Chapter 95: Little Devil Conference

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Translator: Soafp

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The school building after school was as quiet as if the noise from the day had never existed.

Kagura and Marin were off to a photoshoot, and Miyabi and Aoi had already left early due to their voice acting work for the anime. Before I knew it, I was alone. Normally, that was nothing out of the ordinary, and I wouldn’t have paid it any mind, but today, I felt a slight loneliness.

The events on the rooftop kept running through my head.

— “The promise of the three was a lie.”

Konatsu-chan’s words sent small ripples through my heart.

Mizuki knows something. Her words, Konatsu-chan’s attitude, they seem connected, but because Kagura and Marin showed up, I missed the crucial part of the conversation. I can’t believe those words are true, I just can’t… but…

Thinking about it won’t give me an answer.

Still, I couldn’t help but be bothered by it.

I let out a small sigh and started walking home. I told myself not to overthink today. As I passed through the school gate—

“Hajime-senpai, thank you for earlier. Could you spare me a moment?”

That voice made me stop in my tracks.

When I turned around, Konatsu-chan was there. Her twin-tailed hair swayed in the wind, and her large eyes were staring at me intently. She had a cute outfit and a charming smile—but I still couldn’t figure out what was behind it.

“…What is it this time?”

I tried to respond as calmly as I could.

“You don’t have to be so cautious. I just want to talk for a bit,” Konatsu-chan said with a light shrug and then glanced behind her. From behind her, another person appeared. She was small, wearing an unfamiliar design of a school uniform. Her hairstyle was similar to Konatsu-chan's—lightly curled twin tails. Her characteristic smile made her eyes slant, and although her smile was innocent, there was an ambiguity to her expression that made it hard to understand what she was thinking.

“You’re Hajime Nii-san? My silly older brother said you helped him out. I’m Sanea Koda, Subaru Koda 's little sister~”

Her lively Kansai accent echoed cheerfully. Her tone was somewhat friendly, but I couldn’t help but feel there was something hiding behind her seemingly light-hearted words.

I paused for a moment, looking at her face, and then I repeated her words in my mind. I couldn’t help but gasp.

— Subaru Koda.

That name didn’t bring back good memories.

He was the man who had threatened Kagura and Marin and had tried to take advantage of them due to his twisted desires.

We set up a honey trap, exposed his true nature, and socially obliterated him.

Now, his sister was standing right in front of me.

“…”

I instinctively tensed my shoulders.

Noticing my wariness, Sanea giggled.

“Oh, don’t worry about it. Me and my idiot older brother weren’t that close, so you don't have to be so suspicious.”

Her lighthearted tone made my tension loosen for a moment, but soon enough, my wariness returned.

“Honestly, I'm glad he finally got arrested. I'd even say, ‘Serves him right.'”

— Who is this girl really? She seems like just a cheerful person, but there's something elusive about her words.

As if reading my doubts, Sanea smiled playfully.

Konatsu-chan, noticing my reaction, sighed softly and spoke up.

“Stop spacing out, let's go already.”

Konatsu-chan, who had been walking ahead, stopped and motioned for me and Sanea to follow.

“Got it~”

Sanea answered lightly, following Konatsu-chan inside.

I hesitated for a moment.

— I shouldn't follow them.

I shouldn't get involved in this.

But Konatsu-chan knows something.

She knows about Mizuki, about the promise of the three.

And what does she want me to do?

I couldn't find the answers.

Then…

I would have to find out.

I quietly steadied my breath and followed the two of them.

---

When we passed through the café door, a faint coffee scent tickled my nose.

“Let's take a break here for a bit.”

Konatsu-chan stopped and smiled as she held the door open. I still couldn't grasp her intentions, but without a reason to refuse, I followed her inside.

“I feel like having something sweet, so this works out.”

Suzume said with a light laugh, entering the shop first.

The inside of the café had a calm atmosphere, with a sparse number of customers. We were led to a three-person table, and I quietly sat down. The two of them picked up the menu and casually decided on their orders.

“What are you going to get?”

Suzume asked lightly, but I was still unsettled by the atmosphere of the place, scanning the surroundings. I knew there was nothing to worry about, but I couldn't shake the feeling of unease.

Ignoring my discomfort, Konatsu-chan closed the menu and lightly clasped her hands.

“I have something I want to ask you to cooperate with, Hajime-senpai.”

The conversation had begun. I slowly looked up, meeting her gaze directly.

“Are you sure you don't want to know?”

After a moment of thought, I answered carefully.

“…I'll listen to what you have to say.”

“Senpai, when you were hospitalized, you met someone named Mizuki, right?”

“Uh… yeah.”

“Did he say anything to you at that time?”

I paused for a moment, trying to recall the conversation and carefully choosing my words.

“He said, ‘I hope this time, you won’t lose anyone.'”

Konatsu-chan smiled softly and lowered her gaze.

“…I thought so.”

“I thought so…?”

Konatsu-chan didn't respond.

“Senpai, if you help us, you might be able to uncover the truth you're looking for.”

Those words made me hesitate again.

“I… I…”

Sanae chuckled lightly.

“See, see, no need to overthink it, right?”

But I couldn't easily nod along.

Seeing my hesitation, Konatsu-chan twisted her mouth slightly.

“Don’t you want to know who Suz really is?”

My heart started to race.

“Suz…?”

I slowly opened my mouth.

“…Then, I guess you’re not Suz-chan, right? What happened to Suz-chan… why did she die?”

For a moment, Konatsu-chan's expression wavered.

But it quickly disappeared, and she smiled brightly again.

“Oh? You already knew that much? I’m surprised.”

Her attitude seemed like she was testing my reaction.

Konatsu-chan placed her index finger to her lips and giggled softly.

“From here on out, it’s give and take, Senpai…”

I sighed quietly and nodded.

“Alright, what do I need to do?”

In that instant, Sanae clapped her hands and laughed.

“Oh, you’re getting into it! You've become more handsome, Nii-san!”

Konatsu-chan giggled and looked at me.

“That’s good~ I don't mind a docile Senpai. Hehe…”

Suzume immediately teased her.

“Oh~ Konatsu-chan, you're blushing!”

Konatsu-chan traced the rim of her cup with her fingers and exhaled quietly.

“Please, introduce me to Miyabi-senpai.”

I couldn't help but gasp. Her unexpected words made my mind go blank for a moment.

“Miyabi?”

“Yes, I've become estranged from Miyabi-senpai because of the Godai matter… so I'd like to ask you to act as a go-between.”

Doubts tangled in my chest and grew without untangling. Miyabi's face crossed my mind. When I remembered the fear she felt and the tremor at that time, I couldn't easily nod.

But before I could think further, suddenly, another voice interrupted.

“What's this? A secret meeting?”

A light, somewhat playful voice echoed.

I looked up in surprise, and across the sofa, I saw a figure leaning forward.

— Ranko!?

With her ponytail swaying, she leaned her elbow on the backrest of the sofa, grinning mischievously. Her gaze was playful, like a cat stalking its prey.

“Wow, sounds like an interesting conversation, huh?”

With a sweet voice, Ranko rested her chin on her hand, staring at us intently.

“So, were you discussing some fun little deal?”

As I lost my words, Suzume immediately retorted.

“Who the heck are you!? Where did you come from!?”