"So... you made a deal with Kushida that I'd meet her at a café, and she wants to be friends with me. Is that it?" Horikita took a sip of her tea. She glanced at Amane, who was slumped over the table looking utterly defeated.
"Mhm." Amane's vacant eyes were fixed on Horikita's chest—ahem.
She was just staring blankly ahead, that's all.
"Amane, you should know I have no interest in these kinds of social activities. I have no intention of making friends."
Amane lifted her head slightly to look at Horikita. "You're an exception."
Just a single glance meeting Amane's eyes was all it took.
Horikita knew exactly what she was thinking.
"I just want you to make more friends soon, Suzune." Amane muttered under her breath.
"Still not going to tell me the truth?"
"Fine, I admit it! I was blinded by the parfait!" Amane pouted.
"Two parfaits. And you haggled for them," Horikita corrected.
Amane looked at her with a guilty conscience.
"So, what are you going to do…?" Amane had meant to ask what Horikita planned to do with her.
If Horikita decided to cut ties with her over this...
Not even a hundred parfaits could fix that.
"What can I do? I'll go with you. It's just listening to her talk about boring things, after all. You already promised her. I can't have you breaking your word." The moment Horikita finished speaking, Amane flung herself into her arms. "Suzune!!!!! I knew you were the best!"
"I really wish you'd grow up a little. Stop acting like a child."
Horikita ruffled Amane's hair.
"I'm not a child."
"Do you find your own argument convincing?"
Amane, having been shot a glare by Horikita, obediently nuzzled against her. Then, she remembered the thing that had nearly killed her earlier.
"But what about my photos? Suzune, you have to compensate me for my photos!" Amane suddenly found some courage.
"A sneak photographer demanding compensation so righteously? You certainly have some nerve." Horikita tapped the tip of Amane's nose.
"But those were all taken at great personal risk!" Amane actually had the audacity to sound justified.
Thinking about it carefully though...she might not have been exaggerating.
Like that time Amane convinced Horikita to help her wash her hair. Managing to take a crystal-clear, high-resolution photo in the steamy bathroom...
Wasn't that indeed a risky shot?
If Horikita had ever caught her just once...
She would have faced the danger of a premature demise.
Heck, she'd even captured a shot of Horikita fretting about her cup size in front of the mirror. It was only because it was Horikita that she got off with just having them deleted.
If it were anyone else, Amane would already be served on the dinner table—either as a side dish or the main course.
"'At great personal risk,' you say. As if I'm that terrifying."
Click.
Amane took a picture of Horikita's legs.
The next second.
Whoosh! Her phone was snatched away by Horikita.
Then, with a dashing spin kick—
Horikita sent Amane stumbling and scrambling all the way to the edge of the bed.
"Waaah!!! Suzune, you're so mean!!!" Amane's pointing finger was gently grasped by Horikita.
"Dame..."
Realizing what Horikita intended to do, Amane shook her head desperately.
"If you want it back, you'll behave from now on, understood?" Horikita's tone was gentle.
"Mhm, mhm, I'll be good."
Yeah, right. Hmph! She was just being... strategically compliant.
"Then let me see if you're really listening to me. Take your clothes off." Horikita's command made Amane's eyes go wide.
"Th-That's a bit inappropriate, isn't it?"
"Hmm?"
"I consider you my best friend, and you just crave my..."
"Hurry up."
Amane wanted to talk back, but in the end, she submitted and quickly stripped down to her underwear.
"Why are you taking everything off? Wait here for a moment." With that, Horikita actually left Amane standing there and went back to her own room, seemingly to fetch something.
A short while later.
Horikita returned with some clothes.
"Try these on."
Horikita seemed... excited?
Amane rubbed her head.
It must be her imagination.
Horikita's emotions rarely fluctuated.
Amane instinctively started putting the clothes on.
"Suzune, isn't this a bit... wrong..."
"Are you questioning me? Hurry up and put it on properly."
"Ugh, Suzune is even meaner now."
After putting the clothes on, Amane spun around twice. It was unexpectedly well-fitted. The black, form-fitting athletic-style blouse perfectly outlined the curves of Amane's figure.
Paired with the black athletic unitard and the white, pleated, wheel-folded skirt of the school uniform...
It perfectly complemented Miyako Amane's...
"Stop smiling. Don't smile, be serious."
"Urgh." Amane was forced to wipe the silly grin off her face.
She composed herself a little. Her purple eyes held a rare, serious expression.
Her whole demeanor seemed much cooler and more aloof.
Combined with this outfit...
She looked both dashing and feminine.
"Well? Do you like it?" Amane took Horikita's hand and gently kissed the back of it.
Then, she revealed a faint, soft smile.
"Amane... you can go back to being slightly normal now..." Horikita felt something was off about Amane.
She stared for a long while.
It was definitely the same person.
But without that silly smile...
She looked a little handsome, with a somewhat brooding aura. This version would probably charm a lot of girls, right?
Too bad.
Horikita wasn't buying it.
"I think I'm being perfectly normal. Or... would Suzune prefer me to be a little more 'abnormal'?" Amane wrapped her arms around Horikita's waist.
With a slight exertion of force, she pulled the two of them close together.
Amane pressed her forehead against Horikita's.
Then, she slowly leaned in closer.
She could feel it.
Horikita's breathing was becoming rapid.
What a cute reaction.
Could it be that Horikita's defenses are about to fall so easily?
What a fool.
Smack.
"Ah!"
Amane let out a sharp cry and covered her backside with both hands.
"Suzune! Why are you spanking me! I told you I'm not a child!" Amane put on a fierce front.
Sigh.
Horikita let out a long breath.
This version of Amane felt much more comfortable to her.
"Did you think I didn't know what you were scheming just now?" Horikita put a little distance between them.
Afraid this rascal would try to take advantage again.
But...
That focused expression Amane had worn moments ago...
Did make her heart flutter a little.
It was different from the worship and longing she felt for her brother.
Horikita knew very well—she had been moved. But there was no way Horikita would ever admit it.
Feeling a flutter in her heart because of an idiot girl?
What a joke.
She was Horikita Suzune!
Horikita adjusted her posture slightly. Once again, she became the Horikita Suzune brimming with confidence and pride.
"Are you satisfied with the clothes?"
"The clothes aren't bad. And it's not even tight in the front. Don't tell me you're giving these to me only after realizing you bought the wrong size?"
Amane glanced teasingly at Horikita's figure. Then, she wagged her index finger triumphantly.
It made Horikita want to kick her.
"Satisfied is good. That'll be twenty thousand points."
"Eh?! I have to pay for them?"
"What did you think? That I'd buy such expensive items for charity?"
"Is it too late to take them off now?"
"What do you think?" Horikita wore the expression of a cat that had successfully stolen a treat.
She had her right where she wanted her.
"How about... two thousand points per night, paid off over ten days in installments?" Amane showed a look that was both shy and expectant.
If she had a tail, it would probably be spinning like a runaway windmill.
Oh, young maiden.
Your calculations are a bit too transparent.
--+--
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.