CH 20
Takane no Hana (WN)
Suddenly, Naruka and I reacted to Hinako who appeared almost at the same time.
âHinaââ
ââWhy is Konohana-san !?â
Narukaâs voice echoes as if to drown out my voice that leaked from my lips.
âWhy is Konohana-san here â¦?â
âIâm a little sick, so Iâm out of class.â
Hinako, who plays the perfect lady, answers plainly.
At the same time, the vibrations from the smartphone that meant the incoming call stopped. âOops. Was Shizune trying to convey this?
âWhat happened to Nishinari and Miyakojima?â
Hinako asks.
I glance at Naruka, she was completely nervous and had a tense look. â¦â¦ I think sheâs afraid because she looks like this. Seen from the side, Naruka seemed to stare at Hinako like a tremendous swordsman. However, Hinako does not seem to move.
I should say something here.
With that in mind, I took a little distance from Naruka and looked towards Hinako.
âAh ⦠I witnessed Naruka collapse in the corridor and I brought her to the infirmary.â
âI see, is that so ⦠Did Miyakojima hurt her head?â
âHead? No, thatâs not the case â¦â
âIs that so? It seemed like he was stroking your head, so I thought so.â
The tone was as usual, but I felt that Hinakoâs eyes were slightly lit.
Was I seen â¦
âKonohana-san, listen! I and Itsuki have met a long time ago!â
Naruka says with a tense voice.
âlong agoâ¦â¦?â
âThatâs right! When I was ten, Itsuki stayed at my house â¦â
ââ¦â¦Stayed?â
I felt that Hinako had a slight glance.
However, Naruka does not seem to notice it and affirms it in a loud voice.
âOh! At that time, I was taken care of by Itsuki!â
Hinako hid her eyebrows at Narukaâs explanation.
Rather than being taken care of, I was just by her side, so I was recognized as a playmate â¦
âItsuki was my benefactor who took care of me when I was little, so I was just happy to see him again.â
ââ¦â¦Oh reallyâ
Hinako is convinced.
I felt that Hinako had a complicated look for a moment.
âYes, Itsuki. Would you like to come to my house again? You can just come to play ⦠No, I think that if Itsuki agrees, we can have the same relationship as before. â¦â¦ â
Naruka says to me.
But that was something I couldnât do now as a caretaker for Hinako.
âNaruka, that isââ
ââItâs impossible, Miyakojimaâ
Hinako says faster than I can deny.
âBecause Nishinari is working at my house now.â
â⦠Huh?â
Hinako told her easily.
I was astonished with my eyes wide open, with Naruka making a strange noise elsewhere.
âHina-Konohana-san. Thatâs a little.â
âWhatâs wrong, Nishinari-kun? Isnât that true?â
Itâs true, but â¦
Hey, what are you going to do?
Unlike Hinako in her original state, Hinako who plays a young lady cannot read her feelings.
Fortunately, if you just explain that you are working at the Konohana family, you will not be able to reach the true identity of Hinako. However, if possible, I wanted to completely hide the relationship between me and Hinako. Should Naruka touch this information, I and Hinako will be noticed by the students in the school. It will hinder my job as a caretaker.
âWhat do you mean, Itsuki !? Are you working at Konohana-sanâs house now â¦!?â
âNo, that â¦â
I was confused and glanced at Hinakoâs face.
Even if I deny it here, it wonât make sense if Hinako affirms it.
â⦠Well, yes, thatâs right. Mainly ⦠I take care of my surroundings.â
When he answered that, Naruka opened his eyes.
Eventually, Naruka looks at Hinako while shaking her body with a trap.
ââ¦â¦unfairâ
Naruka looked at Hinako with a grudge.
âIâm crazy, you! Wow, I am â¦! Itsuki was originally my ⦠!!â
âI donât know about the old days, but Nishinariâs current workplace is my house.â
Hinako smiles and says with a smile.
âMr. Nishinari. Shouldnât it be better to go back to the classroom if you were accompanied by the infirmary?â
âOh, oh ⦠thatâs right.â
Perhaps Iâm pretty cramped now.
Hinako looked at Naruka only once at the end and bowed her head.
âI feel like Iâm feeling better, so Iâm sorry.â
Hinako closes the door of the infirmary with a gentle smile like a young lady.
From the other side of the door, I heard Narukaâs groaning, âUuuuuuu ⦠!!â.
âSorry, Naruka.
Now Iâm the caretaker of Hinako. Basically, I canât go against Hinako.
Besides, there is something I want to talk to Hinako alone.
â⦠Did you come to the infirmary to meet me?â
âHmm ⦠I searched for a toilet, but I didnât find one.â
Hinako, who stopped acting as a young lady, agrees.
Apparently she was looking for my whereabouts to crush the louse.
âThat was bad. I wasnât near Hinako even though I was a caretaker â¦. But what did you mean by that?â
I continue to say to Hinako who leans her head.
âShizune also said that our relationship should be kept secret. What if Naruka talks about our relationship?â
To be honest, I didnât think Naruka would make a rumor for fun, but there is a possibility.
Hinako walking next to me answered in a small voice.
â⦠I thought, justâ
âHuh?â
âI wondered if I should stab a nail ⦠I just thought.â
Itâs an answer that doesnât make much sense.
No, there is only one way of thinking that suits Tsuji.
I wonder if sheâs jealous of her â¦
â¦â¦ No way.
I remember the feeling of distance from Hinako.
I donât think Hinako has such a developed emotion.
â⦠Itsukiâ
Hinako asks me, who leans her head.
âWho is the caretaker of Itsuki?â
âThatâs ⦠of course, Hinako.â
âHmm â¦. then itâs okay.â
With that said, Hinako stopped and stared at my face with a satisfying smile.
âTogether ⦠Letâs get angry at the silenceâ
ââ¦â¦Ahâ
I nodded and sighed deeply.
Now that this is the case, Shizuneâs scolding will be inevitable.
What if I get fired â¦