My Classmate Whom I Helped Seems to Be Mentally Sick, So I've Been Trying My Best to Hide My True Identity, But It Seems Like I've Been Found Out - Chapter 5

Will You Hear My Deduction?

I am a true go-home club member.

For three years in middle school, I just went back and forth between home and school, and at times, I intensely time-attacked to find which route among the several ones available could get me home the fastest.

I am that much of an incurable go-home club member.

However, the middle school I attended wasn’t active in club activities, and there were many like me, so I didn’t mind it.

Now it’s different.

The high school I attend upholds excellence in both literary and military arts, and there’s a strict school rule that principally mandates joining a club.

Of course, there are exceptions for unavoidable reasons like family circumstances, but I have no such reasons, and in the few months since my enrollment, I have been called by my homeroom teacher several times and encouraged to choose a club activity.

In other words, what I want to say is, if it is revealed that I am a go-home club member, the possibility that Momo-nyan that day was me would greatly increase, and that is what I fear.

Thinking I must avoid that at all costs, I sit across from her, drinking orange juice at the table in the family restaurant where Sumire Murasaki brought me.

“Hey, speaking of which, which club are you in, Takizawa-kun?”

The question I was afraid of came quickly.

“Uh, I am… Oh, by the way, which club are you in, Murasaki-san?”

It’s rude to answer a question with a question, but it’s all I have now.

I thought she would get angry and tell me to answer her question first, but Sumire Murasaki happily answered.

“Me? I’m not in any club right now.”

“Ah, really? But our school…”

“Yeah. Joining a club activity is a must after all. Initially, I was only affiliated with the archery club, but I quit just yesterday.”

“Is that so? It wasn’t a good fit or something?”

“Well, that too. But, I want to join the same club activity as the person who saved me.”

“…I see.”

Those with a dependent personality tend to desire constant companionship with their loved ones.

It seems Sumire Murasaki is no exception.

And her having that kind of initiative is troublesome for me.

I still don’t want to be found out.

However, her deduction that those who can work part-time after school are likely go-home club members is correct.

…Right.

“So, what about you, Takizawa-kun?”

“Ah, actually, I haven’t joined any club activities either.”

“Then, does that mean…”

“Well, I’ve been in the library every day recently. See, we don’t have a literature club or a reading club, right? But I like reading books. I’ve explained to the teacher that I’ll act independently since there are no clubs I want to join for that reason.”

It’s half true and half false.

I did exaggerate a bit about saying, ‘I would join if there were a reading club,’ as an excuse when the teacher told me to join a club.

And it’s not entirely false because I do go to the library about once a week.

And then, that day.

If I say I was in the library on that day when I was Momo-nyan, it establishes an alibi.

“Reading, huh? I also like reading, so it would indeed be nice if there were such a club.”

“Well, our school is strong in sports, so we have fewer cultural clubs.”

“Yeah. But, a reading club… Interesting, interesting.”

Murasaki, seemingly having thought of something, nods and agrees to herself.

Wondering what she is thinking about, I watch her curiously, and our eyes meet as she glances over.

“Hey, Takizawa-kun.”

“Wh-What?”

“I’m talking about the person I’m looking for. Would you listen to my deductions?”

“Sure, but does telling me all this do anything?”

“Well, I thought maybe you might have an idea.”

“If it’s that, then it’s fine.”

“Okay, then I’ll tell you.”

She pulls out a small notebook.

And, looking at that notebook, her cheeks relaxed, and the corners of her eyes lowered.

And as she began to speak, her eyes became empty.

“He’s 166 cm tall, weighs 53 kilos, a little hunched over with a bow-legged gait, probably isn’t too athletic, and is a member of the go-home club. He’s likely a high school student living around here who has a modest personality, enjoys reading, and, of course, doesn’t have a girlfriend. He’s also a wonderfully humble and unselfish person who hesitates to reveal his true identity. Do you know someone like this?”

Yep, it was me…