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Vol. 1 Chapter 4.3
Yamabuki Karen and Fujinami Shiho
Translated by 64990022
Chapter 4: Yamabuki Karen and Fujinami Shiho
Part 3
“The other times aren’t rowdy like that, right?”
Just to be sure, we left the school separately before meeting up at Cafe Proof.
The topic was, undoubtedly, the ruckus earlier. Minato seemed to have calmed down and began explaining the situation.
“Except for the occasional glare, there’s nothing like this
” her tone was matter-of-fact.
“In short, the confrontation today was because of the operation, with the tennis match as the trigger.”
“Yeah, that’s my guess.”
We both sipped our drinks there. Mine was cider, Minato’s lemon tea.
“Sorry about that.”
“Uh
”
It wasn’t like this was out of my expectation.
The act of widening her human relation to attain more crushes, the surrounding wasn’t aware of that. It wouldn’t be strange if that caused unease to some people.
And with the whole Kuze’s Top Three thing to consider

“That things turn out like this, it’s totally my fault. And earlier, I just jumped in without thinking
”
She shook her head weakly. “N-no, we decided to do that together. And for jumping in
 you saved me, so thanks.”
And if the aggression continues, I need to prepare some backup plans for them too. My hands were full as it was, I couldn’t let this spiral out of control.
Most importantly, she was already shaken as it was.
“I’m just making sure this doesn’t weigh on you.”
“Hn?” She tilted her head slightly in response.
I wasn’t sure that she would still hold on to it or not, but better get it out the way.
“You’re not a bitch”
Her eyes widened for a moment, then she muttered, “Yeah
”
“It’s not like you’re going around and making people fall for you, it’s the opposite, you’re the one falling for them. You’re just getting to know other people as your classmate, if they’ve come to like you, that’s just the result. No matter what, you’ve got no ill will, you’re not in the wrong.”
“Yeah
 I know. Understood.” As if to convince herself, she nodded several times.
She might understand that by logic, she wasn’t wrong, but being condemned like that would make anyone uncomfortable. I couldn’t just turn a blind eye to it, taking responsibility was the least I could do.
“I’m fine, really. I’ve made up my mind, it’s okay. Just
”
A deep, and a bit painful, breath.
“Just, it hurted more than I thought. Nothing serious though.” She gave me a wry smile.
“If you say so. Okay.”
No point in pushing the matter. Besides, she’s strong. Up until now, she had followed my instructions on her own accord.
Only if other consultants could be as compliant as her.
“And then, being in the Top Three must be a lot of trouble.”
“Oh, that
” She screwed her face. “Yeah, nothing but a nuisance. I’m not proud of the title, with those demerits, I’d be better off without. That’s not including what happened today.”
“I heard Hiura saying the same thing,” I recalled, “Annoying nuisance or something. And that’s just Plus Four alone.”
“Coming to school one day and finding out about the entitlement. No chance to refuse, nowhere to resign, just like a cursed item.”
Hoh, that’s an unusual analogy for a top student. By any chance, she’s a gamer?
Then again, Kuze’s Top Three and Plus Four are more troublesome than it seemed. It was a kind of a proof of popularity, and quite prestigious at that, so I thought most of the girls probably longed for it.
“By the way, Hiura-san, why did she help us? A friend of yours?”
“Hn? Yup.”
Ah, I forgot to mention that. Yeah, this is a good opportunity to tell her.
“She knows I’m the Angel. She must have guessed that you’re my consultant.”
“Eh? Okay
” Her face flashed with anxiety, and a little of surprise.
From then, I explained that she was one of the collaborators and had helped in this case too.
Hiura probably thought of Minato as my consultant’s target, but now she must have noticed that Minato herself was the consultant. And hence she came all the way to help us, I suppose.
“Also Miwa Reiji from the same class, I ask for his help sometimes. I’m not sure how much he knows about your case, though.”
“Miwa-kun
” She muttered and threw her eyes upward, trying to remember.
He was quite popular, so his name might have ring some bells.
“Why did you tell them? About the Angel thing.”
“Hmm
 I’ve been friends with Reiji for a long time, so hiding things from him isn’t an easy task.”
He might have looked like he was fooling around, but his guesses were spot on. Better tell him the whole thing than waiting for him to find out.
“And Hiura-san?”
“Hiura? Well
 A lot happened. Nothing confidential, just a long story, so next time.”
“Okay
 Somehow, you and Hiura-san make quite a strange combo.”
“Yeah, I think so too.”
At first glance, we seemed like the type to live in different worlds.
“Ah! Almost forgot. Let’s check today’s catch.”
“A
 Unn. ‘Kay
”
Seeing that she nodded, I offered my right hand. After a deep breath, she took it to her face.
How many times had my palm touched her face, I wondered.
And from now, how many more.
Distracted by these thoughts, I missed most of the faces I had seen