When we visited the newspaper club again, Arina and I immediately turned in the form made by Arina.
Of course, all of the forms were filled out. I became an extra limb for Arina and handed them out. I was treated as a suspicious person, of course, but there's no problem. It wasn't like I was spreading propaganda or anything.
I collected all of them in about three days and totaled the data. I was in charge of the tally, and I compiled the numbers that came up in each one. I was doing a complete service for them.
The guys in the newspaper club grabbed me with a glint in their eyes.
Asakura Toma, the president of the newspaper club, pat my shoulder.
"Thank you! Really! Man, I didn't expect you to get this much information for us! This is awesome!"
"No problem. Ow, you're hitting too hard. These were made by Arina, by the way. I just tallied them."
"Wow! This really helps! Thank you so much!"
Using a lot of exclamation points, Toma showed no signs of slowing down and moved on to Arina.
Toma firmly grabbed her right hand.
"Arina-san! Thank you so much! We're gonna make a pretty good story from this data!"
"Yeah, yeah. Let me go."
He smiled bitterly.
Toma apologized with a slight bit of laughter.
The club president, Toma, didn't seem to get any more excited, so we ran away and left.
We didn't have anything in particular to do, so we just headed home.
"Toma, you were incredibly grateful."
"I'll change the skin on my hand when I get home."
"Are you an android?"
We left school as the sunset turned the sky red.
Later on, the school newspaper was published.
To be honest, I had never read the newspaper. Mainly because I wasn't interested in it, but this time I looked through it.
The data Arina and I had compiled was neatly organized in a list format. It was a pleasure to see all the information we'd spent so much time asking around about school trends, occupations, club activities, etc. to show up this way.
I went to show Arina as soon as possible. When I entered Arina's class, most of the students there had already gotten used to seeing us interact, so they didn't bother raising a fuss anymore.
Arina was looking annoyed, as usual, but I thought I saw a slight, just slight, smile at t he newspaper. That was enough. It gives Arina a little bit of color in her heart.
"What is this?"
Arina pointed at the newspaper.
The article was mostly the data we'd gotten and I'd already read through it. I looked over it again, and the expression on my face grew dim. The last sentence of the article said:
[I dedicate this article to the best couple, Hiwa Arina and Sakaki Sui]
Arina got up from her chair.
"I'm heading to the newspaper club."
"Wait, put the scissors down. Please."
"Fine. I'm going."
"Wait a minute, you put the scissors down, but leave the carving knife too. If you really want to take your carving knife with you, go to the art club, not the newspaper club."
"What was his name again?"
"It was Asakura Toma."
"Asakura Toma, right? I'll carve his name onto his forehead so I don't forget."
"At least use a sticker instead. I don't want to see your name on national news."
Arina silently muttered that she was kidding in an unremorseful tone. If she was serious, that's pretty bad.
"What are we doing today?"
"I don't have any plans. We're done with the newspaper club business, so I'll see what I can find."
Then Arina abruptly glanced away from me.
"….You, behind you."
"Eh?"
Namiki Shirona was behind me. We went to the same middle school together and were in the same class the first year of high school. Shirona was clenching her skirt and looking at me with a serious look.
I was confused when I got caught between Arina and Shirona. What kind of chemical reaction was gonna happen?
"What's up?"
"Can I have some time with you after school? Just the two of us."
Just the two of us. What does that mean?
A 2nd year high schooler. A high school girl in the prime of her romantic life. Meeting with me alone. With a determined look.
I'd like to believe that in this case I could be forgiven for misunderstanding. Or, rather, forgive me.
"I don't mind."
Ah, now I've said it. I can't back out now.
"I'm glad. Is there a place good for you?"
"Location…. location… place… area…."
"Why don't you use the old staff room?"
Arina interfered. Has this woman gone crazy to recommend the former staff room – the current Rose Garden – of all places? You want me to go to that chaotic room full of flowers?
"The old staff room… Ah, it's over there!"
"Shirona. I don't think we're allowed into the former staff room."
I'm going to shut her off. The relationship between me and Arina is top secret. I've already told Tsuru, but I can't let it get out any more.
"Really?"
"No, it's unlocked. No one ever comes near there."
"That's right! Thank you! Arina-san!"
Arina whispered to Shirona, grinning nastily. Apparently she was enjoying this. For me, it could make my future relationships go crazy. She had the face of a devil.
I glared at Arina. I tried to appeal to her with my eyes, warning her not to say anything unnecessary.
But Arina made a fist and held the back of her hand to me. I was wondering what she was trying to do, but then she raised her middle finger at me. Her personality was so bad. Go live with Mother Teresa for a month.
"So, the former staff room?"
"Yeah… sure."
"Okay! I'll see you after school."
Shirona went back to her seat. Yuri and Ran were talking to Shirona, curious. Don't do that.
Then they turned to Arina.
"What's the matter with you?"
"Isn't it fine? Enjoy your youth."
"You're gonna get in trouble… and the Rose Garden is in trouble… What are you going to do with all those flowers you brought in?"
"I'll make sure to collect them."
"Seriously. Why so much?"
"My heart whispers that to me."
"…Are you here?"
I've never been so scared of the period after school. I'm too embarrassed to face the country's Going-Home club members. I'm failing as a club member. It's a good thing that there's no such thing as a "notice of termination" in the Going-Home club.
Please don't let me be wrong.