Chasing fa and fortune—people run after money and power, like moths flying into a fla. It's a path to death.
Love is the sa. Even if sothing is unattainable, there will still be those who crave it endlessly, using every ans to gain the attention of the other party. Osaragi Kobachi understood this very well. She wasn't short on pursuers, but no matter how hard one tried, things that couldn't be had were simply out of reach. A moth flying into the fla to grasp love—isn't that laughable?
Right now, Iino Miko was exactly that kind of moth.
Sakurai Saki was not her white knight—at least that's what Osaragi Kobachi thought.
People don't give without reason. At the very least, Osaragi Kobachi had never t a man willing to give her sothing unconditionally, so she naturally believed that Sakurai Saki approaching Iino Miko had so kind of benefit involved.
The bigger reason for Osaragi's aversion toward Sakurai Saki—even to the point where her Favorability level for him was only 40—was not entirely about Iino Miko. It was actually about herself.
Osaragi couldn't accept that Miko—the person who had always depended on her—now had a new support. That was sothing she didn't want to see.
Was Osaragi Kobachi aware that her relationship with Iino Miko was warped? The answer was clear: she knew. But she didn't want to change it.
"Osaragi-san? What are you doing here?" Sakurai Saki turned around.
His voice was very quiet.
Iino Miko, having just finished drinking water, had fallen asleep. Sakurai Saki had nothing else to do during lunch, so he planned to watch over her until the break ended.
"Sakurai-senpai, what about you? Why are you getting close to Miko?" Osaragi Kobachi asked.
"That's a strange question. She's sick—can't I co visit her?"
Sakurai Saki stood up, carefully pulled the curtain closed around the bed, and stepped away.
He casually took out an instant coffee packet hidden in the infirmary and began boiling water.
"If I had to give a reason, maybe it's because she's cute? Just a senpai caring for his kouhai."
That was the truth. Plus, Miko was very interesting.
She always had that serious face—it was fun to tease her.
Osaragi: "Senpai isn't the kind of person who would casually tease a kouhai. Sakurai-senpai, you're treating her like a toy."
She had seen him teasing Miko more than once.
"You guessed that too, huh. Osaragi-san, your grades may be awful, but you sure are good at reading people." Sakurai Saki didn't deny it.
He had looked at her grades once—ranked 156, only slightly better than Ishigami Yuu.
"Please stay away from Miko."
Sakurai Saki sat down in the nurse's chair, resting his cheek on one hand. He looked up at the girl. "Why?"
"You're deceiving her."
"Deceiving?" The corner of Sakurai Saki's mouth lifted slightly. He found Osaragi Kobachi's words amusing.
He had never lied to Miko.
Giving her snacks—he truly cared as a senpai.
Praising her grades—he ant it from the heart.
Liking her—that was also true.
"You're attracting Miko. She's going to fall for you..."
"To receive such a complint from Osaragi-san—what an honor." Sakurai Saki's voice was gentle, but his expression turned cold.
He didn't like strangers judging him so casually.
Especially not the kind who acted self-righteous, stepping in and speaking on soone else's behalf.
"Miko has her own thoughts. It has nothing to do with you. If you're really her friend, don't go around speaking for her. That's what friends should do, right?" Sakurai Saki said, "After all, you're not Iino Miko, are you?"
Speaking of treating Miko like a toy—this person in front of him was no different. If anything, she was even worse.
Miko really didn't know how to choose friends. Watching them always sticking together, it seed like they were very close—but Osaragi Kobachi clearly didn't consider Miko a true friend.
["I'm doing this for your own good."]
That kind of line shouldn't exist between friends in the first place.
Sakurai Saki, after speaking, poured the hot water he had just boiled into the cup and dropped in the instant coffee packet.
"The words of encouragent, praise, and care that she lacks—I'll give them to her, as her senpai."
Sakurai Saki had already known a bit about Miko even before the school year started, mainly during the ti when Ishigami Yuu was suspended. He had heard about her from Shirogane Miyuki, who said there was a girl who always spoke out in protest for Ishigami Yuu suspension.
That kind of naïve, justice-driven person was rare. Sakurai Saki didn't want her to change.The sense of recognition she lacked—Sakurai Saki would give it to her.
He swirled the cup to dissolve the coffee powder faster, then looked up at Osaragi Kobachi, who had been silent all along.
The reflection on her glasses made it impossible to see her face or read her thoughts.
"Osaragi-san, have you ever praised her? Ever confided in her?"
Seeing no response from her, Sakurai Saki continued,
"In the disciplinary committee, people don't speak well of her. She has few friends—or maybe no true friends at all. As her only 'friend,' Osaragi-san should be the one to care about her more."
Liking the feeling of being relied on, and then unwilling to let go?
Had she ever thought about Iino Miko's feelings? Probably not.
Though, this was just Sakurai Saki's guess—he couldn't say for sure.
"Senpai~"
Miko's voice ca from inside the bed curtain.
"I want to go to the bathroom~"
(,,>﹏
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