Fluffy War (2)
Iroha let out a sigh at the suddenly annoying situation.
“Yeah, that makes sense. It’s a thing that doesn’t make sense unless it’s sent by Makoto.”
Hina opened her mouth with conviction in her voice.
“This machine is like a metaphor for our relationship.”
Every time Hina moved the lever, the machine negated the effort.
As if embodying Makoto’s will to interfere with Hina.
“If it had been a raccoon’s hand instead of a cat’s, it would have been much more relatable. The details are a shame.”
Hina clicked her tongue in a tone of disappointment at the boring prank.
“It’s ironic. I never thought I’d find out that Makoto changed because of this ‘unchanging thing’.”
Then Hina met Iroha’s gaze.
A look demanding a rebuttal to the previous conjecture.
If this continued, Iroha’s claim would be refuted by Hina.
Hanuma Makoto hadn’t changed. Iroha had to assert that point.
What to do. I don’t want to be swayed by the Prefect’s pace.
The opponent was a troublesome strong opponent—Hina. Long-term battle was disadvantageous.
Moreover, Iroha’s enthusiasm had hit rock bottom.
I don’t have to confess the truth to the Prefect…
Exercise the right to remain silent. Maintaining silence was also a way.
But if suspicion grew, the Prefect would step in directly.
But silence was just avoidance to buy time.
It was better to nip the suspicion in the bud when it was a small spark.
Haa. I didn’t think I’d go this far for Makocchi-senpai.
I wondered if that person would recognize my efforts. Iroha felt a slight doubt.
“Interesting hypothesis, Prefect. But you misjudged. Makocchi-senpai hasn’t changed.”
Iroha opened her mouth to confront Hina.
“The one who changed is… me, I guess?”
Not to tell lies, but to not say the whole truth.
“What does that mean?”
“I’m being highly regarded internally as the next chairman of the Prefect Team. Sending this gift in my name is part of that.”
It wasn’t entirely wrong. Iroha wasn’t particularly interested in the chairman position.
“It wouldn’t be a bad thing for the Prefect either. If I get elected as chairman, the relationship with the Prefect Team will improve from now on. Well, that’s after the Prefect graduates.”
It wasn’t wrong in a hypothetical sense. Separate from the realistic possibility.
“But Makoto wouldn’t want that.”
“Makocchi-senpai isn’t important.”
And now was the core of this story.
Shift Hina’s attention away from Makocchi to something else. Distraction.
“Because I’m seducing Makocchi-senpai and gradually taking control of the Prefect Team’s real power.”
Haa. Annoying. How did I end up saying this.
Iroha grumbled inwardly.
“Seduction, you say?”
Hina tilted her head in confusion.
“Would that be a bit too much for the naive Prefect?”
“…”
The clueless Hina was inexperienced in Eros.
“It means captivating with the body. Like a beauty trap, I suppose.”
“…!?!!!!”
Hina, who realized the physical meaning of seduction, was startled.
Her face flushed red as she frantically waved her hands.
“In exchange for allowing the body, control Makocchi-senpai. It’s a definite give-and-take deal.”
It was a rhetorical trick based on facts. No major deviation.
Makocchi stroked Iroha’s head, and Iroha allowed it.
“Ah, I told you too much. I hope you keep the secret?”
“Uh, um…”
Hina was cooling the heat in her cheeks and wasn’t focusing on Iroha.
It seemed the story had been quite stimulating for Hina.
“Anyway, I hope this answers your question.”
Iroha stood up. She decided to end the situation before Hina in confusion regained her senses.
“Makocchi-senpai hasn’t changed. I just move Makocchi-senpai as I intend.”
Iroha took on the role of the black villain. Thus preserving Hanuma Makoto’s original nature.
“The fact that this gift was delivered to the Prefect is my negligence. I can’t control every action of Makocchi-senpai anyway.”
Iroha extended her hand empty to Hina.
“If the ‘World’s Most Useless Machine’ displeased you, please return it. I’ll dispose of it.”
If getting the item back, Iroha planned to retrieve and store it.
It had enough value as a weakness to tease that person.
“…”
Then Hina held the World’s Most Useless Machine in her hand.
“No, I don’t want it. I’ll keep this.”
But the item was not delivered to Iroha.
Hina pulled the World’s Most Useless Machine inward.
“I don’t particularly hate it.”
That was how Hina said it.
♤
The Prefect Team’s office was peaceful.
Until the much more ferocious Iroha returned to the office.
“Iroha?”
As soon as Iroha confirmed me, she headbutted me.
Iroha, pressing me down with her head as if casting a headbutt.
“Haa. I’m really tired and exhausted. It’s all Makocchi-senpai’s fault.”
“What happened?”
“It was a surprise. You didn’t tell me. The fact that you gave a special gift only to the Prefect.”
“…Ah. You didn’t tell Iroha?”
Iroha buried her head deeper, putting even more weight on me. It was an action filled with resentment.
“The Prefect was really angry at me. It’s all because of Makocchi-senpai’s creepy gift.”
“It was that bad?”
“It was that bad. Feeling like surviving the enemy lines alive is like a miracle.”
Iroha grumbled in a voice full of dissatisfaction.
“I’ll take my reward.”
Suddenly Iroha lifted her head abruptly.
In an instant, Iroha’s face got close.
“What, what are you trying to do?”
“Kiss me.”
Iroha dropped a bold statement.
As a reflex, my lips were conscious. I tried to pull my body away from Iroha.
“What is that…!? I haven’t even had my first kiss yet!?”
“Don’t run away.”
Iroha hugged my neck with both hands.
And stood on tiptoes to overcome the height difference.
Just before Iroha’s lips reached mine closely,
“It’s just a figurative expression, but let’s kiss.”
Iroha pushed me back. It was a close call.
“You didn’t expect that, did you?”
The Iroha facing me next was smiling with mischief.
As if all the previous events were Iroha’s mischief.
“There’s no way.”
“You were the one embarrassed but you kept talking, Makocchi-senpai.”
This time too, I was the one teased by Iroha.
“The Prefect suspects Makocchi-senpai. Because the behavior is different from the original. It wouldn’t be strange to think she’s a different existence.”
“I’ve never done anything to make Hina suspicious!?”
I’ve only faced Hina once. I’ve tried not to expose my identity so far, but it was in vain.
“But you can relax. I managed to deceive the Prefect appropriately.”
Iroha shrugged her shoulders like a strategist who succeeded in a brilliant tactic.
“To avoid suspicion in the future, aftercare will be necessary.”
“Uh, huh?”
“If the Prefect suspects Makocchi-senpai, answer that I did it all.”
And Iroha declared.
“Because I’ll tame the senpai.”