"So... you made plans with Kushida-san for me to meet her at the cafe because she wants to be friends with me, is that right?"
Horikita took a sip of tea.
She glanced at Amane, who was sprawled on the table, looking utterly dejected, and asked.
"Mhm."
Amane stared blankly at Horikita's chest—ahem, ahem.
She was just looking straight ahead.
"Amane, you should know that I'm not interested in such social activities, nor do I have any intention of making friends."
Amane slightly raised her head and looked at Horikita.
"You're an exception."
Horikita only made eye contact with her for a moment.
She already knew what Amane wanted to say.
"I just hope Suzune can make more friends soon, you know?"
Amane mumbled softly.
"Still not going to tell the truth?"
"Alright, I admit it, I was blinded by the parfait!"
Amane pouted.
"It was two parfaits, and you even haggled for them."
Horikita corrected her.
Amane looked at Horikita with a guilty conscience.
"Then what are you planning to do...?"
Amane originally wanted to ask what she planned to do with her.
If she were to cut ties with her now...
Not even a hundred parfaits could bring that back.
"What can I do? I can only go with you. Anyway, it's just listening to her say some boring things. You've already agreed to her, how can I let you break your promise?"
As soon as Horikita finished speaking, Amane threw herself into her arms.
"Suzune!!!! I knew you were the best!"
"I really hope you can grow up a bit and stop acting like a child."
Horikita gently rubbed Amane's head.
"I'm not a child."
"Do you think your statement is convincing?"
Amane, who had been given a side-eye by Horikita, obediently snuggled against her.
Immediately after, she remembered the incident that almost sent her to the afterlife.
"Then what about my photos? Suzune, you need to compensate me for my photos."
Amane suddenly felt a surge of confidence.
"The guy who takes candid shots is actually so self-righteous asking me for compensation. You really have some nerve to say that."
Horikita poked Amane's nose.
"Those were all taken at great risk."
Amane even spoke with conviction.
But thinking about it carefully...
Amane might not have been exaggerating.
For example, that time Amane asked Horikita to help her wash her hair.
Even in the steamy bathroom, she managed to take pixel-perfect photos.
Wasn't that taking them at risk?
If Horikita had discovered it even once...
She would have faced the danger of an early demise.
She even took photos of Horikita looking in the mirror, troubled by her cup size.
It was only Horikita; if she deleted them, she wouldn't say anything more.
If it were anyone else, Amane would already be on the dinner table, either eating vegetables or being eaten herself.
"At risk, you say, as if I'm that fierce."
Click.
Amane took a photo of Horikita's leg.
The next second.
With a whoosh, the phone was snatched away by Horikita.
Then, a swift, heroic spinning kick.
Directly sent Amane sprawling and crawling to the side of the bed.
"Waaah!!! Suzune is so fierce!!!"
Amane's finger, pointing at Horikita, was gently grasped by Horikita.
"No..."
Amane, realizing what Horikita intended, shook her head desperately.
"If you want more, then be obedient from now on, understood?"
Horikita said gently to Amane.
"Mhm, mhm, I'll be obedient."
As if, hmph~
She was just being cowardly.
"Then let me see if you're obedient, Amane. Take off your clothes."
Horikita's command made Amane's eyes widen.
"Th-this might not be appropriate, right?"
"Hm?"
"I consider you a good friend, but you only lust after my..."
"Hurry up."
Amane still wanted to retort.
But in the end, she quickly stripped down to her underwear in humiliation.
"Why did you strip so completely? Wait for me here for a moment."
After saying that, Horikita actually left Amane there.
She seemed to go back to her dorm to get something.
After a short while.
Horikita finally came back with some clothes.
"Try them on."
Horikita seemed a bit excited?
Amane rubbed her head.
It must be her imagination.
Horikita's emotions usually didn't change much.
Amane instinctively put on the clothes.
"Suzune, isn't this a little off...?"
"Are you questioning me? Hurry up and put them on."
"Ugh, Suzune is even fiercer now."
After Amane put on the clothes, she twirled around twice, and they surprisingly fit perfectly.
A black, form-fitting athletic women's shirt.
It perfectly outlined Amane's figure.
Paired with black athletic tights.
And the school uniform's white pleated skirt.
Perfectly transformed Miyako Amane's... "What are you laughing at? Don't laugh, be serious."
"Ugh."
Amane was forced to stop her silly grin.
She became a little more serious.
Her purple eyes held a rare serious expression.
She looked much cooler and more composed.
Paired with this outfit.
She was both dashing and retained her feminine charm.
"How do you like this?"
Amane took Horikita's hand and gently kissed the back of it.
Then she showed a faint smile.
"Amane-san, you can... be a little more normal now..."
Horikita sensed something was off with Amane.
But after looking for a long time,
it was still the same person.
However, without that silly smile, she looked a bit handsome and had a somewhat melancholic aura. This look would definitely charm many girls, wouldn't it?
But unfortunately,
Horikita wasn't swayed by that.
"I think I'm very normal? Or does Suzune prefer me to be 'abnormal'?"
Amane wrapped her arms around Horikita's waist.
With a slight pull, they were pressed close together.
Amane rested her forehead against Horikita's forehead.
Then, she slowly leaned closer to Horikita.
She could feel it.
Horikita's breathing was becoming rapid.
What a cute girl.
She hadn't expected Horikita's defenses to be so easily breached?
What an idiot.
Slap.
"Ah!"
Amane yelped and covered her bottom with both hands.
"Suzune, why are you still hitting my butt! I told you I'm not a child anymore."
Amane looked indignant.
Phew.
Horikita let out a long breath.
This version of Amane made her feel more comfortable.
"What were you thinking just now? Did you think I wouldn't know?"
Horikita put a little distance between herself and Amane.
Afraid of being taken advantage of by this girl again.
However... Amane's focused expression just now...
had made her heart flutter a little.
Unlike the admiration and longing she felt when facing her brother,
Horikita knew clearly that her heart had fluttered.
But Horikita could never admit to this.
To actually feel her heart flutter for an idiot girl.
What a joke.
She was Horikita Suzune!
Horikita adjusted her demeanor slightly.
And once again became the confident and proud Horikita Suzune.
"Are you satisfied with the clothes?"
"The clothes are not bad. They're not even tight in the front. Could it be that Suzune bought them too big and then gave them to me?"
Amane teased, glancing at Horikita's figure.
Then she stuck out her index finger and wiggled it proudly.
Horikita was so annoyed she wanted to kick her.
"Good that you're satisfied. Twenty thousand points."
"Eh?! Do I have to pay for it?"
"Otherwise, what did you think? Would I buy such an expensive item for charity?"
"Is it still not too late for me to take it off now?"
"What do you think?"
Horikita wore the expression of a cat who had stolen a dried fish.
She had finally got her this time.
"Then two thousand points a night, paid in ten daily installments, does that work?"
Amane showed a shy yet hopeful expression.
If she had a tail, Amane's tail would probably be spinning like a runaway windmill.
Oh, girl.
You're calculating a bit too loudly.