Why Not Make Both Twins 'Girlfriends'?-Chapter 4Volume 1 .1 - Trying to Unravel...?

Trying to Unravel…?  1

“——Well, after yesterday, what can I do for you today…?”

It was after school on a Tuesday, the 31st, at the end of May, when the rainy season was about to begin.

Sakuto and Tachibana sat facing each other across a low table in the corner of the staff room in a simple space partitioned off as a consultation area.

Voices of teachers could be heard over the partition.

Even though it was his second time here, Sakuto was not quite used to such a place.

He wanted to wrap things up quickly and leave.

“Once again, I’m sorry about yesterday. As you can see—”

Tachibana bowed her head politely.

It wasn’t something to dwell on, and Sakuto, who had intentionally interfered with her guidance, also felt awkward.

He wanted to put an end to this matter.

“Tachibana Sensei, please raise your head… I’m not concerned about yesterday’s matter anymore…”

“I almost put you in this morning’s newspaper… I thought it wouldn’t end with just this.”

“Ah, it’s fine. If I were to appear in the morning newspaper, Sensei would be there with me…”

Their positions were different, but he thought at least it was good that it didn’t happen.

“Uh, is today about continuing the apology?”

“No… there’s something I want to ask you…”

Tachibana crossed her legs.

“Actually, it’s about Chikage Usami… well, I don’t know how to say it…”

“What is it?”

“Are you… close with her?”

For a moment, Sakuto wondered in what sense she was asking but calmly shook his head.

“No, we just started talking recently…”

“I see… recently…”

Tachibana hesitated, uncharacteristically hesitant to speak her mind.

It felt frustrating not knowing what she wanted to ask, but Sakuto waited in silence for her next words.

Then Tachibana spoke in a slightly reluctant tone.

“What do you think about Chikage Usami?”

“….like, in a romantic way?”

“Who asked you about that?”

“No, I mean, given the way you said it…”

“Ah, no, that’s not it… Sorry, my phrasing was bad…”

Tachibana sank into her chair and put a hand to her forehead.

“It’s about character assessment.”

“Character assessment?”

Tachibana crossed her arms and re-crossed her legs while saying ‘Yes.’

“Well, she’s the top student, first in her grade… seems like an amazing person.”

“Anything else?”

“She’s dilligent and hardworking… well, it seems she argues when things don’t make sense to her. I’ve heard she’s competitive too, and then──”

Suddenly, Sakuto remembered Usami smiling at the arcade, but.

“Well, that’s about it, I guess.”

He said, evasively.

On the day Sakuto was caught by Tachibana, he never mentioned her name until the end.

He told her he came alone and had no friends.

It wasn’t exactly a lie, but somehow he felt more guilty.

Perhaps it’s because Sakuto has started to recognize Tachibana not as a bad person but as someone who is simply dedicated to her work.

He had promised Usami to keep what happened at the arcade a secret too, so he couldn’t mention that.

“So, what did you really want to ask?”

“The hidden side of Chikage Usami.”

Hearing this, Sakuto thought he had inadvertently gotten himself involved in something troublesome.

“Well, actually, there are such rumors. Haven’t you heard from any friends?”

“I don’t have friends.”

“I-I see… sorry… I see… “

The damp air filled the consultation space.

Unable to bear the sudden silence, Sakuto spoke first.

“Um… if you don’t mind, can I ask what kind of rumors you heard?”

“Hmm… for example, wearing her uniform loosely and wandering around the station, eating a hamburger while wearing headphones, seen entering an arcade…”

Sakuto felt a sudden fear, as too many things seemed to fit the description.

In fact, most of it was true. Those rumors cannot be completely dismissed.

“Then there’s walking around with a doll in tow, or answering the phone with ‘I’m right behind you’… things like that.”

“Sensei, the last two sound like urban legends mixed in…”

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“I don’t want to believe the last two either.”

“It’s up to you. You don’t have to believe in such things…”

‘I guess rumors are just rumors. Ridiculous.’

“I see… is that why you came to the arcade that day?”

“You noticed? I went to check if the rumors were true… and then I found you there.”

“I’m really sorry about that.”

Tachibana smiled wryly.

“It’s okay, it’s over now… but still, I’m curious about Chikage Usami. Yesterday’s situation was actually to observe her while criticizing the ponytail.”

So that was the reason for the seemingly unreasonable situation.

Sakuto felt sorry for interfering with Tachibana but also awkward due to the arcade incident.

“I see… So, how was it?”

Tachibana frowned.

“She’s quite the smooth talker.”

‘Is it a case of dislike of one’s own kind?’ Sakuto thought with dismay that a day might come when a giant boomerang would return to hit her.

“Well, anyway, if the rumors were true, I’d have to guide her as part of my job. Sorry for taking your valuable time.”

“No, that’s fine… But, I have a question for Tachibana Sensei as well.”

“Hm? What is it?”

“Why is Tachibana Sensei so dedicated to student guidance?”

“What do you mean?”

“It’s good to be dedicated, but don’t you worry about being disliked by students for being too strict?”

He simply wanted to ask that.

Earlier, he summed it up as ‘dislike of one’s own kind,’ but Tachibana is similar to Usami.

She has a kind of conviction, a refusal to bend her principles or beliefs.

Even if it’s part of her job, he wondered where the mentality to guide without fearing being disliked comes from.

He wanted to hear it from Tachibana herself.

“…because it’s my job.”

“Do you mean because you get paid for it?”

“That’s part of it… but that’s not the only reason.”

After saying that, Tachibana smiled lightly and didn’t answer him any further.

***