Episode 7

　Tohsaka glares at the two male students.

　Combined with the unique intimidating presence that beautiful people give off, the two people who were directly on the receiving end of it were frozen in place under the pressure.

　Tohsaka continues without giving them a chance.

"Can you hear me? Get out of the way. Aika is in trouble."

　After she said it, Usami's eyes sparkled as she muttered, "Handsome..."

　It's no wonder Usami is mesmerized.

　Even from a distance, Tohsaka's aura was incredible, and in fact all eyes in the store were fixed on the prince-like girl.

　After a moment, the men began to blink repeatedly, as if the hands of a clock had finally started to move.

"Wh-what is it? If you have a boyfriend, tell me."

"And he's really good looking too... haha, there's no way I can win."

　The men finally stand up, hastily trying to cover up.

　Tohsaka glared at the men once more, then sat down next to Usami as if nothing had happened and smiled at him.

"...She really is a real prince."

"The reason why people say Tohsaka is cool isn't just because of her looks."

　No wonder she's popular with the girls too, it all makes sense to me.

　Now that this small incident had been resolved, I was about to return to my original purpose - at that moment.

"...Hmm? Hey. Wait a minute."

"Wh, what's the matter? Let's hurry up and get going. It'll be awkward if we stay here..."

　A man turns to leave but stops.

　He looked at Tohsaka from head to toe, then fixed his gaze on a spot just below her face - around her chest.

"...Ah, there is. There is!"

"……0-0?"

"Oh, seriously! There's more than enough!"

"Lapita really exists!!!"

　Hey.

"You have a bulge that guys don't have! If you have one, that means--you're a girl!!!"

"Y-yes?"

　Noticing the man's gaze, Tohsaka quickly covers her chest with her arms.

　However, this gesture only added fuel to the fire, and the men regained their momentum.

"You could have just told me what it was!"

"That's so true! It's important to make your point!"

　What are these guys talking about?

"Oh! Actually, I know this kid! She's the famous "Prince" from the high school around here, right?"

"Ahh! The one that people are rumored to be super cool! I see, this one certainly is cool. To be honest, even now that I know what it is, it still looks like a real man to me."

"Hahahaha! She's definitely a man!"

　Tohsaka's face dropped a little at the delinquent's words.

　--It feels a little strange to be told that I'm so cool.

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"Tohsaka..."

　Other people probably won't notice the change.

　However, it was because I knew the sadness in Tohsaka's heart that I noticed it.

"So-called boyish? But you have such a pretty face, why not make her a bit more feminine? It would be a waste!"

"Pants styles look good on you, but why not try wearing a skirt instead?"

　Usami, having grown impatient with the men's blunt remarks, leans forward on the desk.

"Hey, wait a second! Can you stop complaining about Kaori? Everyone has their own way of dressing!"

"Oh no! We're just giving you advice!"

"Ah, but maybe you like being called Prince?"

"Well, what about something like that? No, I'm totally fine with it! What do you call that? Like diversity? In this day and age we're all about accepting things!"

"That's right! By the way, I'm fine too! Just come and talk to us at least once!"

　The men's words, one by one, steadily piled up inside her .

　The expression on Tohsaka's face reflected in my eyes.

　--She just realized that She have gotten quite far away from girls.

　Although she doesn't seem to care at first glance, I know that deep inside she is hiding worries.

　Emotions well up one after another.

　It was certainly hot and looked like it was about to burst out at any moment.

"If it's not right, we'll teach you!"

"That's right! I'll teach you what men love about "cuteness"!"

"Huh..."

　Tohsaka's face contorted for a moment.

　I didn't miss that change for even a second.

　-- I just wanted to tell you something... But please forget about it.

　A tingling sensation ran through my brain like an electric current, and I was reminded of Tohsaka's words from that time.

　In fact, I had been secretly pondering the meaning of those words.

　In the end, I didn't understand the meaning or what she really meant, but I felt like there was now meaning to the fact that I, someone who has no power, had received her words.

　The moment I realized it.

　The emotions that had been pent up finally started to spill out.

"...Rintaro?"

"Sorry Reo. I'm off for a bit."

　He took a step forward and approached the men.

"So, why don't you come and talk to us for a bit? We can even just exchange contact information!"

"See? Don't worry! The materials are really top-notch, so with a bit of ingenuity you can make it look cute---"

"What are you talking about?"

"……fart?"

　The two men noticed me and turned around.

　I continued without hesitation.

"Well, there's one thing... no, I'll say a lot of things."

　I swallowed hard and held the breath in my lungs.

　And so I blurted out my true feelings, able to sum up the unease swirling inside my heart in one word.

"Tohsaka is already more than cute enough, isn't she!!!"

"Huh!?"

　A voice resounded, cutting through the air inside the store.

"Fu, Fujita-kun...?"

　Tohsaka looks at me in confusion.

　However, I felt that even having the time to say a word to her was a waste, so I chose to confront the two men.

"You guys were acting all high and mighty and giving out all kinds of advice, but why are you guys acting like you're the ones who should be teaching her ?"

"Huh? What is he saying all of a sudden..."

"I mean, if you knew that much about it, you wouldn't have gone around hitting on girls in the store and causing trouble for the shop! Plus, there's no way you would have kept asking her questions! Isn't that proof that you doesn't have the time to spare?"

"!!! Wh, what are you on about?!"

"Don't mess with me, you little shit!!!"

　In front of the men who looked like they were about to attack at any moment, I pointed my index finger at them without hesitation.

"Okay, listen carefully. It's true that Tohsaka is cool. But, she's also a girl who definitely has a "cute" side to her!"

"H! Fu, Fujita-kun, what are you talking about...!"

"Tohsaka, just shut up and listen to what I have to say!"

"Huh!?"

　Leaving aside the confused Tohsaka, I must hammer home the point to these ignorant men. This is my mission to get to know Tohsaka.

　I took a breath and opened my mouth again.

"I really want to include everything I think about what makes Tohsaka 'cute', but due to time constraints, I'll just focus on the most recent three!"

"For time reasons!"

"three⁉"

　I took another step towards the surprised men.

"One thing! Tohsaka is insanely cute when she's embarrassed! She has a manly personality so she rarely gets embarrassed normally, but when she does she's like a real girl! She's so cute!"

"Fujita-kun!?"

"And two more things! I've always thought that each and every one of her movements is elegant and feminine! her mother must have given her the best education! Thanks to her mom!"

"...Is Fujita really this kind of character?"

"Actually..."

　Even Usami, who is astonished, stays for the time being.

"Lastly! Anyway, look at the remains of the merchandise on this table!"

"!!! Fu, Fujita-kun, that's...!"

　Tohsaka tries to hide it, but it's too late.

　A large number of hamburger wrappers are clearly visible in the men's field of vision.

"No way, you could eat this much by yourself..."

"Wow... she's a glutton...! She's beautiful, but she's also a glutton!!!"

"That's right! Tohsaka eats a lot! On top of that, she thinks it's embarrassing that she eats a lot and tries to hide it! Isn't that cute!"

"Y-yes!!!!!!!"

　The men looked up to the sky as if they had been hit.

　It was as if a new set of values had been inserted into my brain.

　This may be what some call a "revolution."

"It seems you understand."

"...Ah, I see. We were wrong."

"It was shallow. Everything was shallow."

"Maybe the attractiveness of girls that we know is just the tip of the iceberg..."

"It's not just the corner, it's the very tip, absolutely."

"Hahahaha."

"...It's scary how these people can change."

　Usami muttered in a frightened voice.

　The men, shocked by what felt like an industrial revolution, slung their bags over their shoulders and bowed deeply to Tohsaka and the others.

"I'm sorry! I was rude!"

"Now please enjoy some delicious food! And please protect this character!!!"

　The two of them place a thousand yen note on the table and smile brightly.

"Well, that's it for me! I have to go home and study!"

"My apologies!!!"

　The two of them turned their backs on us and left the store.

　The store is in chaos.

　Having said everything I wanted to say, I was basking in the satisfaction and wiped the sweat from my forehead with a sigh.

　The sweat that flows after finishing a job is the culmination of hardship and effort.

　For just this moment, the annoying sweat appears to be shining.

　While I was feeling so refreshed, I suddenly felt an intense energy behind me.

"Fujita-kun...?"

"Ah, Tohsaka. I--"

"You know that, right?"

"Yeah?"

　Tohsaka exudes an even more intimidating presence towards me than she had earlier towards the men.

　My spine freezes and I find it strangely hard to breathe.

"I haven't done anything..."

"Huh? Right. Huh?"

"Tohsaka?!"

　Oh no, what did I do?

　I have no idea why Tohsaka is so angry.

"Rintaro is an idiot, so he does things like that without a second thought."

"That's beyond stupid! ...But I do sympathize with what Fujita said."

"Well, I agree with you on that."

　While I was being cornered by Tohsaka, Reo and Usami stood a step back and watched with amusement.

"I'll never forgive you, Fujita-kun."

"Huh?!"

　I was in despair, seeing Tohsaka with not a smile on her face at all.

　Realizing that I couldn't do anything on his own, I looked at Reo for help, but...

"Yeah, I don't know. It's your own fault."

"Th-That's not possible..."

　Reo brushed off the helping hand without hesitation and laughed out loud as usual.

　That's right. This guy was the kind of guy who took pleasure in other people's misfortune, especially mine.

　My head hangs.

　Seeing me like that, Tohsaka turned away and muttered one last thing, quietly enough for no one to hear.

"Seriously, Fujita-kun... you idiot."

　I can't see Tohsaka's expression.

　Neither Reo nor Usami, who were looking at me and laughing in amusement, noticed her expression.

　And so, the story quietly begins to move.

　There was no sound, and no awareness of it being there.

　Like cherry blossom petals that fall unnoticed, fluttering in the wind to welcome the next season.

　Deep within, buds begin to sprout.

　At the end of spring, she quietly...