A Slight Bit of Progress?

TL: Daemon

ED: PuffyPyjamas

Hiiragi-chan poured water that she boiled into two bowls of cup noodles. Enough for two people.

It was today’s lunch.

We entered the kotatsu and watched some special end of the year programs on TV while eating the instant noodles. When we were bored we started mini eating contests.

Having a languished day like this is completely okay every once in a while.

“Ah, that’s right. Sana came out of her room.”

“H-how was it?”

“She said that she wanted to hangout sometime.”

“Is it alright even with me there?”

“She said it was okay with all three of us.”

“I see. That’s good.”

Hiiragi-chan seemed a little bit disappointed in my report.

“Sana-chan is more of an adult than I thought she was.”

“Huh?”

“I thought that maybe she would throw more of a tantrum.”

Hiiragi-chan chuckled a bit.

“Don’t take my brother away! Or something along those lines.”

“I don’t think she’s as much of a brocon as you think, Haruka-san.”

Eh? Hiiragi-chan looked at me with a serious expression.

“Eh, what?”

“Did you seriously say that?”

“Yeah, that’s right.”

For some reason, Hiiragi-chan pulled away from me.

“Well, I guess it’s better to be dense rather than understanding everything all the way through.”

I don’t understand her at all.

During our eating break, I asked about what was on my mind.

“Are you dissatisfied with me in any way?”

“Towards Seiji-kun? Nope, not at all.”

“…Which means that there isn’t anything at this point in time.”

In the present, Natsumi-chan said that we would break up in March.

Even if I were to know what would happen in the original next two to three months, I don’t know what would happen in that time period now after the changes that were made.

“…Hmm.”

“Is something wrong?”

“Is it possible that it was found out…”

“What is it, what is it? Found out? Ah, are you hiding something from your beloved Haruka-san?”

Hiiragi-chan pouted with her cheeks. I couldn’t pay attention to my girlfriend who was acting like she was angry. This is what is most likely to happen.

“It’s possible… Scandals related to teaching… It’s definitely possible…!”

Oh god. I don’t know how it would happen, but if our relationship were to be revealed, Hiiragi-chan may be transferred or dismissed—

Worried about that, Hiiragi-chan would keep her distance from me—

“Totally possible!”

“Geez, what are you talking about?”

“Let’s make sure we’re on high alert when we meet from now on.”

“?”

“Ummm, it’ll get colder from now on, right?”

I continued after confirming that Hiiragi-chan was paying attention.

“You brought out the kotatsu after all.”

“Yeah. Seiji-kun, you said that you wanted one, so I bought it ♡”

So, you bought it just for me. Thank you.

“And? What about the kotatsu?”

“March… no, maybe until graduation, let’s only meet in your house.”

“Eeeeh…? We won’t be going out?”

“H-how about w-we just flirt around within the kotatsu?”

“Seiji-kun, you’re so lewd ♡”

Recalling what happened earlier, Hiiragi-chan’s expression loosened. I was probably making a similar expression.

“We can do quite a bit at home. We can have porridge for new year’s. We can also scatter beans as well.”

That’s right. Speaking of February, the other big events are—

“Ah, Hinamatsuri as well!”

Those are all Japanese events!

“We can do that all at home.”

“T-that’s right.”

Seeing me gulp, Hiiragi-chan innocently looked at me while tilting her head with a question mark above her. Stop it with that face, it’s too cute, dammit.

Well, it’s not like a guy can’t do it, and if she doesn’t seem like she’s going to do it, I’ll give her some chocolate.

Aside from the events that we will be enjoying together, we’re going to be on high alert.

With this, Sana should be able to do her work in the present as a popular illustrator, and I should also be able to avoid breaking up Hiiragi-chan—

…Or so I thought at the time.

“Nii-san, can you choose whether you’re going to sleep or eat?”

Sana was facing me with an expression that made it seem like she was in a bad mood. My time leap was released, and I was in the present day now.

The date was, about ten years later. January. This time, it wasn’t exactly ten years.

“Your plan for the game… The one that you’re partnering with me for. Sana, is a little bit more motivated about it now, so Nii-san also needs to do his best, okay? B-but, it’s only a little okay? Just a little more motivated!”

Sana indicated a small amount with her fingers.

It seems that Sana and I are living together as our workplaces are near each other. How long has it been since we returned to this setting in the present. I thought it might have been looping back on itself, but that doesn’t seem to be the case, as I heard the results of my trial and error from Sana’s mouth.

“That’s weird… why?”

My cell phone—not the old type but a smartphone—didn’t have Hiiragi-chan as a contact. There also wasn’t any indication of any text conversations with her.

“Sana is working from home today, so I can take it easy, but Nii-san, won’t you be late? If you keep taking it slow, Nacchan will come to pick you up, you know?”

“Sensei and I broke up?”

“What’s with that all of a sudden? Why are you bringing that up now? Is this something you want to talk about on a busy morning?”

“It’s fine, just tell me.”

“…That’s right. What are you saying as someone directly involved. You guys broke up in March of your second year.”

Do you have amnesia or something? Sana worriedly peeked at my face. Nope. So it’s still that way.

“Is it because you revealed it? No, if that were the case Sana wouldn’t have shown her full potential due to the trouble she would cause… the HRG company would be at stake after all… If that’s the case—it had to have been found out, right? Our relationship. That has to be it!?”

“Calm down. Also, don’t blame other people. Sana never told anyone about it, and although Kana-chan knows about the digital camera, she isn’t the type of person to tell anyone about it.”

Kanata also noticed. That’s true, the two of them are not the type to reveal secrets out of malice.

“…Then, why?”

Sana was aghast, wondering what I was trying to do at this point. During the present, it would be too late, but to me, it’s a current work in progress. Well, past work in progress?

Last time, I asked Natsumi-chan about the reason for our breakup,

“That was… it’s not that anyone did anything bad. You probably feel, Seiji-san, that you were the most saddened by it, but Haru-chan was probably just as affected as you. I understand Haru-chan after all.”

She said that with a mature expression on her face. Well, she is an adult at this point. I thought that since it wasn’t someone doing something wrong, it must have been that our relationship was revealed, but is that not the case? Does that mean there’s no point in going on high alert?

“Hey, do you know the cause or maybe a reason?”

“…You’ll be busy, right? You can do this after you come home from work.”

So, you’re not going to help me?

“That kid did say it. Nii-san is like time leaping or something and I shouldn’t laugh it off if he said something weird.”

“Oh, Rei-chan said that?”

Next time I see her, I’ll give her lots of head pats.

“However, Sana still can’t accept what happened.”

“…The fact that I was hiding my relationship with her?”

“No. About how you guys broke up.”

That? When you put it like that, it’s as if you know the reason for our break up.

“Sensei was being unfair. That was definitely unfair. It makes Sana feel terrible talking about this anymore, so I won’t say anything more.”

“Unfair. What? Why do you feel bad?”

“I won’t say anything. Not even if you ask…!”

Sana told me only one thing after I continued to pester her.

“Sensei was the one who brought up breaking up.”