Chapter 5: The Protagonist’s Worries About a TS Girl

It was a morning like any other. On my way to school, I passed students wearing the same uniform. Everything looked normal—but they were Connectors, and the girls were Curse Seekers. Thinking about it that way made it all feel strangely unreal.

I had a problem. …Well, not just about the team, either.

"Na-gi-sa-kuuun!"

Yes—specifically, the person currently rushing toward me: Akegami-san.

She came running while wildly waving her hand, and the stares from people around us were painful.

Wait—I don’t remember ever telling her my route to school. Is this just a coincidence?

I seriously, seriously cannot figure out what this person wants.

She hugs me all the time, grabs my hand… my heart never gets a break…

I know she’s teasing me, but why me? I mean, sure, we’re on the same team now—but it felt like she had already set her sights on me even before that.

"Hey, don’t ignore me. I’ll kiss your cheek, you know?"

Please don’t casually say something that terrifying.

"G-good morning, Akegami-san."

"Hehe, good morning, Nagisa-kun."

Akegami-san smiled softly—carefree and warm. She was unbelievably cute. Like an angel.

Then her eyes narrowed slightly. Uh oh.

Her hand reached out and grabbed mine, our fingers naturally intertwining. The smoothness of her skin sent my thoughts drifting in directions I hurriedly shut down.

"U-um… Akegami-san?"

"Yes, what is it?"

"Would you maybe… let go of my hand?"

"Rejected."

Warmth spread from our fingers—like it might spark into something more.

I could feel my face heating up, and Akegami-san was clearly enjoying my reaction. …Well, of course I’d react like this if a girl suddenly grabbed my hand. I’m not used to it.

"Nagisa-kun, your face is red."

She giggled softly. …Just hearing that made my heart skip a beat.

"…Akegami-san, can you let go now?"

"…Did you start to hate me?"

Her eyes wavered as she looked up at me anxiously, almost pleadingly. That upward gaze pulled me in, and my heartbeat quickened.

"N-no… that’s not it…"

"Ahaha, sorry. I was being mean."

She let go of my hand just like that. Saved… And seriously, that upward glance is unfair.

"So, how is it?"

"Huh? What do you mean?"

"Obviously, the ‘Make Team Member Nagisa-kun Fall in Love with Me Plan.’"

Couldn’t she come up with a better name for that? I assumed she meant whether I was getting along with everyone.

"Kotozuka-san has started talking to me more. Kurokawa-san is… well, the same as always."

"…And me?"

Her lips curled into a grin. …Was this whole thing just leading up to that?

At this point, I might as well answer honestly.

"…With you, Akegami-san, I can’t really tell what you’re truly thinking. So I don’t know if we’re actually getting closer."

"Ahaha, nice. I like that about you."

For some reason, that was the biggest smile she’d shown all day. …I had no idea what she liked about it, but if she was happy, I guess that’s fine. …Or maybe that’s a little scary in its own way.

"If anything starts bothering you again, come talk to me."

We had reached the school gate. Akegami-san waved lightly.

"If anything, you’re the one I understand the least, Akegami-san."

"That’s true~"

"Wha—!?"

As I watched her walk away, a voice suddenly spoke right next to my ear. …Apparently, Kurokawa-san had appeared out of nowhere.

"Morning, Connector-kun."

"Morning, Kurokawa-san. …You scared me, talking right into my ear like that."

"Sorry, sorry. Do you always come to school with Yuri?"

"No, not really. She just happened to spot me this morning."

"Huh. So she found you."

Kurokawa-san laughed cheerfully. At first glance, she gave off a similar vibe to Akegami-san—but the impression she left was completely different. …Though maybe that’s just because Akegami-san teases me way too much.

"Are you and Akegami-san close?"

"Mm, not really. We’ve only talked a little. Aren’t you the closer one, Connector-kun?"

"Are we, though…"

"Ahaha, you’re just getting teased. …But if Yuri’s that passionate, it means there’s something about you. …Probably, anyway?"

For just a moment, Kurokawa-san’s tone turned cold. Her smile vanished, replaced by a serious expression—before quickly returning to normal.

"Well then, see you!"

She briskly headed into the school building.

Well… I guess being able to exchange greetings is good enough for now.

◇◇◇

"So basically, I was wondering if I’m actually getting along with everyone."

"Why are you asking me that???"

After school, I was in the team room talking to Kotozuka-san, who happened to be there. She sighed in exasperation.

…Apparently, some classmates had seen what happened this morning and lightly interrogated me about it. By the time school ended, I was exhausted. Now, at last, I could relax a bit.

Yeah… Akegami-san might be the biggest problem after all.

"I figured you’d be the easiest to talk to, Kotozuka-san."

"…I see. That doesn’t make me very happy."

Maybe it’s because I’m comparing her to those two.

"I just don’t really know how to get along with everyone…"

"You don’t necessarily have to get along with them, you know. We’re not in a team to become friends," Kotozuka-san replied.

"…But you won’t Connect Link with me, Kotozuka-san."

"Ugh… I don’t like touching people very much. That’s fine, isn’t it?"

She shot me a sharp glare. The only reason she managed a handshake before was because she had braced herself for it—so casual contact is probably out of the question.

"What are you two talking about?!"

"…Akegami Yuri, could you please lower your volume a little?"

"Huh? Did you just say that even though I’m short and flat, my voice is loud?"

"How did you even mishear it like that?"

Akegami-san burst into the room with full energy. …Honestly, she might be the one who gets along with everyone the best.

"Nagisa-kun, long time no see since this morning!"

"Wha— hey, don’t cling to me."

"No way!"

If I let my guard down, she immediately latched onto my back—and refused to let go.

"Could you not act in heat here?"

"I’m not doing anything like that!? And Akegami-san, let go!"

"Ehh, Nagisa-kun is so cold…"

She reluctantly peeled herself off me, dragging her feet. …That was bad for my heart.

"So, what were you talking about? Oh! Love talk?"

"He’s worried about whether he’s getting along with everyone as a Connector," Kotozuka-san explained.

"Hmm, I see. Well, yeah—if you can’t Connect Link, people might start thinking the Connector’s just dead weight."

…That hit hard.

Our role as Connectors is limited to support—healing and enhancing abilities through Connect Link.

If we can’t do that, then on the battlefield, we’re nothing more than a burden that needs protecting. Sure, we’re often made leaders, but commanding a battle isn’t something you can just do easily.

"Alright then, since we’re here, your experienced big sister will teach you a thing or two."

Akegami-san puffed out her chest proudly. Kotozuka-san and I looked at her, puzzled. “Big sister”? Really?

"First, about our enemy—the Deep Calamity. Do you know why it’s called that? It’s been defined as something like a curse. It’s not just that conventional weapons don’t work. If a normal person gets involved with it, even without taking fatal injuries, their body starts to break down. I won’t go into details, though. Anyway, because it’s such a strange existence, its form is kind of unstable."

Her tone turned serious, and before I knew it, both Kotozuka-san and I were listening in silence.

"And us—Curse Seekers and Connectors—we’re less affected by it. There are plenty of situations where even simple actions become difficult without a Connector. So don’t overthink it—Connectors should just focus on support and giving commands!"

"…You really talk like someone with experience, Akegami-san."

"Maybe I am?"

She smiled teasingly. As always, it was impossible to tell how much of what she said was true.

"Oh, and one more thing. In teams that aren’t newly formed like ours, everyone usually deploys already connected through Connect Link. When that happens, well… various things make it easier to give instructions. So, Nagisa-kun, you should hurry up and gather all your team members under you!"

"You were being serious just a second ago…"

"First, let’s start by winning over Reina right there!"

"Could you not drag me into something weird?"

"Then maybe Kisa…"

Suggesting that to someone who isn’t even here—Kurokawa-san—felt a bit questionable.

…Do I even need to “win them over” in the first place?

"Oh, I don’t mind volunteering. Want to try it?"

"I’ll pass."

"Ehh? Right now I’d totally fall head over heels for you and do all sorts of things for you…"

And as she said that, she ended up clinging to my back again.

"…Why do you always stick to my back?"

"Because I like it this way."

…Please don’t whisper in my ear.

She rubbed her cheek against me, nuzzling softly. …Like a small animal.

…I can’t move, and this is embarrassing. Ugh… she smells nice.

In the end, Kotozuka-san couldn’t take it anymore and peeled her off me.

…Kotozuka-san, thank you. I think I should start by figuring out how to deal with her first.