In that case, she'd have to go back home first and—
"—I'm good!"
"Aaah!" i scream.
Just as i run over to the girl, she suddenly sits up as if she has a spring-loaded torso. No, while i likened it to a spring mechanism due to the momentum, Nadeko would say she seemed more like a zombie—because the girl was definitely limp and immobile a second earlier.
Yes.
Like—all of the times that Koyomi is dead.
…
i have to say, "all of the times that he's dead" is a pretty unique phrase.
"Are you hurt, Sengoku?" the girl looks at Nadeko and asks.
She has a pleasant smile on her face. She looks very likable.
But Nadeko can't help but be anything but afraid of that smile—because.
"Hmm? What's the matter, Sengoku? I thought I managed to dodge you, but don't tell me I grazed a hair or two on your head!
Well, I'm real sorry if I did, Sengoku."
"Wh-Why..."
i have a hard time voicing the word. No, Nadeko is reserved and shy and ends up talking to everyone this way... But i have an even harder time saying anything to this person today.
i'm "inordinetly" afraid.
i guess you can put it that way.
"Wh-Why... Nadeko's name.. ."
"Hm?"
"Why.. .do you know.. .Nadeko's name?"
"Hmmm?"
The girl's eyes open wide.
She has on the same likable smile, but—it's clearly stiff.
It's like her face is telling you how much she just messed up.
"That's right!" she exclaims, looking up to the sky. "Agh, I haven't met you yet, Sengoku!"
"Huh?"
"Sheesh... I got the order all wrong... This is all because I'm having such a tough time finding Hachikuji... There's something way too irregular about that girl. What a nuisance. Oh, what should I do?" the girl says, getting up and doing the same for her bicycle.
She starts anew.
"Nice to meet you, cute missy!”
She's too late by any measure.
Though i am "bold over" by her guts.
"My name's Ogi Oshino!"
“...Oshino?"
Oshino? Oshino...
Mèmè Oshino—Shinobu Oshino.
No, that's not it.
She said her name was Ogi Oshino.
i haven't heard it before—could the family name just be a coincidence?
"Uhh, how should I pretend that didn't happen? I guess I just need to mention Araragi-senpai to her? Okay, then. Um, Sengoku, I heard about you from Araragi-senpai, my senior. You can tell by my uniform, right? That makes me his junior, and Miss Kanbaru's junior, too. Not his jeweler, his junior. I'm a freshman at Naoetsu High."
Her story's full of holes.
You could even say that she's lost the plot.
Anyone would find it hard to speak to someone like her, not just Nadeko.
Still, Big Brother's junior?
Not his jeweler.
And Miss Kanbaru's junior—true, she's wearing a Naoetsu High uniform, the same school that Big Brother Koyomi and Miss Kanbaru attend.
Even i think i'm being stupid.
That's all it takes to make Nadeko relax a little. All i needed to hear is that this Class-A suspicious individual, suspicious as can be, goes to school with Koyomi, and she suddenly seems somewhat trustworthy. That's what makes Nadeko think that really, i'm stupid.
i doubt the thought brought any visible change in Nadeko's attitude, though.
i'm just nervously looking at the ground, like always.
Not saying anything.
When i'm quiet like this, most people give up and walk off some where, with a Forgeddit. That's the "president" that's been set.
That’s the pattern. But.
"Didn't work, huh?" the girl—Miss Ogi—says, looking back up at the sky.
She won't give up on me, won't walk off.
She continues, like she's "gryping."
"Look at that, I messed things up from the very start. Whatever.
Your case is basically like a side story. I doubt it'll turn out like it did with Tsubasa of the Hanekawas—um."
And then.
Miss Ogi extends her right hand to Nadeko.
"You see, I'm Méme Oshino's niece."
“…”
"I heard about you from my uncle, too—about how you were a victim. I guess it's because Kaiki was involved, but you know, when it comes to aberrations, a pure victim is pretty rare.
However, adds Miss Ogi, her tone bright and clear.
"People can't be victims forever—Sengoku. There are just times when we're victims and times when we're victimizers, that's all. Or do you still think of yourself as a victim?"
“…”
"No reaction, huh?" She shrugs. Almost like she's having fun.
"Yes, maybe you can always be a victim if you act that way, looking at the ground, staying silent, not speaking a word—but how well is that going to go for you this time, I wonder?"
“…”
"This time—just might be an exception."
“…”
"Yeah, it really is nice and easy being a victim. You get everyone's sympathy, and they're all so nice to you. You sometimes hear people talk about how we write off victims, but really, they're just saying that the victimizers are victims, too—I think my uncle hated that way of thinking, but, well, maybe there are only victims in this world. In which case, if you turn it around again, then from the start, you mightn't have been a pure victim, either—and who knows, that could come to light in this tale."
“...T-Tale?"
"Uh huh," Miss Ogi confirms. "Sengoku, don't tell me you think your everyday life lacks any sort of narrative."
See ya.
Miss Ogi gets on her bike—it seems like the fall didn't cause any particular technical issues—spins the pedals, and rides kind of like she's doing a stunt to leave the scene.
Like always.
i believe.
Nadeko isn't good at talking, so people give up on her and leave—always.
She didn't treat Nadeko to a Forgeddit, but the result was the same as always.
The pattern that's the "president."
It's no surprise.
It shouldn't be.
But.
“...Hm?"
Although it's no surprise—i am left with the feeling that something's a little off, really, only just a little.
So slightly off that i'll probably forget it by tomorrow and never remember.
But despite my impression that we didn't talk for that long, i notice that somehow—according to Nadeko's watch, quite a lot of time seems to have passed.
How do i explain it?
Almost like time has been stolen away.
i don't think the conversation with Miss Ogi was so much fun that it made Nadeko lose track of time—so why is it?
Why is it—that i feel like i'm going to have to talk to that person again—in time?
No.
To jump ahead, i'll have as close as possible to no chance at all of doing that after this—because before Nadeko can meet her again.
Big Brother Koyomi and i are going to end up fighting to the death.