EARLY DECEMBER. IT was 2:00 p.m. on a Saturday afternoon, the first day
of the weekend.
I received a call from Kanzaki two days before and went to the mall as promised. We didn't have a specific meeting place in mind, but as soon as I entered the mall, I was able to find Kanzaki and his group without delay. Kanzaki, who had been watching the entrance of the mall, immediately noticed me and approached me with his hand raised slightly.
"Sorry for calling you on your day off."
"I tend to take it easy on my days off. I welcome the invitation." I told him softly that there was no need for him to feel bad. Himeno, Watanabe, and Amikura were all with Kanzaki.
"I was told it was just Himeno, but there are others."
"Sorry, there are a few reasons for this."
Kanzaki tried to explain the difference in details from the prior communication, but Watanabe and the others spoke first.
"Hey Ayanokouji, it's cold again today."
"Hello, Ayanokouji-kun."
Watanabe and Amikura approached me with smiles in the same manner as they did on the school trip.
In response, I nodded in agreement.
Kanzaki had already explained to me Himeno's presence, the only person who would be accompanying me today.
I had assumed that it would be that kind of talk, but the combination of these four was a little surprising, and I couldn't clearly see the purpose or intention of this meeting.
Or were these two the first key players for Kanzaki and Himeno? However, how could such a coincidence occur with these members who just so happened to be together on a school trip?
"No wonder you look puzzled, Ayanokouji-kun. I myself didn't expect to run into these two either."
Himeno also looked somewhat unsettled and nodded in agreement, albeit slightly.
"What do you mean?"
I was getting more and more doubtful, but Kanzaki seemed to be more concerned about being seen.
I had assumed that the store would be less crowded for a while, but students were coming in one after another.
"Christmas sales have started."
Amikura pointed out a store while looking at the bustling mall. The store was indeed already decorated, and the words 'Christmas Sale' hung on the various products' shelves.
"For the time being, I'd like to move to a less conspicuous place if possible. I don't want anyone who has nothing to do with our group to know about its existence... especially those in Sakayanagi's and Ryuuen's classes." We had no reason to refuse since we could understand the situation without asking for details.
If it was just the three of them, there would've been no problem, but with me in the group, there was no way to avoid the appearance of a mysterious gathering. Besides, I'd prefer to discuss things in a calm and quiet place rather than in this traffic of people.
"Then why don't we just go for some standard karaoke?"
Amikura suggested karaoke, which was often used for study and strategy meetings. However, that was also one of the few places on the premises where a secret meeting could be held.
The karaoke place was only a three-minute walk from here. "Let's get moving."
Kanzaki took the initiative and started walking with me following after him. "Was this some kind of serious discussion? I'm sorry, I didn't think it was." Amikura, who came alongside me, apologized in a whisper. From the way she spoke, it seemed that she had suddenly decided to join the meeting.
Watanabe, who was standing next to Amikura, explained what had happened.
"It seemed like Kanzaki was going to meet Ayanokouji, so we asked if we could join him."
"Yeah. Originally we were planning to go shopping at Watanabe-kun's request."
When Amikura continued the explanation, Watanabe looked a little embarrassed and happy, but also somewhat sad and looked away. "Are you sure you don't want to go shopping?"
Both of them were empty-handed and didn't appear to have bought anything.
"It's not that big of a deal. We can just go buy something later." I turned around as Kanzaki, who was walking in front of me, heard what we were talking about and explained it to me again.
"Originally, I thought it was just me and Himeno who needed to meet
Ayanokouji. However, I changed my mind when I was told that you treated them both well during the school trip."
They were treated well? That's my line.
Watanabe and Amikura helped me a lot in various aspects during the school trip. I am grateful, but I didn't do anything to deserve the praise.
"So you decided that you needed to invite them too?"
When I asked Kanzaki this, he nodded his head with a mysterious look on his face.
"So what is it? What is it that we're going to discuss?"
"I'll tell you the details later."
I was able to catch a glimpse of Kanzaki's restlessness from the speed at which he was taking his first step forward.