【Chapter 4 Errata Corrections Come Suddenly】
"Errata?"
It was a holiday in autumn at the board game cafe, Kurumaza.
Today, as always, Mifuru-san reacted to a board game term I had definitely explained several times before as if hearing it for the very first time.
However, I no longer got angry at this. I simply began my dispassionate explanation.
"Errata. As an English word, it originally means errors in writing or printing. However, in the neighborhood of board games, it tends to refer collectively to mistakes in text or expression."
"Mistakes? Like accidentally printing a DM meant for your side piece onto a playing card?"
"Such a 'misguided post' catastrophe would be unprecedented. Though, I suppose that would technically be an errata. Simple typos and omissions count, of course, but errors in the game rules themselves are also errata."
"Errors in game rules?"
As I was about to answer Mifuru-san’s question with a concrete example, Utamaru-san, a regular customer who had been listening from the next seat, took over with an "Ah, in other words..."
"Like writing '2' on a card that is actually supposed to give you '3' coins."
"Y-Yes, exactly. A-As expected of you, Utamaru-san. No, well, naturally."
I awkwardly praised her—the reigning Female Master of the Shogi world—for her quick understanding.
Mifuru-san immediately clocked my reaction with sharp eyes.
"Eh? What's 'naturally' supposed to mean?"
"Huh? Ah, no, look, Utamaru-san picks up rules quickly, so..."
"I guess, but enough to say 'naturally'? Actually, Banjō, aren't you acting kinda stiff toward Uta-chan today?"
"N-No, not particularly..."
"What's the tea? Did you guys hook up or something?"
"Even using Utamaru-san's terminology, a boorish guess is still a boorish guess."
What is this Gal saying? ...No, seriously, give me a break. Maji for real.
Despite my irritation, Mifuru-san continued without a shred of guilt.
"If that's not it, then why are you totally cringey and nervous around Uta-chan today?"
"Ugh, that is..."
I groaned, stealing a glance at her... at Utamaru-san, and involuntarily straightened my spine out of nervousness.
After all, this person is no longer just "Utamaru-san, the board game-loving regular" to me.
She is the reigning Female Master, Utakata Tsukino herself.
This is like the sequence in Mito Komon after the seal box is revealed. It's impossible to know someone's true high-status identity and continue treating them with the exact same casual attitude as before.
I looked at Utamaru-san as if pleading for help... She returned a relaxed smile, then coolly brushed off Mifuru-san’s suspicion.
"That is surely because I won a decisive victory against Banjō-san in a board game the other day."
"Eh, for real?"
"Indeed. I beat him so thoroughly there wasn't a piece left standing. Surely, a seed of fear toward me has sprouted within Banjō-san."
"Ahaha, what's that? Banjō, you're lame, lol. And Uta-chan, congrats!"
"Chōjō."
"There it is, the Chōjō!"
Mifuru-san, hyped up by Utamaru-san's catchphrase, seemed completely convinced. Even so, Utamaru-san’s ad-lib skills are strangely high. Does she have acting experience? It doesn't feel like a skill required for a female Shogi player...
While impressed, I took a good look at Utakata Tsukino-san, alias Utamaru.
To tell the truth, today she had completely removed her usual disguise items—mask, glasses, hat—inside the shop. Although she changed her hairstyle, to me, who knows her true identity, she is practically just "Utakata Tsukino" in the flesh.
Normally, Mifuru-san, who is good with faces, would notice nine times out of ten. Utamaru-san likely prepared herself for that possibility when she decided to almost entirely drop the disguise today.
Surprisingly, there was no major reaction from Mifuru-san. She just made a slightly old-man-ish comment like, "Ooh, Uta-chan, you're a beauty today too," and that was it. Utamaru-san and I were actually left feeling a bit let down.
However, thinking about Mifuru-san's stance toward others, it’s not actually that strange.
Takanashi Mifuru is a Gal whose interpersonal relationships are "light" in a very good way.
She asks customers invasive questions with zero delicacy right from the start, but that's only to have a fun conversation in that moment.
Naturally, she wouldn't dig deep into things the other person dislikes, and conversely, even if a conversation expands happily, she might completely forget it by the next time they meet. Yet, it’s not rude; she’ll laugh from the bottom of her heart at a customer telling the same story again, genuinely enjoying it.
And inside her mind, Utamaru-san is just Utamaru-san. The board game-loving, archaic-speaking, close regular customer, Uta-chan.
So even if Utamaru-san takes off her mask and glasses now, to Mifuru, it’s about the level of "Oh, Uta-chan updated her profile pic."
She accepts things as they are without prying further.
You could say she has no prejudice, or you could say she’s the type who runs purely on her first impressions.
She is completely different from me, who silently digs deep and researches anything—board games or otherwise—that catches my interest.
Because Mifuru-san is like that, unless Utamaru-san explicitly confesses "I am Utakata Tsukino" like she did to me, Mifuru likely won't reach the realization that "Uta-chan = Utakata Tsukino."
And Utamaru-san says, "I prefer it this way for now." She whispered that request to me earlier when Mifuru-san briefly left her seat. If a customer says so, I, as a staff member, have no choice but to comply. As a result, I’ve been dragged into being an accomplice in this hidden identity game...
In this situation, I, as the clerk, cannot afford to make a mistake.
Consequently, I was forced into a state of extreme tension.
Yet Utamaru-san herself seems to have an attitude of "Well, if I'm found out, I'm found out," so she is incredibly composed.
Thanks to that, currently, only I am acting more and more suspicious.
(If she was going to hide her identity, I wish she’d kept hiding it from me too...)
It’s pathetic, but I even think things like that. Really, why did she reveal it to me?
But regarding that, even when I asked her about her intentions, she dodged it with a profound answer slightly misaligned with what I was asking:
"Actually, my nature is suited more for offense (seme) than defense."
My goodness, the thoughts of a Female Master are truly existing in the celestial realm far above.
And so, here we are. As expected, I’m the only one panicking.
I involuntarily shot a resentful look at Utamaru-san. Noticing this, she gave me a mischievous wink. ........................ ...Eh, what is this person? Super cu—
"Banjō?"
"I'm sorry, I'm sorry! But it's not cheating! It's not like that! There are just things that are too charming no matter how much you struggle! If a panda rolls over, it's cute, no questions asked! That was that kind of genre just now!"
"Yikes. This might be the first time Banjō's inst has been this incomprehensible."
Mifuru-san looked totally put off. It might have been a hundred times better not to make a weird excuse.
Looking over, Utamaru-san was giggling, looking like she was having a lot of fun. ...I feel like I slightly understand her "suited for offense" remark now.
Because her smile today, regardless of the disguise, was far more natural and wonderful than the Utamaru-san I knew before.
(...That's unfair. Just that alone makes it impossible for me to say anything—as a clerk, or as a friend.)
As expected of the Female Master. ...No, that way of evaluating her is a bit wrong this time.
As expected of Utamaru-san. As expected of Utakata Tsukino-san.
The moment I thought that, Utamaru-san and Utakata Tsukino-san finally overlapped perfectly within me. The strange tension I felt toward her slowly dissolved.
"Ahem."
I cleared my throat to reset the mood and returned the topic to the original subject—the explanation of Errata.
"Anyway, as long as humans are making them, mistakes in text are unavoidable. Regarding board games specifically, 'Publicizing and Correcting Errata' is quite an important part."
"Certainly. Depending on the case, it could drastically impair not just the fun of the board game, but the core of the play itself."
At Utamaru-san's words, Mifuru-san said, "For real," and picked up a card from the new card game currently spread on the table to give an example.
"Like, if this effect 'Draw one card from opponent's hand' was, say—"
"Yes, if it was mistakenly written as 'two cards' instead of 'one,' the game balance would be greatly..."
"If it was 'Pull one credit card from opponent's wallet,' that'd be a disaster."
"That would seriously be a disaster!"
I didn't expect an errata example that could escalate into a criminal case. As expected of Mifuru-san. Even regarding errata, her scale of thinking is different.
While I was impressed in a weird way, for some reason, Utamaru-san suddenly cracked a joke.
"P-Pulling a middle finger from the opponent's hand might be worse, wouldn't it?"
"It would be worse, but what is this all of a sudden?"
"...You can be impressed with me too, you know?"
"I said, what is this all of a sudden? Also, as a joke, Mifuru-san gets the win for being first."
"Buu."
I don't know why, but Utamaru-san puffed out her cheeks. At her unexpectedly childish behavior, I couldn't help but smile. A gentle time flowed between Utamaru-san and me. ...And then.
"...Buu..."
"Eh, why are you suddenly puffing your cheeks too, Mifuru-san?"
"No reasooon? Just, I kinda feel like our Banjō is cheating."
"Eh."
I was greatly shaken by her remark. Mifuru-san continued with her lips still pouted.
"I mean, Banjō, you have a main crush, right?"
"Eh, ah, no, that is, well."
"Utakata-chan."
"Oh, that."
I let out a relieved reaction. Mifuru-san tilted her head, asking "That?", so I hurriedly tried to gloss it over.
"No, it's nothing. Yes, yes, I do like Uta—"
However, just as I was about to go into my usual half-hearted "I love Utakata Tsukino" talk...
I realized it, albeit too late.
"………… (Stare)"
(The person herself is right in front of me!)
My face heated up rapidly. The "Utakata Tsukino Shock" was so big I had completely overlooked it until this very moment, but she's right there! In front of this person, I'm telling a huge lie! Or rather, it's ongoing! What do I do?! Or rather, come to think of it, I've definitely made "I love Utakata Tsukino" statements in front of Utamaru-san before! Ugh, this is too embarrassing!
"? What's wrong, Banjō? Your face is red like you're about to make a direct confession to Utakata-chan?"
No, it is literally just before a direct confession! ...I couldn't exactly retort with that.
I pushed up my glasses, averting my gaze, attempting to change the subject somehow.
"Umm... well, setting that aside, regarding the Errata..."
"Nah, we're done with the Errata explanation. I get it. From here on, it's the Love Talk turn."
Why?! When did the Errata turn end?! And what do I have to do to end the Love Talk turn?!
"Come on, Banjō. If you like Utakata-chan, you gotta say you like her properly today too."
"Eh, why?! Aren't the turn-end conditions weird?!"
"But if you stay like this, you'll end up labeled as a cheater making eyes at Uta-chan, you know?"
"Seriously, why did it turn out like this?!"
I mean, Utamaru-san is the main crush, so it's not cheating! Ah, no, my real true crush is someone else entirely! Ah, geez, what is this situation! Why is the flow forcing me to make a serious confession to someone else in front of the person I actually like?! What kind of hell is this?!
Also, the moment I shared a secret with Ukata-san, isn't the burden on my heart insanely heavy?!
N-No, wait. Originally, this situation is partly Utamaru-san's... Utakata-san's responsibility too! That's right. In that case, this is a scene where Utakata-san should throw me a lifeline. She wouldn't want me making a fake confession to her either!
I glanced at Utamaru-san with expectation. She smiled back at me sweetly and kindly, and then...
She said these words.
"Yes, I would also very much like to hear it. Your passionate confession of love to Utakata Tsukino-san!"
"The offensive stanceeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeee!"
What is with this person? Is she actually a super sadist? Isn't her mental attack on me since revealing her identity a bit intense? Eh, could it be she actually dislikes me a little? If so, that's a huge shock. I could endure being misunderstood by high school classmates, but for some reason, being disliked by Utakata Tsukino-san might shock me more than anything. I wonder why.
………… ...Ah, no, I see. Utakata Tsukino-san = Utamaru-san, which means...
Putting aside the Female Shogi Player Utakata Tsukino, regarding my board game friend Utamaru-san, I...
Thinking that far, I let out a breath.
"Understood. I'll say it. I will."
Prefacing it like that.
With a naturalness I hadn't expected from myself—more natural than ever before—I was able to say those words.
"I like Utakata Tsukino-san."
『…………』
In an instant, two pairs of eyes widened. Utakata-san—despite having urged me on herself—dyed her cheeks a shy red. And as for Mifuru-san...
(Eh?)
For some reason—she looked very shocked.
As if she had just gone through a heartbreak, wearing an expression far too sorrowful.
That was... although I feel sorry toward her, it seemed like a reaction sufficient enough to make me misunderstand a little.
But—I know well enough to be sick of it. The terror of "assumptions" and "preconceptions."
From life, from friends, from board games, I have learned these lessons deeply.
Furthermore, when it comes to romance, one cannot be too cautious.
A young man who becomes convinced of a female coworker's affection based on selfish assumptions, despite her having a boyfriend. ...Objectively looking at it, there is no existence more frightening.
When I play a "10," it is strictly for the "happiness of the person I like." It is not for "imposing my affection" by prioritizing my own desires.
The number one priority should strictly be Mifuru-san's happiness. It absolutely must be.
The moment I disciplined myself with that thought, my reason as a human being managed to triumph over my burning romantic feelings.
In the end, after swallowing hard, I spat out a weak line, just like usual—a "3," as she would say.
"Mifuru-san? W-What's the matter?"
"Eh? Ah, u-um. What's the matter? Nothing's the matter, though?"
"I-Is that so?"
"Y-Yeah."
The two of us exchanged awkward words and looked down.
And staring intently at us from the side... a certain female Shogi player.
"............Forty seeeconds.........."
『What kind of countdown is that?!』
Utakata-san—Utamaru-san—suddenly started reading seconds like in a Shogi match, and we hurriedly retorted. She continued, looking somewhat exasperated.
"I wonder about store clerks entering their own little world in front of a customer."
『I can't argue with that.』
The words of the two clerks overlapped. At that, Utamaru-san started giggling.
"I'm joking. But look, shall we play a board game soon? Let's have fun. Okay?"
At her gentle proposal. We, as clerks, reflected from the bottom of our hearts.
And because of that, we switched our mindsets decisively—and responded with smiles.
"Right!" "Yeah!"
Utakata Tsukino
"What will you do after this, Utamaru-san?"
After finishing the game for the day, as everyone was cleaning up and getting ready to leave, Banjō-san asked about my schedule. I answered while slinging my bag over my right shoulder.
"Ah, just going home normally. While stocking up on an amount of sweets that would put a normal person on the fast track to diabetes."
"Yeah, that's not a normal return home. That's Binge-Eating-Lover Utamaru-san."
Banjō-san retorted with an exasperated face. It seems he no longer feels nervous toward "Utakata Tsukino." That is Chōjō for me, but...
(It would have been fine if you stayed flustered for just a little longer, you know.)
I am slightly surprised at myself for thinking such a thing. It's easy to see when I'm acting as Usa Itsuki, but it seems my offensive instincts are surprisingly strong. I don't feel satisfied unless I aggressively reach out for what I want. ............Wait.
(Wait, doesn't this make it look like I want Banjō-san super badly...?!)
"Utamaru-san?"
"Hyai, it ish Utamaru! I am an unworthy person but I look forward to working with you for a long time!"
"Huh? Ah, yes, likewise?"
Banjō-san responded with a puzzled look. ...Yup, what am I doing?
As I was calming my chest, Banjō-san leaned a step closer to me, and while being considerate so Takanashi-san, who was currently cleaning up games, wouldn't hear, he asked:
"Um, is your time for your main profession okay?"
"Eh? Ah, oh, that conversation."
It seems he is worried about me as the Female Shogi Player, Utakata Tsukino. I smiled back and responded.
"There is no need for concern. For the current me, coming here is also an important part of my studies."
"I'm happy to hear you say that, but we only seem to provide 'play' here..."
"Play is study."
"Ooh, that sounds profound at a glance, but actually sounds like a playboy's excuse."
"W-What is that! It's fine, geez!"
"Ahaha, sorry."
"Good grief, you are mean, Banjō-san."
Saying that, we smiled at each other. There was no longer any strange tension. Rather, an atmosphere as if we had become close from the bottom of our hearts, far more than before—
"............Forty seeeconds.........."
『What kind of countdown is that?!』
—Before we noticed, Takanashi-san had come right next to us and was staring with jittery eyes.
She blatantly pouted her lips, sulking.
"Like... aren't Banjō and Uta-chan kinda getting good vibes recently?"
"G-Good vibes? What does that mean?"
Banjō-san retorted, flustered. Takanashi-san glared at him and continued.
"Good vibes are good vibes. Can also be called bad vibes."
"Which is it? No, well, it is a fact that I've become close with Utamaru-san, but that isn't particularly a bad thing, is it?"
"That, well, yeah, but... ........................ ...Banjō, you idiot."
"A sudden, unreasonable, simple insult!"
Banjō-san looked genuinely perplexed by Takanashi-san's attitude. ...This person is extreme in when he's sharp and when he's not. The current Takanashi-san, no matter who looks at her, is a pure maiden in love complicating things with cute jealousy. Why haven't they gotten together yet? ............Ah, no, I see.
Because Takanashi-san has a wonderful Kare-pi named Usa Itsuki (Me). Right, right.
…………
"...I feel kinda sorry somehow."
『Sudden mysterious apology.』
Now it was their turn to question me. Yup, what is this, indeed?
Once the topic settled, Takanashi-san straightened her back with an "Nn!" and cut in.
"Well, I'm getting off my shift soon anyway. What about you, Banjō?"
"Ah, I'm clocking out now too. I have plans after this."
"Eh, even though you're Banjō?"
"I'm about to take a running start and punch you, you know?"
"Oh, you wanna go?"
"Let's go then."
"N-Now, now."
Why are these people always able to "get along like cats and dogs"? I wonder if their past lives were a certain Mr. Tom and Mr. Jerry.
I urged Banjō-san to continue.
"If you don't mind, may I ask what Banjō-san's plans are?"
"Eh? Ah, yes. Well, it's not that big of a deal, but..."
Prefacing it like that, he spoke. In a very light tone.
He announced a plan that was—for the current us—impossible to ignore.
"Actually, I'm meeting up with an old acquaintance after this—Hankui."
『?!』
Immediately, due to shock, not only did I freeze, but even Takanashi-san's bad-mouthing stopped.
However, Banjō-san didn't notice our state; instead, he looked at the shop clock and raised his voice, "Ah, crap."
"I dawdled too much. Knowing Hankui, if I'm late, it'll be scary...!"
Saying that, Banjō-san hurriedly began taking off his apron. While proceeding with his own preparations, he tossed the shop keys to Takanashi-san.
"So, sorry, but Mifuru-san, is it okay if I have you close up the shop?"
"Eh, ah, yeah. That's fine but..."
"Thank you. ...Ah, I was only thinking about the time we decided for the store. I totally forgot about the talk of meeting up at Kichijoji Station first..."
Banjō-san continued moving, looking unusually genuinely rushed. And just as he finally put his hand on the shop door.
I couldn't help but call out.
"Ah, Banjō-san!"
"Yes, what is it?"
"Umm, well, the person you are meeting from now on, um, to Banjō-san, they are..."
I know that he and Hankui Shuri had an extraordinary hostile relationship in the past. But.
Even so, thinking of the scene where he meets alone with a very attractive woman with whom he has a strangely close sense of distance makes my chest tighten. J-Just a tiny bit, okay? Just a tiny bit.
Looking to the side, Takanashi-san was there wearing exactly the same expression as me. ...Does this person really intend to hide her feelings?
While I began to worry about other things, Banjō-san...
As always, looking like he couldn't even imagine our feelings.
—With a carefree smile, lightly, he threw a bomb.
"I guess you could say the person I'm meeting is the guy... the one I want to see most right now."
『Eh.』
That was honestly—completely different from what we expected.
"...Eh, wait, wait wait, weren't you and Hankui-chan on super bad terms..."
Takanashi-san asked timidly in a flustered state, but it was too late. Banjō-san brightly said, "See ya!" and just like that, left the shop.
『…………』
While the door bell rang hollowly, the women were left in a daze. ...Then, suddenly, Takanashi-san looked startled, took out her smartphone from her apron pocket, and sent a message somewhere using both hands at super high speed.
The next moment, the smartphone I held vibrated. Turning my back to Takanashi-san to secretly check the content... there was a message sent from Takanashi-san to the "Usa Itsuki" account.
<Usa-kun, can you meet up right now? Kinda need you to join me for tailing someone.>
The moment I saw that message, I immediately understood her intention. At the same time, I also dashed out of the shop. Takanashi-san was bewildered.
"Eh, Uta-chan?"
"Goodbye, Takanashi-san! Ah, Takanashi-san, please go ahead with your preparations and closing the shop!"
"Eh, ah, yeah, I'll do that but..."
"Well then!"
Saying only that, I burst out of Kurumaza with force. Then, paying close attention so Takanashi-san wouldn't sense my movements, I ran—up the stairs. As soon as I leaped into the office of the staffing agency run by my aunt—
"Hair and costume!"
"Whoa!? What, what!?"
—Without explaining anything to my aunt, I finished the transformation into Usa Itsuki mode with furious speed.
"Now, launching!"
"Eh, what!? Why!?"
Leaving my bewildered aunt behind, I headed downstairs. And then...
"Ah, Usa-kun! You were at the office! Perfect timing!"
"Yeah! Come on, we're tailing someone, right? Let's hurry, Mifuru!"
"Eh, yeah. ...Um, but I haven't explained the detailed situation yet—"
"I-I'll hear it on the way! Come on, come on, let's go! We're hurrying, right?!"
"Y-Yeah!"
Responding, Takanashi-san locked Kurumaza.
And so, the two of us, in a panic—
—Motivated by complete jealousy, began tailing Tokiwa Kotaro.
＊
Running full speed paid off; we managed to catch up to Banjō-san on the platform of Ogikubo Station. It seemed the train timing was bad, so Banjō-san was left waiting on the platform for a bit. We watched him from a distant, inconspicuous position.
"Banjō said something about going to Kichijoji."
"Yes, he did."
Out of lack of composure, I inadvertently replied in my natural tone. I immediately realized and covered my mouth saying "Crap," but it seemed Takanashi-san lacked composure too. She continued the conversation without seeming to care particularly.
"...Happily going out with a girl... even though he's Banjō..."
Takanashi-san glared daggers at Banjō-san's back as he walked a little ahead.
I was a bit exasperated, and unintentionally spoke in a slightly mean way.
"But you went out with Tokiwa-kun just the two of you even though you have me—Ore—as a boyfriend, didn't you?"
"Fue!? Usa-kun, how do you know that...!"
"I received a direct apology and report from Tokiwa-kun a while ago. He said he wanted to be principled about it."
"That Virgin Gentleman, why is he always like this...!"
Takanashi-san leaked a mutter filled with exasperation, anger, and somehow admiration. I also laughed fufu and responded.
"He's truly straightforward; I guess he has no guilty secrets from me."
"I-I guess so."
"Unlike you, it seems."
"Gu...!"
Takanashi-san choked on her words. Staring at Banjō-san waiting for the train, she continued.
"I-It's not like... I don't really have a reason I have to report hanging out with a coworker to a Rental Boyfriend, right?"
"That is true. But I'd still like important information shared, or rather, I'd like you to at least make your stance clear."
"Stance?"
"You like him, don't you?"
"Geho, geho!"
Takanashi-san coughed magnificently. For a moment I felt a chill thinking our tailing would be exposed, but Banjō-san dropped his gaze to his smartphone and was typing something enthusiastically. He might be sending an apology for lateness to Hankui-san.
Takanashi-san turned her gaze away from him and me, and responded.
"It's not like that—. ...It doesn't matter, something like that. I don't have to tell Usa-kun."
"Oh, you're not replying with 'It's not like that.' That's a bit unexpected."
"Whatever. ...It's just, forcing myself to crouch down, I just stopped doing that, I guess."
"? Stopped crouching?"
Just as I asked back, the train slid in. We boarded a different car from Banjō-san. The car was surprisingly empty, and we were able to sit side by side. Although, it's only about five minutes to Kichijoji.
Thinking the atmosphere wasn't right to continue the "crouching" topic, Takanashi-san abruptly operated her smartphone and showed it to me.
"Oh right, this. Banjō forwarded this to me before."
"? Ah, this is..."
Looking at it, it was a two-shot photo I had seen before of Takeshi-san and Hankui-san. A plump, good-natured looking man and a tanned girl with exceptionally sharp eyes.
Showing it to me, Takanashi-san muttered as if exasperated.
"Banjō's explanations are kinda sloppy too. Since he only explained it as 'A photo from when Takeshi participated in a fan event,' you'd think the other person was the idol he supported, right?"
"True. ............ ...No, actually, what you said might be too accurate..."
"? Usa-kun?"
"Hey, Mifuru. He is normally good at inst, right?"
"Eh? Well yeah he's good, but what about it?"
"…………"
There was a sensation of something catching in the corner of my mind. ...Yes, speaking of catching...
"Look, this sounds like I'm saying something super nitpicky, but..."
"What?"
"Isn't the intonation of 'Takeshi' that Tokiwa-kun uses a little strange?"
"Ha? Intonation? Eh, I dunno. Was it?"
"Yeah. It's a little different from the 'Bushi-shi' (Warrior/Samurai-Mr.) I say, or the 'Takeshi' (Name) you say."
"...Hohee. Was it? As expected, someone who makes acting their livelihood notices different things, huh, Usa-kun."
"No, it's not that big of a deal but..."
Besides, so what if it is? There is no further deduction.
It's just, it's stuck in my mind.
During a Shogi match, there are moments when you feel a premonition that "Ah, if this continues, I'll lose" through a gut feeling that can't be verbalized or constructed into a theory. Something resembling that sensation... yes, something that should be called an "oversight" feels like it's been sticking to this whole affair the entire time.
While we were talking about that, the train arrived at Kichijoji Station. We quickly got off onto the platform and resumed tailing so as not to lose sight of Banjō-san getting off from the other car.
"I think he said something about meeting at the station first."
A little after Takanashi-san muttered that. Right outside the ticket gates, that person was there.
A woman leaning her back against the wall, fiddling with her smartphone with a cool expression that even a fellow woman would be captivated by. A woman with healthy wheat-colored skin, long limbs, and an outstanding style. —Hankui Shuri.
"…………"
We gulped at the sight of her. I had only seen her in photos until now, but seeing her again like this, I see, it's overwhelming. She has the aura of an athlete.
A woman wrapped in an outfit—a tank top and denim short pants—that is only forgiven in this early autumn because of her outstanding style.
When she found Banjō-san, she raised her hand with a smile far more friendly than imagined.
『────』
At that expression which was far too "favorable" toward Banjō-san, Takanashi-san and I received a shock. Takanashi-san muttered, gasping like a fish.
"Eh, no no, eh? Were Hankui-chan and Banjō on such casual terms?"
"N-No, judging from his stories, I didn't get that impression at all..."
My thoughts also couldn't come together at all due to the unexpectedness of the scene in front of me and a small jealousy.
W-Why? Could it be that Banjō-san hadn't told us everything?
Actually, he's good friends with Hankui-san now... no, more than that, could they be in a relationship far more intimate than we assumed? But even that is strange. He was supposed to have been out of contact until recently, not just with Hankui-san, but even with his best friend Takeshi-shi. Would they become this rapidly close immediately after reuniting just because they are former classmates?
"Don't tell me Banjō, that day in Shinjuku, actually went straight into the nightlife district like that...!"
Takanashi-san voices a disturbing deduction. I-I see. A thought process with the opposite approach to mine. "Because something happened, they became rapidly close." That pattern is also possible. ............ ...That pattern... is also... possible, huh... It is, isn't it...
『…………』
The moment we imagined that, Takanashi-san and I visibly slumped. Ah, what do I mean "switch to offense." In modern romance strategy, what is so offensive about just revealing a true identity a little? Ah, I resent the old-fashioned nature of my sensibilities.
Looking over, Takanashi-san was also blatantly despondent. It was somehow strangely cute.
"Sorry, sorry, I'm a little late! Did you wait?"
Before we knew it, Banjō-san was calling out to Hankui Shuri very casually right in front of us. No matter how you think about it, that sense of distance is not that of a nemesis. If anything, there is a sense that Banjō-san has opened his heart even more than he does with me or Takanashi-san. ...To a woman he only recently reunited with…
"Ah, they're banging..."
Takanashi-san leaked a tremendous mutter. B-But well, actually my impression is the same.
They're banging.
Suddenly, I felt like everything didn't matter anymore. A mysterious fire burned brightly deep in my chest, and regardless of our tailing being exposed, I walked aggressively toward the two of them.
I feel like I just want to break everything. Let the game board be flipped over.
In front of us, stomping forward in such a rough mood.
The moment the woman with attractive wheat-colored skin spun her first words toward Banjō-san, who had joined her, with a carefree smile.
Takanashi-san and I—finally realized.
"Oho, Tokiwa-shi! yours truly just arrived as well, indeed!" (Note: yours truly = Archaic/Humble "I" used by scholars/otaku)
That within our understanding, there had apparently existed a fatal "Errata."
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