Chapter 47 - 22. Friendship First (Part 3)

Asai-senpai seemed to be looking forward to having a junior, and she would lean forward and talk to me. Every time her cute face got closer, my heart started beating faster.Asai-senpai's cuteness is more like a mascot, and I imagine she's cheerful not only in club activities but also in class. And yet, she is kind to someone as polar opposite as me.I imagine that people who date Asai-senpai must have fun every day, and just as I was thinking that, she asked me a question."Now that I think about it, I've been thinking for a while... Sato-kun and Yamamoto-san seem to get along pretty well, how is that?"Good friends. How should I interpret those words?Yamamoto-san had only just told me that she wanted to be friends with me, so it would be wrong to deny it. However, if I were to say that we were already good friends, that would be extremely presumptuous.Just as I was hesitating, I heard a tense voice next to me."Well, we're in the same class, so we talk a lot... that's why I came here with him..."If she said that, I felt a little relieved, thinking that there were no hard feelings between them. I timidly wanted to know that she wasn't against being with me."I see... I see."Shiina-senpai was laughing a little, while Asai-senpai, the questioner, was thinking with his hand on his chin, saying, "You talk a lot, huh." I thought it was cute, but I still didn't understand the reason. Shiina-senpai was talking to us, ignoring Asai-senpai."Now that you mention it, don't you think it's about time for you two to go home?"I looked at the clock after he said that, but it wasn't yet time for the last students to go home."You know, Sato-kun especially, it's probably not good for you to stay out too late, so I wondered if you should go home with Yamamoto-san."It's certainly not good to stay out too late, but is that a reason to go home with Yamamoto-san? It's true that recently, she's often come to the club room alone, and I had two choices: call Yuki or go home alone.Yamamoto-san looked at me for a moment, unable to think clearly, then bowed deeply to Shiina-senpai."Well, well, I'll be off today..." Yamamoto-san stood up, her chair clattering. I guess it's best for me to go home too. Asai-senpai let out a "hmm" and seemed like she wanted to say something, but she couldn't be that forceful with Shiina-senpai, who was in a different year.Though I was a bit worried about Asai-senpai's slightly dissatisfied look, Yamamoto-san and I left the clubroom. After walking a little, she asked me again."...Sato-kun, can you come home with me...?"There was no reason to turn down such an invitation. I didn't know what to say, but I was really happy to hear it anyway.