Chapter 127: Interrogation

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Translator: Soafp

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“Go ○✕Cure! You can do it!!”

“At this rate, they're going to lose, huh?”

“…Well, we're going for a little post-dinner walk, okay?”

“Sure. Be careful out there—oh no, they're really going to lose now!”

“You can do it!!”

We called out to the two in the living room, and then we stepped outside. 

The sisters were both so engrossed in the magical girl battle (a recording) on the screen that we managed to slip out unnoticed.

“You have a spare key…?”

“Haha~! We're best friends, after all!”

Hatsune-san locked the door behind us. 

It was already pitch dark outside.

The faint glow of street lamps and vending machines illuminated our path. 

She walked beside me, her body facing me, with her hands behind her back, and the distance between us close.

…That kind of thing is bad for my heart, seriously (not to mention, I’m a virgin, obviously).

“So, what's on your mind? All serious now?”

“Oh… uh, well…”

“You want to talk about that rumor, right? Then—”

“—S-stop!”

“Huh!?”

“Oh, s-sorry…”

I thought that if I kept relying on her kindness, I'd be no good. 

So I stopped her.

…I'm really hopeless. I was fine when we were dancing, though. 

Should I try talking while dancing? (creepy). 

No, I won't.

“Um, well, you see…”

“Yeah?”

“I haven't… been fooling around with girls.”

“I knew that~.”

“Ah… but I do go to clubs quite often.”

“Is that so?”

“Yeah, but it's not for anything like picking up girls… I just go to dance.”

“Mm-hmm. I figured as much.”

Her quick understanding left me feeling a bit let down.

“I really enjoy dancing, and it's not about trying to be popular or anything. It's not like I'm trying to impress my classmates…”

“Yeah.”

“…”

“Is that it?”

Wait, this rumor had me so worked up, and just like that, it’s resolved?

“…Maybe I didn't need to bring it up after all.”

With Hatsune-san being this understanding, I couldn't help but feel that way.

“No, it's not like that.”

“Huh?”

“It's because you said it yourself, I can feel even more at ease.”

“…I see.”

“Yeah.”

I'm glad I said it. 

Maybe it was worth gathering the courage after all.

“Honestly, I'm relieved. Well, in the first place, even if you were looking at them that way, it's not like it's a bad thing, you know~.”

“Haha…”

“But, you're really not looking at them that way? I mean, the people you're close to are all such beautiful girls.”

“Well, yeah.”

“Really?”

“Really (completely innocent).”

I've thought this over countless times. 

I truly can't imagine wanting a girlfriend right now.

I think the reason the five of them get along with me so well is because of this mindset. 

I'm living on greens, not meat.

“Can you prove that?”

“Well…”

“Haha, maybe I should start interrogating you.”

“Please go easy on me…”

She gave me a playful smile. 

It was rare to see her like this—or at least, I didn't have the luxury to notice!

“Okay then, how do you feel about Hiiragi-san?”

“Uh…”

I thought back.

[——‘Toumachi!'——]

She had been kind to me right from the start. 

But after we became closer… I was surprised by how much she teased me.

But, although it might sound strange to say, I actually found it… comforting.

“She teases me a lot, but I can feel her kindness, too… and being around her is fun. Though, sometimes she's a little scary.”

“Hm… What about Yumesaki-san?”

“Yumesaki-san, despite her image, is actually really gentle and kind. She's surprisingly timid… In fact, her personality is almost the opposite of how she looks—she's quite adorable.”

[——‘Nice to meet you, Toumachi.'——]

She was different from Hiiragi-san when I first met her at the club. 

Her personality was quite different.

Recently, she's started calling me by my name and even gave me a CD. 

I feel like we've gotten a lot closer.

The most recent memory I have of Yumesaki-san is seeing her stumbling half-asleep out of the nurse’s office… I feel a bit bad about that.

But those occasional moments of clumsiness are part of her charm. That's something I only realized after getting closer to her.

“I see…”

“W-what is it?”

“So, what about Momiji-san?”

“Well… Shiori-san—”

《——”Hajime-kun!”——》

The one who has changed the most must be her. 

At first, we only communicated through messages, and just earlier today, we spoke on the phone.

It's amazing how times change. Maybe someday we'll be communicating through telepathy (if we evolve into something non-human).

She used to be extremely shy, but now she's like a completely different person. 

She's made new friends, and she's even more expressive.

Her behavior, which reminds me of a small animal, her cute appearance, her connection to nature (I guess?), and the smell of books… 

“Being with Shiori-san makes me feel at ease. It's calming, really… her appearance, her personality, even her scent… It's like I'm being purified.”

“Hmmm… So you call her by her first name?”

“Oh, yeah. We agreed to call each other that way.”

“…I seeee…”

“Huh?”

“Next! Our proud beauty, Ayanon!”

“Uhh…”

Does that “our” include me too? 

And what's with Hatsune-san's sudden change in energy?

What should I do? If I lie, she'll probably see right through it. She's sharp!

I guess I'll just be honest.

“Kisaragi-san is really amazing. Not just her beauty—she's incredible in so many ways.”

“She's also a fantastic cook (in the best way possible), and sometimes she'll say or do something a little offbeat.”

“She's so captivating, it's almost scary. That's why… it feels like a miracle that she's willing to be friends with someone like me. I can't even imagine approaching her with any ulterior motives.”

I know just how miraculous this daily life of mine is. 

I understand how precious it is to be able to stay close with these girls I’ve just described.

And because of that, I want to cherish these moments even more—

“Hmmm… I seeeee…”

“Y-yes?”

Hatsune-san has been acting kind of scary for a while now (genuine fear). 

Is this what interrogation feels like…?!