Part 2
It was morning. On my way back from the bathroom, I noticed Tozaki nonchalantly coming late to school.
"Yo, Tozaki. It's rare to see you this late."
"I kinda slept late yesterday... The thing from before got announced, right?"
Of course, the thing from before was an eroge.
Its title was "Ikusa no Yaiba, Yurihana no Kouki". It was made by the same publisher as "Princess Weekday", the first eroge that Ayame had played.
TL Note: Princess Holiday and Senmomo are both famous games made by August. They also made Fortune Arterial (referred to in the text somewhere in Volume 2 too), Yoake Mae yori Ruriiro na, Aiyoku no Eustia, Daitoshokan no Hitsujikai. You must have heard of at least some of these titles... Basically the author is an August fan (as me lol).
"While staring daggers at the site, the day had changed without me noticing. I think I got a taste of something frightening."
"The release date is still not decided, right?"
"Even then, when it comes to that publisher, your imagination keeps gushing forth... It makes me excited and gives peace of mind at the same time."
Be that as it may, I couldn't make fun of Tozaki.
Albeit being only a teaser site, it was not unusual to check the source code of the homepage to check for hidden information.
Anyway, it was good that it wasn't getting released in summer. If it had overlapped with "Destiny Zero", I'd have been troubled for at least a day in deciding which game to play first.
TL Note: I'm pretty sure Destiny Zero refers to Destiny Night/Zero from Volume 2, but I can't find an eroge that was released in 2016 summer that has a similar sounding fantasy name. Well, when I read it in Volume 2 I was pretty sure Destiny/Night refers to Fate/Stay Night, and this would then refer to Fate/Zero, but that was released in 2013. Well, do let me know if you have an idea on what these games refer to! xD
Is it going to be in fall or winter? Or maybe spring... I'd have to concentrate on it for a week. Let's prepare for it in advance.
"You are really attracted by princesses after all, Tozaki."
"Yep! They also have a loli character, so they cut no corners."
"Deepen your bonds with the girls, and then fall in love with each other. There's no words other than 'supreme' to describe it."
"Our imaginations can only run wild till the release date..."
Whispering to each other as if detectives on stakeout, we returned to the classroom.
Then, we were met by a hunch-backed guy blocking our way.
"H-hey..."
It was again another unknown entity.
While it was different from yesterday, he emitted the same kind of aura. There was no proof, but this person might be an otaku himself.
I looked towards Tozaki for confirmation, but he was just shaking his head. Then, who was this person?
"...What's up?"
I pressed on as he looked confused. We'd be late for homeroom if we didn't hurry.
"U-umm, can you give me one of Ayame, Suwama, or Hatsushiba?"
"...What?"
"N-no, other girls are also fine. You guys have others, right?"
Is this person actually an ancient Sumerian, and can't speak Japanese?
Other girls? We also have others? Please make some sense.
"Wait. I don't see where this is going. Just what are you trying to say? What does 'give me one' mean? Do you need help for your club or something?"
"Don't you have many girls serving under you? Give me some too!"
Wait, is this guy talking about 2D!? Well, in 2D I've literally crossed the boundaries of harem, let alone having girls wait upon me...
... but it's totally different as Ayame's name popped up.
"I don't know what you're talking about. What was that even? Where did you hear that rumor?"
"E-everyone is talking about it."
That again... Is there someone named "Everyone" in the school? Almost like America, that person's name has been popping up a lot recently.
I laid my gaze on the guy in front, after heaving a deep sigh.
"It's a baseless rumor. Tell that to the person named 'Everyone' as well."
"Wait, am I not good? Do you have some Terms and Cond..."
"BASE-LESS-RU-MOR."
Under my forceful declaration, he shut his mouth while being quite discontent.
Tozaki and I continued towards the classroom, walking around the guy who hung his head.
"What was that about? Isn't it a bit strange ever since yesterday?"
"Well, it does sometimes look like Aramiya is being served by the girls..."
"... You serious?"
"jk lol. If that was enough to look like you were being served, then our classmate Mikamoto Atari would be a harem king. The person himself is apparently troubled that he gets friendzoned, though."
That's right... Mikamoto was now frequently talking midst the girls, all of a sudden. It wasn't like he was popular, but probably he could talk about topics that girls like, and would get dragged into their conversations.
While we were walking with an unease lingering in our hearts, some other guy was standing in front of us. Of course, neither me nor Tozaki knew this person.
"C-can we talk for a moment?"
"... Not again."
"A-again?"
"No, nothing. What do you want?"
Suddenly taking out his wallet from his pocket, this person pulled out a 10,000 yen bill.
While we were confused by his action, he suddenly offered me the money.
"Please show me a scene of those two entwined with each other."
... The request had exceeded my brain's comprehension capacity.
Who were 'those two'? What did 'entwined' mean? For what was I being offered money?
"Wait, I don't quite understand... Can I ask you to elaborate?"
"N-no, aren't Ayame, Suwama and Hatsushiba your girlfriends? I heard you make them entwine with each other and have opened up an appreciation..."
TL Note: Don't exactly know how to phrase this, but apparently our protagonist has opened up a hell of a sketchy business...
The abnormality of this situation was clearly standing out.
So, did this mean that a rumor about me being served by many girls had osmosed or something? That can't be it, right?
"That's why... I'll pay, so please let me participate in the appreciation event! If you need more money, I'll pay later!"
The guy started pressing on even more desperately.
"Don't you guys even think that the rumors are false, huh?!"
"E-everyone is talking about it!"
Everyone, Everyone, Everyone, Everyone, Everyone, Everyone, Everyone!
What the hell, could white become black if Everyone said so!?
I somehow controlled my urge to drive him away right there right then.
"... What kind of rumors is Everyone saying?"
While subduing my temper, I somehow wrung out that question.
The guy immediately spoke up without hesitation.
"While making Ayame and Ibu violate each other, you enjoy the scene of them being entangled."
This was too much.
For just a meager otaku, that rumor was far estranged.
"It's all a complete lie."
I brushed away the hand that was still offering me the bill.
He put his money back in the wallet regretfully. If you really want to see yuri scenes that much, just buy eroge. "Sono Kaben ni Kisu wo" or "Hitohane" have very pleasing visuals. Other than that there's also "Miko wa Kannushi-sama ni Koi Shiteru", albeit not exactly vanilla yuri. Eroge titles are just overflowing with yuri!
TL Note: If you haven't guessed already: Sono Hanabira ni Kuchizuke wo (EN: Kiss on the petals), Kimihane: Kanojo to Kanojo no Koi Suru Ikkagetsu (EN: Kimihane: The one month of girl in love with girl), Otome wa Boku ni Koishiteru (EN: The maidens are in love with me).
Driven by some strange indignation, I headed towards the classroom. Tozaki also followed suit without hesitation.
"Damn."
To think that the rumors would involve even me.
It was unbelievable how Ayame could keep up with such stupid rumors.
That being said, people should not be believing such made-up stuff that easily...
Rumors are fundamentally people believing in credible statements.
Me forcing Ayame and Ibu violate each other should be scarcely credible.
"Is there any basis... for such rumors to spread?"
"Well, maybe recently... you've been on good terms with Hatsushiba as well."
"Nah, then aren't you the same?"
"However, you're seen together with Ayame who underwent a sudden change in character. And there was also that argument with Suwama..."
It was hard to disagree when being said that.
I was definitely the reason behind the transformation in the frightening delinquent that Ayame used to be.
That I also was the reason behind Ibu's change was also engendering.
I was aware that those two held a certain respect towards me.
Especially when a ruler (of terror) admires someone else, there's a tendency for the other person to be feared as well.
I ended up being acknowledged, in a bad way. The me, who was just an uninteresting otaku. I was supposed to be standing in a much less conspicuous position...
"On top of that, the rumor of those two and Hatsushiba being yuri could easily tangle up, leading to this rumor, right? Although it's as far-fetched as it could be..."
While listening to Tozaki's explanation, I was regretting we didn't immediately take action when that rumor had popped up. We had totally failed in taking the initiative.
Even though the rumor concerned us, we had naively underestimated it...
After the classes ended, we met up with Kiyomi and headed towards the club room as usual. There were strange gazes upon us.
No, the fact that we were feeling gazes itself was unusual.
This club wing was an area only used by the literature club, so there should be few people walking around here. So only known faces would pass by each other here.
However, today people who we would normally not see, were stealthily loitering around. As if waiting for something. They looked like detectives on stakeout peeking around while concealing themselves, or like snipers completely blending into their surroundings. Their behavior was extremely unnatural.
As soon as we entered they club room, they started showing signs of flurrying around.
"Is there some sort of event?"
Ayame sent a quizzical look towards the door.
Maybe something like the final club joining event of the semester... Nah, impossible. That was far too optimistic.
"I haven't heard about such a thing, Ayame-san." "Yeah, they didn't say anything during homeroom either."
Kiyomi and Hatsushiba voiced their similar opinions.
Glancing at Tozaki, it seemed like he knew something.
"Do you know something, Tozaki?"
"Well, I asked around a bit during break time. Some people also asked me questions... Lend me your ears for a bit."
Ignoring the puzzled looks of the four girls, I brought my ear near Tozaki's mouth.
"You heard about your rumor in the morning, right?"
"Well yeah, I remember it."
『Enjoying the scene of Ayame and Ibu entangled』... and on top of that, 『opening up an appreciation event』... All of this towards the harmless me. It was depressing.
"And, the venue of said appreciation event is the club room, apparently."
So that was it.
"Because the club room is an enclosed space?"
"You won't get caught if you smoke cigarettes or pot here, after all."
No, cigarettes would definitely be exposed, right? It soaks into the walls and stuff. Mom complains about Dad's smoking a lot, after all.
"If it's in a place without people, you can always fabricate whatever lie you wish about their actions..."
One can always say 'aren't they doing X?" and attach some kind of reasoning behind it, if the person in question is out of sight. That alone was enough to give birth to rumors. If this X was something that one could see the person doing, or if it was something trivial, then it would start disseminating via gossip.
It was too bothersome.
...However, we had no choice but to endure it for now. Just like frogs hibernating during the winter, waiting for spring to come.
Gossips last for just 75 days. Summer vacation would start soon after we pull through the first semester. The rumor was of the degree that would spotlessly disappear once we entered the second semester
"...There's a lot of footsteps outside."
Ayame muttered so for some reason. "It is getting kind of bothersome", Kiyomi also flurried her eyebrows.
Listening carefully, one could really hear a lot of footsteps.
It's not as if they could peep inside. The door was also locked, and the glass on the door was opaque, inhibiting visibility.
However, we could understand that the students outside were unnaturally going and returning.
Does every last one of them want to see yuri so much? You guys, just make yourselves disappear; I wanna play my <span="ロープライスのエロゲ">low price eroges.
"Say, Aramiya. Isn't this the effect of the rumors?"
Tozaki asked while scowling.
There was no choice but to admit it.
This rumor was adversely affecting our club activities... and had the potential to upset our school life as well.
We talked about the emergence of the recent rumor to the girls camp, who had yet to hear about it.
Ayame and Hatsushiba had a "not again!" expression, while Ibu was totally unfazed. "It must be difficult for you...", Kiyomi was consoling Ayame.
"What kind of rumors about me are going around this time?"
"Ayame. People have been saying that you and Ibu are a yuri couple."
Being told that, Ayame rolled her eyes in amazement. Tozaki also unnecessarily supplemented with "There's also a Ayame and Hatsushiba coupling", which made their expressions turn awkward.
"Do people believe it, Tozaki-kun?"
"Ah, no... Our classmates do not believe in it as expected, but the permeation outside our class has been quite intense... It has sporadically spread among our upperclassmen and underclassmen as well..."
"Muu..."
Hatsushiba pouted at Tozaki's answer.
"Since it concerns Ayame who was famous in school till now, and Suwama who stood out right after transferring, it has become kind of a sensational topic. And they say that you're jealous about it, Hatsushiba."
Hatsushiba turned her eyebrows into a "へ" shape at hearing that.
"However, if the permeation is this fast, then it must be intentional. We don't know who the offender is, and whether they were also responsible for spreading around the last rumor is also unclear."
At that point, Ibu raised her hands cheerfully.
"Hey hey~ by the way, what is 'yuri'?"
I was about to get a cramp. At least understand what 'yuri' means.
"I also don't know about it, what does it mean?"
Kiyomi also followed suit.
Well, yuri came under a niche subculture. It couldn't be helped.
"Even I know that it is a flower~ Is it that we're sparkly like flowers?"
I guess if one used common sense, people would think yuri to be just a flower.
"Yuri means women loving each other. As in, you and Ayame are seen as lovers."
"Ayame-cchi and me? Eh, but, we are both girls?"
"That's why I said women loving each other. In other words, since you cling to Ayame so much, that kind of rumors have started spurring."
"Eh-, but that much is normal right, normal~"
...It was just as Ibu said.
Ibu had an inclination to cling to Ayame quite a bit, but skinship of that degree would usually just end at them being good friends. There were a countless number of girls who got along with each other, after all. Well there were also couples who were actually suspicious. Overreacting when jokingly asked about it could lead to people thinking they're actually yuri, too.
"I have no intention to get along with this girl, though."
"Eh~ Ayame-cchi, you meanie~"
"That's why I'm saying, don't cling to me!"
Now that I think about it, Ayame never smiled at Ibu when they were together. While feeling annoyed, it felt as if she would cope with it reluctantly.
Then again, Ayame showing a smile itself was a very rare thing.
"It's kind of hard to digest that I'm agreeing with Suwama-san, but Yuuka also thinks that this rumor is strange. It's Yuuka who touches Cotton much more."
For some reason she said so while proudly puffing out her chest. Don't compete with each other!
"To be clear, that's probably what led to circumstances suitable for the circulation."
"What do you mean?"
"So, if it was just Ayame and Hatsushiba being friendly with each other, then it'd just stop there. However, since Ayame and Ibu are also getting along, it would become suspicious, right?"
"B-but!"
"No, I understand. Honestly though, I also think that the possibility of this is quite thin."
As it seemed like Hatsushiba wasn't self-aware of it, I couldn't tell this to her directly, but Ayame, Hatsushiba and Ibu looked like they were in a love triangle.
"Whatever. As long as we understand that it is intentional, we must search for the culprit. It's also possible that they were also responsible for disseminating the rumors from last time."
"But man, Aramiya-"
Tozaki raised his hand at that point.
"The rumors about Ayame till date were clearly intended to drop Ayame's reputation, but this time it's different,right? The believability this time is also low, and it's also kind of half-assed in terms of ill reputation."
"Well, that's true..."
Kiyomi interjected as I was being troubled.
"If I'm not mistaken, it seems like they are jokingly insinuating something like 'aren't they very close to each other?', but it doesn't feel like they intend to decrease their reputation. Since it's between girls."
Well, for girls, leaving aside the real intentions, at least on the surface the popularity among the surroundings would not change that much. If it was between boys, they would probably show their asses towards them.
"It's a worrisome point..."
Honestly, it felt like it'd be fine to leave Ayame and the girls' rumor as-is, but it was also interlinked with the rumor about me.
Even eroges have events where rumors about the protagonist or heroines, but in general, they would be rumors about someone going out with someone, or about some secret about the heroines. Basically rumors acted as plot devices.
"... For now, nothing can be done if we don't search for the root."
"You don't sound confident."
"Well, I've never experienced rumors about myself..."
It was quite irritating when Tozaki said so, but it was not possible to capitalize on experiences never seen before in eroge.
"How would we ascertain the origin of the rumors?"
"Rumors are probably like Chinese whisper--"
Just as I was about to give an explanation,
"An unusual rumor has risen again, right?"
The student council president, Yaotani Airi entered the room, opening the door. With her two minions in tow.
"You seem pretty mystified. Is it problematic for me to come over here?"
"No, not really. And, what do you want?"
"I came here to admire the lovely faces of Ayame-san, Hatsushiba-san, Suwama-san and Aramiya Kiyomi-san..."
She sent a meaningful glance towards the four girls.
"You look unhappy insofar, but I also have a separate case."
Prez-smirk
Thereupon, she looked towards me. She signaled me to come out to the hallway, with a big swing of her chin.
I stood up from my chair after understanding her intent.
"Eh, what's up, Aramiya?"
Ayame made a worried face.
"It seems the president has something to talk about. I'll return after we're done talking."
"Then, me as well..."
"There are things we can't talk about with you around, so no can do."
This time she made a lonely face. It's troublesome if you make that face.
"Well then, shall we go?"
Then, we went to the furthest end of the school building. The two minions were looking out so that others did not come this way. Almost like the figures of two Nio kings.
TL Note: Check out this wiki page on Nio. Copying from Wikipedia, they "are two wrathful and muscular guardians of the Buddha standing today at the entrance of many Buddhist temples in East Asian Buddhism in the form of frightening wrestler-like statues."
Then, while glaring sharply at me,
"I'll ask without beating around the bush. Is it true that you're violating Ayame-san, Hatsushiba-san and Suwama-san?"
As expected.
"I never thought that the student council president would be manipulated by such rumors."
"So it's all a lie..."
"I feel like it's strange to believe in it in the first place."
"That's right, normally one wouldn't believe in such. However, the more a rumor explodes, the closer it is to the truth. It can't be helped that the students get manipulated by them."
"Wow, aren't you generous."
"It's only natural. Obstinately denying rumors can also lead to loss of many things. Things such as friendship or love."
"Isn't it unnecessary to keep friendships only of that degree?"
"Feeble friendship or affection can turn deep just from a single impetus. However, there's nothing once cut off."
"Are you saying it's fine to have false friendships?"
"The concept of friendship isn't uniform among all. Don't you agree?"
I don't know. I've never thought about such complicated things.
"Well, it's pretty philosophical, so let's leave it at that. For now, the rumor is false. That's all."
"I've taken that to mind. If you happen to find someone who might be spreading the rumors, please let me know. And also,"
I closed in towards the president.
"Do you know about the other rumor that Ibu and Ayame are yuri?"
Frankly speaking, I doubted the student council president.
Yuri.
It was exactly the kind of rumor that this person would spread around.
"Of course I do."
"That's your reply, eh."
"Yeah. In the first place, there's no room for doubt. All girls are essentially yuri, after all."
... It took me a few seconds to comprehend her words, but didn't she just ram an outrageous theory?
"I'll ask you then... Why do you think heterosexual love is mainstream in the society?"
"Well, that's because it's impossible to connect blood unless it's a man and a woman."
Not that I understand the significance of connecting blood. Couples out there in the world, try your best! That was my stance.
"You're right. However, not too far in the future we will be entering times when two women can give birth to children. There are several ethical problems filled up, though.
"... What is it that you want to say?"
It seemed like my head would start to hurt, so I really didn't want to keep her company.
"The common sense that man and woman need to be together, will be overturned in the future."
"Aren't you skipping over too fast? And I still don't understand what point you're trying to make."
"Let's say that the common sense in this regard was toppled over."
The premise itself was quite complicated. It was following peculiarly sophisticated guidelines.
"Well then. Men might still choose women. However, do you think women would still choose men?"
"I don't know, since I don't think our world is going in that direction anyway."
"Try spreading the wings of your imagination. The relationship between girls and boys hitting puberty is very complicated. However, girls raise up friendship among themselves. At that point of time, if the common sense of 'bonding between females is strange' is scattered away by the common sense of 'bonding between females is normal', then you could say it'd be inevitable that their relationship would alter into love."
This is bad. What should I do? This person's speech totally went over my head.
Is she probably talking about something super difficult? Was it philosophy? Help me, Plato-sensei!
"Even if it's hypothetical, it's too sophisticated for me. We're in present-day Japan, by the way."
"Good grief. It's something you would understand if you had just a little bit of imagination. The times when men's desire of having a lover are fulfilled, would just evolve into one where women will also be able to fulfill their desire. If that happens, women would stop being infatuated with men, all of whom are vulgar creatures with incomprehensible thought processes."
While I thought that it wouldn't possibly happen, it was also probably pointless to say that to this person.
She was talking already after reaching the conclusion that women should only love women.
She had arbitrarily reached that conclusion totally based on her subjective opinion. Probably she thought that her experiences were absolute.
Even if I used my own words to convince her, not even a fragment of them would reach her heart.
In eroge they'd immediately comprehend the merit of men from doing it once... Yuri characters in games with male protagonists almost always yield at the end after all. That, or they are set to be unconquerable
"With that, let me answer your first question. One could say that it's the truth that's permeating, and not some rumor, and hence it's obvious that I'd know about it. You don't have to pay heed to that part... What's with that face?"
"Nope, nothing in particular."
I would have zero surprise if it was this person that spread the rumors. Or rather, she could be called the front runner in my list.
The rumor that I had opened up a yuri appreciation business might as well be one of her slick ploys to separate me from Ayame. Or maybe it was in preparation for bringing Ayame under her command.
"I feel like the intention behind the rumor is to forcefully kick us out of the club room"
"Ah, I see. That would be a good method."
The student council president made a slim smile.
It was very fishy...
"It might be the president who is spreading such rumors..."
As I said so after returning to the club room, Tozaki somewhat got my point with an "Ah!".
However, the girls looked like they had absolutely no clue. No matter how one thought about it, she was a beast extremely dangerous for the girls. How come did they not have any sense of danger?
From the point of view of girls, she might not be reflected as a poisonous creature.
"Why would the president do such a thing?"
Kiyomi asked in disgruntlement. It seemed like she believed in the president from the beginning.
... Was it okay to tell them?
Rather, Ayame and Hatsushiba both have recently been at the receiving end of her solicitation, and were probably oblivious to the reason as well.
Just to be sure, we should share all the information.
"Just in case, please keep in mind that what I'm about to say is completely a rumor."
I told them the stories about the student council president.
That she apparently gathers girls as external cooperative workers for the student council, and does indecent things night after night.
"Seriously?" "Wha~" "That kind of a side..." "... are you serious?"
All four girls stiffened their expressions.
"Didn't I say it was a rumor? I haven't really seen it in person. It's just quite credible if boys have seen it happen up close."
I was also hesitant to talk about it since it was just hearsay.
"What I'm doing right now is the same as the rumors spread to drop Ayame's reputation. I don't want to propagate this irresponsibly, so please don't completely believe in it."
"It's not good to suspect her without definite proof, I guess~"
Ibu said so lightly... Did she understand the point?
"Well, how do you say it... Leaving aside Ayame, won't girls be vigilant if they have boys following them at night? For example, they might be alone together in the elevator with someone they aren't even acquaintances with."
"You're right! Maybe one would walk faster, or let them go past by just doing nothing~"
"Well, just thinking about the possibilities. Suspecting people whom you don't even hate doesn't feel right, though."
Ibu and Hatsushiba said so apologetically.
For some reason I turned towards Tozaki. As if to say "Why are you looking at me...", he dropped his shoulders in depression. That's how it looked.
"No, that's fine. We also get a bit hurt when girls walking in front start walking faster, but I get the feeling. It is always good to exercise caution."
In the end, one must protect their bodies themselves. Wise people keep away from danger.
"Umm, why was I made an exception by Tozaki? Anyway, I was left out..."
Nervously raising her hand, Ayame squinted in displeasure.
"Well, even if a guy tries to attack you while you're together alone, you can beat them up easily."
"Uu...", she was at a loss for words when pointed out.
"If it's Ayame-san, then you can annihilate them in one punch!"
TL Note: The JP expression used here is "郷鎮", which means sinking a ship within a minute with bombardment/lightning/explosives. Basically, don't go against this girl 1v1.
Kiyomi's follow acted more like an agitation than a cover, and Ayame hung her face while fidgeting her index fingers in front of her chest.
"That may be true, but! What if it's someone super strong that attacks me!"
"...Well, you even won against a bear, right?"
"As if that can be true! Don't make light of bears!"
She suddenly got irritated and stood up for some reason.
Almost as if she knew just how strong bears were.
There are rumors out there about a middle school girl who drove away a bear with a kick... surely not?
"Even I want to be worried about... If there are several opponents, or if they train in martial arts, I'd be easily done for. Also, human bodies can't resist if they're locked into positions where they can't muster strength in!"
That reminds me, she was driven to a corner by Songou when we first met.
So that meant even Ayame was not invincible. "That was informative", Kiyomi uttered in respect. Where the hell did she plan on using that knowledge?
"... Well, that's that. Ayame, you should also be careful. I understand that even you cannot win against anyone and everyone."
"I-is that so?"
As if taken aback by my response, Ayame reddened her cheeks embarrassedly.
"So, here's the thing. Although we got distracted while talking about it, the president has such rumors about her. Be cautious in your own ways."
"What do we do about the rumors about ourselves?"
"For now, grassroots activities. While declining them, let's keep searching for the main culprit."
After all, there was no other way of dealing with rumors that have already started spreading around.
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