35

It became winter, and Onni-sama entered the final stretch of his entrance exam studies. The department he wishes to enter allows very few entrants from internal advancement, so the competition is hard. But he still seems confident. As expected of my Onii-sama.

Thinking about how I could help Onii-sama, once again, I thought about making a midnight snack, but the maid stopped me saying that it might break his study rhythm, and that it was best to simply pray for him. Only to pray? Hmm… Should I perform Ohyakudo?

** walk back and forth from a shrine a hundred times and offer a prayer on each visit.

I went to cram school's Japanese and math class when I spotted Fukioka-san sitting alone, without Akizawa-kun next to her. Oh? What happened? Then Fukioka-san noticed me and bowed slightly, so I returned the bow and went to her.

"Gokigen yoh, Fukioka-san. Isn't Akizawa-kun with you today?"

"Gokigen yoh. Takumi is out with a cold today. He was running a fever and resting. He should have skipped school, too. Didn't you know?"

"He's in a different class so I didn't know that he missed school. But a cold? When did this happen?"

"It began the day before yesterday. Then it got worse. It doesn't seem to be influenza. Oh, please sit down." She offered me the seat next to her, so I did. So I can study next to her today?

"If must be rough on Akizawa-kun with winter vacation so close. My class had several out with a cold of influenza, also."

"Same with my class."

We went on to talk about each other's classes for a while when Fukioka-san went silent. Then… "…Um, I'm sorry."

"Huh?" About what? "Um, what for?"

"… I didn't want Takumi taken from me, so I was mean to you. You sat with Takumi at cram school before, but I took him away, and Kisshouin-san, you were sitting away from us alone. Takumi asked you to sit with us, but because I didn't want you…" Oh, that.

"I did not mind." This is true. I was a little lonely at first, but I could sneak out to the convenience store to buy snacks, so I got used to it quickly. Basically, I've rarely held a grudge even in my past life unless it involved food. To flip that around, my resentment stemming from food is dreadful. I wasn't angry at Fukioka-san to begin with. I did think she was a bit scary, though.

"Takumi explained that Kisshouin-san was just a friend at cram school, but when I thought of Takumi at a school I didn't know… I'm sorry, I felt so lonely when I was here without Takumi. You must have felt like this for so long." No, I really didn't feel lonely…

"You really should not worry. I am usually fine by myself."

"Kisshouin-san is so strong." She gazes at me with admiration. I'm embarrassed to have a traditional Japanese beauty look at me like that. "I was afraid that Takumi might fall in love with you someday. No, honestly, I'm still a little worried. Because Kisshouin-san is so cute."

Huh!? I'm cute!? Well, I don't think so, but, eheheh.

"I don't believe that Akizawa-kun would ever fall for me."

"…Really?"

"I do not. I've never thought of Akizawa-kun as more than a friend, either." He's a really nice person, though. So kind. But he never made my heart race. He's close to my ideals, though, so I wonder why that is? I guess that reality and my ideals are different.

"You really won't fall in love?"

"No."

Relieved, Fukioka-san smiled. She really worries too much. It's said that the more a wife is jealous, the less the husband is popular. I didn't say that Akizawa-kun was unpopular. He has a face like a cute squirrel. Yup. "Are there any girls at school that are friendly with Takumi?"

"I'm not sure. I've never been in his class. When I occasionally see him in the halls, he's always with other boys. I haven't heard rumors that anybody likes him, yet."

"I see…" Are you relieved? Good, good.

"Besides, in our grade, there are a pair of boys who are overwhelmingly popular. Most don't look at any others."

"Oh, I've heard that from Takumi. And I've heard rumors at school. They're supposed to be really cool."

"…I guess so…" So their rumors have spread even to other schools. Incredible. Fukioka-san goes to a Yurinomiya girl's school which is Catholic, so they're different from Zuiran, but they're famous as a school for ojou-sama, so they might be connected to other upper class girls' networks. They use 'gokigen yoh' like us, after all.

"Could it be that Kisshouin-san likes one of them, too?" asked Fukioka-san looking excited. I guess that a maiden in love is also interested in the love life of others.

"I have no special feelings. I don't have anyone that I like." She looked disappointed. Sorry for not meeting your expectations. But don't expect that everyone's in love like you.

"But you're attending a co-ed school…"

"Hmm…" We're co-ed, but those with few prospects will remain with few prospects. Like me from my past life. Oh, a tear…

"Fufu, Kisshouin-san's different from my first impression."

"Am I?"

"Yes. When I first saw you at the recital hall, you had an unapproachable presence. Like, this is how an ojou-sama from Zuiran should be, and I was worried that Takumi would definitely be taken from me.

"Unapproachable… Is it the hairstyle?"

"Not the hair, exactly, but your presence, I guess. There are those like you at Yurinomiya. But when we speak, you're completely different. I feel like I understand why Takumi could become your friend… Um, will you be my friend, too?"

Huh?! I can get another friend!? But, aren't you mostly thinking about using me as an information source? I retired as a spy. "Um… I'm not in Akizawa-kun's class, so I won't know what's going on around him."

"Oh, are you thinking that I'm going to use you? It's not like that. I just wanted to speak to you some more. I would be happy if you could tell me, though, Fufu."

"Really?"

"Yes."

Then, I could be a friend. I'd rather be friends than seen as an enemy, after all. "Then let us be friends."

"Really? I'm so glad!" Fukioka-san smiled clapped her hands together in front of her chest. As expected from a Japanese style beauty you want to protect. She's adorable. I need to follow her example.

After that, we talked about each other's school and about Akizawa-kun. He lived close by and their parents got along, and they were together since babies. Akizawa-kun always took her hand to go play and she realized her love in kindergarten. But Akizawa-kun never realized her feelings. "Takumi can be thickheaded." I thought so, too. But that thickheadedness is part of the clichéd childhood friend.

Not wanting to be separated from her beloved Akizawa-kun's at school, she wished to attend Zuiran, but her mother made her attend her school, Yurinomiya, so she cried in front of Akizawa-kun. And Yurinomiya is Catholic, but Fukioka-san's Buddhist, so it's like the reverse of a Christian in hiding. She was worried about being found out in a witch trial when she first attended.

She's completely different from Aoi-chan, but I made a new friend.