“I gotta ask you one thing. What is the cope with Juri holding your hand earlier, Onoda-kun? You two appear to be you are in your individual world again there.”

That is the primary query Setsuna-nee threw at me upon pulling me away from Juri. Properly, not precisely pulled away like I bought snatched by her however… the girl requested Juri if she might speak to me in non-public.

Yeah. She requested Juri as a substitute of me. However properly, there isn’t any level nitpicking on it anymore. I might nonetheless say sure if she requested me anyway. Somewhat than give her a purpose to doubt me or us, it is quite a bit higher to only be upfront along with her and fulfill no matter curiosity she picked up.

For the time being, we had already left the fast-food institution and have been on our strategy to the bus station that might ship us to the Hinatsu Lake Camp.

On condition that it is in the identical route as their dorm.

Ah. Proper. I needed to point out that the place we met up was near their school and the place they’re staying at. It is within the northwestern a part of the town, perhaps a little bit near the airport the place I picked up my dad and mom together with Miwa-nee. Nonetheless, it is one other space altogether. There was nonetheless near half an hour of distance between the 2 landmarks; on foot and by car due to the same old visitors.

Setsuna-nee determined to stroll with us there, not simply to harass us but additionally to offer her reminders concerning our job. I imply, the 2 of them have been those in command of it. And apparently, the one purpose Juri requested me to accompany her was that Setsuna-nee was unavailable at this time or tomorrow. She has a busy schedule this weekend and her solely respite was throughout the mornings – which defined why she tagged alongside at this time.

Anyway, with that oddly particular query, there isn’t any doubt that she noticed us. She did not deliver it up in entrance of Juri for the easy purpose of ‘Juri was innocent’.

Yeah. If she needed to decide between the 2 of us on who’s probably the most reliable, she’d decide her finest buddy at any second.

There’s additionally the chance that she did not need to be seen as a paranoid older sister by Juri.

Uh. I might suppose extra of different attainable excuses however they’re irrelevant now.

Crucial factor was… she was demanding a solution from me.

“Is that the way it appeared? Koizumi-san was solely expressing her gratitude to me. For accepting this job at this time and in addition about another factor.”

“Another factor?”

“Yeah. Did she not let you know about final week?”

“Final week… No. What occurred?”

Setsuna-nee tilted her head in confusion as she tried to dig into her reminiscence on whether or not Juri instructed her or not. Ultimately, she failed to recollect something which led her to take a look at me with fierce eyes as if she was going to extort me of the data.

That is hardly intimidating although. I shrugged and answered vaguely.

“Properly, if she did not let you know, I do not suppose I’ve a proper to reveal it to you, Setsuna-nee-san. However let’s simply say, she in some way ended up owing me.”

“… That is suspicious.”

“It is as much as you find out how to interpret it. However Setsuna-nee, aren’t you too nosy? I get it. You do not belief me however is not this an excessive amount of?”

Maybe I hit the nail on her head, guilt flashed upon her face. To recuperate from it, Setsuna-nee virtually raised her voice. However due to the general public setting, she held herself from screaming.

“I am not! I am solely looking for my finest buddy and my little Satsuki… You… How ought to I say it… you strike me as somebody very sly. I can not seem to afford to be careless round you.”

Hmm? Now, that is new. I assume this was probably the most cheap that I witnessed of her. I imply, she’s at all times the unreasonable brat, doing every part on her whim.

“I see… I am triggering your mistrust, huh? If I’ve to guess… do my actions resemble that bastard who tried to…”

“W-what… How did you…?”

As if I as soon as once more hit one other nail, the assured Setsuna-nee faltered. She blinked her eyes and virtually took a step again.

In any case, I did not name her out on it and easily responded to her with honesty.

“How did I do know? Did not we let you know about it already? Or not… Uh. I could not keep in mind… However Setsuna-nee, Satsuki instructed me concerning the previous incident… That is why…”

“… She instructed you? T-that is smart. No surprise she’s head-over-heels for you. She trusts you adequate to let you know about that incident.”

At this level, Setsuna-nee took a deep breath as if she was making an attempt to calm her feelings down.

As soon as that was completed, she stared at me straight. From how intense it was, I might really feel her gaze stabbing to my face. Most certainly, she’s additionally lastly going to be trustworthy with me.

Why she needed to maintain teasing me or why she could not appear to belief me.

Whichever the case, I simply waited for that whereas additionally checking on Juri from the space who was taking a look at us worriedly. Properly, she most likely thought that I used to be getting scolded by Setsuna-nee so… she could not assist however really feel like that.

I am going to cheer her up later. That means, we’ll have a good time on this scouting journey.

“No. You do not remind me of that hateful bastard, Onoda-kun. That is simply me being too defensive and protecting. My belief within the reverse gender disappeared after what occurred. Apart from Ryou, our father, and my little brother, I can’t belief anybody anymore. Not even you… I do know, I am being annoying to you however I am unable to assist it.”

By the tip of Setsuna-nee’s response, her shoulders drooped, and her power drained from her physique. It is like she bought hit by a weak point spell, decreasing all her stats.

Is she feeling dangerous? Maybe. However understanding her, she’d most likely not be going to apologize since in her thoughts, all she was doing was justified.

I additionally could not discover a purpose to pressure her to apologize to me. It is not a giant deal anyway. So long as Satsuki’s belief in me remained intact, nothing else issues.

“Alright. That is so not you, Setsuna-nee. Don’t fret about it. I perceive the place you are coming from. I do discover you annoying such as you stated however I’ve no plans in antagonizing you each time. Let’s simply say, in a single nook of my thoughts, I additionally need to get together with you. That means, Satsuki can be pleased.”

“You are all about Satsu-chan… Heh. Right here I’m worrying that you simply’re making an attempt to sway Juri to be in your favor…”

Properly, she’s not fully mistaken on that. However let’s simply be quiet and never inform her how the space between Juri and I had already shortened to the purpose that we have been now each inquisitive about one another.

“Should you’re frightened about that, I can nonetheless again down on this and name Sakuma to be the escort. I do know that she got here to me for this favor but when that is going to make you uncomfortable, I do not thoughts supplying you with a peace of thoughts.”

Since she listed Sakuma as one in every of solely three males she trusted, there isn’t any doubt that she’d be nice with that man going.

Nevertheless, what I stated was only for lip service. I imply, it is Juri who got here to me for this favor, and having identified how shut they’re as buddies, there isn’t any doubt that there is additionally a touch of her affect on that call.

“No. You do not want to do this. Handle Juri, Onoda-kun. I can see that she trusts you numerous – first time I’ve seen her like that.”

“Now that is flattering. I am going to care for her. I am going to even take a snake chew for her.”

“You! Cease exaggerating, fool. Anyhow, let’s finish this right here. I am going to attempt to contact you two later, to examine on you. Maintain your telephone open.”

Setsuna-nee chuckled at first earlier than turning critical once more. Then after saying all that, she walked again to Juri to say the identical factor.

One way or the other, the speak with Setsuna-nee could possibly be stated to be very productive. I heard her ideas about me and why she was being obnoxious. I simply had no concept if she’d proceed to be like this on completely different events.

However hey, let us take a look at the intense aspect. She’d cease messing with us at this time or probe about issues she discovered suspicious. That is a plus, proper?

With every part out of the way in which, the three of us continued to the bus station.

Sticking to the plan, solely Juri and I climbed up inside as quickly because it arrived.

As for Setsuna-nee, she waited till the bus left earlier than she began strolling again to their dormitory.

As we watched her determine from the window, Juri silently muttered, “I am glad you two reached an settlement, Ruki. I believe Setsu will begin accepting you for Satsuki-chan…”