"Wanna be friends? That's a pretty sudden request, if you ask me." Horikita took a small sip of her coffee, then she looked at Kushida.
Kushida's eyes were filled with nothing but sincerity, but the more she looked like that, the more Horikita felt that something was off.
Nothing ventured, nothing gained? More like, unwarranted kindness is never without motive.
If Kushida said she hadn't come here with some sort of agenda…
Horikita wouldn't believe it even if you beat her to death.
"You're right… it is a bit sudden, isn't it? But I truly do want to be friends with you, Horikita-san. I hope you'll give me this chance."
Kushida took hold of Horikita's hand.
"I'm sorry, but I've given it some thought, and I don't really have any plans to make friends right now." Horikita deftly pulled her hand back.
'I'll have to wash this when I get back.'
'Otherwise, Amane will get all sulky again.'
"But why don't you want to make friends, Horikita-san?" Kushida was a little curious about Horikita's approach to socializing.
In a closed boarding school environment.
If you didn't make friends…
It was practically like isolating yourself completely.
If you didn't have a few friends or join a group right at the start of the term.
It would become very difficult to integrate into the class's social activities later on.
"Perhaps it's just that I prefer quiet," Horikita replied flatly.
In any other situation, this line would have been the ultimate dismissal for a fool who recklessly tried to befriend her.
But now, due to certain circumstances, Kushida just smiled and pointed at Amane.
"I don't really think Amane-san and 'quiet'..."
The words 'Amane' and 'quiet'…
Well, let's just say they weren't even remotely connected.
She was noisier than a cicada in summer.
Always 'Suzune, Suzune' this and 'Suzune, Suzune' that.
It was almost enough to drive her crazy.
Every time she thought about giving her a good thrashing, the moment she saw that goofy grin, Horikita just couldn't stay angry.
Who could hold a grudge against an idiot?
As time went on, it seemed…she'd gotten used to it.
If there were ever a day without Amane's noise, she might even feel a little unaccustomed to it.
"She's an exception."
"Then can't I be the second, or the third, exception?"
"No." Horikita's refusal was swift and decisive.
The smile on Kushida's face gradually faded.
Horikita tilted her head, watching as Amane chatted happily with the girl across from her. Not only was she gesturing animatedly, but she occasionally made the girl cover her mouth with a light laugh.
'This girl.'
'Did she pour all her talent points into that big mouth of hers?'
While chatting with Shiina, Amane was also secretly observing the situation with Horikita.
Seeing that the two of them had reached an awkward standstill, she picked up her empty parfait glass and came over to Horikita's side.
"Suzune~"
"Take it away."
"You got it." Amane promptly scooped up the parfait that Kushida had ordered for Horikita.
'Could she really eat two of those?' Kushida looked at Amane with some concern.
It wasn't about the points.
But a portion this big…was enough to fill up a grown man.
For high schoolers, it was usually a shareable portion for a couple.
Would Amane be okay eating all that?
Watching as Amane started digging in with big mouthfuls, Kushida could only shake her head in disbelief.
'Dating Amane-san would probably be really expensive, wouldn't it?'
"Suzune, wanna share?"
"No." Horikita shot a glare at Amane.
'Just hurry up and eat it.'
'Why cause so much trouble?'
"Let's share! Otherwise, it's just me eating while you two watch. It's kinda embarrassing, you know?"
As she spoke, Amane picked up a chocolate Pocky stick from the parfait.
She put one end in her mouth and held the other end out towards Horikita.
"Amane, you—what are you doing? You don't expect me to…" A horrid premonition dawned on Horikita.
"This is the Pocky Game, right? Is Amane-san going to play it with Horikita-san?" Kushida's face instantly flushed red.
Because Kushida's surprised exclamation was a bit too loud, the entire café's attention focused on them.
People are naturally curious.
If it were a couple playing this game, most would just glance over, maybe mutter 'damn show-offs, go die,' and move on.
But if two girls were playing, it would attract a whole crowd of onlookers.
As for the reason?
Do we even need to say it?
Seeing more and more people gathering around, with some even starting to take pictures, Horikita's first instinct was to run.
But she was held in place by Kushida.
"Horikita-san, you can't run away now." Seeing the utterly serious look on Kushida's face, Horikita was baffled.
"I never agreed to play this stupid food game with this idiot in public!"
Being the center of attention for an intimate act…
Wasn't that something only a social terrorist could handle?
She was just social anxiety incarnate, a total newbie. How could she possibly do it?
"But if you run away, what will happen to Amane-san? If she gets no response, she'll definitely be laughed at, won't she?"
Kushida's words made Horikita sit back down.
She knew Kushida was right.
If Amane had decided to play this game, she must have been sure Horikita would play along.
If Horikita left…this girl…would probably be hurt, right?
'What an annoying creature.'
Crunch.
As if in a fit of pique, Horikita bit off a huge chunk right from the start.
This elicited a wave of camera flashes from the crowd.
Amane flashed a triumphant smile.
She took a tiny bite.
Horikita shot a glare at Amane.
'Even in a game like this, she's pulling tricks.'
Horikita copied Amane, taking a small bite herself.
Crunch.
Crunch.
The chocolate stick between them steadily shortened.
The onlookers' breathing was already growing rapid.
Soon, they would witness the thrilling scene.
Ahem, the exciting scene.
Crunch.
Amane took another small nibble.
The entire Pocky stick was now less than a fifth of its original length.
Horikita, her face red, took a bite.
They could already feel each other's breath.
Thump-thump.
Horikita felt her heart seemed to be racing.
She was starting to regret it.
'Should've just refused from the start.'
'Now I have to do… that… in front of everyone.'
'Ugh.'
'So annoying!'
'I'm gonna spank her butt red when we get back!'
Horikita thought with vicious determination.
The angry look in her eyes made Amane's heart leap into her throat.
'When we get back…'
'My butt isn't really going to get spanked red, is it?'
Amane thought with a twinge of fear.
Then she took another bite.
The distance between them had shrunk to the point where if Horikita took one more bite, their lips would meet.
Crunch.
After a moment's hesitation, Horikita bit forward. Their noses bumped into each other in the process.
Shiina Hiyori quietly picked up her phone.
The surrounding chatter died down completely.
Everyone silently raised their phones, ready to capture the upcoming, heart-pounding moment.
Amane moved.
Her soft lips, after making contact with the last tiny piece of the Pocky stick, also brushed against something else equally soft.
It was pliant.
But not as sweet as she'd imagined.
They always said a girl's lips were sweet.
Seemed like that was a lie.
'Hmm.'
'Probably has to do with Horikita drinking coffee, too.'
'Eh?'
'Horikita's face looks really red.'
'Better not tease her any further.'
Amane pulled away the instant they made contact.
Before Horikita could even fully process the sensation, Amane had already… well, figured her out.
Then, using her fingers, she gently lifted Horikita's chin, imitating the moves and tone she'd seen in manga.
"Suzune, you taste pretty good."
--+--
T/N: While I am an inexperienced Translator, I have a Patreon! While it may seem empty as of now, webnovel will get 3 Chapters Every Day, and advanced chapters will be uploaded on Patreon.
It may not seem worth it now, but maybe in the future. Who knows!
[email protected]/AspenTL
If you guys wanna check it out.