Even after I had finished dinner, there was no contact from Horikita. After finishing the last of my barley tea, once again I felt a slightly bothersome feeling.

"It can't be---is it really a dangerous situation?"

Getting caught up in an unexpected situation and having collapsed somewhere, that can't be it right? There's no mistaking that it at least isn't the usual Horikita-like reaction. I wonder if it's a possibility that her phone is simply out of order and that's why I can't contact her. But, if that's the case it would not be necessary to contact me for advice.

She would simply need to contact the school at a later date.If Horikita had a friend who would check up on her room at a time like this it would be a quick matter to resolve but...sadly I could not think of a single friend who would do that for her.

"Are you ok?".

Although that was a cliche line, I try to probe her situation like that.

"Oooo.....".

The read notification did not appear. Unlike a while ago, the situation where she had placed her phone had changed. Perhaps the battery of her phone had run out, or it had automatically turned itself off. Such a thing could also be considered possible but...what other possibilities could I think of. In the first place, her calling me in the first place is curious. What is the reason for that? In any case, the fact that she's not saying it straightforward is strange. Then, if I realistically think about it---The first possibility would be that while Horikita had business with me, she is currently caught up in another matter. For instance, she's been called by the teachers or she's currently being called by a classmate.

But that line is thin. In the middle of summer vacation, at furthermore at night, it's hard to imagine the school would call her out and I don't think there exists a friend that would contact Horikita. If so, the winning theory would be that she has something to talk to me about. Even though she had tried to call me, she became involved in some sort of accident and became unable to do so. Either that or she fell asleep or forgot and so forgot to call back. Something along the lines of that.

"It just doesn't fit".

Horikita is an honor student and she can handle herself. I can't imagine such a Horikita simply forgetting to reply. Even though I had tried to call her directly, it didn't connect, and I was forced to switch over to chat.

However even in that chat, she did not send a sentence in reply. For a period of time, read notifications did appear even though the fact that it's no longer the case now leads me to imagine that it is still operational.

"I'm worried.....".

Even if I stay here, the things I can do for her are limited but I'm worried about her too so I can't just leave her alone. For now, to let her know that I'm trying to contact her, I decided to call her again.

If I go this far, unless she's considerably busy or have not noticed my calls at all, she should answer. Again, I call Horikita's address.

As I did that, on the fourth call, at least I succeeded in making contact with the other side.

"Hello.....".

Horikita did not seem to be surprised but she seemed to have a slightly tired voice.

"Hey. Sorry for calling you so many times, but I got worried ever since I received your call. Were you sleeping?".

"That's not the case. Sorry for not replying".

I did not sense any sort of panic or any sense of an accident having occurred.

"Right now I'm a bit busy so if that's all you wanted to say can I cut the call now".

Once Horikita said that I could hear from the mouthpiece of her phone a metallic sound.

"What was that?".

"No. Nothing in particular. Goodbye".

It seems she didn't want to be investigated any further since she hurriedly ended the call. I am a bit worried but I did manage to make contact and the person herself is saying everything's fine. I decided to forget this for now and slowly spend my night.