The Former Swordmaster Who Pretends to Be the Worst, and the School’s Top-Ranked Chairman’s Daughter Who’s Way Too Sweet in Public, It’s a Real Problem
“……Hmm, last night?”
“Yeah, I saw someone who looked like Takanashi in town, but maybe I was mistaken?”
—The next day, at school.
During break, I asked Takanashi about last night. Of course, it was possible I’d misidentified her. But I couldn’t rest easy until I confirmed it.
Ignoring my own anxiety, however, the girl answered while slurping her strawberry milk in a slovenly manner.
“After I parted ways with everyone yesterday, I went home with Edward, right? After I parted ways with him, I just went back to my apartment as usual…”
“…Is that so?”
“Yeah, that’s right.”
Hearing those words, I fell deep in thought for a moment.
There was no evidence to back up what she just said. However, the fundamental fact remained that there was “no reason” for Takanashi to lie. Even if she had been there, she wasn’t the type of girl who would care about a little bit of bad behavior.
Plus, the look of bewilderment on her face seemed genuine.
I couldn’t imagine her speaking a falsehood.
“……Hmm?”
“What’s up, Aragaki? Are you interested in my private life or something?”
“You idiot, that’s not it at all.”
As I tilted my head in confusion, Takanashi asked me that question.
I immediately denied it, but
“Huh…?”
“What’s with that smirk?”
For some reason, she was grinning at me.
Though I was getting a little irritated, I replied, and the girl looked at me as if sizing me up before saying,
“Well, if you’re interested in me, Aragaki, I guess I’ll at least listen to what you have to say?”
“I-I-I told you… that’s not it—”
I really wish she’d cut me some slack.
I certainly consider her a troublemaker, but at the same time, she’s the school’s idol. There’s no way someone like me, who just wants a peaceful life, could possibly have feelings for someone like that.
That’s exactly why I intended to deny it vehemently.
But before I could—
“…But the answer is no.”
“…Huh?”
Somehow, I’d just been rejected out of the blue.
The sheer speed of it made me furrow my brow. What on earth was Takanashi thinking? Just as I was trying to figure out her intentions, she beckoned me over with a flick of her wrist. Apparently, she wanted me to listen.
Reluctantly, I leaned in, and Takanashi whispered mischievously:
“You’ve got someone special in your life, Aragaki. I don’t want to be second best, so I’m turning you down.”
When she said that, the first thing that popped into my mind was, naturally, “her.”
But why was she emphasizing that right now?
Just as I was thinking that,
“Besides, I don’t want to die yet!”
“………………Ah.”
Takanashi’s sudden words snapped me out of my daze.
I finally realized that an intense gaze from a specific direction, coupled with an abnormal surge in magical power, was causing a stir among those around us. There was only one possible cause for such a situation.
With that premonition, I turned around, and there stood—
“Mmmmmmmuuuuu……….!”
“Eek…!”
—Of course, it was Rika, her cheeks puffed out.
I had no idea how long she’d been there, but my childhood friend was openly baring her hostility toward Takanashi. The students around us were in an uproar over it, but my troublemaking friend seemed to be enjoying even that as she concluded with:
“Make sure you calm her down properly for my sake, okay? Aragaki-kun!”
“…………You……!”
So that whisper from earlier was intentional after all.
Holding onto a rage I couldn’t vent, I headed toward my childhood friend.
◆
“I told you, nothing’s wrong… Why are you so grumpy?”
“Nothing’s wrong! Just leave me alone!”
“…………Alright.”
—And so, as a result, Rika is giving me the cold shoulder.
She seemed to understand after I explained the situation, but there’s still something that’s not quite sitting right with her. No matter how hard I tried to defend myself, my childhood friend’s mood didn’t improve.
However, it seems she had business with me after all.
Even in this situation, Rika stayed right by my side, refusing to leave.
“By the way, what does your dad want me to do?”
“I don’t know, I haven’t been told. He said it’s a secret from me.”
“A secret from you?”
So when I asked her, my childhood friend puffed out her cheeks and replied.
According to her, this time I am on an errand from Ryotaro-san, the chairman. Still, I wonder what kind of business could be so secret that he can’t even tell his own daughter, Rika.
As I was lost in thought, we had somehow arrived at the door.
“—Okay, I’ll wait here!”
“Ah, got it. Thanks.”
I replied with a wry smile to my childhood friend’s childish remark.
Then, after taking a deep breath, I knocked on the door. I stepped inside and slowly closed the door behind me, only to be met by—
“—Hey, sorry for calling you out like this, Saito-kun.”
“No, what brings you here today?”
Ryotaro greeted me in a calm tone.
When I replied, he nodded and gestured for me to sit on the guest sofa. Sensing a slightly tense atmosphere, I obediently complied.
Rika’s father sat across from me and cleared his throat.
Then,
“Let’s skip the formalities. Saito-kun, I want you to—”
His tone was serious, a stark contrast to last night.
Bowing deeply, he made this request:
“From now on, I’d like to ask you to serve as the bodyguard for my beloved daughter, Rika.”
Maiban