"...I've already told you, haven't I? Just tell her I've moved."
[...]
"I'm fine over here. The reason I didn't reply during Golden Week was just because I was busy."
[...]
"You want to come see where I work? No! Didn't I already tell you it's a good job you don't need to worry about? It would be a bother to this place if an uninvolved person came to visit!"
[...]
"I know you're worried about me... and I know she's been looking for me. I'll go see her myself sooner or later. When that time comes... I'll be the one to make a clean break with her."
[...]
"Don't worry, I'm not just putting on a brave face... Thanks to a benefactor at my current workplace, I... am no longer as weak as I was before."
At this, Togawa Sakiko paused for a moment, then continued:
"Alright, if you're really that worried, then let's meet alone the day after tomorrow... Huh? You want to meet the 'benefactor' I mentioned? Well..."
[...]
"Of course I'm not lying! This person is real, it's just... I really don't want to take up his time for no reason."
[...]
"Sigh... this is the first time I've ever seen you be so insistent. Okay, I understand. I'll go ask for his opinion, but... I can't guarantee he'll agree to such a request."
Sakiko shook her head:
"Alright, we've been talking long enough. I have to go back now... I'll message you when I have an answer."
Beep—
After Sakiko ended the conversation and pressed the hang-up button, the voice-activated light in the stairwell went out completely.
"Saying you're worried I'm being tricked by a bad person... do I look that easy to fool?"
Sakiko couldn't help but mutter to herself in a low voice:
"Honestly, how am I supposed to bring this up with Chihaya-nii..."
What am I supposed to say? 'I have a friend who is very concerned about my current work situation, so she wants to meet you, my boss?'
His time is so precious, how could he possibly waste it on such a boring reason—
......
"Hm? That's completely fine."
Tetsuya answered almost without a moment's hesitation:
"The evening after tomorrow? That's no problem for me at all."
"Eh... are you really sure it's okay?!"
In contrast to Tetsuya's ready agreement, Sakiko asked with a flustered expression:
"Just for the boring reason that my friend wants to meet you..."
"That's not a boring reason at all. You need to understand, having a sixteen-year-old high school girl work from six to ten every evening is very unusual and dangerous. Why else do you think I insist on walking you home every day?"
Tetsuya reminded her as such:
"As your friend, it's only natural for her to be worried about this."
"Ugh, well, that's true, but..."
For Sakiko, bothering Tetsuya's study time for personal reasons was still something she found hard to get over.
However, before Sakiko could argue further, Tetsuya had already picked up the desk calendar and drawn a large red "X" on the date for the day after tomorrow.
"It's decided then. You two can set the specific time and place. That should put your friend's mind at ease a little."
"You don't have to go that far..."
Sakiko shook her head.
"As long as she can get a look at you, Chihaya-nii, she should be able to relax."
"Relaxing just from a single look is a bit of an exaggeration."
Tetsuya refuted Sakiko's statement.
"Does your friend happen to be a mind reader?"
"No, it's just because your physique really doesn't look like that of a suspicious person, Chihaya-nii."
Sakiko said with a perfectly straight face:
"If it were one of the girls from our school's sports clubs, you might be the one in more danger, Chihaya-nii."
"..."
Tetsuya froze on the spot for a good while after hearing that, before asking with a blank expression:
"Hm? Was I just insulted?"
"Not at all. I'm just saying you're a person who girls can feel safe around, Chihaya-nii."
"Ah, is that so? Thank you..."
"......"
Indeed, as her understanding of Tetsuya deepened, Sakiko was gradually beginning to see just how many obvious holes existed in this otherwise serious person.
Of course, joking aside, to get Mutsumi to truly trust Tetsuya, they would probably have to have a conversation.
But... with Mutsumi's conversation-killer level of communication skills, wouldn't that make the meeting really awkward?
What if Chihaya-nii thinks I'm a weird person too because of it?
"Sigh..."
In any case, I should just tell her that Chihaya-nii agreed to meet...
...Hm? Wait a second.
Just as Sakiko was about to send the message, she suddenly realized another very important thing—
(This seems to be the first time Chihaya-nii and I are meeting somewhere other than work...)
The belated realization hit Sakiko that she had never spent time with Tetsuya in any clothes other than her uniform or work clothes.
It was currently Golden Week, and the time they had set to meet was in the evening.
While wearing her uniform wasn't out of the question, she felt that if she really did... for some reason, it would feel like admitting defeat.
Should I ask Mutsumi what she plans to wear that day first...
But... if I suddenly ask a question like that, she'll definitely be confused, right?
"Mmmph—"
Feeling incredibly conflicted, Sakiko couldn't help but let out a small groan.
And at the same time, Tetsuya, who had just finished his sketch, suddenly showed his drawing to Sakiko—
"Togawa, what do you think of the feel of this gauze skirt?"
"Eh? I'd never wear something like that on the street!"
"???"
"Ugh... what on earth should I wear..."
Seemingly flawless, yet full of holes.
Once they entered their own world, they would subconsciously ignore the sounds of the outside.
In a certain sense, Togawa Sakiko and Chihaya Tetsuya indeed had many similarities.
...Meanwhile...
"...He agreed?"
A girl with long, light-green hair looked at the reply on her phone and nodded to herself.
"This way, I should be able to find out what she's been up to lately..."