Volume 1 Chapter 4 Part2 (1/2)
It was after school All the students went off on their own fun after-school life as they talked about where to go I looked at Kushi+da and signaled that I was starting the plan
Horikita, the target, had started her usual routine of getting ready to go home
”Hey, Horikita Are you free right now?”
”I don't have any tio back to the dorms and prepare for tomorrow”
Prepare for tomorrow? I'm pretty sure she only has school to prepare for…
”I want you to go soh”
”… What are you trying to do?”
”Do you think I'oal in mind?”
”If you invite out of the blue, it's natural that I would doubt you However, if there's so concrete you need to talk about, I wouldn't ”
Of course, there's no such thing
”You kno there's a cafe on cae to go inexcluded”
”Certainly the proportion of girls is high, but can't boys go in too?”
”Yea, but no boy goes in alone They always go in with other girls Only those kind of boys go to the cafe”
Horikita tried to recall information about Pallet as she pondered over it
”That does sound correct It's unusual for Ayanokouji-kun to have a reasonable opinion”
”But I'ht I would to invite you to come with me”
”Naturally, since… you have no one else to invite, right?”
”That's a rude way to put it, but yea”
”And if I refused?”
”Then that's that I have no choice but to give up I can't force you to give up your private time, after all”
”… Understood What you said seeh Is that fine?”
”Yea I won't be there long”
I added ”probably” in my mind If she knew that Kushi+da was involved, Horikita would probably reproach me
Because I can talk to Kushi+da and was able to invite Horikita, I started to think that I probably could've become friends with Horikita by myself
After all, whether it was the club for or the cafe, Horikita ithall the ti I find it hard to make friends
After leaving together, we finally arrived at the cafe, Pallet, on the first floor of the school building
Girls started gathering one by one to have fun after school
”Looks very crowded”
”Is this your first tiht You're always alone”
”Was that meant to be sarcasm? Childish”
It was only a joke, but as usual, Horikita verbally insulted me
After ordering, we got our drinks I ordered pancakes
”Do you like sweet foods?”
”I just wanted to eat pancakes”
I didn't particularly like or dislike them, but I just made up a plausible reason
”There aren't any seats…”
”I guess we'll have to wait a bit Oh, nevermind, there are seats over there”
Having noticed two girls get up from their seats, I quickly secured the table I let Horikita pass to the far side of the table Putting round, I sat down and looked around casually
”Hey, I just realized If someone looked at us from afar, ould look like a couple… not”
Horikita's face was expressionless and frigid like always Feeling nervous fros, my stomach started to hurt
I overheard the two girls next to us say ”Let's go” while holding drinks in their hands
And iht down It was Kushi+da
”Ah, Horikita-san What a coincidence! Ayanokouji-kun too!”
”… Yea”
Pretending that we reeted us Horikita looked at Kushi+da with narrowed eyes, then turned towe had planned out earlier We reserved two tables with four of Kushi+da's friends, and then when Horikita and I arrived at Pallet, I signaled them to make spots for the two of us After a while, the other tould leave so that Kushi+da could come by
As a result, ourlooked like a coincidence
”Did Ayanokouji-kun and Horikita-san come with each other?”
”By chance, yea Did you come alone?”
”Yea, today I——”
”I' home”
”O-oi, we just got here”
”You don't need ht?”
”No, you're not a problem Kushi+da and I are only classmates, after all”
”You and I are also only 'classmates' In addition…”
She looked at me and Kushi+da with a cold look
”I don't like this What are you planning?”
Looks like she saw through our plan
”N-no, it's only a coincidence!”