Monogatari Series - Volume 21 - Chapter 0.11

011

Before my classmates realised, I swiftly exited the classroom — the fire alarm rang through the length of the corridor as everything descended into chaos, so I had no idea where to run, until Ougi-san burst in coolly with his BMX.

Did he go all the way to the bike racks after he pressed the alarm? How very handy — no, pedally.

Anyway, I virtually flew towards Ougi-san’s bike and stood behind him. BMXs can go down staircases (though completely unsafe when there is a passenger at the back), so our escape was plenty speedy.

With an emergency alarm ringing in the school, two people speeding off in a bike only added to the wanton chaos.

If anything, this has basically descended into panic, hasn’t it?

If we were unlucky, it could get on the news.

The political pages.

Within the opinion columns.

Although the blame lies less on shikigami Nadeko, and more on Ougi-san… whilst I could not have retrieved that shikigami without his help, so I’d better not talk too much about it, there were many things on my mind.

Many things other than words of gratitude.

But the man himself seemed not to care.

More than that, he started whistling.

After whizzing around the playground for an unnecessary lap and performing a few stunts, Ougi-san and his bike left Public Middle School #701 — really, I was supposed to be the pursuer, now I am running away? What kind of reversal was this? I am even less inclined to go to school now.

If this was my last visit, though, it was not a good way to say farewell.

‘Oh my, you look pale, Sengoku-chan. You’ve clearly managed to capture a shikigami after much effort, and you’ve made good on your escape; ha-ha, something bad happen to you?’

Said he, in a tone identical to Oshino Meme-san’s.

His words, however, were the exact opposite of his.

But the reason I looked pale was not only because I got played by Ougi-san like a fiddle — that feeling of inferiority in front of Fawning Nadeko, that was the main reason.

If I had to say it, I felt like things would be better if I simply disappeared from this earth — although in retrospect, that feeling could be an explanation for oddity caused by shikigami Nadeko, something that affects even myself, their creator.

I hope that was the case.

It is the only thing that keeps me going.

I do not want to think that these embarrassing feelings came from myself. But much as I dispute it, it was undeniable.

The thought of wanting to disappear has not disappeared.

‘Stop embarrassing yourself, it’s embarrassing.’

Fawning Nadeko’s last words were proof that Present Nadeko was not dazzling at all in her eyes. Whilst I did make a timely retort, I was not sure if I could do the same again — could I be as brash as I was next time? I thought as I opened the sheet in my left hand.

In it was an illustration of Fawning Nadeko, in a school uniform.

From three dimensions, sealed into two.

Tamed — huh.

Her clothes were completely different from when I drew her; how unbelievable — I gave a light sigh.

I might be cleaning up my own mess, but this was some heavy baggage — I only managed to get one Nadeko back thanks to Ougi-san’s help, but it might be better to leave the remaining three to Ononoki-chan… I’ll just slink back to my own room… work on gloomy things…

That said, I had no method of contacting Ononoki-chan. A professional such as Ononoki-chan may carry a mobile phone, but I do not have one.

Such a device is not needed for a hikikomori.

Anyway, having went through great lengths to get one shikigami, I wanted to relay her some good news — and relieve myself from some of the work.

Right as I said that, something rang — a phone call.

Not a ringtone, but a vibration.

I did not have one; it was, of course, Ougi-san’s phone that was ringing — ‘excuse me’, Ougi-san said, as he took his smartphone out from his pocket in his uniform, and swiped away with his fingertips.

Using it like a natural; high schoolers really are something else.

‘Hello, Kanbaru-senpai — mm, I’m on sick leave today. Personal circumstances. No need to worry, I’m not busy choosing Kanbaru-senpai’s birthday present. Eh? A riot? Down at Public Middle School #701? What a nuisance. Oh, really… I haven’t heard of that middle school ’til now. I’ve got nothing to do with whatever carnage is going on down there.’

Ougi-san lied without batting an eye.

Though I should say that the panic we caused had speedily made its way to Kanbaru-san’s ears — the perpetrator was wearing none other than a Naoetsu High School uniform, so Kanbaru-san, herself a student at Naoetsu High, naturally got wind.

Having said that, I was impressed with her vast network. Her popularity seemed to fly off the charts when she became a senior.

‘Wrong person, mate, wrong person. Look, they say there’s four people in this world who look the exact same as yourself — oh? Only three? I remember there being four —’

Ougi-san said as he let out a grin.

I am getting zero hint of respect from this guy towards his popular senpai… he doesn’t think of her as someone lower than him, right?

Anyway, with that, Ougi-san dodged his way through Kanbaru-san’s questioning.

‘Let me take it.’

I said, stretching my arm out.

‘Nm?

‘You alright with that?’ Asked Ougi-san.

I had never had a nice, long chat with Kanbaru-san due to past events; too many past events. Ougi-san probably asked it out of concern — or to entertain himself as he usually does.

Regardless, I only knew I was in year 3, class 5 through Kanbaru-san’s work, minimising the damage done (it was the minimum, right?), so I would like to at least thank her.

Not only for that, but also for caring about me.

Nothing else apart from a word of thanks.

…Though the reason why I was thinking like that was probably because, however brief, I had an exchange with the chatty Fawning Nadeko.

‘Hello. It’s me, Sengoku Nadeko.’

‘Oh!! Sengoku-chan! It’s been a long while!!’

From the smartphone beamed Kanbaru-san’s energetic voice. Her voice did not feel blank, her tone audibly one of concern and caring, probably brought on by me having seen Fawning Nadeko — really thoughtful she is, Kanbaru-san.

Ougi-san pales in comparison, or more to the point, he’s the exact opposite!

‘Have you been doing well?’

‘Good. I’m not dead; I’m alive.’

‘That’s good. That’s great.’

‘Sorry about making you worry before. Sorry about still making you worry. But I am on the move. I exist.’

I was not replaced.

There was no time for specifics, so I ended with a ‘thank you very much’.

The last time I spoke with Kanbaru-san was early last autumn, so I spoke with some restraint — things have changed, both my tone of voice and from ‘Nadeko’ to ‘I’.

I was no longer the ‘kawaii, kawaii’ that Kanbaru-san effused over — I have changed completely; Kanbaru-san’s mental image of me was probably closer to Fawning Nadeko than to myself.

Whilst not depressing, you could say I am no longer that Sengoku Nadeko.

The thing that went off, if it must be said, was ultimately the character.

Kanbaru-san then said to me,

‘Mm, mm. I don’t know what happened, but no need to be polite. I was just doing what I should.’

Without much question, a simple agreement — she’s really open; too open; probably on a scale beyond my comprehension.

Kanbaru-san must have changed in this half a year too — yet she still sounded like the Kanbaru-san I knew.

No, she did technically ask me one question.

It was not about me, but Ougi-san.

‘By the way, Sengoku-chan, did Ougi-kun really not do anything dodgy? Why are you with him anyway? If he’s hanging out with you, a student at Public Middle School #701, that makes me even more suspicious…’

‘I-I am a hikikomori who doesn’t go to school, why would I be there?’

I lied to the person I have to be grateful to.

A useless ne’er-do-well, I am.

Ougi-san looked at me with the smile of a knowing accomplice — whilst I am conflicted about speaking like Anti-Nadeko, I really wanted to punch that smile off his face.

Whether she willingly fell for it, or noticed there were words I could not say, Kanbaru-san did not ask anything further — thanks for the big help.

Coming back to where we were, things were going along quite surrealistically.

Having thought I would never get the chance to talk with Kanbaru-san, there I was, talking with her; no signs, no mental preparation.

This very opportunity for conversation probably proves a greater purpose behind me and Ononoki-chan making those shikigami.

Moving on, as she helped me, I asked her,

‘U-uh, uhm, Kanbaru-san. Sorry if it sounds weird, but have you seen me, somewhere, today?’

If we do meet later on, the more clues I could provide Ononoki-chan the better. Even if Kanbaru-san was not a first-hand witness, given that she knew about Public Middle School #701 this quickly, her information network might have already picked something up.

‘Mm? No, nothing of the sort, I’ve never heard of that either.’

‘I-is that so… okay, then, that’s alright.’

‘Ah, but now that you mention it…’

Kanbaru-san added, as if suddenly reminded of something,

‘I personally don’t think it’s got anything to do with you, Sengoku-chan, but there’s been reports everywhere of a middle school girl with fringes going around town half-naked wearing only gym shorts.’

‘Kyaa—!’

That’s Nadeko, you idiot!