COTE : Is Talent Everything? (Rewrite)

The rumor incident continues to linger unresolved as the end-of-term exams steadily approach.

One morning on my way to school, I spotted Ichinose, who had been absent lately. Surrounding her were her classmates, walking alongside her as if shielding her.

"...How pointless."

A farce. Empty gestures.

Those were the words that surfaced in my mind.

At a glance, it might look like a close-knit class. But to me, it seemed as if they were declaring, "We have to protect Ichinose Honami because she's absolute." I can't approve of Ichinose's methods. That kind of thing is just a game of pretend, relying entirely on her capacity for acceptance.

"Ah..."

While I was briefly observing Ichinose and the others, I heard a voice from behind. I wasn't sure if it was directed at me, but since there were no other students nearby, I turned around to find an unexpected person standing there.

"Senpai Tachibana... Did you need something?"

Tachibana Akane. She had been something like an assistant to the former student council president, Horikita Manabu. Did she have business with me?

"...Horikita-kun told me. During the mixed training camp, you... saved me. And our class."