Why Not Make Both Twins 'Girlfriends'?-Chapter 12Volume 2 .2 - Archimedes Tears...?
Archimedes’ Tears…? 2
By the time Matori had dashed out of the small conference room──
Hikari was sitting on a large green mat, hugging her knees, seemingly resigned.
“Ah… why does this always happen to me…”
“Hmm?”
“Every time I try to do something with someone, it never goes well for me…”
“Is that so?”
“Yeah… Like now, I ended up locked in here. It’s like I’m cursed or something…”
In the dim light, Hikari managed a smile.
But to Sakuto, it looked like she was forcing her smile.
“At first, to be honest, I didn’t like those three…”
“I see…”
“But as we worked together on the newspaper, I realized they’re actually nice people.”
Hikari continued to smile while gazing out at the slender sky framed by the window.
“Because you know, even though I kept my distance from everyone, they──”
『──I wanted to be friends with you, Hikari.』 (TN: Wakana in Chapter 7)
Hikari’s heart skipped a beat──
『 We’re in the same class, and you seemed easy to talk to… To be honest, you were so dazzling and attractive──』
She showed how much she needed me as she pursued friendship. She said she wanted to be friends.
Although Higashino Wakana has an overwhelming presence and is a bit difficult to handle, she is serious and hardworking, and in those ways, she’s similar to Chikage.
There’s also a senpai who finds Wakana amusing and treats her affectionately──
『Hikari, why don’t you give it a try? No matter how hard I try, I just don’t look good on camera, but you, you’ll definitely shine──』(Chapter 11)
The vice-president, Kousaka Matori, is a bit odd.
Her tone is rough and fiery, and I still find it difficult to deal with.
Yet, she lives her life most true to herself.
I don’t dislike the occasional kind face she shows.
And then there’s another senpai, one with a kind heart who’s considerate──
『Hikari-chan, please take care of me.』
The club president, Uehara Ayaka, is cute, gentle, and kind like an angel.
But she’s the timid type. Honestly, she can be unreliable at times.
During my conversations with Ayaka, something very memorable happened.
It was when Sakuto, Chikage, and I were in the east building.
She had gone out of her way to come and find me.
I didn’t want Sakuto and Chikage to ask about the Newspaper Club, so I was talking to Ayaka separately──
『──Me, in the Newspaper Club…?』
『Yes. Would you consider coming back and joining us again? They said it’s okay if you don’t show up to the club every day, but… I heard you were absent from school for a while, and I just couldn’t stop worrying…』
『Why?』
『… It’s just my personality. I went through a lot during junior high school, and there were times I couldn’t go to school. But the reason I’m here now, the reason I have a ‘now,’ is because of Matori-chan and Wakana-chan. I’m grateful to those two.”
『My situation is different from yours, Ayaka-senpai…』
『I won’t say I understand how you feel, Hikari-chan. However, as the president, I can assert that the Newspaper Club is a fun place. What do you think? Would you like to join us and work together from now on? If Hikari-chan needs us, we will do our best to support you——』
“──Ah, what…?”
Tears suddenly overflowed from Hikari’s eyes.
“This is not supposed to happen…”
I was supposed to have kept a proper distance.
I was needed, but I never said I needed them.
I was smiling, but I hadn’t let my guard down──
『Hmm… This is a really good article! It captures the subject’s inner thoughts well and clearly conveys the intended message!』
『It’s clear who the intended audience is. It’s got a really good vibe.』
The most uptodat𝓮 n𝒐vels are published on freёnovelkiss.com.
『I’ve been beaten…』
Being praised, acknowledged, and needed—it honestly made me happy──
『Thank you, Hikari…!』
『Nice! Let’s go with this photo! Thanks, Hikari.』
『It’s all thanks to you, Hikari-chan. Really, thank you』
Deep down, I knew all along.
For every smile, for every thank you, I realized how weak my own heart had become──
『──Then let’s do it together, Hikari!』
When Wakana’s voice echoed for the last time, Hikari clenched her back teeth tightly.
Sakuto, who had been silently watching, sat next to Hikari and gently took her hand.
“Hikari, were you happy to be needed by everyone in the Newspaper Club?”
“Well yeah…”
“Did you want to do your best for everyone?”
“Mmhm…”
Hikari only nodded, but her feelings were overflowing from her whole being.
Sakuto smiled warmly at her.
“Then, instead of staying here, shouldn’t we think of a way to get out?”
Hikari wiped the corners of her eyes.
“That’s right… Yeah! I’ve got to go for everyone’s sake!”
***
──Meanwhile, in the small conference room…
“What should we do!? Hikari isn’t coming!”
“C-Calm down! I’ll read Hikari-chan’s manuscript!”
While Wakana and Ayaka were panicking, Chikage also began to feel anxious.
More than anything, she was worried whether the two of them, who were so flustered, could really handle the broadcast.
(Hii-chan is so important that it’s this difficult without her… That’s how much Hii-chan is needed by the Newspaper Club…)
While Chikage was worried, she was also glad to know that Hikari was needed by someone.
(At first, she was the type to run away pretending to be me… Now, everyone relies on her so much—)
That’s when Chikage had a sudden idea.
(No, no, no, no, that’s definitely not it──)
She shook her head, trying to dismiss the idea that had just come to her.
However──
“Ayaka-senpai! That’s my line to speak!”
“I-I’m sorry! Oh no! Only three minutes leftー…!”
Seeing the two of them in a panic, Chikage groaned in distress.
“Ugh… Ughhhhh…!”
“Two minutes left…!”
“Wha…!? Uh, umm〜!”
She wanted to wait for Hikari, but she also couldn’t leave these two alone.
If she could reassure these two and also fill in for the late Hikari, the worst possible idea she could come up with was now eagerly awaiting launch.
A voice inside her head screamed──
Runway clear! All systems green! Ready for takeoff at any time!
That’s right, it’s time for Usami Chikage to act!
Protect the Newspaper Club until Hii-chan arrives, and once it’s over, let yourself be spoiled by Sakuto-kun to your heart’s content!
『Chikage, well done, huh? As expected of my girlfriend! I’ll grant you any wish you have!』
『Ah, Sakuto-kun, I love──』
──Suddenly, a fiery determination blazed in Chikage’s eyes.
“Any wish!?”
Chikage was finally ready to make her resolve…
For the record, Sakuto hadn’t said anything.
“Then──Usami Chikage, here I go!”
To reiterate, Sakuto hadn’t said anything…
***
