Correcting a friend.
The moment she heard those words, a chilling sensation crawled down Kiraboshi’s spine.
What was she saying…?
Shirogasaki gently placed a hand on her chest, like a saint.
“As Kiraboshi-san’s friend, I’m genuinely worried about you. …Of course, the person you’re talking about might be just an ordinary person, as you say. But maybe he’s not.”
“That’s my business…”
“I’ve heard that because the Class Representative is so earnest, she’s prone to stress and easily deceived. …Kiraboshi-san. If you’re having any trouble, I’d be happy if you could talk to me about it.”
Shirogasaki smiled like a flower as she gently took Kiraboshi’s hand.
I’m truly worried about you from the bottom of my heart, she showed with her attitude, not just words.
“Class Representative. When I first entered high school, I was lost and confused, and you were the one who spoke to me. It might have been part of your job as Class Representative, but for me, you were the first person I talked to in high school. …If I heard that my friend was caught up with a suspicious man, I’d be worried.”
“…”
“It’s a vulgar thing to say, but my family has some money. If you’re having financial difficulties for any reason, I wouldn’t hesitate to help.”
There wasn’t a hint of malice in her as she enveloped Kiraboshi’s hand with her soft fingertips.
She was a model of a kind classmate, purely concerned about her friend.
That’s why—she was so insidious.
She wasn’t aware of it.
She spoke from a position of superiority, unconsciously thinking she should help because they were friends, and she didn’t realize her arrogance in arbitrarily deciding that Kageichi was a bad person.
…I understand that she’s saying it out of goodwill, but at the same time, I think it’s also unconscious malice.
“What do you think? Is there a problem?”
“…It’s okay without going that far. He’s not that kind of person.”
“I want to think so too, but since everyone is suspicious, I think someone should check properly…”
It’s none of your business.
She doesn’t know what happened between Kiraboshi and the Kamase Sisters, or the relationship between Kiraboshi and Kageichi.
I want outsiders to keep quiet.
On top of that, if we continue to associate as superficial friends as before, Kiraboshi should be able to have a conversation as usual, right?
“…Kiraboshi-san. Can’t you understand?”
“This is my problem. …It’s not a problem, as long as my grades at school don’t drop, right?”
“It’s not just about grades. It’s an important matter concerning Kiraboshi-san’s life.”
“I’m not a child, so I’ll think about it myself.”
When she replied that she was happy to be worried about, Shirogasaki shook her head slowly, looking disappointed.
…Did she give up without understanding?
Kiraboshi had such selfish expectations—
“I understand. Then I will investigate personally.”
“—Huh?”
“I’ll ask my father to hire a private detective to investigate. Yes, please rest assured, my father is proud that his investigators are so skilled that the target won’t notice.”
“W-Wait. That’s no good…!”
“Why not? Please rest assured, my father boasts that the investigators he employs are very skilled and won’t be noticed by the other party.”
That’s not it, Kiraboshi stopped herself from blurting out.
Because. The man Kiraboshi knows, Kageichi Futsuu, is a person who pays attention to “safety and security” to the point of being neurotic.
There’s no way he’d overlook the discomfort of being investigated by someone else.
He would definitely trace it back.
And he would definitely realize that the investigator’s origin was Shirogasaki, and then reach Kiraboshi in a chain reaction.
Kiraboshi just doesn’t want to involve the teacher in their squabble, but this is pointless…!
“Shirogasaki-san. I’ve said it many times, but he’s not that kind of person. I just don’t want to cause him any trouble.”
“If you’re hiding it so desperately, it makes me suspicious…”
“In the first place, I can’t do anything scary like selling myself… I don’t want to say it myself, but do you think someone as serious as me, who’s called Class Representative, could do something like that?”
“…I think I know Kiraboshi-san’s personality.”
“Then please believe me. I’m begging you. We’re friends, right?”
Kiraboshi uses “friends” for all it’s worth.
She’s been stabbed countless times by the sharp knife called “friends.” It should be okay to return the blade once in a while—
“I understand. Then, would you mind giving that explanation in front of the Kamase-san sisters?”
“…………Huh?”
“The Kamase Sisters were also worried about Kiraboshi-san and consulted everyone. Including the story about selling yourself.”
“……!”
“But, since Kiraboshi-san says so, I think it would be better if you explained it yourself. Shall we have a proper discussion again, with everyone? As friends.”
Because if we talk, they’ll understand.
The Kamase-san’s will also understand.
Eyes that don’t know how to doubt, pressuring Kiraboshi to death with goodwill as if to say that if humans talk, wars will disappear.
“We’re in the same class again this year… I think it would be better for each other to resolve our misunderstandings now, for each other’s sake. I want us to get along well as classmates and friends this year.”
Just as she smiled and said that, the chime announcing the start of morning homeroom rang.
It’s a promise, she smiled.
“How about tomorrow after school? If you all gather and give a proper explanation, I’m sure they’ll understand.”
“W-Wait, I didn’t say anything about explaining…”
“But if you don’t, the class’s misunderstanding won’t be cleared up. The Kamase-san’s seem to be spreading rumors in the class a little prematurely, so misunderstandings should be cleared up as soon as possible.”
Kiraboshi intuitively felt that it was a restrictive choice.
If she refuses to explain, baseless rumors about Kiraboshi will spread throughout the class, and she will lose her place.
Furthermore, there is a possibility that Shirogasaki will dispatch a detective without permission to investigate Kageichi.
She must avoid causing trouble for the teacher.
…But.
Explain all the circumstances with Kageichi to the Kamase Sisters as “friends”…?
“It’s okay, Kiraboshi-san. If you explain properly, I’m sure everyone will understand.”
Explanation. Is that really an explanation?
Isn’t it really… to despise, laugh at, and condemn the whims of the witch called Kiraboshi?
…This.
It’s like a public execution—
“Then, I’ll be expecting you tomorrow, Kiraboshi-san.”
Shirogasaki leaves the back of the club building in high spirits.
Seeing her off, Kiraboshi huddled up, holding her own body in terror, and crouched down, feeling an unbearable nausea.
“…”
What should I do? What should I do? What should I do?
I just don’t want to cause trouble for the teacher.
That’s all, so why is it like this?
Feeling her thoughts closing in on a dead end, Kiraboshi bit her lip tightly and held back her tears.
I don’t know. I don’t know. I don’t know.
In the end, am I still weak? Can’t I change anything?
I’m still being done in by the Kamase Sisters, and this time too, I can only endure it in silence.
Ah.
I’m really a hopeless person… she knelt on the ground and hung her head, looking up at the sky without the energy to go home—
Suddenly, she returned her gaze to the ground.
What came into view was the yellow tape stretched out in the back of the club building.
I remember… a dungeon appeared behind the school, so don’t get close.
“…………”
Kiraboshi listlessly crossed the tape.
In the open space between the school building and the fence, there was a small silver vortex.
When Kiraboshi stepped in, what appeared was a dungeon surrounded by bedrock.
It was a “cave” stage.
Kiraboshi took a few steps as she was and deployed her inventory in the hall she arrived at.
“……………”
Silently, a chainsaw stained with blood,