ãâ¦Haaahâ¦ã
ãYou sound really tired. Sorry, Iroha. You must be busy with work and school, and here I am, making you come along in your spare time.ã
ãOh, no! Helping out at the lab is partly for my own benefit, too.ã
I was chatting with the female engineer in the driverâs seat.
I was on my way back from assisting at the research lab.
Since high school started, Iâve reduced the frequency, but I still continue to assist with research. By the way, a glance in the rearview mirror showed a Secret Service car following us.
ãWell, actually⦠Iâm tired because of my personal life.ã
Ever since the collaboration with Bancho, Mai and the others have been aggressively courting me.
Their words echo in my mind.
âIroha-chan~ Mai is eagerly waiting for you~! Ahh, finally engaged to Iroha-chan~!â
âIroha-chan! Iâm so happy! Ehehe⦠Iâll prepare a present too!â
But why do Mai, Ah-nee, and Ilyena all assume theyâre the ones who will get it!?
Even when I deny having a ring, they just say, âI know. Itâs still a secret, right?â
ãâ¦Haaahâ¦ã
I sighed and held my head in my hands.
Itâs not just Mai and the others; even Angu Ogu, who lives with me, thinks the same.
ãIroha, when you propose to me, I want to be prepared⦠so when the time comes, please give me a sign. But secretly preparing something like that, youâre quite the romantic!ã
â¦Why are you fooled too!?
You should know I havenât prepared anything, youâre always nearby!
ãUgh~!ã
Does this mean I really have to prepare a ring?
And do I have to give it to someone?
Why has it come to this!?
Well, partly, itâs my own fault.
ãHave you ever been proposed to, by the way?ã
ãMe? Oh, plenty of elite men have tried! But Iâve turned them all down! I always say, âIâll consider it when you become more interesting than my researchâ. Hahaha!ã
ãI seeã
This isnât helpful at all.
I wish I could be as straightforward, but I canât.
ãBy the way, Iroha-chan, can you introduce me to someone nice?ã
ãHuh!? That contradicts what you just said!?ã
ãWell, I donât want a boyfriend, I need someone to help with work.ã
ãOh, I see! You scared me. I was about to report you for asking a minor to introduce someone.ã
ãYouâre quite harsh, Iroha-chan.ã
ãAre you short-staffed?ã
ãYes, Iâm offering compensation, so can you ask your friends? Unlike you, itâs just simple tasks, so I canât pay much.ã
ãâ¦I donât have many friends.ã
ãOh. Uh, look! Weâre here! Thanks for today!ã
ãYou donât have to change the subject so obviously, it hurts.ã
ãAhaha. Donât worry about what I said earlier! Really! Only if you know someone!ã
ãYour follow-up is more painful!?ã
Someone nice⦠someone nice?
Do I know anyone like that?n/ô/vel/b//in dot c//om
Actually, I do.
***
ââ¦Oh, there you areâ
âWhat, is it a problem if Iâm here?â
âNo, itâs nothingâ
I arrived early at the next classroom, where Shitenno was.
And another girl, who usually sits next to me on the school bus, was also there.
ãIâve been seeing you two together a lot lately.ã
ãHuh!? No, itâs not like that, Iroha-chan! Itâs not what you think!ã
For some reason, the girl was flustered.
Her face said she was hiding something.
What exactly was ânot like thatâ?
There was no one else in the classroom. Could it be!?
ãYou two were playing âHako-Tsukuâ multiplayer without me!? No fair! Let me join!ã
ãDonât lump me in with you!?ã
Shitenno immediately retorted.
For some reason, the girl stumbled.
ãWhatâs wrong?ã
ãAh, nothing. I was just sumo wrestling alone.ã
ãI seeã
I was convinced.
Then, I leaned closer to the girl and whispered.
ãYou shouldnât do that in public. In Japan, we call it âChuunibyouâ and itâs embarrassing.ã
Yeah, I get it.
I used to shadowbox for no reason.
ã~~!? Y-Yeah, youâre right~ã
After making a series of faces, the girl swallowed her words and agreed with me.
She must have realized the embarrassment, judging by her strained expression.
Ah, it feels good to do something nice!
I just prevented a new black history from being born in this world!
ãâ¦ã
I felt a gaze of dissatisfaction from the girl, but it must be my imagination.