Since it was awkward to just stand around talking, I brought Sara to a cafe. It’s my regular spot, located near Maebashi Station. It's called Cafe Mares.
The atmosphere is great, and the coffee is delicious. More importantly, students from Nijisora dont’t stop by often. It's the perfect place for a secret meeting. According to the owner, the only high school students who frequent the place are from Ryumei, a school near Maebashi Station. It's only about a ten-minute bike ride from Nijisora—practically neighbors.
“If you want to lead a youth filled with story-like moments, first you need friends.”
I continued the conversation after ordering two coffees from the staff. I intend to pull strings in the background, but Sara is the protagonist of this story. If she can’t behave like a lead, it won't become the kind of story she wants.
“…Yeah, I know. I’ll do my best!”
Just as Sara nodded with fervent determination, our two coffees arrived.
“But, what should I actually do?”
Sara began plopping sugar cubes into her coffee (way too many cubes.)
“You need to change the way you carry yourself.”
“That’s exactly why I'm struggling!”
“The state you introduce yoursef to others—where you take on a cold attitude… let’s call it Witch Mode for now. The reason it triggers is likely rooted in some psychological trauma.”
“…Yeah, I think so.”
“I don’t know how to overcome that trauma. That's why I want to leave it to the experts.”
The psychological trauma Sara carries is a deep-rooted problem. I have some ideas, of course, but it’s better to rely on a professional's opinion.
“Experts?”
“I’ll provide an advisor.”
A story cannot be created by a director and a lead alone. You need a crew behind the scenes.
“Wait, you mean someone I don’t know…?”
Sara took a sip of her overly sweet coffee and grimaced at the taste.
“A classmate. They introduced themselves, so you might remember the name.”
“…Someone who saw that scene is actually going to help me?”
“Yeah. If I ask, they’ll probably do it.”
Especially that person, who always seems to be looking for ways to be useful to me.
“Are they Haku-chan’s friend?”
“No, not a friend.”
“Huh?”
Our relationship is simply one where they unilaterally hold a secret over me.
Sara looked bewildered.
“Anyway, they’re someone who could potentially become an ally.”
“…I guess this isn’t the time to be saying I'm scared.”
“Either way, you need a guinea pig to practice communicating with.”
Practicing with me would be pointless, since I can already talk to her normally.
“…Alright.”
Sara took a slow, deep breath and nodded.
“If it’s someone Haku-chan trusts, then I trust them too!”
After waiting for about ten minutes, the person I invited appeared sooner than expected.
“It’s rare for Kageyama-kun to invite me out~”
Oukura Ruka arrived, smiling and enveloped in her usual fluffy aura.
I imagine the sight of me and Sara alone in a cafe looked strange, but she didn’t seem shaken.
“…Oukura-san?”
Sara’s expression suddenly went blank, and she murmured coldly. As expected, the moment Oukura appeared, she naturally shifted into Witch Mode. The transition was so abrupt it was almost eerie. And it happens automatically.
“Ah, Sara-chan! You remembered my name!”
“…Because you introduced yourself.”
Sara answered in a mutter, but a hint of bewilderment was visible in her eyes.
“By any chance, are you two close?”
Oukura was still smiling, but there was a flicker of suspicion in her eyes as she looked at me.
That’s only natural. She doesn't understand the meaning of this pairing, and I haven't explained it yet. I had simply sent her the address of Cafe Mares and the meeting time via a private RINE chat.
“Sara and I are childhood friends. She lived around here until three years ago.”
“…Weren’t you going to keep that a secret?”
Sara asked, looking skeptical. However, her tone and expression were different from before—there was a certain pressure to her words. It seems that even if she’s talking to me, she enters Witch Mode if there are other people watching.
“Oukura is an exception. She’s a candidate for a collaborator.”
“…Fine then.”
With that, Sara looked away.
“C-Childhood friends… this is a formidable rival…”
Oukura’s eyes widened in surprise, and she whispered to herself.
“Well, just sit down for now.”
Following my instruction, Oukura sat next to me without hesitation. She sat quite close.
“What do you want to drink?”
“I’ll have a lemon squash, please.”
Once Oukura’s drink arrived at our table, I got straight to the point.
“So, what did you want to talk to me about?”
“Oukura, will you help us?”
I kept the request concise.
“Help? Depends on the details~”
For a split second, Oukura’s expression vanished, and her eyes glinted with a mysterious light.
“Sara, is it okay if I explain?”
After confirming, Sara nodded, still wearing her cold aura.
I then explained the general situation to Oukura.
“In other words… you actually want to get along with everyone?”
Even Oukura seemed genuinely surprised.
“I’m shocked. I totally thought you just liked being alone.”
“…That’s not true.”
Sara didn’t say much, but the conversation was somehow holding together. Since only Oukura and I were here, perhaps her symptoms were slightly alleviated.
“And that’s the situation! So, will you help us?”
“I mean, you’re proposing this like it's some casual small talk~”
Oukura gave a troubled, wry smile.
“You’re the right person for the job, Oukura.”
“Why do you think so?”
“Since you’re someone who plays the popular girl character, you can be Sara's advisor, right?”
Oukura’s gaze sharpened. It was likely because I admitted she was ‘playing the popular girl character’ in front of Sara. I'm the only one who knows Oukura's true nature—the rest of the class is clueless.
Oukura let out a deep sigh and shifted her expression. She transformed instantly from a fluffy, airheaded girl into an intellectual little devil.
“…A story-like youth, huh. I suppose Kageyama-kun might be able to direct that.”
Apparently, she decided to stop pretending. Oukura narrowed her eyes, sizing Sara up.
“Sara-chan isn’t really suited to be a protagonist, is she?”
The atmosphere in the air tightened as she bluntly dismissed her.
“Besides, this is quite a sudden change of heart, isn’t it?”
Oukura glared at me with a flat, judging look.
“Weren’t you the viewer of the story called reality, Kageyama-kun?”
“Until now, I was. But starting today, I’m switching to being the director.”
I will direct the youth story where Sara is the lead.
“And here I thought you said something like, ‘distorting someone’s youth on a whim is probably a bad idea’?”
“…Because I was the one who asked for help.”
Sara cut into the conversation between Oukura and me.
“…And just because of that, Kageyama-kun is going to twist his own way of life?”
Oukura continued to press me.
Indeed, the transition from ‘viewer’ to ‘director’ is a major life event. It is the shift from being a consumer to a producer.
“What’s the merit for Kageyama-kun in helping Sara-chan?”
“I thought it wouldn’t be so bad if I could create the story I want to see with my own hands.”
“Is that really all?”
“…Sara is my childhood friend. I want to help her.”
The biggest reason was to repay the debt I owed her.
“Hmm. You really like Sara-chan, don’t you~”
Oukura glared at me with a heavy, damp gaze.
“As a friend, I mean!”
“I wonder~”
Meanwhile, although her expression hadn’t changed, Sara seemed confused by the rapid turn of events.
“…Does Oukura-san like Haku—I mean, Kageyama-kun?”
“Of course I do~. In a romantic sense♪”
Oukura smiled brightly as she took hold of my arm. She was clearly making a statement and Sara looked puzzled.
Even when her expression was frozen in Witch Mode, if you looked closely, you could read the subtle nuances. However, that was only because I knew Sara well. Anyone else looking at her right now would probably just see a permanently terrifying expression.
“I’ll provide compensation.”
“And? Even if I become this girl’s advisor, what's in it for me?”
“Listen, it’s not like I'm struggling for money. Ordinary compensation won't—”
“Depending on your level of contribution, I’ll grant your requests.”
“Does that mean a date is okay too?”
“Yeah. Of course, if you contribute that much, I will.”
“Fine, geez. I’ll do it!”
She answered immediately.
I don’t particularly enjoy making myself the bait, but I've only just decided to transition from a ‘viewer’ to a ‘director.’ I'll do whatever I can. Even if it means becoming a part of the story myself.
“I’ll help Sara-chan out too, so she can go on a date with Kageyama-kun.”
Oukura reached out her hand to Sara in a testing gesture.
Despite having witnessed Aoki’s hand being slapped away right before her eyes, Sara's expression remained unchanged—though, upon closer inspection, her eyes were wavering.
Sara remained frozen, clutching her own hands together.
“Is the fact that you aren’t slapping my hand away a sign of growth?”
“It was probably a matter of momentum. Aoki closed the distance all at once back then.”
“I see… so it was a reflexive reaction.”
Oukura gazed at Sara as if analyzing her.
Sara kept her silence, casting her eyes down, looking uncomfortable.
“I look forward to working with you, Sara-chan,” Oukura said with a smile, as if to put her at ease.
After that, Sara practiced her communication skills.
“What things do you like, Sara-chan?”
“…Ramen.”
“Oh~, that’s unexpected. What kind of ramen do you like?”
“…Tonkotsu ramen.”
“I get that! Around here, Maura-ya in the third district is delicious~”
“…I know.”
“Eh…”
“Ah, right. You used to live around here, didn’t you?”
Sara gave sporadic answers to Oukura’s trivial questions.
You could almost say the conversation was functioning. However, that was only because Oukura continued to speak without being bothered by Sara’s cold demeanor.
“Now, tell me some stories about Kageyama-kun from back in the day. I want to hear something~”
“…I-I don’t know.”
If Oukura weren’t a collaborator, she would have given up on the conversation instantly.
To live a youth like something out of a story—for Sara to achieve her goal, improving her behavior was essential.
That said, her symptoms had deteriorated to the point where she was called a witch—there was no way she could suddenly make friends. The plan was to overcome her psychological trauma bit by bit.
“That’s enough for today.”
I called an end to it once fatigue began to show on Sara’s face.
By the time we left the shop, the sky was pitch black.
“Well then, you two. See you tomorrow~”
Since we were heading in opposite directions, I parted ways with Oukura immediately.
“Whereabouts is your house?”
“Almost the same as before.”
“I see. Then we’re heading the same way.”
And so, I ended up walking home alone with Sara.
When we were children, the reason we started playing together was simply that we lived close by. If it was almost the same as before, her place should be about ten minutes or so from my house.
“I couldn’t talk with her at all!”
The moment we were alone, Sara began to fuss, her eyes brimming with tears.
She looked like a cat, but she had a certain puppy-like lovability to her.
Now that Witch Mode had been deactivated, Sara’s expressions had suddenly become rich.
“Hmm… as I thought, there needs to be a condition…”
“Even though she tried so hard to talk to me…”
“What did you think of Oukura?”
“That she’s a really nice person! Even with my attitude, she kept talking to me with a smile.”
Sara continued, clutching her hands tightly against her chest.
“…But, I’m scared.”
Had she been clutching her hands to her chest all this time to hide the shaking?
“Can you explain how you’re scared?”
“Um… when I talk to Oukura-san, the people who bullied me in middle school come to mind… It’s not that she's like them… but because of that, I can't behave properly.”
She understood it in her head, but her body couldn’t keep up.
“Do you want to talk to a counselor? I have a few connections.”
Considering the severity of her symptoms, I felt it wasn’t wise to act based on an amateur's judgment.
“N-No, I can’t!”
However, Sara shook her head vigorously.
“Because… it costs money.”
“…I suppose that’s true. But…”
“I don’t want to make my dad and mom worry anymore!”
Sara spoke in fragments.
“My dad and mom know I was bullied in middle school, so if I see a doctor, I’ll have to tell them about these symptoms too. I can't do that. I don't want to see their sad faces anymore. I managed to hide it in my previous high school, too. That's why…”
I understood the feelings behind Sara’s desperate plea.
“…I get it.”
So, I nodded for now. Even while respecting Sara’s feelings, there were still a few options.
“Sorry, Haku-chan. For being selfish…”
“Don’t be so down. Let's just try a few things first.”
“But I have to go to school tomorrow…”
Sara was likely concerned about a development where things would fall into an even worse state. In truth, with her current negative communication skills, the possibility of that happening was not low.
“I have a plan.”
When I told her that, Sara’s expression brightened instantly.
“W-What should I do?”
“Do nothing.”
“Eh!?”
“I’m not sure, but that's probably the best way.”
Sara’s eyes widened in surprise at my instruction.
“It’s to prevent any further negatives. Looking at you today, there probably aren't any people who will proactively try to talk to you. So, do nothing. During breaks, just read a book or something.”
“…What if someone does talk to me?”
“I’d want you to respond kindly… but you can't do that yet, right?”
When I checked, Sara looked down despondently.
“In that case, it’s better not to try and force a friendship.”
“…Why?”
“To give meaning to your action of slapping Aoki’s hand away. There's no undoing what's already been done. We'll go with the image of ‘the solitary beauty who rejects interaction with others.’”
“I-Is that really okay?”
“It’s important to establish a character for now. As you gradually deepen your interactions with your classmates in the future, the wall you've built between yourself and others will break down, and a sense of approachability will be born.”
Or rather, thinking by process of elimination, no other option existed.
“As you are now, you can’t interact with others.”
If every action produces a negative result, it’s better to choose zero—doing nothing.
“T-That’s true…”
“What is it?”
Sara was depressed, her eyes teary.
“Hey, Haku-chan, can I ask one thing? What did Oukura-san mean by viewer earlier?”
“It’s about how I live. I enjoy watching the stories of reality.”
“…Sorry. What does that even mean??”
To the bewildered Sara, I explained the details of being a ‘viewer.’
That for the three years Sara was gone, that was how I had lived.
“T-That’s a strange hobby, isn't it…?”
Even after hearing the explanation, Sara frowned with suspicion. Well, I’m aware that it's a hobby difficult for ordinary people to understand. That's why it's a secret.
“Only you and Oukura know about my hobby. Don’t tell anyone.”
“Yeah, I understand.”
“Our relationship between the three of us—let’s call it the ‘Youth Production Team’ for now.”
“Youth Production Team… ehehe, that sounds fun…”
Sara’s cheeks relaxed into a loose smile.
I captured that smile of hers with my smartphone.
“Why did you suddenly take a picture!?”
Sara complained, her cheeks flushing red.
“This is also the work of a ‘director.’ I’ll tell Oukura that you're fine when you're talking to me.”
I created a group chat on RINE for Oukura, Sara, and myself. I abbreviated the group name to ‘Youth Prod Team.’ I sent the photo I had just taken of Sara to that chat.
“Uuu… it’s embarrassing.”
While blushing, Sara sent a message saying, “Nice to meet you/Looking forward to working with you.”
Oukura reacted to the photo with, “She’s smiling!”
To that, Sara replied, “Sorry for being a nuisance.”
Oukura was doubly surprised, messaging, “She’s talking normally!”
“So you’re okay with text-based media?”
“Yeah. Human communication via written notes! I have no problem with that…”
“A world where people have lost their voices.”
“Fufu, sounds like sci-fi, right?”
Sara let out a small laugh, saying something silly.
Regardless, the fact that text exchanges were no problem was a win.
“Hey, Haku-chan, do you remember? We used to walk this road together a lot!”
We were gradually approaching my house. I had used this residential area as a route home back in elementary school as well.
“I remember you running around, tripping, and wailing.”
The nature of it was different, but she had been a nuisance since those days.
“T-That was at the beginning of elementary school! I didn’t do that when we got older!”
Sara countered, looking miffed.
“I wonder about that.”
“That’s just how Haku-chan is…”
“That’s just how I am?”
“…Um, even though you used to comfort me when I was crying!”
“That’s because you were crying.”
It seemed she couldn’t find any complaints to level against me.
“Haku-chan was perfect back then… first place in everything…”
In elementary school, I was the leader who kept the class together, and Sara was the troublemaker who caused one problem after another. Unwillingly, I was treated as Sara’s caretaker.
Thinking about it, the current situation isn’t all that different from back then.
“Why did the current Haku-chan stop being a leader?”
“Because I realized. That watching is more interesting than being the protagonist.”
The catalyst for that lay in events from middle school that Sara didn’t know about. There was no point in recounting them here.
Sensing that I had no intention of going into detail, Sara murmured, “I see.”
Then, she checked one more time.
“Then… is it okay? For you to become a ‘director’ for my sake?”
“If moving to the background allows me to watch a more interesting story.”
In other words, it depended on Sara.
Sensing the meaning behind those words, Sara clenched her fist and spoke.
“I’ll do my best! For Haku-chan's sake too!”
“You look like you’re having fun.”
“That’s because Haku-chan is with me!”
Over the last three years, many things have changed, but some things remain the same.
Sara Ginjou had always been the kind of girl who could say things like that without a shred of bashfulness.
The next day, Sara’s second day since transferring.
Sara was treated the same way as yesterday, handled exactly like a ticking time bomb. No one gathered around her—they kept their distance.
Following my instructions, Sara spent her time reading a novel at her desk.
“Some real piece of work transferred in, huh?”
Shirai, the ringleader of the second-tier boys’ group, scratched his head absentmindedly.
“Weren’t you the one who seemed thrilled about it?”
His looks were as good as ever, but with that personality…
“…”
When a boy from his group called him out, Shirai shrugged with a look of annoyance.
“Maybe she’s just a kid who wants to be alone?”
I chimed in, blending naturally into the group’s circle.
“Well, probably. In fact, she seems to be spending her day quite comfortably.”
Shirai nodded at my words, glancing over at Sara.
Sara actually did look a little happy. Perhaps the novel she was reading was interesting.
It seemed that as long as she didn’t have to interact with others, her symptoms eased slightly.
“Let’s just leave her alone for a while.”
I proposed a future course of action in a perfectly natural flow.
“Well, Kageyama’s right. It's only the second day—waiting and seeing is the right move.”
Shirai reached that conclusion. Exactly as I intended.
This was my first time operating behind the scenes, but it wasn’t that difficult.
There had been countless opportunities to intervene until now—I had simply chosen to do nothing.
Once the second-tier boys’ conversation shifted to more trivial topics, I stepped away.
Next, I casually joined the circle of the first-tier group, including Akagami and the others. My eyes met Oukura’s.
“Hey, Kouichi-kun. You showed Ginjou-san around the school yesterday, right? How was it?”
Oukura, who had been talking about a drama she watched last night, changed the subject.
It seemed she had picked up on my intent. She was a capable collaborator.
“How was it, you ask… we didn’t really hit it off.”
Akagami crossed his arms with a troubled expression.
“I see… so she really does feel like she doesn’t want to talk to people?”
Oukura gave a transparently fake response.
“At the very least, I don’t think she has any intention of getting along with us.”
Since the socially adept Akagami had reached that conclusion, it was clear just how fatal Sara’s behavior was. No one could tell that she was actually trying to make friends.
“Anyway, I’d pass on her. A girl like that.”
Touyama let out a displeased snort.
Yuzuki Touyama had a strong sense of camaraderie toward the first-tier group.
Therefore, I knew she would react this way the moment Sara had hurt Aoki. Touyama viewed Sara as an enemy. She would likely become the greatest obstacle in Sara’s story.
“No, that was my fault! Yuzu-chi, you don’t have to worry about it!”
Aoki hurriedly tried to soothe Touyama, but Touyama’s attitude didn't change.
“Hmm, maybe she just reacted instinctively because it happened so fast?”
Oukura defended Sara in a soft, airy tone.
The evaluation of the first-tier group determined Sara’s caste in this classroom.
Oukura likely spoke up knowing this, but it was like throwing a cup of water on a blazing fire.
“Ruka, you see too much of the good in people.”
Touyama snorted again and looked away.
As if to calm Touyama’s anger, Shidou shrugged his shoulder.
“Either way, leaving her alone is the best bet. If we show blatant hostility, it’ll create an atmosphere of bullying. Yuzuki, you wouldn't want that, right?”
“…I suppose so. Even if she’s the one in the wrong!”
Though looking displeased, Touyama agreed with Shidou’s words.
She simply had a strong sense of loyalty—it didn’t seem she harbored personal malice toward Sara.
As expected, Shidou was excellent as the group’s mediator. He was always objective and aware that they were the first-tier group with strong influence over the class.
Since they reached this conclusion on their own, there was no need for me to speak.
“That girl, isn’t she just annoying?”
“I know, right? She’s a transfer student and she's already acting so high and mighty.”
The ones spitting out typical lackey-like lines were the second-tier girls’ group, centered around Kurosawa.
In short, a group of noisy gyarus.
“It feels like we need to teach her where she stands in the pecking order.”
Kurosawa said this with a smirk. Unlike Touyama, this was simple malice.
Currently, these girls were the most troublesome. Though they were mere small-fry, they had a fair amount of influence. And unlike the second-tier boys, they were difficult to intervene with.
While I was on reasonably good terms with everyone in the class, cutting into a girls’ group would feel out of place. In other words, I would draw attention. If that happened, it would be harder to operate in the shadows.
“Oukura.”
“What’s the plan?”
When I spoke to Oukura in a whisper, she responded, understanding the situation.
The classroom during lunch break was filled with a noisy clamor.
In this environment, no one would notice if Oukura and I talked for a short while.
Of course, it wasn’t that there would be a problem if we were noticed, but still.
“If it looks like it’s turning into bullying, I'll intervene.”
“Roger that♪”
I absolutely had to avoid the direct cause of the trauma Sara carried.
Besides, I simply hated those kinds of bleak stories.
Since Oukura was on good terms with Kurosawa and her group, she should be able to control them effectively.
“If it’s just a bit of bad-mouthing, we'll wait and see.”
“…Well, it is a fact that Sara-chan is ruining the atmosphere of the classroom.”
“Yeah. Regardless of how she feels, it can’t be helped that the current Sara is disliked.”
“Talk about hard mode.”
“But we have to do something about it.”
“You’re really motivated, aren't you?”
“Stories are more interesting when there’s a gap between the beginning and the end.”
A girl who was treated like a ticking time bomb eventually gains a youth that feels like a story.
This is that kind of story. I will direct it so that it becomes that kind of story.
“Do you really think we can do it?”
However…
“I’m confident. As long as you cooperate.”
Admittedly, it would be difficult for me alone.
But with the help of Oukura, who was also a main character, it shouldn’t be impossible.
“Fufu, I’m happy that you're relying on me♪”
Oukura smiled happily and secretly squeezed my hand.
“Hey, idiot, we’re in the classroom…!”
“It’s fine, no one's looking.”
Our hands were hidden by the shoes placed on the desk, invisible to everyone.
“I’ll have to receive appropriate rewards for being worked so hard, right?”
If all she wanted was to hold hands with someone like me, she could do it as much as she liked.
“Just stop when it looks like we’ll get caught…”
While I operated in the shadows, the end of the school day arrived.
During that time, no one had spoken to Sara.
The fact that even Akagami didn’t call out to her was likely because he believed he had been rejected by her yesterday. In reality, it was a simple misunderstanding, but correcting it now would be meaningless. Ultimately, the story cannot begin until Sara becomes capable of communicating properly with others.
And so, today marks the official start of Sara’s lessons.
I sent the meeting location to the ‘Youth Production Team’ and then stood up.
It was a shame to miss the story of Akagami and the others chatting after school, but I was no longer a ‘viewer’ of their story—I was the ‘director’ of Sara’s. Feeling a slight tug of nostalgia, I left the classroom.
I had designated the same cafe as yesterday, Cafe Mares.
Arriving first, I secured a seat in the back and ordered coffee. As I drank my coffee while gazing out the window, Oukura and Sara entered the shop at the same time.
“Did you come together?”
“No, we only met up in front of the shop.”
Oukura shook her head at my question.
“…Our relationship is a secret. That’s why we walked at a distance.”
Sara, whose expression remained stiff as ever, answered in a mumble.
“When we met in front of the shop, I made sure no one was watching.”
“That’s fine then.”
This seat was in a blind spot from the entrance. Even if someone from Nijisora walked in, it wouldn’t be easily discovered.
“So, Kageyama-kun. What are we doing today?”
“Oukura, I want you to be the practice partner to deactivate Sara’s Witch Mode.”
I had her try it a bit yesterday, but today was an extension of that.
“Specifically?”
“I’ve devised a lesson menu.”
I handed the documents I took out of my bag to Oukura.
“…‘Operation Curse Exorcism’?”
Oukura read the title of the documents aloud.
“It’s a provisional operation name. It's better to have a name for it.”
“What does it mean?”
“Sara’s Witch Mode is a result of the bullying she experienced in middle school. In other words, it's like a curse. We will remove that curse and bring back the original Sara. That's why it's Operation Curse Exorcism.”
“…Cool.”
Sara murmured softly, though her face remained expressionless. I felt as if her eyes were sparkling, just a little.
“Uh… really?”
However, Oukura had a dubious expression regarding my perfect naming sense.
“Anyway, the key to Operation Curse Exorcism is you, Oukura. Got it?”
I had decided on the lesson menu last night after consulting with a counselor I knew.
The network I had built to gather information as a ‘viewer,’ and the ‘favors’ I had created with various adults, were now serving me as a ‘director.’
Ideally, it would be best for Sara to consult directly, but this was the result of respecting her own will.
After reading through the documents for a while, Oukura nodded.
“Well then, shall we start right away?”
“…Okay.”
Upon being told this, Sara looked somewhat anxious.
“First, about your past, Sara-chan. I know it’s hard to talk about, but will you tell me?”
Sara gave a small nod.
Of course, I had already explained the circumstances to Oukura.
But it was important for her to tell her past in her own words. After all, psychological issues ultimately depend on how the person perceives them.
“…Yeah.”
“I moved to Tokyo right after graduating from elementary school…”
Sara began to recount the details of her past in fragments.
“I couldn’t fit in with my classmates, and before I knew it, I was all alone…”
Sara’s words were disjointed, but Oukura offered gentle nods of encouragement.
“At first… my shoes started disappearing from my locker…”
Because she was in Witch Mode she sounded grumpy, but Sara was speaking with desperate intensity.
“Then, the whole class started ignoring me…”
Oukura understood. She didn’t rush her, listening to Sara's story with a calm demeanor.
“After that, it became a game in class to pretend to hit me.”
My face involuntarily contorted.
The words Sara murmured so flatly were far too hideous.
“…I think they enjoyed it because I had a big reaction. I eventually got used to it and stopped reacting so much… and then, they actually started hitting me.”
“…So that’s why you were so scared,” Oukura murmured softly, as if it all finally clicked.
“…I know Aoki-san doesn’t mean any harm. But…”
“Your body reacted on its own?”
Sara gave a small nod in response to Oukura’s confirmation.
“It’s okay, don't worry. At the very least, I'm on your side, Sara-chan,” Oukura said with a bright smile.
However, Sara cast a suspicious glance toward her.
“…That’s just so you can go on a date with Kageyama-kun, right?”
I believe that was a question the old Sara would never have asked.
But the current Sara had reached a state where she couldn’t easily trust others. To Sara, Oukura was ultimately a stranger. She wasn't like me, her childhood friend. Even if she said she would trust someone I trusted, the suspicion was likely a defense mechanism.
“Yep, that’s right.”
Oukura nodded honestly to Sara’s confirmation.
“Isn’t it easier to trust someone with a vested interest than someone who's an ally for no reason?”
“…Maybe so.”
“…Phew.”
Oukura’s true nature was dry and calculating. Her words were blunt, but because of that, they seemed to be persuasive.
Perhaps from the mental strain of recounting her past to Oukura, Sara’s complexion was pale. She looked utterly exhausted. I made eye contact with Oukura and decided to end the lesson.
“Sara, that’s enough for today.”
“…Eh? I only just started talking about the past.”
“How are you feeling?”
“…Yeah.”
“…I feel a little sick.”
If she pushed herself, things might get worse. Sara’s mental state required a cautious approach.
“Then don’t rush it. Just take your time getting used to things.”
Sara’s expression remained frozen like ice, but I'm sure she felt frustrated deep down.
On the way back from Cafe Mares, the moment Oukura disappeared, Sara burst into tears.
It was as if a dam had broken—her expression suddenly became vivid. Her face was instantly drenched in tears.
“Waaaaah! It’s not going well at all~!”
She tried to cling to me in that state, so I hurriedly grabbed her shoulders to stop her.
“Stop it! You’ll soak my uniform!”
“But…!”
“No ‘buts’!”
Sobbing, Sara began to walk away with a pout.
The difference in her character from a moment ago was so extreme that even I was startled by the gap. Oukura, observing from the shadows of the trees, was likely just as surprised.
I understood intellectually that Witch Mode wasn’t Sara's true nature, but you can't truly feel it until you see it for yourself. Seeing is believing. That was why I had secretly given Oukura instructions.
I told her to pretend to go home but to tail us.
Of course, Sara had no idea Oukura was watching her right now.
“I’m so tired…”
“I know. You did your best.”
“…Thanks, Haku-chan.”
If she knew, she would have reverted to Witch Mode. If she noticed Oukura tailing us, her mental stress would increase. That’s why I told Oukura to head home immediately once she had confirmed Sara's true nature.
“Haku-chan, I want some healing.”
“Healing?”
“Come over here.”
Following Sara as she suddenly veered off the path home, we arrived at a park. It was a small park where we used to play together long ago. It was completely dark now, and the park was deserted. The surrounding streetlights cast a dim glow over the area. The equipment consisted of just a few swings, a slide, a jungle gym, and a sandbox, with a row of benches along the edge.
“This place hasn’t changed!”
Sara said nostalgically as she sat down on a bench.
“You used to trip in the sandbox all the time and get covered in mud.”
“I remember you spraying me with the hose, Haku-chan!”
“That’s because you tried to hug me while you were covered in mud.”
Reminiscing about the old days, I sat down next to her.
Looking at her again, her stunning beauty stood out even in the dim night.
The last time I had seen Sara was on the day of our elementary school graduation. Back then, she was still a child. But now, at least in appearance, she had the poise of an adult.
To think a person could grow this much in just three years. It’s late to be surprised, but I still was.
“…What are you doing?”
“Pat my head.”
“Huh?”
Noticing my gaze, Sara for some reason thrust her head toward me.
“I want healing!” she said with a pleading look.
Unable to withstand the pressure of that gaze, I stroked her hair.
“Hehehe…”
Sara’s cheeks relaxed into a loose smile. The way she laughed was exactly the same as when she was little.
Though her behavior was the same, her appearance was different from those days. That’s why my heart raced a little.
Just a little.
“If someone saw us like this, they’d think we're a couple.”
“…I wouldn’t mind that, really,” Sara said with a blank expression.
“I’m the one who'd be troubled. If I had such a conspicuous girlfriend, I'd attract too much unnecessary attention.”
“S-sorry…”
Sara looked completely crushed.
“I’m weird, aren't I?”
Apparently, she had misunderstood the meaning of ‘conspicuous.’
However, it felt too embarrassing to correct her, so I changed the subject.
“More importantly, we have another lesson tomorrow. If it’s too mentally taxing, tell me right away.”
“…Yeah. Thanks. If I’m with Haku-chan, I feel like I can do my best.”
Sara gazed up at the night sky.
Beautiful.
“…Beautiful,” she murmured.
Following her gaze, I looked up to see the stars shimmering in the night sky.
“Come to think of it, you always liked the stars, Sara,” I said.
“You remembered that?”
“Do you still like them?”
“Yeah. Back in middle school, I actually… wanted to join the astronomy club.”
I wasn’t stupid enough to miss the implication of those words.
Sara hadn’t been able to join the astronomy club. Or rather, she hadn't been allowed in.
“Do you know that star?”
Sara pointed toward a star that shone with particular intensity.
“The Summer Triangle, right?”
As expected.
“Haku-chan knows it too, I see.”
“You’re the one who taught me.”
I remembered hearing that Sara hadn’t come home even after nightfall, so I had gone to look for her.
I found her in a nearby park, blankly staring up at the stars, completely unaware that everyone was searching for her. When she saw my face, she had invited me, asking, “Want to watch them with me?”
Even though I knew I had to report back to our parents quickly, before I knew it, I had accepted her invitation. Sara pointed at the stars and told me their names. Eventually, both of us got scolded.
Now, it was a fond memory.
After parting ways with Sara, I headed home.
My house is a large two-story detached home, one of the bigger ones in the surrounding residential area.
I unlocked the door and stepped inside. There wasn’t a single pair of shoes in the entryway.
Both of my parents work, and they always come home late. That said, thanks to them earning plenty of money, I live without any hardships, so I have no complaints.
I went up the stairs and entered my room.
It was an ordinary room furnished with a desk, chair, bed, bookshelf, and plastic storage drawers. There was nothing particularly noteworthy about it. I placed my bag on the desk and sat on the bed.
Checking my phone, I saw a RINE notification. It was from Oukura. Before checking the content, I called her.
“I saw it~. So that’s Sara-chan's true nature. I was quite surprised.”
“It’s completely different from that, isn't it?”
“Yeah. Which is exactly why I think it’s such a pain.”
“…Well, I suppose so.”
“Speaking techniques?”
“Exactly.”
A curse that brings about such a drastic change. No matter how you look at it, it wasn’t normal.
“What did the counselor Kageyama-kun consulted say?”
“That the only way is to gradually get used to it by interacting with Oukura.”
“Hmm, it can’t be helped, but it sounds like we'll need to think long-term.”
“That’s why I'm going to have Sara acquire speaking techniques.”
“Yeah. The reason it sounds like Sara is rejecting people is because there’s no emotion in her voice. Her tone is always cold. That's why she's hard to approach. She sounds moody.”
“If we improve that, she might be able to make friends even as she is.”
This wasn’t about overcoming the fear of others that Sara harbored, but rather a method to improve her Witch Mode. If she could gradually interact with others that way, it would be a shortcut to overcoming her trauma. When I explained my reasoning, Oukura sounded convinced.
“If it’s techniques, I can teach her.”
“Yeah. Oukura, I’m counting on you.”
“Sure thing~. But in exchange, I’m expecting a little something as a reward♪”
“What do you want?”
“Hmm, maybe the right to one date?~”
“…Fine.”
“Hehe♪ Then I’ll be looking forward to it!”
After finishing the call with Oukura, I lay back on my bed.
Since becoming the ‘director,’ I’ve had more to think about.
When I was just a ‘viewer,’ I simply enjoyed the story unfolding before my eyes. But now, it’s my job to direct an interesting story, and whether the lead, Sara, can obtain the youth she desires depends on my direction skills. The responsibility is heavy, but I feel a sense of fulfillment.
The third day of transfer was just like the second.
I controlled the classroom to ensure no one approached Sara. As a result, the after-school hour arrived without any major incidents, so I called the two of them to an empty classroom.
If we went to Cafe Malle every day, I’d run out of money. After all, I'm on a high schooler's budget. For that reason, I had been looking for a place we could use for secret lessons for free. Since Nijizora high-school is quite large, there are several empty classrooms, but there's a high chance someone would recognize the voices if they passed by. However, the empty classroom I selected was in a corner of the school. It was unlikely anyone would come by.
Since the lessons were primarily between Oukura and Sara, I stayed on guard just in case.
“Today’s lesson is on how to speak, Sara-chan.”
Oukura proceeded with the lesson exactly as she had explained over the phone yesterday.
“I heard that Sara-chan can speak normally in front of Kageyama-kun and her family, so you probably can do it, but… let’s practice so you can speak normally even in your current state.”
“…I’m always trying to, in my heart.”
“I always do it using techniques, so you should give it a try.”
Oukura suddenly shifted the aura surrounding her and spoke to Sara.
“Oh, Sara-chan! Hello~”
Her voice and expression shifted instantly to something soft.
This was the fluffy Oukura everyone saw when she talked to people at school.
Oukura’s expression snapped back instantly, and she said succinctly, “Like that.”
“From now on, Sara-chan, you’re going to become a riajuu through technique and calculation!”
Riajuu is a Japanese slang term for someone who is popular and has a fulfilling social life, roughly equivalent to the English term normie.
“Technique and… calculation…”
“The trick is to wear a mask. Create another personality inside yourself. In your case, that Witch Mode, right? I think it’s best to imagine you're modifying that mode.”
Even if Sara were somehow able to show her true nature in front of everyone, it was doubtful she could lead a youth like something out of a story. She was naturally a ‘home-brave, street-timid’ type to begin with.
Therefore, I believed that the technique to become a riajuu was necessary for Sara’s goal regardless.
“The modified Witch Mode shall be named… Saint Mode.”
“…S-Saint Mode?”
Sara seemed moved by my perfect naming sense.
“Well, don’t worry about the name,” Oukura said, dismissing my comment as she continued.
“First, we’ll improve the tone of your voice! So, let's start with vocal exercises!”
“Vocal exercises… how do I do those?”
“First, let’s take a slow, deep breath. In through the nose, out through the mouth.”
Sara followed Oukura’s instructions.
They progressed step-by-step through lip rolls, vowel pronunciation, and long tones.
The first stage of ‘Operation Curse Exorcism" was ‘Saintification.’ I had planned the basic menu for this. Within that framework, we would incorporate Oukura’s style of lessons.
“You’re quite experienced,” I noted.
“I used to do this too.”
It seemed that a considerable amount of training lay behind the position Oukura currently held.
“Though, unlike me, who couldn’t speak to people properly, Sara-chan can produce sound correctly, so all that's left is to add emotion. Next, let's try adding inflection to your voice.”
“Inflection…”
Sara struggled visibly during this step.
“A, ah—…”
She was trying to add inflection, but it kept coming out the same.
Still, as the lessons repeated, slight growth became visible. Her voice began to subtly convey joy, anger, grief, and pleasure. Well, it was at a level where only I would notice.
“I think that’s it for today.”
When the sky had turned the color of twilight, Oukura announced the end of the lesson.
“…Um, Oukura-san.”
Sara spoke to Oukura.
“…Thank you.”
The words were brief and the tone flat, but it sounded as if a tiny bit of emotion had been carried.
“You’re very welcome~”
Oukura gave a small giggle and left the empty classroom first.
Since the ‘Youth Production Team’ was a secret relationship, it wasn’t ideal for us to walk home together. There were students in the building for club activities—if we encountered an acquaintance, our secret relationship would be discovered.
“Haku-chan, shall we go home together?”
With her Witch Mode deactivated, Sara smiled softly.
“No, today… I’ll pass. It only increases the risk of getting caught.”
As I tried to tell her that, the expression on Sara’s face sank visibly.
“…Walk a bit apart from me until we’re away from the school.”
“Okay!”
With a smile that bloomed like a flower, Sara nodded.
…It couldn’t be helped. It certainly wasn't because I had been swayed by Sara. Keeping the lead actress in a good mood is also part of the crew's job.
“…Sorry.”
Sara had been practicing her lessons every day, but things weren’t progressing as hoped. She had become able to put a small amount of inflection into her voice, but it wouldn't go any further than that.
Sara bowed her head.
Thanks to the lessons, she actually sounded a little apologetic.
That said, it was a difference only someone like me or Oukura—who observed her closely—would notice.
“Let’s move on to expression lessons for a bit,” Oukura said, pulling at her own cheeks with both hands to reveal her white teeth.
“Like this! A smile!”
“…I’ll—I'll try.”
“Hmm…”
Sara pulled her own cheeks with both hands, forcing her expression to change.
It just looked like she was making a funny face. Her facial muscles hadn’t budged an inch, and the sight of her forcing them to move with her hands was far too unbalanced. She was being sincere, but honestly, it was a bit funny.
“Ahaha! Sara-chan, you’re too funny!”
Oukura seemed to have hit a comedic nerve and burst out laughing, clutching her stomach.
“Eh…?”
Sara, on the other hand, looked shocked. After all, she was being serious.
“Wait a second.”
Oukura took a hand mirror out of her bag and handed it to Sara.
“This is the expression Sara-chan has in front of everyone.”
“…My expression is this cold?”
Sara looked at her face in the mirror and seemed surprised.
“You rarely look in a mirror when other people are around, right?”
When I asked, Sara nodded.
“…When I’m alone, my expression is more natural.”
“This is what your Witch Mode is.”
“…No wonder people don’t approach me.”
Her expression remained cold, but she seemed to be feeling down. The fact that her voice sounded slightly dampened could be considered a result of the lessons up until today.
“And that’s why we're going to practice expression management while looking in the mirror!”
Oukura began switching her expressions one after another. One moment she was smiling, then angry—then crying, then surprised.
“…Like an actress.”
“If you can’t produce expressions naturally, just do it mechanically. Pattern your expressions and bring them out at the appropriate moments. I believe that if you practice, you can definitely do it.”
Oukura’s expression vanished instantly, and she explained the process to Sara in a flat tone.
“I have hundreds of expression patterns, but I think it takes years of practice to master them, so let’s just have you memorize the ones you'll use most often.”
Oukura softened the corners of her eyes and slightly raised the corners of her mouth.
“First is ‘Smiling.’ As long as you can do this at a minimum, your impression will improve. Even if you’re at a loss for words in a conversation, you won't go wrong if you use this expression. It's probably the one with the highest frequency of use.”
“I see…”
Seeing Oukura actually smiling gave her words incredible persuasiveness. Sara, remaining expressionless, took notes in her notebook.
“Next is ‘Joy’—Ahaha!”
Oukura beamed, as if a flower were blooming.
“In short, a grin. You’re in a strong position if you can use this pattern at key points in a conversation.”
Oukura’s explanation felt somewhat like a card game. In fact, for Oukura, it probably felt like playing a card from her hand.
Finally, “Surprise—Eh?!”
Oukura rounded her eyes and placed a hand over her mouth.
“…I understand.”
“As long as you can do these three patterns, basic communication will work. Patterns like ‘Sorrow’ or ‘Anger’ aren’t necessary for daily life. In Sara-chan's case, your default expression already looks like you're angry, so I think when you want to be angry, you can just go back to normal.”
Sara gave a small nod and began her lesson while looking in the mirror.
As Sara struggled with the fact that her facial muscles wouldn’t move properly, Oukura provided timely advice. Since Oukura created her expressions through technique, her advice was always precise.
As a result of repeating these lessons…
“Oh! You did it! You’re properly smiling, Sara-chan!”
Sara had become able to ‘smile’ even in front of Oukura.
However, the smile was slightly unnatural, and her lips were trembling.
“…L-limit.”
Sara’s expression immediately returned to normal.
“…Tiring.”
Apparently, ten seconds was the limit for maintaining a ‘smile.’ Sara looked exhausted, despite her expressionless face.
“That’s huge progress, Sara-chan!”
Oukura, meanwhile, was in high spirits. She seemed happy to see visible results. The teacher was more pleased than the student. Or rather, that’s just how it looked.
“…But I can’t maintain it for long.”
“Just ‘smiling’ at key moments will make your impression much better than before.”
After that, she had also become able to ‘laugh’ or ‘look surprised,’ if only for a fleeting moment.
“The lessons are paying off.”
“…Thank you.”
Sara ‘laughed’ awkwardly.
Even if it was only for a moment, the fact that her expression changed made her feel much more approachable.
“It seems like we could move to practical application, but I want to do a lesson on behavior first,” I suggested, and Oukura explained.
“Behavior?”
“Because Sara-chan’s behavior is too proper.”
“Too… proper…?”
Sara was likely just wondering what that meant, but her expression was scary. Because she was slightly knitting her brows while remaining expressionless, it looked like she was glaring at Oukura.
Well, she had only barely mastered a few basic patterns—she hadn’t practiced detailed expressions like ‘frowning." The goal of Saint Mode was still far off.
“I’ll show you a demonstration now. This is Sara-chan's movement.”
Oukura’s aura shifted suddenly. With stiff, precise movements, she walked around Sara.
“Next is me.”
Oukura’s walking became soft and supple.
The former was undoubtedly more ‘correct,’ but the latter was far more approachable.
“Do you see the difference?”
“Oukura-san is… cuter.”
Sara murmured softly. She seemed depressed.
“Hehe, thanks. Sara-chan’s movements are proper, but they're so perfect that they're hard to relate to. That behavior forms that ice-cold atmosphere around you.”
“So you’re saying that because her movements are perfect, she's even more unapproachable.”
“Exactly. Kageyama-kun is correct.”
“…In high school, I practiced etiquette… so I wouldn’t be bullied…”
“You don’t have to change the way you behave entirely. But just like with expression management, don't you think you could insert ‘adorable gestures’ at key moments?”
“‘Adorable gestures’…?”
“Something like this! Ehehe~”
Oukura laughed while touching her own cheeks with both hands. It was indeed adorable.
“Ehehe… like this?”
With a completely serious expression, Sara touched her own cheeks.
It was a surreal sight, as always. Oukura was barely suppressing a laugh.
“A-hem! First, a simple and effective gesture—‘Tilting the head’!”
“…L-like this?”
“That’s just a ghost who's been hanged!”
I watched the lesson while sitting on a desk in the empty classroom.
Oukura, who played the part of a riajuu through technique and calculation, could indeed train Sara. I had thought as much, but she was more capable than I expected. Sara was also growing steadily.
…That said, there were still mountains of difficulties to overcome.
To begin with, for Sara, Oukura was currently transitioning from a ‘stranger’ to an ‘acquaintance.’ Therefore, there was no guarantee she could execute the results of the lessons against a true stranger. There is experience that can only be gained through practice.
It’s about time to start the story in earnest.
Two weeks had passed since Sara transferred in. Summer had truly arrived and the air conditioning in the classroom was blasting.
Having successfully (?) established her position as the loner, Sara was spending her day in peace. The class had grown used to Sara’s presence, and the attention itself was fading.
In other words, Sara was being accepted by the class as ‘that kind of character.’
Of course, that was also the result of me working behind the scenes to adjust her favorability.
When lunch break arrived, I casually walked past the seat where Oukura was sitting.
“Empty classroom,” I whispered softly before leaving the room.
Shortly after I entered the empty classroom, Oukura arrived.
“It’s rare for Kageyama-kun to call me during lunch.”
Since there are too many students in the school building during lunch, we usually avoid using the empty classroom. However, since we have lessons after school, the three of us end up together.
“You wanted to talk just the two of us, didn’t you?”
“That’s the case.”
“Then let’s eat lunch together!”
Oukura cheerfully held up her lunch box.
“I’m a convenience store guy.”
“I know. That’s why I bought some for you. Even the bread Kageyama-kun likes.”
In her other hand, she held a plastic shopping bag.
“Depending on the level of my contribution, you’ll grant my requests, right?”
“I thought you wanted a one-day date ticket?”
“I can’t be satisfied with just that~”
Seeing Oukura smile like a little devil, I sighed.
“…Fine.”
We pushed two desks and chairs together in the empty classroom and began eating.
“Here, say ahh.”
Oukura offered a piece of rolled omelet with her chopsticks.
“I made this lunch myself. I’m proud of my rolled omelets.”
“…You want me to eat this?”
“Of course♪ Did you really think we were just going to eat lunch together?”
…Oukura’s level of contribution is beyond my expectations.
Unable to do anything else, I opened my mouth, and Oukura happily stuffed a piece of rolled omelet inside.
“Hehe, how is it? Tasty?”
As I chewed, I noticed the fluffy texture and a refined sweetness.
“You can cook, too?”
“It’s a secret♪~ I practiced properly. Just like I did with my other skills.”
“…What on earth made you go that far?”
When I ask, Oukura places her index finger over her lips.
Oukura is a character shrouded in mystery.
Even I, as a ‘viewer,’ haven’t grasped the full picture. I'm curious about her past, but she probably wouldn't answer even if I asked.
“So, what was it you wanted to talk to me about?”
“Sara has reached a certain standard in terms of speaking style, facial expression management, and behavior.”
“Yeah, I guess she has.”
“I want to move to the second stage of the Curse Exorcism Operation.”
“In other words, it’s time to put it into practice, right? I agree.”
Oukura let a slight look of anxiety peek through.
“Though, the biggest problem still remains, right?”
“…Sara can’t let other people touch her.”
“If something like what happened when she brushed away Yuka-chan’s hand happens again, it'll leave too bad of an impression.”
Oukura is right. That is the decisive reason why Sara is being treated like a fragile piece of glass.
“However… I think this is the part closest to her trauma.”
The background of Sara entering Witch Mode involves past bullying.
That is the direct cause of her fear of others.
Therefore, for Sara to become able to have physical contact with others is the very act of overcoming her trauma.
“…Let’s try it out first.”
Considering Sara’s goal, it's a path she cannot avoid regardless.
A slap sound echoed.
“Ah…”
It was the sound of Sara brushing away Oukura’s hand.
“No, don’t worry about it.”
Oukura shook her head at the crestfallen Sara.
“I knew I couldn’t do it.”
“Your body just reacts on its own, doesn’t it?”
“I’m sorry…”
Whenever Oukura reached out her hand, Sara would either reflexively brush it away or flee. No matter how many times they repeated it, the result didn’t change.
Unlike the previous lessons, there was no growth in Sara.
On the contrary, it almost looked as if she were getting worse.
“Haa, haa…”
Even though she wasn’t exercising, Sara's breathing gradually became ragged.
“Let’s take a break for a bit.”
As expected, the symptoms are severe. Oukura looked at me with a troubled expression.
“This is… maybe it’s beyond our capabilities…”
“…Relying on a counselor is… no good.”
Despite her labored breathing, Sara shook her head vigorously.
I understand the desperation in Sara’s plea, but Oukura's judgment is also reasonable.
That said, I had anticipated this situation from the start.
“Here’s a compromise. We'll move to the second stage as planned.”
The second stage means actually making friends in class.
“I’ll spread a rumor that she's bad with physical contact.”
If I do that, it will provide an explanation for why she brushed away Aoki’s hand.
If we are to realize the youth that Sara desires, she will eventually need to overcome her curse. However, for now, I think it would be best to move the story forward and hope it has a positive influence on Sara’s heart.
“And so, we’re going to start the story in earnest.”
“…What should I do?”
“First, I want you to make a friend.”
“…If I could do that, I wouldn’t be struggling.”
Sara looked somewhat sullen. But we can’t start until she clears this hurdle.
“Specifically, I want you to become friends with Aoki.”
“The person whose hand I brushed away?”
“Yeah. That’s exactly why I want you to make her a friend. It's the quickest way.”
Oukura agreed with my policy.
“I think she’s the right person. Yuka-chan is a really good person. She probably thinks the reason her hand was brushed away was her own fault. She shouldn't have a bad impression of Sara-chan. If Sara becomes close with Aoki, the reason for her being treated like a fragile object will disappear. Since Aoki is kind, if I leak the information that ‘Sara is bad with physical contact,’ I think she’ll understand the incident with the hand. In fact, she'll likely feel guilt toward Sara.”
“Oukura and I will do the groundwork. Can you do it?”
“Mm. I also want to apologize to Aoki-san for what happened then.”
As if summoning her courage, Sara nodded.
While I was at home thinking about the script for the story, my phone vibrated.
The screen displayed ‘Oukura Ruka.’ I answered the call.
“What do you want?”
“Hmm~? I just wanted to hear your voice~”
“I’m hanging up.”
“Is that any way to talk to me? After I’ve been helping you out so much.”
When she puts it that way, I can’t argue.
Lately, my position relative to Oukura has been far too weak. Especially since she holds my secrets…
“Can we switch to a video call?”
“…Fine.”
I propped my phone against a book on my desk, and the screen switched.
Oukura looked like she had just stepped out of the bath. Her complexion was flushed. Her hair seemed freshly dried, and she was wearing fluffy pajamas. It looked hot for summer.
“You look surprised?”
“Do you wear glasses at home?”
She looked different from the usual Oukura. The biggest factor was the glasses.
“I do~. My eyesight is actually pretty bad. I wear contacts at school.”
Partly because she was speaking naturally, but just wearing glasses gave her a suddenly intellectual impression.
Oukura appeared on screen, lying down on her bed.
Due to the angle, her cleavage was partially visible. She was likely doing this on purpose.
“Don’t you have something to say?”
“…Eh?”
“Stop flaunting your cleavage.”
Looking bewildered, Oukura looked down at her chest.
Her face turned bright red, and she pulled up the collar of her pajamas.
Apparently, it had been unconscious.
“W-where are you looking?”
“No, sorry. I just assumed you were doing it on purpose…”
“As if! Kageyama-kun, what do you think of me?”
Oukura gave me a sidelong glare. She really is cute.
No, no, this is no time to be thinking about that. Let’s get to the main point.
“…Thanks. For helping Sara.”
I expressed my gratitude to Oukura once more, she has truly been helping us devotedly.
Given how many friends she has, she must have plenty of invitations after school.
“Well, that’s because Kageyama-kun said he'd do anything for me, right~?”
But Oukura’s devotion doesn't seem to be for that reason alone.
“I didn’t say anything… but is that really the only reason?”
I asked, but Oukura averted her eyes, looking a bit awkward.
I don’t think her liking me is a lie.
“…Because I couldn’t stand to watch. A girl who looks like the old me.”
The whispered mutter was strangely quiet and cold.
“I see.”
“…Sorry.”
“Though, the effort and reward really aren’t balanced, are they~?”
When I apologized, Oukura wore a mischievous grin.
“So, can I request a reward? Separate from the one-day date ticket.”
In reality, I don’t think I've been able to return a reward commensurate with Oukura's level of contribution.
“Alright. What do you want?”
“Kageyama-kun, you call Sara-chan by her first name, right?”
Oukura spoke in a roundabout way, her cheeks flushing.
“Well, we’re childhood friends. What about it?”
“Then, call me by my name too. Ruka.”
As she declared this with determination, Oukura was, honestly, incredibly cute.
The biggest problem was that she was saying this to the wrong person. I’m the one behind the scenes.
“…Are you sure you’re okay with just that?”
“Yeah. That’s exactly what I want… Haku-kun.”
Oukura called me by my first name, sounding a bit shy.
“Is it okay?”
“I don’t mind that much… Ruka.”
When I called her by her first name, Oukura—no—Ruka—smiled happily.
“However, in front of everyone, I’ll keep calling you Oukura.”
“I know. Our relationship is a secret from everyone, after all.”
“That’s how it is.”
“Hehe… see you later, Haku-kun♪”
I said goodbye to a satisfied Ruka and ended the call.
A main character and a backstage hand. Oukura, wearing two hats, is a powerful pawn.
I wondered what would happen when my secrets were revealed…
Now, the story begins in earnest tomorrow… how should I direct it?
“It seems Ginjo-san is bad with physical contact.”
With me and Ruka, spreading this information to the class won’t be difficult.
It also aligns with the character Sara has established over the past two weeks. There’s no reason to deny it.
Eventually, the rumor reached Aoki, who sits in the next seat.
“So that’s what it was. I feel bad now…”
In the morning classroom, Aoki looked crestfallen.
Few students had arrived yet. It was a time when I could talk to Aoki leisurely.
“Ahaha, you don’t need to worry about it that much.”
While giving a casual response, I sent a message to Sara in the our group chat.
Then, Sara, who had been waiting outside the classroom, opened the door and entered.
The few students in the classroom stirred slightly, likely due to the rumor.
“Ah, Ginjo-san…”
“Eh?”
Since the person in question had entered, Aoki reacted.
“Speak of the devil, right?”
I replied vaguely while making eye contact with Sara.
Sara walked past her own seat and headed toward us.
“…Um.”
The silence was heavy.
While Aoki looked bewildered, Sara’s aura was as cold as ice.
I wondered if it was just my own nerves, but she felt even more intimidating than her usual Witch Mode.
Eventually, Sara came to a stop directly in front of Aoki.
She stood in a position that looked down upon Aoki, who remained seated.
“W-what is it, Ginjo-san? Do you need something from me?”
Aoki was visibly shaken, paralyzed by surprise.
The few classmates present were also paying close attention to the strange tension between the two.
Calm down, Sara. Relax your shoulders. As I prayed this in my mind, my eyes met hers.
At that moment, Sara’s expression softened ever so slightly. At least, I felt like it did.
She had already decided what to say first. The grown-up Sara of today should be able to do this.
Since it was still early in the morning, there weren’t many people around.
I didn’t know if it would actually help, but I was right there by her side.
In the tension-filled classroom, Sara opened her mouth.
“It’s a bit late now, but… I'm sorry about the other day.”
In the silence of the classroom, even Sara’s small voice carried.
Sara bowed her head with formal precision. Aoki’s eyes widened.
“N-no way! Please don’t worry about it, it's totally fine!”
Aoki scrambled to her feet in a panic, urging Sara to look up.
“If anything, I’m the one who should apologize! After all, you're not very good with physical contact, right?”
“…Yeah. I just… reacted instinctively and pushed you away…”
Up to this point, everything was proceeding exactly according to the conversation simulation Ruka and I had devised.
“…But, it’s not that I don't want to be involved with people.”
Sara spoke while using the ‘smile’ she had practiced over and over.
Though it was slightly awkward, the change in her expression softened her overall aura.
“Really? Oh, thank goodness…”
Aoki gave a happy smile and continued the conversation.
“…Then, would you like to be my friend?”
Sara was shaken by Aoki’s sudden proposal.
Our eyes met for a split second, and I gave her a small nod.
She was probably just surprised that she had achieved her goal so abruptly.
“…Is that okay?”
“Of course! I look forward to getting to know you, Ginjo-san!”
Aoki must have been truly happy, as she beamed like the sun.
“…Yeah.”
Watching this scene, the atmosphere in the classroom shifted into something peaceful.
“Huh? Yuka-chan and Ginjo-san are talking?”
Entering the classroom at that exact moment was Ruka.
Of course, it wasn’t a coincidence. I had signaled the timing to Ruka via our group chat.
As Ruka approached, Aoki raised her hand.
“Ruu, morning! Actually, Ginjo-san and I became friends!”
“Eh, really~? I’m so jealous~. I want to be friends with Ginjo-san too!”
“…Yeah, sure.”
And so, the girls began chatting excitedly.
Sara was as taciturn as ever, but the conversation was somehow holding together.
“Ah, but approaching Ginjo-san is forbidden!”
Aoki crossed her arms in an X over her chest, as if protecting Sara from Ruka.
“Eh~? Why?”
“…Because she’s not good with physical contact.”
“Is that so?”
“…Yeah.”
Of course, Ruka knew, but she pretended not to and acted surprised.
Because Sara had stated it clearly with her own mouth, a mere rumor transformed into truth.
Since Aoki and Ruka were prominent figures, everyone in the classroom had likely heard.
There weren’t even ten people watching, but it was more than enough for the information to spread: Aoki and the others have become friends with Sara and The rumors about Sara were true.
“Is this distance okay?”
Sara nodded at Ruka’s confirmation.
“…Yeah.”
“Got it. Then, is it okay if I talk to you normally from now on~?”
The questions Ruka was to ask Sara had been shared beforehand. Since Sara basically only had to nod, the flow of conversation remained smooth.
“Hey, hey, can I ask you a bunch of things about Ginjou-san?”
Sara nodded while using the ‘Smile’ skill in response to Aoki, who asked with a look of delight. She had also simulated her responses to Aoki in advance.
“Your previous school was in Tokyo, right? What are schools in Tokyo like? Are they really big?”
“…I don’t think so. They're smaller than the school here.”
“Eh, really?”
“…And there are too many people, so it’s exhausting.”
“Ah~, the trains get packed too, right? I’ve seen that.”
So far, Aoki’s words and actions hadn't deviated from our expectations.
Still, perhaps due to the tension of the actual practice, Sara’s responses were stiff.
“Coming in early once in a while really does bring good things~”
“Come to think of it, it’s rare for Ruu to be here this early, isn't it?”
“Ehehe~, I went to bed early last night. Lights out at ten!”
“Yes, yes, good girl.”
Sara was overwhelmed by the energy of Ruka and Aoki, but she managed to get through it by using the ‘Smile’ skill set at key moments. The lessons are paying off.
Even without Sara speaking much, the conversation proceeded smoothly.
This should be fine. If anything happens, Ruka will surely follow up.
I quietly left my seat. If I stayed there, I might get dragged into it. As someone working behind the scenes, that’s undesirable. The role of the ‘director’ is to make the protagonist of the story stand out.
“Huh? Those two…”
A few minutes later, Shidou arrived at the classroom.
“Looks like they’ve gotten pretty chummy with the transfer student, huh?”
I called out to Shidou as he let out a whistle.
“Morning, Shidou-kun. Surprising, isn’t it?”
“Yo, Kageyama. What on earth happened there?”
“Actually, Ginjou-san apologized to Aoki-san. And then—”
I explained the situation to Shidou exactly as I had seen it.
“Ginjou-san actually wants to get along with everyone.”
“Heh, is that so? Guess there was a misunderstanding about the transfer student.”
Though he said this, Shidou’s eyes clearly showed he found it amusing.
“Think I should jump in too?”
“Hmm, she seems nervous just talking to those two.”
“Well, I’ll pass for now then.”
“Probably for the best. If you talk to her, it’ll look like you're hitting on her.”
“Hey, Kageyama. What’s that supposed to mean?”
“Ahaha, just kidding.”
The reason I spoke to Shidou here wasn’t just to explain Sara's situation, but to ensure he didn't intervene. To begin with, Sara is in a state of panic just talking to Aoki and Ruka at the same time. If Shidou joined in, she wouldn't be able to say anything at all.
That’s why I'll keep Shidou under control.
That said, as the time approached, classmates began appearing in the classroom one after another.
“Eh, wait…”
“Whoa, Ginjou-san is…”
“She looks like she’s having fun.”
The arriving classmates looked at Sara and the others in surprise before taking their seats.
Sara, chatting happily with Ruka and Aoki, members of the ‘top tier.’
It was important for the classmates to perceive this image.
Once the recognition that Sara is friends with Aoki and the others spreads, it will be harder for people to casually speak ill of her.
This was also a countermeasure against Kurosawa and her group of ‘second-tier’ girls. Until now, Ruka and I had managed to control them, but since Sara had made such a bold move, there was a possibility Kurosawa and her group might try something.
As I was thinking this, Kurosawa herself entered the classroom.
Seeing the state of Sara and the others, Kurosawa groaned with distaste.
“Morning, Kurosawa-san.”
I greeted Kurosawa while pretending not to hear that groan.
“Kageyama. What’s the deal with that?”
“Apparently, they’ve become friends.”
“Hah? With that transfer student? Why?”
“What does it matter? It’ll make the class atmosphere better,” Shidou interjected.
“Since it wasn’t exactly a great atmosphere until yesterday.”
Shidou’s words sounded like a warning to Kurosawa.
“…I guess.”
Kurosawa replied, looking slightly awkward.
Shidou is overwhelmingly strong against Kurosawa. Probably because Kurosawa likes him.
“Well, everyone getting along is for the best, right?”
Shidou navigated his surroundings well.
He probably intended the warning to Kurosawa as well. While I appreciated that, he is a troublesome existence. With his keen observational skills, there’s a high chance Shidou will notice my secret maneuvering.
I’ll need to be more careful than usual when talking to Shidou.
After that, Akagami and Touyama arrived together.
“Morning, everyone.”
“Mornin~”
The two of them basically always commute together. Apparently, Touyama goes to pick up Akagami, who is very tired in the mornings. They’re way too much like childhood friends. I almost want to hear their conversations on the way to school.
However, since I’ve taken on the role of the support for the story starring Sara, I have to lower the priority of observing Akagami and the others. It's sad, but I only have one body.
Entering the classroom, Touyama doubted her eyes upon seeing Sara and the others.
“…Huh?”
“Wait, what’s going on?”
Touyama asked for the situation, looking at us near the classroom entrance.
“Apparently, they’ve become friends.”
I repeated the same explanation I gave Shidou.
I feel like I’ve become an RPG village NPC. Welcome to the town of XX!
After finishing the explanation while thinking about such nonsense, Touyama let out a hmph through her nose.
“So Ginjou-san was the one to reach out…”
Akagami breathed a sigh of relief, stroking his chest. He’s too good of a guy.
“I haven’t forgiven her yet.”
However, Touyama remained stubborn. As expected, Touyama’s impression isn't so easily overturned.
Five minutes before homeroom.
The morning classroom was noisier than usual. The reason, of course, was that Sara was chatting with Aoki and the others.
“…I’m just going to the restroom.”
Sara, who had been conversing while occasionally using ‘Smile,’ exited the circle.
Looking closely, her lips were trembling. It seems her mental points have hit their limit.
Meanwhile, Ruka and Aoki naturally merged with Akagami and the others.
“Hey~!”
“Ehehe~, I got to talk with Ginjou-san!”
“It was fun! She was easier to talk to than I thought!”
The phone in my pocket vibrated.
It was a message from Sara:
Empty classroom.
I left the classroom and entered the usual empty room at the end of the school building.
Leaning her back against the wall, Sara was sitting in a fetal position. Her expression was gloomy.
“Why are you depressed?”
“…I couldn’t speak well at all.”
It was a scene where a ‘thump’ sound effect would have looked natural appearing above her head.
“From the outside, it looked like you were all getting along great.”
“That’s because Oukura-san was supporting me.”
“Even so, if you were able to communicate, it’s proof that you're growing.”
When I told her that, Sara looked up at me with a dissatisfied expression.
“…Haku-chan, you’re too soft on me, aren't you?”
“That’s not true.”
I instinctively looked away, but I intended to give a flat evaluation.
We were certainly the ones who set the stage, but today’s Sara was fitting for the first step of the story.
“We finally created an opportunity. We can’t let this chance slip away.”
“Yeah. I want to become closer with Aoki-san. …Do you think I can?”
“Ruka and I will cover for any minor failures. Just take the plunge. Got it?”
When I gave the instruction, Sara’s expression became relieved.
“Thanks, Haku-chan.”
“It’s only just begun, you know?”
“Even so, it’s thanks to Haku-chan.”
“If you’re grateful to me, then fulfill your duty as the protagonist.”
“…Yeah. I’ll do my best!”
Taking a slow, deep breath, Sara declared her intention as if resetting her mood.
It seems her spent mana had somehow recovered.
What matters is today, the day the spark was lit.
Sara is well aware of that too.
When lunch break arrived, Sara started moving on her own.
Everyone’s attention focused on the movements of Sara, who had been the center of conversation since morning.
However, as Sara approached Aoki’s seat, she stopped, perhaps out of nervousness.
That said, approaching Aoki’s seat also meant she was close to mine.
“…Ginjou-san, is something wrong?”
When I called out to her naturally, Sara answered.
“…Um, I wanted to eat lunch with Aoki-san.”
When I looked toward the neighboring seat, Aoki was, naturally, paying attention to us.
“Of course! Ginjou-san, let’s eat together!”
Hearing Aoki’s response, Sara seemed relieved.
“I’m going to the cafeteria, so you can use this seat.”
When I prompted her to sit, Sara sat in my seat with a natural motion.
“Thank you, Haku… Kageyama-kun.”
Aoki looked at us, appearing bewildered.
“Are you two actually close?”
Sara was blatantly shaken, her shoulders trembling.
“…W-Why?”
“No, it’s just that the vibe between you two feels natural…”
Sara looked at me helplessly. Stop it. That gaze is already relying on me.
“Ahaha, you think so? I hope that’s the case.”
I brush it off with a generic response and a polite, fake smile.
The relationship of the ‘Youth Production Team’ is a secret, and as the support staff, there’s no need for me to draw attention to myself.
“…I’m not getting along with Kageyama-kun at all.”
Sara declared this with a straight face, but she went too far. Now she’s just standing out more.
“When you put it like that, it’s actually a little sad…”
“…S-sorry.”
Though her expression remained unchanged, Sara’s gaze began to wander.
Aoki, who had been watching her, let out a small chuckle.
“I think I’m starting to get a feel for Ginjo-san. You're just socially awkward, aren't you?”
“…Maybe?”
Sara answered with a cold expression. She probably thought using the ‘Smile’ skill would be weird here.
“Ah~, sorry.”
Aoki seemed to realize he had rubbed her the wrong way, and he hesitated over his next words.
Just as a slightly awkward atmosphere began to drift over them, Ruka approached.
“I want to eat lunch with you guys too~!”
A perfect save. Sara nodded, looking relieved.
The three of them began eating their bento boxes in a friendly atmosphere, just as they had been doing that morning.
“Mind if we join you?”
It was Akagami who called out to Sara and the others.
He was accompanied by Shidou and Touyama. The first-tier group had arrived in full force.
Touyama looked dissatisfied, but Akagami had likely persuaded her to come.
“Ginjo-san, what do you think?”
Ruka gauged Sara’s reaction. In reality, she was likely checking to see if Sara was actually okay with this.
Ruka looked at me. I gave a small nod.
If the number of people in the conversation suddenly increased, Sara might get too nervous and faint.
That said, if we refused now, it would leave the impression that she was difficult to deal with.
“It’s okay, right, Ginjo-san?”
Ruka asked, and Sara gave a small nod.
“Then, do you mind if we borrow some of the seats around here?”
Akagami asked the classmates sitting near Sara for permission.
“Sure, we’re heading to the cafeteria anyway.”
“Thanks.”
The fact that they got permission so easily was a testament to their top-caste status.
So far, so good. It would be ideal if she could become a member of the first-tier group, but Touyama’s affinity is low, so it won't be that simple. I need to think of a strategy to win Touyama over.
I bought some bread at the school store and headed to the roof.
Leaning my back against the wall of the stairwell, I sent instructions to Ruka via RINE.
Connect the call.
Ten seconds later, Ruka called me. As soon as I answered, I could hear voices.
“What’s up, Ruka?”
“Hmm? Nothing at all~”
I could now clearly hear the voices inside the classroom.
“So, Ginjo-san, you moved back here?”
“…Yeah. I was in Tokyo for middle school. But I was here for elementary.”
“Which elementary school did you go to?”
“Momose Elementary.”
“Oh, that’s close!”
Meanwhile, I could hear the conversation between Akagami and Sara.
…
…
It was trivial chatter, but as expected of Akagami, he managed to make it sound lively.
“…Which elementary school did Akagami-kun go to?”
Sara was struggling, but she was doing her best to keep the conversation going.
“Yuzuki and I were at Kyohoku. Masato was at Kyonan, Yuka at Chuo, and Ruka was at Mizuki, I think?”
“I see… Thank you?”
What a blunder… Don’t express gratitude as a question.
Akagami laughed amusedly at her response.
“Haha, you’re funny, Ginjo-san. You might be a little like Ruka?”
“Eh~? You think so?”
Ruka laughed it off when Akagami turned the conversation to her.
Immediately after, my phone vibrated. It was a private chat from Ruka.
We are not alike at all.
Why are you arguing with me? It’s because you're playing the ‘airhead’ character.
Meanwhile, the conversation among Sara and the others died down.
For a moment, there was silence.
No matter how much of a ‘social butterfly’ someone is, conversations don’t flow forever. Especially since they were talking with Sara, whom they had barely spoken to before—a bit of awkwardness was inevitable.
However, unable to bear the silence, Sara spoke up.
“…The weather is nice, isn’t it?”
“Yeah, it is.”
She actually brought up the weather. Sure, it was a cloudless, sunny day, but as a conversation starter, that’s way too weak!
Akagami gave a generic agreement. He was probably at a loss too.
As a ‘director,’ this was a stressful moment, but as a ‘viewer,’ it was honestly entertaining.
My phone vibrated again. This time, it was a private chat from Sara.
Need topics.
The brevity of the message showed how panicked she was.
For now, I chose the safe topic of ‘hobbies’ and replied.
“…What are your… hobbies…?”
“Hmm…”
Sara immediately asked Akagami about his hobbies. Is this a matchmaking interview?
“For me, it’s soccer. I played in a club until middle school.”
Despite being the one to ask, Sara gave a response that sounded uninterested.
“How about you, Ginjo-san?”
“I… read?”
Why is that a question?
“True, you’re always reading. What kind of books do you read?”
“Not light novels, but things like Dostoevsky’s ‘Crime and Punishment’.”
Don’t try to show off unnecessarily.
“You read some difficult books,” Akagami murmured, sounding impressed. Hey, don’t be fooled.
“I’m not good at reading. I get lost when I follow strings of text~”
Ruka joined the conversation in her fluffy tone. That’s a total lie. She read through my story summary notes in an instant. We have a competent person playing a klutz, and a klutz playing a competent person.
Listening to the conversation through my earphones, I munched on the bread I bought at the store.
The roof was deserted. It’s an off-limits area, after all. A few people, including myself, know that the lock on the roof is broken, but it's summer. No one in their right mind would choose to be outside in this blistering heat. Even in the shade of the stairwell, sweat was dripping down from my forehead.
I considered using the usual empty classroom, but using it too often increases the risk of being discovered.
I know several unpopular spots in the school—the roof is one of them, and it’s just as good.
Regardless, with Ruka’s help, Sara is achieving better results than expected.
Akagami and Aoki are just too nice. I didn’t expect them to be this welcoming toward her.
However, Akagami and the others’ motivation is likely just to help Sara, who had been treated like a social leper in class, fit in. Whether they actually want her in their friend group is another matter entirely.
“I became friends with Aoki-san!”
On the way home, once we were alone, Sara’s eyes sparkled.
“I couldn’t talk very well, but I got to talk to Akagami-kun too!”
Unaware that I had been eavesdropping through Ruka, Sara continued to talk in high spirits.
“What did you think?”
“I thought they were such good people, being so considerate of someone like me.”
Naturally. That group is a collection of characters so attractive that I’m interested in watching them. There isn't a single unpleasant person among them. That's why I feel like I can entrust Sara to them.
However, jumping straight into the first-tier group is a high risk.
“I didn’t get to talk much with Shidou-kun or Touyama-san, though…”
“If you got along with Aoki and Akagami, that’s enough for the first day.”
No matter how much Ruka is there or how friendly Akagami and Aoki are, I can’t be sure about Shidou and Touyama.
Especially Touyama. Since they ate lunch together, her attitude should have softened slightly, but there was no direct conversation between her and Sara. Setting aside the passive Sara, Touyama didn’t initiate any conversation either. Shidou only chimed in occasionally and didn't talk much with Sara.
It would be a stretch to say they’ve become friends.
Furthermore, she’ll likely draw resentment from other classmates. I don't know how Kurosawa and the other girls in the second-tier group will react.
The road ahead is fraught with difficulty, but there’s no doubt she's taken the first step.
Perhaps because she was so happy, Sara kept wearing a grin.
As always, once her Witch Mode deactivated, her expressions shifted rapidly.
“I hope I can talk even better tomorrow.”
If everyone could see the current Sara, I wouldn’t even need to operate from the shadows.
“I want to do something to thank you, Haku-chan.”
“As long as the story where you’re the protagonist becomes interesting, that's enough for me…”
“But Haku-chan is the one paying Oukura-san a reward, right?”
“…Well, yeah.”
Though I haven’t used the ‘one-day date’ ticket yet.
“Then, I want to pay Haku-chan a reward.”
I hurriedly stopped Sara as she tried to take out her wallet.
“Hey, I don’t want money. I'm not struggling for it.”
“Muu… then, what should I do?”
Sara seemed determined to give me something in return.
“Is there anything you’re struggling with?”
“…Let’s see. If I had to say…”
I looked over Sara’s frame, thinking.
Sara’s cheeks flushed slightly, and she fidgeted.
“Um… Haku-chan…?”
I don’t know what she was imagining, but something came to mind.
“Huh?”
“Sara, can you cook?”
Sara tilted her head curiously. She was likely unconsciously utilizing the ‘adorable gestures’ Ruka had taught her.
Inadvertently, I thought she was cute.
Of course, that’s just my feeling toward a character in a story!
It felt strange having Sara in my kitchen.
Wearing an apron, Sara was humming a song while preparing food.
She was making hamburger steaks. We had stopped by the supermarket earlier to buy the ingredients. The reason she chose hamburger steaks was that I had mentioned it was a food I liked.
“I know it’s late, but your parents really aren't coming home, right?”
“Yeah. Both of them won’t be back until after midnight.”
“Their jobs must be very demanding…”
What Sara was worried about was suddenly bumping into my parents.
She must have spoken with my parents a bit when we were young, but as things stand now, they might as well be strangers.
Whether or not Witch Mode will activate is basically a toss-up.
“Still, eating convenience store bento every day isn’t good for you.”
Sara says this while looking at the remains of the convenience store meals I’d stuffed into a trash bag.
Not to brag, but I can’t cook. Or rather, I have no intention of cooking, mostly because I have very little interest in my own daily life.
Since I receive plenty of money for food from my parents, I basically lived on school store snacks for lunch and convenience store bento for dinner. I had no complaints about that in itself… but if I had to put it into words, I found myself wanting to eat something homemade. It might be because I recently had some tamagoyaki made by Ruka.
That tamagoyaki was delicious.
Though, that doesn’t necessarily mean Sara is as good a cook as Ruka.
“From now on, I’ll be managing Haku-chan's nutritional balance!”
However, Sara, burning with a sense of mission, looks quite practiced in her movements.
“You don’t have to go that far. Just this once is enough.”
“Nope. Our houses are close, so even if every day is impossible, I’ll come over to cook for you regularly.”
“That’ll be a pain for you.”
“Haku-chan does things for me that are much more of a pain.”
Seeing how stubborn Sara is, I let out a sigh.
“…Do whatever you want.”
“Thanks, Haku-chan!”
Smiling happily, Sara carried the plates to the table.
Hamburger steak, rice, and salad. It seems she also made a pot-au-feu packed with vegetables.
Even for someone like me, who isn’t very interested in food, it looks delicious.
“What about your own portion?”
Sara had only prepared enough for one person.
“Yeah. When I go home, my mom will have dinner ready.”
I see—so that’s how a typical household works.
“Itadakimasu.”
As I put my hands together, Sara stares at me intently from across the table.
“…It’s hard to eat while you're doing that.”
“I don’t usually serve my cooking to anyone outside my family, so I'm curious about your reaction…”
Even after I point it out, Sara keeps glancing at me. Is she really that curious?
For now, I take a bite of the hamburger steak.
“…It’s good.”
The juices flood my mouth. The doneness is just right, and the demi-glace sauce is outstanding. This might be the best hamburger steak I’ve ever eaten.
“Really?”
Sara’s expression brightens instantly.
“Yeah.”
Nodding, I take a spoonful of the pot-au-feu. This is also well-seasoned and delicious.
After eating something this good, I feel like I won’t be able to go back to convenience store bento.
In terms of cooking skill, it looks like Sara might have the edge over Ruka.
“When did you learn how to cook?”
“My mom taught me. Back in middle school, I spent all my long breaks at home… I think she was worried about me shutting myself away in my room and wanted me to find a hobby.”
Every single one of her anecdotes is so heavy.
“Cooking is fun. Because people are happy when they eat it.”
Sara beams as she watches me eat.
I can’t quite fathom what's so interesting about it, but it's not like the food is disappearing just because she's watching.
Regardless… this really is delicious.
