Unexpectedly,
the conversation with Principal Ootori yielded many benefits.
「She has her own lover... That's what
the principal said. So, he's truly just a guardian」
「If he's going to lie, that's a strange
way to answer」
Well,
if Principal Ootori going to lie, it's more effective to say he's her lover.
Maybe
there's a reason he can't do that, or maybe he just said the truth.
Either
way, it seemed to be the truth.
「Maybe the principal didn't want to talk
to it, so he was appeasing Chihiro-kun?」
「...I don't know. But maybe Suzu-san would
have forced him to the edge」
It
seems that the situation might be a bit more complicated.
And at
present, the information they have also too fragmented to make any guesses.
**a
Chihiro
want to get more information somehow.
However,
he and his team had limited options.
They
tried to search the web, but found no information about Suzu. For Principal
Ootori, they could only find a brief biography, but no information on his
family or relationship.
Ootori
Yuuji.
He is
an ordinary person, not a [Lost Item]. He went to art school from a private
preparatory school, and became the principal of the private Shibahou Academy a
short time after graduation.
「Why did he become the principal of a
school after graduating from art school?」
「Looks like a recommendation from a
blood relative or something. After all, the previous principal's last name was
also "Ootori"」
「...Did he give up on his dream?」
The
previous principal's name was Ootori Shuusuke. According to their research,
this Ootori Shuusuke was thirty years old when he took the position as
Principal.
Counting
backwards from the date, there just a seven or eight year age difference
between him and the current chair, Ootori Yuuji.
「Is he his relative, or is he his big
brother?」
This
person's family and marriage history were also unknown. Well, he's not so
famous that he deserves a separate page in an electronic encyclopedia.
...But
now, this seems to be the limit of what everyone can find out with almost no
risk.
Regardless
of whether checking the school's documents or asking people who know more about
them, investigating about Suzu or Principal Ootori at this moment would be
suspicious. Especially, Chihiro doesn't want to make too many public moves.
He is
also hesitant to ask Maisaka for help. He may be able to give him some
information, but he is not an ally. There is no guarantee that he will not pass
on the information that Chihiro is investigating to Principal Ootori.
In this
situation, it would be nice if there were connections.
And the
first thing that comes to mind is Maria's house, but Chihiro can't rely on
"that person". This is also true from an emotional point of view, and
from the previous incident, it seems dangerous to rely on "that
person" easily.
So, the
only thing he can think of is.
「I wonder if I can ask Hana」
Her
parents must have been a wealthy family or something.
He
doesn't know exactly how rich they are, what kind of connections they have, and
how close they are to Hana, but compared to Chihiro himself, Riko and Aika,
it's quite possible.
「But, do you think she'll cooperate?」
「I'm sure she'll react differently if
you ask her...」
In
response to Riko's concern and Maria's suggestion, Chihiro thought about it and
shook his head.
「...No, I'll do it this time. I think
it's better if we consider it later」
「Chihiro-kun, what do you mean?」
「I think we should bring Hana into
"our side" while we can」
Though,
he's not entirely sure if he can.
☆ ☆ ☆
「No, I don't want to」
「...I know it」
After
school the next day, Chihiro called Hana to the private training room - with
Aika, just in case - and talked to her after lunch.
Hana
sniffed as she chewed on a sandwich she had bought from the store.
As a
thank you for listening to her, Chihiro paid for Hana's lunch.
「There is no merit in cooperating. In
fact, there are many disadvantages. I wouldn't voluntarily step into a
dangerous place」
Chihiro's
plan was to "gain allies before the full-scale conflict".
Well,
from Hana's point of view, it would be a great loss if she approached Chihiro
knowing that a crisis was imminent and was regarded as his ally.
So, if
she keeps her current position one step back, she will be able to avoid
collateral damage even if Principal Ootori disposes of Chihiro in the future.
「If we continue like this, there's a
possibility that Maria might be in danger...」
He
tried to pull out his sword, but.
「I'm not going to take that chance. I
don't think the principal will let more students drop out without a second
thought too. But If Izumi-kun really intends to take Maria-chan to the point
where you can't get her back, I'll kill you right here and now」
「S-She hates you, doesn't she?
Chihiro-kun」
Aika
gives a slightly drawn out smile then she spoke again.
**b
「But if Hana-chan is serious, I won't
let you do that」
「Well, I wouldn't do that. Not at the
moment」
Hana
exhaled.
She
crumples up the bag of sandwiches she has just eaten and puts the straw from
the strawberry milk carton in her mouth.
She
gulps down the milk and opens her mouth again.
「In the first place, this is Izumi-kun's
own fault, isn't it? You've been caught by a crazy woman and now you're being
complained about by the people involved, right?」
「Well」
That
was a valid point.
No
matter how much Suzu was interested in Chihiro, an adult who asks a high school
student to have sexual intercourse with her is not normal. Suzu had a pretty
good character for hiding her identity, and Chihiro was too careless to fall
for such a suspicious woman.
「...But, please don't say too much bad
about Suzu-san. I'm sure she had her own reasons」
After
all, the last time he saw her, she was very distressed.
When
she said she wanted him to accept everything about her, he felt something
similar to Maria.
「You're so soft, as usual」
「You're so harsh」
「Well, I can't possibly be soft on
Izumi-kun. Besides, you owe me more than I owe you. If you're going to ask me
for a favor, why don't you at least finish that first?」
Here it
comes.
Chihiro
knew Hana was obsessed with that owe, so in a way it was expected that this
topic would come up.
She'll
probably say that until Chihiro repays the favor, so it's definitely necessary
to get rid of it as soon as possible.
...Having
no choice, Chihiro decided to carry out a plan that he had been thinking about
for a while.
「About that, Hana...」
「What is it?」
「There's a girl I'd like you to date, if
you don't mind. How about we call it even?」
「...Huh?」
She
hadn't expected that.
Hana
made a silly noise and opened her mouth.
