"So... why the sudden suggestion to go swimming? And making me and Kurumi ask for leave from school?"
The next day, Inaba Tsukiyo and her group, led by Nia, walked towards the Amamiya City water park, which only opens in summer.
The fact that Nia, a hikikomori, wanted to go swimming was unbelievable to those who knew her. Even Yoshino looked at her with disbelief when she heard Nia say she wanted to go swimming.
"Even I want to go out and wander around occasionally! Your gazes are too rude! Even if I'm a hikikomori, I'm not so much of a hikikomori that I don't even leave the house, okay?!"
"Oh my, oh my~ That's truly amazing, Miss Nia. This morning, Tsukiyo-chan had to run to your room and literally drag you out of bed before you'd get up. You're really diligent."
Kurumi teased with a smile. She remembered that when she was helping Yoshino choose a swimsuit for the pool this morning, she was startled by Nia's pig-like screams.
That sound perfectly explained what 'listeners grieve, hearers weep' meant; it was just like a lamb waiting to be slaughtered in an abattoir.
"Th-that was just because I was too excited last night, so I went to bed too late! And I have work to do! Unlike you students, who just have to go to school!"
Nia's 'old face flushed,' but such words couldn't make her lose her composure. She immediately came up with an excuse and retorted.
However, this excuse was not only rejected by Kurumi but also made Kurumi show a gloating expression.
Nia was a little confused as to why Kurumi was looking at her that way. As she was pondering, someone tapped her on the shoulder.
"You said you went to bed too late last night? Wasn't it in the early hours of the morning when you finally slept?"
'Oh no!'
Nia shakily turned around and saw Inaba Tsukiyo tilting her head, her eyes blankly staring at her.
Mikazuki Munechika had been taken out by her at some point, and she slightly drew her sword, her eyes blankly fixed on the sweating Nia.
"You know, don't you? My ears are very sharp. I can hear even the slightest sound, let alone your room being right next to mine. You went to sleep after one in the morning, and your room occasionally made very strange laughing sounds. Can you tell me, what exactly were you doing in your room?"
"Eh, ah, that... Ah haha~ Did you mishear, Tsukiyo-chan? How could I make such a sound? No matter what, I am still..."
"Besides the strange laughter, I also heard very strange breathing, and it sounded like wailing. Were you secretly playing some strange game behind my back?"
"..."
The sweat on Nia's face increased, and as Inaba Tsukiyo's face got closer and closer, her heart beat faster and faster... This was the heartbeat of a guilty conscience.
Inaba Tsukiyo knew this too, which is why she couldn't help but smile... It was a bloodthirsty smile.
Nia quickly turned to seek help from Kurumi and Yoshino, but Kurumi had already covered Yoshino's eyes and turned away, not looking in their direction.
"How mean! You're not even going to save me!"
Nia's heart sank halfway. Before she could finish complaining, a pair of crimson pupils grew larger and larger in her eyes, and finally, she couldn't help but let out a tragic roar.
"Th-that, is Nia-jie okay?"
Yoshino, whose eyes were covered by Kurumi, trembled slightly upon hearing Nia's shiver, and she asked weakly.
"It's fine. You know Tsukiyo-chan talks a big game, but she wouldn't do anything bad to us. At most, she'll just teach Nia a lesson. It's fine."
"Is... is that so? That's good then."
Nia and Inaba Tsukiyo's playful scuffle quickly ended. Inaba Tsukiyo lectured Nia like a parent educating a child.
"I didn't say you can't play those kinds of games at home, but when you do, at least turn down the volume or wear headphones. Don't you know this will corrupt Yoshino?"
"Turn down the volume... wear headphones. Tsukiyo-chan, you sound like you know a lot about these things."
Nia looked at Inaba Tsukiyo with some confusion. She always felt that Inaba Tsukiyo seemed to be an experienced veteran, able to propose such straightforward solutions.
Connecting it to the games she occasionally played, Nia couldn't help but look at Yoshino.
Because Inaba Tsukiyo and Kurumi were at school, they didn't know what was happening at home, but she was very clear about what games Yoshino played when she was at home.
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