Track 2

Muneuji, Kinari… Thanks so much for helping out today. From now on, you two are mine, Sonia’s, and flower Laundry’s lifetime benefactors… No, maybe even our gods.

I thought for shure it’d turn into a dishashter today, but thankfully that shtuff didn’t happen!

I’m glad I could be of help to you both.

We will take our leave shortly, but please take care of your health and avoid overexerting yourselves.

According to an analysis of Hachinoya-sama’s business operation habits, you appear to be experiencing considerable weariness from work.

Not only did you help me, but you’re also looking out for me… …*sniff*

I’ll be extra shure to watch over Nagi-shan. You two, pleashe take care on the way home!

Then, we shall be on our way.

flower Laundry’s number of visitors and order calls for today have reached a record-breaking amount.

It’s the season where important official events are happening, after all. It can’t be helped.

It’s quite likely that this busyness will continue moving forward… The same will apply for the Student Council, too.

(The Student Council. Definition: a school’s self-governing organization made up by its students. Kaguya-sama is a member of Hama Asunaro High School’s student council.)

Once the worst is behind us, our peaceful days will surely return. I’ll have to endure until then.

(Verifying that Kaguya-sama’s lips curved upward. It is a similar reaction to when Master was talking about school. This must be an expression of ‘affection’.)

…Kaguya-sama. May I interrogate you on something?

But of course. Please, ask away.

Do you feel that “school” is important to you?

Hm? I do “feel” as such, but… Why do you inquire? Could it be that you’re interested in school, Azekawa-san?

Yes. The reason behind it makes for a long story, though to shorten it…

I am modeled after a certain deceased person. The person who my existence was based on… For this, I’ll call him the “Original”.

……! So that was the case…

Recently, I have been contemplating about and reflecting on the Original’s existence. In the process of doing so, I have confirmed what he kept close to his heart.

…As for what those were, that would be the time he spent with his school friends.

The Original mainly spent as much time as he could with his friends instead of listening to his Father’s orders¹.

…………

The Original’s Father is also my Developer. As such, I cannot exactly fathom what the Original’s priorities in life were…

But after listening to you and Master talk about “school”, I may be beginning to slightly understand how truly important it was.

My interest only grows more. However, I am an android. …Experiencing a school life is but a distant concept in my eyes.

(Seeing Azekawa-san in such low spirits is quite an unusual sight. It must be upsetting for him to be unable to experience the school life he longs for.)

(If only there was something I could do…)

Ah…!

Kaguya-sama?

This “school life” may be more of a pretend play, but it could be of help to you.

Azekawa-san. Would you like to enroll in a virtual school space with me?

! Whether it is real or an imitation, so long as I can simulate the experience, then I will gladly take the opportunity.

Understood. As our first order of business towards our path of learning——

We must search for our fellow classmates.

Shit, where’d this thing get all busted…

Kaguya-sama, a prospective classmate has entered my line of sight. Please leave everything to me.

Oh, it’s Ryui-san.

…What?

(I must communicate with many others for the sake of developing my sensitivity… Such is what Ooguro-sama taught me.)

(I have observed that people who I have few interactions with, such as Ryui-sama, would be suitable candidates as “classmates”. Now engaging in negotiations.)

Did your hoverboard break down, Ryui-sama?

…Yeah, somethin’ like that. Just won’t move all of a sudden.

If you’d like, I could repair it for you.

Huh? You talk, but can you do it for real?

Yes, please excuse me.

(This model number is equipped with an AI-powered control system. If I access it directly, then identifying the cause of error is no problem.)

(He’s kinda just touching it though… Can he actually fix this thing?)

(No problems detected in the engine’s system. Then, after disabling the safety device… Restarting control systems——)

!

There seems to be a malfunction in the safety device, which caused it to cease operations altogether. Despite managing to have it up and running normally, I still recommend taking it to a shop for maintenance as a precaution.

…You’re kiddin’.

Hoh. As expected of Azekawa-san, swiftly arriving at a solution.

……You actually managed to repair it. Thanks.

Therefore, I would like to request Ryui-sama for compensation in exchange for repairing the hoverboard.

Y-You…! Is this some kinda new scam or what?!

I’ve no intention of asking for monetary compensation. Simply put, I’d like for Ryui-sama to become one of my classmates.

…….Huh?

(Who could’ve predicted that this everyday, ordinary, middle-aged janitor, was in truth, the chairman of the school board——!)

(…This is the 13th instance this has happened in a pattern. In other words, it is likely a common occurrence within schools.)

(With this, I have watched every school drama there is within the past decade. It should be enough information to understand what “school” is like.)

Kinari, isn’t it about time to turn off the lights?

…Yes. Input processing complete. I’ll turn on sleep mode shortly as well, so there is no problem.

Were you watching something just now? Sorry for interrupting.

Well then, good night.

Wait a moment, Raito. Before you go to sleep, there is something I’d like to ask you.

Sure, what is it?

Is there anything I must keep in mind towards having a healthy school life?

School life…?

(It’d probably be insensitive of me to ask why… Besides, it’s getting late.)

Let’s see… I wasn’t exactly an exemplary student by any means, but I think it’d be best to listen to the teacher in moderation.

Listen to the teacher in moderation. I have recorded it.

And, more than anything, treasure your interactions with your school friends.

I wasn’t able to do that myself, that’s why… Even now, I’m a bit regretful of letting all that time go to waste.

……

Still, it is a place where kids in their formative years are all together. Things may not go as swimmingly as they should.

Thus, in the case where our values just can’t seem to align——

We’ll let our fists do the talking.

…Well now, you’ve got it down pat already.

Self-studying has taught me what to expect. Thank you for the valuable advice, nonetheless, Raito.

Glad to be of help to you, Kinari. Then, good night for real this time.

Good night.

(Setting up an alarm—completed. Just to make sure, I’ll double check it… No problems found.)

(…Tomorrow is my first day of school. I cannot allow myself to oversleep.)