「Is Asaki absent again today?」
「Yeah, sensei said it was due to family matters…」
On the third day since Asaki started being absent, Hikari came to me as usual and said so.
「Shougo, do you have any idea why?」
「No, Asaki didn’t say anything specific, so I don’t know the reason she’s absent.」
Daiki asks with a bit of concern.
But even I don’t know the reason for her absence. Maybe Asaki herself anticipated this would happen…
That’s why she might have come to my house with an excuse.
「But I have an idea of someone who might know.」
It’s obvious who that would be. Considering last time, we don’t know if she’ll explain family matters to us outsiders.
In fact, the possibility that she won’t tell us anything is higher.
「The student council president, huh.」
「Yeah, but from the way things seemed last time, it doesn’t look like they have a particularly close sisterly relationship, so even if she knows the reason, she might not tell us.」
As for me, Asaki didn’t seem to have any particularly bad feelings, but from what I saw of their interaction last time, it didn’t seem particularly good either.
Even if she doesn’t dislike her, Asaki didn’t seem very interested in her sister, and the student council president seemed to be at a loss with Asaki.
Of course, we don’t know their history, so we can’t really know without asking them directly.
「Well, it’s worth a try, so I’ll go to the student council room after school today.」
「Then I’ll go too. I’m worried about Asaki.」
「I’ll go too!!」
「I’m worried about Asaki-chan too, so I’ll come along.」
Daiki, Hikari, and Natsu all offered to accompany me.
「Sorry. But this time, let me go alone.」
But I had my own thoughts, so I had to decline their offer.
Especially regarding Natsu, I thought there might be some negative impact depending on how the conversation goes. I need to talk about that person too.
「Why does Shou-nii have to go alone? We’re worried about Asaki-chan too──」
「I know that, of course. I’ll explain the reason when we talk with Asaki next time, so for today, please let me go alone.」
I understand Hikari’s insistence. Hikari and Asaki are as close as sisters, so she’s probably especially worried.
Maybe it would be better to explain the reason here. That thought crosses my mind.
But if I’m going to talk about it, I need to talk about Natsu and Amano’s relationship to some extent, and if we’re going to have a detailed conversation, I think we should call Kaname-kaasan and Hina, who aren’t here, and talk with everyone.
「Hikari, I understand how you feel, but please indulge me this time.」
「Uhー… If Shou-nii insists that much… But we’ll be waiting until you’re done talking!!」
She puffed out her cheeks, clearly displeased, but Hikari reluctantly agreed.
「Yeah, I’ll try to finish as soon as possible.」
「We’ll wait together too.」
Natsu, also concerned about Asaki, said she’d wait with Hikari for me to return with information. I didn’t need to ask about Daiki. I thought, and when I looked at Daiki, he nodded without saying anything.
「Well, as I said, even if the student council president knows the reason, there’s no guarantee she’ll tell me. So don’t expect too much.」
When I told the three of them that, the bell signaling the end of the break rang, so we dispersed.
──After school, I visited the student council room, where I had been three days ago, once again.
I knock on the door of the student council room and enter without waiting for a response from inside.
As expected, the person I was looking for was sitting at the back of the room, looking at me.
「My, you’re…」
「I’m Chihara from the second year. Nice to meet you again.」
She seemed to remember my face at least. But my name didn’t come to her immediately.
「Are you alone today?」
「Yes, I’m alone.」
As I answered, I could see the student council president’s gaze narrow slightly.
「I see. So it’s not that those kids have decided to join the student council.」
「Well, that’s right. If that were the case, I wouldn’t be coming alone.」
「So, what do you want? To be honest, I don’t have good feelings towards you.」
It’s probably because of what I said three days ago.
「I figured as much. Well, the feeling is mutual. That’s actually related to why I’m here.」
「What do you mean? Are you here to ask about why Asaki is absent from school?」
「I’m glad you catch on quickly. So today, I’m here to talk to Kujou-senpai, Asaki’s older sister, not the student council president.」
「I see.」
From the way she said it, she seems to at least know the reason. Whether she knows everything or not, she might have some idea.
The student council president nods, indicating she understands my purpose. Her brow is still furrowed, and her gaze towards me hasn’t softened.
「Then, as Asaki’s older sister, I’ll answer. It’s a family matter, so I won’t discuss it with outsiders.」
「I figured as much.」
This was the response I expected. But that doesn’t mean I intend to back down.
Could it be that Asaki told me that story anticipating this situation?
If so, it’s quite something, but knowing Asaki, I couldn’t rule out that possibility.
「Then if I’m not an outsider, if I’m family, will you tell me?」
「What are you saying? I don’t know what your relationship with Asaki is, but you’re certainly not close enough to be called family, are you? Ahh, when I say family, I mean relatives, so even if you claim to be family out of camaraderie, I won’t answer.」
「I know it. But I’ll ask again. If I’m not an outsider, you’ll tell me, right?」
I press the question to get a clear answer.
──Light Novels──
──Read Here──
But the student council president snorted and replied.
「I can’t understand what you’re saying. Fine. If you claim to be Asaki’s, our family, I’ll tell you what I know. Even if you and Asaki have that kind of relationship, I won’t recognize you as family.」
「I see. Then please tell me. I heard Asaki is absent due to family matters. But Kujou-senpai is attending school. If it’s family matters, shouldn’t it be the other way around?」
「I told you. I won’t discuss it with outsiders.」
「Yeah, that’s why I’m asking as family.」
「You’re quite persistent.」
Perhaps irritated by my refusal to back down, the student council president glares at me with her eyes slightly raised. Her eyes are naturally slanted, so her gaze is sharp. Moreover, I could sense a certain amount of intimidation in her words.
Thinking I’ve provoked her enough, I played my trump card.
「By the way, I heard Asaki had an aunt.」
「What are you suddenly talking about… Ahh, Asaki told you. That girl, saying unnecessary things to unrelated people…」
「You say unrelated people, but doesn’t the surname “Chihara” ring a bell?」
「That’s your surname, isn’t it? It’s somewhat uncommon, but so what…?」
At first, she didn’t seem to think too deeply about it.
But the aunt I mentioned, and then my surname, Chihara.
If you connect these two, it’s not hard to reach a conclusion if you’re a bit perceptive.
Especially if you’re someone reputed to be competent.
「…I’ll ask just in case, what’s your mother’s name?」
「Chihaya. It’s written with the kanji for “thousand” and the “haya” that’s not for speed.」
「I see… So I’ve been completely outsmarted. I don’t need to ask where you got this information.」
She didn’t expect this turn of events, as I could tell from her words. Actually, I couldn’t hide my surprise when I heard it from Asaki.
Looking at the student council president, her sharp gaze has softened somewhat. Perhaps our exchange had piqued her interest in me a little, although her expression still showed frustration, I sensed a hint of curiosity in her eyes, as if she were looking at something slightly amusing.
「Very well. Although Oba-sama was disowned by the Kujou family, it’s true that you are related by blood. Besides, Chihaya-obasama took care of me when I was little.」
「You know my mother?」
「Yeah, but only a little when I was very young. We couldn’t meet publicly, so my father doesn’t know about it.」
I didn’t know the student council president was acquainted with my mother. It was also surprising that she seemed to have a favorable view of her.
But it seems this conversation was more effective than I thought.
「Ahh, I remember now. There was a time when Chihaya-obasama brought a child to see Ojii-sama. I see, so you’re…」
The student council president narrows her eyes as she looks at me. But there was no longer the sharpness from before, rather, it exuded an atmosphere of nostalgia.
More than that, it was unexpected that she recognized me from when I was little. I hardly have any memories myself…
「Don’t you remember? We played together when you and Oba-sama came to Ojii-sama’s house, you know? It was when I was four years old, so expecting you to remember from when you were three might be unreasonable…」
「When I was three, at Jii-san’s house…」
Something is nagging at the back of my mind, but it’s too vague for me to recall clearly.
Seeing me struggle to remember, she looked a bit disappointed, as if to say, “You don’t remember after all”.
「You don’t remember after all… Well, it’s understandable. I never thought I’d meet that “Shou-kun” again in this way.」
「Shou-kun…?」
I felt my memories being stimulated by that nickname the student council president used.
Not to brag, but because I mostly spent time with Natsu, I think I didn’t have a wide circle of friends in my childhood.
So there were only two people who called me that way in the past…
「Mii, chan?」
「Eh?」
──I remembered.
That’s right, when I was little, I think I called a girl I met at a house Kaa-san took me to by that name. And there was another girl younger than me, who I think I called “A-chan”.
「I see, that was Jii-san’s house…」
「Judging by your reaction, Chihaya-obasama didn’t tell Shou-kun.」
「Did the student council president know I was a cousin back then?」
「Fufu, it’s okay. You can call me “Mii-chan” like in the old days.」
The student council president smiles at me jokingly.
The change is so drastic that I wonder if she’s really the same person from the other day and just a moment ago. She might actually be incredibly lenient with family.
I guess I should call them sisters. Looking at her like this, I thought her facial features and aura were quite similar to Asaki’s, except for the slightly slanted eyes.
「No, calling you that at my age is a bit…」
「I see…」
Seeing the student council president’s overtly disappointed expression makes me feel a bit sorry.
And at the same time, I felt the hostility I had towards her rapidly dissipating.
「Then at least call me Misaki. After all, we’re cousins. There’s no need to be so formal, right?」
「Well… I guess that’s okay.」
The student council president, or rather Misaki-san, asks me to call her by her first name, and I agree to that extent.
「So, we were talking about Asaki. To think that Shou-kun and Asaki would end up in such a relationship… Fate is indeed unpredictable. But for Asaki, it’s much better than marrying into the Amano family──」
「No, it’s not like Asaki-san and I are in the kind of relationship Misaki-san is imagining.」
No, her sense of distance is bugging out. Her change in attitude the moment I’m recognized as family is incredible.
Come to think of it, she said something similar earlier, but it seems Misaki-san thinks Asaki and I are lovers.
I admit the closeness is too much for just friends, but a misunderstanding is a misunderstanding, so I need to clarify.
「There’s no need to be embarrassed. You’re both at that age, and I──」
「Are you listening? No, rather, let’s discuss that another time, I want to know about Asaki now…」
It seems Misaki-san doesn’t listen to others much, so I interrupted her to get back to the main topic.
「Kohon, my apologies. Right, I should tell Shou-kun.」
Perhaps aware that the conversation had gone off track, Misaki-san cleared her throat and said so.