Secretly

After that, Kotori continued to handle her day duty tasks together with Toba without any particular issues.

As agreed upon beforehand, Kotori would make proposals using set phrases. They split the blackboard erasing strictly between left and right sides, and locked or unlocked the doors together when moving to the physics classroom. Kotori was dead serious about achieving her initial goal.

Although there were a few nerve-wracking moments even from Takumi’s perspective, Kotori appeared to be trying her best.

However, to the other classmates, it did not seem that way at all.

Every time Kotori carried out day duty duties with Toba, comments could be heard like, “Look, they’re together again this time,” “Wow, that was unexpected,” and “If you’ve been watching Nabata-san lately, it’s totally obvious, right?”

Apparently, everyone thought Kotori had feelings for Toba.

Takumi reflected on recent events as objectively as possible.

It was true that Kotori, who normally never sought out interaction with anyone on her own initiative, had suddenly started actively reaching out to a specific boy—Toba—from a certain day onward. Thinking about it carefully, changing the flower vase water, erasing the blackboard, and unlocking doors for specialized classrooms didn’t require two people to go out of their way to do together. They could have simply split up the roles or taken turns.

And yet, Kotori herself was proposing to do day duty tasks together as much as possible. Naturally, it wouldn’t be surprising if this looked like Kotori was making a move on Toba.

Kotori was so desperate to achieve her goal that she hadn’t given a thought to how Toba or those around her would interpret it.

As for Toba himself, he was completely smitten and gloating.

Observing closely, while chatting brightly, he would lightly rest a hand on Kotori’s shoulder or arm. Occasionally, he even tried to put an arm around her waist, maintaining a physical distance clearly reserved for a romantic partner or someone close.

Kotori, for her part, showed no sign of rejection, calmly carrying out her day duty with her usual sour expression. That only emboldened Toba further, prompting him to show off a triumphant face to everyone around them.

To Takumi, it was obvious that Kotori was merely desperately trying to fulfill her original goal, but those around them wouldn’t see it that way.

This time, Takumi felt on edge for an entirely different reason.

Toba was a flatterer who acted on impulse. There was no telling what he might do to Kotori under his mistaken assumption.

And so arrived the lunch break.

The day duty pair was assigned the task of returning models of earthenware, daily utensils, and hunting tools—used in the previous Japanese history class to explain life during the Jomon period—back to the reference room.

“Nabata, let’s head out and get this done quick.”

“Mm.”

Saying so, Toba casually lifted the wooden crate filled with teaching materials and gestured to Kotori. Kotori gave a small nod just as before, stepping out into the hallway alongside Toba, who wore a goofy, sloppy grin.

As expected of lunch break, their classmates prioritized their own meals over watching Kotori and Toba’s movements. There was no telling what might happen once they were out of the public eye.

Unable to sit still, Takumi suppressed his presence and secretly tailed the two.