"It's Amane~"
Horikita massaged her temples, a headache coming on.
How could this girl be so energetic in the middle of the night?
Horikita wasn't in the habit of letting people into her room at night. Maybe she could just trick her into leaving?
She pondered for a moment.
Beep. "No one can get to the phone right now. Please leave a message after the tone."
The instant the words left her mouth, Horikita Suzune covered her face with her hands.
Horikita Suzune, what are you doing?!
This is so embarrassing!
Isn't this just the same as what Miyako-san did this afternoon, pretending not to know her?
Why did she do something so childish and easy to see through!
Horikita didn't understand why her brain had short-circuited like that. And she'd ended up saying something so utterly mortifying.
"Horikita-san!!! Don't actually treat me like an idiot!" Amane's dissatisfied protest came from the other side of the door.
While she sometimes seemed to lack common sense, she wasn't actually a fool. Horikita's method of dealing with her was like something you'd use on a small child.
It wasn't particularly hurtful, but it was incredibly insulting.
Seeing no other way, Horikita Suzune could only open the door.
"My apologies, I was just trying to joke with you, Miyako-san. What brings you here so late?"
Her eyes fell on Amane, who was dressed in pure white pajamas.
Even someone as stoic as Horikita Suzune couldn't help but feel her eyes brighten.
Logically, the white should have blended with Miyako-san's silver hair, making it less striking. But on Miyako-san, it seemed to perfectly complement her aura.
Hmm, I guess this is what they call a living clothes hanger.
Incidentally, this particular living clothes hanger seemed a little angry right now.
Her cheeks were even puffed up, making her face look rounder.
"That was not a joke," Amane grumbled, her first words dripping with resentment.
Horikita wanted to apologize, but her face muscles strained for what felt like ages, utterly refusing to form a smile.
In the end, she could only awkwardly scratch her cheek.
"Horikita-san, what's wrong with your face! I think I just saw your face twitching!"
Miyako Amane!!!
Could you please use your powers of observation somewhere else!
It was the first time Horikita's inner monologue had become such a frantic stream of criticism.
Yet, the expression management on Horikita Suzune's face remained absolutely flawless. No expression was the best expression management.
"So, what did you need, Miyako-san?"
"I was worried you might not have eaten, so I brought you something."
Amane's smile was heart-warmingly bright.
Horikita's response was...
"I don't need it, thank you."
Grrrrroooooowl—
Mouth: 'Could you not cooperate with me for once? Do you think I have no dignity?'
Stomach: 'What's your dignity worth? Piss off!'
Horikita Suzune was experiencing, for the first time, the true meaning of utter, soul-crushing embarrassment.
"...That was an accident."
"Mhmm, mhmm." Amane, picking up on Horikita's discomfort, quickly nodded in agreement.
"I'm not hungry. Please take the food back, Miyako-san."
Grrrrroooooowl—
Was this ever going to end?
Just as Horikita Suzune was at a complete loss for what to do,
Amane, holding a small pot in one hand, used her other hand to lift the lid. She picked up a piece of what looked like a rolled omelette with her chopsticks and brought it right to Horikita's lips.
"Horikita-san, open up, say 'ah~'"
Just like coaxing a little child.
Perhaps Horikita's reflex arc was busy mediating the internal dispute, because she failed to react in time, dumbly opening her mouth.
She took a small bite.
The savory flavors of minced meat and floss pork instantly snapped Horikita Suzune back to her senses.
"Huh? Miyako-san, you..."
"It's a bit cold out here."
"Please, come in."
She'd already eaten the other girl's food.
It wouldn't be right to keep her outside now.
"Horikita-san's room looks so plain." Amane glanced around the room.
It was unusually austere for a girl's room.
"A room's purpose is solely for living in. There's no need to make it all flashy. That would just be a waste of points."
Horikita's words sent Amane into deep thought.
Her own little nest...
Was it perhaps too flashy?
"Does Horikita-san still want me to feed her?" Amane winked at Horikita, attempting to be charming.
"That will not be necessary. Thank you for your kindness, Miyako-san. I can feed myself."
Horikita, cold as someone who'd been gutting fish for a decade, completely shut down Amane's attempt.
Horikita picked up a piece with her chopsticks and began to chew.
The flavor and doneness of the tamagoyaki were both expertly controlled. Her cooking skills were probably even above Horikita's own.
Amane rested her chin in her hands on the table, watching Horikita eat with a giggly smile.
Horikita felt a little self-conscious, but didn't want to lose face in front of Amane.
So, despite being ravenous, she maintained the dining manners of a proper young lady, taking small, delicate bites until she finished the tamagoyaki and a small bowl of miso soup.
"How does it taste?"
"Acceptable."
"Can't you just praise me?"
Faced with Amane's sudden acting cute attack,
Horikita thought for a moment.
"...It's quite tasty."
"Horikita-san isn't very good at giving compliments, is she?"
"Shut up!"
"Horikita-san, you're blushing~"
"My face is just red because it's too hot in here."
"Horikita-san is so not honest with her feelings." Amane laughed.
She then started gathering the dishes, planning to take them back to wash.
"Speaking of which, Miyako-san, how did you know I hadn't eaten?" Horikita Suzune finally realized there was an issue.
While Amane had woken her up, Amane shouldn't have known she was asleep in the first place.
"Well, I heard snoring coming from your room next door, so I knew you were sleeping."
In an instant, the blush on Horikita's face spread from the front all the way to the tips of her ears.
"M-Miyako-san, you do love your jokes."
"I'm telling the truth."
Crack.
Horikita Suzune heard the sound of her heart shattering.
This was what social death felt like.
"Was I really sleeping that soundly?" Horikita hung her head, desperately trying to hide her flushed face.
"Mhmm, mhmm. The snoring was really loud." Amane smiled gently.
Horikita buried her face in her hands.
…How was she supposed to go on living after this?
"Miyako-san!" Horikita suddenly looked at Amane with extreme seriousness.
Amane, who had been lounging casually, immediately shifted into a proper seiza kneel upon seeing Horikita's stern expression.
"What is it, Horikita-san?" Seeing Horikita's sudden formality made Amane tense up too.
Horikita slowly opened her mouth.
"Please, I'm begging you, please don't tell anyone!!!"
Amane's face immediately lit up with the expression of a cat that had successfully stolen a fish.
"But…"
"I can agree to one request from you, Miyako-san, provided it's not unreasonable."
"Really?" Amane's eyes instantly sparkled.
Horikita instinctively shrank back a little.
Ahem. "It must be something I am capable of doing."
"Then, can I call you Suzune?"
Amane's request wasn't unreasonable.
It was, in fact, almost too simple.
"...Very well."
"Yay! Please take care of me from now on, Suzune."
"Mhmm. Miyako... Amane-san."
If the other was using her given name, continuing to use her family name would seem too distant.
Honestly.
Why was she already on a first-name basis with someone, and on the first day of school no less?
Horikita Suzune felt a little lost. Because she was actually quite happy about it too.
She just couldn't express it.
Did this mean her previous, icy self had been wrong?
Amane, needing to wash the dishes, said her goodbyes and returned to her own room.
Horikita sat alone at her desk, lost in thought.
But it wasn't long before she heard a knock on her door again. Peeking through the peephole, it was that same, somewhat airheaded girl.
"Sorry, Suzune, could I possibly trouble you to let me stay in your room for the night? I think I left my room key inside."
Miyako Amane!
Was that an accident or on purpose?
You absolutely did that on purpose, didn't you?!
--+--
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.