"Kushida, what are you doing here? And… what did you mean by what you just said?"
Horikita's voice was flat and emotionless as she posed the question.
She had naturally stepped inside Amane's room.
All Amane could do was shrug. Well, one person was already inside anyway.
It wasn't like she could just shut the door on Horikita.
What puzzled her, though, was this: While Horikita tended to be a bit solitary, she wasn't the type to lose her temper easily.
And Kushida was usually such a gentle girl.
So why did it feel like sparks were flying the moment these two laid eyes on each other?
"My water heater broke down too, so I came to ask Amane-san for help. What a coincidence, don't you think? It's almost like fate brought us both here. Otherwise, how could both our water heaters break at the same time? Don't you agree, Horikita-san?"
Kushida's tone sounded a little forced, even artificial.
Amane noticed something off about her.
It was as if Kushida had become a different person entirely.
But the moment Kushida's sidelong glance caught Amane looking, her expression instantly softened back into that familiar, gentle warmth.
Still, Amane's guard was up.
She knew what she'd seen wasn't just her imagination. Kushida had definitely shown hostility toward Horikita.
"I agree it's a coincidence, but I wouldn't call it fate. More importantly, why are you wearing that?"
Horikita's gaze was sharp as she eyed the clothes Kushida had on.
"Oh, this? Amane-san lent it to me to wear for a while," Kushida said, deliberately smoothing out a wrinkle in the fabric.
She straightened her posture and lifted her chin, looking for all the world like a proud goose staring down a rival.
"I see…"
If Amane had lent it to her, then Horikita really had no grounds to object. Seeing how hostile Kushida was being, Horikita decided not to engage further.
"Amane, I'm going to use your shower."
With that, she started toward the bathroom.
Just then, Kushida's voice cut in from behind.
"I know you and Amane-san are close, Horikita-san, but here, you're still a guest. Isn't it a bit rude to just help yourself without waiting for her permission?"
Kushida had dropped all pretense.
Horikita frowned. Kushida was undoubtedly the trickiest type—the kind who attacks you under the guise of reason.
And the worst part was, it was hard to argue back.
It was true—she had been so eager to put distance between herself and Kushida that she'd moved to use the bathroom without waiting for Amane's explicit okay.
"It's fine. Suzune can use it anytime she wants."
Amane spoke up, coming to Horikita's defense.
Suzune…
Hearing Amane unconsciously call her by that name, the corner of Horikita's mouth lifted ever so slightly.
It pleased her that Amane didn't resist using her given name.
But to Kushida, that slight smile felt like a deliberate provocation.
Using her closeness with Amane to get backup?
Well, if that's how it was…then she had no reason to hold back.
"Amane-san, I just remembered I need to go grab something from my room. I'll be back in a bit."
"Sure, Kikyo-chan, go ahead."
Most likely, Kushida just couldn't stand being around Horikita and was making an excuse to leave.
But her clothes were still here—it wasn't like she could just abandon them in Amane's room and come back for them after Horikita left, right?
Seeing that the situation was still within manageable bounds, Amane decided not to meddle.
Horikita was her friend.
Kushida was her friend, too.
She wanted to maintain both friendships.
But that didn't mean her two friends had to get along. Everyone had their own way of living and preferences in friends—who was she to force them to change for someone else?
Besides, Amane suspected this tension stemmed from that time Horikita had openly rejected Kushida, leaving her embarrassed and resentful.
That would explain why Kushida was being a bit harder on Horikita now.
As for Horikita, well, that was just her personality.
She had no intention of making friends in the first place.
And even if she did, someone like Kushida probably wouldn't be her type.
Amane knew Horikita didn't like people who were overly social with everyone.
Maybe it was because Horikita herself wasn't very good at socializing.
Before long, Kushida returned, holding a box of Pocky chocolate sticks.
"I saw you and Horikita-san playing that Pocky game before, Amane-san, and I got curious. Would you like to try it with me?"
Kushida's voice was just a little too loud—probably intentional, so Horikita would hear.
Amane felt a cold sweat forming on her forehead.
Kushida might not know just how strong Horikita could be when provoked.
If she really made Horikita angry, things could get physical. Sure enough, the sound of running water from the bathroom stopped.
Horikita Suzune emerged, her expression icy.
The scent of lavender drifted from her, even from a distance—it seemed she still preferred the lavender-scented body wash Amane had recommended.
"That Pocky game with Amane caused quite a stir, didn't it?"
To Amane's surprise, Horikita came over and sat down at the table as well.
And so, three girls sat…
Two of them locked in a silent battle, while the third was already thinking about how to handle the aftermath if a fight broke out.
But Amane still couldn't understand—was all this tension really necessary?
"That's right. Because of that, someone even started avoiding me."
Amane shot a meaningful glance toward "someone."
Kushida covered her mouth lightly and giggled.
"How could a good friend ever distance themselves from their 'one and only' friend over something like that? You must be overthinking it, Amane-san. Right, Horikita-san?"
The thinly veiled sarcasm in Kushida's words made Horikita clench her fists.
But she wasn't wrong.
Most people wouldn't have made such a foolish decision like Horikita had.
What could she even say in her defense? Even she herself thought it was stupid—who was she to stop others from saying so?
Seeing Horikita lost for words, Amane wanted to help, but didn't know how.
"I guess it's my fault too. If I hadn't played that kind of game with Suzune in such a public place, then…"
But Amane's explanation wasn't enough to defend Horikita.
Sure, Amane had made a mistake in judgment, but from an outsider's perspective, Horikita's choice had looked like she was trying to distance herself from Amane to avoid gossip.
An act of abandoning a friend.
Many girls in Class D felt indignant on Amane's behalf.
Even Karuizawa had said in private that Horikita's way of handling it was the worst possible.
"You may have made a mistake, Amane-san, but what happened afterward… You never want to be pushed away by your best friend, do you?"
Kushida's cutting remark was the last straw for Horikita.
"Amane, step outside for a moment. I need to talk with Kushida-san."
Horikita Suzune stood up, her face an unreadable mask as she stared at Kushida Kikyo.
"But…"
"I'd also like to speak with Horikita-san again. Would you mind giving us some space, Amane-san?"
"But…"
"Go outside."
"Don't worry, there's no need to be concerned for me. I don't think Horikita-san would ever hurt me."
And just like that, Amane was pushed out of her own room.
"But… this is my dorm room!!!"
Amane sighed helplessly at the closed door.
--+--
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.