CH 8

8 - "What were you doing with that woman?"

I was brought to the rooftop's landing stairs.

It was a place that was not popular and it would be difficult to be overheard.

I was sure I wouldn't be noticed here.

"Ah, it's Kazu-kun! Long time no see, yes!" (Nana)

Noticing me coming, Kurumizaka-san jumped off the stairs in a low jump.

At that time, her skirt fluttered up――I quickly turned my face away.

"Hmm? What's wrong, Kazu-kun?" (Nana)

"N-no, it's nothing." (Kazuto)

"Is that so, thank you for coming all the way, Kazu-kun!" (Nana)

Kurumizaka-san's face broke out in happiness, and she grabbed my hands vigorously.

It's soft...

I enjoyed the happiness of having this ticketless handshake event.

"Is this the end of my role?"

"Yup, thank you Kotone-chan!" (Nana)

A girl called Kotone was about to leave.

Just before that, she looked back at Kurumizaka-san and said something like this.

"Ah~. Maybe he's a sincere and kind guy." (Kotone)

"Yup, I know, right?" (Nana)

Kurumizaka-san reacted as if it was obvious.

And also, she was still holding my hand...!

"Hmm, I see." (Kotone)

The girl, Kotone, turned her face to me and gave me a look as if she was trying to assess me.

It was uncomfortable.

After a while, Kotone seemed to be convinced of something and nodded her head in satisfaction before disappearing down the stairs.

"W-what was that?" (Kazuto)

"I wonder what it was. Kotone-chan speaks and acts things for no reason, so maybe we shouldn't worry too much about it." (Nana)

I don't really understand it, but if that was what Kurumizaka-san said, then let's just forget it.

……Anyway, that's it.

"Umm, Kurumizaka-san...?" (Kazuto)

I looked down at my still-clasped hands and tried to make a confused appeal.

My embarrassment was outweighed by my happiness.

"Ah, I'm sorry!" (Nana)

Kurumizaka-san stepped back with a blush on her cheeks.

I was sure I had a similar expression on my face.

"... So what is your business, Kurumizaka-san?" (Kazuto)

"Ah, yeah. You know.... I have a favor to ask of you, Kazu-kun." (Nana)

"A favor?" (Kazuto)

What is it?

I don't think I, as an online game nerd, can fulfill an idol's request.

What if I was asked to buy 100 CDs with handshake tickets?

Somewhat anxiously, I waited for Kurumizaka-san to speak.

"Please get along better.....with Rin-chan!" (Nana)

Kurumizaka-san said that, and lowered her head briskly.

"Get along... I think Mizuki and I are pretty good getting along in the game." (Kazuto)

"That's not what I meant. I want you two to get along in real life, not only in the game." (Nana)

"Even if you say that..." (Kazuto)

If possible, I would like to have a conversation with Mizuki-san daily.

But that would be a bad idea.

"Of course, we're idols, so if we're close with a certain boy, there will be a bit of a stir...." (Nana)

"I don't think it's a bit, but that's why I and Mizuki talked and decided not to talk at school." (Kazuto)

"I see. That's why Rin-chan looks so happy but also lonely these days." (Nana)

"...?" (Kazuto)

Looks happy yet lonely?

That was an expression I don't understand.

"Can Kazu walk up to Rin-chan? I think Rin-chan will be very happy with that." (Nana)

"If possible, I would like to do that ... but if I had a nice conversation with her in public, wouldn't it be rumored at school or in the public?" (Kazuto)

"Then... let's just get along in secret so that no one knows!" (Nana)

"Eeh....." (Kazuto)

Kurumizaka-san's eyes sparkled as if it was a good idea.

I couldn't hide my confusion at this mysterious push of her.

"Or does Kazu-kun hate Rin-chan?" (Nana)

"No, that's not the case...." (Kazuto)

"Please! Please get along with Rin-chan!" (Nana)

Kurumizaka-san was desperately asking me.

When I saw her like that, I decided to ask her a simple question.

".....Why does Kurumizaka-san want me and Mizuki-san to get along?" (Kazuto)

It would be very risky from the standpoint of an idol.

If anything, she would give me money and said, "Stay away from Rin-chan!", Isn't it okay to say that?

It might be an exaggerated idea, but I did think the issue of idols and men should be handled with that much sensitivity.

Especially in this very day and age.

"T-that is.... I can't tell you about it, or rather, I must not tell you..." (Nana)

Averting her gaze away from me awkwardly, Kurumizaka-san was putting her fingers together and fidgeted

"Did Mizuki-san ask you to do something by any chance?" (Kazuto)

"No! Rin-chan did not ask anything! I'm just doing it on my own!" (Nana)

"Ah, I see..." (Kazuto)

She denied it greatly. She was a little impatient.

"I want to, I want Rin-chan to be happier, because she has been through a lot of tough times up until now..." (Nana)

"..." (Kazuto)

She didn't mean it as a student idol.

I had a feeling she was using the word "tough" differently.

"I want Rin-chan to be happy as an idol and as a girl. I don't want her to give up on either one." (Nana)

"I see......" (Kazuto)

I didn't understand the situation at all.

However, I could feel Kurumizaka-san's seriousness painfully transmitted to my heart.

"Can you get along with Rin-chan in real life too?" (Nana)

"Well, yeah... I also wish I can get along and get to know with Mizuki-san better than I do now..." (Kazuto)

"Really? Thank goodness, I'm glad." (Nana)

Kurumizaka-san let out a sigh of relief.

She really cares about Mizuki-san.

"What should I do specifically to get along with her?" (Kazuto)

"Umm... First of all, how about changing the way you call her?" (Nana)

"Change the way I call her?" (Kazuto)

"Yes. Actually, Rin-chan doesn't like it when Kazu-kun calls her in a stranger's manner." (Nana)

"Huh? Is that so?" (Kazuto)

"Yeah. So you better call her Rinka, Kazu-kun." (Nana)

"Seriously? Wait, that's a bit..." (Kazuto)

That was a very high hurdle.

As I said to Tachibana and Saito, I didn't have the slightest bit of courage to do that.

"Are you nervous after all?" (Nana)

"Yeah, I am." (Kazuto)

How could I not be?

Just thinking about it made my heart flutter.

"Next Saturday is a good chance. I think you should start by calling her by given name in the game, and then you can get used to it in real life." (Nana)

"I wonder if I can get used to......?" (Kazuto)

There was a big difference between calling her "Rin" and "Rinka".

The significance of it changed.

"I'll follow you implicitly, so do your best to call Rin-chan by her name, kay!" (Nana)

"……Okay." (Kazuto)

I nodded my head in agreement with Kurumizaka-san's somewhat forceful tone.

This attitude of her was somehow similar to Mizuki-san's.

"Thank you Kazu-kun! You're the best!" (Nana)

"...Kurumizaka-san is, pushier than I thought, yes..." (Kazuto)

What I was asked to do was to be Mizuki-san's real and close friend.

I had a common hobby of online gaming, so I wanted to believe that it was not so difficult.

"That's why Kazu-kun. Please exchange contacts with me." (Nana)

"Ee, is that okay?" (Kazuto)

"Of course! It's to get Rin-chan and Kazu-kun together――――no, We need to discuss a strategy for you two to get along, right? So it's a good idea to know each other's contact and it's also more convenient. Of course, We can't let Rin-chan know about this." (Nana)

"Well, I guess so..." (Kazuto)

If Mizuki-san found out about this secret meeting, she would definitely get angry.

So it was necessary to keep it secret in order to protect Kurumizaka-san's position.

"Shall we exchange it right away?" (Nana)

I took out my phone as she asked me to.

We finished exchanging our contacts without any problem.

"Okay, all done!" (Nana)

With this, the contacts of two popular idols had been registered on my smartphone.

......This smartphone might be the most valuable in the world.

"Rin-chan and Kazu-kun's good friendship mission, begins!" (Nana)

"...O-ooh!?" (Kazuto)

I wonder what this is.

It felt like there were moats around, and they were already filled.

Before I could think of anything else, I felt like Kurumizaka-san was forcing me to proceed.

But, if I could get to know Mizuki-san better than I did now, I'd be happy.

The problem was if the public found out about this......

Fortunately, we had a common world that was separated from the real world.

I was sure it will be fine as long as I didn't screw up too badly.

□

That evening.

Mizuki-san called me when I was online at home.

"...?" (Kazuto)

While thinking that it was rare she phone called me, I stopped mining and picked up my smartphone.

"Hello." (Kazuto)

"Hello, Kazuto-kun, yes? I'm sorry to call you out of blue." (Rinka)

"No, don't mind about it." (Kazuto)

In addition to Mizuki-san's voice, I could hear the voices of a group of girls busily talking on my smartphone.

The voice quality is idol-like.

Is Mizuki-san calling me in the middle of something?

"The break is almost over, so I can't talk for too long, but... I had one thing I really wanted to ask Kazuto-kun." (Rinka)

"What is it?" (Kazuto)

I replied without thinking deeply.

......And that turned out to be a mistake.

Mizuki-san asked the question in a chill tone, different from her usual.

"――――What were you doing with that woman during today's lunch break?" (Rinka) (PTW/N: Yandere vibe ga KITTTAAAAAA~)