8.1

Since the rematch was right after the special training, we finished after some warm-ups.

"We've done what we can. Now let's see how far you'll get in the real match."

Without taking too much time, I called out to the two of them as their breathing calmed down.

"Yes, thank you. Thanks to you, our chances have increased."

Horikita, who bowed her head politely, urged Ibuki to thank me as well.

Whether she had no intention of following suit, Ibuki turned away and snorted.

"I won't say thank you. I think my way of thanking you is to kick you someday."

"If that's your idea of gratitude, I don't want it in the future."

"Really..."

"Well, I'll go back first, so do your best."

"Eh? Aren't you going to watch, Ayanokōji-kun? I thought we were going to watch together."

Kushida, who had been watching from a distance, seemed to think we'd be together the whole time.

"If it's revealed that I'm involved in this matter, it will only harm Horikita and Ibuki."

If I made Amasawa suspicious, the surprise attack wouldn't work.

To increase the odds of winning by even one percent, it was better not to be present.

"I see. Then I'll make sure to watch it all. I even brought my phone as well."

She probably thought that it'd be a great opportunity to take photos if anything embarrassing were to occur.

Since Kushida declared that she'd be the witness, I decided to leave that role to her.

Besides, I had one more thing to do this morning.

Just before 7 o'clock, naturally, there were hardly any students using the park.

That was why the student I had called here was sitting on a bench, waiting for me to arrive.

"It's cold, isn't it? You didn't have to come earlier than the promised time."

"Don't worry about it. It's not often that you call out to me, Ayanokōji-kun. I enjoyed waiting."

"Can I sit next to you?"

"I've kept it open for that purpose."

Sakayanagi, who was smiling, welcomed me as usual.

"I'll get straight to the point. I've got Yamamura waiting in the dog park nearby."

"Eh? The dog park? Yamamura-san? What do you mean?"

"Didn't you expect Yamamura's name to come up?"

"She was in the same exchange meeting group as you, wasn't she? Did she do something problematic?"

Pretending not to know, Sakayanagi made up a reason.

"You knew about it. That Yamamura and I were in the same group."

"That's a surprise. Naturally, I had already figured out which group each student in the class was assigned to when we got on the bus. I was just observing this time, so I didn't interfere with the exchange meeting."

Of course, I already knew that Sakayanagi had figured out where all of her classmates were assigned.

So, once I told her what I was about to say, Sakayanagi wouldn't be able to escape.

"On the second day of the camp, when we talked in the lobby, do you remember what you said? 'Hashimoto-kun and Morishita-san are in the same group. How is Hashimoto-kun doing?' That's what you said. It's impossible for you to overlook Class A's group assignments, as you seem to pride yourself on. Yet, you didn't even mention Yamamura's name, did you?"

This proved that Sakayanagi was subconsciously avoiding talking about Yamamura.

"That's—"

No matter what excuse she made, she couldn't twist the conclusion that she 'avoided' it.

"...Yes, that's right. I admit that I didn't mention Yamamura-san's name at that time. But it's none of your business, is it, Ayanokōji-kun?"

"Indeed, it's none of my business. I'm probably meddling in others' affairs by doing this."

But I continued. Sakayanagi knew everything, so I didn't beat around the bush.

"You lost Kamuro. And at the same time, you were entrusted with her feelings. But that doesn't mean everything is back to normal. You haven't even finished choosing who to keep by your side, have you?"

Beside me, a white breath escaped from Sakayanagi's lips.

"Indeed, I haven't decided yet, but are you suggesting that I should appoint Yamamura-san?"

"That's not what I meant. People have their own strengths and weaknesses."

It was hard to imagine Yamamura boldly supporting Sakayanagi.

"The survival and elimination special exam—there are some people that still seem to be trapped in that exam."

"...Are you talking about me and Yamamura-san?"

"That's right. Yamamura is suffering and can't move forward, even though her situation is very different from yours."

The two who had yet to complete the survival and elimination special exam.

If Sakayanagi was the light of Class A, Yamamura was the shadow.

It was safe to say they had an inseparable relationship that couldn't be cut off.

"If you're still bothered by that, you should resolve it."

"...What you're saying is strange, Ayanokōji-kun."

"Strange?"

"I thought you were just going to stand on the sidelines from now on. Isn't your unnecessary intervention excessive?"

"That's right. I also thought until a little while ago that I should just stand on the sidelines from here on."

Sakayanagi no longer needed any further assistance.

It was enough to wait for her to stand up on her own.

However, the situation had changed significantly since before the special exam that led Hashimoto to betray them.

That was why I was doing what I thought needed to be done now.

"I don't particularly want you to have anything to do with Yamamura. I don't have any such hopes at all. Whether you want to get closer or more distant, or even cut ties, is up to you. But if you're going to talk, now is the only time."

Neither parties would benefit from postponing the issue.

"Wouldn't it be smartest to leave everything behind at this training camp?"

"...But..."

Sakayanagi's frustrating resistance.

I wasn't one to talk, but she was just as bad at friendships.

She didn't know what to do because she had no prior experience.

"As I said earlier, I have Yamamura waiting in the dog park. She's been waiting for you in the cold for over 20 minutes now."

"If that's the case, aren't you being a bit mean, Ayanokōji-kun? The time you promised to meet me was 7 o'clock. We haven't even been talking for ten minutes yet. Doesn't that mean she's been waiting since before that?"

From Yamamura's perspective, waiting for an unnecessarily long time would make the experience quite tough.

From Sakayanagi's perspective, she would be overwhelmed by guilt for making Yamamura wait.

"This is also part of my strategy." I told her.

She was quick to notice these kinds of things. It was indeed Sakayanagi.

"I guess there's no choice. I can't let her catch a cold because of me. Let's go pick her up for now."

Sakayanagi, who couldn't admit her weakness straight away, stood up for an appropriate reason.

That was fine.

If she spoke one-on-one with Yamamura, they'd be able to talk honestly.

"It's a bit of a distance, but even you can walk there in about five minutes. Go ahead."

I also stood up and told her so.

However… Sakayanagi didn't step forward.

"What's wrong?"

My question was met with no response, and a brief silence ensued.

During that time, Sakayanagi tried to start walking, but she didn't move forward at all.

"...My... leg..."

Her leg? Could it be hurting? I thought for a moment, but...

"My leg... I can't move it... I wonder why."

It was immediately clear that it was not a physical problem, but a mental one.

Even though she acted bravely through her words, as she's typically like, her body didn't seem to agree.

It seems that the change in her heart, the change that Kamuro brought to light, was also evident here.

"Don't feel like you can show this side to anyone else?"

"...Yes, that's right..."

I grabbed Sakayanagi's left hand as she stood bewildered, unable to walk.

Having waited for me before the set time, her fingertips were very cold.

"Then, just for now, I'll be your legs. That should make it easy for you to walk."

"...I'm sorry."

"It's okay. It's my own meddling that started this."

After that, we moved forward slowly without exchanging words.

<Illustration >

Eventually, the dog park came into view.

Seeing Yamamura standing in the shadow of the big tree in the distance, Sakayanagi raised her hand slowly to make her presence known, despite her confusion. When I gently pushed Sakayanagi's back, she started walking on her own, albeit with a cane.

From there on, it wasn't my place to interfere.

Sakayanagi and Yamamura would have to talk and find their own solutions.

Expecting a bright future, I turned away and left.

Thus, the three-night, four-day exchange meeting came to an end.