Chapter 29

It had been a month since I last returned home, but my parents' reaction was rather indifferent. They just said things like, "You're back, huh?" I've been used to my parents being like this since I was a kid, so I didn't really mind. However, they seemed to be a bit worried and asked about my solo trip. I dodged their questions with a made-up story and started working on the mountain of homework that had piled up.

I called Seiki after a long time.

I called him to ask if I could copy his homework because mine was in a bad state.

Unfortunately, my last hope was of no use. He was on a trip and not in town. He said he would be back the day after tomorrow.

That left me with no choice but to ask Rin, who was nearby, but it turned out that Rin also had a lot of homework.

Apparently, there was going to be a homework cramming session at Seiki's house on the last day of summer vacation, the day after tomorrow. I was invited, but I had no intention of going.

I had to spend the day after tomorrow with Roll.

It wasn't that we had made a promise or anything. I just thought it would be that way.

Maybe it was a feeling of atonement.

With two days left, if I were to act together with Roll, she would definitely help me with my homework. That was my original plan, and I was grateful for it.

However, the reason I was trying to rely on someone other than Roll was because I wanted to take the easy way out.

Roll would surely teach me my homework thoroughly.

But what I wanted was the answers.

If I had to tackle the textbooks and reference books head-on, it would take a considerable amount of time.

In short, I wanted to copy the answers quickly and get rid of this source of anxiety.

Roll would help me, but she wouldn't let me copy.

Ah, only two days left until the end of summer vacation.

A summer spent mostly in the Barasara Desert.

Considering that this was the only summer vacation of my second year in high school, it was sad to think that I had wasted so much time.

While thinking about such things, I steadily finished the type of homework that just eats up time.

My work continued until around two in the morning.

---

The next morning, I woke up to find an email on my private phone. It was from Roll.

The content was, "Can I help you with your homework?"

I grunted when I saw it. If I could copy the answers, I could finish my homework in half a day, but I wasn't sure if I would be allowed to.

No, since Seiki wasn't around, I should go for the safe option.

If it didn't look like I could finish in time, Roll would probably let me copy in the end. It might be worth asking her.

With that in mind, I sent Roll a message saying, "Please."

Roll's reply was quick. After confirming the message, "Then meet at my room," I got ready and left the house.

On the way to the hideout, I ran into someone.

Mizuki Ohashi. Seiki's childhood friend and the school's "Madonna." Incidentally, she's not my type.

"Kamiya-kun, it's been a while. Since the end-of-term ceremony. Where are you going?"

"Ohashi. It's been a while. I'm just going to finish my homework.

By the way, I heard Seiki was on a trip. Weren't you with the Ohashi family?"

"This year, both families went on separate trips."

"Hmm."

I thought she was on a trip with Seiki, but apparently not.

Seiki and Ohashi's families often went on trips together, and Rin would complain about being left out. But it seems that this year's annual event wasn't happening.

At least I wouldn't have to hear her unreasonable insults about why Seiki is her childhood friend. That's a relief.

"By the way, I heard you went on a solo trip during the summer vacation. Where did you go?"

The inevitable question that would come up once school started hit me at this moment.

I had planned to have a made-up story ready, but I hadn't thought of one yet, so I tried to dodge it.

"I didn't go that far. It's a pretty close place, you know."

"Wow, really? Tell me when school starts! Sorry, I have a friend to meet. See you! Good luck with your homework!"

Ohashi said this and waved at me.

"Got it. See you."

After seeing me wave back, Ohashi shook her black ponytail and ran off somewhere.

I started walking to the hideout again before I could watch her go.

But Ohashi is a remarkable person. She's popular because she can be kind to everyone, and her only flaw is that she's head over heels for Seiki.

Yeah, she's all good except for the fact that she makes everyone fall for her and then crushes them.

Seiki, Ohashi, and Rin. When these three are together, they become an unconscious nuisance group for me.

But the fact is, I've been helped by these three.

Thanks to Seiki, Ohashi, and Rin, who are central figures in the class and are powerless, I've been able to join their circle and avoid being persecuted.

To be precise, Rin isn't powerless, but her ability is so insignificant that it might as well be.

I often heard that powerless students were bullied in other grades, but once the story that Seiki, Ohashi, and Rin were powerless spread, that stopped.

It seems there's a perception that these guys shouldn't be made enemies.

Now that I've become a person with a power, I feel guilty towards Seiki, even if not towards Ohashi or Rin.

It's not because I killed someone or because I'm a member of Anonymous, but I feel like I've betrayed them somehow.

It's not something I can talk to him about now...

While thinking about such things, I arrived at the cafe, the entrance to the hideout.

I went through the usual routine with the master and descended underground.

Unlike when I first came here, I can now reach Roll's room without getting lost.

I knocked on the door of her room.

"Come in."

I heard a voice from inside, and I turned the doorknob and opened the door.

The room was cooler than outside, and Roll was wearing a long-sleeved shirt. She was lying on the bed, watching TV.

"Good morning."

"Morning. Isn't the air conditioning too strong in this room?"

I entered the room, put my bag on the table, and sat in a chair.

"I just felt a bit lazy."

Roll got up, turned off the TV, and sat in the chair opposite me, resting her elbows on the table.

"Okay, I'll help you with your homework. It's pretty bad, right?"

"Pretty bad."

As I said this, I took out the remaining homework text from my bag.

"Is that all?"

"Yeah. I finished a lot yesterday."

"Hmm. But you've left some pretty troublesome stuff."

Roll said this with a slight frown.

Since Roll also finds it troublesome, maybe I can ask her to let me copy.

I'll take a chance.

"Actually, I have a favor to ask..."

I opened my mouth hesitantly.

"What? I'm not letting you copy, you know. It won't do you any good."

"Can't you make an exception...?"

"No."

She firmly refused, and I inwardly sighed. It doesn't look like she'll let me copy.

Since I've already betrayed Roll during the summer, it's probably best to be honest and follow her rules... I wanted to go out with her at least on the last day, even if it was just for a mission.

"Ah, got it. I'll do it properly.

But I wanted to go out with you... It would have been a summer memory... We didn't even go on one mission together."

"...Huh?"

But it can't be helped. I can't blame the sighs.

There will be plenty of opportunities to go out with Roll in the future, so I'll let it go.

"...I'll do it seriously. Explain the parts I don't understand."

I opened the first page of the text and started solving the problems.

But Roll's hand slammed down on the text.

"Wait a minute."

I looked up at Roll. She had a conflicted look on her face, resting her chin in her hand.

"What's wrong?"

I asked, and Roll took out a text from her school bag and put it on the table.

"...I'll let you copy, since there's no other way."

"Really!? Why?"

"I've been training all summer, so I thought it would be okay to have some fun on the last day.

Besides, it's also an apology for that injury..."

I touched the wound on my neck. It still stung. It was from when Roll scratched me.

"No, you don't have to worry about it. I was at fault too.

Besides, that's all in the past."

"You're right..."

"But I appreciate it. After all, a partner is a valuable asset."

I smiled and said that.

"Is that so?"

I immediately opened the text and started copying Roll's answers.

"Come to think of it, Roll is kind of nice, despite everything."

She's not just scary when she's angry...

"You won't get anything by praising me."

Even as she said this, Roll's embarrassed smile was cute, and my motivation to do my homework increased.

Well, I was just copying, but...

After that, I continued copying my homework while talking to Roll. Time passed quickly, but because it was a task done while talking, it wasn't until around eight in the evening that I finished my homework.