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Sequel 3C

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“...Happy New Year, student council president.”

Even though he felt like he was in a horror movie, Yuuma managed to say a greeting for politeness’ sake, and when he stopped walking, Ryou followed suit.

“Please go ahead, we will go later.”

“Since we’ve met already, why don't we go together? I’m sure you don’t want to waste time.”

“No, I don't think we'll have to wait that long.”

In fact, you can see the front shrine as soon as you pass through the torii, and even if you pray there and then come back, unless you pray elaborately, it won't take more than three minutes.

However, even if the area was large enough to take 30 minutes, Yuuma wanted to refrain from going with her.

To be honest, he didn't want to get too involved with her——that letter too, continued all the way until the day of the closing ceremony.

This situation they came across was truly one of horror or maybe suspense.

As such, Yuuma stubbornly tried to refuse, but he heard an unexpected voice from his side.

“——Well, there's no point in arguing. Shall we go together?”

Hearing those words from Ryou, Toujou looked at her, finally realizing that she was there.

“...Is that fine, Ryou?”

“I don't really mind. Ah, but——if Yuuma really hates it, I'll take back what I said.”

Her gaze asked him what he would do, but if he complained here, his honor would be sullied.

“No, I don’t mind either.”

“Then, that’s fine isn’t it——that’s how it is, student council president?”

Openly changing the pitch and tone of her voice from when she spoke to Yuuma, Ryou turned her gaze back to Toujou.

“It's only for a few tens of seconds, but would you like to join us?”

What kind of emotions did she sense in her easy-to-understand and thorny words?

“Aah… Himeouji too, Happy New Year.”

“Yes, Happy New Year.”

In Yuuma's eyes, it looked like intense sparks were flying between their gazes.

About 20-30 seconds after passing through the torii.

They soon arrived at the front shrine, with Ryou shaking the bells as the representative, they each threw a coin to complete the prayer in accordance with etiquette.

With no food stalls or even amulets for sale in the grounds, they just need to turn back now.

In the middle of that, the first one to break the silence and start talking was Ryou.

“Where did the president hear about this shrine?”

“Aah, it's the same as you, you know. I heard from Yuuma.”

Yuuma has asked her many times to stop calling him by his name, but she stubbornly refused to listen.

That being said, he didn’t remember ever telling her.

“...That, when did that happen?”

“Fufu, I guess you don’t remember… It was in middle school. Didn’t you tell me about a shrine in your neighborhood during our chit-chat during a break?”

Even if she said that, it doesn't come to mind at all, but it seems that it did happen.

When she remembered this, she looked up the neighborhood, checked the map and found this shrine.

When Toujou emphasized ‘in middle school’ in her sentence, Ryou slightly loosened her lips, but her eyes didn't smile.

“So it’s not like he told you where the place is, or has taken you there himself right?”

“Like I told you. I didn't tell anyone. Ryou was the first one I brought here.”

Behind Yuuma, who unintentionally turned around to face Ryou, and for some reason said that as if he was trying to defend himself, he felt that Toujou was about to say something.

But in the end she remained silent and kept her mouth shut.

Even if I say it, nothing would happen——she shook her head as if to say that.

“I didn't doubt that, but what kind of wish did you make, Senpai? If it was about the exam, you have a recommendation, and about the pending student council work, it has already settled down, right?”

“…Yes, somehow. I've shown some disappointing appearance, but I've been able to fulfill my responsibilities right up to the end of the year.”

It seems that she gave up her winter vacation to clean up the accumulated work.

If it was the winter vacation for students taking exams, they wouldn't have any homework——and if she didn't need to study for the entrance exam for recommended students, just like Ryou said, she would have had time to devote herself to her work.

“Actually, I tried to decline the recommendation, but the teachers told me that I couldn't do that.”

“Fufu, so that’s how it is.”

Ryou let out a cold laugh at her senior’s words.

“Well, the whole school was like that, so I don't think there's any point in having senpai perform the misogi alone. That's the correct answer.”

(T/N: misogi: purification ceremony (performed with water); ritual purification; ablutions. I can’t think of a correct translation.)

The cold New Year air felt like it dropped even lower.

When Yuuma pulled his scarf closer to cover his neck without thinking, Ryou opened his mouth further.

“In any case, it doesn't seem like you have any particular wish——in such a situation, you go out of your way to find a rare shrine for a first shrine visit, you sure are an oddball."

“——That's not true. Of course, I have a wish.”

Replying without a moment’s delay, Hibiki continued.

“Meeting Yuuma here may be the advance payment of the fulfillment. Thanks to that, I can have some hope that my wish will be fulfilled.”

He’s not going to think about why he was involved with that.

She was eagerly inviting him over and over again——even though they had settled their work, she probably wanted to bring him in as a member this time.

Like that, the two people's gazes were colliding even more violently on the left and right of Yuuma, who was convinced that he had misplaced himself.

There is a strong will in Toujou's eyes, but Ryou doesn't seem to care about it.

“——That's just your assumption, you know. Senpai's wish will never come true.”

“You sure say the strangest thing. It’s not related to you though.”

“Yes, of course I know. That's why I assure you that it will not come true.”

Toujou's words were filled with danger, but Ryou continued without stopping.

“No matter how much senpai wanted it, it's futile. Because I’m sure he doesn't have that kind of intention 'anymore'.”

“!!...What are you——”

Toujou was about to raise her voice, perhaps because he couldn't bear to overlook those last words, but then she remembered that they were in the precincts of the temple and shut her mouth.

Satisfied with what she said, Ryou also closed his mouth, looking refreshed.

And Yuuma was silent from the beginning to the end.

After about one minute of that oppressive time, they passed through the torii——.

“Well then, let's meet again at school.”

“...Thank you for your hard work, please excuse me.”

Not wanting to promise to meet again, Yuuma said goodbye with that greeting.

Toujou had a lonely air oozing off her, but Yuuma wanted to believe that she still had some rationality left in her as she didn’t try to forcefully take a promise from him.

“Well then, we'll have some osechi when we get home.”

Ignoring her presence, Ryou's voice boomed brightly as if she didn't feel the oppressive air.

Hey! Let’s go home!— She said as she pushed his back, but then he heard a reproachful voice from further behind him.

“——Himeouji, have you been intruding on him since New Year started?”

“Yes. We are close enough to be able to do that.”

While answering that, Ryou snuggled up to him, the distance between them was clearly too close for them to be friends of the same sex.

Perhaps feeling a strange——a glamorous atmosphere, Toujou looked at it and furrowed her brows.

“…There are strange rumors about the two of you. If you act so close like that, wouldn't it bring even more misunderstandings?”

Yuuma opened his mouth faster than Ryou at that thorny point.

“We know about the rumors. But we're the type who doesn't care about that sort of thing.”

“Yuuma… But——”

“That's why I'm with Ryou——I’ll be with him from now on too. I'm comfortable with the two of us together.”

Toujou's face, when he said that, showed no sign of the spirit she had had when she and Ryou were arguing with each other, and she had an expression of utter devastation.

“......I see.”

“Yes, that’s right.”

That was the one thing he could say with pride.

She bit her lip in frustration at Yuuma's attitude, and eventually, she turned away.

“...I won't say right away. But——one day, I hope you will understand.”

Leaving that small message behind.

Seeing senpai's back getting smaller——or rather, making sure she left, Yuuma finally let out a big sigh.

“…Ryou, don’t just just pick a fight like that. I don't really want to be with that person even at the best of times, it’ll just add unnecessary pain.”

“Eh—? Even though Yuuma said you didn't mind.”

“...That was a lie.”

In the end, Yuuma let out a whine that seemed like it would hurt his honor, but Ryou just chuckled.

“Yeah, I know. But, you see——I thought I'd have to keep her in check, just a little bit.”

“Check?”

“Yes, check. Against someone who sends such a passionate love letter almost everyday, a little bit of strong check is needed.”

“Is it a little bit, or is it strong, which one is it?——also, it’s not a love letter.”

Yuuma once again sighed deeply as he struggled with how to explain to her who didn't understand why.

“...In any case, it doesn't look like she’ll give up just like that.”

Really, what a troublesome person——.

Ryou's murmured words were drowned out by Yuuma's deep sigh, and didn’t reach his ears.

“Nn——Just now, did you say something?”

“Fufu, it’s a se—cret.”

Yuuwa was flustered and asked her again, but she just answered like that and laughed.

Himeouji Ryou knows.

That Yuuma once had feelings for Hibiki Toujou.

(I say know, but it’s a bit different——)

To be more precise, she somehow sensed the emotion Yuuma himself was unaware of, and his relationship with Hibiki when he was holding those feelings.

In the past, the two of them thought of each other, but they built a comfortable relationship without saying anything about it, so to speak, it was a relationship where they know each other well.

However——those feelings and relationships had already been severed by her own behavior.

The sight of her now trying to regain the relationship she herself had trampled on was beyond comical, and felt abhorrent.

It's not without sympathy since they both fell in love with the same man, but that's exactly why.

The existence of her who cut off such a wonderful man is very unforgivable.

At the same time——Ryou was secretly afraid that Yuuma would realize his former feelings.

She doesn't think that Yuuma will change his mind in the slightest, but just having him remember his feelings is enough to give Hibiki a peace of mind.

(T/N: I don’t know why she’s thinking about Hibiki. Probably just didn’t want her to be happy.)

Aware of her narrow-mindedness that she couldn’t even overlook, Ryou snuggled up next to Yuuma and looked at his side-profile with a sweet gaze.

(Haa——surprisingly, I have a jealous personality.)

Later, when she consulted with Reiko-san about it——.

“Eh? You just realized it now? Ojou-sama is a lump of jealousy, you know.”

She gave her a scathing comment.

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