I approached Arina's side, as if replacing Taku.
She was usually so hostile, but now she was as quiet as a lake's surface. I spoke to Arina like she were a sensitive bomb.
"That was a shitty thing you did just now."
"What are you talking about?"
"You fired a ton of abuse at that member from the boy's tennis team."
"Ah. That one was so persistent."
"You know him?"
"No. I've never seen him before."
So it was their first meeting.
It didn't even look like she was lying.
"Don't you have any idea? It seemed like he knew you."
"No way. You're not going to mess with my memory. I don't know him."
"You don't, hm?"
"That's right. I don't know him."
"Do you know the other one?"
"Maybe."
She stretched her back.
"So, what were you trying to do?"
"?"
"That was a first year. You were probably planning something with Shirona. I hope you go to hell."
"You're sharp. To be honest, Nakatani Taku is from your junior high, and he has a crush on Hiwa Arina. He was gonna confess today."
"Doesn't mean anything to me now."
"I guess. I couldn't tell you what was going on, and if I say anything that would stop him, Taku would think I have a thing for you. I don't want that to happen, sorry."
"Why are you worried about me?"
"He likes Hiwa Arina more than you could imagine. And it was a common belief that I'm the only student who could have a serious conversation with you. He would further misunderstand that I was special to you."
"Haa, sounds like a pain. And can you stop calling me ｢you｣[1]? I'm Hiwa Arina."
"Sorry. I was being careless."
"You don't need to apologize. In fact, I'm grateful to you. Your existence is like a bunch of rat droppings. Surprisingly."
"Wait what?"
"You and Akakusa-sensei are the only people who know about me. My family doesn't know. At home, I act just like their beloved Arina as much as possible. There are only two people in the world who recognize me as a person. That's good enough for me."
The uncharacteristic way she spoke baffled me. If she was being grateful, would there be a nuclear war tomorrow? She doesn't seem to be joking around, though.
She steadily continued talking.
"Even I would like to know why 'I' developed. Am I completely separate from Hiwa Arina, or am I a part of her? I lack her memories, and we don't share memories. I have a different personality from Hiwa Arina. I don't have anyone to love me."
"Is that why you reject people?"
"No. I don't act like that consciously. It's unconsciously. It's not my intention. I think it's proof that I'm a little more forgiving towards you."
"It's better for you to be consciously tolerant of me. You can't do that unconsciously."
"If that's the case, then you really must be special to me."
For some reason, she let out a self-deprecating laugh. She had a weak smile, as if to say that she was foolish and miserable. Her drooping bangs converged her eyes, hiding her expression.
For me, Hiwa Arina was the girl in front of me.
The Hiwa Arina I had met in the infirmary was a stranger to me.
I wonder which one I'm trying to save.
As soon as the tennis club's activities for today were finished, Arina and I decided to leave as well.
The sun was setting faster as autumn approached. I was shivering from the cold and was about to head to the Rose Garden when Shirona stopped me. I called out to Arina.
"Arina, go before me."
"I'll wait for you in hell."
"Yeah, yeah, got it."
I made sure Arina had left before turning to Shirona.
"That was a mess, huh?"
"I wonder if Taku-kun is okay."
"Well, it must be tough for him. You would lose confidence in yourself after being beaten down so hard."
"Sorry for the inconvenience. You know, I've been thinking."
"Hm?"
"Where is Arina-san waiting for Sui?"
"What are you talking about?"[2]
"Just now you told her to go before you, could it be in the former staff room…?"
"U-uhm…"
"What are Arina-san and Sui doing after school?"
"Ah…"
Damn it. I can't come up with a valid excuse!
I've told Shirona that we're forced to help the teachers in various ways, but the true purpose behind it is still hidden. I need to keep this secret for Arina's sake. Think, Sakaki Sui. You're a human with a brilliant mind.
Got it. The only way to make her forget about it is to drop a shocking topic.
So what should it be?
Come on, think about it. What would a high school girl be surprised to hear.? Think of something associated with high school girls.
High school girls, sweets, makeup, love, skirts, thighs, breasts, skin, figure, fingertips, eyes. Shit! The only things in the second half was from my sexuality!
I have no idea what to do! My CPU is about to be 100% capacity. Think. Feeling won't cut it. I can't believe Bruce Lee's words didn't help.
If I don't say something with impact, I'm done for. Something, come on, synapse.
"Shirona. Slugs can be melted with sugar."
"Eh?"
"Eh?"
Shirona looked at me with a confused expression. I was confused too.
However, she returned to her original expression within a few seconds.
"Arina-san and Sui were dating after all…"
How do you figureeeeeeeee?? If I don't do anything, she'll find out. The past where I made an effort to hide our involvement with each other because of the adverse effect on Arina was scattered. Wait, isn't it fine to tell Shirona? No! I can't risk it!
At that time, Sakaki Sui was given a divine revelation.
The word 'dating' sent a shock through my brain.
High school girls were vulnerable to romance and were in search of it. To them, romance should be sweeter than any pastry.
I decided to take advantage of that.
"Shirona."
"What?"
"I liked you in junior high."
"Eh——"
Of course, I've never liked Shirona in terms of LOVE. It wasn't that I found her unattractive. It's just my tastes were more for a beauty like Arina.
My precise, appropriate, and destructive words made Shirona as red as a tomato. I made a mistake, and my cheeks flushed. Turning red like tomatoes seemed to be a disease. Tomatoes are my favorite vegetable. I want tomato juice.
Turning away from Shirona, who had fallen silent, I could hear the enemy's surrender. I took a step forward with my left foot, every bone in my body shaking like a soldier claiming victory.
I had won.
I didn't give in, and I guarded the information.
"Wait."
Shirona called out to me.
Oi, oi, miss. It goes against the philosophy of warfare to fight after surrendering you know?
"A-Actually, I also l-liked S-Sui—"
AHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHH
If this was a movie, I'm sure Whitney Houston's "I Will Always Love You" would have been playing.
And I— right?
Notes:
[1] Sui has been referring to Arina as 'omae'. In Japanese using 'omae' is generally pretty rude unless it's used between close friends, and even then, it's assuming that the person you refer to as 'omae' doesn't care about pronouns
[2] Sui says this in English