What If I Told Tomori-san, The Girl Who's Cold Only Towards Me, That I Knew Her Secret Account? - V1 Chapter 7.4

A friend is Something You Should Possess 4

“Hey, Senpai!”

Lost in old memories, I snapped back to reality at Chifuyu’s voice.

“Oh, come on, listen to me properly!”

While she was angry, Chifuyu seemed somewhat enjoying herself.

(Come to think of it, she had the same expression when we first met.)

It was right before I left Kazarina, back when I still dyed my hair.

I remember helping her when she was being bothered by college students on the streets at night.

[Please let me join the team too!]

She pleaded, but she looked like a proper young lady, so I declined.

However, she persisted, so I reluctantly exchanged contact information with her.

After that, she started contacting me frequently, talking only about anime and manga.

I thought that if I got bored and stopped responding, she would eventually drift away.

[I’ve never watched anime before, but it’s really interesting! Please tell me more about the series you like, Senpai!]

And like that, she became more and more addicted…

Now she’s an important otaku friend as ‘Kouhai-chan’.

“It’s unrelated to Kagisaka, but recently I feel like Azusa is pushing herself too hard. What do you think I should do?”

“It’s simple. Instead of taking on all the work alone, she should assign some to others.”

“Well, Azusa’s work involves a lot of consultations, and there are many cases that can’t be solved without her personality.”

“At that point, it’s bad. You know what? Listen, the key to maintaining a group is not relying on the notion of ‘this group can’t do without this person’.”

“Huh? Isn’t it the opposite? Like in soccer, having a star player can make a difference.”

“True. However, achieving results using that approach will only make the team rely more on the star player, and the team will start to revolve around the star the longer it goes.”

Even if you win a match with that method, it creates risks.

The star player becomes an ‘irreplaceable cog’ in the team.

“What if an accident occurs and the star player leaves the team?”

“Oh…!”

“The team would collapse. They wouldn’t be able to fill the hole left by the star player. That’s why it’s important to have substitutes ready for any talented individuals.”

“I see… So the current situation at school, where everyone relies heavily on Azusa, isn’t good.”

“Right. The key is not to create a fragile group that depends solely on one person’s efforts. It’s about building a strong group that prides itself on teamwork.”

“Wow, Senpai! You’re as sharp as ever!”

Chifuyu expressed her admiration while her silver hair swayed. But then her expression clouded over.

“However, it might be difficult to delegate work. Azusa has many friends, but she’s not good at opening up to others.”

“Not good at opening up?”

“Being called [Everyone’s friend] and always solving problems alone like a hero of justice might be the reason why she’s not accustomed to relying on others. She can’t establish deep connections because of that.”

Chifuyu’s words struck a chord with me.

I had thought about it when I was sitting next to Tomori on the train.

Azusa Tomori is too kind.

That’s why she always wants to solve any troubles by herself.

From her perspective, it might be a considerate act to avoid burdening others… but it worries me.

(Thinking that one can handle everything alone is merely an idealistic notion.)

Furthermore, those who believe they can handle everything alone are incredibly vulnerable.

Due to their overconfidence in their abilities, they may crumble if they make significant mistakes.

“Don’t she rely on Chifuyu either?”

“Well… not really. Azusa tries to put up a front when she’s with me.”

Chifuyu expressed a tinge of loneliness, saying that ‘she doesn’t even try to show her weak side to me.’

She can’t establish deep connections even with her best friend… It’s as if she’s a lone hero.

“As evidence of that, Azusa has never shown tears in front of me, you know? Despite our friendship of over ten years.”

“If she hasn’t shown them to you, it means she hasn’t shown them to any of her friends.”

“Yeah, she probably hasn’t shown them to anyone, not even to you.”

“Yeah, I’m sure it will continue like this… Oh, I have an idea! How about you become Azusa’s friend, Senpai?”

“Me?”

“You two are similar in many ways! Plus, Senpai is experienced and reliable! I think Senpai can give Azusa good advice and support her!”

Indeed, Tomori and I are similar.

——It is natural for those with power to help others.

Just like how I used to think like that in the past, I believe Tomori also thinks that way.

However, I also believe that relying too much on oneself alone is a mistake.

(In that sense, maybe it’s necessary.)

A person who can open Tomori’s heart and establish a deep and equal connection with her… But——

“As a former delinquent, I don’t think I’m suitable to help a student at a prestigious school like her.”

“You got along with me! Besides, if we don’t mention the past, it won’t be revealed, right?”

Is that really the case?

No matter how much I hide it, the past may suddenly come to light one day.

If my true identity is exposed after becoming close to Tomori…

(She would also be inconvenienced.)

At that time, what would Tomori think?

(——My relationship with her is just that of classmates, nothing more.)

I quietly reassure myself, a voice too small for Chifuyu to hear.

After ending the call with Chifuyu that night, I couldn’t bring myself to look at Tomori’s secret account.