Chapter 4: Getting Closer, Takamiyagi-senpai (1)

"Shione! Gooood morning!"

"Morning~"

The next day, when I woke up, I was still Shione-chan, as if nothing had changed. It seems my request—sent to who-knows-where—wasn’t granted after all. …This is bad. At this rate, I can safely assume I’ll still be like this tomorrow, and the day after. Which means there’s little hope of reverting on my own. I’ll have to think of some other way.

Well, living as Shione-chan isn’t all bad—you get to experience the world of the game firsthand—but… if it were more like a short trip, you know, two nights and three days guaranteed, I wouldn’t mind. But living as Shione forever? Mentally, that’s going to break me in all kinds of ways. Yesterday’s bath was already pushing it, and there’s plenty more besides that…

"Shione, morning!"

"Ah, yeah… morning…"

Speak of the devil—here he comes already. Takahiro shows up at my desk first thing in the morning, flashing that cheerful smile. About 80% of my current misery is made up of this guy.

…Takahiro, as a friend, I could maybe tolerate you. But you’re secretly looking at me as a romantic interest, aren’t you? I know. And that is an unforgivable sin. Right now, I just want to thank our homeroom teacher for not putting us in the same class. When I was playing the game, I used to complain, “How could they not put childhood friends in the same class?” Sorry—I take that back.

"Shione, you don’t seem very energetic today either."

That’s because I was just thinking about you. …Oh, right. Hey, got time now? Let’s go to the rooftop. I could go with the Kaimori-chan route, but I should connect you with the other heroines too. As long as it’s not me, you can date whoever you want. Thinking about it like that, this guy’s pretty lucky. You should be more grateful.

"The rooftop…? Why?"

"I want to see the sky from up close."

Ah, by the way, that’s the exact line she says the first time you meet Takamiyagi-senpai on the rooftop. That girl waits for you for like two weeks on top of the water tank. Even when it rains. I guess someone like Takamiyagi-senpai doesn’t discriminate against the sky based on the weather. That’s some next-level mindset.

And yet, even though I gave him such a smooth invitation, the protagonist bastard didn’t respond. Worse, he stepped away with some random background girl from class, and the two of them started whispering about something.

I don’t really care what it is, but could you stop glancing over here while you talk? It makes me want to walk over like, “What’s up?” and join in. Eh, whatever.

"...Yesterday and today, Shione’s acting weird, right?"

"Yeah, and yesterday in the courtyard too… that underclassman girl…"

"Isn’t that kind of unnatural…? And then saying she was cute? No way, Shione… you’re helping that girl because she asked you to, aren’t you…? …Hey, sorry. Don’t glare at me like that."

Eventually, the two of them came over together, looking like they were probing for answers. …Oh, done with your strategy meeting? So what’s up? Don’t tell me you don’t want to go to the rooftop, Takahiro?

"Hey, Shione… is that girl from yesterday waiting again…?"

"Kaimori-chan isn’t there."

"‘Isn’t’…?"

Ugh, this guy is such a pain. I didn’t want to do this, but I guess I have no choice. Just like yesterday morning, I grabbed the sleeve of the protagonist’s uniform and tugged insistently, then looked up at him with pleading eyes.

"...Hey, Takahiro-kun. Please…?"

"Ugh…! …Alright! Let’s go, Shione!"

"You’re seriously weak to that face of hers…"

Easy as hell. …Wait, if I combine sleeve-tugging + puppy eyes + a teary look and say, “Please, just go out with Kaimori-chan without asking questions…” would that solve everything instantly? …Okay, that might be too much. Still, I’ll keep it as a last-resort option.

Anyway, let’s get going… to the rooftop. To Takamiyagi-senpai.

"So, we came to the rooftop, but…"

Leaving the protagonist standing there looking confused, I scanned the area. Let’s see… she should be here somewhere…

…Ah, there she is. Standing on top of the water tank again, gazing into the distance. As beautiful as ever.

I immediately reached for the ladder to climb up—but couldn’t reach it at all. I kept hopping up and down, stretching my arms as far as I could, until the protagonist finally slipped his hands under my arms and lifted me up like it was nothing. Oh—thanks.

…Though that totally felt like being picked up like a kitten… Shione-chan really is too light. Maybe suggesting daily visits to a ramen shop wasn’t such a bad idea after all.

Anyway, with loud metallic clanks, I climbed up to the top of the tank. When I looked down afterward, for some reason the protagonist had turned his face away, bright red.

What’s with him? Late-onset puberty or something? Whatever. I don’t have time to worry about him right now.

"...Oh my. What a cute companion."

If I had to describe it, it was like a transparent voice. Standing there was a tall, slender female student. Long, straight black hair reaching her lower back. Sharp, strong-willed eyes. Takamiyagi Satsuki—the cool upperclassman type. Always strict, but actually a slightly quirky oddball deep down.

Let me explain how the original game’s story goes.

First, the protagonist happens to come to the rooftop one day and notices a girl standing on top of the water tank. Curious, he asks why she’s in a place like that. She replies only, “Because I want to see the sky from up close.” There isn’t much conversation beyond that, but they quietly gaze at the sky together. The protagonist grows fond of that calm atmosphere and starts visiting the rooftop again and again. Gradually, they begin to talk more and learn about each other.

Then one day, she reveals that she possesses extraordinary physical abilities. From that point on, their lives are gradually swallowed by the extraordinary—

"Excuse me."

First, I bowed my head, then moved to sit beside Takamiyagi-senpai. Settling down, I looked up at the sky. Today’s weather was clear. A cold blue sky, with scattered wisps of clouds—one of those days caught between autumn and winter.

Ohh… yeah. The sky really does feel closer. It’s like my whole field of vision is filled with it. If I listen closely, I can hear the faint whine of an airplane far above, and the distant voice of a teacher drifting on the wind from the school building.

…Not bad at all. As expected of Takamiyagi-senpai. Though it’s a bit cold.

"What are you looking at?"

"It really does feel like the sky is closer."

Ah, crap. I just stole senpai’s line from the first encounter. When I turned toward her, her eyes were slightly widened. Huh—that’s rare. She doesn’t show much expression. But yeah, I get it. If someone says exactly what you were thinking, it’s kind of creepy. My bad.

…More importantly, where’s Takahiro? There’s no point in coming here if he doesn’t show up. What’s he hesitating for?

A soft chuckle slipped from senpai’s lips. It seemed unintentional at first, then she covered her mouth and let out a quiet, refined laugh. I couldn’t help but stare for a moment. As expected of the number one heroine in terms of beauty—she’s picture-perfect.

"We get along well."

"Yes! This place is wonderful."

"Takamiyagi Satsuki. And you are?"

"I’m Yozakura Shione."

"That’s an unusual surname."

"I think that applies to both of us…"

No, the rarest one is obviously Kaimori-chan. Seriously, what kind of name is “shell in a forest”? An ammonite or something? Anyway—where is Takahiro? The conversation is moving along without you. Missing the first impression with a heroine candidate—are you really the protagonist of a dating sim?

At last, I hear the metallic clank—clang, clang, clang—of someone climbing up. Took you long enough. We’re already 80% done here. Takamiyagi-senpai already has the “quiet type” trait halfway maxed out, so she barely talks to begin with.

And the moment the protagonist shows his face, senpai instantly stops smiling. Ah, what a waste. …Well, he just barely caught it, maybe? That alone could make someone fall in love at first sight. I’d really like him to pick up that flag if possible.

Without a word, Takamiyagi-senpai passes by the standing protagonist and quietly starts descending the ladder. No conversation at all. …Whoa. That was, what, three seconds of interaction? …Ah—at least say something, say something!

"Senpai!"

At my call, she stops, narrows her eyes slightly, and looks back at me. That expression clearly says, What is it? Wait—are you already out of lines for today? Battery dead? Just one more, please!

"Senpai, what were you doing up here? Why here?"

Still holding onto the ladder, she glances up at the sky for a brief moment. Then she shakes her head and—just once more—smiles faintly.

"The same as you."

With those words, she disappears. The lighter clang, clang, clang of her descent echoes, followed by the rooftop door opening… and closing.

Left behind, the protagonist and I look at each other atop the water tank. The wind whistling between us feels colder than before.

"...Wait, who was that just now?"

You’re starting from there? Well, fair enough—you weren’t here. But seriously, what were you doing, Takahiro? Your timing is terrible. Learn from senpai—she showed up and dipped in under ten seconds.

"That was Takamiyagi Satsuki. A senpai. …More importantly, what did you think?"

"Huh? What do you mean, what…?"

"When she smiled. You saw it, right?"

"Yeah, I mean… I saw it… but…"

"So, what did you think!?"

"Huh? What kind of question is that…?"

"Come on! Like, didn’t you feel anything? Like you started to like her or something!?"

"Why am I getting grilled about this, in a place like this, by you of all people, Shione…?"

The protagonist mutters that while staring up at the sky, completely at a loss. Seriously—after seeing that smile, you felt nothing? …Do you even have emotions?

…Ugh, fine. Maybe this is still a bit too advanced for Takahiro. Guess I’ll have to break it down more. Alright—sit there for a second. Just do it.

I gesture for Takahiro to sit, then take a seat beside him myself. Being the highest spot on the school building, the view of the town from here is incredible. Wow… looking down like this really does make your perspective feel wider.

As I sit, the strong wind flutters my skirt—flap, flap—and my long, fluffy brown hair streams behind me. Anyway—Takahiro, do you understand why you’re getting scolded right now?

Still staring blankly at me, Takahiro gets his sleeve tugged as I pull on it. Sorry to interrupt your rooftop date simulation with senpai, but you just failed that encounter. You need to recognize that first.

"Hey, Takahiro-kun. Why were you so late?"

Exactly. That’s the entire problem. At that point, it’s not even about senpai being the quiet type anymore. Right now, your role is basically “the guy who passed by someone on top of a water tank.” You don’t hear that title every day.