"Hello, hello~♪ It's Ohno here~♡ I've been waiting for your call~"
The voice of Ohno-san on the other end of the line was unusually energetic. Did she know I was going to call?
"What's up~? It hasn't even been 24 hours since yesterday—have you already made up your mind?"
"No, it's not about that. I wanted to ask you something, or rather, confirm something..."
"What is it? Ask me anything. I'll answer whatever I can."
"Well, there's this girl in my class named Tatemiya Nanami, and I was wondering... have you guys done something to her?"
"Huh? Tatemiya? Hibiki-chan, is there a girl named Tatemiya in Chifumi-kun's class?"
"Ah, yes. Detailed records are in Category Z."
Hibiki-chan's voice echoed faintly from the background. Ohno-san muttered, "Ehh, Cat Z..." while doing something. I could hear clicking sounds from the other end.
"Ohno-san. What's Category Z?"
"Eh? Oh, Category Z is a ranking system we use to classify Chifumi-kun's social connections. Z stands for 'acquaintance level'—basically, the kind of relationship you'd have with a convenience store clerk and a regular customer."
Ouch! That hurts! Nanami and I have known each other for 15 years, and that's how they see us... Wait, huh? Then that means Ohno-san and the others wouldn't have done anything to Nanami, right...?
"Wow, she's super cute~ Like a little doll. So, what about her? We haven't done anything."
"Uh, well, since the day before yesterday, I haven't been able to reach Nanami, and then I heard she dropped out of school and moved away... The whole class is in an uproar because no one can contact her, so I thought maybe you guys knew something..."
"What~? Chifumi-kun, do you think we're some kind of evil organization or something? We wouldn't do anything shady. We're technically civil servants, you know."
"R-right. Sorry, I'm just a little shaken up... My bad."
"But isn't it normal for classmates to drop out of school sometimes? Why would you think it has anything to do with us?"
"Uh, well..."
At this point, I might as well just say it... It's probably not Ohno-san and the others who did something to Nanami. In that case, I should be honest and ask for their help.
"W-well, the thing is... the person I slept with on my birthday was Nanami..."
A loud gulp came from the other end, followed by silence.
"Whaaa—?! No wayyy! A girl this cute would do it with you?! Why, why?!"
"...Well, she suddenly came to my house and confessed, so..."
"Seriously?! Man, I'd do it too in that situation—wow, girls are scary. Who just jumps into bed with someone they barely know? A girl like her could have any guy she wants, and she chose you of all people?"
"Hey, Nanami and I have known each other since kindergarten. We used to play together all the time in elementary school."
"Calling her 'Nanami' now, huh? Acting like her boyfriend already? But Nanami-chan just disappeared without saying anything to you, right?"
"...Yeah. But something's weird."
"What's weird?"
"She's from a single-parent household—she doesn't even know who her father is. But the person who handled her withdrawal from school was her father's proxy..."
"Hmm. That does sound fishy. Our records say she's from a single-parent household too. So who's this father?"
"That's why I thought maybe you guys might know something..."
"What~? First you suspect us, now you want our help~?"
"Ah, no, sorry. I take that back. Please. Help me. I really, really want to see Nanami again!"
Gripping my phone tightly, I bowed my head as low as I could. Even though she couldn't see me, I hoped my desperation would somehow get through.
"Well, I get how you feel. If a girl like that existed, I'd hesitate to become a Seed Distributor too. But you're being a little naive, kid. Asking for help so easily—don't you think that's a bit too convenient? You haven't offered us anything yet. If you want people to move, you gotta pay the appropriate price. That's how society works."
I had no comeback for Ohno-san's words.
"Though, if you agree to become a Seed Distributor, that's a different story. We'll back you up completely and help you however we can. —Still, I'm worried about Nanami-chan. I hope she's okay..."
Is this woman a demon? She swings between carrot and stick, messing with my emotions. It's true—with Ohno-san's help, I might be able to find Nanami. But doing so might also destroy my relationship with her for good. As I groaned quietly, torn between choices, Ohno-san spoke again.
"Think it over carefully. You can't choose both. So which one will you pick...? You've still got a month left. Plenty of time to decide."
A week has passed since then. At first, the whole class was fired up about searching for Nanami, but in the end, we're just high schoolers. With no leads, fewer and fewer people even bring her up anymore.
And I'm still agonizing over it. I've been thinking nonstop this whole week. Even if she disappeared suddenly, that doesn't necessarily mean something bad happened. The student council president actually went to the police, but they didn't take it seriously at all. If Nanami just had complicated family circumstances, there's nothing the police—or any of us—could do.
During lunch break, I stare blankly out the window from my seat. The sky is piercingly blue. The rainy season hasn't officially ended yet, but it feels like it's about to.
"Kido-kun! Come to the faculty office, now!"
Tamada-sensei bursts into the classroom, her face pale.
"Kido-kun, listen calmly. Your father was in an accident and was taken to the hospital. I've called a taxi—we're going there now."
"Wha—?! Is my dad okay?!"
"I don't know. The president of your father's company called and said to come to the hospital immediately..."
My dad, a long-haul truck driver, is hardly ever home. But today, we were supposed to have dinner together.
"Ah, Fumibo, you came!"
At the hospital, it's the president of Dad's company waiting for us. It's a tiny transport company with only five employees, but Dad's worked there for 20 years. The president is practically family—I spent a lot of time at his house when I was little.
"President (Uncle), is my dad okay? How did this happen...?"
"Sorry, Fumibo. Kazuki—he was exhausted, and I pushed him too hard. I'm so damn sorry..."
As the president sobs and apologizes, we wait silently for Dad to come out of surgery. As the sun begins to set, the operating light turns off, and Dad is wheeled out on a stretcher.
—The surgery was a success. However, considering rehabilitation, it will be a long time before he can return to work.
Dad suffered complex fractures in his right arm and both legs, along with three broken ribs and multiple internal injuries. The accident was caused by drowsy driving—he failed to make a curve on the highway and flipped the truck. The vehicle and cargo damages, as well as road repairs, will mostly be covered by insurance, but we'll still be left with several million yen in debt. On top of that, Dad won't be able to work for a long time. The president promised to take care of him until he recovers, but the company isn't exactly swimming in money. Piling more burden on them could just lead to another accident.
"Thank you, President. But it's okay. We've got some savings, and I've got a few things lined up. If things get really bad, I'll definitely come to you."
After reassuring the president, I step outside and pull out my phone.
"—So, have you made up your mind?"
"That Seed Distributor stipend—you really get 300,000 yen a month?"
"Of course. Base pay is 182,000 yen, plus 20,000 per distribution session. With a minimum four-day interval, you can do up to six sessions a month—that's an extra 120,000. Total guaranteed: 302,000 yen."
"Got it. I've been agonizing over this, but I don't have the luxury anymore. I've decided."
"I see... So you've chosen."
"Yes. I'll be in your care."
Truth is, we don't have much in savings. But I can't burden the president any further. Besides, now's the time to repay my dad—who raised me all on his own. This time, I'll be the one supporting him.
And most of all—Nanami. Even if she hates me. Even if it ruins our relationship. I just want to see her one more time, even if it's just once. For that, I'll pay any price. Yeah, I'll do it—!
I'll become a Seed Distributor!