Chapter 6 – A Glimpse of Madness

My phone alarm blared to life.

I resented the alarm I’d set despite having no plans whatsoever.

On nights before days off, even without plans, I get all motivated to study. And then I end up hating yesterday’s version of myself before forgetting all about it. Rinse and repeat.

“…It’s Sunday and I’m already awake…”

Way too early… I don’t feel like going back to sleep, but I don’t have anything to do either.

There’s only one thing nagging at me…

Yesterday. Suzu-san and Iroha.

“…What were they really talking about? Iroha said it was normal stuff, but… would they really do that?”

I thought about it from every angle, but couldn’t figure it out.

Maybe I’ll go for a run to clear my head… Just as I started changing, my phone vibrated.

“Suzu-san…? Isn’t the timing a little too perfect…? No, it’s just a coincidence… right?”

Suzu-san has so many “coincidences” that I’m starting to think they’re inevitable…

“…Hello?”

“Good morning, Ren-san.”

Even through the phone’s digital distortion, her voice sounds beautiful. How is that even possible?

“I knew you’d be awake. My intuition guides me to coincidences time and time again. Impressive, isn’t it?”

“…It really is just coincidence, right…? Actually, never mind that—did you need something?”

She’s calling at this hour, so she must want something.

Knowing Suzu-san, she’ll probably say something I can’t even imagine…

“No, I simply wanted to see you, Ren-san.”

“Just… to see me?”

“Yes. I need no other reason. After all, we’re lovers.“

I happened to have something I wanted to ask her too, so I agreed immediately. We decided on a time and place, then hung up.

—————————

We’d agreed to meet at 10, but I arrived at the café a little late. I’d never been to this area before and got lost.

It was my first time at this shop, and even someone as fashion-oblivious as me could feel the atmosphere.

I looked around, but didn’t see Suzu-san anywhere.

When I peered through the glass into the shop, I spotted her sitting inside, beckoning me over.

“Sorry, Suzu-san. I’m a little late.”

“Don’t worry about it. Even waiting for you is enjoyable for me.”

“Then at least let me buy your drink.”

One or two minutes—a delay is still a delay. I wanted to do something to make up for it.

“I’ve already ordered our drinks… but I’d be happy if you’d grant me a request later.”

Well, I guess as long as I can show my sincerity somehow, I don’t have to insist on paying…

If we keep going back and forth, we’ll just go in circles.

“…Thanks, I’ll do that then. By the way, what did you order?”

“I got an iced coffee, and a café au lait for you. I hear it’s sweet and quite popular.”

“Oh… thanks. I like sweet stuff, so that’s perfect.”

“Of course I know that. I remember everything you like, Ren-san.”

…Why does she know my preferences? I mean, it’s not like I’m bothered by it…

Wait a second—I got swept up in the flow, but she already ordered for me too? That’s nice of her.

“Oh, you ordered mine too… How much was it?”

“Don’t worry about the money. However… in exchange, if you don’t mind, I’ll add it to that request from earlier.”

“Got it.”

Unlike the other two, she doesn’t give me that fear of what she’ll do—she gives me the fear of not knowing what she’s thinking.

Still… as long as she stays rational, I can keep calm.

This is Suzu magic…

And so, we chatted about trivial things while drinking our café au laits for a while.

“Oh right, there was something I wanted to ask.”

“What might that be?”

I’d been having so much fun talking that I’d forgotten, but I remembered I’d come here partly to ask about yesterday.

“Yesterday… what were you and Iroha talking about? I was just a little—really, just a little—curious.”

For some reason, I felt anxious, as if I were asking something forbidden. I wasn’t doing anything wrong, yet somehow I felt that kind of pressure.

“How indecent of you, wanting to hear private girl talk.“

“…No, I was just a bit curious. If it’s hard to talk about, that’s totally fine…”

She placed a finger against her glossy lips and closed her eyes.

“…Let’s see. If I had to say just one thing… Iroha-san demonstrated the bare minimum of faith required. Therefore, she achieved a passing grade… That’s all.”

“…F-Faith…?”

Faith… passing grade… Some kind of test?

I struggled to understand, my head spinning.

It’s true Iroha isn’t very smart—she’s always right on the edge of failing. But that’s not what they were talking about… right? So then… what does that mean?

“…As I thought, to me, you truly are… a person of irreplaceable value.”

…Come to think of it, she sometimes makes statements that deify me.

Could that be related…?

“…You don’t understand your own magnificence.”

“S-Suzu-san…?”

Her atmosphere suddenly shifted, and she began speaking eloquently.

“You, who are equal to a god, attract all manner of things. However, the quality of those who worship you is also an important factor. No matter how sweet the blessing… if touched by filthy hands, it becomes defiled. I will not… permit such defilement.“

…She rattled it all off with her usual smile and composure.

Her tone was the same as always, but the content created such a gap that I felt unsettled.

I’d made her like this… and accepted her. There was something I had to ask.

“…Wh-What would happen… if someone didn’t reach a passing grade…?”

Her smile vanished, and she made a show of thinking.

“…Let me see…”

Gently, with a smile like the Madonna herself.

“What would happen…? Fufu, don’t worry. I will properly remove anything unnecessary from your presence.”

…I couldn’t even form words. The intensity made me swallow hard.

Everything was the same as always, yet something was different. She should be rational, yet somewhere deep down, she was terrifying.

“Now then, I’d also like to buy a swimsuit, so would you accompany me?”

Everything as usual, completely natural. That unwavering strength to never question her own thinking.