Someday, Sometime (1)
Suddenly, I realized.
I had been caught by Sensei in my pure love for Hina.
“Ah, uwaaaaa!?”
What a disaster. I was panting, having forgotten Makoto's character.
My face must have turned bright red. No doubt about it.
“...... When did you notice?”
I asked Sensei, mustering up my courage.
“When the three of us were walking side by side.”
Sensei mentioned something about just before the ceremony.
Hina was about to see me off, but I stuck to her. I didn't want to send her off alone.
“So it was that obvious!?”
“To some extent.”
I got confirmation from Sensei. My cheeks were burning.
Why? Sensei has no prejudice against Makoto? Wait, could it be...?
The fact that Makoto and Hina are on bad terms is common knowledge in Gehenna.
Therefore, I can cling to Hina without being suspected. After all, I'm Makoto.
But Sensei is different. He has no preconceptions about Makoto.
“That means... if there's no fixed idea about Makoto... my actions appear to be showing affection for Hina.”
“Hah, ugh!”
I covered my face with both hands.
So embarrassing. Especially being caught by Sensei.
“Makoto.”
Sensei opened his mouth to me.
“I’ll cheer for Makoto.”
Like encouraging a student's romantic troubles, Sensei gave me courage.
“...... Really?”
I carefully looked at Sensei through my fingers.
Sensei gave me a thumbs up. A positive gesture.
“S-Sensei-!”
I was a fool blinded by jealousy.
I vaguely suspected Sensei like a cool adult. Because I was worried if Sensei liked Hina.
“Sensei wasn't a rival in love. It was all my misunderstanding.”
The famous line from an old movie comes to mind.
This seems like the beginning of a beautiful friendship.
“I’ll leave Hina to you, Makoto.”
“Understood. I’ll leave Hina to you. I’ll take responsibility and bring her back.”
Since I took on Sensei's role, I can't back down.
“The only one who can confront the Head Prefect is the President of the Pandemonium Society!”
Eventually, I headed to where Hina was.
♤
Hina's secret hiding place.
I found Hina there.
“...... President Makoto.”
Hina lowered her gaze with a gloomy voice.
Hina, with a pained expression, tried to avoid me.
“Has this trip here to mock my pitiful self?”
Hina in pajamas was crouching, covering her head.
Her hair was disheveled and her wings were messy.
“Yeah, do as you like. Mock me as much as you want. ...... I'm tired now.”
Hina had given up.
Even in front of Makoto, she couldn't maintain her composed demeanor.
“...... Hina.”
I tried to approach Hina.
But Hina rejected me. She turned her back to me.
“Speaking of which, we talked about retirement before.”
Hina suddenly recalled the late-night meeting.
At that time too, it was just the two of us like now.
“At that time, I said there was no way I could retire. ...... Actually, it was a lie. I was planning to retire after the Eden Treaty.”
Hina's delicate voice cracked in places.
As if opening her mouth was part of the pain.
“You protected Sensei. ...... I couldn't do anything. I couldn't even protect my own body, so I had to rely on you for help. It's pathetic.”
Hina was tormented by inferiority complex.
I couldn't bear to watch Hina anymore.
“Hina.”
I embraced Hina.
After all, the one I wanted to protect was always Hina.
“...... Go back. Stop bothering me now. I'm retired.”
But Hina didn't accept me.
Hina, submerged in sadness, wanted to be alone.
“Then, from now on, I'll retire from the position of President. I'll become just like you, Hina.”
I couldn't abandon Hina.
No matter what, I would cling to Hina.
“......!”
Hina, startled, lifted her head.
“Now you're looking this way. I was waiting for you.”
I smiled arrogantly at Hina.
Hina's eyes shook in confusion.
“Hina, if it's not you, I can't make an effort. I'm not as strong as you.”
“W-what are you saying. It's me who...?”
Hina was belittling herself, saying she couldn't become like the vice president of Abyssal like me.
But in this world line, I prevent Hina's self-loathing.
“I'm saying that I can never become an existence like Hina who throws herself away for everyone.”
I brighten Hina, and I dim myself.
Hina is the light that illuminates me. With Hina, I can shine even more.
“Even if no one appreciates Hina like that, I can become a hardworking person who tries and tries again...?”
“Stop-!!!”
Hina interrupted my words.
“Why are you saying such things? I don't understand. I don't get it. What do you want to do to me!?”
Hina probably wanted Makoto to despise her.
A self-deprecating Hina to give up on everything.
“You don't understand even after seeing it. I'm praising you.”
But I betray Hina's expectations.
The unpredictable villainous president.
That's the strength of Hanuma Makoto.
“Sorasaki Hina, let me remind you again that you are an excellent Head Prefect.”
I can't act like Makoto. I'm a clone of Makoto.
“The great President of the Pandemonium Society is completed only because an excellent Head Prefect exists.”
I looked down at Hina with a dazed expression.
“Without you, I'm nothing.”
Then, I gently stroked Hina's hair.
Hina didn't reject my touch. Her expression didn't allow for that.
“That's why I won't abandon you.”
Even as a clone of Makoto, I like Hina.
“If you're not the Head Prefect, I'll stick to Sorasaki Hina. Not as the President of the Pandemonium Society, but as Hanuma Makoto!”
If that's not okay, then don't quit being Head Prefect. A pressure to not approve. A will not to yield.
Then I reached out to Hina.
“Tonight, you can be as spoiled as you want. I'll make you throw a tantrum enough to forget about retirement!”
If Hina wants, I can do it all day.
After all, Hina is a child thirsty for praise.
“...... No, that's fine.”
But Hina immediately refused.
Hina, with a refreshed face, stood up.
“Retirement was a slip of the tongue. ...... Yeah, it couldn't be possible.”
Hina glanced at me sideways. Her eyes regained spark.
“You're worrying about me. Who knows what kind of mischief a fox that can't read the atmosphere will do.”
Hina, thinking her retirement was short-sighted, accepted it.
Fufu......
And Hina smiled for a moment.
It was a real smile. The more I recalled, the situation was absurd, so it was a laugh that escaped.
“Now it's okay, Makoto.”
“U-uh?”
Hina called me. Without attaching a title, just the name.
“You said you were retiring, so now calling me by name is fine, Makoto?”
It wasn't a whim. I didn't mishear.
“W-what are you saying!? If you don't retire, I'll stay the same-!!!”
This time, I was surprised.
If I quit being president on my own, it would be a big deal. I'm the unofficial acting president. I casually said it earlier, swept up in the mood.
“Anyway, Hina, if you've regained your spirits, that's good.”
After this night, Hina will return to her original self.
“Then I'll go back now......”
I was relieved and tried to leave this place.
Hina probably needed some alone time too.
“Wait.”
But Hina stopped me.
“...... Tonight, sleep here.”
With a lonely voice, Hina grabbed my sleeve.
“It's unfair that you always disturb my time.”
The words were blunt, but she was expecting to be spoiled.
She didn't want to spend the night alone.