Horikita went to the store as usual, simply bought some instant bento boxes, and then picked up milk and bread for breakfast the next day.
This way, she could sleep a little longer.
There was nothing she had to worry about every day.
Horikita felt much more relaxed.
She arrived at her dorm room door, took out her key, and opened the door.
"Welcome home~"
A cute, athletic girl wearing cat ear headphones greeted Horikita with the sweetest smile.
"How did you get in?"
Horikita was quite indifferent to the girl's welcome.
"I secretly made a copy last time. Suzune, do you want tea first, or some candied apples, or do you want me first?"
"Miyako-san, please just pour me a cup of tea. Oh, and you can just call me Horikita."
Seeing that Horikita still seemed angry, Amane could only hang her head and go to the kitchen, skillfully preparing tea for Horikita with a teabag.
Then she sat obediently beside Horikita.
"Suzune, you must have had a tough day. Do you need a massage?"
Amane said, placing her hand on Horikita's shoulder.
And then—
Amane found her hand grabbed.
Horikita quickly stood up and, with a swift over-the-shoulder throw, slammed Amane onto the floor.
"Ow, ow, ow, Suzune, what are you doing?"
Amane rubbed her chest, looking wronged.
Fortunately, her 'hardware' was ample enough to provide a cushioning effect; otherwise, she might not have been able to get up for a while after that fall.
"Sorry, I forgot to tell Miyako-san that I don't like anyone touching my shoulder."
"Liar! You let me massage your shoulders before!"
"Miyako-san, you yourself said 'before,' didn't you?"
Amane wanted to retort, but in the end, she said nothing.
"Suzune, are you still angry? I told you I didn't do it on purpose that day!"
Amane peeked at Horikita, looking wronged.
Horikita's expression, however, showed no change.
"Is that so? To cooperate with your game, I did something in front of others that could lead to social suicide at school, but in the end, Miyako-san lightly made me lose all face. Everyone in the class must know by now, right?"
Horikita's displeasure was palpable just from her words.
"I'm sorry, I didn't discuss it with you, Suzune. I apologize. Please forgive me just this once."
Amane tried to hug Horikita and act spoiled, but Horikita gently pushed her away.
"It's getting late, and I plan to rest. If Miyako-san has nothing else, please go back now. We have to get up early for class tomorrow."
Horikita's icy dismissal made Amane a little dejected.
"Then I'll go back now. If you need anything, remember to call me in the middle of the night. I'm very..."
"Mhm."
"Thank you for the tea."
Seeing this, Amane could only open the door and leave.
It seemed she had really gone too far this time.
Otherwise, Horikita wouldn't have been angry for so long.
Amane opened the door to her own dorm room.
The sky-blue curtains appeared incredibly dim under the night sky, blocking all light from outside the window.
Amane had no intention of turning on the lights.
She flopped directly onto the bed.
Then she took out her phone, hoping Horikita would text her.
"Maybe it's just wishful thinking that Suzune will forgive me."
Amane smiled.
She hadn't had coffee today, had she?
But why did her mouth taste so bitter, so bitter?
Amane went to the bathroom, turned on the hot water, and took a hot shower.
She hadn't exercised much, and there was no strange smell on her body, but Amane just wanted to shower.
Perhaps only by doing something would she calm down.
After showering, wrapped in a bath towel, she stood by the mirror.
The reflection in the mirror instantly jolted Amane awake from her dazed state.
It was a face devoid of a smile, expressionless.
There was no light in her eyes.
Because from birth, she had embarked on a journey arranged by others.
The starting point and process of the journey were clearly laid out.
Only the destination could she choose.
Choosing where she would be buried.
Amane pressed her fingers to the corners of her mouth, pulling them to the sides.
But no matter how hard Amane tried, her reflection in the mirror never smiled.
It only met her gaze with a cold stare.
"Only the weak huddle together for warmth; the strong are always alone."
Amane murmured the words that man had taught her.
But... she didn't like being alone.
To be alone to become strong, that in itself was a strange thing.
Of course, she only understood this truth after meeting Horikita Suzune.
She felt an immediate fondness for Horikita the first time she saw her.
The reason was that Horikita's expression was so similar to her own in the mirror right now.
So Amane hoped she could smile too.
Therefore, Amane became her friend.
Things had been developing positively.
Horikita's smile appeared more and more often.
She also became more adorable.
But because of Amane's overzealousness, she ended up becoming that ice beauty again.
"Seriously, I just wanted to make her happy, why..."
Thump!!!
Amane punched the wall.
The freshly painted white wall actually started to crack with a single punch.
Just as Amane was about to throw a second punch, her phone rang.
Amane slowly walked to the bed and picked up the phone.
It was an unknown number.
"Hello?"
"Is this Miyako-san? I'm Horikita Manabu."
"Is there something you need this late?"
"Are you in a bad mood?"
"..."
Amane didn't reply.
Horikita Manabu, seeing this, quickly got to the point.
"I have something I'd like to discuss with you, regarding Horikita Suzune. If it's convenient, how about we meet?"
Regarding Horikita Suzune?
Amane frowned.
"What would be the consequences if I refuse?"
"There would be no consequences, but you might lose Suzune as a friend."
"Are you threatening me?"
Amane's tone turned hostile.
Horikita Manabu immediately felt a strong sense of animosity from her end.
This feeling was exactly the same as when he was at the club orientation meeting. Could it be that Miyako was the one who... "It's not really a threat. I'm just stating a fact. I believe if you understand Suzune, you've felt it too, haven't you? I'm not talking nonsense."
Indeed.
Horikita was deliberately distancing herself from her, but she didn't understand Horikita's intention.
I could only comfort myself by thinking that Horikita was still angry.
The truth was, I just didn't understand her well enough yet.
Speaking of which, Horikita Manabu seemed to want to tell her something.
"Time, place."
"Eight PM, behind the dorm building."
"I'll be there on time."
Amane glanced at the time.
There were still forty minutes left.
She could calm herself down a bit.
Horikita Manabu hung up the phone after receiving the message.
Amane began to prepare her attire.
She opened her closet.
But she found that besides her school uniform and the casual clothes she had just changed into and washed,
she only had the outfit Horikita had prepared for her.
"Then this one will do."