A Late Bloomer's Powerful Restart ~My Second Life Starts at a Prestigious School Where the Gender Ratio Is Totally Off, and for Some Reason, All These Talented Girls Get Attached to Me...!?~

Chapter 34.2: False Truth

I was the one who suggested it, but didn’t this just turn into me asking her out on a date…?

Well, since it’s Sasa, she probably didn’t see it that way.

Going to clothing stores together as friends was probably normal for her.

But if I’m being honest——

“I think the real, unchanged Sasa looks the most lively and suits you the best.”

I realized I had spoken those thoughts out loud without meaning to.

Saying that right after inviting her to go dress up felt kind of rude.

Her face quickly turned bright red… and she started fidgeting with her body.

Maybe I said something unnecessary… I felt embarrassed at myself too.

An awkward silence settled in, and I couldn’t think of anything.

For a while, it felt like only the sound of cutlery echoed through the wide space.

“Hey… Can I come to your room again tonight…?”

“O-Okay. I don’t mind…”

“It’s a promise, okay?”

If it’s not an after-the-fact notice, there’s no need to promise at this point anyway.

We’d just play games together while chatting about random nonsense like always.

If there was still something about Sasa I didn’t understand, there would be plenty of chances to learn more in the future.

◇◇◇

After school.

I somehow managed to get in touch with Riko and set up a meeting.

It seemed her absence really had been from playing sick.

That said——

“Hey… Getting into the girls’ dorm was seriously tough. Wouldn’t somewhere else have been fine?”

I never expected to be invited to her own room.

Literally because there were so many female students, it was extremely difficult for a guy to reach it… and it wore down my nerves.

What exactly was she planning… I still couldn’t let my guard down.

“Are you stupid? Did you really think I would go outside when I’m faking illness to skip class?”

“My bad then. But inviting a guy into your room… If rumors start that you’re into men, don’t blame me, okay?”

“…Hmph. Are you actually trying to be considerate? Sorry to disappoint, but I have zero interest in men.”

Even as she said that, Riko never took her hand off her phone.

It seemed like she was ready to call someone outside if anything happened.

By the way, saying she had no interest in men almost sounded like she was interested in women… but no, surely not.

After doing all that to Amane and Sasa, she couldn’t be a total psychopath.

“So? Could you get to the point already?”

“No need to rush… Look at this.”

I handed her an envelope containing several printed photos.

After finishing lunch with Sasa, right before afternoon classes started… actually, Sasa had sent me several photos. These were printouts of them.

“This is more than enough proof that you attacked Amane.”

Even so, I hadn’t submitted it to the school because the evidence was so specific that the punishment Riko would receive would be extremely severe.

The current Sasa was a pure pacifist… It was only an ideal, but it seemed she intended to settle everything peacefully until the very end.

“——What is this. Is that woman an idiot? Was she actually trying to help me?”

“With Sasa, that side of her might exist… but in reality, it’s because a crack in the balance between groups would cause problems.”

If someone like Riko, who was under the Nanamiya Group, took damage, there would surely be people in that group who wouldn’t stay quiet.

Such conflict would have a huge impact on the economy.

Riko seemed strong in social circles, but she still lacked knowledge about economics and markets… It took her a while to understand my reasoning.

“Did you seriously think Amane kept her mouth shut just because of her quiet personality?”

“Huh? Of course. Just look at her——”

“Stop with the convenient interpretations.”

“Convenient…? Then what’s the reason, according to you!?”

“If infighting breaks out within the group, one side’s family will be crushed… No, slightly different. It’s because they would be ‘crushed’ to protect the Nanamiya authority. Amane was simply trying to avoid that.”

…This was not the truth.

The real reason Amane kept silent was to prevent anyone from finding out about her older sister’s whereabouts.

But since that was something she wanted to hide, the only option was to convince Riko Morozumi with this false truth.

“…Are you trying to say my family was being protected or something?”

“No, it’s to protect your own family. Well, in terms of status difference… if you think about which side the Nanamiya would sacrifice for their own benefit, the result is pretty obvious.”

Riko wasn’t stupid.

That’s why she should realize this was a matter that could decide her family’s survival in the worst case.

If there was any room for her to be cornered, she would seriously consider it.

If she investigated my story in more detail later, she would probably notice that the logic held up, at least on the surface.

“…You’re just a commoner… How do you know so much?”

That might have been a sudden question that popped into her mind.

Certainly, this wasn’t the kind of talk an ordinary student would have.

Here I had to steel myself.

“Sigh… Let me ask you one thing. Why do you think being in the general admission quota makes someone a commoner?”

“H-Huh!? What are you saying… because you——”

To carry the logic through to the end, it would only be complete once she understood that I was on “that side.” I had no intention of hesitating over that.

“Because I’m the representative of the general quota? Let me tell you, recommendation slots aren’t all-powerful. Especially if someone has the confidence to top the entrance exam, is there really any need to use one…?”

“…What do you mean? I’ve never seen you even once in high-society circles…”

“Well, whether I’m a commoner or from the same upper class as you doesn’t really matter. Think whatever you want.”

Anyway… my real identity would come out sooner or later, whether I liked it or not.

Even if I mentioned the Yashima name at this stage, it would probably just sound like a bluff.

That’s why I could threaten her with confidence too.

“I’m giving you a chance to start over.”

“A chance? Don’t talk down to me…”

“——Don’t get the wrong idea. The only reason you’re getting this chance is because Sasa is forgiving you. I haven’t forgiven you.”

I lowered my voice and intimidated her.

This was my true feeling. Dangerous elements like Riko Morozumi should be eliminated.

But Sasa probably wouldn’t want that.

On top of that, I couldn’t completely rule out the possibility that expelling her would have zero effect on a conflict between Nanamiya and Kokonoe.

“Just stop attacking Amane and apologize to her. Throw away that cheap pride of yours already.”

“Cheap pride!? You don’t even know what that woman did to me…!!”

“I don’t know your situation, but the ‘woman’ you’re talking about isn’t Amane Mishina, is she?”

“That’s—— Tch, fine. I don’t know what your real identity is, but if you’ve convinced me… then I’ll apologize or whatever! But if your story turns out to be a lie—— remember that.”

…That’s good enough.

After this, either she would convince herself, or she would learn my identity and have no choice but to accept it… Those were the only two options.

It had been a bit forceful, but maybe this way a reconciliation with Amane could happen soon.

Surely Amane would be able to feel at ease too.

Well, I’d like to say this matter is settled with that… but——

There was still one last person I absolutely had to talk to.

I sent a message calling out to the other hidden manipulator who was still out there.

Now, let’s place the final piece of the puzzle.