Chapter 25: Key, Found? Not Found?

A key search session suddenly opens.

We retraced our steps exactly, just dropping our gazes to the ground with eyes like saucers.

The occasional cool breeze is just a drop in the bucket.

It's sweltering hot.

The key should definitely have fallen somewhere. It disappeared from Orimoto's pocket.

Geez... what a troublesome girl.

「Hey, do you remember dropping it when you fell?」

「Sorry, I don't. ...You're angry, right?」

「I'm not angry. It's just hot.」

I don't actually get angry over something this minor. I won't waste energy raising my voice.

I'm just finding the current situation troublesome.

Who would willingly carry out a search event under the blazing midsummer sun? And for a key at that.

It's so small there's no sign of finding it.

「As a possibility, when you tripped is most likely. At that time, Suzuka had quite a lot of momentum.」

I completely agree with Michikusa's opinion.

Even if Orimoto doesn't remember, if we're listing possibilities, it's still that time. I nod.

「Uhh... I'm sorry to both of you. The victory party turned into this.」

「Whatever. I'm the one paying for the victory party anyway.」

「Trouble is almost always Suzuka's fault.」

「...You're both so merciless~!」

If the victory party and strategy meeting were to become a café or family restaurant, I'd be the one funding it.

I avoided unnecessary expenses.

If I think of it that way, it's not all bad.

Of course, I plan to have her pay me back with interest eventually, so it's just a temporary loan.

We return for a while, to the scene in question.

A school route close to the high school I attend.

However, since it's right after the test period ended, there are no signs of students at all. Only the quiet tree-lined path had its branches and leaves swaying in the wind.

Orimoto crouches down while muttering and searches the ground. Following her lead, I also slid my gaze across the road.

「Around here, right?」

「Yeah, when you came crashing into me.」

「Your way of putting it! That's misleading, Kasugai-kun!」

Complaints fly from Orimoto in a "yai no yai no".

But if she hadn't dropped the key, this could have been avoided.

I enacted a full ignore.

「Kasugai, from this angle?」

「...Ahh, that's possible. Let's search.」

「Ignoring me?! Are both of you ignoring me together?!」

For her appearance, Michikusa is quite dry. There are moments when she treats Orimoto and Sera roughly.

There are many points to learn from regarding how to hold Orimoto's reins. Though it's probably a distance befitting best friends.

Then after several minutes, Orimoto appeared.

From below me.

「I appeared in a way Kasugai-kun can't ignore~! How about it? Surprised?」

「...Eh, annoying. Search.」

「Because you'll ignore me~」

「I get it, my bad, my bad. Come on, let's search, okay? Orimoto, you won't be able to go home.」

「Kasugai-kun is being kind... a different person?」

「I'll kill you. Return my mercy.」

Shit, I showed consideration and took a loss.

While lightly brushing off Orimoto, I let my gaze wander around──honestly, the results aren't promising.

More than anything, my stamina is being depleted.

「...Really, thank you.」

「...Well, that's how it goes.」

Orimoto seems to have fairly good athletic ability, but naturally I don't, and Michikusa was also in an exhausted state.

She has "tired" written on her face.

「Tired.」

In fact, it had already leaked from her mouth.

「Tired, Kasugai.」

「What a coincidence, me too.」

「Nose strap, retie it.」

「...Dammit, again...?!」

But this time it can't be helped. While griping with words, I understood. After all, geta.

Searching for something in geta is inappropriate.

It was obvious her feet would hurt.

「So Orimoto. ...I'll search, so you retie Michikusa's geta strap for her.」

「Mm, roger. Inori, come here.」

「Also, you two rest a bit. Michikusa's feet hurt anyway, and Orimoto, you're sweaty.」

「Isn't only your consideration to me harsh!」

──To be honest.

(I won't say it. I won't say it...)

Every time Orimoto crouched to search, I could almost see inside her skirt, which was incredibly awkward.

Impure thoughts constantly flitted across my mind.

─────

I trace the ground multiple times.

I checked even the hedges and road cracks.

But the key was never found.

「Not here.」

Michikusa muttered lowly.

Her gaze is still concentrated on the ground.

I flap the collar of my uniform.

「Uhh... sorry to both of you...」

Orimoto's shoulders slumped. Sweat is making her hair stick to her forehead, getting a bit messy.

「...So then. What should we do?」

I turn my gaze to the sky.

The setting sun is dyeing the city orange.

Twilight gradually spreads, stretching the shadows of street trees long. The season is summer, the days are long, but before long, purple will doubtless start appearing.

At that point, searching for the key will be impossible. There are no streetlights at this thoughtless location either, so visibility will be taken.

Finding it will be extremely difficult.

「At this rate, it'll get dark...」

Orimoto apparently had the same opinion.

Silence descends, and a bit of anxiety fills the space.

...For it to not be found to this degree.

When she almost tripped, it could have gone into a drain and fallen into the sewer, that would be the worst.

And there's something even worse.

That's what to do about Orimoto and Michikusa.

(...Should I have them sleep outdoors?)

No no, that's definitely not okay.

I reject my own thoughts. I'm generally self-aware that my personality is jaded, but I'd fall to being scum.

(Find the key by sheer force of will?)

It's just idealism. Unfortunately, the scales currently tip toward the possibility of not finding it.

Without Orimoto's house key, both Orimoto and Michikusa will lose their sleeping place today──and beyond.

Staying out at hotels and such isn't an option.

There are no rooms to rent to people who don't exist.

「Kasugai, Kasugai.」

「Ah? What. I'm thinking right now.」

「...There's a place to go home to.」

At those words, Orimoto reacts sharply.

It was a plan I'd floated in a corner of my brain.

「Kasugai's house.」

「...As expected, it comes to that.」

「Kasugai-kun's house?! That's...」

While shocked, she glances at me. On the other hand, Michikusa lets her hair sway while expressionless.

Deliberation spins round and round in my head.

...Certainly, it certainly is.

My parents don't come near the house and barely send any contact. There are spare rooms too.

That house is already just a foreign object left behind.

In that case, lending it is no problem.

Yes, as long as I'm just lending it.

The problem is──inviting two girls.

Even if it's rotten, it's a house where a guy lives. Plus classmates.

Troublesome, tedious, awkward, embarrassing. While kneading logic to myself, I work out a plan.

「Kasugai, how about it. Impossible?」

「...It's not impossible exactly. But you know?」

「Is there some problem? If so, I'll give up.」

「It means staying at a guy's house.」

I said it, and Michikusa blinked.

Then she tilts her head.

「Will Kasugai assault us?」

「I won't assault you!」

「Then it's fine.」

I inadvertently raised my voice. The argument is too extreme.

My-pace Michikusa is mentally strong.

I sighed while glancing at Orimoto. ...How does she feel about this?

「What do you think, Orimoto?」

「Um, well. For me~, um~. If Kasugai-kun is okay with it, I'd like to intrude, I think.」

She strokes her cheek and plays with her hair tips. Orimoto expressed her affirmation, if anything. For real?

Am I the only one concerned?

As I'm groaning, Orimoto,

「A long time ago, I went to play at Keiichi's house, you know? I'm used to it, but if Kasugai-kun doesn't like the idea...」

「It's not like I exactly dislike it. ...Uumu.」

Orimoto who's been playing with the opposite sex since childhood.

Michikusa whose thought process is mysterious to begin with.

My common sense doesn't work in front of them. Dusk was near, so I needed to rush out to a conclusion.

(It's troublesome. It's troublesome, but our connection isn't thin enough anymore that I can abandon them...)

Fortunately, there are spare guest rooms.

A house-like thing with extremely few belongings.

It's a place only used for sleeping. Putting up two girls would be no trouble at all.

The two before me are clearly in a situation where they can't return on their own. ──After worrying for a full 10 seconds.

(...First, there's only one option.)

If I abandon them, my petty conscience will reproach me.

There are no options other than my house currently.

──Resignation weighs heavily.

「...Just for today.」

I said it aloud. Orimoto and Michikusa simultaneously raise their faces and show slight relief.

I continue speaking to the two.

「Reluctantly! It's reluctant, okay?」

「Kasugai, saved us. Actually kind.」

「I'm not kind.」

I'm a selfish, self-centered person. Being praised makes my back itch.

Orimoto grabbed my hand tightly.

I feel the sensation of her soft fingers.

「Is it really okay...?」

「I said it's okay. Also let go of my hand quickly.」

「Ah! Wawa, sorry!?」

Orimoto flushed bright red and moved away at my words. Her sense of distance is buggy.

Since the festival, this girl has been weird.

Her hair, still slightly damp with sweat and stuck to her cheeks, reflected in a strangely vivid way.

「...Orimoto, I'm not doing this out of pure goodwill. There are just no other options.」

「That's such a Kasugai-kun way of putting it.」

Orimoto smiled.

Her cheeks are still faintly red. That smile was too straightforward, and I inadvertently looked away.

It was dazzling to me.

I want to avert my eyes.

Michikusa, who had been observing idly, said one word.

「Kasugai, embarrassed?」

「I'm not embarrassed. Michikusa, don't say unnecessary things.」

「Anyway, let's go to Kasugai's houseー」

「That's the opposite direction.」

「I knew that.」

She definitely didn't know.

When I smiled wryly, Orimoto burst out laughing, then ran ahead with small steps. Behind her is the setting sun. The hour of meeting demons, the three of us walk down the street.

The sound of cicadas grows distant.

Instead, the sound of insects mixes in.

It was an in-between time.

(The strategy meeting isn't happening after all...)

By the time we passed through the shopping district and entered the residential area, the sun had completely set. The boundary between purple, ultramarine, and scarlet.

Streetlights are beginning to light up dimly.

「I'm actually neighbors with Kasugai-kun.」

「I see. I didn't know.」

It's not a particularly happy fact.

Just being neighbors doesn't change anything. Orimoto's and Michikusa's voices can be heard from behind.

「There's nothing that'll change from that anyway.」

「Eh~, isn't being neighbors with a beautiful girl good?」

「It's not good. Also, why is the one who dropped the key the most animated? Be more reserved.」

「A-Arrest for stating facts!」

「What kind of crime is that?」

I let out an exasperated sigh. Orimoto, always positive, switches her mood quickly.

Only trivial chatter flies back and forth.

This would have been impossible before.

I could never have imagined the day I'd walk home with someone──let alone with two girls.

Something had definitely changed.

「It's here.」

I let out a mutter. I stopped walking.

Just a large two-story house. It was a house with too much waste for one man to live in.

It stands there forlornly.

No car is parked, giving a desolate impression. This is the house where I, Kasugai Koutarou, live.

Orimoto looks up while speaking.

「I've been to the front entrance before, but it really is a big house. ...I'm getting nervous somehow.」

「Why? You're used to it, right?」

「...Maybe because the situation is different?」

I listened while taking out my own key from my pocket and opening the front door.

A metallic sound rings out and silence descends.

In that instant, I felt a strange embarrassment. Friend? Guest? No, it's my first time inviting an acquaintance.

The entrance step spreads into view.

「Kasugai-kun, I'm going to cause trouble again.」

「Thanks, Kasugai. Also, I'm thirsty.」

「Shut up, just get in already. ...There's tea in the fridge so drink whatever.」

Saying that, I kick off my shoes.

I sensed Orimoto laughing quietly, and I had a feeling it was going to get unbearably noisy.