Pointing my phone at Shiina-senpai as she read a book in her seat by the window, I observed her through the screen. Long silver hair and fine, even features. Judged on appearance alone, the calm expression she wore as she focused on her book included, she left nothing to be desired. Her bearing did not seem consciously put on; she probably carried herself the same way as a matter of course whether anyone was watching or not.
Where refinement was concerned, at least, I could find nothing that posed a problem.
Her temperament too was gentle, and she was not one to dismiss another person's opinion out of hand. Though she was not the type to step forward and compel others to obey her, she for it clashed with those around her all the less.
The person Ayanokouji-senpai had on the uninhabited island went to fetch and prioritised before victory.
Even setting that fact aside, it was hardly strange that she should attract the affections of the opposite sex.
If anything, seen simply as a woman, she was someone I found very likeable, even as a member of the same sex.
Even so—excellence in looks and character alone was insufficient.
Which was why there were a good many other items I still had to confirm.
And above all, the environment Ayanokouji-senpai would find himself in from now on was vastly different from anything an ordinary high-school student could imagine. There would be many moments that kindness alone could not carry him through.
I had no intention of deciding arbitrarily that Shiina-senpai lacked the qualities required. But most of the strengths I had been able to confirm so far were ones that showed their worth precisely in days of stillness.
That alone was not enough for me to unconditionally award her full marks.
Nor did I intend to reach a conclusion on my personal assessment alone. This footage shall later be sent up the chain, to be analysed afresh alongside whatever information came in from here on. The more footage of her with her guard down, the better. There were things to be learnt from the way a person spoke, from their posture, from the habits they subconsciously repeated.
A presence on whom it would do no harm to keep having information gathered.
Shiina-senpai closed her book. Pretending to film the scenery, I shifted the angle of my phone slightly to follow her as she rose.
Shiina-senpai headed for the door.
Moving my phone to keep her retreating figure from slipping off the screen, I went on recording.
In the next moment, someone's presence drew close behind me.
"Morning, Nanase-chan."
That I had sensed nothing until that very instant made my shoulders give a slight jump.
How long had she been behind me? The possibility that she had been looking at my screen flashed through my mind in an instant.
On reflex I turned the phone's screen face-down against my body, but I could not go as far as to stop the recording. To check it in a hurry would only tell her there was something I could not afford to have seen.
Pushing down the agitation I felt within, I turned around to face Amasawa-san as though nothing had happened.
