Chapter 48: Under the Starry Sky
Totsuki's luxury sleeper train—the Tsukikage.
Students who had cleared the first round boarded the Tsukikage to head to the next exam venue, enjoying an elegant train journey. A regular ticket cost half a million yen; upgrading the grade pushed it to a full million. If it hadn't been an Advancement Test with expulsion on the line, the students riding it might have been able to enjoy themselves more.
Still, only a small portion of the students had any breathing room—those who had chosen to stand against Nakiri Azami. The rebels.
"…Haah."
Nakiri Erina lifted her gaze from the laptop she had been facing and let out a long breath, trying to rest her body even a little. She had been working nonstop for over two hours since boarding, and her concentration was finally starting to waver.
Displayed on the screen was data on nearly every student aligned with the rebels. To make the study sessions—her so-called reinforcement program—perfect, she had been using every spare moment for preparation work.
"…It has to be me."
Passing the first round was something to celebrate, but the tests were far from over.
This Advancement Test started at the southern tip and would end at the northernmost point. The further north they went, the harsher the exams blocking their path would become. Erina steeled herself once more, knowing that whether the rebels survived and advanced safely rested on her shoulders.
…Still, what was that about earlier?
She suddenly recalled the three visitors who had approached her while she was working.
Isami Aldini had told her the starry sky visible from the lounge was beautiful.
Sakaki Ryoko had recommended the massage chair in the esthetic room, saying it was fantastic.
Tadokoro Megumi had brought her brown rice tea for relaxation.
Erina tilted her head, wondering why they were all paying her so much attention. She couldn't remember doing anything special to deserve it. Even after calmly sipping the tea, she still had no answer.
And then a fourth visitor appeared before her. The door slid open to reveal the first male friend she had ever made—and someone who had recently become something of an emotional pillar—Santoku Shogo.
"Hey, Nakiri-san."
"S-Santoku-kun… You came too?"
"Ah, sorry. Am I interrupting?"
"N-No, that's not it! …It's just that people keep coming up to me. Isami-kun, Sakaki-san, Tadokoro-san… If they have time to worry about me, they should be resting instead…"
"Ah, I see… Mind if I sit?"
"Y-Yes… Please."
Shogo turned off the lights with a soft click before taking the chair across from Erina.
The sudden dimness startled her, but what unsettled her more was the fact that the two of them were now alone in the room.
"Look, the stars are much clearer when it's dark. Beautiful, aren't they?"
"…Yes… They really are."
"Isami, Sakaki-san, and Tadokoro-san probably just wanted to make you happy. —Like right now."
"…Eh?"
Only when he pointed it out did she realize her own face had softened. The pressure she had decided to bear had been weighing on her heart and body without her even noticing. Erina finally understood that for herself.
"How pathetic… Having people fuss over me like this."
"It's not pathetic at all. Besides, I don't think any of them feel like they're just 'fussing.' They're grateful to you, so they came over."
"Grateful…? B-But I haven't done anything worth being thanked for… I'm only doing what I want to do."
"Even if you feel that way, it doesn't matter to the people you're helping. Because you're lending them your strength, they can take the exams with peace of mind. So they're grateful. I think that's only natural."
Still gazing up at the starry sky through the train window, Shogo spoke to her. His voice was like that of an older brother gently admonishing his little sister, or a lover comforting the one he cherished.
"—It's okay. You don't have to do everything alone. If it comes down to it, I'm here."
"…Santoku-kun."
She felt an overwhelming urge to lean on him. Even though she had declared she would become his rival, Erina's heart instantly found peace. She was so simple it almost embarrassed her.
"…Yes. You're here for me."
"That's right. The former 6th Seat of the Council of Ten is right here. I was probably removed from the Council faster than anyone in Totsuki history. The new headmaster really went all out."
"Fufu, he really did. Father can be quite cruel."
"Absolutely. …So we have to fight back properly. You and me, together."
The occasional bold expression on his face said that no enemy could stand against him, that no problem was even worth considering. Seeing that look and hearing that tone made Erina's heart tremble.
Because he usually showed her only his gentle side, she was weak to these sudden glimpses of his true strength.
"Th-That reminds me… Have you seen Hisako? I tried contacting her but got no reply… Maybe she's already asleep?"
The comment was nothing but an attempt to hide her embarrassment, yet Shogo answered with a small smile.
"Yeah… She might be doing something in someone's room. Like helping someone study, the way you do."
"Y-Yes… I hope she isn't pushing herself too hard."
Erina nodded, easily accepting the answer she could imagine.
In truth, Hisako was not studying at all. She was in Shogo's room with Hojo Miyoko—bound tightly, trapped in a vibrator-and-rotor orgasm hell. Erina had no way of knowing that.
"Hisako-san will be fine. She's reliable, just like you, Nakiri-san."
"…S-Santoku-kun? Since when did you start calling Hisako by her first name…?"
Oh crap. Shogo froze with a smile still on his face. The afterglow of having spent the last few hours in his room with Hisako and Miyoko had caused the slip. He had just casually used another girl's name in front of the one he was trying to woo—an unthinkable blunder.
"W-Well… We got closer during the study sessions… As comrades trying to help you, Nakiri-san… Something like that."
"…I-I see. So that's it… Hmm."
The romantic atmosphere from moments ago vanished, replaced by an awkward silence. Shogo racked his brain for a way to recover, but no good idea came to mind.
The one who saved him from his own carelessness was—surprisingly—Erina herself.
"—W-What about me…?"
Rebelling against the father she had feared was the biggest decision of Erina's life and a crucial turning point that would force her to grow more than ever.
The girl who had been freed from her chains had gained a small measure of courage.
"Could you… call me by my name too?"
Her white cheeks flushed red as she spoke without meeting his eyes. She gripped the hem of her skirt tightly, the question the result of every ounce of courage she could muster.
To Shogo, it was divine salvation. If he wasted this chance, he might as well start a third life. He opened his mouth immediately.
"O-Of course! I was actually hoping you'd call me by my name too… So, uh, yeah… something like that, haha."
His reply had zero composure. Shogo briefly wanted to die. While reminding himself that romance with the main heroine was his weakness, he glanced anxiously at Erina, terrified he had come on too strong and put her off. If that were the case, he was fully prepared to cry for real.
But his worry was unfounded. The face that entered his vision was wrapped in heartfelt relief.
"Th-Thank goodness… I'm sorry. I… suddenly said something strange."
"N-No, not at all… Actually, thank you."
"Fufu, why are you the one thanking me?"
The awkward air had completely disappeared.
In its place was a gentle atmosphere in which the distance between the young man and woman had shrunk, filled with the fresh nervousness of budding romance. It wasn't quite a battle of wits between lovers, but it was undoubtedly the most heart-stirring moment in any romance.
"…The stars really are beautiful. —Erina-san."
"Yes… they are. Shogo-kun."
The train sliced through the chilled air as it raced along the tracks. Until they reached the next exam venue, they had been given a brief moment of peace. Determined not to waste it, Erina and Shogo savored their private space to the fullest. They felt a touch of embarrassment, yet neither of them found the feeling unpleasant.
When they looked up at the starry sky again, it seemed to shine even more brightly.
***
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