Dong Hazuki Meets the Heroine Part Two

[The club president hasn’t come yet, so I’m waiting here.]

Ichijou Rikuu looked a little helpless.

[Ah.

Does that mean we also have to just wait here?]

Tenzan Kaoru let out a small cry of surprise.

[I don’t think they’d really make us wait outside.]

Actually, I had experienced this situation before.

But that was when I chose the worst possible option.

That was to get up and leave.

[Is it because Ichijou-san doesn’t want to sit inside?]

[Yeah.

Dongye-san is right.

I actually just came out from inside.]

Ichijou Rikuu sighed.

[That’s strange.

Why wouldn’t you want to sit inside?]

Tenzan Kaoru muttered softly.

When she noticed Ichijou Rikuu looking at her, she immediately lowered her head and acted like a turtle.

[Is there someone inside that Ichijou-san feels uncomfortable around?]

Although it was phrased as a question, I already had the answer in my heart.

And Ichijou Rikuu, who also knew that I understood everything, didn’t look very surprised.

[Yeah.

I wouldn’t say uncomfortable.

It’s more like…

There’s a lot of pressure.]

He gave a bitter smile and lowered his voice.

As if he were afraid that the person inside the clubroom might hear him.

[It feels like the air itself is frozen.

I can’t even breathe properly if I stay inside.]

So he chose this option.

After all, there was no real player controlling him.

Which meant he could feel that oppressive presence from inside even more directly.

[Ichijou-san, you’ll have to face it in the future anyway.]

Tenzan Kaoru looked confused by my words.

But Ichijou Rikuu immediately understood.

[Dongye-san means—]

After realizing it, he let out another bitter smile.

[So it really isn’t an easy task.]

[Once you get used to her, she’s actually quite easy to get along with.]

[I hope it really is as Dongye-san says.]

Sentence by sentence, I finally managed to calm him down.

As the hope that could send me back.

As long as I could ignite his fighting spirit, I would do anything.

[Eh.

Eh.

Eh.

Hazuki, what are you two even talking about?

It feels like you’re shutting me out.]

Tenzan Kaoru looked hurt.

Realizing that she couldn’t participate in her friends’ conversation would always make her feel very disappointed.

That was probably what she was thinking right now.

Only such boring thoughts would ever appear in her head.

I hadn’t planned to pay attention to it.

But it didn’t match the persona I was putting on at all.

After all, Dong Hazuki was supposed to be a considerate girl.

[It’s about a classmate of Ichijou-san’s.

There’s someone he doesn’t get along with very well, and he’s worried about it.

I was just giving him some advice to help.]

[Is that so.]

The slightly dejected Tenzan Kaoru immediately perked up.

She was the type who would forget her sadness as soon as she got an explanation.

And she would never think about whether that explanation had any flaws.

It was precisely because of this airheaded nature that she was so easy for the fake me to fool.

[Hazuki, you’re really kind-hearted.]

She smiled as she said that to me.

And it was praise that I could never truly possess.

As expected.

She really was too stupid.

[It looks like the president won’t be coming for a while.

Let’s go inside first.]

As she said that, I gestured to Ichijou Rikuu.

And pushed the door open.

The activity room of the Classical Literature Club was fairly spacious.

Several bookshelves were scattered around.

A long rectangular table stood in the middle of the room, with several books placed on it.

The windows were open.

The gentle spring breeze of March blew in.

The sky-blue curtains swayed silently in the wind.

There was only one person inside.

A girl with long, loose hair like mine.

And the same kind of beauty that made it hard to look away.

Her eyes shone with an inexplicable light as they fell upon the book in her hands.

Just like this room, she was quiet.

Leisurely.

However—

She was emitting an aura that made people afraid to approach.

Nishimura Noriyuki.

She was also one of the heroines in the game.

Born into nobility.

She treated people with etiquette like that of ancient aristocrats.

To the point of rigidity.

Which placed indescribable pressure on anyone who spoke with her.

That was the reason Ichijou Rikuu chose to stand outside.

[Good day.]

Noticing our arrival, she slightly raised her head.

Her expression was indifferent.

The next moment, her lips curved into a proper smile.

But there was a hint of distance within it.

[The president will still need some time to arrive.

Please, have a seat.]

[Ugh.

She feels really scary.]

Tenzan Kaoru’s whisper drifted into my ear.

It was her most honest thought.

And also the thought shared by most people who knew Nishimura Noriyuki.

Hard to approach.

Like facing an unreachable mountain peak.

The cold wind at the summit cut across one’s cheeks like blades.

And there was that pressure, as if the air itself had solidified.

Very few people would approach her of their own accord.

So—

No one knew of her longing for friends.

[Would you like some tea?]

After we sat down, she stood up and took a tea set from a nearby shelf.

She placed it on the long table and looked at us as she asked.

Frightened by her presence, Tenzan Kaoru clamped her mouth shut.

Ichijou Rikuu was slightly better off.

But even he only moved his lips, wanting to say something.

[Thank you for the trouble.]

I spoke first.

That at least eased the strange atmosphere a little.

[I only have ordinary black tea.

Is that acceptable?]

[Yes.

Thank you.]

I took a small breath.

As if easing that inexplicable pressure.

Then I put on a smile that most people would find pleasant and replied.

After receiving our answer, the proper smile on Nishimura Noriyuki’s face faded slightly.

It was replaced by a serious expression.

As if she were facing something that required solemn attention.

Her movements were filled with skill and elegance worthy of praise.

As if she had practiced countless times.

Only when the red tea flowed from the teapot into the cups did the feeling of attending an important tea ceremony slowly fade away.

[It’s delicious.]

Perhaps because we were there, Ichijou Rikuu gradually relaxed.

He lifted his cup, took a careful sip, and offered his praise.

His voice echoed in the previously quiet clubroom.

At the same time, a very comfortable aura drifted from Nishimura Noriyuki.

That was the sign of affection increasing.

[My name is Nishimura Noriyuki.]

Her appearance showed no change as she introduced herself.

[I’m in Class 9 of the first year.

I joined the Classical Literature Club recently.]

Her gaze barely wavered as she looked at us.

Waiting for our responses.

[My name is Dong Hazuki.

I’m planning to join the Classical Literature Club.]

[I—I’m Tenzan Kaoru.

I’m also here to join the Classical Literature Club.]

[I’m Ichijou Rikuu.

I came for the same reason.]

After receiving our replies, Nishimura Noriyuki nodded slightly.

Then she slowly drank her tea.

Lowered her head.

And resumed reading.

She didn’t speak again.

And just like that, the atmosphere returned to that strange silence.

She was probably afraid that her presence would make others nervous.

Having played the game, I understood her fairly well.

At times like this, the best response was only—

To look at the tea.

Pick it up.

And sip it slowly.

Ichijou Rikuu was right.

The tea Nishimura Noriyuki brewed was really delicious.

It carried an indescribable comfort.

But—

It didn’t matter much to me.

After all, my heart had already rotted away.

[Um.

May I have another cup?]

Ichijou Rikuu’s voice sounded again.

This time, he was asking for a refill.

Nishimura Noriyuki, who had been immersed in her book, moved slightly.

Like a fledgling bird awakened by the morning light.

[Please, go ahead.]

That comfortable aura had yet to dissipate.

For a moment, it was hard to tell.

But her affection level had probably increased again.

Ichijou-san really understood her well.

I should be able to go home smoothly now, right?

[Then, I’ll have another cup too.]

With a gentle smile, I also stood up and poured myself another cup.

This made Nishimura Noriyuki lift her head once more.

Although her gaze still showed little change.

One could see the joy of having her skill acknowledged.

[I—I want one too!]

Tenzan Kaoru was unwilling to be left behind.

[Nishimura-san’s tea is really delicious!]

[Um, Tenzan-san, could you leave some for me too?]

Ichijou Rikuu said helplessly.

[Hmph.

Hazuki poured some just now too.

Why didn’t you say anything to her?]

[Hmm.

It seems Kaoru really wants to see me get scolded.]

[Eh.

Sorry, Hazuki—

In the end, it’s still Ichijou-san who’s being unfair.

Unfair!]

After getting a little more familiar, Tenzan Kaoru no longer showed restraint around strangers.

[But we really should leave some.

After all, Nishimura-san needs some too.]

[It’s fine.

I can just brew another pot.]

[Won’t that trouble you too much, Nishimura-san?]

[It’s fine.]

The plain reply drifted from Nishimura Noriyuki’s lips.

And just like that, it extinguished the liveliness that had finally begun to rise.

Well.

Things needed to be taken slowly.

There was no way she would open her heart on the first meeting.

So—

You still need to work hard, Ichijou-san.

I glanced at Ichijou Rikuu, who was sipping his tea.

Then I raised my own cup.

And drank slowly.

After a short while, the door to the clubroom opened.

A girl wearing black-framed glasses with braided hair walked in.

The moment she entered, she started shouting loudly.

[Kii-chan, I’m dying of thirst.

Hurry.

Hurry.

Hurry and brew me a pot of tea.]

[Yes, President.]

[I’m exhausted.

Those people just kept pushing things onto me—]

Her words abruptly stopped.

Only after she sat down and caught her breath did she notice our presence.

[Y—you are—]