Chapter 17: I Want to Eavesdrop on the Signal

I won’t let Tsubasa-chan become an angel.

So, what should I do to prevent that?

I dove into the vast sea of the internet to search for answers.

When I entered keywords like “angel,” “prevent,” and “girl,” all I got were useless results like “angels don’t have genders” and “they’re androgynous.”

No, that’s not it. That’s not what I’m asking.

I’m not here for some abstract philosophical debate.

Besides, Tsubasa-chan is clearly a girl. I confirmed during swimming class that she doesn’t have anything down there.

She’s a completely flawless, pure white girl.
There isn’t a single trace of “boy” in her.

Since the internet was useless, I reluctantly turned to the school library. I figured there had to be some kind of book on this topic. I was hopeful.

Then—

“Kishine, what are you doing?”

Out of nowhere, Futaba-san popped up, totally uninvited. Just my luck.

“I didn’t call for you, Futaba-san.”

“I know. Kishine’s just a bonus. If you’re here, then Tsubasa will probably show up too. And when that happens, you’ll be useless.”

This woman… She never says anything remotely sensible. I know full well that deep down, she’s just that dumb-faced, motor-mouthed garbage woman from the other day. But it still pisses me off.

“This is the philosophy section. …Too much make-up sex with Tsubasa got you in a post-nut clarity mode?”

“I told you already—we’re not doing that!”

To make things worse, Futaba-san is firmly convinced that Tsubasa-chan and I are in a sexual relationship. She even seems to think I’m the one forcing it on her.

That’s ridiculous. A complete misinterpretation.

This person’s brain must be entirely soaked in lust.

“I’m just doing some research.”

If I keep talking to Futaba-san, it’ll wear me out.
Her annoying factor upgrades every second like some kind of Beaujolais Nouveau sales pitch.

So I tried to ignore her and get back to my research.

“…Are you looking up stuff about angels?”

And then, right after stirring the pot, she suddenly cuts straight to the point.

Can’t ignore that.

“…Yeah, I am.”

When I gave her a flat stare, Futaba-san flashed a peace sign like she’d just won something. Ugh, seriously annoying.

“Futaba-san, would it be okay if I snapped those fingers?”

“? Listen, Kishine. This is a peace sign. Not a victory V. A symbol of peace. A prayerful gesture for harmony.”

“Yeah? So what?”

“?? Love & Peace. The world is full of love again today. Say no to violence.”

“If this were rock-paper-scissors, that’d be scissors, right? Basically a weapon. So I can punch it with rock?”

“??? What are you talking about, Kishine? …Wait, are you a sadist? Are you and Tsubasa into daily DV sex?”

“Nope. I only feel like punching you, Futaba-san. Just you.”

“…A twisted desire made manifest.”

Still as deadpan as ever, Futaba-san stepped back a couple of paces. Unlike Tsubasa-chan, Futaba-san’s a fake—her fear is easy to read.

Glad we’re on the same page, Futaba-san.
Next time you say something stupid, my hand might just slip.

“So, hey. Can I ask you something?”

I opened and closed my hand as I turned toward her. I think I heard her mutter “...psychopath,” but I’ll pretend that was just my imagination.

“…If you’re not going to hit me, then fine.”

“I won’t hit you.”

But if you say anything dumb, my hand’s going flat.

“In that case, go ahead. What do you want to ask?”

“What kind of person ends up becoming an angel──?”

At this point, I had no pride or shame left.

No matter what she thought of me, I needed answers.

And if she laughed at me… well, that’d just mean it was time for my right hand to shine.

I glanced over at Futaba-san—same expressionless mask as always. But at least she wasn’t mocking my words as some kind of chuunibyou nonsense. That alone was a relief.

Even though she always makes fun of me…
I still couldn’t figure her out.

“…There are two cases of humans becoming angels: Metatron and Sandalphon. The conditions for their ascensions were different. But if we extract a common factor, however arbitrary… it would be this: they were favored by God.”

“Favored by… God…”

Tsubasa-chan’s serene, emotionless face passed through my mind.

Beautiful, flawless, a face as pale as snow—Tsubasa-chan.

Wings of an angel would look far too natural on her.

…What do I do?

Tsubasa-chan’s totally the kind God would like!

“Th-Then, what should I do to not be favored by God?”

“…I see.”

Futaba-san muttered, deliberately, as she scanned my face.
She probably already figured out exactly who I was worried about.

Her suggestive gaze—(not in a pervy way)—made me squirm a little.
But I didn’t want to look away, so I glared back like, What?

“…For a Kishine, you’re pretty cute.”

“…Huh?”

“Because you’re cute, I’ll tell you.”

Futaba-san’s face remained as blank as ever…
And yet, somehow, she gave off the vibe of smiling smugly.

“──You just have to make her fall.”

“…!”

“Dazai wrote this: ‘I feared even God. I couldn’t believe in God’s love—only in His punishment.’
That level of immorality—that’s what you need to aim for.”

She whispered that outrageous suggestion right into my ear.

This person… maybe she really is a devil.

“T-Tsubasa-chan, can I talk to you for a sec?”

“Mm.”

After school, on the usual rooftop.

Just as I was wondering which of my delusions to talk about today, Rio-chan brought something up herself—which was rare.

What’s up with her? Maybe she’s in the mood to be mysterious for the first time in a while?

If that’s the case, I’m all for it!

I mean, I love talking about my own mysterious ideas, but I’ve come to really enjoy hearing other people’s too, especially after chatting with Rio-chan and Futaba-san!

I looked at Rio-chan with anticipation and excitement. She clutched her hands tightly against her chest, then looked me straight in the eye.

“P-Please… go on a date with me!”

She practically shouted it, like she was pouring her whole heart into those words.

It wasn’t what I expected, and I froze at the sound of it.

W-Wait, what?

A… date!?

The suddenness of it all made me panic and instinctively try to look away.

…But I couldn’t.

For some reason, she wasn’t giving off her usual friendly vibe. There was something about her that made my chest tighten.

Her face flushed red in the sunset, her eyes glistening like they’d passed through a prism. Her tightly clenched hands looked like they were trying to endure something. Her hair fluttered in the summer breeze, carrying a sense of unease.

──Rio-chan was shining even more than usual, right in front of me.

“Ri… o…”

My heart skipped a beat before I realized it.

Even though we were just friends, I felt something sweet spark in my chest.

I know that’s not supposed to happen.

“Tsubasa-chan… I’d really like an answer…”

Looking at her, I could tell—this wasn’t something she said lightly. It wasn’t casual or playful. She was doing her best, putting her whole heart into telling me how she felt.

Those eyes, somewhere between tears and a sparkle.

Looking into them, I…

“If it’s you, Rio… then okay.”

──I just couldn’t help wanting to say yes.

Maybe I’m totally imagining things.
Maybe Rio-chan’s just too wonderful, and I’m projecting all these dreamy effects onto the scene in front of me.

…But no matter what the truth is, the feeling I had in that moment—that part of me was real.

“I’m looking forward to our date.”

Rio-chan said she wanted to go on a date with me.
Maybe she just meant it like, “let’s hang out.”

But just for now… I’ll let myself believe it the way I want to.

────“Tsubasa-chan, just now…”

“?”

“…No, it’s nothing. Let’s go, Tsubasa-chan.”

“Mm.”

Rio-chan took my hand, and the two of us dashed off the rooftop.

…She’s just holding my hand, and yet, I’m so aware of it.

I’m… totally blushing right now.