Solving Cases is My Daily Life Now: Volume 3

Chapter 18

    The next morning Rina found herself dragging her feet as she walked to school, at a slower pace than usual as her mind was in a bit of a daze. She hadn't been sleeping well, and she was already in a bad mood lately, so it simply served to amplify her discomfort. She felt the complete opposite of the morning before, she was paying no mind to the people around her whatsoever. So much so in fact, that she didn't even notice Suzu walking up to her.
"R-R-Rina..." She said, putting her hand on Rina's shoulder, "You don't look so good..."
"Huh?" Rina focused for a moment to realize that it was Suzu, "Oh, hey. Yeah, I'm not feeling so good either. But I already missed school twice recently, so I can't really stay home."
Suzu frowned and tilted her head, looking concerned.
"D-did something happen after we parted w-w-ways last night?" She asked.
"Not really." Rina said, "Katsuo acted a bit strange, but that's about it."
"Strange h-how?" Suzu asked.
"It's hard to explain. The atmosphere changed, and he suddenly got very serious. Then, before he could explain himself to me, he left." Rina said.
It seemed as though a wave of recognition went over Suzu's face, and suddenly she understood what had happened. Rina envied that, as she still felt very much in the dark.
"Oh yeah!" Suzu perked up, "Did M-M-Masaru notice your make up?"
Rina's face began to feel warm and she smiled.
"Yeah, he did." She said, "When we were in the bushes last night he...he noticed."
Suzu squealed in a manner similar to how she did the night before.
"I knew s-something happened between you t-two!" She said, "It would have b-b-been the perfect time for you to k-kiss..."
"Yeah, hiding in the bushes while we stalk my future step mom. Really romantic first kiss." Rina said, her face heating up as she thought of it, "Besides, Masaru would never do anything like that."
"You m-might be surprised, he could be holding secret f-f-feelings for you!" Suzu suggested with a smile.
"I doubt it." Rina said, looking up as they reached the school entrance and seeing Katsuo waiting for them like always.
"Hey." He said simply and roughly, looking up at them as they approached.
"H-hi, Katsuo!" Suzu replied with a wave.
"Hello." Rina said idly, beginning to walk past him.
But something compelled her to stop for a moment, and look over at him. He was staring at her, his face slightly pink. Did he do that every day, when she walked by?
"You look like you had a rough night." Katsuo said casually.
"Yeah." Rina responded, shrugging off the strange guilt she felt.
She continued to walk after that, with Katsuo and Suzu following her.
"So you're going to confront her today?" He asked, "I think I'll sit this one out. Yesterday was dramatic enough for one week."
"M-me too." Suzu said, "Yesterday was st-st-stressful. I think I'll just clean the c-club room today."
"Sorry guys." Rina said solemnly, feeling as though she had inconvenienced them.
"No, it's o-ok." Suzu said, "Friends are s-s-supposed to help each other out!"
Rina smiled, though it was an empty one. Despite her friend's words, she could never shake the feeling of being a burden. They walked a little bit further before they reached the classroom and said their goodbyes, and Rina once again avoided looking at Yua when she walked inside.

    "I wonder how F-F-Fuyo is doing." Suzu said a bit after lunch began, "I haven't seen her in a few d-d-days."
"I saw her on Thursday." Rina said, "She comforted me about Yua."
"Aww!" Suzu made a noise with a massive grin, "I knew she was a s-s-sweetheart all along."
"Yeah, I guess she is." Rina said with a smile.
"Hey." Masaru said, walking up to them after having entered the room.
"Oh, hey." Rina said, too out of it to have noticed the door opening, "Join us for lunch again today."
"If you insist." He said, pulling a desk up against theirs.
"Y-you guys are going to go talk to that l-l-lady today, right?" Suzu asked Masaru, already knowing the answer but likely making conversation.
"Yeah, it's not the most ideal situation." Masaru said, "But we do what we must."
Rina smiled softly, it seemed he was the only one willing to go with her, which she was ok with.
"I appreciate it." She said.
"Yeah, well...you are a client." He replied casually.
Rina rolled her eyes, he kept saying that, but she felt she knew him well enough to know that he would help her out either way.
"Masaru, Have you seen F-Fuyo lately?" Suzu asked.
"Yeah. I saw her Monday before Rina showed up. Why?" Masaru asked.
"I just m-m-miss her." She replied, "I want to squeeze her and h-hug her!"
"I'm not sure she'd be ok with any of that." Masaru said, looking down at his bento.
Rina giggled at the thought of Suzu doing that kind of thing to Fuyuko.
"I'm sure she'd probably scream and struggle like a child." She said.
"That sounds pretty accurate." Masaru agreed.
Suzu giggled as well, and Masaru smirked at the thought.
Rina stopped herself, for a moment she found herself having fun at lunch without Yua. She looked at her friends, wondering if it was ok, if she deserved that. She decided to put it out of her mind, to avoid the thought, like she had been doing to so many other unwanted ones. The rest of lunch went on similarly, mostly with playful jokes at Fuyuko's expense. When it was over, Masaru left and class began.