『―― School Front―― School Front』

With the arrival announcement, the train doors opened.

People who were supposed to get off looked like they were being thrown out of the door all at once.

Due to this, I distanced myself from Shiyori, who had been with me until then.

… I felt a little regretful, but now that Shiyori was in the spotlight, I couldn’t let the populace find out that we both were stepsiblings.

“Good morning, Yoshida-san!”

“Oh, good morning, Nanjo-san.”

After passing through the ticket gate, a beautiful girl as gorgeous and bright as the sun approached Shiyori.

It was Nanjo Rin.

To the smiling expression which could charm just about anyone who saw her greeting, Shiyori replied modestly. It felt like a scene right out of a painting.

There were even some male students who sighed at the sight of the two beautiful girls greeting each other.

From then on, Shiyori and Nanjo Rin conversed rather naturally like fellow friends.

“Actually, today I tried changing my shampoo a little bit. What do you think?”

“Sunsun… Nn, I think I like the previous one better.”

“I see, so Yoshida-san likes citrus scents, heh.”

“Ahaha, that’s what I like in the end, I guess.”

Even now, even though we were having a trivial conversation, the distance between Nanjo Rin and Shiyori was closer than it was with me.

That alone told me how much she was stepping into the Shiyori’s private space.

Nanjo Rin was good at sniffing out what her companions wanted and wearing a cat-like disguise from the very beginning. It didn’t seem like a heavy task for her to get along with them, by keeping up with their pace.

The way she charmed and accommodated her companion’s needs as well as accomplished her own wants in a way that didn’t disturb their pace looked really admirable but also fascinating.

And that ability of hers was also evidently demonstrated in the game as well.

『 I want to challenge the water dragon trial! Desu. 』

『 Oi oi, that’s one of the most difficult ones, even though it’s just a part of the substories. 』

『 If we’re talking about Cinq-kun, the first task is to raise your level and prepare your equipment, I guess~ 』

『 I looked up information on various summary sites! Let’s go hunting together in the Oni Forest for both my leveling training and the material gathering for the two of you! 』

『 … Aren’t you full of motivation? 』

『 Ah, if that’s the case, it even makes me happy. All right, then let’s go ASAP! 』

What she was doing was actively conveying what she wanted to do and wanting to help with while also going on to tell about the merits that went on with it while doing so.

Perhaps, even at school, in contrast to Shiyori, she didn’t sit idly around like the other day, but rather interacted with everyone like she did while playing the game.

“Haa, the competition between the sun and the moon… that’s good.”

“Koutora…”

I was called from behind by Yasutora, who was also on his way to school. Shiyori

and Nanjo Rin stood out way too much given their present stature.

I followed behind as if watching over the two of them. There were many people who followed behind these two beautiful flowers appreciating their beauty as well.

Koutora being one of them.

“Somehow, even though you deny all you want, even you are always watching them, aren’t you, Subaru… Fuhihi, well, the feeling’s mutual, so I do understand.”

“… Is that so”

“Unn, but… do you realize, Subaru?”

“About what?”

“Other girls’ eyes.”

“… What — does that really mean?”

“When I also heard that for the first time, Unn? Was the kind of reaction I did as well, you know…”

“…”

When I listened to Koutora’s story, it was a story that made me think. Ah, I see. Well obviously, was my reaction as well.

Nanjo Rin was a popular person. She was popular with both men and women, but she mostly worked her magic in groups of girls.

And the fact that the group wasn’t actually built on friendship alone, was something I learned by interacting with the person in question.

『 Don’t you think that recently Yoshida-san is getting too ahead of herself? Heck, that kid also did a good job too, though.』

『 It’s true that she’s become really cute, but… at the end of the day, it’s to open her legs for a boy anyway, right? 』

『 I mean, even Nanjo is too concerned about that Yoshida girl. Isn’t it rather crazy, don’t you agree? 』

『 Ah, even though I was finally able to manage joining the ranks of the Nanjo Group, a powerful group of hierarchies. 』

During break time, when I listened carefully to the voices around me, many such dissatisfied voices continued to rise in numbers.

Of course, on the surface, everyone was getting along well and no sort of problem seemed to be taking place in the forefront.

… In total honesty. My guts were about to boil over listening to them.

The reason was indeed jealousy. The want of vanity. It was as if a distortion came about caused by the obsession of Nanjo Rin on Shiyori, who was treated like the top of the school caste.

And due to the stereotypes that had been accumulated over the years, the main speculation of everyone was to use the brand value of Nanjo Rin instead of her actual self.

At this rate, it was clear that in the not-too-distant future, the spearhead of all those negative emotions would be very much directed at Shiyori as well.

—I had to do something about it.

With that renewed purpose in my mind, I headed toward Nanjo Rin through the hallway during the afternoon break.

Her face had the same serious expression as mine.

“Say, do you have time after school? There’s something I want to discuss with you about.”

“What a coincidence, me too.”

I had no idea what I could do right at this moment. But I wanted to do even the smallest thing that I was capable of right now.