[Request I]

It was a short time that I was away from school on a school trip. The fun days passed in the blink of an eye, and the first day of school arrived as usual. Students put on their uniforms and gathered in their classrooms as usual. 

However, the excitement of the trip had not yet cooled down in Class 2A. 

Most of the topics of conversation among the students are about the events of the trip. 

In particular, the confessional disturbance that broke out on the second day of the trip has changed the relationships among the students in the class. The effects were not limited to the trip, but those who had entered into relationships stood at the center of the conversation and attracted the attention of many students. 

"Hey, I heard Kaneko had sex with Satake-san." 

"That's bullshit, right?" 

"She's not here yet, is she?" 

"I thought she was the only one who would be virgin until she graduated." 

"Coming from a big family is the best, isn't it?" 

"I should've confessed too." 

"Inoue-san, I heard Sakashita-kun said yes." 

"Really?"

"Didn't he say he was evasive during the trip?" 

"I heard he replied again after he came back." 

"Could it be that there was another girl who confessed her feelings to him?" 

"Oh, that's it." 

The students who are bustling with excitement are not concerned with the top or bottom of the caste system. The same topics of conversation are being exchanged among the friendly groups that have sprung up in various parts of the classroom. Even the lower caste students, who normally have no interest in frivolous conversation, were no exception. 

It was the first day of school, and the classroom was more lively than ever. 

Everyone had a feeling that the topic of conversation was likely to linger for the next few days. 

Then, a student came to school who stood out from the rest in terms of topics of conversation. 

Yes, it was Nishino. 

The door at the back of the classroom was left open. When the Futsumen, who had just arrived at school, showed his face through the door, everyone in the room turned their attention to him. The chattering naturally died down, and the classroom, which had been lively, became quiet. 

On the other hand, he did not seem to be bothered by the change in the classroom and dared to greet the students with his morning greeting exercise. 

"Good morning, everyone. A woman's heart and the autumn sky, as the saying goes. No, it is not limited to women. There is nothing more changeable than the human heart. Sometimes we are too quick to make up our minds. If we do not have something to cherish within ourselves, we can easily lose sight of ourselves."

He was making his way to his seat, blabbing on and on about this and that. 

His somewhat melancholy tone is due to something he overheard the Chairwoman say during the return flight on the last day of the school excursion. Even if that's the case, Nishino-kun is nothing to me! I'm interested in someone else!, I clearly overheard her conversation with Risa-chan. 

Naturally, his  classmate did not reply back. 

Instead, they began to whisper and exchange words while looking at the Futsumen. 

"That guy, Nishino, did he get dumped?"

"Isn't that it? The brown girl he hugged at the airport on the last day of the school trip." 

"Maybe he broke up with her there then got too attached to her?"

"That's very possible." 

"I mean, it's already winter." 

"It's suddenly getting cold these days." 

The Chairwoman was inwardly relieved to see the scene. 

The Futsumen has been sitting in her brain these days, whether she sleeps or wakes up. She had been wondering if the brown girl she had just met had taken over.

Shimizu and Risa-chan were unaware of Nishino's presence in the restroom. 

During the flight, Nishino waited for the girls to leave the restroom area and returned to his own seat. From his subjective point of view, it was a one-sided misperception. He is in the midst of intense reflection, saying that he had been soaring on his own accord on the basis of a premature assumption that the Chairwoman liked him. 

The virgin's hunt for women has returned to the beginning with the school trip in between. 

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

The Futsumen, who had taken his seat, pondered what to do next. 

What naturally came to mind was the confession given by Alice Kurusugawa at the time of the idol fiasco. If he responded to her again, there would be no chance of rejection. Recalling his enthusiastic love call, even the most communicative person would feel confident. 

But that would not look good. 

The other person must have doubts, too, since he was talking so brazenly about how he had another person he liked. As soon as he finds out that there is no pulse with the person he loves, he runs away to another woman. That was out of character for a Futsumen. It was an act that went against his own aesthetics. 

The same was true for Gabriella, who had already confessed to him. 

In a strange way, he does not realize that his earnest and inflexible character is missing opportunities with the opposite sex. This is in direct contrast to the fact that men and women in the world who are active in the love life are switching boyfriends and girlfriends in a short period of time. 

Meanwhile, students are arriving at school one after another. 

"Hey, Nishino." 

"Good morning, Ogino-kun. " 

"What's the matter? You look so strange this early in the morning."

"No, it's nothing serious. I'm a little sleep deprived." 

In the classroom, a student approached Nishino. 

This was probably the result of having shared a group on the school trip. Ogino-kun greeted the Futsumen in his natural guise. His classmates knew that the comical person, who felt sorry for his past circumstances, had recently begun to show some concern for Nishino. 

It is a scene that has been seen several times before and is not talked about that much. 

Among some students, the reputation of the funnyman is beginning to rise. 

And so, the morning hours began to get busier and busier. 

An unfamiliar female student visited the classroom of Class 2A. 

She entered the room with modest steps through the front door, which had been left open, and stood by the doorway to take a look inside the classroom. She is a striking figure, with her black hair that reaches her back and flashy colored contacts. 

From the color of her shoes, one can tell that she is a fellow second-year student. 

The female students who noticed her presence began whispering to each other. 

"Hey, isn't Okuda-san here?"

"It's unusual for her to show her face in another's class." 

"She doesn't usually come out of her own classroom." 

"During recess, she sits in her seat and reads novels or the Six Laws."

"Why the Six Laws?" 

"Because she's a smart girl." 

Immediately afterwards, several of the boys saw her and changed 

stiffening up, staring in the direction of the classroom doorway. 

And this was the same for Ogino-kun. 

"What's wrong? Ogino-kun." 

"No, it's nothing. Nothing." 

"Looks like a student from another class......." 

Naturally, Nishino's attention also turns to where Ogin is staring. Even the school-loving guy is not aware of the girls in other classes. He looks at a figure of the opposite sex that he does not remember and becomes aware of her. 

Then, the attention in the classroom is caught, and a reaction is seen on the other end. 

"T-To the boys who have confessed to me, I say. Let your voices be heard here!" 

Briefly, she stood up and made a loud declaration. 

Her voice was trembling, as if she was trying to be loud. 

Even so, a smirk appeared on her face. 

Naturally, the students in the classroom took notice. 

Most of them stared at her with a What? Her theatrical mannerisms, coupled with her clear voice, made it seem as if she had just stepped out of a stage play. Naturally, it echoed like a foreign object in the morning classroom. 

A few students who seemed to understand what was going on quickly exchanged brief sentiments. 

"Hey, what's that girl?"

" That's Okuda from C class." 

"Don't you know Okuda-san?" 

" What's with the celebrity move?" 

"She's the wonder kid who got into trouble right after she came to school." 

"She's been a big hit lately. What's wrong?"

" Maybe she's having a relapse." 

" That's what they call it. You know, Chuunibyou-ji." 

" It's rare for girls to do that, isn't it ? " 

"Chunibi-shi is for old men and women."

"Rumor has it that she's been smoking a lot."

Part of the conversation was heard by Nishino and Ogino-kun. 

Naturally, it also reached below him. 

This made his shoulders shake with fear, but even so, Okuda-san from Class C continued to speak up. 

"What is wrong with everyone? Were those passionate messages sent to my phone a lie?" 

Her pompous manner is no different from her first words when she visits a classroom. 

It was as if she was acting out a story in which she herself was the main character. 

She kept on mentioning names of students in Class 2A, one after the other. 

"Then let's name each of them. Ueno, Matsumoto, Watanabe, Ogino......" 

"Wait a minute. If that's the case, I'll talk to you elsewhere!"

Having identified his own last name among them, Ogino-kun made his move. 

He left Nishino's side and stepped out flopping toward her. 

A questioning look came from the other side of the room, confirming the boys who had seen the reaction. 

"......W-Who are you?" 

In a change from her grandiose manner, Okuda-san from Group C responded with a loss of momentum. 

Her response with a noticeable change in tone of voice made everyone who overheard her feel that this was her true self. The same is true of her position, immediately stepping back half a step when approached by a member of the opposite sex. She is probably not accustomed to being approached by boys. 

"It's Ogino." 

"......"

Staring at the comical person who had come forward on his own, Okuda-san kept quiet. 

She gazed at the other party from top to bottom, as if she were checking every detail.

The expression on her face is indescribable. 

Conversation between the two parties ceased. 

The bustle and noise that had been lively in Class 2A is now gone, and the class has become quiet. 

There was a voice echoing there. 

"Maybe she got a confession from a boy, got the wrong idea, and now she's back to her chuunibyou-ji syndrome?" 

"Ugh...... !"

Okuda-san's body shook again when she heard the remark. 

It seemed that she was hit on the mark. 

Her consciousness immediately turned in the direction from which she had heard the voice. 

There, she found Matsuura-san sitting on her seat, playing with her phone. She was staring at Okuda-san and Ogino-kun, who were standing side by side, with a glazed look in her eyes. The phone case, which had been redesigned from last week, was a luxury brand item purchased during a school trip. 

All the pocket money she got from Nishino eventually disappeared to pay for her souvenirs. Thanks to this, she has been in a good mood since the other day. It was against this background that she raised her own voice in response to an incident in class that she would normally have ignored. 

"........ Matsuura-san, I've heard a lot of rumors."

"As far as I'm concerned, it's not a good thing anyway." 

Words are exchanged between Okuda-san and Matsuura-san. 

It appears that they know each other. 

Classmates watch their conversation and start whispering to each other.

"Matsuura-san and Okuda-san were in the same class when they were freshmen, weren't they?"

" Is that so ? " 

"Matsuura-san didn't stand out at all back then." 

"We were a group of simple kids, including the two of them."

"Isn't it rather strange these days?" 

"Stop it. You'll get stabbed."

During a free activity on a school trip, Matsuura-san had caught a glimpse of Ogino-kun's phone and was aware of his approach to Okuda-san. It was during the time when they were walking around the shopping mall together after separating from Nishino and the Chairwoman. 

It would not be surprising if something similar was going on with other male students. 

With this in mind, Matsuura-san continued talking with acquaintances who had become estranged in recent months. 

"Okuda-san, you didn't even know the face of the person who confessed to you?" 

"So, I thought I'd check, and so here I am......." 

"Matsumoto is the guy in the corner over there reading a novel. Watanabe is the one with glasses, one of the three with magazines spread out on the teacher's table. Ueno is the one you know because you were in the same class with him in the first grade. He still wears his hair long and tied back. And Ogino stands next to him you." 

As Matsuura-san explained, Okuda-san's attention darted back and forth in the classroom. 

As the gazes moved left and right, her expression gradually lost its luster. Apparently, all the boys who had been introduced to her were not to her liking. On the other hand, those who had been named were giving her expectant glances. 

Seeing both reactions, all of her classmates were convinced by Matsuura-san's statement. 

On the other hand, Okuda-san tilted her head and continued to speak to her. 

"Matsuura-san, if I remember correctly, I think Watanabe was a good-looking guy." 

"That's the B group's Watanabe, right? Watanabe in group A is usually a regular looking guy."

"...... There were two Watanabe?" 

The exchange between these girls caused a lot of damage to Watanabe-kun, a member of Class A. 

The people named by Okuda-san were generally male students who were also below the middle of the school caste. Ogino-kun was at the top of each of them. Naturally, he is not the type of person who would normally confess his feelings to the opposite sex. 

But because of some Futsumen, there was a big confession boom. 

As a result, it was Okuda-san of Class C who was the one to suffer the brunt of the blow. 

"Maybe I'm being made fun of again?" 

"Don't you know about the ruckus we had during the school trip?" 

" Eh, what is that ... " 

"Didn't you hear about it from the girl you were sharing a room with at the hotel?" 

"I had a single room." 

"Even so, there must have been at least a little buzz during the free time." 

"No, I didn't have a group for free activities, I was with my homeroom teacher." 

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

Okuda-san's honest response left Matsuura-san speechless. 

She looked at her classmates as if she were staring at a rare animal, wondering if anyone else had been in a more unfortunate situation than Nishino on the school excursion. The same seemed to be true for the members of Class 2A, and an uncomfortable silence fell over the classroom. 

So, having no choice, Matsuura-san decided to explain the confessional ruckus during the trip. 

After listening to the explanation, Okuda-san had a remarkable reaction. 

"What, so my charm is popular with the boys and I'm becoming popular with them? ........." 

"Rather, it's more like there's a line of shady guys who want to have a shot at it?" 

"So, you see, Matsuura-san... I've heard this kind of confession from other people too......" 

" I've received more messages than I can hold on one hand." 

"Ugh...! " 

Okuda-san was absolutely stunned. 

She apparently understood the situation she was in. 

And it was not just her who was surprised. 

It was mainly some of the female students who had received fewer messages than they could fit on one hand. 

They were jealous, wondering why Matsuura-san was more popular than they.

"I mean, no matter how hard you try, it's not going to be popular. Why are you so positive? I think you should get over it. It's too late for that when you're an adult." 

It must have become more and more troublesome to talk to her. 

Matsuura-san's tone of voice grew stern. 

In response to her unreserved mannerisms, the Chairwoman gave her a rebuke. 

"Matsuura-san, isn't there a better way to put it?" 

"I think it would be better for the person in question if you said something like this to her head on." 

"Even so, don't you think you should think about how you say it?" 

"I think the Chairwoman who always pretends to be the class chairwoman is also a bit of a jerk."

"Wha..... " 

Shimizu has been a bit concerned about this since the breakup of our good friends group. 

Is it really okay for me to create my character, or what? 

And then there is the guy who never seems to budge in terms of character building. 

In the quiet classroom, the buzzing sound of the phone began to echo. 

It is coming from the pocket of the person who caused Okuda-san to be forced to spin around today and caused Watanabe-kun of Class A to be slandered as a ugly guy. 

It seems to be a phone call notification, and it shows no sign of breaking off. 

"...... Sorry, excuse me for a moment." 

Nishino, having given up on ignoring it, takes it out and checks the screen. 

He did so with a pretentious attitude, sitting on a chair and crossing his legs. 

He could have just gone out into the hallway and accepted the call, but instead he presses the call button, asserting his presence as if he were participating in the conversation. He accepted the call without seeming to mind the stares he received from those around him. 

Her very first words were as follows. 

"Hello, it's me." 

"Sorry to bother you this early in the morning, but can I have a moment of your time?" 

"I'm in a bit of a jam. I'd like to make this quick." 

The caller was Marquis. 

The Futsumen's voice rang clear in the quiet classroom. 

"Hey Nishino, someone triggered the alarm." 

"That's really clever."

The phone call that came in as if it was aimed at them and the same old response. The classmates are fed up and exchange words with each other as they watch the scene being repeated in front of them. It no longer seems to be a matter of alarm. 

Just looking at it, its existence is irritating and embarrassing. 

Even the Chairwoman, who understands what is going on, is mumbling to herself. 

"I need you to do a job for me. Could you come over this evening?"

"Okay, this evening." 

"It's not much of a job, but they want you." 

"I'll let you know if I take the job or not when I hear the details." 

"I'll see what I can do. You take care of it then." 

"Yeah, all right." 

The call lasted only a few dozen seconds. But to the students watching, it felt like a very long time. Every word delivered to their ears was a precise caress to their nerves. I didn't want to hear it, but it kept popping into my earholes. 

Okuda-san was stunned to see Nishino's words and actions for the first time. 

Fortunately or unfortunately, the flow of conversation that has stopped. 

Nishino noticed this just after he put his phone away in his pocket. 

He then raises a small hand and mutters to the people who are paying attention to him. 

"Keep going."

All the classmates felt as if they were being played by Nishino. 

Although they had never cooperated in any way, they found themselves playing a part in the Futsumen's hard-boiled theater. It was as if everyone had been placed in a supporting role in a drama in which Nishino was the star. 

"Nishino, who the hell are you ......" 

Suzuki-kun, who had reached the limit of his patience, was about to get up from his chair. 

Takeuchi, who was chatting with him around the table, was afraid to stop his friend in this situation. Although he had a feeling in his gut that something could be done, he was not the kind of person who would openly point out the problem. 

Before Suzuki-kun, Okuda-san asked Matsuura-san a question. 

"Excuse me, Matsuura-san. Who was that boy on the phone there just now?" 

"Nishino-kun, don't you know him?" 

"Eh, that's Nishino-kun......." 

Her attention moves past Matsuura-san to the Futsumen, who is hanging on his own seat. 

Suzuki-kun checked out their exchange and stayed a step back. Suzuki-kun, who possesses solid communicative skills, seemed to think that it was wrong to interrupt the girls' conversation and abuse the Futsumen. At this, Takeuchi also breathed a sigh of relief. 

Somewhat later, a student from another class comes through the door at the rear of the classroom. 

They are Rose and Gabriella, both of them with small stature and beautifully shiny hair. 

When they visited the classroom, they tilted their heads at the quiet students. 

"Oh my, there's something strange about this place." 

"You don't see her in this class, do you? Is she a student from another class?" 

Their attention quickly turned to Okuda-san. 

She straightened her posture as if she had just remembered something. 

Then, just as she had done when she first visited the classroom, she raised her voice in a theatrical manner. 

"I-I appreciate the feelings you all have given me! However, the emotions that are boiling in my heart are nothing small that you all can take in. So, I'm going back to the classroom now, so please, let's call it a day!" 

Then, as if to escape, she left Class 2A. 

The sound of her footsteps soon faded into the distance. 

Rose and Gabriella, who had entered the classroom in turn, went to Nishino's seat. 

"Is something wrong with her?" 

"I'm sorry, but if you have any questions, please ask Matsuura-san." 

"She seemed to be paying attention to you." 

"Even so, this is the first time we've seen each other." 

After Mr. Okuda left the classroom, the usual hustle and bustle returned to the classroom . 

Looking at what had just happened, words began to be exchanged everywhere . 

"After seeing Nishino's theatrics, Okuda-san's theatricsseem cute." 

"That's what I thought too." 

"I thought that's just a part of her personality."

"I mean, Ogino's totally in love with her, right?"

"I heard he was enjoying the school trip with Matsuura-san."

"Personally, I can't help feeling sorry for Watanabe." 

"He told Okuda-san on his own, right? He deserved it."

" Having the same last name as a handsome guy in the same grade is a curse." 

"It's better that they're in different classes."

"It's so hard when you're in the same class......."

Meanwhile, the pre-bell rings, signaling morning homeroom. 

The students scattered and settled into their seats. 

◇ ◆ ◇

After school that day, Nishino went to the bar in Roppongi, as promised to Marquis. 

A sign was hung in front of the bar stating that it was closed. However, the doorway was unlocked, and when he pushed the door, a bell rang to indicate that a customer had entered. Stepping onto the floor, his gaze met that of the bartender, who was polishing a glass. 

The Futsumen stepped into the bar and took a seat in the middle of the counter. 

"I'm sorry to call you on such short notice, every time." 

"I don't mind. I didn't have any plans today." 

"It seemed like there was a lot of activity happening around........."

"My schoolmates have been making a lot of noise around me lately."

"......I see." 

Nishino acts as if he is a popular person on campus.

From Marquis' point of view, this was a bit unbelievable. However, since there was no need to beat around the bush to get a snake out, I decided to nod my head. If Francisca had been present, she would have said something sarcastic.

"I heard there was a lot going on during the trip."

"I had to clean up that woman's mess. Well, it's no big deal."

"Really? I've heard the rumors all the way down here."

"Your old place is looking a lot more open these days."

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

Marquis confirms to Nishino about the disturbance in Guam.

However, he is unable to obtain any information from Nishino.

The Futsumen's mind is more focused on his parting exchange with Nora, whom he had met there. Now that he has come to the conclusion that the favor from the Chairwoman was a misunderstanding, the embrace he exchanged with her at the airport is an event that shines high on his adolescent ranking list.

He wished he had exchanged contact information with her before he left.

He is a virgin who turned his back on the other party, who was regretting his last moments at the airport, in an effort to look good.

"I'm more interested in hearing about the job."

"Oh ... " 

Nishino asked Marquis to talk about something else.

The barman nodded his head, apparently deciding that further questioning would be difficult.

"That said, I don't think it's much of a job for you."

A picture was presented to the front of Futsumen on the counter.

The picture showed a white male who appeared to be in his mid thirties. It appeared to be a hidden camera, and was taken as he was exiting the building. He is a man of fairly good facial features. Compared to the woman standing next to him, he appears to be tall as well.

He has a slightly long, cool-cut blond head of hair, the typical attire that Asian people think of when they hear the word Caucasian male. His long legs and slender physique, which look good in a suit, are ideal for a short, stocky Futsumen.

"He's quite a manly man, isn't he?"

"He's a colleague of hers. He's also the one who used to chase you around."

" Francisca contacted you?"

"She said it came from the top."

"Oh. "

Recalled in Futsumen's mind was the escape he had made with the Chairwoman. It was still fresh in his mind that he was relentlessly pursued for some reason or other. At that time, the person in the photo seems to be the one who was in charge of giving instructions at the scene instead of Francisca.

"I heard you were good friends with the old boss who was removed."

"You think he was trying to impress us?"

" I don't know. But the offer they're giving us isn't bad."

"Do you know where he is?"

The Futsumen's tone of voice is completely in work mode as they exchange a few words.

The dialogue, which doesn't suit his school uniform, comes out smoothly.

"They said he is in Tokyo. If you accept the job, they will contact you again."

" What is the due date ? "

"I haven't heard anything specific. It may not be an urgent job. However, there is a possibility that he may be traveling too fast. They have already arranged air transportation, but if it is difficult for them to arrange a time frame, we can decline the offer."

"Okay."

"......... What do you say?"

The Futsumen's face becomes thoughtful as he is told what the request is.

He went out of his way to put his hand on his chin and other things to show that he was considering it.

It was a relatively easy job, given his past performance. That is why we can't help but wonder about the fact that we were asked to do it by name. Nishino thought that the possibility was, after all, that the client might discover this.

" It's a boat we're in, and we'll take care of it until the end."

" I'll discuss it with them this evening. I'm sorry, but I'll have to ask you to meet with them again tomorrow."

"Yes, sir."

Once they reach mutual agreement, the marquis begins to move inside the counter.

He grabs a bottle from the back bar and pours it into a glass. The bottle has just popped open, and a gurgling sound echoes from its mouth. In the face of the Futsumen, the first drink was ready in no time.

Nishino takes the offered glass and sips it.

"But you're getting a lot of work, too."

"There are some good agents out there."

" Maybe you need to hire a few more people."

"I'm trying, but they're not sticking around."

"Maybe you're not paying them well."

"Many of them never receive their compensation, and many of them stop talking."

Nishino is more talkative than ever now that alcohol has been added to his body.

He delivered one line after another, which did not suit his ordinary face deviation. 

Marquis, however, does not seem to be bothered by his words and actions, and they engage in conversation. 

The man who had a great influence on the original, adolescent Futsumen continued to speak as if he were talking with an old friend. 

"I don't know where they got the idea, but there are guys out there who long for the name [Normal]." 

"I don't like it when people start blaming others." 

"It seems this name is starting to mean more than you think." 

"You can give it to me if you want. Tell me what you want, who you want." 

Nishino, on the other hand, is as cynical as ever. 

He speaks in a dismissive manner and raises his glass to his lips. 

"I'm sure you'll be fine, but I want you to be careful." 

"Something bothering you about this job?"

"Not exactly. But you've been busy of late." 

Marquis says as he continues with the glass, offering cheese and jerky. 

Nishino's mind was filled with his classmates from Class 2A. 

Until just a few months ago, they had never even spoken to each other. They have now become a very big part of his life, influencing his daily casual words and actions. And he is very happy about this fact. 

"........Yeah, no doubt."

A small nod of the head brought a slight smile to Futsumen's mouth. 

A quarter of an hour later, Nishino finished his glass and left the bar. 

◇ ◆ ◇

After leaving Roppongi, Nishino went straight home to the share house.

He passed the entrance hall, walked up the stairs, and approached the second floor. 

Then he heard the lively voices of Rose and Gabriella arguing from the kitchen. 

It seemed that they were preparing dinner together. Behind them, the sound of water running in the sink and a pot boiling over. 

"Why did you put soy sauce in the Japanese dressing? " 

"Today at lunchtime, sister had prepared a delicious bean-curd soup, so I decided to respect it. I think this dish is absolutely perfect. The spicy flavor will definitely make your chopsticks go faster!"

"That's why I put garlic in it. And I made it so red......."

"Don't you think the taste was just perfect? Let's have a little taste!" 

"Oh, hey, don't scoop it up with such a big spoon......"

"Mmmmmmmmmm!?" 

Immediately afterward, I heard the sound of something breaking with a clank and a bang. 

This was another disturbing sign. 

As he was heading for his room on the third floor, Nishino turned his steps toward the living room. He went through the door, which had been left open, and saw Rose and Gabriella standing in the kitchen through the dining room, which was connected to the floor. 

The other party seemed to have noticed him, too, and their voices reached him over the counter. 

"You are very late today. Where have you been?" 

"Oh, I was visiting Marquis." 

"Working, by any chance?" 

"Something like that." 

Until just last month, the Futsumen would not have been honest enough to tell Rose about the situation. However, the two have a more amicable relationship these days than ever before. Nishino did not hesitate to tell her about his plans for the day. 

They were talking like a married couple, was the amorous comment that popped into Rose's head. 

Nearby, Gabriella repeatedly coughed and coughed. 

It seemed that she had inhaled the pungent flavor with great gusto. It seems to have entered her trachea, and she looks quite spicy. At her feet, there is a broken ceramic plate and a splatter of hot Chinese dressing, which has been replaced by Japanese dressing. 

"My throat....... My throat is being violently violated by the soy sauce............!" 

"It's no wonder. How stupid are you?" 

While watching the exchange between the roommates, Nishino went to the dining room table. 

Putting his bag at his feet, he settles down in the chair that has become his permanent position. Rose and Gabriella have been in constant turmoil since they started living together. The Futsumen decided to stay at the same place until dinner to keep an eye on things. 

"W-Water, I need water......" 

Once her throat has calmed down, Gabriela's attention turns to the sink. 

She reaches her right hand to the faucet handle and turns her mouth to the spout end. Her free left hand is prodded vigorously against the sink's edge to support her body. She was ready to drink directly from the faucet, frustrated at the prospect of having to draw water into a glass. 

This was a poor decision. 

The tip of his left hand, which he lowered to support his posture, was a cutting board. The knife used to cut the food was still on top. And the main body was placed so that it protruded a few centimeters from the worktop into the sink. 

Gabriella poked her hand into that unstable area, causing the cutting board to make a vigorous half-turn. 

The knife on top of the worktop flew through the air in an extreme motion due to the principle of leverage. 

It flew over the head of Gabu-chan, who had been standing next to the sink with his head down to take a sip of water, and went straight for Rose, who was standing right next to her. Unfortunately, the tip of the knife was facing the direction of travel. 

The sharp edge of the knife struck the blonde Lolita in the throat. 

"Ugh......... " 

It had happened before, Rose thought. 

It was a feeling similar to resignation. 

The blade had gone a few inches into her neck. 

Still, it didn't seem to have gained enough support to hold its own weight. The knife was stuck in her neck for a moment before it slipped out of its own accord and fell to the kitchen floor. It hit her through the handle and a loud thud sounded. 

Without a moment's pause, the blood spurting out of the knife turned the kitchen a bright red. 

It was only a brief moment. 

Even Nishino could not react to this. He quickly stood up and turned his attention to use his power, but at that point, Rose had already received a kitchen knife on her body. It splashed across the counter and onto the dining room table. 

And much of the blood that sprayed out hit Gabriella, who opened her mouth to drink water. 

A large amount of blood entered her mouth. 

"Ubabababababa ! " 

The throat, craving water, gulps, unable to cope with the unexpected influx of blood. 

She swallowed a not insignificant amount of blood reflexively. 

Her eyes went black and white, and she ended up slumped to the floor. 

It seems that Gabriella herself did not intend to do this. 

"You really are a little bitch......... " 

A twisted Rose mutter is given to Gabriella. 

The knife seems to have barely missed the trachea. 

However, a great deal of blood loss is real. 

A few moments later, Rose collapses, unconscious from blood loss. 

"........."

Nishino is at a loss for good words when it comes to this. 

Still, he was relieved that it was Rose, not Gabriella, who had been affected. He got up from his chair in the dining room to clean the kitchen. 

◇ ◆ ◇

Rose's blood had completely wiped out all the food that was in the process of cooking. The salad that was to be drizzled with Gabriella's house-made dressing, the beef stew that was slowly simmering on the stove, and everything else were bright red. 

Nishino spent the rest of the night frantically cleaning up the kitchen. 

Dinner had to be purchased at a nearby convenience store. 

The three of them shopped in good humor. 

After leaving the store, Nishino and the others visited a park near their home. 

At Gabriella's suggestion, the three of them lined up on a bench set up in the middle of the park. Fortunately, the wind was not blowing at all this evening, and the cold seemed bearable if they put their jackets on. 

"I love eating steamed meat buns in the cold weather. I'm so hungry, I can't resist it!" 

"If this is the case, I should have purchased some hot oden." 

"Yeah, I agree with that opinion." 

The steaming hot steamed buns. Along with Gabriella, who was smiling broadly as she took a bite of the steamed bun, and Rose, who was rolling the pasta around. Surrounded on either side by these two women, Nishino put the onigiri into his mouth with a voice of agreement. 

The long, horizontal benches set up in the park are a bit cramped for three adults to sit on. However, two of us are small in stature, so without much difficulty, the three of them were able to get in line. There was plenty of room for the items they had purchased at the convenience store. 

"Sometimes, this kind of meal is quite nice, don't you think?" 

"To be honest, I don't think the taste is that great. " 

"Compared to sister's cooking, I suppose so. But I think it is not bad at all." 

"Then, from tomorrow on, you should eat lunch boxes and prepared foods from convenience stores for every meal." 

"Wait a minute. There is a limit to how much you can spend." 

Then, Rose and Gabriella, who are seated quickly become lively. 

With Nishino between them, they begin to argue. 

"That's the problem here. How could you  mess up  like that?" 

"It was my first time using soybean paste, so I couldn't judge the right amount. I won't fail next time."

"There won't be a next time for you. Stay away from the kitchen, no matter what." 

"Then who will wash the lettuce and cabbage?" 

"I'll wash them myself. You're constantly getting the sink area soaked." 

" No, I don't. That's the price you have to pay for washing all the food!" 

It was late at night and no one was to be seen in the park but them. 

Rose and Gabriella's voices echo in the quiet park. 

The Futsumen listens to the voices of Rose and Gabriella, and quietly takes a bite of his onigiri. It has been quite a long time since he ate an onigiri, which he should have been accustomed to eating, probably because some time has passed since he started living with Rose. 

Nishino was deeply moved when he thought of the drastic changes that had taken place in his surroundings during the fall and winter of this year. He remembered that he had less time to spend with his pet hamster, and decided to give it a little attention this evening. 

Some time later, when Gabu-chan had finished eating the steamed buns, she picked up the next dish on the menu. 

As she was about to pick up the next dish, her arm, which was pointed at the plastic bag, fell to her feet with a clatter. The sleeves of her clothes, which had lost their support, fluttered softly as Rose and Nishino looked on, reacting to the sound. 

"Oh, my prosthetic arm has fell off." 

"It's understandably heartbreaking when your arm suddenly falls off." 

"I dropped it in the living room the other day." 

"At this point, the arm condition is not good." 

She picks up the prosthetic hand that has fallen off and begins to clatter it back to where it was. Gabriella moves her limbs so naturally that Nishino and Rose almost forget this fact. 

"You are still young. Could it be because your body is growing?" 

"I think it's very likely." 

"If anybody on campus were to try to take it off you, there would surely be an uproar. In your case, it won't make any difference even if you don't go to class, so why don't you just go and get something that fits your body?"

"That's the plan. I will go to get my measurements soon." 

"I don't mind if you go back to your parents' house while you're at it." 

"Don't worry, sister. I'll be back after three days of traveling back and forth." 

As soon as he finished fixing her prosthetic hand, Gabu-chan immediately resumed eating. She happily bit into a hot snack she had taken out of a plastic bag. As before, she was able to dexterously move the fingers of both hands with her mysterious powers.

With this scene in the background, Rose asked Nishino.

"By the way, Nishino, how is it with the girl you met in Guam?"

"What do you mean ? " 

"You seemed to be on good terms with her when you parted."

" Oh ... " 

Rose was also a firm witness of the two hugging each other in the airport lobby. 

Even though they had parted on the spot, it is quite possible that they have kept in touch since then. For her, this is a serious situation. She is very conscious of the need to understand the situation at this time and, if possible, to eliminate the seeds of a romantic relationship. 

However, he denied such fears. 

"We haven't even exchanged contact information. I don't see what's the big deal." 

"Oh, really?" 

"I haven't checked with Francisca, but she will still be busy with personal matters for the time being. My relationship with my father is also insecure. Under the circumstances, I'd like to refrain from putting a burden on the other side of the table."

"That is also a noble idea." 

I would be lying if I said I had no regrets. 

Even so, I tried my best to put on a good face in front of others. 

Immediately after that, Gabriella, who was chewing on her fried chicken, gave some additional information. 

"The Chairwoman of your class exchanged contact information with that girl. I heard from her that she had exchanged contacts with her immediately after she returned to Japan. She even offered to take English conversation lessons with him."

"English conversation lessons? " 

"Since we are acquaintance, wouldn't she be able to tell me if I asked her?"

The Futsumen, whose casual teasing immediately comes back to haunt him, to his own detriment. 

But, having said all that, he cannot just nod his head. 

"...... No, let's stop" 

Rose was inwardly smitten by this. 

Once he had a word, he was a very stubborn the Futsumen. He would not voluntarily contact Nora. With this in mind, he is comfortable that his relationship with the exotic girl is far from over. 

"Oh, sister is smiling with that nasty smile again!" 

"You, you are not very good at talking to people, are you?" 

"Your smile is somehow similar to Francisca's." 

"I don't look like her, she looks like me. I hope you don't misunderstand me." 

She was so upset that she was almost complaining about it. Rose, while putting the pasta in her mouth, looked disappointed. The Futsumen looked at her unhappy face and muttered something to her. 

"However, I'd much rather be doing this with you guys than with that woman." 

"Oh, what do you mean by that? Nishino." 

"I don't mean anything else. I mean exactly what I said. Recently, I have come to realize that spending time together like this is not so bad after all. I also like the fact that the time passes somewhat more peacefully than usual."

"I'm surprised that [Normal] has such sentiments." 

"You think you know what people are like." 

"Sister, please don't monopolize Nishino Gokyou. And both of you, give me more attention."

"How about you learn a little modesty?" 

"Life is about enjoying every ordinary day to the fullest. There is no time for hesitation."

"I don't doubt that you have a point, but..." 

After the meal, Nishino and his friends spent some time in the park at night, talking about trivial things. Considering how hectic things have been in recent days, it was the first time in a while that the three of them spent an ordinary, peaceful time together.