After convincing Koharu to stay in school, Tatsuya spent his after-school hours in the library's restricted archives. Haruka's request was to keep Koharu from dropping out, a goal already met, so he hadn't seen her in two days.
"Shiba-kun, you here?" Haruka called.
"…Hirakawa-senpai won't quit school," Tatsuya said, his tone dismissive.
Haruka fixed him with a pleading stare. "Can you help again?"
"No. I never agreed to begin with," Tatsuya said. "I'm not a counselor, and I'm not close to Hirakawa-senpai."
He'd struggled to soothe Miyuki's mood after the last ordeal and wasn't eager to risk her wrath again.
"But her sister asked too," Haruka said. "She looked frustrated but said, 'If it's Shiba-kun, he might convince her.'"
"No way," Tatsuya said. "Hirakawa-senpai stayed because of her sister, not just me."
"But her sister seemed to respect you," Haruka pressed.
Chiaki's actual bitter expression was conveniently omitted by Haruka, but Tatsuya saw through her lie.
"If you want me to keep persuading, you'll handle Miyuki's mood, right?" Tatsuya said. "Promise that, and I'll help."
"Handle her mood? How am I supposed to do that?" Haruka exclaimed.
"If you can't, I'm out," Tatsuya said. "Any more, and it's your job you're abandoning."
Dismissing her, Tatsuya resumed his research. Haruka lingered, scrambling for a plan.
"Just talk to her, then," Haruka said. "That's not too much, right? A chat with a senior won't upset your sister much."
"…Where's Hirakawa-senpai?" Tatsuya sighed.
"Counseling room. She wants to withdraw from the Thesis Competition."
Tatsuya knew Koharu's selection and lack of confidence but had avoided the topic during persuasion, believing it wasn't his place.
"Her sister's there too," Haruka added. "I'm bad with her, so you're on your own."
"More shirking?" Tatsuya muttered.
"Just a quick errand at the staff room!" Haruka said, hurrying off as they reached the counseling room.
"Excuse me," Tatsuya said, entering.
"Shiba-kun…" Koharu said.
"Koharu-san, you're withdrawing from the competition?" he asked.
"It's too much for me," she admitted.
"Not true!" Chiaki snapped. "You worked so hard!"
Chiaki's emotional pleas weren't working, and she knew it.
"I won't force you to stay in," Tatsuya said. "But consider if you'll regret quitting. Think it through."
"That's your persuasion?" Chiaki glared, her voice sharp.
Tatsuya didn't flinch, and Chiaki faltered under his steady gaze.
"I'm not here to persuade," Tatsuya said. "Just to talk to a senior."
"What's that supposed to mean?" Chiaki fumed. "I thought you could convince her!"
"What's the point if she doesn't want to?" Tatsuya countered. "Forcing her will only make her more anxious. Can you take responsibility for that, Chiaki?"
"I…" Chiaki hesitated.
"That's all I'll say," Tatsuya said. "Koharu-san, decide for yourself. It might just be temporary doubt. You have until preparations to choose. Whoever replaces you will understand, knowing your situation."
With that, Tatsuya left. Hesitant to return to the archives, he headed to the student council room for a rare visit.
"Onee-chan…" Chiaki said, watching Koharu worriedly.
Koharu's face was surprisingly bright.
"I thought Shiba-kun would push me to stay," Koharu said.
"It's such a big deal, though…" Chiaki said.
"But he said to prioritize my feelings," Koharu said. "He didn't force me—he left it to me."
Chiaki felt a surge of complex emotions. Tatsuya had done what she couldn't, guiding Koharu forward without pressure.
"I'll think it over," Koharu said. "Worst case, I'll withdraw, but I might help out."
"What's the presentation topic?" Chiaki asked.
"Ichihara-san's 'Technical Feasibility of Gravity Control Magic Thermonuclear Fusion Reactor,'" Koharu said.
"…No clue what that means," Chiaki said, stunned.
Koharu laughed. "It's over my head too. But Izumi-kun might manage."
"You'll be fine!" Chiaki insisted. "You were chosen!"
"I hope so…" Koharu said, looking away.
Chiaki's gaze softened with sadness. She couldn't persuade her sister or even nudge her forward.
(Shiba-kun got Onee-chan to look ahead so easily… He could've persuaded her but didn't…)
"Chiaki? You okay?" Koharu asked.
"Huh? Yeah, fine," Chiaki said, snapping back.
But her thoughts lingered. (Did he notice something during Kobayakawa-senpai's accident? He caught Miyuki's issue so fast… He must've known…)
Tatsuya's insight came from his own program and familiarity with Miyuki's gear, not universal perception. Chiaki, unaware, grew convinced he'd known.
(Maybe I should ask him…)
Chiaki considered consulting her recent online confidant. Days later, Koharu formally withdrew from the competition.
Note on Koharu's Arc: Koharu stays in school but steps back from the competition. Her increased role in the Disturbance Arc will bring more focus, with Chiaki's suspicions potentially stirring trouble for Tatsuya.
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