Chapter 4: The Protagonist Faces the Cold Girl

Akegami-san ended up making some kind of plan I don’t really understand. I wonder if it’ll be okay. I get that it’s better if we become friends, but “The Team Members Love Nagisa-kun Plan”… just hearing the name already makes me uncomfortable.

I had come to the team room early, so no one else was there. I sat down in a chair and leaned back, staring blankly ahead.

…But after actually going into battle, there was something I realized.

It had been my first deployment. We had only just formed the team, and none of us really knew what we were doing yet, so we couldn’t coordinate very well.

Kurokawa-san would charge in on her own without thinking, and once she was gone, there was no one left on the front line, which made it harder for Kotozuka-san to fight.

Akegami-san was trying to protect me, so she couldn’t support the other two either.

And besides, the only one who seemed willing to use my role as a “Connect Link” was Akegami-san. …Maybe everyone else really does hate me after all.

Well, Akegami-san’s sense of personal distance is strange too. When she hugged me earlier, she smelled really nice… no, wait—that’s not the point!

Isn’t there anything more I can do as a Connector?

That thought keeps running through my head.

…After all, just like Akegami-san said, I really do need to get along with everyone.

"Because none of us want to die, right?"

The way she said that… it felt different from usual. Like it came straight from her true feelings.

—Almost as if she knew a team where people had died because things didn’t work out with their Connector.

…What kind of world has she seen, I wonder? Maybe that joking attitude of hers is just camouflage.

Come to think of it, when I used Connect Link on Akegami-san earlier, it felt strange. It should’ve been my first time, but somehow… it felt like I had experienced that sensation somewhere before—

"Oh? Is it only the Connector here? No one else?"

The door slid open with a rattling clatter, and Kotozuka-san walked in.

…She usually looks at me with such a cold gaze, but today it feels a little softer somehow.

"Hello, Kotozuka-san."

"…………Yes. Hello."

When I greeted her, her eyes wavered slightly, darting for a moment before she finally replied—as if she had braced herself for it.

…Does greeting me really require that much resolve?

We didn’t really have anything else to say, so silence fell between us.

…This is a bit awkward.

"Um… it was our first deployment the other day. How was it for you?"

Unable to stand the silence, I tried starting a conversation. Kotozuka-san’s eyebrows lifted slightly.

"...Yes. Well… we didn’t coordinate very well."

She lowered her gaze, looking somewhat apologetic.

"Well… yeah, that’s true."

It’s unreasonable to expect teamwork when we’ve barely known each other for long. Still, since it’s literally a matter of life and death, we have to figure something out.

…Though that doesn’t mean I’m going along with Akegami-san’s weird plan.

"I made a few mistakes myself."

"...Well, Akegami-san didn’t seem to mind."

"That’s only because that girl is strange."

That was blunt.

But she’s not wrong.

"Anyway, I’ve decided to reconsider my approach as well."

As if making up her mind, Kotozuka-san let out a deep breath.

Then she slowly extended a trembling hand.

…Is she asking for a handshake?

"Uh…"

"A handshake. You can tell just by looking, can’t you?"

She shot me a glare.

"I have no desire to become friends with you. But even so, cooperation within the team seems necessary. So I’d at least like to get a handshake with you out of the way."

"...Got it. I’m Shinozaki Nagisa, the team’s Connector. Nice to meet you."

Kotozuka-san’s hand was trembling slightly. I shouldn’t make this harder for her than it already is.

I gave her hand a light shake.

Her body flinched.

…Could it be—

"Um… Kotozuka-san, are you maybe not very comfortable around men?"

"...So you’re saying that too."

You too?

So someone else has said that to her before.

The moment the handshake ended, Kotozuka-san quickly pulled her hand back and stepped a little farther away.

…Just looking at her, it’s pretty obvious she’s uncomfortable around men.

"Yes, I am. No matter where I go, they stare at my body. Even when we’re fighting Shinka. It makes me sick."

"...That’s…"

Kotozuka-san—well, how should I put it… her chest and certain other features are fairly large. There are probably plenty of people who stare even just when passing by. Being subjected to those kinds of looks all the time must have worn her down.

I tried to find the right words but ended up trailing off.

"I’m not asking for your sympathy. You don’t seem like that type, anyway."

"Uh… thanks, I guess."

…At least it seems like I’m not being lumped in with the others.

That’s good enough.

"Entering!"

"Here we are—"

Suddenly, the door swung open and Kurokawa-san and Akegami-san walked in.

The room instantly became noisy. Kotozuka-san’s expression, which had softened slightly earlier, returned to its usual ice-like blankness.

She opened a book as if nothing had happened. Her reaction speed was impressive.

"You two came at the same time?"

…I might as well try talking to the unusually energetic pair.

"Yeah, I ran into Kisa just a moment ago."

"Yep! Since that happened, I came here with Yuri too. Right?"

"Right."

The two of them high-fived.

And they were even calling each other by their first names.

…Maybe this team will come together faster than I expected.

"Did you and Reina get a little closer too, Nagisa-kun?"

Akegami-san stared at us intently.

She’s surprisingly perceptive.

"No, we just talked a little."

"That’s right. We’re not close."

"That was blunt."

Kotozuka-san shot me a glare.

Maybe she didn’t want me mentioning what happened earlier.

"Hmm? But still—I'm the one who's closer to Nagisa-kun, you know?"

A sweet scent drifted through the air.

Before I realized it, Akegami-san had disappeared from my view, and slender arms wrapped around me from behind.

Then I felt something soft press against my back. Her silky hair brushed lightly against my face.

…She’s hugging me from behind!?

"Whoa, how passionate."

Kurokawa-san burst out laughing.

Kotozuka-san just stared in stunned silence.

Um… someone please help me.

"Nagisa-kun."

"H-hiu…!?"

The whisper right beside my ear made a strange sound escape my mouth.

"Make sure you get along with me too."

She let out a small, amused giggle, and my heart started racing.

What is with this girl?

I can’t understand the intention behind her actions. It can’t be pure affection.

…Even though I know that, my heartbeat still speeds up.

"...Could you two do that somewhere else?"

"Ahaha, we got scolded."

With that, Akegami-san quickly pulled away from my back.

Th-thank goodness… My head was starting to feel like it might explode.

I really wish she’d stop doing things like this all the time.

I need to properly tell her sooner or later.

"Akegami-san, I’d really like you to stop doing things like this…"

When I said that, she simply smiled.

"Nope."

"Why!?"

As I panicked, she stepped a little closer.

"We’ll continue this next time."

That was all she said before sitting down in a chair.

Continue what!?

"How indecent."

"Very indecent."

…Can I really survive in this team?

I’m starting to feel worried again.