Chapter 50: Before the Train Departs
After finishing with Alice, Ryoko, and Miyoko, I left the hotel and ran through the streets of Sapporo.
The three of them decided to spend the remaining free time together, so we parted ways with the promise to meet up again on the train. Knowing from the original story that such a future would never come, I felt a little complicated—like I had just told a lie.
Still, I couldn't afford to dwell on something so sentimental.
If the story didn't progress according to the original, my advantage would disappear. More importantly, I had to insert the irregularity known as "me" into that original flow. Although I had done plenty of preparation for exactly this, I couldn't let my guard down.
"Ah, Erina-san!"
"Santoku-k… I mean… Sh-Shogo-kun."
I spotted Erina sitting on a park bench and called out to her. I had arrived exactly at the meeting time. She had gotten there first, but it was still just barely acceptable.
"Sorry. Did I keep you waiting?"
"N-No, I just arrived myself."
This exchange felt strangely like something a couple would say. A beautiful girl looks even more beautiful against the snow. Is this the so-called contrast effect?
"By the way, where's Hisako? She was supposed to be with you, right?"
"Hisako went to the station with Yoshino and the others. There's some kind of local products exhibition, so I told her to go enjoy it. She looked really happy… and when she heard I was meeting you, she seemed relieved."
You okay, Hisako? I didn't invite her to the hotel because I thought she wouldn't want to leave Erina's side, and yet she's leaving her in my care? Her trust in me has gotten really thick lately. It makes me happy, though.
"…Then shall we walk around?"
"Y-Yes… Let's walk."
Being on a park date alone with Erina wasn't bad at all, but that wasn't why I had chosen this meeting spot. It was because it made it easy to gather the necessary players.
"Oh, it's Shogo and Nakiri!"
"N-Nakiri-san. Santoku-kun. Are you two out for a walk together?"
The voices that called out from the side belonged to Yukihira Soma and Tadokoro Megumi. Looking around, there was no one else with them, so it was clear they had been walking together. Just as I had advised, Tadokoro had succeeded in inviting Soma. Well done, taking the courage to ask was impressive.
"Yeah, pretty much. Are you two on a walk as well, Tadokoro-san and Soma? You seem close."
"Nuah! W-What are you saying?!"
"We were originally doing some food-touring with Takumi, but once Megumi joined, he disappeared somewhere right away. So the two of us have just been wandering around."
As expected, Takumi had read the mood and stepped aside for Tadokoro. As expected of an Italian guy. Maybe some of that sharpness could rub off on the dense protagonist.
The park I had suggested to Tadokoro as a date spot, plus the exact time for the light-up event I had specified—that was why I had needed to meet up with Erina before then.
"Since we're all here, why don't the four of us do some food-touring together? My stomach has its limits if it's just me and Tadokoro."
"I don't mind, but is that okay with Tadokoro-san and Nakiri-san?"
It was exactly what I had been aiming for, but I still asked the two girls out of courtesy.
"O-Of course it's okay! Santoku-kun! Nakiri-san! Let's look around together!?"
"Y-Yes. That sounds nice… Let's go together…!"
"By the way, Shogo, you're calling Nakiri by her first name now. Haha, when did you two get so close?"
"Wha—! Y-Yukihira-kun! Could you please stop saying weird things!?"
"Y-Yeah! Soma-kun! …Wait, but you really are calling her by name. As expected of Santoku-kun…"
Soma, Tadokoro, Erina, and me. While keeping the original story's flow intact, I seemed to have successfully inserted myself into it.
Until the train departed, the four of us enjoyed sightseeing in Sapporo like ordinary high school students, laughing together.
And then came departure time.
The person who appeared before us after we boarded the train was, Kobayashi Rindou, the 2nd Seat of the Council of Ten.
"—Yo, Santoku Shogo. Yukihira Soma. How's it going~? It's cold, so you're probably not feeling motivated at all~"
She appeared at exactly the right moment—or rather, she had clearly been waiting. As we headed toward our assigned rooms, Rindou showed up with her usual laid-back attitude.
"Hello, Rindou-senpai. Are you here to welcome us?"
"Hehe, something like that."
"Hey there, Rindou-senpai. …By the way, I don't see the others. Where are they?"
Because she knew I was staying close to Erina, unlike the original story, Hisako hadn't called to confirm Erina's boarding. That was probably why Soma asked Rindou about the whereabouts of the other rebel members who hadn't shown up at the station.
"Hey now, Yukihira Soma. That's a pretty dumb question, don't you think? You were told at the beginning, right? The r-o-u-t-e-s w-i-l-l d-i-v-e-r-g-e. The rest of your group has already boarded a different train. The next time you'll see them will probably be at the final exam venue—at worst. —Assuming you manage to survive until then."
The lazy atmosphere vanished in an instant. Rindou's eyes sharpened as she pulled out her knife holder, smiling ferociously and radiating the pressure of a wild animal.
"The third round will be a serious one-on-one against the Council of Ten for all you rebels. …Haha, let's make this a fun trip, yeah~? Betting our survival against each other."
After that, just like in the original story, Soma faced off against Hayama Akira, who had fallen to the Central Gastronomy Agency. Erina went to take the same exam as the general students.
Rindou took me and Tadokoro to face her in our own test—and we passed normally.
"Delicious! You pass!"
"U-Umm… We did it? Santoku-kun."
Sorry for the anticlimax, Tadokoro, but I told her there was no time to relax.
The real troublesome battles were only just beginning.
***
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