After I Was Confessed, the Young Lady Looked Strange Chapter 2

Chapter 2: The Young Lady's Covert Schemes

"Tendou-san, do you have some time now? There's something I want you to help me with, together with Kagehito."

Yukimichi called out to me and the Young Lady after school, just as we were about to head home. He was holding an unfamiliar, large paper bag in his hand.

"I'm free," the Young Lady replied.

"I'll go along with whatever the Young Lady wants to do, but what exactly do you want our help with? Judging by that paper bag, it seems related."

"Sharp observation," Yukimichi nodded, pulling a box about the size of a tablet out of the paper bag. It didn’t look like something you’d find on the market. The surface of the box was marked with handwritten text in marker.

"… 'Life Game (Provisional)'?"

"Yeah. Someone I know asked me to make it, so I thought I'd test it out and figured you guys could help."

Inside the box was indeed a complete set of materials for a life simulation game. At first glance, it was so well-made that it could pass for a commercially available product.

"You really are good with your hands."

"Stop it. I just picked it up after being bossed around by girls for so long."

I briefly wondered if that warranted pity, but since he seemed satisfied with his skills, there was no need to ruin the mood.

"Putting Kazami’s craftsmanship aside, this looks interesting. Let's give it a try," the Young Lady said with enthusiasm.

"If the Young Lady says so..." I agreed. It seemed the handcrafted aspect had piqued her interest.

Indeed, the idea of something less predictable than a store-bought game might have stirred her curiosity.

"The basic rules are the same as any life simulation game," Yukimichi began explaining. "You roll the dice, move the number of spaces it shows, and whatever is written on the space you land on happens. Sometimes you'll have tasks to complete."

"Dice? Not a roulette wheel?"

"Yeah, I couldn’t make the roulette in time. So for today, we’ll stick with dice," Yukimichi said, pulling out a ten-sided die.

"Wait a moment. Kazami, there is nothing in this world less trustworthy than the dice you bring," the Young Lady declared.

"That’s harsh!" Yukimichi protested.

"It’s just your usual behavior catching up with you," she retorted.

Truth be told, I agreed with her.

"When you say ‘tasks,’ that means we’re going to be made to do things, right? There’s a high chance you’re planning to rig it so the Young Lady and I end up doing something weird."

"Your lack of trust wounds me. But, well, I didn’t bring any other dice."

"Don’t worry about that. I happen to have my own dice," the Young Lady said, smoothly pulling out a black ten-sided die from her uniform pocket.

"...? Young Lady, why do you even have a ten-sided dice on you?" I asked.

"Oh, it’s just a coincidence. It just happened to be in my pocket," she replied nonchalantly.

"...Uh-huh," I muttered. Could that really be a coincidence?

...Maybe I was overthinking it. After all, there was no reason for the Young Lady to specifically carry a ten-sided die in her pocket. Besides, she couldn’t have known Yukimichi was bringing the Life Game (Provisional) today.

At the very least, I trusted her die more than the one Yukimichi had.

"Alright then, let’s use Tendou-san’s dice and get started. How about I go first, and we go clockwise from me?" Yukimichi suggested.

"I’m fine with that. It makes sense for the game’s creator to go first since it might help the game run more smoothly," the Young Lady agreed.

"If the Young Lady is fine with it, so am I," I added.

Going clockwise from our current seating, Yukimichi would go first, the Young Lady second, and I’d go last.

"Great! Borrowing Tendou-san’s ten-sided dice, here are the game pieces and money."

The pieces were shaped like cars, with slots to insert pins representing the players.

The quality of the play money and game pieces was almost indistinguishable from commercially produced ones. Yukimichi's skill was impressive enough to turn this into a viable business if he wanted to.

"Alright, that’s everything. We’re all set to start. But before we begin, let me make this clear: whatever is written on the space you land on is absolute. You must follow it, no exceptions. Otherwise, it ruins the fun."

"…You’re definitely planning something weird, aren’t you?" I muttered suspiciously.

"I get it already. Let’s just start. Wasting time is pointless," the Young Lady said, cutting off my attempt to interrogate him.

"Alright, alright. I’ll go first then," Yukimichi replied, clearly eager to begin.

The Young Lady was enthusiastic, so I didn’t want to dampen her mood by pressing further.

...Fine. If things got too strange, I’d step in and stop it.

"The number I rolled is... ten, huh?"

Yukimichi moved his piece forward ten spaces. But when he stopped, there was nothing written on the space.

"...Huh? Wait a second. None of the spaces have any writing on them!"

"Heh, that’s because every space has a sticker covering it. When you land on a space, you peel off the sticker to reveal the instructions. Adds an element of surprise, doesn’t it?"

"Wow, that’s pretty clever," I admitted, impressed despite myself. Apparently, every space was hidden beneath stickers.

It was a creative touch, and I had to admit, it added a bit of excitement.

"Alright, let’s see what’s under this space... Uh-oh."

[Run around the school building ten times. During this time, your turns are skipped.]

"Ah, man! What a brutal start. I landed on a major dud," Yukimichi groaned.

"That’s unfortunate," the Young Lady said with mock sympathy.

"Yeah, real shame. And since my turn is skipped until I finish those laps, you two go ahead and enjoy the game by yourselves."

"Very well. We’ll continue without hesitation," the Young Lady replied smoothly, a faint smile playing on her lips.

—Wait, what? Just now… did they exchange some kind of eye contact?

While I tilted my head in confusion, Yukimichi got up and disappeared down the hallway after school.

"Next is my turn," the Young Lady said, as if nothing had happened.

"R-right," I replied, watching as she casually rolled the die.

Wait a second… wasn’t she holding the die in her right hand earlier? When did she switch it to her left hand?

"The roll is… eight. Moving forward eight spaces…"

The Young Lady advanced her piece, peeled the sticker from the space she landed on, and revealed the instructions.

[Until your next turn, hold hands with the person sitting next to you like lovers.]

...What kind of command is this?

"Um, Young Lady…"

"Oh my. Well, what’s done is done. The only person next to me right now is you, Kagehito. So… shall we? Lover’s handhold?"

"Uh, isn’t this command a bit strange…?"

"Strange? I don’t think so. It seems like a perfectly ordinary command to me."

"Ordinary…?"

Maybe the Young Lady and I had completely different definitions of the word "ordinary."

"It’s the rule to follow the instructions, isn’t it?"

"If you say so, Young Lady… I don’t mind."

"Hm."

With that, I nervously intertwined my fingers with hers.

Her hand was soft and warm. Her warmth traveled through our hands, making me acutely aware of her presence.

"Your hand has grown larger, Kagehito," she remarked with a small laugh.

"When are you even comparing this to?" I asked, feeling a mix of confusion and embarrassment.

Before I knew it, the Young Lady had scooted her chair closer to mine. The distance between us seemed… unusually small.

"Um, Young Lady… isn’t this a bit too close?"

"It can’t be helped, can it? We need to hold hands like lovers. Right?"

Even so, did we really need to be so close that our shoulders were touching?

Well, if the Young Lady was satisfied, I supposed it wasn’t worth complaining about...

"Now then, let’s continue the game. It’s your turn, Kagehito," she said with a smile that carried a hint of mischief.

•❅──────✧❅✦❅✧──────❅•

The Prince Cookie Incident at the Station Front

(During which Kagehito helped a girl in passing and was thanked with cookies)
As the incident came to light, I decided to set a plan I'd long been considering into motion.

How unusual. For Tendou-san to call me directly like this."

"I have a favor to ask of you."

"A favor? Now that’s even more unusual. Could it be that you’ve finally remembered we’re childhood friends?"

"Coming from someone like you, who doesn’t open up to the people around them, that’s rich."

"Oh, how unexpected. I had no idea the lady herself had a desire to interact with me so amicably. Shall I start calling you by your first name from now on?"

"I’ll pass."

This childhood friend of mine has always been distant, never opening up to others. That’s why he insists on calling me “Tendou-san,” maintaining an air of formality. Not that it bothers me—it’s just the way he is. The only person Kazami really opens up to is Kagehito. I’d bet he even calls Kagehito by his first name.

"... Can we get to the point already?"

"Fine by me. Whether I accept depends on the reward, though."

"At least you’re straightforward. I appreciate that."

As long as the reward is good enough, Kazami will get involved. That sort of simplicity is something I can respect.

"I need you to make something. You’re good with your hands, right?"

"Well, my mother’s an engineer, and I’ve helped her with various projects, so yeah, I’m confident in that. What do you need me to make?"

"A life board game."

"... Uh... Could you elaborate on that a bit more?"

"Sigh... I guess it can’t be helped. For your lack of comprehension, I’ll explain it in more detail."

"…Thanks."

"A life board game designed for Kagehito and me to legally get closer."

"...You should really get some sleep."

"Who’s sleep-deprived here?"

How rude. Of course, I’m getting enough sleep.

"I’ve already drafted the detailed specifications. All you need to do is bring it to life. Also, I’d appreciate your help when it’s time to play it with Kagehito."

"Well... sure, I guess. Sounds interesting enough. But I’ll be expecting proper compensation."

"... Fine. What do you want?"

"A favor."

"... The thought of owing you a favor is dreadful. I’d almost prefer if you just asked for a stack of cash."

"From my perspective, having Tendou Hoshine owe me a favor is worth more than money."

I hate the idea of being indebted to this guy, but I have no choice.

Since we started high school, more girls have been approaching Kagehito. I’m prepared to take some risks.

"Fine. I agree to your terms."

"Deal."

Kazami completed the “life board game” just three days after I sent him the specifications.

But the real problem came after that: figuring out how to get Kagehito to play the game.

If I were to suddenly bring the game and command Kagehito to play it with me, it would simply reinforce our "master-servant relationship." That wouldn’t do. Such an approach would render the game ineffective.

It must appear completely natural. Playing at the estate would inevitably feel like an extension of our formal dynamic. But if it were, say... within the school? There, we could play as “fellow students,” rather than as “master and servant.”

The solution I came up with was to have Kazami initiate the invitation instead.

That way, we could naturally create the scenario of "students playing with friends after school."

However, this plan had one flaw: Kazami is inherently meddlesome.

"I could just find an excuse to bow out."

"That would feel unnatural. It has to seem inevitable, completely organic... Let’s see. How about this: you leave at the 10th square. If I tamper with the dice to ensure it always lands on '10,' that should solve the problem."

"But wouldn’t that mean you and Kagehito would also end up on the 10th square?"

"I'll switch the dice when the time is right. I’ll modify the other dice to ensure '10' never comes up."

"Wow, that’s... elaborate."

To avoid suspicion, I arranged for the dice Kazami provided to be rejected under some pretext, ensuring we’d use the dice I prepared instead. This would reduce any concerns about tampering.

And so, the day arrived.

Everything went exactly as planned, and Kagehito and I found ourselves playing the game alone.

An empty classroom after school. Just the two of us. The perfect setting.

Now I could enjoy spending time with Kagemito to my heart’s content.

But that wasn’t the only goal... This game would also be my chance to win Kagehito over.

•❅──────✧❅✦❅✧──────❅•

"Next up is a roll of '5.' Let’s see… the fifth square says… 'Hug the person next to you for 10 seconds.' "

"Um… Young Lady?"

"The person next to Kagehito is… me, right?"

"Young Lady?"

"Well then. Go ahead and hug me."

With a bright, cheerful smile, she spread her arms wide, fully prepared to be embraced.

"I don’t mind, but…"

"What is it?"

"Don’t you think this 'Life Game (tentative)' is... strange?"

"Strange? Not at all. Not even a little bit. It’s perfectly normal."

Her ironclad smile betrayed no hint of guilt or doubt, dismissing all my suspicions outright.

"Come on now, hug me already."

"A-All right… as you wish."

Something’s wrong. This life game… it’s definitely off.

Since we started playing, all the instructions have been like this—completely abnormal.

Even now, I’m cursing Kazami, who still hasn’t returned after supposedly stepping out for some air around the school building. It’s been a while, but there’s no sign of him coming back.

"Well then… excuse me."

"Mm."

I pulled her into an embrace as she stood there with open arms. Her graceful, elegant frame felt as delicate as glass, making me hesitate. But it seemed she had anticipated my reluctance. Without hesitation, she wrapped her arms tightly around me, ensuring the hug was firm and unwavering.

"…Kagehito, you’ve grown so much stronger compared to before."

"I’ve been training, after all."

"Heh, that’s true. You’re so manly now… it’s wonderful."

Even as I wondered whether it was really okay for me to be hugging her like this, she seemed utterly satisfied.

"You’ve grown so much taller than me now."

"Of course. I’m not a little kid anymore."

"Yes, that’s true. You’re not a little kid anymore. Neither of us are."

…Was it just me, or did she put extra emphasis on “neither of us”?

"Hey, Kagehito. I’ve grown, too, you know."

"I’m well aware."

"Do you really understand what I mean?"

"? Yes?"

"Just like you’ve grown taller, stronger, and in so many ways… I’ve grown, too. Where do you think I’ve grown the most?"

It feels like it’s been more than 10 seconds already...

But she shows no intention of letting go. In fact, she’s holding on even tighter, as though trying to press every part of herself against me.

"Young Lady, you’re always growing, every day. It would take too long to list everything."

"There’s no need to overthink it… just say what comes to mind, honestly."

…What comes to mind, honestly, huh?

"Well, let’s see. I’d say…"

"You’d say…?"

She looked up at me, her eyes sparkling with hope and anticipation. They practically glittered, brimming with expectation.

"You’ve learned to lean on others a bit more, I’d say."

"……………………………………………………"

The light in her eyes vanished in an instant.

…Huh? Did I not convey what I meant properly?

I should clarify this, just to be sure.

"Young Lady, you’ve always been talented and hardworking, but because of that, I felt you weren’t very comfortable relying on others. However, now, you’ve learned to accept help and even lean on others when needed. I think that’s a remarkable sign of growth."

"That’s not it at all!"

"It’s not!?"

I thought I had pointed out something admirable about her growth, but judging by her reaction, she seemed deeply dissatisfied.

"Listen, Kagehito. You’re holding me right now, aren’t you?"

"That’s true. Though I feel unworthy of doing so…"

"You’re hugging me tightly, and surely there’s something you’re feeling, right?"

"Yes, there is."

"Then say it."

"You’ve learned to lean on others more."

"That’s not it."

"That’s not it!?"

I’m lost… completely lost…!

"I’m not talking about something emotional or psychological. I mean something more… tangible." (T/N: Tangible - Capable of being touched.)

"Are you sure you’re okay with that kind of answer, Young Lady?"

"Are you really the one asking me that?"

Her smile, while still present, carried an almost crushing intensity. One thing was clear: I was somehow in the wrong.

"I can’t make progress on the emotional front, so I’m attacking from the physical side instead."

Physical growth, rather than emotional? Knowing the young lady, it must be something far more sophisticated than anything I could comprehend.

"Then, if I may be so bold, could you enlighten me on the particular aspect of growth you’re referring to?"

"My breasts have gotten bigger."

"Young Lady!?"

"It’s been such a hassle lately; they’ve gotten even tighter in my uniform."

She puffed out her chest with pride, as if to emphasize the point. Even through her uniform, the curve of her figure was hard to ignore. My gaze almost betrayed me, drawn instinctively toward the sight—but no! Such improper thoughts toward one’s mistress are utterly unacceptable. Remember your place, your station. The fact that I even stand here beside her is a miracle in itself. Stay humble. Center your thoughts.

"Young Lady, please refrain from making such statements so casually. It reflects poorly on the dignity of the Tendou family. You must carry yourself with the awareness befitting a lady of your stature."

"That kind of propriety isn’t necessary right now."

"No, it’s always necessary…"

Realizing it had been well over ten seconds, I gently released her from the embrace.

Yukimichi, you scoundrel. Because of the strange game you made, the young lady is starting to say the most outlandish things, swept up in the mood of the moment.

"It’s your turn now, Young Lady."

I need to end this game as quickly as possible. Fortunately, we’re nearing the endgame. It shouldn’t take much longer. While the instructions have been peculiar, there aren’t many squares, likely because it was challenging to come up with a variety of commands.

With a dissatisfied pout, the young lady rolled the die. It landed on eight.

"The eighth square says…"

After everything that’s been thrown at us so far, surely the game’s running out of ideas by now.

Yukimichi must’ve hit the limit of his concentration, resorting to something simple or harmless at this point…

"‘Until your next turn, the servant must carry the master in a princess carry.’"

"Carry the master in a princess carry!?"

I couldn’t believe my eyes. Yet there it was, plain as day on the board: ‘Until your next turn, the servant must carry the master in a princess carry.’

"Young Lady! This is ridiculous!"

"What part of it is ridiculous?"

"This is a direct callout!"

"It’s all in your head."

"It’s not just in my head—it’s written right here in black and white!"

"But does it explicitly say your name?"

"W-well, no, but…!"

Her expression remained entirely serene, as though nothing was amiss.

…Is it me? Am I the one who’s lost touch with reality…?

•❅──────✧❅✦❅✧──────❅•

"...Hmm. As expected, is strong-willed.

I tried several commands, but he doesn’t really seem to acknowledge them.

I even tried pressing my grown body against him, but that didn’t work either. I was pretty confident it would.

But the game is already nearing the end.

I’m going to push forward and conquer him from here...!

"Kagehito. Please hold me."

"...Understood. I’m a bit concerned that you’re basically naming me directly, but I’ll manage."

Reluctantly, as if hesitating, Kagehito picks me up with both arms.

He effortlessly lifts my body, showing his strength.

...Yeah. Like I said before, Kagehito has grown too.

When he hugged me earlier, I was secretly excited by the muscles on his body, and now... his dignified expression, his gentle hands...

(No, no, this is not the time. Right now, I’m the one who’s supposed to be conquering him.)

If I get nervous, everything would go sideways.

"My lady, you’re light."

"Oh? You’re quite good with compliments."

"I’m being sincere... You’re so light, it’s a little concerning."

"Then hold me tight so I don’t fly away."

Though he tried to play it off as a compliment... I can’t deny I’m happy that Kagehito thinks I’m light. And since it’s Kagehito, I can tell he’s not just flattering me, it’s the truth.

"Um, my lady. With both hands occupied like this, I can’t roll the dice. Would you mind doing it for me?"

"Ah, right."

I roll the dice for Kagehito, and the result is 'One.'

I move forward one space and peel off a sticker.

"[List ten things you like about the person next to you]... So, I just need to list ten things I like about you, right?"

"Looks like it. Do you think you can do it, Kagehito?"

"That’s easy."

"Hmm. Then, go ahead and say it?"

"'Your hardworking nature.'"

When I urged him, Kagehito began speaking smoothly, without hesitation.

"'Your honesty with yourself.'"

...

"'The fact that you’ve become able to rely on others.'"

...

"...Wait."

"'The fact that you can value the thoughts of others.'"

"U-Um, Kagehito..."

"'The fact that you have confidence in yourself.'"

"W-Wait. Stop. Just... stop!"

"Young Lady? What’s wrong?"

"No... well..."

In the princess carry position, the distance between our faces is even closer than when he hugged me earlier. The way we’re positioned, it feels like he’s whispering in my ear... and with that, the ease with which he’s listing things he likes about me... the power of it is... far more overwhelming than I imagined.

"There are still five left, you know?"

"U-Um... is there... anything else? Something other than that?"

"Something else?"

"Yeah, not so much inner qualities... More like... you know. Something more... immediate. Like, physical appearance."

"Young Lady, your charm isn’t just about your looks..."

"I can’t handle much more. Please, no more inner qualities. From now on, just physical appearance."

"If you say so..."

Well, if it's about looks, he’s probably used to hearing compliments from others.

If we’re talking about surface-level things, even in this princess carry position, I can keep the impact under control.

"Your golden hair is beautiful."

"Right. Thanks."

...Yeah. I can’t help but feel happy when Kagehito praises me. It’s incomparable to when others say it. But since I’m used to hearing compliments, I think I can manage to hold on until the end.

"Your skin is as smooth as silk, which is wonderful, but the beauty when the sunlight reflects off you—no matter how many times I gaze at it, it’s never enough. When the morning sunlight shines on you during breakfast, you look like a fairy... no, more like a goddess of beauty—"

"Wait."

"Young Lady? Why are you covering your face with your hands?"

"Just wait a moment."

No, I can’t show him this face. Because... I’m sure I’ve turned so red that even a sunset wouldn’t be enough to cover it.

"...What was that just now?"

"I was simply listing the things I like about you, focusing on your looks."

"...I don’t need flattery."

"I’m not lying, this is my honest opinion."

"...I see."

Ah, no. I can tell. This pure, innocent smile of his... I know it’s not fake. And because it’s so genuine... it makes it all the more dangerous.

"Forget the hair thing. Please, talk about something else."

"Then, next... your blue eyes. They’re as clear and transparent as the sky, and no matter how many times I look at them, I can never get enough. I could gaze at them forever, though I would never be able to do so. They shine like the dazzling ocean, like precious gems, their beauty is beyond measure. To try to put a price on them would be impossible. Even if I gathered all the jewels in the world, they would never rival the beauty of your eyes—"

"Okay, I surrender!!"

No, this is impossible. With him whispering like that in my ear while I’m in his princess carry... my heart definitely won’t be able to take it.

"...Hey. Do you say things like that to other girls too?"

"If someone asks me what I like about them, I would answer honestly, just like I did with you."

"Yeah, I know. I get it."

That’s right. I knew that. Kagehito would do the same for anyone else, finding their good qualities and expressing them. What he just said was something Kagehito would say normally, it’s nothing special. It’s not special...

"---But, the fact that I can say all these things is only because of you, Young Lady."

...

"Huh?"

"Does that mean... I’m special to you?"

"Of course."

Without a moment's hesitation, without any doubt or wavering,Kagehito spoke those words clearly.

"...Am I the only one who’s special to you?"

"Yes. You are the only one who is special to me in this world."

"…"

Special? Did he just say "special"? He said it, right? And... in my ear? Was he whispering sweetly? Was that just my imagination? (No, it wasn’t my imagination.) Eh, what is this, no way, no way, is this really happening? This isn’t a dream, right? It’s real, right? Or maybe it doesn’t feel real, it feels more like a dream, doesn’t it? You know, like those places where you pay for drinks and they show you dreams... Ah, so do I just need to pay? If I pay and order expensive alcohol, will they show me this dream again? I’m fine, leave it to me, Kagehito. I’ll make you the number one host in the world! I’ve got enough money to turn a stack of bills into a private beach! Now, Kagehito, let’s rise together in the world of night!

"Can you say that again while popping open 20,000 bottles of Dom Perignon!?"

"Young Lady!? What are you saying while spinning around like that!?"

And so, with me losing my sanity, the game ended.

(...I was supposed to be the one conquering him, but I ended up being the one defeated.)

After that, I couldn’t face Kagehito properly for a while.

•❅──────✧❅✦❅✧──────❅•

"Yeah~ I have to admit, even I feel sympathy for you after that counterattack."

"...I see. I’ll accept that sympathy without hesitation."

"Wow... this is worse than I thought. Looks like you've got a serious case of it."

The voice of Kazami over the phone was dripping with genuine sympathy.

At this point, I didn’t even have the luxury to respond with something like, "Mind your own business."

"I mean, you were the one who set up the game, and now you've ended up being the one defeated, so I guess it’s only natural..."

"Heh... But, even if I fall, I won’t get up without gaining something, that’s just who I am—Tendou Hoshine."

"Did you get anything out of it?"

"Of course. Do you think I’m just losing my mind because of Kagehito’s sweet whispers?"

"Sorry, I really thought it was just the sweet whispers from Kagehito that made you lose your mind."

"Hehehe... You can only say that for now."

"So, what did you get out of it?"

"I realized that as long as Kagehito tells me, 'You’re a special person to me,' I’m willing to give him anything! I’ve learned that I have the resolve for that!"

"Seems like you’re not really cut out for that kind of thing, huh."

"That’s not true. I have money."

"So, if you’ve got the time to be giving him gifts, why not use that ridiculous wealth to approach Kagehito directly?"

"Shut up. I don’t even know what kind of move to make anymore..."

"Why not just confess to him honestly already?"

"That’s impossible."

"Why?"

"...I’ve tried a few times, but every time I try to confess, I get so nervous I can’t put it into words."

"Ah——— so that’s what’s been making it all complicated."

I felt a bit irritated at his choice of words, but I was too tired to argue about it, so I swallowed my words.

"...Maybe it’s better to stop with the short-term tactics and take it slow. After trying to make moves recently, I realized that the distance between us is just too close. Maybe I should try spending more time apart and see what happens."

"Well, we've been together since we were kids, so yeah... It’s probably because the distance is too close that he doesn’t notice me. But I guess it’s fine? Though, I do have some concerns."

"Concerns?"

"Well, if you're not careful, someone else might steal him away. Like, for example, if you end up meeting a big new heroine during your time apart...?"

"A big new heroine? Like who?"

"Well... have you heard the news that’s been going around? The songstress who's returned to the country?"

"Yes, I have. Our company once managed one of her concerts... But I believe that songstress is currently on a break from her activities."

"Rumor has it that she's in this town right now, and apparently, she’s around the same age as us."

"Are you saying there's a possibility that Kagehito might run into this songstress? That's quite the unexpected and interesting joke."

"Haha, yeah, right?"

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

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

An awkward silence settled between us. It seemed like Kazami was thinking the same thing.

―――― If it were Kagehito, it could happen.

"......By the way, what’s Kagehito doing today?"

"...I gave him the day off and forcibly sent him outside. He tries to work even on his days off, so I had to make him rest. ...And I was also thinking of giving us a little space to make him notice me."

"......I see."

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

".........................…"

Another uncomfortable silence fell. It seemed that Kazami was thinking the same thing.

―――― Could this have been a mistake?

"Well, well... It’s unlikely that we'd run into the songstress, especially since she's on a break from her activities."

"Y-yeah, you're right... It's impossible, right..."

I ended the call, then immediately began fiddling with my smartphone to dial Kagehito.

It wasn’t that I was worried. I just... wanted to hear his voice for a bit. If he picks up, I could casually ask how he’s doing. Maybe something like, "Hello, Kagehito, are you resting on your day off? The weather’s nice, so you should take a walk and rest your body." Yeah, perfect. There’s no problem with my simulation. Now, I just need Kagehito to pick up the phone...

...Pick up the phone...

...Pick up the phone...

...Something’s off. It’s not connecting.

Normally, he picks up before the third ring.

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

I put my phone away, then pulled out some clothes from the closet and called to the mansion staff.

"I’m going out. Have the car ready."

Chapter 2 End