School is the children's world.

The values of grownups don't apply.

Children decide their own values and create their own world.

So the rules of the grown-up world, of the village, don't mean anything here.

Even when the villagers badmouth the Houjou family and try to isolate them... that has no meaning at our school.

In the children's world, children decide the rules.

Rules they think are irrational don't exist here.

That's why,

as the representative for the children here, I vow that I will never let any irrational rules come into our world.

Within the school, no harassment is allowed towards the Houjou siblings.

In the very beginning, some boys teased Satoko,

but they were punished severely, and it hasn't happened ever since.

That's the least I can do to resist the madness of the village.

So I hope Satoshi and Satoko both feel that the school is a safe place for them.

Satoshi must notice my concern, because he often smiles when he's here.

However, I never see Satoko smile...

...Satoko's classmates used to try to cheer her up, but soon after, they decided that it was best to just leave her alone.

I used to try to talk to her...

but when I realized something, I stopped doing that.

I'm a member of the Sonozaki family.

To Satoko, I'm one of her enemies, so I'm sure she feels uncomfortable to have me around her.

All I can do is to watch over her.

That's why Satoko is alone in the classroom.

That said, Rika-chan is always hanging around with her, even though Satoko told her she was annoying. Satoshi, too, is always beside her.

These two are the only ones who remain by her side.

It isn't limited to Satoko, of course.

...The malicious isolation is still continuing towards the Houjou family.

Because their hysterical aunt is so hostile towards her neighbors, there's nobody who sympathizes with her.

...It's wise to know there are fights worth picking and also fights better set aside.

If the aunt had even a little tolerance or self control, this isolation wouldn't have continued.

Of course, the villagers were the ones who forced them into that role, even though they weren't related to the issue.

But if she had stayed quiet, then it wouldn't have gone so far.

The aunt's hostility is one thing, but she's dragging everyone in the family into it as well.

The uncle and the aunt haven't been getting along, and he hardly comes home.

Both Satoshi and Satoko are forced to live in shame.

The aunt vents her stress by harassing Satoko.

...This was the same too.

The aunt is her guardian, after all, but Satoko doesn't even try to hide her disgust, so things aren't going smoothly between them.

If she had behaved like Satoshi, then she wouldn't have been made into a target.

So does that mean the sad life Satoko is living right now is something she caused herself?

...No, it doesn't.

But no matter how much I sympathize and how much I want to help her,

nobody knows what to do.

An apology won't change the situation.

The flow can't be reversed.

The fact that the Houjou family is ostracized by the entire village can't be changed.

That's the horribleness lurking underneath our lives.

...The neighbors,

the village,

and the community.

Once they become your enemies, the world can become so cruel.

...Japanese people have known that since ancient times, which is why we cultivated empathy and an obligation to show courtesy to one's neighbors.

No matter who I blame, Satoko won't smile.

So the only thing I can do is to watch over her and make sure that she's safe when she's at school.

"...Thank you,

Mion."

"...Eh?

Ahahaha, sorry, what?"

"Mmph.

I just want to thank you for being so concerned about Satoko."

Satoshi kind of appears absent-minded, but sometimes he says things as if he can read your thoughts.

I tried to deny it since it's out of character for me, but he smiled as if he could tell exactly what I was thinking.

"Satoko's just forgotten how to smile.

...When she's at school... she can let go of a little tension for a while.

I'm sure she treasures that time."

"Ahahahahaha...

That's basically the only thing this ol' man can do for her..."

"...That's not true.

I really appreciate it."

"Stop that.

...You don't need to say that.

Besides, my family is the one who's causing all this grief."

"...I don't think that way.

I really don't."

...I'm not good at reading people's subtle cues, but I know for sure what he just said is a lie.

Satoshi knows that he and his family are being isolated because of the Sonozakis,

and he's, of course, aware that I am a member of the Sonozaki family too.

Satoshi is mature, and that's the only reason he doesn't take it out on me.

If he had the same temper as his aunt, he would hate me bitterly.

Knowing that, the least I can do is not get close to them.

....But I'm a meddlesome person, and when I see Satoko looking depressed or Satoshi forcing himself to smile, I have to do something.

...That might be even more troublesome to Satoshi and Satoko though.

"............Maybe...

I just don't understand Satoko's feelings."

"...Why?"

"My family is causing Satoko grief.

So for me, a member of that family, to hang around her...

Is that the right thing to do?"

"Sure.

That's you being you."

"What do you mean by that?

Are you saying I'm insensitive?"

"Hmm... I don't mean that.

...If this atmosphere itself is robbing Satoko of her smile...

then only someone who can completely ignore it can bring her smile back."

"...Th-This ol' man can't tell if you're trying to compliment him or not.

You're mean, ahahaha!"

"I'm not ridiculing you, really.

I just want you to help."

"...Eh?"

"...I can't make Satoko smile again by myself.

I need someone like you to help me."

"B-But...

I'm... Mion Sonozaki, you know?

If I do something insensitive, I might end up hurting Satoko even more..."

"Satoko is already lonely...

Are you going to leave her alone too?"

"........."

This is the first time Satoshi has asked me for something so aggressively.

Satoko is a very important person to him.

He's saying he needs my help to make her smile again.

But still...

No...

Maybe he's right.

What's going on between the Sonozaki family and the Houjou family is an issue among the grownups.

We children don't need to care about that.

The irrational rules of the grownups don't mean anything in our world.

...So I have to object to the irrationality of the grownup world using methods of my own.

"...Are you sure Satoko won't feel bothered by me?"

"She may, at first.

But I'll be with you.

I'll be with you, Mion.

So she'll open up right away."

"Y-You think so...?!

......Should we do something after school today?"

"If we go home first, our aunt might say something, and we might not be able to leave."

"Okay, then it's simple.

Don't go home first."

"But if we get home too late, she'll ask us what we were doing..."

"Hmmm... let's see... I know!

Why don't you join a club?"

"A club?"

"Yeah.

Tell her you are going to an after-school club. Tell her that you're doing something after school before going home.

There are plenty of people who go out after school before they go home.

That'll be no problem!!"

"Ah, but... if we mess up our clothes, our aunt will say..."

"Okay, then we'll do something indoors!

Then your clothes will stay clean."

"Indoors? Do you mean in the classroom?

But wouldn't Chie-sensei say something?"

"Heh heh heh!

It's possible to play passionately while not going wild indoors.

Contrary to my appearance, I love playing games!

I've collected some treasures from overseas too.

Some of the manuals are written in English and are a little complicated, while with some of them I need someone to play with, so a lot of them are just sitting in the storage room."

"Do you think Satoko can play those too?"

"Sure!!

Ahaha, if you don't know the rules, then you just make them up!

As long as everyone is following the same rules, it's totally okay!"

I said it so confidently, but would bringing games from home and asking Satoko to play with us actually make her smile again?

...What have I got to lose?

...Maybe I'll bring one of the board games tomorrow.

"Oh... also, Mion.

I have something else I want to ask you."

"What?

This ol' man is all ears!"

"I

am looking for a part-time job.

I thought if I could get her a nice birthday present, that might make her feel better."