What awaited me when I returned to the classroom as if nothing had happened was Horikita-san, with whom I had a falling out this morning. She was studying for a test in her usual seat diagonally in front of me, but when I opened the door, our eyes met dramatically. We stared at each other.
"Tsugumi, you're blocking the way."
"Oh, right."
I must have been standing still at the door, because Ayanokoji-kun protested softly. I reluctantly entered the classroom, but I wasn't confident that I was walking properly. All the while, Horikita-san would look at me and then look away, repeating the process. It was a rather cute sight, but given the circumstances, I didn't have the luxury of thinking that.
"Good morning, Horikita-san."
"..."
I sat down and greeted her as usual, but she didn't reply at all. She would always reply, even if it was in a bothered way... I sat down with a bitter smile, and the smartphone in my pocket vibrated.
'Are you two still fighting?'
The notification was from Kiyotaka Ayanokoji. Oh, he thinks the fight from yesterday is still going on. This is convenient.
'Horikita-san doesn't really read chats, so I thought I'd apologize to her face-to-face.'
I vaguely replied to him. To explain the whole truth, I would have to talk about Horikita-san's personal business, which I didn't want to do.
"Everyone, take your seats. Homeroom is about to begin."
Just in time, Chabashira-sensei entered the classroom with her attendance book... I guess I have no choice. I'll talk to her after homeroom.
"Sorry, Ayanokoji-kun. I'm going to eat with Horikita-san today, so could you eat with someone else?"
"...I don't have anyone else to eat with."
After the morning classes were over, it was lunchtime. In order to have lunch with Horikita-san, I steeled myself and pushed Ayanokoji-kun away. The one who called back a visibly dejected Ayanokoji-kun, who was about to go back to his seat alone, was, surprisingly, Horikita-san herself.
"It's fine. It's okay if Ayanokoji-kun joins us."
"Really! Thank you, Horikita!"
At Horikita-san's words, Ayanokoji-kun happily grabbed her hand and shook it up and down. Seeing him become so emotional compared to the first day of school, it made me happy to be his friend.
And so, the three of us put the lunches we had prepared on our desks. I think this is the first time the three of us have sat at a desk and eaten together.
"Horikita-san, about yesterday..."
"Please forget about yesterday. And today too."
"...Okay."
The one who answered my words was Horikita-san, who closed her eyes and let out a small breath. When she interrupts a conversation like this, it usually means she's in a bad mood, but seeing her faintly flushed cheeks, it was obvious that it meant something else.
"Okay, I understand, Horikita-san. I'll be in your care again?"
"...Yes, but first, Ayanokoji-kun. Could I ask you for a favor?"
I don't know how she interpreted the meaning of "again," but I'm pretty sure my intention was conveyed. And the topic of conversation shifted to Ayanokoji-kun, who was silently eating his meal in an attempt not to get involved in any trouble. He's a rather interesting man whose motto is to avoid trouble, but he prioritizes friendship and gets dragged into it anyway. Even now, his shoulders were twitching when Horikita-san spoke to him. He should relax since I'm here and nothing too bad will happen.
"...What is it?"
"I want you to gather everyone who fell apart yesterday. Please do it by the end of school."
"Isn't that a little too difficult?"
Something happened that was far worse than usual. It's an unreasonable request to gather everyone again after what happened yesterday. I had to put my foot down.
"That's what he said. I'm going to have to decline and follow Tsugumi's judgment."
"What do you think will happen if the rumor that Tsugumi-kun is a 'womanizer' gets out, and people find out that he 'brought two girls into his room'?"
"Ayanokoji-kun can handle it. I believe in you."
"...Hey."
Give me a break. If the beautiful Horikita-san were to spread rumors that I had forced her into my room, I'm confident I would die. My seniors would abandon me, and my allowance would go to zero. I don't want that. I'm sorry, Ayanokoji-kun.
"I'll hate you, Tsugumi..."
"Oh, Ayanokoji-kun, you can't even listen to a friend's request? Shouldn't you add 'callous' to your motto of avoiding trouble?"
That's right, a friend's request... Wait.
"Friend?"
Ayanokoji-kun must have thought the same thing. Our voices overlapped.
"...What is it? I was just saying it because I felt sorry for Ayanokoji-kun, who was so focused on having 'friends.' It doesn't have any deeper meaning."
She didn't deny it... I see.
"That's right. If it's a friend, I have no choice."
Ayanokoji-kun nodded in agreement and spoke as if he was convinced, but the corners of his mouth were turned up, and I could read his mind like a book.
"...If you have a complaint, say it. I'll make sure your mouth never opens again."
"I have nothing to say. Thank you for the meal."
Perhaps displeased with our attitude, Horikita-san pulled out a compass from somewhere and glared at us. Ayanokoji-kun, who is constantly subjected to her violence, sensed the danger and finished his meal at lightning speed. He headed towards Kushida-san's desk, who had also finished her meal and returned to the classroom.
"Sigh... You get carried away so easily."
"Is it okay? You're not going to stop him? He's trying to get Kushida-san's help."
Considering Horikita-san's attitude and the true nature of Kushida-san I heard about today, these two are definitely a bad match. It wouldn't be an exaggeration to say that they're like cats and dogs. For Horikita-san, who has always refused Kushida-san's help, Ayanokoji-kun's plan to use Kushida-san must be displeasing.
"I told you to forget about it, but you don't have to play dumb when we're alone. You definitely said it, didn't you, 'I'll help you get to A-class as much as you need'?"
"I did."
"If I only let you help me and don't give it my all, it would be disloyal. To get to A-class, Kushida-san's cooperation is essential. To refuse that out of my personal feelings is just being selfish, that's all."
It's a matter of course, but I wonder how much conflict she went through to come to this conclusion. Horikita-san has certainly shown great growth since that night.
"Well, I'm going to go to Kushida-san now. I've already decided what I want you to do, so I'll contact you later."
Saying that, Horikita-san turned her back to me and headed toward Kushida-san. Perhaps because she was doing something she wasn't used to, her face showed tension.
"Horikita-san."
"...What is it?"
Horikita-san, who was caught off guard, turned to me with a displeased look. I pinched her stiff cheek and squished it as I had before. Gently, so as not to leave a mark.
"You're too tense. You'll definitely do great, Horikita-san, so relax and go."
"..."
In addition to pinching it, I gently stroked her smooth skin in a circular motion with my palm. Horikita-san accepted it in silence. Just as I was about to take my hand away, thinking that she was about to retaliate, she did something that was completely unexpected.
"...Huh?"
"Your hand is surprisingly bony, Saito-kun."
She grabbed my wrist and intertwined her fingers with mine with her other hand. It's what's commonly known as the lovers' grip. I've held hands like this a hundred times in my life, but when it's done so suddenly, it makes my heart skip a beat.
Horikita-san continued to knead my palm. We were at the edge of the classroom, so it was still okay, but if we continued like this, I didn't know when someone would see us.
"...Horikita-san?"
"Oh, I'm sorry. It was my 'first time,' after all."
...What's with that loaded way of saying it? I always used to tease her, but now I feel like I'm on the receiving end.
"Well, I'm really going now. Thank you, Saito-kun."
...I see. It seems that the natural people-pleaser, who was wrapped in a shell of pride, is slowly starting to show. Maybe Horikita-san has the potential to become a femme fatale.
"This is... even her brother probably didn't see this coming."
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By the way, it seems that he successfully gathered the members. Although it was a bit awkward, he also apologized to Kushida-san and Sudou-kun, and I'm happy to see her grow into such a meticulous person.
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