Dong Hazuki’s Final Decision

[Classical Literature Club, Light Music Club, Paranormal Research Society, Alien Research Group, Far Eastern Magic Research Society—]

Tenzan Kaoru pointed at the list one by one.

They were flyers she had received from those people.

She seemed very excited and accepted everything without discrimination, bringing back many promotional leaflets that looked unreliable at first glance.

[Ugh, there are so many clubs, it’s really hard to choose.

I didn’t expect high school to have this many clubs.]

She scratched her head in distress.

After all, for someone with decision paralysis, this really was far too difficult.

Yes, I know she has this problem.

As for why I still made her choose even though I knew—

How should I put it.

For me, it actually doesn’t matter which one she chooses.

But making someone with decision paralysis choose is also a kind of contrast, and that should give me a tiny bit of barely perceptible pleasure.

Even though, right now, I don’t feel that much anyway.

[I’ll help you take a look too.]

[Okay.

If Xiao Yue has any ideas, make sure to tell me.]

She was hoping I could help her make a decision, and in a way, that was exactly what I wanted to see.

Among the flyers Tenzan Kaoru put down, there were some that deserved attention.

To be precise, four clubs.

The Classical Literature Club, the Growth Club, the Paranormal Research Society, and the Kendo Club.

Because these were the clubs where the five heroines to be攻略ed were located.

At the start of the game, the club chosen first would determine which character would be攻略ed next.

Of course, one could also choose the Go-Home Club, but that would only lead to a single route, with the ending being winning the hearts of two heroines, which was clearly against my plans.

So—

What would Ichijou-kun choose?

[Hey, Xiao Yue, are you thinking about him again?]

Staring off for too long attracted her attention, and this time, she even guessed correctly.

I didn’t feel uncomfortable about my thoughts being seen through.

Rather, the fact that she thought that way was actually quite nice.

[Mm, I was thinking about which club Ichijou-kun would choose.]

[Eh, eh, eh.

Xiao Yue, are you really interested in him?]

[What are you saying.

I’m just a little curious about Ichijou-kun, so I want to get to know him a bit.]

I shook my head with slight embarrassment.

[You know that, Kaoru.

I’m the type who likes making friends.

Wanting to meet more people is kind of my principle.]

[Sometimes I really envy you.]

Tenzan Kaoru blinked, her eyes filled with unmistakable envy.

[Xiao Yue, you’re always so enthusiastic, able to chat with anyone.]

[Unlike me—]

Tenzan Kaoru would sometimes feel inferior because she didn’t fit in well.

That was something I had observed during this time.

[But doesn’t Kaoru have me as a close friend.

And sometimes, chatting freely with others isn’t necessarily a good thing.

Because you never know what they’re thinking inside.

They might even have dangerous thoughts.]

Just like me, comforting you with false sincerity.

Well, at least I put in enough effort on the surface, and also seriously thought of words to comfort her.

[Before becoming friends, everything—]

[Is like an illusion, without any sense of reality.]

[Hmm, somehow what you say sounds very profound.

But I’m not that envious either.

Being able to have you as my friend already makes me very lucky.]

In truth, it was the most unfortunate thing.

Meeting me, and becoming friends with me, no matter how you think about it, is not lucky.

One-sided concern can only turn into firewood that fuels a spark when it reaches me, until its value is exhausted and it turns into ashes.

Liking to toy with other people’s feelings, I really am a despicable person beyond redemption.

Even so, I am hopelessly intoxicated by it, relying on this sense of immorality to give my decayed heart a rare stimulation.

So—

She was really moved by my words, this idiot.

An inexplicable feeling surged within me, then bore fruit that excited me beyond measure.

There was no guilt at all.

Instead, I felt abnormally happy.

A twisted person like me really is rotten beyond saving.

And I accept myself as I am.

I won’t, don’t want to, and don’t have the ability to change.

[Let me think.

How about we go ask Ichijou-kun which club he plans to join?]

[Wouldn’t that be too disturbing.

After all, we’ve only known him for a short time.

Kaoru, maybe we should forget it.

I don’t actually want to know that badly.]

[You’re lying.

Your expression has already given you away.]

[Eh, eh, eh.

Is it really that obvious?]

[Alright, you’re right.

We’re not familiar enough yet.

If we suddenly run over to him, we might end up annoying him.]

Tenzan Kaoru looked completely like she was thinking for my sake.

[According to the romance manga I’ve read, feelings like this need to develop slowly.]

Once she was misled in this direction, she immediately started giving me advice.

Even though, from beginning to end, I never stated that I really liked Ichijou Riku, because I knew she would overinterpret it.

This kind of atmosphere where girls chat about gossip together also had a certain usefulness.

However, I didn’t need her help.

After all, I had no intention of developing a special relationship with Ichijou Riku.

That was enough.

To outsiders, it would look like there was a bit of interest, but not enough to take direct action.

[In that case, there’s no need to ask Ichijou-kun.]

I pulled out a few flyers from the pile.

They were the four clubs I had been paying attention to.

In the end, which club I chose to join had no real effect on the game’s progression.

Even if I knew which club Ichijou Riku would join, it wouldn’t help me much.

At most, I would just slightly adjust my original plan.

Unless—

He chose the Go-Home Club.

Ichijou-kun, don’t surprise me when the time comes.

I narrowed my eyes slightly, and the smile on my face, under my control, became much gentler and brighter.

[These are the clubs I’m interested in.]

[Xiao Yue, you’ve decided on these clubs?

Hmm, let me see.

Classical Literature Club, Growth Club, Paranormal Research Society, Kendo Club—]

Tenzan Kaoru frowned in confusion.

[The Classical Literature Club and the Kendo Club are fine, but why choose the Growth Club and the Paranormal Research Society?]

She raised her hand and compared it to my height.

[Xiao Yue, you’re not short at all.

And you don’t look like someone who likes mysterious phenomena either.

Wearing a black cloak, chanting strange spells at a crystal ball, shouting about seeing the future.

That kind of character really doesn’t suit you.]

Well, that would indeed feel strange.

[Hmm, it seems I pulled out two extra flyers.

What I actually want to choose are the Kendo Club and the Classical Literature Club.]

[I knew it—]

Just like I said before, this girl really is extremely easy to fool.

Though sometimes, when she suddenly gets smart, it can cause a little trouble.

[With only two left, it’s easy to choose.]

She used the simplest method, flipping a coin.

Tenzan Kaoru tossed the coin in her palm upward, and it landed steadily on the table.

Heads.

Then—

I picked up one of the flyers.

It was an introduction to classical literature.

Let’s choose the Classical Literature Club.

[Then let’s fill out the application tomorrow!]

Having finally made a decision, this decision-paralysis patient was extremely excited.

[Ah, it’s already so late.]

As she said that, the sky outside had already darkened.

The once-noisy campus had fallen silent, and the dim orange sunset slanted into the classroom, bringing the only light here.

[If we don’t go back soon, our parents will worry.]

Tenzan Kaoru stuck out her tongue.

[And I heard that strange things happen at our school at night.

There’s even talk of ten major ghost stories.

I really don’t want to run into that.]

[Hmm—]

I put on a thoughtful expression, drawing Tenzan Kaoru’s curious gaze.

[What’s wrong, Xiao Yue?]

[Has Kaoru ever thought that the monsters from the ghost stories are already here.

For example, right behind you.]

[You’re lying, right.

W-Where would that be!]

Tenzan Kaoru immediately turned around in panic.

And then—

She heard a cold, eerie voice.

[I’m right here.]

That was a voice I deliberately made.

[Eh, eh.

Xiao Yue!

You’re teasing me again.

That’s really too mean.]

[Pff, hahahahaha.]

[Seriously!]

It looked like cheerful laughter and playful banter.

But there wasn’t even the slightest emotional stir.

On the surface, I laughed loudly.

Inside, there was only bored indifference.

Everything was just acting.

[Then we’ll part ways here, Xiao Yue.

See you tomorrow!]

Tenzan Kaoru hopped along, waving her hand vigorously.

She was full of the youthful energy a girl her age should have.

And naturally, I would do the same.

[Mm, see you tomorrow!]

It looked so beautiful.

Two good friends, filled with expectations for tomorrow.

Although—

One of them was fake.

Tenzan Kaoru’s home and mine were actually in opposite directions, so we had only just left the school gate.

The sunset had already been covered with a layer of night’s darkness, and it was rapidly fading away.

Before long, it would be the night that put my heart at ease.

[Xiao Yue, you’re back pretty late today.]

[Yeah, something delayed me.]

[Good evening, Sister Yue!]

[Good evening, Rinako.]

Beside my pitch-dark home, there was a brightly lit house.

The neighbors greeted me warmly.

We had only known each other for a short time, but under my “enthusiasm,” our relationship quickly became rather close.

They were also people deceived by my disguise.

Thinking this way made my heart lift slightly, and I greeted them warmly.

[I’ll be heading back now, Aunt Keiko.]

[Oh my, why don’t you come eat at my place before you go back?]

[No, thank you, Aunt Keiko.]

After closing the door, I collapsed in the entryway as if I had unloaded all my burdens.

So tired.

This whole day, acting was really exhausting.

At the same time—

I touched my stomach.

I was very hungry.

But I didn’t want to eat.

And I didn’t want to move anymore.

So sleepy.

I’ll just fall asleep like this.

As for bathing, I’ll think about it after I wake up.

Completely unconcerned with my surroundings, I closed my eyes and drifted into sleep.

At most—

Because I fell asleep right in the entryway, a cold wind slipped in through the gap under the door, brushing over me.

I curled up my body.

And murmured in my dream.

So cold.