Chapter 5 Fives

Contrary to the forecast, the rain appears to be fading away.Holding an umbrella, Satoshi and I headed home together.When passing by a shopping street with arcades on the way, Satoshi put away his umbrella and finally broke the silence: "I also wondered what happened in the first place." There was surprise, sarcasm, playful frivolity in the voice, but also a hint of reproach. "After listening to the story of 'The Piano That Played the Moonlight', you actually asked me 'Then what is one of the seven wonders'. I thought the energy conservationist Houtaro had suddenly changed his gender."

"Thanks for your help." I say thank you briefly.In fact, if Satoshi hadn't grasped my intention at a critical moment, it was still unknown whether things would have gone so smoothly. Satoshi swung the umbrella in his hand round and round.It's completely different from my plastic umbrella, which is gray and decorated with checkered patterns, which is very chic.Water droplets kept flinging onto the pavement ahead. "The trick of 'fighting poison with poison' is really beautiful." yes. I deliberately brought up the "Girl Spider Club" for one purpose...that is to prevent Chitanda from bringing up the topic of "The Piano That Plays the Moonlight".

According to Satoshi, the girls in class A of the first year heard the piano sound yesterday.This matter became a topic in Class A at noon today.In addition, he also said that this topic has not yet reached Class D. He said something that must not be ignored: "How many days will it take to reach our class D?" Since Satoshi is concerned about this, that is to say, he didn't hear about it in his own class. So, when, where, and who did Satoshi hear it from? Don't even think about it.Before coming to my classroom, Satoshi was in the geology lecture room run by the Ancient Books Research Society.Chitanda, who was filling out a permit application form at the time, was also there, and Chitanda was a student in Class A of the first year.

Of course, Satoshi heard it from Chitanda. On the other hand, Satoshi also said that Chitanda expected me to go to the office.At this point, I had a premonition.I don't know if that premonition is good or bad, but here's what I think: ...I solved Chitanda's question of "unknowingly being locked in a secret room", so she will definitely ask me about "playing the piano of moonlight". I thought I was overthinking it, after all, the number of times we meet can be counted with fingers.I never felt that I would be trusted by her, and it would be too presumptuous to assert that Chitanda would come to me specifically for consultation.

However, even though I think so, I still have to be prepared for the situation where Chitanda will come.The ideal is to leave before Chitanda arrives.But I had to stay because I forgot to bring my homework, and I couldn't go home freely.So I thought of a countermeasure. Then, Chitanda really came. The main purpose seemed to be to submit an application for permission to report to Satoshi, but even so, she did come. I don't want to bring up the subject of music classrooms.So I thought, could it arouse Chitanda's curiosity in other ways?Specifically, it uses "one of the seven inconceivables".As Satoshi said, this is "fighting poison with fire".As I expected, Chitanda was obviously ready to bring up the topic of the music classroom, but in the end, I drew her interest to the secret club.

Satoshi said, "It's just that although I know what you want to do, I don't know why. Substitute 'girl spider society' for 'playing the piano of the moonlight', Houtaro, what exactly do you want to do? You don't want to say yes You can't solve the mystery of the piano, so you want to avoid it?" of course not. Also, it's not what I want to do...it's what I don't want to do. "I've got a clue about the piano after you've said it, and I should be able to verify it by going to the music classroom." "That is?" If you have to find an excuse, one word is enough: "The music classroom is too far away."

The light rain hit the arcade's plastic roof, making a crackling sound.The pick-up truck barely made it through the narrow shopping street, splashing water that nearly wets my shoes. After hearing this, Satoshi sighed and said, "...So that's the case, I understand. You really deserve to be Houtaro." The music classroom is located on the fourth floor of the specialist building.To go there on a rainy day, I have to go down to the second floor through the connecting passage, and then go up to the fourth floor.It's too far away from my classroom. According to the weather forecast, the rain will intensify in the evening.The remaining homework is rather difficult to solve.And originally I wanted to go home early, but reality didn't allow it.Therefore, I definitely don't want to go to a place so far away from the music classroom.

It is for this that I bring up the topic of secret clubs.I tentatively asked Satoshi "one of the seven mysteries of Kamiyama High School", and then I thought it would be very suitable to use it to attract Chitanda.I immediately made a plan, first proposed to find the note, then walked to the entrance and exit, and finally went straight home. Originally, I have nothing to do with how the piano in the music classroom works.Don't do anything superfluous.However, if Chitanda opened her wide eyes and said "I'm curious"... "Keep things simple." So, I successfully solved the problem in the simplest way.

However, Satoshi objected: "Houtaro, this is not good." "..." "A creed is something to proclaim with your head held high. But, you just now were just making excuses." I can't argue with that. Not only that, I couldn't even look directly at Satoshi's face.In the silent spring rain, I could only look at the wetness under my feet. …I love my creed from the bottom of my heart. Today, however, I have met doubts with doubts based on that creed, but I am not satisfied in my heart.There is only a sense of guilt that lingers in my mind: Is it really good to do this?

The means were played very well.I took Chitanda to the stairs, and made her admire with plausible explanations.Then, the moment Satoshi distracted her, I successfully pinned the recruiting note from the "Girl Spider Club". The note was made by tearing it from the composition paper.For the sake of the enthusiastic freshmen, two essay papers were issued on "My feelings after one month of enrollment and my future ambitions".Of course, it is impossible for me to write two.So I played with the remaining value of the second sheet a bit. The thumbtack is taken on the landing.Seeing the crooked poster, Chitanda seemed to think that the pin had fallen to the ground.In fact, the thumbtack was in my hand at that time.

Everything is going smooth.I blocked the topic of the piano and set foot on the way home as I wished. Even so, I also understand that just now I completely used the creed as a shield.There is no room for refutation.As the plan progressed, I also began to reflect on whether I should stop.I want to go home early and don't want to go to the distant music classroom.Great, the purpose is right, but the method? After walking through the shopping street with arcades, there is an intersection ahead.You have to hold an umbrella here.Satoshi stopped, looked at my face, and said with a weird smile, "Houtaro, do you know what your most fundamental mistake is today?" It seems to know, but it seems not to know.Although something feels wrong, everything seems to be right.I was at a loss for words. Satoshi shrugged pretentiously. "Unbelievable against unbelievable, well, I like it. Nice changeup ball." Then, just like I did to Satoshi just now, Satoshi stared me in the eyes and said, "But, Houtarou. That's not to your liking." I silently look away. "If you want to uphold your beliefs, there is only one action you should take. There is nothing you can do about forgetting to bring your homework, and Chitanda-san's arrival is not your fault. But, why don't you say 'I don't know'? It's just a mistake. No matter how Chitanda-san brings up the topic, you have no obligation to deal with it head-on. Just listen to it casually and ignore it. In fact, you have always done this." ……indeed. Why would I want to block questions with questions?Even if it's better than going to a music class, that method will take some effort.Why would I do that kind of thing? Although Satoshi's words were stinging, I have to admit that he was right.If you really want to ignore Chitanda's attack, you can solve it with "I don't know". The weird smile on Satoshi's face deepened: "It's a pleasure to be able to teach Houtaro you besides miscellaneous studies. Listen carefully, Houtaro. I know exactly why you did this. " "..." "The reason is that... real people don't show their faces, only half-assed ones like to play tricks." I seem to have heard this sentence somewhere. I finally found something different about Satoshi's smile: this guy's smile is completely fake. "Chitanda-san also belongs to the Ancient Books Research Club—Houtaro, you haven't adapted to this situation at all. That's why. That's why you came up with such a trick. Maybe you're planning to reject Chitanda-san today. , but let me say, you don’t call it a refusal.” "I don't want to reject her." I do find Chitanda troublesome, but I don't want to break up with her and never see her again. "Of course. It's just a wait-and-see look at the status quo." wait and see. Incredibly, the word fell to my heart instantly.I see.Regarding Chitanda's arrival, her incomparable curiosity, and the time spent by her, I took a wait-and-see attitude.The word is so apt. I naturally know what the consequences of waiting and watching will lead to. Maybe he got tired of seeing me in silence, Satoshi turned his eyes to the sky and opened his umbrella with a bang.He shouldered the checkered umbrella and stepped out into the rain.Satoshi had to go straight home, but I had to turn the corner.Pedestrian lights are still red. Finally, Satoshi turned around and asked, "By the way, what's the matter with 'Piano Playing the Moonlight'? I won't let you go back to the music classroom." "that." The humidity of the light rain pervaded the surrounding area.It stands to reason that the lips cannot be dry, but I still licked my lips.I looked at Satoshi's feet and said, "Before six o'clock when the school was going to be quiet, there was a girl with an injured hand in the music classroom. You said her hair was messy, her eyes were bloodshot... as if she just woke up. " "Ah, that's it!" "The member of the piano club fell asleep because she was sleepy. In order to wake up before six o'clock, she set the alarm clock - put 'Moonlight' in the CD player." Satoshi snickered and said: "I see. After all, it is Kamiko with a lot of club activities, so it is only natural that there will be a CD player in the music classroom. Indeed, you will know if you have a look. There should be settings on the CD player. Traces. Oops, lifeless, I really don't want to admit it. "...But, Houtaro." The signal light turned green, and the music that signaled that pedestrians could move began to play.As Satoshi stepped forward, he said a sentence that sounded subtly like a prophecy: "I think that in the long run, going to the music classroom is more suitable for your creed. The sideshow you arranged today, The quality may be unexpectedly too high. I didn't intend to sell you over this matter, but what about Chitanda-san? Well, I'll take my leave first, see you tomorrow."