CH 24
Takane no Hana (WN)
When I parted with Naruka and tried to return to the classroom of Group A.
From the back of the corridor, I heard the voices of two girls.
âOh, thank you so much for helping us!
ââNo need to thank me.â
A student with a blonde vertical roll returns with a dignified attitude to the girl who bows.
Witnessing her prominent appearance, I just mentioned her name.
âTennoji-san?â
âOh, youâre that â¦â¦ guy from sometime ago.â
The eyes of Tennoji-san looking at me narrowed down.
Speaking of which, we had a sloppy breakup before. I quickly look for something else to talk about, since it might be troublesome if she remembers that time.
âUm, what did you do?
âItâs nothing much. Nothing much, I was just helping the day shift carry materials for the class.â
I thought when she had my wallet collected before, but Tennoji-san is kind regardless of appearance.
Apparently, she is taking the initiative in helping people on a daily basis.
âSpeaking of which, I heard. You are a transfer student.â
âYes. Iâm Itsuki Nishinari, I transferred the day before yesterday.â
I remembered that I hadnât introduced myself and said my name.
Iâm not sure if Tennoji-san knew my name, though.
âThen Nishinari-san â¦. You seem to have come to school with Konohana Hinako. Some have rumored.â
By the way, does Tennoji-san see Hinako as an enemy?
Itâs a hassle to be seen as an enemy to me as it is. Letâs make an excuse.
âSure, I went to school together on the first day to get guided in the academy, but yesterday and today we went to school separately. The only connection I have with Konohana-san is my home, nothing more.â (TLN: Home as in family)
ââ¦â¦ I donât know. Are you not a member of the Konohana faction?
âKonohana Faction?â
Tennoji explains to me.
âI just call it that way. There are many students who worship Konohana Hinako at this school, so itâs a general term for those people.â
â⦠I see.â
Is it like a fan club?
The Academy is also surprisingly profane.
â⦠Does Tennoji hate Konohana?â
âI donât hate her! However, because of Konohana Hinako, my original prestige has diminished!â
Itâs not that she doesnât like her.
âI acknowledge Konohana Hinakoâs abilities. She has the same looks as me, and the same grades as me. Thereâs no way she wonât be popular.â
âA roundabout way of praising yourself: â¦â¦â
Divide that self-confidence into Naruka a little.
âBut Konohana Hinako ⦠Aside from me, the daughter of this Tennoji group, everything is too much to be pampered! The Tennoji group is a company of a scale comparable to the Konohana group, and its history is rather this person. In other words, Iâm the one who should be the most noticeable student at this school! â
Tennoji-san, who spoke loudly, stared at me.
âIf you are not in the Konohana faction, you would think so !?â
âEh? Yeah, well â¦â
âYouâre right, youâre right!ãI donât like it at all!ãI donât like her at all! Why does she stand out so much more than me?ãWhy does she stand out so much more than me? Sheâs such an all-around beauty, sheâs bound to be a lazy bum back home anyway!
Now youâve touched the truth for a moment. â¦â¦
Iâll shut up.
âIâm not sure if itâs because Iâm good natured or not.ãâ¦â¦ No. Since you are of noble birth, you should normally behave firmly as I do. If youâre not sure what to do, you can always ask for help. Besides, that woman did that the other dayâ¦â
I told her what I thought as she mumbled to herself.
âYou know a lot about Konohana-san, donât you, Tennoji-san?
âWhat?ãIâm not going to say anything about it, but itâs normal!â
Tennoji-san, whose face turned bright red, denies it exaggeratedly.
âIâm not sure what to make of this.ãWe are rivals!ãItâs only natural to look into it.ãIâm sure youâll agree that itâs a great idea.â
While there were some difficult events, I was thinking a little about Tennoji-sanâs personality.
âNaruka was saying that.
If you carry a big family background, the people around you will become atrophied.
Perhaps Tennoji-san has the same problem.
As she said earlier, the Tennoji group is as large as the Konohana group. As for history, it is older than the Konohana group.
Tennoji-san, who carries such a family background , may be as lonely as Hinako.
Even if itâs not as serious as Hinako ⦠Maybe Tennoji just wants a friend to talk to.
Most students would be atrophied if they were with the daughter of the Tennoji family.
However, if itâs Hinako ⦠If itâs a family of the same size, Hinako will surely be able to build an equal relationship with Tennoji-san. Tennoji-san may have been obsessed with Hinako because of that.
âAh ⦠are you free after school today?â
âAfter school? Well, Iâm free, why?â
âIâm planning to have a tea party at the cafe next to the cafeteria. By the way ⦠Konohana-san will also come.â
â Konohana Hinako !?â
Tennoji was surprised with her eyes wide open.
âSo youâre trying to seduce me into joining the Konohana faction, arenât you â¦â¦!â
âWhy are you so cautious ⦠Iâm inviting you normally.â
She is too conscious of Hinako.
âWell, if that woman really wants you to come, I canât help but join us?â
âNo, Konohana-san didnât say anything â¦â
â⦠Is that so?â
âYesâ
ââ¦â
ââ¦â
ââ¦â¦ Um, I think I might have mentioned it after all, so can I ask you to come?â
âI canât help it! Then I will participate!â
The air was awkward, so I decided to tell a gentle lie.
Tennoji-sanâs eyes shine. After all it seems that she wanted to participate in the tea party.
âIt is said that if you know your enemy and know yourself, you will never be defeated in a hundred battles!â
I heard that a while ago.