What If I Told Tomori-san, The Girl Who's Cold Only Towards Me, That I Knew Her Secret Account? - V2 Chapter 7.2

What Lies Beyond Connections 2

(——Ah.)

Why did I forget?

After disabling the intercom, I opened the front door, and there stood the person I was just speaking to on the call.

That’s right. Even if I don’t ask for help, he’ll still help me.

Kagisaka-kun was that kind of person.

***

“Sorry, Kagisaka-kun.”

After guiding me to her room, Tomori lowered her head and apologized.

“Making you do another bad role again.”

Indeed, I played the role of a villain.

Tearing the class flag during last year’s sports festival to unite our classmates.

Provoking the entire classroom deliberately to manage the noise.

Acting as a disliked individual to let Tomori go ahead for the college entrance exams.

I intentionally used cold words to elicit Tomori’s true feelings.

“Don’t worry about it. If you’ve become aware of your own feelings, you should reconcile with Kazami.”

“I-It’s not that easy!”

“You’re not thinking, ‘I was happy that Chifuyu was depending on me,’ are you? “

“?”

” ‘Maybe I help Chifuyu because I gained a sense of self-approval by helping the weaker Chifuyu?’ That’s what’s bothering you, isn’t it?”

“What?! How can you understand my thoughts to that extent?! Have you peeked into my mind!?”

That’s right.

Because I’ve been observing your patterns through your secret account, I could predict your thought process, but I can’t say that.

And because we’re partners, I know.

Although Tomori seems perfect, she has quite a lot of worries.

That’s exactly why…

“Don’t overthink things alone, Miss Honor Student. Rely on someone else more.”

I want to help my partner.

“It’s normal for anyone to want to fulfill their desires. For example, it’s a common story where someone starts a band wanting to be admired by everyone and their songs end up saving many people’s hearts. The outcome is what matters.”

” ….. “

“As evidence, there are many people who were saved because you helped them. Hey, did you forget what I said to you back in May at Hoshimiya Coffee?”

“!”

“I’ve wanted to say thank you all this time. Thanks to Tomori, my lack of trust in humans has improved, even just a little.”

Perhaps recalling my previous words, Tomori took a deep breath.

“It’s not just about my lack of trust in humans. Even after becoming partners, I’ve been helped by Tomori.”

“You’re lying! Isn’t it the opposite? I’ve been the one helped by you all the time—”

“Don’t be stupid.”

I let out a deep breath and then decided to tell her the words I thought I’d never reveal, especially not at the pool.

“Since becoming Tomori’s partner, I’ve realized how much fun it is to spend everyday life with friends. Just being with Tomori, my heart feels uplifted.”

I gently placed my hand on Tomori’s head and smiled.

With the sole intention of reassuring her.

“So this time, I’ll be the one to help you, Tomori.”

“K-Kagisaka-kun…”

Tomori blinked her eyelids at my uncharacteristic behavior.

Ah, even I can’t believe it either.

Being with her, I feel like I’m getting stranger and stranger.

Kimitaka Kagisaka, who used to reject connections with others, is now speaking so directly and even patting his classmate’s head.

“Don’t be so surprised. You’re making a face like a hardcore fan who just found out their VTuber crush has not only a boyfriend but even a child.”

“Well, I don’t really understand that analogy, but it’s not surprising I’m shocked! I mean, for you to do something like this…”

“I know it myself. Doing something out of my character like this is strange.”

“Well then, why—”

“I’m taking responsibility.”

“!”

” If you’re feeling down, you can lean on me. That’s what Tomori said to me before in this room. Vice-versa, seeing my partner in distress is really hard.”

“…”

“So let me be straightforward for now. Let me help Tomori. After all, you’re the one who put me in this state… okay?”

She’s probably figured it out by now.

That I’m tracing the words Tomori spoke in this room before.

At that time, I responded to her words by embracing her.

If it’s Tomori… my only partner—.

“—Well, I guess it can’t be helped.”

She responds to my words.

While a single tear falls from her clear eyes, Tomori smiles.

“I can’t refuse it when you put it like that. You don’t have any other friends who rely on you except for me, huh?”

“Did I get caught?”

“Of course. I can’t stand to see you looking so pitiful, so I’ll reluctantly rely on you, partner.”

“Yeah, leave it to me.”

After nodding, I gently wiped away the tears that streamed down Tomori’s cheeks.

“Sorry. I made you cry again.”

“No, it’s okay. Crying in front of you doesn’t make me feel pathetic anymore. I can show any kind of tears in front of you because Kagisaka-kun, you’re my most reliable partner.”

Tomori shows a somewhat bashful smile.

Perhaps she’s influenced by me, who conveyed my true feelings.

Normally, Tomori would convey words that would be muttered on the hidden side of things, but she expressed them straightforwardly.

“But… what are we going to do? We have two issues now. The underground site’s bulletin board and my relationship with Chifuyu. Neither seems to have a clear solution—”

“Don’t worry. I’ve come up with a plan. It took me two days to come up with that, though.”

“!? Wait, so you’ve been thinking about it ever since the day we went to the pool? You’ve been thinking up a solution for me?”

“Yeah.”

To be precise, there aren’t two issues to be solved.

There is another problem that Seira pointed out.

Tomori doesn’t have anyone else but me to open up to.

——But.

『Could K-kun start to like me if I worked hard toward a goal like S-san does?』

An old tweet from the hidden account.

A goal. If we could find a reason to set one, all the problems could be resolved.

Everything will revolve around tomorrow.

Prom night. That’s when everything will shift suddenly.

That’s why I contacted Hiroto-san earlier.

“Didn’t you find it strange or anything? Why I came to your house?”

“Well, it’s to encourage me, isn’t it?”

“Well, that’s part of it, but…”

I make my resolution within my heart.

What I’m about to propose is even bolder than the words I just mentioned.

It’s a plan that would be completely inconceivable for Kimitaka Kagisaka.

“Tonight, let me stay over.”

“—Huh?”

“If we don’t do something like that, this plan won’t succeed. It’s not just me, I need Tomori’s help too.”

“Wait, what!? That means—”

“Be prepared.”

Just straightforwardly.

I announce while looking at Azusa Tomori.

“I won’t let you sleep until everything is over.”