Nearly a week had passed since the doujin artist named Kashiwagi Eri had sent Narumi an invitation to adapt his novel into a derivative work.
During that time, Narumi continued to live his quiet, by-the-book daily life—going to school, leaving school, working part-time, heading home. Of course, he knew that creative work took time, so while steadily carrying on with his routine, he also waited patiently.
The self-important future simulation system hadn't appeared once that entire week to bother him, which was honestly for the best. His energy was fully devoted to novel-related matters right now; if another simulation started, he really wouldn't be able to juggle it all.
But just when Narumi was about to think that the simulation he had experienced was nothing more than a fleeting dream, those "old acquaintances" from the simulation would find excuses to show up again.
Yes—he was talking about Yukinoshita Haruno, smiling brightly as she appeared in the faculty office of Sōbu High.
"Oh my, Shizuka, long time no see—your skin is still in such great shape. There's not a trace of aging at all. Care to share your secret?"
Even though she was already used to Haruno dancing tap on every single one of her landmines, Hiratsuka Shizuka forcibly restrained the fist that was always ready to fly from her pocket and extinguished her cigarette with her other hand.
"I'll say this, Haruno—what a rare occasion. What wind blew an outstanding alum like you back here? If you're here to see your sister's clubmates, turn right when you leave, walk to the end, and it's the first clubroom on the right of the classroom staircase. Don't let me stop you."
She pointed straight out the office door, her words refreshingly blunt.
"Can't be helped, sensei. After all, our temple is small, but the demons are wild—uh, wait, that's probably not the right way to put it."
The curly-haired boy who was helping Hiratsuka carry stacks of exam papers raised his head and casually joined the conversation. Naturally, such blatant scene-stealing earned him a sharp glare.
"Narumi, you little punk… if you don't know how to talk, then don't."
Hiratsuka Shizuka's anger gauge was already at 99, just shy of maxing out.
"Oh my, isn't that Tōru-kun?"
After spotting the boy piling the papers onto the desk, Haruno only parted her lips slightly in mild surprise before approaching him with an even brighter smile.
"I did come to ask little Yukino how she's been lately, sure—but getting to chat with Tōru-kun too is an unexpected bonus."
An unexpected bonus… or a carefully planned one—that was hard to say.
If beastification existed in this world, Narumi felt like he could practically see a fox tail swaying behind Yukinoshita Haruno. After all, in the simulation, that was exactly the impression she had left on him—a cunning, sharp-witted creature.
Still, how to deal with a dangerously unreadable madwoman like her was something Narumi had learned quite a bit about from his simulated "self."
"Eh~ Yukinoshita-senpai, were you really that eager to see me?"
The boy put on an innocent, guileless expression and trotted up to Haruno, countering her probing with the persona of a pure-hearted high school boy—and smoothly reclaiming the initiative.
"Or were you hoping to dig up some inside info about Yukinoshita-san that she herself wouldn't want to tell you, from me as a club member?"
The bonuses Narumi Tōru had gained from the simulation weren't limited to novel-writing alone. If some White House needed a temporary press secretary, he honestly felt he could step up right now.
No one—absolutely no one—understood the Yukinoshita sisters better than him…!
Caught off guard by Narumi's comeback, Haruno froze for just a split second before armoring herself with an easygoing smile. At the same time, the interest filling her gaze as she looked at him grew noticeably stronger.
"Oh dear, being too smart can sometimes lead to delusions, Tōru-kun. Still, with you by little Yukino's side, she must feel a lot more at ease. After all, she may look strong-willed, but as a club leader, she does push herself a bit too hard."
This woman really hadn't changed from the simulation. Even in reality, she was remarkably skilled at putting her own sister down. No matter how much she cared, that way of showing concern was hard to accept.
"Badmouthing the club president in front of her club member isn't very classy, Yukinoshita-senpai."
Almost instinctively, Narumi spoke up to defend Yukino—it was a habit he'd developed back in the simulation.
"Oh my, Tōru-kun is so protective. I never thought little Yukino would gain a friend who treasures her this much… Are you friends? Or something a bit more heart-pounding? How did you meet? Tell me, tell me~"
"Explaining it is such a pain. Whatever kind of relationship you think we have, senpai—that's what it is~"
"Eh? Then can I interpret that as you two being sweet, lovey-dovey boyfriend and girlfriend?"
"I wish—but does Miss Yukinoshita even know she's my girlfriend?"
"Miss Yukinoshita might not, but Yukinoshita-senpai could consider it, you know~"
"Really? Then I'd be super honored. Senpai, you'll have to take responsibility all the way, okay?"
"…What kind of riddle-speaking mind game is this big fox and little fox performing right in front of me?"
Even though she could read the atmosphere, Hiratsuka Shizuka still had no idea what exactly the two were probing each other about. She chose to quietly spectate, lifting a cup of green tea and taking a sip.
As her gaze shifted away from them, she keenly caught sight of a figure leaning against the wall outside the office door, hesitating to enter—Yukinoshita Yukino, who had likely come to submit Yuigahama Yui's club application.
Naturally, she must have heard everything that was just said.
"…Why does it suddenly smell like a battlefield in here?"
That problematic kid Narumi—what on earth had he done to end up wedged between the Yukinoshita sisters…?
With a headache coming on, Shizuka pressed her fingers to her temple. A school meant for education wasn't exactly the place to become a frontline for emotional entanglements.
"Alright, you two—if you keep up this verbal sparring, I'm kicking you both out. This isn't that kind of place."
"Okay, okay~ I'm most afraid of Shizuka getting mad. Tōru-kun being this hard to crack is no fun anyway. I'll go play with little Yukino instead."
Haruno stuck out her tongue playfully, then skipped lightly out of the faculty office.
Thus ended the mutual probing between Yukinoshita Haruno and Narumi Tōru—cut short by Hiratsuka-sensei, who had finally had enough.
"Spouting nonsense that messes with people's heads… I said it before—this woman is definitely crazy."
After grumbling internally, Narumi stayed behind to continue helping Hiratsuka Shizuka. Because of that, he never learned what happened next—
The moment Haruno stepped out of the office and brushed past Yukinoshita Yukino, who was standing by the door holding her breath, she smiled and murmured softly:
"Just kidding—Tōru-kun is actually super interesting."
It sounded like an offhand remark, yet it made Yukino—who had thought she hadn't been noticed—forget how to breathe for a brief instant.
"I'm kind of interested in him now. Little Yukino wouldn't mind, right? Hmm—though even if you did mind, it wouldn't really matter."
Even as she made this declaration, Haruno never slowed her steps. Ignoring her stunned sister, she cast an amused glance at the metal whistle hanging on Yukino's chest, half-hidden beneath her uniform, then left those words behind and disappeared around the stairwell corner.
"..."
Yukinoshita Yukino took a deep breath and straightened her posture. Her relationship with her sister was delicate, but she could tell—Haruno's expression hadn't been entirely joking.
The fact that Yukinoshita Haruno had dated Narumi Tōru in the simulation meant she must have harbored at least some affection for him—
Could those feelings carry over into reality as well?
Yukino couldn't stop thinking about it—and she couldn't ignore the possibility.
The possibility that the two of them might get involved again, that old feelings might reignite.