The Waxing Crescent Is Hit

[There is another way to solve this problem.

We can take the center of this ellipse as the origin of the coordinate axis and calculate it using a functional approach—]

[Ding-ling-ling—]

[Hah—]

After class, Tenzan Kaoru collapsed onto her desk and let out a tired breath.

This was a common state for her after lessons, especially after math class.

Led by the math teacher into the ocean of mathematics, she would drown without a sound due to her poor swimming skills, sinking to the seabed and disappearing without a trace.

Although this time, for certain reasons, I almost got submerged as well.

As for the specific reason, it was probably because I tossed and turned last night and couldn’t fall asleep.

In the end, I happened to see a message from Ichijō Riku.

Knowing it was already late, I only sent him a short message of thanks, and only then did I finally fall asleep, as if reassured.

When your heart is beating so violently, it’s really hard to calm it down without doing something.

Even though it’s supposed to be a dead heart, it can still burst out with such intense emotions.

That’s really amazing, Ichijō.

Of course, it’s probably because of this body.

Unexpectedly, it really likes him.

If nothing unexpected had happened, the original Higashi Hazuki might very well have been easily won over by Ichijō Riku.

But that has nothing to do with me anymore.

After all, returning to that place that was ready to rot was my own decision.

It’s also something I won’t be able to witness.

What happens to them, everything and anything, has nothing to do with me anymore, doesn’t it.

She probably wouldn’t mind coexisting with several heroines.

Thinking this, I couldn’t help but want to laugh.

How could there possibly be a girl who wouldn’t mind that.

Only the few heroines who can walk the harem route could endure it, I guess.

Even then, that’s just barely holding things together.

Who knows, in the after-story they might still fall out over all kinds of reasons.

Seen this way, becoming a harem king isn’t necessarily a good thing either.

I can’t help but feel a little sorry for Ichijō Riku.

Even so, it doesn’t change my decision.

I still need to hurry back.

[Hazuki, what are you thinking about?]

It was only when Tenzan Kaoru spoke to me that I realized I had been spacing out without noticing.

For Higashi Hazuki, this was an extremely rare occurrence.

[Ah, I was thinking about the future.]

[The future?]

[Yeah, I was thinking about what I’ll be like in the future.]

[That, huh—]

Tenzan Kaoru propped her cheek with her hand, looking thoughtful.

But after a short while, she drooped her head.

[Hmm, the future is really hard to imagine.

I’d rather think about this year’s magical girls.

I wonder what kind of designs they’ll have.]

She had basically given up, that posture of hers.

But using present things to cover up anxiety about the future—

Even though it’s a form of escapism, it still guarantees happiness in the moment.

“Let the future worry about itself” does have a certain degree of correctness.

It all depends on how you interpret it.

But—

It has nothing to do with someone like me, who no longer has a future.

[So, Kaoru, you’re really looking forward to it?]

[Yeah, yeah.

I really love magical girls.]

Perhaps thinking that statement was a bit embarrassing, she lowered her voice.

[You’ve said that so many times already.]

[You have to say it lots of times to prove you really like something.]

[Hmm—but you also read romance manga, don’t you?]

[That’s not a contradiction.

I like both romance manga and magical girls.]

Sometimes, I really do envy her.

The way she embraces life with passion and has things she genuinely loves.

She looks like she still has a heart full of energy.

But even while feeling envious, I don’t want to become that kind of person.

[Ding-ling-ling—]

It feels like I’ve suddenly had a lot of thoughts.

After that thought passed, I immersed myself in the teacher’s lecture.

As time went by, the sun grew stronger, and the air outside filled with heat.

I can feel it now.

Compared to the comfort of the classroom, the outside feels much harder to endure.

Especially since we still have to do a sprint test.

[This time, I definitely won’t lose to you, Hazuki!]

The two people beside me showed no resentment at all toward the upcoming test.

Instead, they were full of anticipation, constantly warming up and eager to compete.

Honestly, it was a bit blinding to watch.

There was no way to blend into this kind of youthful atmosphere.

Of course, for the role I’m playing right now, it’s only slightly difficult.

[Megumi, you’re still racing?]

I put on a gentle smile.

Uetsuki Tsukihi and Shimizu Meya had already competed many times in the occasional 100-meter tests.

Most of the time, Uetsuki Tsukihi won.

On the rare occasions Shimizu Meya won, it was always because Tsukihi wasn’t in good condition.

Just as Teacher Aoiwa said, she had already reached her own limit.

No matter what, she couldn’t break through the thirteen-second barrier.

The gap in talent is something effort can’t make up for.

That’s an unchanging rule since ancient times.

Compared to Tsukihi, Shimizu Meya’s only remaining advantage was her stable condition.

If nothing changed—

I narrowed my eyes and looked at the energetic Tsukihi.

The result was already obvious.

[Of course.

We promised we’d improve together over the three years of high school.]

[Megumi, you’d better be careful.

I’m full of energy today.

I had Riku-nii’s super hearty fried rice this morning!]

Getting up early to make fried rice for Hazuki—

That really—

Your relationship is still as stable as ever.

Well done, Ichijō.

[That’s nice.

Hazuki gets to eat food made by Ichijō.

Just hearing about it makes me jealous.]

[Eh, Hazuki, do you want to try Riku-nii’s cooking too?]

[Hazuki’s Riku-nii cooks really well.

I’ve tried it too.]

Shimizu Meya chimed in.

[Hazuki even shared some with us.]

[Then why don’t you come eat lunch with us today, Hazuki?

I’ll introduce you to some other friends.]

[Really?]

[No problem.

They all want to get to know you too.]

Breaking into Tsukihi’s circle sounded like a tempting invitation.

Unfortunately—

[Sorry, Tsukihi.

I can’t really get away either.]

I hinted that I had a circle I couldn’t leave.

After all—

Leaving Ichijō Riku to eat alone would be a very pitiful sight.

[Alright.]

Tsukihi looked a little disappointed, but she didn’t force it.

[Beep, get ready!]

As the whistle blew, the two of them dropped their friendly air.

When they locked eyes, there was a sense of facing a sworn rival.

Of course, before that—

I was called first.

[Higashi Hazuki!]

[Here!]

[Sixteen seconds.]

I got my result swiftly and decisively, firmly securing my place at the bottom.

[Alright, Uetsuki Tsukihi, Shimizu Meya!]

[Here!]

[You two will compete directly on this lane.]

Aoiwa Jibun seemed to already know about their rivalry and simply let them race head-to-head.

[Yes, sir.]

They exchanged a glance and took their starting positions.

[Beep!]

A match with too great a gap brings no enjoyment at all.

I didn’t feel like watching, so I lifted my head and looked at the blue sky.

The sunlight was so dazzling that I had to squint.

[Ah!]

What happened?

When I looked over, Tsukihi was already sitting on the track, clutching her forearm.

[Tsukihi!]

I rushed over with a worried expression, doing what this role required, and crouched beside her.

Shimizu Meya, who had been running with her head down, also reacted.

She ran back together with Aoiwa Jibun.

The onlookers slowly gathered as well.

[What happened?]

Shimizu Meya had no idea what was going on and asked on my behalf.

[A baseball just flew over and hit Uetsuki.]

Aoiwa Jibun quickly explained while tugging lightly at Tsukihi.

[How is it?]

[I-it hurts, teacher.]

She let out a soft cry of pain and, under everyone’s gaze, loosened her grip.

Her forearm was already turning bluish-purple.

[We can only send her to the infirmary for now.]

[Actually, we don’t need to go to the infirmary, teacher.]

I took out a tube of medicine from my skirt pocket.

[If it’s just a bruise, this will work.]

I applied some to Tsukihi’s forearm.

The cool ointment seemed to ease the pain a little.

[Why are you carrying medicine with you, Hazuki?]

She looked at me, puzzled.

[Because I’m afraid of getting injured, so I always keep a tube of ointment on me.]

[I see.

Yeah, it feels much better now.

Thank you, Hazuki.]

[Yes, thanks to you, Hazuki.]

Shimizu Meya nodded as she thanked me as well.

[Hehe, I’m glad I could help.

I didn’t really do much.]

[Even so, let’s still go to the infirmary to have it checked.]

Teacher Aoiwa let out a sigh of relief but still insisted.

[Um—]

A voice spoke up.

[It should be fine, right?]

It was a man wearing a baseball uniform and holding a bat, with an apologetic look on his face.

My gaze lingered on his face for a moment.

It wasn’t that there was anything strange.

It was just that I’d seen this person last night.

He seemed to be the one from that pair who hadn’t been holding the bat.

And he recognized me too.

His eyes wavered slightly, but he maintained that apologetic smile.

[Earlier, I accidentally hit the ball too far.]

[Really, I’m sorry.]

—

[You’re saying that one of the people from last night showed up?]

[It’s probably just too much of a coincidence.

It almost feels intentional.]

[—How’s Tsukihi?]

[Well, how should I put it.

Like Ichijō, she got hit and ended up with a bruise.]

[These people—]

It was rare to see Ichijō Riku look angry.

I had thought he was always gentle.

[They’re not only continuing to target Higashi, but now they’ve even dragged Tsukihi into it.]

[That’s why we can’t let them off, Ichijō.]

[Yeah.

Isn’t that exactly what we want to do?]

We exchanged a look of perfect understanding.

And then—

I felt a strange sense of delight, though I couldn’t say where it came from.

All I could do was smile.

[Alright, Ichijō.

You can open your shirt now.]

Some rather questionable words slipped out of my mouth.

Of course, it was with a bit of malicious amusement.

After all, I take pleasure in this.

I’m a nasty person like that.

[Uh—]

He hesitated for a moment, then did as I said, opening his shirt and revealing the large patch of bruising.

It looks like it’s faded a bit.

This medicine is pretty effective.

I smiled happily, narrowing my eyes.

Then, carefully, I applied the ointment to him, gently and slowly rubbing it in.

He stood quietly with his back to me.

He didn’t seem to feel any pain, or rather, compared to last night, it was much better.

[By the way—I used this medicine on Tsukihi too.]

He reacted slightly.

Staying attentive to Tsukihi is good.

Keep it up.

[Ah, she even asked where I got the medicine from.]

[I told her it was for a certain injured person—]

[Did Higashi tell Tsukihi?]

[Didn’t Ichijō say anything?]

[I didn’t want Tsukihi to worry.]

[I see—]

I continued carefully applying the ointment.

[Actually, I didn’t say anything either.]

[Eh—]

[Because I only want to be the one who knows that Ichijō got hurt protecting me.]

I said it in a teasing, alluring tone.

[Uh—]

He didn’t say anything, but I got the satisfaction I wanted.

[Hehe—]

[Alright, Ichijō.]

[Yeah—]

[Let’s eat.]

[Okay—Higashi, here.]

He handed me a box of fried rice, filling about half the container.

[This is probably what I’m best at.

Give it a try.]

So this is the energetic fried rice Tsukihi mentioned.

[Then, thank you very much, Ichijō.]

I smiled even more happily.