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Chapter 22 - Request for Cooperation
Translated by Dawn
Chapter 22 – Request for Cooperation
A few days after I left home after challenging Tsujikawa to a reckless match and was allowed to stay at Natsuki’s house.
On Monday morning, I was walking to school with Natsuki. It was a little fresh to walk on a different route to the school than usual.
“I’m sorry for barging in on you so suddenly, and for making such a crazy request.”
My father and mother didn’t mind, in fact, they welcomed it. I was also happy because I felt nostalgic.
“Nostalgic? I’ve never made such a reckless request before, have you?”
“Kouta used to be reckless. Do you remember? When we were in the second grade of elementary school, you went to fight with the upperclassmen who were bullying me on your own. There were six of them on the other side.”
“Hahaha. I remember~, That kind of thing…Those days were really black history, please forget about it.”
“I won’t forget it.”
I really wish I could forget, but Natsuki refused with a smiling face.
…It seemed he really wouldn’t forget, since he still remembers even what grade we were in, and how detailed it was when we were in the second grade of elementary school.
“I thought that kind of Kouta was completely gone after the problems with his former father. Lately, I think it’s gradually coming back…is it because of Kazemiya-san?”
“Why is Kazemiya’s name suddenly coming out of nowhere?”
“Am I wrong? I thought so, though.”
“…I don’t know about coming back, but things have been changing a little bit lately, and it’s certainly thanks to Kazemiya.”
“Right? I knew it.”
Natsuki smiled as if he knew exactly everything.
“…how did you know?”
“I remember one time the teacher asked us to carry old desks and chairs to the back of the school building. After the work was done, when I was distributing juice to everyone, it was like you knew Kazemiya-san was going to choose the tea drink.”
“Ah! Uwahh, now that you mention it, I was certainly careless!”
“I was the only one who seemed to notice, though.”
And it also meant that Natsuki did not tell others about it.
“Do you think Kazemiya-san will listen to your ‘request’ during the lunch break today?”
“You really have a talent for detective work.”
“Well, when it comes to Kouta, yes.”
As expected of a childhood friend. We have known each other for a long time.
“You’re going to tell me what kind of ‘request’ you’re asking her to do during the lunch break, right?”
“Yes, I will. If it is true, I was going to tell you about Kazemiya at that time.”
I didn’t think that he had figured it out a long time ago.
“Okay. I’m looking forward to it.”
“It’s not something to look forward to, though.”
“But if Kouta asks me to do something, I’ll look forward to it, no matter what it is.”
While talking like this, we headed to the school and concentrated more than ever on my classes, and before I knew it, lunchtime had arrived.
I exchanged communication with Kazemiya on my phone and headed to the empty classroom where we had decided to meet.
The classroom, which had been filled with old desks and chairs on Thursday, was now empty, having been cleared out in the precious after-school time.
“I see it’s not just me, Kouta, and Kazemiya-san…”
“Kazemiya told me she knew someone who could help us. And I asked Kazemiya to bring them.”
“I don’t know what kind of helpers they are, but who do you think they are?”
“I don’t know either. I don’t know either. I heard that she doesn’t know if she can bring them, so things are a bit murky. I told her I would bring Natsuki, though.”
“Oh, really? Then, are you sure that I would not be rejected?”
“I wasn’t sure. But if she refused, I was going to persuade her even if I had to get down on my knees. The only person I could trust and rely on was you.”
“Saying such things that makes me happy…wait, it looks like someone’s here.”
As Natsuki said, there was a slight echo of footsteps walking down the deserted hallway.
Eventually, it gradually got closer and closer, and the door to the empty classroom was opened.
“Sorry. I made you wait.”
“It’s okay. It’s no big deal.”
Kazemiya entered the classroom and her eyes caught sight of Natsuki standing beside me.
“Hello, I’m Kouta’s childhood friend and best friend, Inumaki Natsuki.”
“I know who you are. We are classmates.”
“I’m honored that you recognized me. By the way…you are with someone, right? I’d like to say hello to them too.”
“…come in.”
As Kazemiya called out, a figure waiting outside an empty classroom entered. Her long, dark hair swayed.
Clear and transparent like crystal clear water. Delicate, slender, and elegant. She reminded me of glasswork created by a master craftsman.
I know this person. Or rather, most of the students who attended this school had probably seen her recently.
Raimon Shiori.
She was an honor student who was well-behaved and upright. And she was the new student council president of this school.
“Kazemiya. Don’t tell me…”
“Well…yeah. She’s my friend.”
“Why are you so hesitant to say it? Maybe I’m the only one who thinks we’re friends?”
“No. I’m not. It’s a little embarrassing to introduce my friend again……I also think of Shiori as my friend.”
“I’m glad.”
Raimon laughed softly. Seeing their interaction, it seemed that she was not lying when she said that they were friends.
…I had only heard for some time that Kazemiya had friends.
—We’re in different classes, and we tried not to get too involved too much at school.
That was what Kazemiya said. But, I had no idea that her friend would be the new student council president.
However, she brought in an unexpected helper, and I was surprised that Kazemiya had such a hidden gem. This was a happy miscalculation.
“Hello, nice to meet you. My name is Raimon Shiori.”
“Narumi Kouta.”
“Natsuki Inumaki”
“Nice to meet you…by the way, what can I do? Kohaku asked me to help you with something, so I’m here.”
“Ah, I want to know too.”
All eyes of those present were on me.
…It’s embarrassing to be the center of attention again like this!
Still, I must say it. I was not going to achieve my goal if I was embarrassed at this level.
“I want to beat my sister in the upcoming final exam. That’s why I want you guys to teach me how to study.”
Raimon was twisting her head slightly at my “request,” while Natsuki was saying, “Ah, so that’s what your request is,” and variously agreeing with me on his own. Only Kazemiya, who made the plan with me, was just watching over me.
“…what do you mean?”
“Right. I’ll explain it properly.”
Then I told them.
My mother remarried; Tsujikawa Kotomi became my stepsister; I had run away from home because I didn’t feel comfortable; I became friends with Kazemiya.
And I declared war on Tsujikawa in order to destroy my current family and rebuild it anew.
“Please, help me win against Tsujikawa.”
And having explained the situation, all I could do now was to bow down and ask for help.
“Hmmm. That’s how it is. That’s why you brought me here, Kohaku. Hmm……?”
“…What. What’s wrong, Shiori.”
“Nothing? I just thought that you brought me here not because I’m Kohaku’s best friend, but because I can study well.”
“I-it’s not like that. You know Shiori. The only other person I can really rely on is Shiori……so that’s why I brought you here.”
…Huh? Something like this exchange, it’s somewhat familiar to me.
“I’m kidding.”
“Nn.”
Raimon’s long, white, slender fingers touched Kazemiya’s lips.
“I just wanted to tease you a little.”
“…Shiori. So it’s like that, huh?”
“Are you angry?”
“I don’t get angry at things like this.”
“Thanks.”
Kazemiya turned her face away from me, and Raimon, who was smiling happily at her, looked like a little devil in the skin of an honor student to me.
The blond and flamboyant Kazemiya and the innocent and graceful Raimon. But…….
“…I don’t really understand the relationship between those two, but I get the feeling that the upper hand is held by Raimon-san”
“…I thought so too.”
I deeply agreed with what Natsuki said.
“Anyway, I understand what’s going on.”
“I’m fine. I’ll cooperate with you. All I have to do is to teach you, right? What about Raimon-san?”
“…Me too. I’ll cooperate with you. Kohaku asked me to help you, so I will.”
“Thank you, both of you. I’m indebted to you.”
“You don’t have to bow down. It’s my job as student council president to help students who are motivated to learn.”
“It’s all about studying for the final exam. There’s no downside to it.”
The format was to form a study group. If at any point they felt it was a burden, they could stop at that point……once the general framework was set, we exchanged contact information to finalize the details of the schedule.
After confirming their respective schedules, the schedule for the study group would be set up anew.
The first step I took with the back pushed by Kazemiya was to destroy my family.
The second step, which followed, was also taken without incident.
***
“Inumaki-kun, can we talk for a minute?”
After exchanging contact information and breaking up, I was stopped by Raimon-san.
I was a short distance away from Kouta and Kazemiya-san, who was walking ahead of me, so our conversation would not be heard. I guessed that RAIMON was anticipating this and spoke to me.
“What’s wrong? You have a question for me?”
“I’m not asking you a question, I’m asking you what you think about…….”
Raimon-san asked me, looking at Kouta’s back with a calm gaze.
“Do you think Narumi-kun can beat Tsujikawa-san?”
“I don’t think so.”
I immediately answered the student council president’s question.
“Kouta’s mid-term grade was 58th. …… is not bad. It’s above the middle. If he works hard, he can get into the upper ranks. But he can’t beat Tsujikawa-san. I’m sure she will get first place again next time. Besides, if Kouta, a sophomore, wants to win first place, he has to beat Raimon-san, but even if we compare simple scores, Raimon-san is better than Tsujikawa-san—Kouta can’t beat Tsujikawa-san—Kouta can’t win.”
“Right. I agree with you. What worries me is…”
“Kouta knows that. If he knew that, why would he put up this losing fight……right?”
“…Do you have any idea about that?”
“Well, I don’t know. The only thing I know is that Kouta is trying to fight with all his might, playing all the cards he has…….well, it’s been that way for a long time. My childhood friends have always fought losing battles.”
When he stood up to the upperclassmen who bullied me.
When he tried his best to live up to his father’s expectations.
What Kouta was doing was always a battle that he knew he would lose.
“You look happy.”
“I am. I’m happy. Someone I thought I would never see again has come back.”
In that sense, I would like to thank Kazemiya-san.
Meeting her made Kouta move forward again.
“Welcome back. My hero.”