Chapter 59: Volume 2 - CH 3.4

Chapter 3: Mikage Saeka Beyond Reach

Part 4

“What have you gotten yourself into, Io?” came an incredulous voice.

“And I know you’re involved in the Mikage-chan thing. Keeping secrets from us when it’s convenient, when it’s not coming running for our help.”

While enduring Reiji’s amused sarcasm, I offered my tributes of strawberry au lait and coffee. In the end, I had to resort to their help. And now, they knew everything between me, Shida, and Mikage.

Above all, I felt apologetic for Mikage. Even though I had presented the probability of disclosure of information as a condition for the consultation, this was stretching the condition too far. Well, she too was trying to have a leeway with me, so maybe I will call it even.

[TN: I don’t think it is, Io.]

“Then… Hiura, if you would share your report,” I solemnly urged.

“Wait.” She held up a hand, another fumbled with the straw of the au lait.

What I had asked Hiura to do was an experimental probe. In other words, asking Mikage directly. Since Hiura, with her attitude, was the best person for the job, I borrowed her help.

“Before that, how did you ask? You know each other?”

“Nope. ‘I saw that vice captain trying to confess to you for some time. Haven’t you said no yet?’ and that’s it.”

“Whoa, that’s just crude like you,” Reiji provoked death.

“Miwa, watch your back.” Hiura scowled.

No, Reiji, stop. I don’t want to see you stabbed in an alley.

“And the results?”

Maybe this was too early to expect results, but…

“No luck. She got outta reach.” Another slurp.

“How?”

“Acted dumb, like.” She shifted her body, changed her gesture. “‘Was that a confession? He hadn’t said so?’”

That was an awfully good imitation.

“And, ‘You’re interested in me? Plus Four’s Aki Hiura-san.’” She shifted fluidly. “It looked like trouble, so I ran.”

“Stop the imitation, you look exactly like her.”

Although I wouldn’t expect Mikage to have such a counter up her sleeves… She’s more trouble than she seemed.

“That ends mine.”

“Thanks for your effort, Hiura.”

“Praise me more.”

“Okay, okay, that au lait in your hand isn’t enough? And Reiji?”

Our second shot, Reiji. What I had asked him was to get a broad grasp at the situation, the plan B, “Ask Around”

“Tough. Mikage-chan barely has any friends. None that could tell what’s happening to her.”

“I suppose… Couldn’t say whether this is strange or normal for her.”

Liked by everyone, but never close to anybody. According to Shida, she was “Mikage-san for everyone.”

Even so, Reji combed her probable close acquaintances in a meager two days, that was some serious detective skills. It would be a nightmare to be his enemy… No, if this is a manga, he’d definitely be the betrayer character.

“Although I got a catch. I found a girl from the same middle school as her.”

“Oh, that sounds good.”

“Tell you what, it isn’t,” Reiji made his voice higher. “‘She’s been like this since middle school! She’s super popular!’”

“Stop imitating, I need reliable data.”

And Reiji, that’s creepy, just stop. Why did you have to remember her every word?

“‘She was popular with boys and girls alike! Ah! She seems to have changed a little, though.’”

“Miwa, stop.” Hiura came to my aid.

“Geez, here comes Hiura-sama’s disapproval. Disclaimer, though, she’s just as close with Mikage as the next person, so I can’t say much.”

“Hmm…”

She seemed to have changed a little…

That… might be completely unrelated to this case, or it could be the key…

“No other information of note from other interviews. I mean, all they talked about was her getting a boyfriend. ‘I wonder how handsome he is?’ or, ‘I’m jealous—’. Imagine listening to these dozens of times.”

“I-I see…”

By the way, Mikage still hadn’t revealed Hibiki’s name, apparently. That was only natural, if he really was a model, you could have traced by his name alone. As a courtesy to Mikage, I didn’t mention his name to these two.

“So a dead end…”

Don’t worry. Won’t take long, in most cases, I had said to Shida. However, it also meant that in rare cases, it might take forever to get over with.

Where had I assessed the situation wrong…

“Just can’t understand, tho. Why not say no and get done with it. This Shida guy could finally have clarity and move on. What a pity.”

For once, Reiji seemed a little sympathetic. Perhaps it was because Shida was his immediate senior in the basketball club. If so, then he must have been putting in extra effort in the investigation this time.

“Isn’t she toying with him in particular? She wasn’t like this a while before…” Hiura, from her looks, began to get fed up with the topic.

“No,” Surprisingly, Reiji came into Mikage’s defense. “I don’t think so. I’ve talked to her a few times, and she isn’t someone who’d do something like that, she’s too good to be real” His brows furrowed. “But she really is. She acts friendly to everyone, and not intentionally, it was as if being a samaritan was in her DNA. That’s… crazy.”

Reiji shook his head repeatedly in exasperation.

Reiji was a lady-killer, the type that never hesitated to go hard on assessment of women. As far as I remember, he had never praised any girl as much as this time.

That raised a question.

“Then why does she have no friends?” said Hiura.

“Yep, she’s the kind of girl that people gather around even though she does nothing…”

Hiura and I tilted our heads to Reiji together, as if seeking an answer.

Holding up his index finger, Reiji grinned.

“That is”

“That is?”

“That is I don’t know.”

“Why is it that I’m not surprised?” Hiura rested her back against the fence.

“The only explanation is that she avoids making friends on purpose? A lone wolf mindset…?”

“And what does that lead to? She is not socially anxious and is hundred percent fine interacting with people, so what does she get by actively not befriending anyone?”

“Isn’t that the point of this meeting? To know why.” Annoyedly, Reiji chuckled the last of his cream bun.

Well, there was no proof that Mikage not making friends had something to do with Shida’s denial. It might turn out to be a completely different matter. Since Minato didn’t have any friends too, maybe we could just chalk it up to the habit of high ranking beauties.

“So she simply doesn’t want to get confessed?”

“She has no interest, and is too lazy to refuse?”

Isn’t that only applicable to you, Hiura?

As a matter of course, I couldn’t say that snide to her face.

“That’s a little sad, don’t you think? Well, usually, I’d say yes for most of the confessions I get,” said the frivolous Reiji. As ever, he believed in his, “You’ll never know until you’ve gone out together.”

Although there was no insight here. Perhaps despite how sharp these two were, Mikage proved to be too much of a mystery.

Then if there was nothing to be gained from roundabout ways, then…

This “Hibiki-kun”?

To be honest, I didn’t want to involve third parties, but the situation called.

“Thanks. I might have some more requests, keep on standby for me.”

“That depends on your attitude and what you’re treating us to next,” chuckled Reiji.

“Nanaya?” coaxed Hiura.

“If it comes to it, maybe Nanaya.”

“Ah, that! You two went with Yuzuki-chan without inviting me last time!” complained Reiji.

“You want to come?”

“Not really. But you could have invited for courtesy’s sake.”

Why do you want me to invite you despite having no intention of going…