COTE : Is Talent Everything? (Rewrite)-Chapter 150 - 146: A slight change (END)

"Here we are."

Led by Arisu and Sanada, we arrived at a popular accessories shop frequented by female students.

The two Class A students immediately went inside and began browsing.

"Hikigaya-kun, please wait a moment. I'll finish up with Sanada-kun first."

"Sure. I'll look around too."

I still didn't know why I'd been brought along, but for now, I'd wait for them to finish their business.

"Didn't expect to come here twice in a row."

Yesterday, I'd bought Hiyori's Christmas present at this very store.

It might've been a coincidence, but with Arisu involved, I couldn't help being suspicious.

Five, then ten minutes passed as I waited idly. Just as I was running out of things to browse—

When I approached the two to check on their progress, Sanada suddenly reached into his pocket.

"Excuse me, I need to take a call."

After politely excusing himself, Sanada stepped outside.

With Sanada gone, Arisu and I exchanged glances.

"Today, I was on a date with Sanada-kun. I spent Christmas with him too, you know?"

"Is that so?"

No wonder I hadn't heard from Arisu during Christmas.

"It's rare for you to outright call something a 'date.' You must really like him."

"...Huh?"

"Hm?"

For a brief moment, Arisu looked genuinely taken aback before falling silent, her gaze fixed on me.

"You... didn't realize that was a joke?"

"What?"

"Not 'what,' but... You didn't seriously think I'd go on a date with Sanada-kun, did you? Do I seem like the type to be interested in anyone but you?"

"What about Ayanokouji?"

"He's curiosity, not interest."

Slightly annoyed, she turned her face away.

"Sorry for the wait, Sakayanagi-san."

Sanada returned from his call, apologizing as he rejoined us. Perfect timing.

"How did it go?"

"Good—I got it settled."

He smiled shyly, lightly touching his cheek.

"That was Miyu-san from Class 1-B. They recently started dating, and he was struggling to pick a gift for her, so I helped."

"So that's what this was about."

Completely different from the "joke" earlier.

Since the mood wasn't right for teasing, I let it slide.

"A first-year girlfriend? How'd that happen?"

"Through club activities. I'm in the brass band, and she's my junior."

They'd grown closer through shared time in the club.

"Sanada-kun wanted to talk to you partly because of that too."

"Oh?"

"Well, haha..."

Sanada chuckled awkwardly before hesitantly explaining.

"A few juniors in the club are... well, fans of yours. I kept hearing your name."

"...Fans?"

"That's one reason I was curious to talk to you."

...Again, I genuinely didn't understand why first-years were so fixated on me.

Did the uninhabited island exam leave that much of an impression? It's already winter.

"How nice. You're the only upperclassman in the entire school with that kind of popularity."

"You're just provoking me now."

"Whatever do you mean?"

Still slightly irritated, Arisu tilted her head playfully.

"Good luck, Sanada-kun."

"Thank you, Sakayanagi-san. And Hikigaya-kun, I appreciate your time."

"I didn't do anything. Just make sure she's happy."

"Of course."

Clutching his purchase, Sanada bowed.

Given how much effort he'd put into choosing it with Arisu's help, he clearly cared deeply for her.

"May I ask you something?"

After seeing Sanada off, Arisu spoke up beside me.

"When I said I was on a date with Sanada-kun, what did you think?"

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"Like I said earlier—that you must really like him."

"Really?"

Her piercing gaze seemed to see right through me.

Arisu, who had feelings for me, had been on a date with Sanada.

Even if I'd known it was a joke, I'd still made comments that sounded like approval.

And it wasn't subconscious—it was deliberate.

"Maybe I was a little jealous."

"Fufu, is that your way of teasing me back? You really hold a grudge, don't you?"

So she saw through the lie.

With her sharp observation skills, it was inevitable.

"Then tonight, I'll visit your room. I expect to be entertained."

"Yeah, yeah."

Maybe I'd pick up her favorite tea on the way back.

──────

8:00 PM

After finishing the cake and having a quick dinner, I heard the sound of the front door unlocking.

Through the living room door, I saw a silhouette carefully arranging shoes before slowly opening the door.

"I'm home."

For someone just coming from her own room, she was bundled up unusually warmly.

"This isn't your room."

"It's close enough, and we'll be sharing one eventually. Aren't you going to welcome me?"

"...Welcome back."

Satisfied, she nodded and hung her coat on a hanger before sitting on the bed.

"Tea's fine, right?"

"Yes."

I poured tea into two cups and set them on the table.

Bringing it to her lips, Arisu smiled happily.

"You remembered my favorite tea?"

"Of course I'd recognize the scent."

"Anyone would know their own preferences without tasting."

She said it like it was obvious, but most people wouldn't.

My palate only distinguished "good" or "bad."

"Well then."

"Huh?"

When I opened the fridge to bring out the cake—the whole reason for her visit—Arisu let out a surprised noise.

Turning around, I found her wide-eyed.

"What's wrong?"

"Your fridge is... quite the spectacle. I was just startled."

"...Too much, huh?"

"Yes. Far beyond what I imagined."

I'd used up all the ingredients for dinner, but a fridge full of nothing but sweets was still bizarre.

"How will you store groceries starting tomorrow? You can't possibly finish all this in a day."

"Don't worry. I'll be giving most of it away."

Ayanokouji was coming tomorrow to use the yogurt maker.

I'd make him take some sweets too—or rather, I'd force him to.

After slicing the cake and plating it with forks, I brought it to the table.

"It looks wonderful. A Shine Muscat cake, no less... How nostalgic."

She gazed at it wistfully.

This cake held special meaning for both of us.

"Let's eat."

She took a delicate bite.

"Fufu."

I wasn't sure if that was a good or bad laugh. At least it didn't taste bad.

"No need to worry. It's delicious."

"If you say so, it must be true."

Her praise gave me confidence.

"I might lose to you when it comes to cakes."

"Doubt it."

Watching her eat happily from the corner of my eye, I took a bite myself.

"...?"

It was well-made—good enough to praise myself.

"Fufu, something wrong?"

"Nah... nothing."

Her knowing stare made me uneasy, but I brushed it off and kept eating.

After finishing the cake, we played chess—something we hadn't done in a while—until it was almost 10:00 PM.

"Shall we take a short walk outside?"

"Outside?"

"There's something I want to talk about."

"We can do that here."

"It's snowing. A nighttime stroll would be lovely, don't you think?"

A walk in the snow...

There was no guarantee we'd get another snowfall like this next year.

This might be our last chance.

And I was curious about what she wanted to say.

Maybe that's why she'd dressed so warmly earlier.

"Sure, let's go."

"Don't forget warm clothes. It's quite cold."

"Right."

I changed into something warmer before heading out.

──────

Meanwhile...

Shiina Hiyori's Room

I was reading my favorite novel in my room when a sudden impulse struck me.

"...I want to see Hikigaya-kun."

This wasn't the first time. In fact, I often felt this way when alone.

But visiting him now might be bothersome.

A glance at the clock showed it was already 10:00 PM—he might be asleep.

Lately, he'd been going to bed early due to fatigue from baking.

I bookmarked my novel and looked out the window to distract myself.

"It's piling up."

Outside, the world was blanketed in snow. The forecast said it would continue.

As I watched the falling snow, I noticed two students leaving the lobby.

From a distance, I couldn't tell if they were male or female, but their closeness suggested a couple.

"How nice..."

Seeing that only made me miss him more.

"Maybe I should call..."

If he was asleep, so be it. But if he was awake, I wanted to see him.

Steeling myself, I dialed his number.

If he was awake, what would we talk about?

The mystery novel I'd recently discovered? What he'd done today?

Could we talk until bedtime?

The thought alone made me happy.

But no matter how long I waited, the call didn't connect.

"He must be asleep..."

Disappointing, but I couldn't disturb his rest.

I shouldn't call again.

"Next time we meet, I'll ask him to spoil me."

Thinking about what I'd ask for, I returned to my novel.

──────

We took the elevator down and stepped outside.

Given the late hour, there wasn't a soul in sight.

Unlikely we'd run into anyone.

"It really is cold out here."

The snow had started on Christmas Eve, but the low temperatures had let it accumulate.

"It's piled up quite a bit. Maybe I'll build a snowman tomorrow."

"I can't even imagine you making a snowman. If I saw that... fufufu."

"Don't laugh at imaginary me."

The mental image must've been hilarious, given how she compared it to the real me.

"By the way, are you staying over tonight?"

"If you're feeling lonely, I could."

"So that's a no."

"I'm joking. I still need a bath, so let's go together."

Our usual, mundane banter.

But Arisu sounded happier, more lively than usual.

"So, what did you want to talk about?"

"Fufu, shall we get to the main topic?"

When I urged her, she smiled as always and asked:

"The plan you're considering will make a lot of people cry."

"...Is that what you wanted to discuss?"

"Not the plan itself—I want to know what comes after. Doesn't it bother you, making so many people despair? Don't you feel guilty?"

...What was she talking about?

For the first time, I found myself genuinely confused by Arisu.

"Surprised? That I'd ask something like this?"

"Yeah... Why ask something so obvious?"

"I suppose. You feel no guilt whatsoever. You discard people without hesitation—just like Ayanokouji-kun."

"Probably."

Neither Ayanokouji nor I make mistakes in judgment.

We have no reason to.

"It's almost funny how beloved you are, yet you feel nothing in return."

"I'm still learning. Don't expect much."

"Even if you lack those emotions, the girls don't. Do you truly understand the depth of their feelings?"

She stopped walking and stared straight at me.

"Shiina-san, Matsushita-san—their devotion is beyond reason. If you disappeared, they wouldn't survive."

"If necessary, I'll cut them off."

"How?"

"I'll figure it out by graduation. Once we graduate, we'll never see each other again."

The truth of that facility would never fade, but it wouldn't dictate my entire life.

"Shiina and Matsushita can live normal lives. I'd only hold them back. I'll handle it before graduation."

"..."

She might've been disillusioned, but this was the real me.

Arisu should've known that already—maybe hearing it aloud was still a shock.

Just as I thought that, her next question came.

"What about Amasawa-san and Yagami-kun? Those two won't leave you no matter what."

"They know about the White Room, so no long explanations needed. I'll reject them outright and order them to live their own lives."

"You're underestimating them. They'd never accept being separated from you."

"This is a long-term plan. I have ideas. I'll even pave the way for Amasawa and Takuya to live normal lives."

Sakayanagi-san had created a legal identity for me.

If she could do it for me, she could for Takuya and Amasawa too.

That was the first step.

Arisu said nothing, just kept staring.

Strangely, her eyes had softened.

"Disappointed?"

"Not at all. In fact—you're truly kind, aren't you?"

"...Huh?"

Her loving gaze and gentle smile left me stunned.

"You don't realize it?"

"What are you talking about...?"

Completely lost, I stared blankly at her.

Her eyes warmed further, as if even my confusion was endearing.

"'Cutting them off' is just a front. You've realistically considered their futures, haven't you? You're working to ensure they live happy lives."

"I'm abandoning all of them."

"Your methods are different. Even if the approach is flawed, you still respect them."

"That's just semantics. Sugarcoating doesn't change anything."

"Then let me ask—do you think Ayanokouji-kun would make the same judgment in your position?"

For the first time, I was at a loss for words.

"Ayanokouji-kun would be far crueler. He wouldn't spare a thought for their futures—he'd never waste mental resources on such trivialities."

Arisu put into words the contradictions in my reasoning.

"You and Ayanokouji-kun are different. Similar, yet distinct."

Our white breaths drifted away in the wind.

Her gem-like eyes refused to let me go.

"...Maybe you're right."

Arisu's words were likely correct.

Even I hadn't noticed these contradictions.

Her perspective came from being closer to me than anyone, observing me all this time.

"It's startling to have someone else point out things you don't know about yourself."

"Yeah."

"Then let me tell you one more thing."

She raised a finger, pointing at me.

"This isn't a contradiction—it's more like unconscious bias."

"Bias?"

We'd been standing still so long that snow had piled on our shoulders, but her next words blew it all away.

"You think of me as special."

"Special?"

I didn't remember ever treating anyone as special.

"You look like you want to deny it."

"This one's just impossible."

"Is that so?"

She hummed teasingly, tilting her head.

"Earlier, we discussed Shiina-san and Matsushita-san, and you agreed."

"Yeah."

"Then why wasn't I included? Our circumstances are the same, aren't they?"

"That's..."

"Yet you never once questioned why I wasn't part of that conversation."

Now that she mentioned it, I hadn't questioned it.

"It's because––––––"

"If you're about to say 'because I'd be fine,' I'll be angry. My feelings aren't shallow. You should know that."

She glared, pressuring me to take this seriously.

Saying "Arisu would manage without me" was just an excuse.

"I'm the daughter of the White Room's sponsor. In other words... even after graduation, I can remain involved in your life."

Unlike the other students, she had ties to the White Room.

This was the unconscious bias she meant.

It made sense—if she could stay connected, of course I wouldn't consider cutting her off.

"I can be part of your future. That's why you didn't include me in the list of people to discard."

"So... subconsciously, I wanted you?"

"Yes. I'm honored."

Proudly puffing out her chest, she looked as satisfied as if she'd just presented a thesis.

Arisu reached up, gently touching my cheek.

"You're cold."

"I'll warm up soon."

She patted and poked my face playfully.

"You're not emotionless. You just don't understand others' emotions."

Her voice was soothing. The gentle tone was incredibly comforting.

"You're still a child, growing. It's okay not to understand everything."

Her hands were cold, yet they felt so warm.

"In that facility, you chose to destroy yourself. You discarded your ego, erased your identity. Some would call that horrifying."

My pocket vibrated—my phone was ringing. Normally, I'd check immediately.

"But I find that version of you unbearably precious."

Right now, I didn't want to.

I just wanted to listen to her voice.

Her beautiful, captivating eyes.

Cupping my cheek, she rose onto her tiptoes, leaning in.

"You're wonderful."

Our lips met—just a light brush.

Yet it felt sweeter than anything before, leaving me more flustered than ever.

"Your turn now."

"My...?"

"Even a lie is fine. Even if you feel nothing, putting it into words can teach you something. I want you to learn that."

Things you could learn by speaking.

Words were just tools—to manipulate, to lull, to control.

This wasn't about emotions, but human nature.

That's what I'd always believed.

And yet—

I touched Arisu's cheek.

She'd been outside in the cold for a while now. No matter how warmly dressed, her body had chilled.

Her skin was cool under my fingers.

Despite the cold, she never looked away, her expression soft.

"Why do you go this far for me?"

"Because I love you."

"Why can you smile at me so easily?"

"Being by your side feels right. My heart and body relax, and the smiles just come."

Finally, I understood.

When I heard Arisu was on a date with Sanada, I'd made comments that sounded like approval—even though I knew it was a joke.

The reason I'd wanted to point it out...

I'd been relieved she wasn't leaving.

I didn't want her to waste her life on me.

"Sorry for assuming."

I pulled her into a tight embrace.

This was necessary—to convey what words couldn't.

"I love you."

Had those words, never before spoken to anyone, echoed through the silent snowy night?

──────

"I love you."

Those words, heard within his embrace, were something she would never forget.

"I love you, Arisu."

At that moment, she felt a joy he would never understand.

Finally—finally—she had drawn those words from him.

Even if just a little, she had sparked change.

"Are you cold?"

Misinterpreting her trembling—caused by overwhelming happiness—as shivering from the cold, he tightened his hold.

"I'm practically overheating."

"Don't lie. You were shaking earlier, and your cheeks are still red."

"...And whose fault is that?"

Her face had betrayed her.

A rare lapse.

And yet, she hadn't fully changed him.

There was still a long road ahead...

"Fufu."

"...Did I do something funny?"

He had acknowledged her.

She truly existed within him now.

Unlike before, when nothing had reflected in his eyes, now they held her image.

He had to be aware of her now.

The idea that he still felt nothing was impossible.

"The day I make you mine might be closer than I thought."

Whispered softly into the cold air, these words went unheard by him.

"Let's head back. The snow's getting heavier."

"Once we're back, let's take a bath. I'd love to soak for a while."

He nodded and offered his hand.

Taking it, they began walking back together.

"Arisu."

His gentle voice, heard from beside her, was her favorite sound—calm and comforting.

"Thank you."

She didn't ask what he was thanking her for.

That would've spoiled the moment.

She would hear it again—on the day he truly changed.

The End.

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