Chapter 22: The Classroom Where Two People Disappeared

「There's something unforgivable.」

「...What is it this early in the morning? You're scaring me.」

「Sooo! Unforgivable!」

Noisy right from the start. I received word that they'd come pick me up, but they're so damn loud.

The next morning──Orimoto and Michikusa appeared before me.

The agreement to go to school together seems to be currently in effect. However, her face is scowling.

Orimoto's lightly waved chestnut-colored hair sways in an amusing way.

She seems angry about something.

I have absolutely no idea what it could be.

「Morning, Kasugai.」

「Yeah, Michikusa. You look sleepy-eyed today too.」

「That! That's it, Kasugai-kun!」

Orimoto pointed at me sharply.

Overwhelmed by that momentum, I stepped back. What, what is this girl angry about?

I'm being blamed for a fault I'm unaware of.

「I've been wondering about this for a while! Why are you casually calling Inori "Michikusa"?!」

「...No no, I don't get it.」

「You used to call me "you" at first!」

「? ...Ahh, yeah that's right.」

「"Yeah that's right" isn't the point!」

Is that really something to worry about? It's such a trivial issue that questions gather in my brain.

「So what's the anger about?」

「I met you first, but you easily call Inori by her surname!」

Orimoto's boiling point is somewhat hard to understand.

「...Uwah, that's petty.」

「It's not petty, Kasugai-kun!」

「...Uwah, who cares.」

「It's not "'who cares", Kasugai-kun!」

I'm not in the wrong about this.

As pointed out, I did call Orimoto "you" initially, but there's no particular reason for this.

I just thought "you" was most appropriate.

We weren't even close enough for surname basis.

We were complete strangers at that time.

「Michikusa is your best friend, right? Wouldn't be weird to keep calling her "you" forever?」

「B-But somehow I'm not satisfied!」

「...This girl is such a pain.」

Names are just designations.

As long as it's not some insanely crazy name, I don't care what it is. Especially not how to address someone.

「Fuaa...」

Michikusa was yawning magnificently. She tilted her head and looked like she might fall asleep right there.

Half-closed eyes. Is her consciousness not awake?

The energy difference with Orimoto is tremendous.

「Michikusa, calm down your rampaging best friend. We'll be late at this rate.」

「Sleepy. But, roger.」

"You", right?

"Hey you", right?

Whatever was appropriate for calling her was fine. The morning scene after discharge.

─────

Just because I was hospitalized doesn't mean any changes naturally occurred in my surroundings.

After all, I'm the class's number one loner.

My hospitalization was completely forgotten, and the morning homeroom didn't touch on it at all.

Rather than my trivial hospitalization, the approaching final exam period was dominating the school atmosphere.

I haven't heard any "congratulations on discharge".

Not that I was seeking it anyway.

「No homework is wonderful!」

「Inori agrees, just on that point.」

Currently in math class. Voices of criticism rise against the teacher who casually assigned surprise homework.

But the homework was mercilessly assigned.

After being hospitalized for about a week, I noticed how far behind I was in the curriculum and cursed internally.

(Can't concentrate at all.)

Next to me, Orimoto was secretly clenching her fists, and next to her, Michikusa was quietly nodding.

The constant conversation breaks my concentration.

(...This really is abnormal.)

They're having conversations boldly during class, even standing up, but no one scolds them.

It was proof that they had disappeared.

I'm used to it now──or perhaps numb to this scene, but when I think calmly, it's still bizarre.

「Ah, Kasugai-kun, you got that wrong.」

My notebook gets traced with a poke.

The problem Orimoto pointed to was indeed wrong.

I quietly lower my voice.

「...Don't peek at my notebook without permission.」

「Even though I told you where you made a mistake~」

「By the way, this one's wrong too.」

Complaints fly from both sides. Even Michikusa leans over and mutters briefly.

「Kasugai, handwriting messy. Be more careful.」

「...This has nothing to do with the lesson anymore.」

It's like scribbled handwriting. Often I can't read what I wrote myself.

But that's a separate issue.

「Kasugai-kun, are you maybe not that good at studying? Even though you're such a logical person?」

「...So what if I'm not, got a problem?」

When I glared at her, Orimoto lightly tapped her chest with a "pon".

The girl named Orimoto Suzuka is single-minded.

She follows through on what she decides to do. It could be called principled determination, but it could also lead to rampaging.

「I'll teach you next time! Supporting the leader is my job, leave it to me!」

「......I'm not particularly struggling.」

I don't need help studying.

Study groups aren't my style either.

Then Michikusa, who had been looking at my answers with a stare, hit a weak spot. ──Super effective.

「Red marks, you won't get them?」

「...Ah, that's right. Supplementary classes would be rough~ You'd have to be prepared to give up summer vacation!」

Don't show weird solidarity.

I'm reminded when she says it.

Last year I fortunately survived because the content I crammed the night before appeared exactly on the final exam.

「Guh, that's… well, yeah.」

「Kasugai. ──Red marks mean weekend school.」

「Someone who basically doesn't want to leave home? Who hates troublesome things? Kasugai-kun would go to weekend school??」

「Nu, nugugugu...!」

──This year is honestly dangerous.

「Instead of being stubborn, you should just learn from Inori and me. Kasugai-kun, that one's wrong too.」

「......I'm done for, huh. Tch.」

Just after discharge, final exams are imminent. ──I'm at a loss for words.

I love peace. I refuse supplementary classes.

School on holidays is absolutely out of the question.

However, these two seem to be above average when it comes to studying. Heaven doesn't give two gifts.

Overall, their grades are better than mine.

Even if they prioritize visiting me on weekdays or skip school for several days, their abilities don't waver.

It galls me to be taught by Orimoto and Michikusa, but needs must when the devil drives. Should I ask for instruction?

Then the teacher's movement stops.

And then,

「Kasugai, what are you muttering about?」

「...Ah, no, well. ...Sorry.」

「I know you're just getting over being sick, but be careful.」

Suddenly a warning from the teacher hits me.

I hurriedly shut my mouth, and gazes from around stabbed into me. With shame in my chest, I looked at Orimoto and Michikusa.

「A-Ahaha. Kasugai-kun… sorry.」

「Can't see us, but got used to it. Apology.」

「...Be more careful, geez.」

I let my guard down. While hating to stand out, I got swept along by the Orimoto & Michikusa combo.

I look around at my surroundings.

Students are uniformly comparing the blackboard and their notebooks, with only faint background noise.

The sound of mechanical pencils sliding rings out noticeably.

Occasionally faint chatter shakes my eardrums.

But even that stops instantly. At least they don't get warned like I did.

「Isn't it about time he noticed? Really. ...Mumu, that idiot Keiichi.」

「Two missing desks, weird feeling.」

Just two desks and chairs have disappeared. But we're used to them "being there".

The compressed space feels eerie.

Daily life flows calmly, as if that's perfectly normal. Sera doesn't notice Orimoto and Michikusa either.

I'll exclude Kanzashi-senpai since she's an upperclassman for now.

So──what about the fourth person?

「Red mark avoidance, strategy meeting, and enjoying summer vacation to the fullest! Inori, you don't have time to sleep either!」

「Suzuka, you look hot and annoying.」

Cheerful Orimoto and downer Michikusa.

At first glance the two seem like oil and water, but from an outsider's perspective they fit together surprisingly well. There's no doubt they're best friends.

They were the class's──no, the school's most popular students. Nobody didn't know these famous people.

Rumors had been spreading since last year.

Even I was aware of them at that level.

(...Think, what's the cause?)

The two's cheerful voices echo through the classroom. But no students except me react to them.

The teacher doesn't even show signs of scolding them.

They don't exist. Nothing is there.

─────

When lunch break comes, the classroom fills with commotion. The chatter spread and the atmosphere relaxed.

Conversation mainly centers on two things.

Summer vacation and final exams. When I glance next door, Sera is surrounded by classmates.

That guy is also an excellent student.

What's with that protagonist's correction?

Even without Orimoto and Michikusa getting involved, Sera Keiichi is infinitely at the center of the story, a man who could be called the original.

「Kasugai-kun, what are you eating for lunch?」

When I look away, Orimoto is right in front of me.

I casually muttered.

「Bread.」

I stand up from my seat in a sluggish way.

A few coins in my wallet. I have neither the skill to cook for myself nor the luxury to spend extravagantly.

Lunch bread was the only option.

「Haaah, as expected.」

Receiving my answer, Orimoto sighed with an exasperated pose. Ah, that slightly irritated me.

「I've been thinking about this for a while, but Kasugai-kun is self-indulgent. You'll definitely collapse in the future.」

「Are you my mom or something?」

「I'm your friend, any questions?」

「...No, not really.」

When I avoided Orimoto and headed into the hallway, she followed right behind me. Why?

She should just watch Sera or something.

I realized Michikusa wasn't there either.

Can that girl get lost even inside the school?

Such an absurd question floats through my mind.

「Eating only bread makes your nutrition unbalanced.」

「Can't help it, there are various circumstances.」

「──Should I make you something?」

It was an unexpected proposal.

Orimoto sometimes steps one or two steps beyond expectations. I let out a "Hah?"

「There's no place to cook. I don't want to owe that kind of debt, it'll probably come back doubled later.」

「I'm not a loan shark!」

According to Orimoto, it's a pure proposal.

「...Well, I'll think about it.」

「Just thinking isn't enough!」

「Yeah yeah. I'll think about it.」

"I'll think about it"──I cut off the conversation vaguely.

There was no need to strongly refuse.

If there were lunch boxes and dinners available. Moreover, nutritious meals, that would definitely be better.

I just thought it would be trouble.

Just splitting time from studying was enough. I stick my hands in my pockets and walk.

「──Oi, that girl.」

To the cafeteria near the shopping area.

There I opened my eyes wide.

At the installed round table was Michikusa's figure. Thinking she might be sick, I rushed over, only to be deflated.

Peaceful breathing.

「She's just sleeping...!」

「I was a little worried but she seems fine.」

「...Hey, this isn't a sleeping area.」

「Maybe she was in the mood for the cafeteria?」

I reflexively retort.

「No, why!」

「Inori can sleep anywhere~ She said it herself before. That she could sleep forever.」

「Does that work as an explanation...?」

The task for both Orimoto and Michikusa is returning to the real world. Not taking care of me.

I'll do what I can. But just that.

Was I scared of getting too involved?

I tapped the floor hard with the tip of my shoe.