with him to talk about that, did you?” “Hmm? What did you just say?” I’d whispered my last comment, and she had to ask me to repeat it. “Nothing.” I shook my head. “So you came here just to grumble?” “Yes, is that so wrong?” She sure didn’t waste her time with ambiguity. Honestly, I was impressed. I chuckled. “It doesn’t make sense that Ryou considers Hina special,” she declared. “Why?” What didn’t make sense about it? Besides, he was free to feel however he wanted. I mean, I’d rather it be me, but hey. Himeji had arrived late compared to Hiina and me. She was a disruptor, and she might well flip the whole order of the world on its head. And like Hiina, she was also Takamori’s childhood friend. Himeji seemed lost in thought, and I got tired of waiting, so I repeated the question: “Why doesn’t it make sense?” “It’s just… When I think of Ryou, I feel he would be better off with someone else.” I sighed. “So you’re just jealous.” “N-no!” “Just because he doesn’t feel the way you want him to, it’s not okay to lie and say it’s ‘for his sake’… Himeji, please…” “Don’t look at me like that. I have my reasons for saying what I did.” “And those are?” “First of all, it’s partly Hina’s fault that he turned out like he did and…” “What? Wait, what?” I was so shocked, I repeated myself. When I pressed her, Himeji said she was talking about how Takamori was such a late bloomer and so clueless about romance. “It is just my assumption,” Himeji said, “and I’m not entirely sure, but…” At first, I thought maybe she had a point. I had reached a similar conclusion just recently myself. Although it was only conjecture on my part, too. “And that’s why he should be with me instead of Hina.” “Hey, why not me?” I didn’t have the courage to look her in the eye and say that—so I looked back down at the book I was holding. I’d already forgotten where I was. Before I knew what was happening, I’d been thrown defenseless into the middle of a war between two giant beasts over the fate of the world. “As they say,” said Himeji, “my enemy’s enemy is my friend.” I waited for her next words with just a hint of anticipation. I’d figured the giant beasts didn’t even have me on their radar. But perhaps they saw me as having some sort of influence on the delicate balance of power. Eventually, Himeji spoke. “How about we join forces?”