[Faction]

  

The location remains the same, Nishino's room on the third floor of the share house. 

There, sitting on the edge of the bed, is a man in pajamas, and Gabriella, also in pajamas, stands with her back to him. At a short distance from them, near the doorway of the room, Francisca can be seen in a suit. 

"It's fine if you want to make progress in your relationship with [Normal]. I'm sorry, but I'm going to have to ask you to give priority to our conversation. As soon as we're done, you can do whatever you want."

The Crotch Obaasan spoke firmly to the furious Gabu-chan. 

It was a rare sight, considering the power relationship between the two. Until now, Francisca had always taken a backward stance towards Gabriella. At least, she had never interrupted her to push her point of view. 

"I think it's not fair to talk like that."

"But you can't have a relationship with someone if they're not here." 

"..........."

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Perhaps that was why Gabriella swallowed her objections with a look of annoyance. 

She seems to have understood the extent of the crisis in which the Nishino found itself. 

Francisca, on the other hand, turned to Nishino to make sure he was all right. 

"There's still time to meet the deadline. I hope you will consider what I have to say. " 

"No matter how much I consider it, it won't change my mind."

"I'm sure they'll approach you in some way, even if it's only for a short time. And just so you know, whatever happens to you, I have nothing to do with it, okay?"

 "Is that an excuse?" 

"I'm just saying the facts." 

"......."

Francisca was not afraid to speak her mind, even when she was up against a Futsumen. 

As she did with Gabriella, she is not afraid to share her opinions with Nishino.

If it was a normal day for her, she would have been a little more cautious about how she reacted. But for this evening, there was no hesitation at all. 

Having watched her determination, Nishino had a lot to think about. 

The Futsumen understands that the person in front of him has made a number of compromises up to today. That's why he felt more than a little threatened by the thought of what might happen if someone other than her were to visit. 

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"It doesn't matter what you aim for. We will resist patiently until our reputation changes again. But if there is any damage to those around us, we will not hesitate to fight together. Even if it is against you, I am ready to wield my power without hesitation."

"Would you mind not threatening me too much?"

"This is not a threat."

"But I can't help you, because I'm not in charge of this issue. I've tried everything, and I've come up with a compromise. If you can't accept the terms, then I hope you can make it work. "

" ... I see. "

Seeing the consistency of Francisca's attitude, Nishino understood the situation.

He understood that threatening the person in front of him would not change the situation. 

There was no point in asking any more questions. 

"Do you have any other questions?" 

"No, thank you."

"That's all I have to say. I'll be expecting a colourful response."

Turning on her heel, Francisca leaves the room. 

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The click of the door, closed behind her back, sounded strangely loud in the quiet of the room at night. The sound of footsteps in the corridor and down the stairs became more and more distant. Then the sound of the front door opening and closing came from downstairs. 

At the same time, a sound came from Gabriella.

"Back to the topic at hand, what about my proposal? " 

"I'm sorry, but I don't think I'm ready for that." 

"The old lady said she'd give us some time."

"How much can you believe?"

"...... I see."

"If I'm not careful, I could get you into trouble. If I'm being honest, I'm very pleased with the favours you've given me. But this is not the same thing. I think you should stay away from me for a while until this is over."

"What are you going to do?" 

"I think I'll take a long holiday in China or Russia."

If the chairwoman had heard it, she would have gotten goosebumps. 

But Gabu-chan didn't seem to mind and continued to speak. 

"Is that what you want? Are you going to give up the school life you've been so attached to? I've heard that there's only a year and a few months left until graduation. Isn't that much time going by so easily?"

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She stares into the narrow eyes of a Futsumen and asks. 

The expression is serious. 

Nishino hesitates before continuing. 

"Student life is a once in a lifetime experience. It's gone and you can't get it back." 

"But it's not something that should be prioritised at the expense of others." 

"She said there was still time. There's still something we can do."

"But ... " 

"I am trying to confirm your intentions, Nishino Gokyou."

"......."

Gabriella, who had taken the first step, spoke to Nishino, who was making excuses for himself.

In recent times, the presence of Nishino has helped her to become more quiet. She has an elegant demeanour, and her upbringing makes her seem more refined than Rose. In reality, however, she is a very dynamic person. 

"Naturally, I feel regrettable."

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"...... Right."

When asked, he gave a straightforward answer. 

He was not lying, he was telling the truth. 

It's a rare story for a Futsumen who rarely whimpers.

She tells him plainly. 

"I hope that tomorrow you will be able to go to school as usual. Once you get into the habit of running away from things like this, it can drag on and on. You will get used to it and you won't be able to remember what it was like."

"You say that like you know what you're talking about." 

"These are the words of an experienced person, why don't you just take them?" 

"You've got a point there." 

"That's all I have to say. I have school tomorrow, so I'll leave you to it."

"Thank you for taking the trouble to take care of me. "

" Please show that kind of attitude, not words. "

"...... Yes, you're right." 

When she was sure that Nishino had nodded, Gabriella turned herself around. 

Then she headed down the corridor with a thump. 

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When she left the room and the door was closed, the original silence returned to the room. Gabu-chan's room is a Japanese-style room on the ground floor. The sound of thumping down the stairs soon becomes inaudible. She is well educated and is quiet enough to open and close the sliding door. 

" ......."

There was only one man in the room. 

He sits on the edge of the bed and watches the closed doorway without doing anything. 

◇ ◆ ◇

The next day, Nishino went to school as usual, in Class 2A. 

He followed Gabriella's instructions. 

However, on that day there was no morning greeting, which had become a routine. He stepped into the classroom without saying a word and went straight to his seat. Normally, when he entered the classroom, he would be talking about this and that. 

"Nishino is quiet today, isn't it?"

"By the way, he didn't have a morning greeting."

"When it comes to greetings from Nishino, yesterday's was really annoying." 

"Oh, I know." 

"It's annoying to have a big vocabulary."

"It's like, if there's a word in there that I don't know, it damages me mentally."

"Seriously," 

"Do you want to try and learn some Japanese?"

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He takes his seat and begins to prepare for his first period class, unconcerned about the noise around him. 

Nishino was hesitant to leave his house, but after last night's conversation with Gabriella, he decided to go to school. And whether he greets her or not, his position remains unchanged. 

He is at the bottom of the school caste. There is no one to speak to Nishino. 

In contrast to the other students, Risa is busy in the classroom in the morning. It's been a while since she confessed her feelings for the chairwoman and came out to her friends, but today she's a girl in love who still has to approach the person she wants to be with. 

"Good morning, Chairwoman." 

"Huh? Oh, oh, good morning. Risa......" 

"What's up? You don't look well, do you? Maybe you haven't slept enough? " 

"...... Yeah, something like that."

Risa is full of energy, but the chairwoman is unsure how to respond. 

Their relationship has been in doubt for several days now. 

In particular, the one who has had her nipples pleasurably tweaked in front of her classmates is left wondering how to respond to her friendly morning greeting. The tormenting feeling is the unwanted sexual pleasure that naturally comes to mind. 

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The girls of Class 2A were able to see the changes in Shimizu. 

"Risa and the chairwoman, they're a bit of a duo, aren't they?" 

"Isn't it? It's definitely weird." 

"I guess I'll have to think about it."

"So I think it's Risa?"

"Chairwoman, sometimes feel uncomfortable with Rose."

"Oh, I know what you mean."

These two students have made a name for themselves not only in Class 2A but also in other classes. Naturally, the question of who is the best and who isn't was on the minds of the students, even if they couldn't see it. They are both leaders of their year group. 

As in other schools, the quality of student life at the school depends on who is at the head of the group to which you belong. The power relations were very important. Naturally, the members of this group began to reflect on their position. 

And it seemed that the decision went to Risa.

Before Rose moved to the school, she had been at the top of her class. And even after she fell to the second place, she was highly regarded by her fellow girls for her ability to organize a group of girls without showing any animosity. 

If the support was limited to girls, her position in the school caste would have been higher than Rose. Risa was the type of girl who was easily liked by her own sex. No one would have thought that there was an daddy love behind it. 

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Meanwhile, Rose arrived in Year 2A. 

As soon as she entered the classroom, she made a fast dash to Nishino's side. 

"Hey, Nishino-kun. Do you have a minute?"

Two seats away from the chairwoman, he sits in his chair, looking down at him from the front.

At this, the Futsumen raises his gaze from his desk.

 "What ? "

The answer is a simple one. But he is not as cynical as he used to be. At least he is no longer sarcastic from the first word. His manner was somewhat softened by the fact that he recognised the person in front of him as a school friend. 

Rose, on the other hand, was not in the mood to talk. 

As soon as she woke up in the morning, she saw what had happened last night on the camera recording. While she was asleep, the man she loved was going through a profound change in his life. The fact that he was going to change his life while she was asleep was too much for her to ignore. 

"I've been in touch with that woman." 

"..... Oh, you're talking about that."

To the classmates present, the conversation was a bit confusing. But it was easy for the two of them to understand each other, since the events they were talking about happened yesterday. A stern expression appeared on Nishino's face as he understood what Rose was trying to say. 

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By the way, Rose says she was contacted by Francisca, but in fact she checked with Francisca herself first thing in the morning. She had checked the surveillance camera footage from the share house and had pursued the matter in detail over the phone. 

"What are you going to do?" 

"I'm sorry. You're right to be concerned."

Regarding the intention of these questions, Futsumen believed that the other party had approached her because she was concerned about her own student life. He honestly believed the claims that she had delivered in the past that she valued her life at the school.

In other words, he said that he was condemning the existence of a different kind of person who is [normal]. 

On the other hand, Rose is relieved by his misunderstanding, but still fears for Nishino's life. The image of Dozaemon(TL: Drowned body of a person), which she had seen on a trip abroad some time ago, came to mind. She can't be calm about it. 

"How are the relations between you and her going? I want to know what you're going to do." 

"She's out of the picture.What can you do if you're not in charge?"

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"Couldn't you at least say something?"

"They don't have the kind of people who work on the side. They are all obsessed with patriotism and career ambition. But if it is an order that is in opposition to the person in question, as it is this time, it is unlikely to be accepted. You know more about that than I do, don't you?"

"I don't like the idea of having a boss who's not respected."

"Don't say that. It's very kind of you to bring it to us. Normally, the approach would have been made without any information being given. From her point of view, it's an exceptional response. "

"Oh, you're so deferential, aren't you?" 

"I'm just stating the facts. In that sense, I owe you a great deal."

Last night he had made a few snide remarks about Francisca. 

But he was also grateful. This is not a small reprieve for him. 

"By the way, aren't you with your classmates today?"

As if he hadn't already said that, Nishino changed the subject. 

By classmates, he meant Gabriella.

The two are gold and silver Lolitas who are often seen together. 

"What? She left in the morning, out of nowhere." 

"She wasn't asleep in her room.?"

"By the way, you were up unusually early today. You were out running, so you might not have noticed, but you went out of the house while I was making breakfast."

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Gabu-chan usually sleeps in her room until it's time to go to school. For breakfast, she usually joins her friends in their pajamas while they are eating, sleepy-eyed. On weekends and holidays, she often sleeps until past noon. 

On holidays, she often sleeps until past noon, but occasionally a set of futons, presumably hers, is hung out on the balcony facing the living room on the first floor, and Nishino's judgment is that she is still managing to lead a civilised life.

 " ... I see." 

"By the way, Nishino-kun, about her... "

Rose continues to pursue Nishino. However, her voice is interrupted by a bell. 

It was the sound of five minutes left until morning homeroom.

"You should go back to class. " 

"Yeah, sure. We'll continue at lunchtime." 

"I don't really have anything to say to you, do I?" 

"You may think that, but this is different"

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The Futsumen looked reluctant all the time. 

Muttering nonchalantly at this, Rose returned to the second year B class. 

◇ ◆ ◇

At lunchtime on the same day, Nishino was invited by Rose to have lunch on the roof. 

The place was above the stairwell, by the water tower. 

Nishino's attitude towards the Rose has softened, and the Futsumen's habits on campus have returned to the way they were before he regained his financial freedom. He understood that he had no place in the classroom and had no reason to refuse. 

"How do you make it day in, day out? Isn't it tedious?" 

"Well, it's not that different for one or two people." 

"...... I see."

In Nishino's hand is the lunch box that Rose brought with her. 

It's a relatively small one with a bowl of wakame rice on top. 

On the side is a side dish of oshinko. 

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And, between the two people sitting side by side, a heavy box filled with a lot of side dishes is lined up. It was something she had brought to the campus for some time. The menus served there are all elaborate, just like the items I have witnessed in the past.

"I'm very proud of this fried chicken." 

"In that case, can I have one? " 

"Here you go."

Moving quickly, Rose placed the fried chicken on the lunch box in Nishino's hand. It is one of those things that you just picked up with your own chopsticks and showed off your skills. Naturally, the tip of the food has already passed back and forth between the lunchbox and her mouth many times.

Naturally, the Futsumen get nervous.

"I don't need you to look after me so well." 

"I hope you won't be so stubborn about this. It's just a little interaction between students. Don't you think it's normal for boys to exchange their lunch with their friends?" 

It was a defeat for a Futsumen who had never exchanged lunch dishes with a friend.

He is still outnumbered by Rose on campus. 

"...... It's true that there is such a culture"

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"So why not just enjoy the food?"

It is a blissful moment for Rose. The smile on her face is deeper than usual. Her mind begins to wander at a dizzying pace through the boxes, wondering what to feed her next. It's a chilly lunch outdoors, but she doesn't mind. 

But the happiness doesn't last long. 

Just as they are eating their lunch, the door to the stairwell is opened. 

A few students in their school uniforms emerged from the stairwell with a crunching sound. They walked out of the stairwell and onto the roof, moving in a line towards the corner.

Without exception, there were girls and boys. It was a familiar face to Nishino. 

All of them are classmates of the  2A class, and their attention naturally turns to the girls. 

Rose, too, took notice. 

The girls, who had come to the rooftop, did not seem to notice Nishino and Rose's presence, and began chatting together. They huddled together in a small circle, their faces serious. 

The conversation was serious.  

"So what do you think? The two of them don't get along." 

"Isn't it Risa-chan ? "

"But the chairwoman's been really strong lately." 

"Maybe it's because of the school festival?"

"Personally, I prefer Risa." 

"I prefer Risa, too."

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"It's more like the chairwoman doesn't like Risa."

"That's right."

Familiar names flit from left to right. 

The Futsumen stop their chopsticks and listen. 

The girls continued their conversation. 

"Doesn't the chairwoman sometimes get a bit weird with Rose?" 

"Oh, I know what you mean." 

"Oh, by the way, before Rose came to our school, you were conscious of Risa, weren't you, Takeuchi?"

"Yes, I was." 

"But wasn't it a bit one sided?" 

"Or was it more like you were distancing yourself from her?"

"I don't think Risa has a sarcasm, right?" 

"Yes, that's it! " 

"She's a bit of a saba saba in the true sense of the word."

"When I think about it like that, I think I'm in favour of Risa." 

"The chairwoman is a bit of a meanie, don't you think?."

"I know what you mean. I was conscious of Takeuchi-kun at the school festival too." 

The conversation between the girls was about the personalities of the chairwoman and Risa-chan. 

The fact that the topic of conversation was someone with whom Nishino had a close relationship took his attention away from the lunchbox in front of him. Not only had he stopped moving his chopsticks, but the conversation he had been having with Rose had also died down.

This was no fun for the woman who had invited him to lunch. 

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"What are they talking about when they come all the way here?"

The look on his face as he mumbles is one of frustration. 

"I think they're discussing the chairwoman and Risa."

"It's probably a silly thing anyway."

"I don't know if you can dismiss it out of hand like that......"

Unaware that Nishino and Rose were listening nearby, the girls of Class 2A continued their conversation. The way they talk to each other makes them seem more human than the way the Futsumen look at them in the classroom. 

"Speaking of which, haven't the chairwoman and Nishino been getting closer lately?" 

"It's true that I often see the two of them talking in the classroom." 

"What do you mean? Maybe the chairwoman likes to talk to Nishino?"

"I don't know about that, but it seems a bit strange to me." 

"Is it because she got a low score in the midterm exam, or is it because she's trying to get an internal evaluation?"

"Yeah, that could be it."

The conversation of his classmates, overheard unexpectedly, damaged Nishino's mind. 

There was no way for him to deny what he had been told. The only thing he has is a very vague idea of the trust he has in his classmates. In addition to that, he feels bad when he realizes that his existence is ruining the reputation of the chairwoman. 

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"I wonder if she is being used by Shimizu-san? " 

"That's not true. The chairwoman would never do such a thing."

That's the only way to be sure, says the Futsumen.

He is a firm believer in the personality of the chairwoman, based on their past interactions. 

"Is it true ?" 

"Yes, it's true."

In the meantime, the girls continued to talk to each other. 

It seems that the discussion has come to a conclusion.

"So, for the time being, I guess I'll stick with Risa." 

"That sounds like a good idea." 

"So, do you take it in turns to leave your seat at breaks?"

"Yes, we do. I just need to be visible so I can make excuses to Risa's group later."

"I'm worried about that group, they're so flamboyant." 

"They're watching us, aren't they? Those ones."

Overhearing a series of conversations, Nishino suddenly realized. 

It's the girls in Class 2A who usually get along with the chairwoman. They are what we call a good friend group. During the lunch break, they always sit around the same desk and eat together.  

"So let's go back to class."

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They start to move in response to what one of the girls says. 

Their attention turns to the stairwell. 

Nishino and Rose are in a hurry to get down and react to this. Thanks to the height of the stairwell, they were out of sight. The girls returned to the school unaware of their presence until the end.

"A factional fight in the class? " 

"Well, I suppose it is something like that....."

Beyond the closed door, the presence of people quickly faded away. 

Their voices, which had been subdued, were restored when they could no longer hear the sound of talking or footsteps. 

"What's the matter? You look uncomfortable." 

"I don't know why the two are fighting." 

"You know how people start fights for the most trivial reasons?" 

"But ... "

As a Futsumen who knows about Risa's love life, he has some doubts. At the same time, he knows that the chairwoman is very fond of Risa. That's why he can't help tilting his head as he watches them interact. 

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"Don't tell me you're going to take care of those two?" 

"Is that bad?" 

"I don't think you can afford it right now." 

"...... Yeah, I know."

Nishino nodded quietly. 

Under normal circumstances, he would have recoiled from Rose's advice. 

But these days, he had a much more complicated problem on his hands. 

If he is not good at it, he can be a nuisance to the girls. 

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