22: I Got My Confession Rejected by Yukinoshita Right Out of the Gate!
[22] 22: I Got My Confession Rejected by Yukinoshita Right Out of the Gate!
[22] “Yuigahama-senpai, your idea is correct, but the conditions for it to hold don’t exist at the root of things.
Because if someone really wanted to get closer to Hayama-senpai while avoiding everyone else in his group—” “Then instead of ruining the reputation of everyone except Hayama and fantasizing that Hayama-senpai would voluntarily dissolve his little clique.” “Why wouldn’t they just join that group directly, or form a new group of their own big enough to include Hayama-senpai, and pull him in separately?” “Uh…
that’s way too roundabout.
I don’t get it at all…
Could you say it a little slower, Tadayanan?” After completely shooting down the objection Yuigahama had raised, Tadayana continued.
“To put it another way, if Hayama-senpai is the only person in your class capable of forming a clique with those three, then no one else would ever take the initiative to break that group apart, no matter what.” “Because that would mean that even if the truth only came out a little—even if they left behind only the slightest trace—they’d still have to risk being targeted and retaliated against by the only powerful group in the class.
For any individual, that’s not a good way to keep surviving at school.
Gloomy guy should understand that better than anyone, right?” “Y-yeah…
that’s right.” Hikigaya answered.
It was true.
No one was going to go through all that trouble and take that kind of risk just to get a few extra words in with someone they didn’t usually hang around with.
If that were the goal, it would be simpler and safer to just join the group directly.
“Any other questions?” Tadayana looked around.
No one seemed to have anything more to say.
It was as though everyone were simply waiting for her judgment.
Hayama’s expression had grown even more serious.
He hadn’t expected this underclassman girl to grasp the shape of their relationships so thoroughly after only a few questions.
This girl might even be more frightening than Yukino Yukinoshita’s older sister—Haruno Yukinoshita.
“All right, then let’s continue.
Hayama-senpai, just now I heard Yuigahama-senpai say—” “Wait, just call me Yui.
‘Yuigahama-senpai’ makes it sound so distant…” Yuigahama interrupted to voice her protest, clearly dissatisfied with how Tadayana was addressing her.
“All right.
Just now I heard Yui say, ‘groups of three.’ Is that grouping fixed?
You can’t have more people together?” “That’s right.
That way they can assign the same amount of work across the board.
If there are too many people, the quality of instruction is bound to drop.” “I see.
Then everything’s completely clear now.
The culprit is probably one of the three people you just mentioned.
In the worst-case scenario, all of them are culprits.” At that moment, Tadayana looked like Detective Conan himself.
But in the interest of being rigorous, she held it back.
“Wh…
how is that possible…” Hayama seemed unable to accept it.
He didn’t want to face the reality that the people around him might be smearing each other behind each other’s backs.
After all, who would expect the people laughing and joking with you every day to turn out like that?
“You’ve got to be mistaken.
How could the culprit be one of them…
There has to be some mistake.” “How about this, gloomy guy?
Can you use those dead-fish observer eyes of yours to confirm something for me?” “Huh?
Confirm what?
Go ahead.” Hikigaya was a little curious what this girl wanted him to do.
Come to think of it, this was the first time a girl had ever specifically asked him to help with something.
“Find out what the three of them are like when they’re together in private.
You have to observe them secretly, and only when Hayama-senpai isn’t there.
Can you do that?” “Okay, leave it to me.
This is exactly what I’m best at.” Hikigaya agreed with a look of absolute confidence.
When it came to observing human beings, nobody was more professional than he was.
“Then, Hayama-senpai, how about making a bet with me?
We’ll bet on what gloomy guy finds.
If those three buddies of yours don’t actually get along very well when you’re not around, then my deduction is correct.
If it turns out the opposite way, then I’m wrong.
I’ll apologize to you, and I’ll never set foot in the Service Club again.
How about it?” “Wh…
no…
To begin with, you’re not even a member of the Service Club, and I don’t know you that well.
There’s no need for you to bet something like that with me, and there’s no reason for me to agree.
This bet isn’t equal from the start.
Whether I win or lose, I don’t lose anything, do I?” “No…
you will lose your view of friendship.
That’s enough.” Tadayana cut him off.
“All right…
I understand…” “No objections, witnesses?” After speaking with Hayama, Tadayana turned to the other three, who had been watching the whole thing unfold.
“…” Yukinoshita said nothing, but she looked almost unable to contain her excitement. This story is hosted at g.com.
Clearly, she was also curious about how this deductive wager would turn out.
After all, scenes like this only happened in detective novels.
Yuigahama, on the other hand, spoke up.
“I don’t really mind, since I still have Tadayanan’s contact info anyway, but…
saying you’ll never come into the Service Club again feels a little too absolute, doesn’t it?
If you lose…
and we can’t see Tadayanan anymore…
Yukinon would probably be sad.” “H-hey…
who would be sad…” Yukinoshita lightly rebuked her, but her gaze had already begun to drift.
“Lose?
Don’t worry.
I’m not going to lose a bet like this when the answer’s already obvious.
Then see you tomorrow, same place, same time, Hayama-senpai.” With that, Tadayana left in dashing fashion.
“She’s really confident…
It’s like she’s already seen through the whole thing…” Watching Tadayana’s retreating figure, Hayama murmured in admiration.
“Yeah…
she really does give off that kind of incredible feeling…
a person like that.” Hikigaya found himself sighing the same way.
“All right, then.
Time for me to go carry out my mission.” He stood up, stretched, and left as well.
…
The next day, at the same time.
The Service Club.
“Good afternoon.” “Good afternoon.” The moment Tadayana stepped into the clubroom, she exchanged greetings with the people who had already arrived.
As soon as she came in, she noticed that Yukinoshita and Yuigahama were already watching her and whispering excitedly to each other.
Hayama was already there too.
It looked like he had just gotten the results from Hikigaya, because his face was dark with gloom.
“You were amazing, Tadayanan~” Yuigahama praised her at once.
Tadayana then turned to Hikigaya and asked, “So?
What did your investigation turn up?”