Chapter 5

(U~myu… It’s been a few days since that emergency strategy meeting, but I haven’t seen Taishou acting weird at all~)

(Apparently Hasumi-senpai and Kanzaki-senpai are keeping an eye on him too, but nothing’s stood out to them… And he’s the same as always at club too.)

(Maybe what I heard back then really was just a misunderstanding? I definitely want that to be the case.)

(I should probably just ask Taishou about it—Just march up to him all like “What were you talking to yourself about the other day?” or something.)

(Then he’d probably just laugh and tell me I got it all wrong…)

(—Wait, what? Is that Taishou over there?)

……

What’s he doing out here? That’s the back of the school building, isn’t it?)

(And what’s that long stick-looking-thing he’s holding? And… and it kinda looks like he’s trying to stay out of sight.)

(…Well that’s definitely weird~! I’ve gotta go after him!)

(I’m sure he’s around here somewhere… Ah! Got ‘im!)

Uhhh… Kanzaki was swingin’ it like this…

Hah!

(Wait, that stick thing was a sword?! Is he in so much trouble he has to use a weapon?!)

Ahh~!

Gwoh?! You scared the shit outta me!

(C–crap! He looked every bit ready to let someone have it, I just yelled without realizing it!)

Tetsu? Whatcha doin’ out here?

Umm~? Ummmmm~…? I–I guess you could say I’m a little lost on this road we call life…?

…What? You doin’ okay there Tetsu? You got a fever or somethin’?

I’m right as rain! But Taishou, what are you doing here?!

M–me? I’m, well, yanno… just… workin’ out…

Working out…? Why’re you doing something like that so out of the blue, Taishou? And why do you have a sword?!

That’s, it’s ‘cause um… It’s an regimen passed down through the Kanzaki clan for generations.

(I’ve never heard of a workout like that before! And now he’s trying to hide the sword?!)

Well, don’t go worryin’ about me, ‘kay? I was just wantin’ to get in some exercise, that’s all.

Exercise, huh… You can exercise all you want during our club meeting later, can’t you?

Hn? Uh~ …Nah, that’s the time to get down to business. This is just a warm-up for that.

(Taishou keeps dodging the question! No matter how you look at it, this is way too suspicious!)

Taishou! Umm…!

Nn? Wassup.

(I just wanna ask him straight-up so bad. But I promised Hasumi-senpai and Kanzaki-senpai I wouldn’t…)

(If I ask him about it here, he’ll definitely know we’re onto him…)

Tetsu…? You sure you’re okay? Got somethin’ on your mind?

(Taishou… Aren’t you the one with something on your mind? Why won’t you just tell us?)

(Urgh~! I’m not just gonna let you hurt anybody!)

…Taishou! Please let me stay with you from here on out! I’ll do whatever it takes to stop youuuu~!

Gwah?! Why’re ya clingin’ to me all of a sudden, Tetsu? It’s like you’re tryin’ to scare me or somethin’.

You need somewhere to stay? Is that what you’re so worried about?

You wanna stay with me… ‘cause you’re all alone with your parents outta the house today? So you’re askin’ to sleep over or somethin’, right?

Haha, and here I thought you were all grown up, but you’re still talkin’ like a li’l kid.

So what is it? Some scary movie you saw on TV? When my sister watches stuff like that she gets real clingy too.

Urgh… No, you’re completely off-base—But whatever, that works for me… Anyway, please just let me stick by you!

I’d be happy to have you come over, but I can’t today. Sorry ‘bout that, Tetsu. I got some things to do tomorrow, so it’ll have to wait ‘til next time.

(! If Taishou’s saying that then… Then m–maybe it’s all coming to a head tomorrow…?)