(20:20) [Can you spare some time for me tomorrow?]
(20:20) [Ayanokouji-kun!]
(20:21) [Sure, what time?]
(20:21) [Right after the study session.]
(20:21) [Is it alright if you come to my room?]
(20:21) [I want to talk to you about something.]
(20:21) [Oh, sure.]
(20:21) [It's something important, isn't it?]
(20:22) [Yeah... and private too.]
(20:22) [Alright, let's head home together tomorrow.]
(20:22) [Okay.]
(20:23) [Thanks, Kushida.]
(20:23) [No problem! o(^▽^)o]
If anyone were to read such a friendly conversation, they wouldn't be able to guess that it's actually the prelude to a potential war.
"Ayanokouji-kun!"
Kushida called out and waved at me as soon as I entered the classroom.
"Good morning," I replied.
Kushida went up to me and whisperingly said.
"About later... It'll be about the girl you like, am I right?" she teasingly asked.
"I... can't say anything right now— too many people," I replied.
"Hmm~? That's suspicious, Ayanokouji-kun," she smiled sweetly.
"Hey! What are you two talking about?" yelled Ike.
He and Yamauchi walked towards the two of us with huge grins. And with that, I left Kushida to the two of them. Ike will surely scold me about getting in his way to Kushida's heart, or something. Of course, Kushida happily kept them company, even if she abhorred them deep inside.
It feels weird knowing Kushida's true— Hmm... Now that I think about it, which even is Kushida's true self...? Well, 'point stands that she hates some of our classmates to the core. She might even hate me, too.
"Good morning... Ayanokouji-kun."
Horikita greeted me with a rather soft tone. It was quite the difference compared to her usual stern way of speaking. Horikita's current demeanor reminded me of the time when she was talking with her brother.
"Good morning, Horikita," I replied.
I hung my bag and sat comfortably.
"Is there really nothing I can do to help?" asked Horikita.
"Yes, I got it covered."
"I see..."
She looked pretty upset. Well, after Horikita Manabu berated her about not making any contributions to the class's betterment, I can't really blame Horikita's insistence on helping.
"Horikita, the best thing you can do to help me right now is to focus on what you're supposed to do," I said.
"I am. My study group has been functioning well and—"
"Are you friends with any of your tutees yet?" I asked, interrupting her.
"Friends? Why are you asking that?" Horikita's eyes narrowed.
"Oh, you're right. Sorry, that's none of my business. Let me rephrase the question. Are you at least on friendly terms with them?"
"I can't say..." Horikita pondered my question.
"What I meant by that is; are you at least criticizing them in a way that you won't hurt their feelings? After all, you're a very frank person, Horikita. You didn't hesitate to criticize me harshly back in April," I said jokingly.
"That's true... But those four... They're good students, in my opinion."
"Oh? Tell me about them."
"Hmm... Inogashira-san is having a hard time with the lessons in general, but she works hard to try and understand them. Okitani-kun is only a bit below average across the board, so he's not that hard to teach. Mori-san and Satou-san act carefree most of the time but they are fairly capable when they put their minds to it," she narrated.
"I see, that's great then. Unlike what you've said before regarding students who don't do well in their studies, at least you don't look at them as dead weight anymore," I commented.
"I guess I was a bit short-sighted before." Horikita turned away, returning to her cool, composed self.
She doesn't really need to become friends with anyone nor does she want to, given her personality. She can even look at them as pawns if she wants. But of course, Horikita understands that cooperation between classmates plays a big part in success in this school. That's a good starting point. It would only do more harm if I tried to push any of my fake ideals about making friends on her.
When our conversation ended, I got up from my seat to hang out with Ken and Akito.
A little while later, Inogashira and Kushida approached Horikita so I decided to take a peek. I couldn't hear what they were saying, but the gist of their conversation was pretty easy to get. Most likely; she wanted to ask Horikita something— probably about the study session. But Inogashira needed Kushida's company because she was either shy or intimidated by Horikita.
In the end, it seems like things worked out nicely. Horikita looked in my direction, probably sensing my gaze. I gave her a thumbs-up, but she replied with a glare before turning away. How cruel, I thought we were friends.
When the bell rang, classes went on as normally as they could. The Ayanokouji Group unanimously agreed to use the library for today. Akito and Haruka were doing well. Airi was slowly catching up to them. And finally, Ken reached the first-year high school level. Even if they were only about the most basic of fundamentals, I still consider it great progress. He won't have too many problems with learning the next-level stuff when we get there.
If I were to estimate their potential scores on the exam, Akito and Haruka would come out on top scoring at least 70 on their weak subjects and 80 or higher on their strong subjects. Airi would probably score at least 60 points for most subjects and Ken will surely hit the 50-point mark given his progress.
"Woah, I understand it so much better now! I love you, Kiyopon!" Haruka celebrated softly.
"Ehhh-?!" gasped Airi.
"Don't take her seriously, Airi. She's just being too casual with her thank you's." Akito said, clearing up a misunderstanding before it could form.
"O-Oh... So it was a friendly type of 'I love you'. I see!" she nodded.
"Boys do that a lot, but it still feels weird when a girl says it..." said Ken.
"Do you respond with an 'I love you too'?" I asked.
"Pfft-!" Haruka covered her mouth in laughter.
"Wow, that's some big-time loner question right there..." commented Ken.
"Get off me, Ken." I bit back with a deadpan face.
"I mean, you usually don't. But I guess you can for the sake of the joke," Akito replied while shrugging his shoulders.
"Oh, I see. Sorry for that weird question. I really just didn't know," I nodded.
"We know. But it's fine, dude. There's a first for everything," said Akito.
"Then, I love you too, Haruka... I guess." I tried to reply for the sake of the joke, just as Akito instructed.
The four of them stopped moving and looked at me. Akito and Ken had faces of pure shock while Airi was vehemently confused. Haruka, on the other hand...
"W-W-W-Wha—" Haruka's brain pretty much broke. Her face was red, too.
They misunderstood me again... Wait, no, it's different. I'm pretty sure that it's the fault of my dull tone again.
"I thought I could reply like that for the sake of the joke. My delivery ruined it again, huh?" I commented.
"Dang... You really just did that, didn't you?" Akito shook his head.
"It's really is your damn tone, idiot." Ken snapped at me.
I see. Maybe I should've smiled, but they would probably find that weirder. Hmm... Jokes really are tricky.
After analyzing the situation carefully, I can conclude one thing: I have made Haruka more conscious of me, albeit unintentionally. Since I sounded serious, Haruka couldn't help but get flustered even if she knew that it was meant to be a joke.
"Well, sorry about that, Haruka," I apologized.
"N-No, no... It's fine. I knew it was a joke, anyway... Yeah... A joke... Ahaha..." Haruka started talking weirdly, but as long as she understood, I guess.
Our study session continued with a slightly awkward atmosphere, and it was entirely my fault. Even after the air got cleared up by Ken's dumb antics, I could sense Haruka sneaking glances at me.
We finished up on time and left the library. When I saw my friends off, I went back to Class 1-B's room to pick Kushida up.
"Ayanokouji-kun! Let's go?" Kushida caught my arm.
"A-Ayanokouji?! What's this about?!" Yamauchi and Ike had exaggerated shocked reactions. Well, compared to the other girls who had the same reactions, theirs were pretty exaggerated.
"Oh, Ayanokouji-kun and I promised to head back together." Kushida was the one who replied. "We'll see you tomorrow, Sana-chan, Shinohara-san, and Makida-kun! Ike-kun and Yamauchi-kun too!"
Kushida also took the time to give everyone inside the room a lively farewell. Of course, I did the same, even if it was the furthest thing from "lively". Hirata reassured us saying that he'll take care of closing up. What a great guy. Meanwhile, Ike and Yamauchi looked like they were about to cry.
And with that, Kushida and I left the building together. There's no turning back now, huh? If things don't go as planned, I might as well become the person Kushida hates the most.