Takane no Hana - Volume 2 Chapter 9

It’s been a week since I started spending time with Tennoji-san after school.

“Good morning.”

Opening the classroom door, I finished my morning greeting.

The nearby students returned my greeting with friendly smiles. I sat down in my seat, feeling a little more comfortable and warm.

Recently, …… I felt that I had been able to adapt to the atmosphere of the academy, if only a little. Although I could get used to it, it was probably due to the fact that Tennoji-san taught me about manners. The more familiar I became with manners, the more I understood how much the students of this school cared about them.  The desire to live up to their efforts seemed to have somehow led to my own ambition to improve.

“Hello, Nishinari.”

“Good morning, Nishinari-kun.”

Taisho and Asahi-san approached me.

“Oh, by the way, Nishinari. What are you doing with Tennoji-san these days?”

Suddenly, Taisho asked.

“Fufufu … There have been a lot of sightings ……, you know~? It seems like you guys have been meeting every day after school lately.”

Asahi-san also said in an amused tone.

I felt like someone was making an unreasonable assumption, so I decided to explain.

“In fact, I’ve been learning manners from Tennoji-san lately.”

“Manners?”

I nodded to Asahi-san, who asked me back.

“It’s kind of an extension of the study session we did before.”

“I thought you were aiming for the opposite sex.”

“Unfortunately, no.”

I said to Asahi-san, who was making an outrageous assumption, “Oh, if only there were rumors.”

“Oh, speak of the devil.”

Taisho said, looking near the classroom door.

When I looked over, I saw Tennoji-san there.

She was looking at me – or rather, beckoning me to come over.

I wondered if something was wrong, so I went over to her.

“Good morning, Tennoji-san. What’s wrong?”

“Good morning. Actually, there’s something I’d like to discuss with you.”

Consultation?

“I forgot until today that the café we usually use is closed on certain days. Today is that day.”

“Oh ……, I see.”

After school, we usually have a meeting at the café next to the cafeteria. The café has a variety of international menus, so it’s useful for practicing table manners.

“So we’ll have a study session elsewhere today and take a break from the lesson on …… manners, right?”

“I thought about that, but I have a suggestion.”

Tennoji-san said.

“Would you like to come to my house?”

“……Huh?”

I tilted my head at the sudden suggestion.

“The biggest enemy of good manners is familiarity. No matter how tense you are at the beginning of your study, once you get used to the situation and environment, you will naturally calm down. ……, but that calmness is only a result of getting used to the situation, and is never a result of learning good manners.”

“That’s true, I suppose.”

“Yes. That’s why I thought it would be better to change the place regularly to prevent Nishinari-san from getting used to it. Since this is a good opportunity, why don’t we have a study session at my house?”

Tennoji-san explained in an orderly and logical manner.

I was surprised by her suggestion.

◆

“…… What do you think?”

Lunch break.

As usual, I met up with Hinako at the old student center and shared with her the proposal that Tennoji-san had given me.

I’ve been told that I’m free to have my own relationships within the academy, but I’m still her caretaker. It would make sense to ask Hinako’s opinion first.

“……Mu.”

“Hinako?”

“Mm-hmm…….”

Unusually, Hinako was thinking seriously.

To be honest, I don’t think you need to worry about it that seriously. …… Hinako crosses her arms and looks extremely uncomfortable.

”…… Itsuki.”

“Hmm?”

“…………………………………………… Are you staying overnight………?”

For some reason, without making eye contact, Hinako asked fearfully.

“No, I’m planning a day trip.”

“………… If so, it’s okay.”

Although she said so, Hinako still had a complicated expression on her face.

“Itsuki. Are you enjoying the study sessions with …… Tennoji-san?”

“Well. Tennoji-san is the type of person who won’t compromise even with acquaintances, so I naturally focus on myself…….”

“… Hmm.”

It is very rare to find a person who can be strict even with an acquaintance. Normally, when dealing with an acquaintance, the feeling of “not wanting to be disliked” would prevail, but this is not the case with Tennoji. Perhaps because she has absolute confidence in herself, she is able to focus on how she acts rather than on what others think of her.

Even ignoring my current position, I can’t help but admire such an imposing behavior.

As I was thinking about this, Hinako tugged at the hem of my uniform.

“…… You’re my, uh, caretaker.”

“Huh?”

“Itsuki is …… my caretaker.”

She stares straight at me at a close distance.

Her neat face was spread out on the tip of my nose, which made me a little agitated. For some reason, Hinako still smelled good to me, even though we lived in the same mansion.

I pushed down my agitation by exhaling slowly.

Then I looked at the lunch box in my hand.

“For starters, …… stop sneaking vegetables into my lunchbox.”

“…………I’ve been found out.”

She is a shrewd young lady.