The Days of the Double Makoto (6)
After the committee discussion ended, on some ordinary day.
The Double Makoto and Iroha had gathered at the Executive Residence.
This meeting was called the Makoto Strategy Meeting, proposed by Iroha herself.
The purpose was to discuss the future of the Double Makoto system.
······The progress was not smooth at all.
“Kiki kikit! There is an old saying in the world that more is better.”
Makoto opened her mouth to lay out her own argument.
“More is better. This Makoto is absolutely such an existence.”
With a vigorous thumbs-up, she pointed straight at herself.
“That’s right! The principle of more is better exists for me!”
Makoto spoke with absolute pride, as if declaring an immutable truth.
“It is already a proven fact by another me. The more I exist, the greater Gehenna becomes. Endless proportionality! Infinite upward trend! And finally, Kivotos will be conquered by me-!!!”
After Makoto’s declaration, Iroha shook her head wearily.
“No, I didn’t catch most of that. From now on, the prototype will have its speaking rights revoked.”
“W-what-!?”
Iroha delivered the verdict of rejection to Makoto.
By the way, she was treating Makoto as an early model with numerous defects—the prototype.
“Iroha! What exactly do you mean by prototype!”
“Simply put, it means the 0th generation.”
“0th generation? Heh heh heh! The 0th generation is better than the 1st, right? Indeed, a perfectly fitting expression for this Makoto!”
Makoto beamed with satisfaction at Iroha.
“With two seniors already, adding more would be terrifying. Triple is out. Absolutely not.”
Iroha frowned, her face showing clear distaste at even imagining the idea.
She looked like a middle manager who had to support an increasing number of direct superiors and was already fed up with it.
“But if it’s an upgraded version of the Makocchi senior, that might be interesting. Maybe the Makocchi senior MK2?”
Then Iroha turned her gaze toward me.
The look in her eyes when she looked at me was not pleased. She wore a face full of dissatisfaction.
“The current version of the Makocchi senior often causes enormous trouble with a completely calm face.”
Iroha’s gaze was sharp. I secretly turned my head.
“Last time, I suddenly shot at the Head Prefect and only missed.”
At that moment, Hina’s name came to mind from Iroha. I reflexively flinched.
“That was to help Hina-!”
The facts had been distorted. Exaggerated and blown out of proportion, a rumor had spread through Gehenna that I had shot Hina.
“Another me! Growing to the point of threatening Hina. Impressive. And I’m proud of it!”
Makoto looked delighted, like a mother praising a well-grown child.
I felt uneasy and pressed my forehead with my hand.
“Senior Makocchi.”
“Uh, yes?”
“The Head Prefect is a sharp person. You need to be cautious.”
Iroha pointed with her finger at the original Makoto.
“Sorasaki Hinaaaaaaaa-!!! That one, I cannot forgive with the name of Manma Jeon! I will trample the entire Prefect Team to dust!”
At the mention of Hina’s name, Makoto exploded in rage as if triggered by a condition reflex.
“As you can see, Manma Jeon has a rival-like relationship with the Prefect Team, right?”
Iroha used the raging Makoto as an example and continued her explanation.
Makoto was at that level. Hina would never think kindly of Makoto either.
“If possible, the Prefect Team should······, especially the Head Prefect, be avoided.”
Iroha emphasized to me that being connected to Hina was dangerous.
“W-well······. Maybe I don’t need to be so wary of Hina······?”
My reaction was subtle, so Iroha stared at me intently.
I broke out in cold sweat for no reason.
“Could it be that you like her?”
Finally, one sentence slipped from Iroha’s lips.
It felt as if my inner thoughts had been exposed, and my heart fluttered.
“Hiek!? W-what did you say!? I-I-I-I love you!? W-who who who!?!!?”
“Easy, Makocchi senior. From your reaction, I can tell.”
Iroha said to me with a face that had already derived the answer.
“The Head Prefect’s fluffy hair, you like it, right?”
“······Ah?”
My face, which had been flushed red, cooled slightly.
It was not a completely wrong answer, but it hadn’t touched the core.
In other words, only a partial score with minimal points.
“I should have known from the moment you coveted my hair. Because of the senior Makocchi’s fluffy lust, the Head Prefect would be on your mind.”
Iroha nodded with a face that had completed the situation analysis.
‘What to do. If I don’t match the rhythm, I’ll be suspected.’
The position was awkward. If I confessed that I liked Hina herself rather than the fluffy, the situation would reverse.
Originally, the reason I had touched Iroha was because she was similar to Hina.
“It’s not completely wrong······. Uh.”
“As expected. The Makocchi senior seems to want to mess with a fluffy person, even if it’s a wild tiger. Haa-”
Iroha sighed with a disgusted expression.
“What kind of talk is that! Rather than Hina, I should be the one to be touched by this Makoto! My hair is the best!”
Manma Jeon was a hothead. Makoto, feeling antagonism toward Hina, stuck her head in.
“No. The prototype senior is below standard. Because it’s not fluffy enough, get out of here.”
Iroha strictly judged the fluffy.
Therefore, Iroha, who did not grant quality certification to Makoto.
“If it’s an afro hair from a misfired shell, it would be fluffy. Afro-type.”
“That’s not fluffy at all! This Makoto is sick of bomb heads!”
Makoto shuddered in disgust and shouted at Iroha.
“Yes, then there’s nothing left but me.”
Iroha naturally boasted of being the only candidate.
Hmm. This flow, is it strange?
“To prevent the Makocchi senior from having interest in the Head Prefect, from now on, I will take charge of lust management.”
“······Yes?”
“First, shall we start with light night service?”
The conclusion was sudden. I looked at Iroha in confusion.
“Because the fluffy lust of the Makocchi senior would reach the Head Prefect, it would be troublesome. If a full-scale war broke out between the Prefect Team because of that, it would be a big deal.”
“There will be no such thing!”
“Puhuh.”
Iroha burst into a mischievous laugh. She had teased me maliciously.
“Iroha, you······!”
“Ah, wait. It might have been a bit too stimulating for the Makocchi senior.”
Iroha drew a sly smile at the corner of her mouth.
She stuck out her tongue a little and challenged me.
“Iroha! What does night service mean?”
“Simply put, it would be reading a book in bed until I fall asleep.”
“What? It’s nothing special. I can do that much. Kiki kikit!”
Even the innocent Makoto was spreading wrong knowledge to Iroha.
The seal of the Eroha mode had finally been broken.
“Do you understand, Makocchi senior?”
Iroha said to me with a knowing gaze.
“The conclusion is not to pester the Head Prefect. Because I don’t want to take responsibility. Rather, touch me. It would be less tiring.”
The middle manager aimed for welfare.
That is, Iroha, who appealed to avoid troublesome things.
“······No. I will leave such things for the person I like. Iroha also, if you think night service or such things lightly, it’s troublesome.”
“My answer is already touching every corner, and it’s only a mean one. ······Hmph.”
Iroha pouted at my answer.
Her expression was hurt because she couldn’t tease me.
“This meeting is over. Anyway, please be careful not to cause friction with the Head Prefect, Makocchi senior. Because I don’t want to be bothered.”
With this, the meeting ended in a dissolved atmosphere.
‘Sorry, Iroha.’
I secretly apologized to Iroha in my heart.
I could not fulfill Iroha’s admonition.
I had already made an appointment to meet Hina.