Volume 4 Chapter 38 A New Battle
As Mevia had said, the battle continued in a place unknown to Yuusuke and the others.
Each person's intentions became weapons, words, and magic, weaving a complex tapestry. It was like a giant magic circle.
No one knew what this magic would bring, but the battle continued.
...
...
...
Anyway, it wasn't just the battle that was progressing.
While listening to the sound of cicadas chirping as if in a final sprint, three of us were pressing our foreheads together on the terrace of the school cafeteria.
Ideally, we would have been inside in an air-conditioned room, but because all the students had the same idea, the interior was crowded.
Perhaps because it was just after summer vacation, the topics flying around were all about the beach, dates, and club activities, shining brighter than the summer sun.
In the midst of that, it would be bothersome for a gloomy trio of guys to wander around, so we ended up on the terrace like this.
"So this is the example."
"Yeah, it was quite a struggle to get our hands on it."
Matsuda whispered as he spread a certain paper on the table. It should have been neatly bound into a booklet, but it was still in the stage of just printing the paper and stapling it together.
This thing shouldn't be here in the first place.
To be frank, it's illegal. If people find it, we'll be immediately wanted and put into a forced labor facility in the school's basement.
It's better to be on the terrace. But we probably won't be able to patrol in this lingering summer heat.
"So, what's our target?"
Souji asked Matsuda with a serious expression.
His red hair reflected the sunlight, dazzlingly. If we were pursued, I thought we should use him as a decoy first.
"First, we can't miss the Manga Club. The time is after the general participation ends, around 9 p.m."
"But that time period is when surveillance is strict. Besides, we'll be kicked out of school too."
"That's why we need to submit a lodging notification. And other hot spots are 'Melty Market' and 'Rakugo Research Club.'"
I see, there are indeed many places I want to visit. In that case, it becomes important to make the most of our time.
We need perfect scheduling.
"The enemies are not just them. Because there are many people we're targeting, we have to win in the competition. And quietly."
"That's right. The more obstacles, the more we burn with passion."
I don't want any more enemies, but oh well. It's going to be a busy three days.
"What are you guys doing, senpais?"
"Whoa!"
"Oh, it's nothing, Hinata-chan!"
"Hey, what are you doing here?"
We hurriedly hid the paper and turned around. There stood our literary club junior, Hinata Yukari, with a bewildered expression.
"It's just the school cafeteria, so it's not strange for me to be here. And it's clearly suspicious, what were you guys doing?"
"We weren't doing anything."
I answered, and Hinata blatantly turned her face away.
Then she looked at Matsuda and the others.
"Show me what you were hiding."
"Huh, no way. We weren't hiding anything."
"Don't give me that obvious lie, show me quickly."
Hinata intervened and forcefully pushed Matsuda and Souji aside. She didn't touch me at all. It was as if a teenage girl was avoiding her father.
Since the training camp, she has been clearly keeping her distance from me. It's painful.
Finally, Hinata took the paper from Matsuda and the others.
"What is this? ...The Souten Festival pamphlet?"
"Oh, it's just something from a friend."
"A friend? ...This pamphlet hasn't even been announced yet. It's clearly suspicious."
Souji silently sipped his iced coffee, and Matsuda whistled poorly.
Yes, what we had been looking at all this time was the pamphlet for Souten Festival, the cultural festival of Seijo University.
"Hinata-chan, let's keep this a secret, okay?"
"I guess there's no other choice. Let's meet at Haagen-Dazs."
"Huh, can't we go to the supermarket?"
"I have a policy of not selling myself cheap."
Ignoring Matsuda, who was hanging his head, Hinata glanced at me with a slight pout and said, "Well, see you next time," and left.
What was that all about?
Did she come to tease the three gloomy guys? If so, she has a good personality. Well, she always has.
While thinking about that, my phone vibrated. Who could it be? There are only a few people who would message me.
On the screen, it showed the letters "Sansan." It's the SNS account name set by Hinata.
What's going on? If there's something, she could have just told me directly earlier. Does that mean she doesn't even want to do that?
Without understanding, I opened the message, and there were straightforward words that didn't seem like Hinata at all.
[Senpai, do you have any free time during the cultural festival?]
What's this?
"What's wrong, Yuusuke?"
"Oh, it's nothing, really."
"More importantly, Haagen-Dazs is like a Dutch. I'm really tight on money before the cultural festival."
What does he mean? Is she trying to say not to talk to me so casually anymore? Such a conversation?
Even though it's before the cultural festival, my heart feels heavy as if I've swallowed lead.
But still, the cultural festival lasts for three days, so I should be able to enjoy the remaining two days. I want to show Lisha and Kanami around too.
As I was about to put away my phone, a new message arrived.
The sender is "Isumi Tsukiko."
'I... I don't want you to get hurt anymore. Even if that's selfish of me, even if it means we end up apart in the end, still...'
Flashbacks rushed through my mind, the words spoken at the time of parting. It was brighter and louder than summer thunder, making me dizzy. Even though I didn't want to see it, my hand involuntarily opened the message.
[Please give me a little time on the day of the cultural festival.]
——Yes?
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