Chapter 78

I forgot myself in the face of a shocking event and blurted out an extremely rude question.

"W-Why are the two of you on a date!? At a university festival like this!? Huh, you were actually dating!?"

I regretted it the moment I said it—how disrespectful to them and to this university. I thrust out my hands in front of me, trying to convey my apology.

Then the President's voice came flying over.

"No, no. I just happened to run into Chikage-senpai there by chance. I'm only here for open campus. It's close, and a fair number of our school's alumni come too."

I nodded, convinced by what he said. Open campus is an important event for high-schoolers to look toward the future. It's also reference material for choosing which university to attend. Those of us at a college-prep school have to attend, of course.

"Ah... that's right, isn't it. I didn't expect you to be thinking ahead like that, President."

"Do I really look like I'm not thinking about anything... Well, I still can't lose to you, a first-year working this hard at open campus."

"No, that's not it. Actually... I'm just here to help with the stage performance."

When I explained that, the President pulled something like a pamphlet from his pocket and started checking it. Come to think of it, I think I also got a pamphlet when I came. I must've left it somewhere.

"Let's see, the play you're helping with is 'Land of Night' starting at half past one in that hall right over there?"

"Yes, yes, that one!"

'A gorgeous, dazzling stage performed in two acts!' I caught a glimpse of that written in pop-style lettering from the side.

"Ah, that's—! Hyoga-kun! Sorry!"

Having been left out of the conversation and turned into background air, Detective Chikage pushed past me, staring fixedly at the pamphlet the President was holding.

Pushed so hard I nearly fell forward, I started to complain to her.

"Hey! What are you doing?"

"No, no, it's different. That's why I came today. Ah, it's really close by. I totally ended up searching all over for it."

"Huh? You came here on purpose, Detective Chikage?"

More than lodging a complaint, I recalled the question about her actions. The President I get—he's here for open campus. But she's supposed to be a university student. If this is her own university, she'd know where the big halls are without getting lost. Must be a different university.

I probably shouldn't say this, but what business does she have at a small university's student play? She raised her index finger upward and answered cheerfully.

"Exactly! My friend is performing! I have to go support her, right?"

"I see... who might that be?"

"Reira-chan! She gave me a VIP seat ticket!"

Saying that, she took the invitation ticket from the pouch she was carrying. A pamphlet slipped out along with it. "Ah, so that's where it was!" she muttered.

While she was picking up the pamphlet, I thought how well Detective Chikage and Reira-san suited each other. Both had strong, confident personalities—arrogant and self-important, if you want to put it negatively. They must've hit it off and become good friends.

"Well then... see you around."

Satisfied that I understood their reasons for being here, I parted ways with them. I had to hurry and buy some drinks.

While I was shopping, a question suddenly occurred to me. The actual words came to me when I looked at the receipt I'd gotten at the convenience store.

It was still 10:50. There was plenty of time until 1:30. If she needed to secure a seat, that would make sense. But she already knew her VIP seat. So there was no need to come so early.

She hadn't brought anything to give as a gift either. If she had some other reason... The moment I thought that, I lowered my face.

Getting anxious is a bad habit of mine.

There's really nothing. Sure, the backstage area was emotionally chaotic. But such places are everywhere. Even this convenience store might harbor some malice.

Malice doesn't necessarily mean an incident will occur. Imagining an incident just because I saw her—when Detective Chikage would never cause anything—is absurd.

That's what I told myself firmly.

With convenience store bags and several bottles of tea hanging from my arm, I searched for Detective Chikage's figure. I ran toward the hall and handed a PET bottle to Senior Kiriyama at the back entrance.

"Sorry. Senior... is there anything I can help with now?"

"Nothing at the moment. Just rest—Hyoga-kun!?"

Without waiting for him to stop me, I moved on. If Reira-san wasn't backstage, then probably the dressing room. My guess was that Detective Chikage would be talking with Reira-san there. I reached for the dressing room door, ready to fling it open—

That was close.

This is the girls' dressing room. If I entered, even by mistake, I could be executed. I'd become a victim of the incident myself. I had to be careful.

Drenched in sweat, I pressed my hand against the nearby wall, taking deep breaths again and again. And yet—Reira-san appeared in the middle of changing. Her small yet bulging chest, her skin color visible. Her face turned bright red and she kicked me hard in the crotch.

"Hey! Don't just stand there in the way! You're blocking the restroom!"

"Guh...!? Whoa!?"

I had been considerate. And yet Reira-san, without even looking at me, jumped over me and disappeared toward the restroom.

As I collapsed to the floor in despair—why did this have to happen to me—I heard Detective Chikage's voice.

"...Hyoga-kun. You need to be more careful... Really. Carelessly approaching backstage like this could cost you your life..."

"Y-Yeah... More importantly—"

"More importantly? What?"

I endured the intense pain with sheer willpower.

Bearing the agony in my crotch, I stood firmly again. I had to ask Detective Chikage, who'd emerged from the dressing room just as expected.

"The real reason you came to this play... Is it really... because she's your friend?"

"Huh, you're doubting whether Reira-chan is my friend!? Sure, she's famous, but we are friends!"

"Huh? Famous?"

"Yeah. Besides this drama circle, she's in an idol unit with a girl named Misora. She also does underground idol work. She's a trending celebrity on SNS!"

"Ah, that... No, I'm not doubting whether Detective Chikage knows a celebrity or anything like that."

"I see... I tried to gloss it over a bit. Guess I was found out. Sigh, of course I would be. To a sharp great detective like you..."

Right now, rather than denying anything to the detective, I prioritized learning what she was hiding. A strong premonition told me that if I left her alone, something terrible would happen.

My heart sensed an omen of a strange event and trembled—at least, that's what I believed.