Touha Tsuki Doesn’t Remember People

[What are you even saying, you pervert.

All of you perverts are seriously too much.]

Nanjo Rin looked extremely troubled by them, eyes wide as she yelled at Yamashiro Okita.

[You guys are even more annoying than Touha.]

Dragging me into the comparison at a time like this…

Looks like I’ve firmly secured a spot on her personal hate list.

Well—

It doesn’t really move me at all.

[I’m sorry, I’m sorry, Rin.

We just wanted to protect you.]

Yamashiro Okita dropped to his knees without hesitation, loudly begging for forgiveness.

[Who needs protection from spineless people like you.

Let me tell you, you and those other perverts, a single toad or a whole group of toads are all the same.

Just seeing you is disgusting, you know.

Who said you could follow me around.

I don’t want to see you right now, so get out of my sight.]

[Y-Yes.]

He stood up and left just like that, disappearing around the corner.

Though honestly, I could still feel him watching from somewhere nearby.

But Nanjo Rin turned her attention to Ichijou Rikou.

[And you, Ichijou.

You touched my head, and I remember that.

I’ll definitely make you pay for it someday.]

Her hair looked like it was about to bristle again, filled with anger.

That said, it was clearly less intense than when she had been yelling at Yamashiro Okita.

[Um, then please allow me to apologize for my rude behavior just now, Nanjo-san.

Would you be willing to forgive me.]

[H-Hmph, that’s more like it.]

Mm, that’s a really nice smell.

Is this… an affection increase.

Such a short interaction, and her favorability already went up.

Even though he didn’t really act that rough.

If anything, what looked like rudeness was still wrapped in his usual gentleness.

I blinked in slight surprise.

Still, at the beginning, a bit of softness is probably necessary.

Compared to overly manly dominance, Nanjo Rin likely prefers this approach for now.

As expected—

You’re impressive, Ichijou-kun.

[So then, Nanjo-san, what did you call us over for.]

[Just wanted to say hello.]

Facing Ichijou Rikou’s question, Nanjo Rin lifted her chin high, crossed her arms, and said arrogantly.

[I noticed you guys before.

I just didn’t feel like dealing with you.

Today I was in the mood, so I came over to take a look.]

As if she were bestowing a favor, she spoke that way.

[Since we’ve already said hello, we’ll be going now.]

As she said that, she had already grabbed Amayama Kaoru and called out to Ichijou Rikou.

[We should go, Ichijou-kun.]

[Alright.]

[Eh—]

Nanjo Rin looked flustered.

[Y-You’re not going to ask why I suddenly felt like it.]

[Um, if Nanjo-san wants to say it, then please go ahead.]

[Hmph, there’s no way I’d tell you.

Especially not you, Touha.]

[I see—]

My steps didn’t stop.

If anything, I sped up a little.

After all, it was already getting late, and at this rate my work shift would start soon.

[Seriously, what are you being so vague about.]

[And where are you even going.]

[We’re here.]

I stopped in front of an activity room.

[W-Why are you guys at the student council.]

Nanjo Rin followed after us, continuing her questions.

And I—

Knocked on the door.

[Come in.]

When we opened it, we saw a group of people working around a long table, who turned toward us at our entrance.

[You are—]

A girl asked politely, but her words were interrupted by another voice filled with surprise.

[Touha-senpai, Nanjo-senpai, what brings you—]

A somewhat familiar face.

We had probably met a few times during the opening ceremony.

As a member of the student council, he had duties welcoming new students, and that’s likely when we met and exchanged names.

But—

I’d completely forgotten him.

Even so, I put on a look of happy recognition.

And then—

[Who are you.

Do I know you.]

That was Nanjo Rin’s voice.

Blunt words that, strangely enough, made me feel relieved.

[Eh—]

The boy let out a long, disappointed sound.

[I’m Matsuma Chisato, Nanjo-senpai.

Have you forgotten.]

[I remember you, Matsuma-senpai.]

I only just learned his name, actually.

[Touha-senpai is still as gentle as when we first met.]

That made me feel a bit amused.

Looks like another fool.

[So, what did you come here for.]

[We came to apply for space on the school bulletin board.

Just a small section is fine.]

[Ah, I’ll take care of it.]

Matsuma Chisato set aside his work and came straight over to me.

He seemed to hold a decent position in the student council, as no one around him objected, simply turning back to their own tasks.

[Which club is it.]

[The Classical Literature Club.]

[Classical literature—

That really suits you, Touha-senpai.

You have such a scholarly air.]

More like a decayed air.

[Matsuma-senpai, you’re exaggerating.]

[Not at all.

Um, what exactly is it for.]

[We’re collecting submissions from around the school.

We’re planning to publish a magazine.]

[Ah, you mean the magazine Hisateru-san applied for.

I’ve been involved with that project too.

I even put in a lot of effort convincing the president to approve it.

That time really took a lot out of me.]

He wiped sweat from his forehead in front of me, sounding genuinely reflective.

Whether it was really as he said, though, I couldn’t tell.

[Then thank you very much, Matsuma-senpai.]

I looked at him gratefully, and his face showed clear delight.

[No, no.

Alright, let’s use this spot.]

He pointed to the most eye-catching section of the bulletin board.

[Since it’s a call for submissions, it’ll be long-term anyway.]

[Um, Matsuma-senpai—]

As Matsuma Chisato was planning things out, another boy spoke hesitantly beside him.

[That space has already been applied for by the Occult Research Club.]

[Has it.

When.]

[Just recently.

They’re organizing a haunted building exploration and want to gather interested students, so they asked to post a notice.]

[Hah.

Why didn’t you tell me earlier.]

The boy looked confused by Matsuma Chisato’s outburst.

[Exploring a haunted building and recruiting students—

What if something happens.

How could we possibly approve that.

I told you, when the president is away, I’m fully in charge.

Why did you decide something like this without asking.]

[B-But, I did ask you just now.]

[Does something like this even need asking.

When posting notices like that, you should think about whether it’s reasonable.

The student council is responsible for the entire school.

What if there really is a ghost in that so-called haunted building.

Even if there isn’t, what if a dangerous criminal is hiding there.

What would we do then.]

[Y-Yes, Matsuma-senpai.]

[Tell the Occult Research Club president that this notice cannot be posted.

And tell him that all dangerous activities are forbidden.

If we find otherwise, then there’s no need for that club to exist.]

[Y-Yes—]

[Touha-senpai.]

He turned back to me with a gentle smile.

[It’s all set.

You can post it tomorrow.]

[Thank you very much, Matsuma-senpai.]

[Haha, it’s nothing.

Didn’t I say before.

If you ever need help, just come find me.]

Did he say something like that before.

Sorry, I don’t remember at all.

[Alright, Matsuma-senpai.]

And with that, we left.

[Tch, was it really necessary to be so polite to that guy.

All you had to do was tell him, and he’d handle it perfectly.

That kind of man is totally spineless.

Did you see how his eyes lit up.]

Nanjo Rin kept grumbling beside us, full of disdain for Matsuma Chisato.

[Say, Touha, you weren’t being nice to him just to flirt, were you.

He’s totally fallen for it.

If you rope him in, then you won’t have to worry about the student council bothering you, right.

That was your plan, wasn’t it.]

[That’s so mean.

Tsuki isn’t like that.]

Amayama Kaoru finally couldn’t hold back.

[Ha.

How could Touha not be like that.

How could anyone be friendly to everyone.

There has to be some motive.]

[That’s so mean, so mean.

She looks so cute.]

[I told you not to call me cute.]

Without realizing it, the two of them started arguing.

For us, it was about the same as enjoying music with some slightly unpleasant noise mixed in.

[Kaoru, let’s part ways here.

Nanjo-san should head home too, right.]

[Yeah.

See you, Tsuki.]

[Hmph, plotting something again, right.

Whatever.

I don’t want to stay around you guys anyway.]

It was troublesome, but finally, they left.

Now it was just the two of us.

[Ha, Nanjo-san is really hard to deal with.]

Ichijou Rikou let out a sigh.

[No matter how hard she is to deal with, you still have to face her, Ichijou-kun.]

[Nanjo-san is also a target to be攻略’d, right.]

[Very sharp, Ichijou-kun.]

[The only reason Touha-san would pay special attention is because of something like that.]

[Mm-hm.]

[Still, Nanjo-san like that…

It’s really hard to make a move.]

[Because she’s too loli, so you feel guilty.]

[That’s about right—]

I had actually considered the possibility that Ichijou Rikou might dislike攻略ing a heroine like that.

But honestly, I don’t have a solution for it either.

[I’m sorry, Ichijou-kun.]

[But since I already promised Touha-san, I’ll do my best.

It’s not time to back down yet.]

Such a cliché line, Ichijou-kun.

But at this moment, it made me form a faint smile.

[You really have that big-man vibe, Ichijou-kun.]

[I’m just taking responsibility for what I promised.]

He shook his head.

[By the way, I didn’t expect Touha-san to know someone from the student council.]

[I talked to him during the opening ceremony.

Honestly, I had no memory of him at all.]

[No memory at all.]

[There was no need to remember him, right.

It’s not like we interact often.]

He fell silent at my words.

Thinking.

As expected, thinking about things I can’t grasp.

[But you know, the boy I remember the most right now is you, Ichijou-kun.]

I said it softly.

Words that naturally invite imagination, carrying emotions that make one want to fantasize.

At least, they snapped Ichijou Rikou out of his thoughts.

[That’s really—]

He gave a wry smile, then straightened his expression.

[Thank you for remembering me, Touha-san.]

How should I put it.

A bit disappointing.

I didn’t get the expression I wanted to see, especially from someone meant to be the protagonist.

[But hearing Touha-san say that does make me a bit embarrassed.]

He scratched his head, looking very much like a country boy fresh out of the mountains.

No, more accurately—

That’s exactly what he is.

[Hehe—]

I laughed softly and pressed my earphone, listening to the music again.