Back at the dorm.
Amane was carefully tending to the injury on Horikita's forehead.
It looked like a scratch.
Based on Horikita's description, Amane guessed she'd been grazed by something sharp on a schoolbag or perhaps a piece of stationery.
The cut wasn't deep.
Still, Amane cleaned it with some disinfectant. Then she stuck a band-aid over it.
"It'll probably be fine by tomorrow," Amane said, smiling at her handiwork.
"Mm." Horikita's reply was dismissive.
Her mind was completely occupied by the conflict that had just erupted.
Horikita wasn't trying to shirk responsibility.
Perhaps her words had been a bit harsh. But they were her genuine feelings, and not a single one had been twisted deliberately to hurt the other person.
What she couldn't understand was why Sudō had flown into such a rage.
Is it really so impossible for people to accept and face their own flaws?
Horikita knew her own shortcomings well—she was blunt, often too frank, a bit antisocial, and so on. She could face every one of those flaws and was working to improve them.
So why couldn't someone like Sudō face his own?
"Suzune, if you're not feeling well, you should get to bed early tonight. We can skip the bedtime story, but as compensation, I get a smooch—…"
"Amane…" Horikita cut off her clowning friend.
"What are your flaws?"
Amane was stumped.
Well…
That was a sudden leap in topic. Asking someone out of the blue to list their flaws was a tough request. After all, nobody would readily tell another person their weaknesses.
Even if they did, they'd only mention some trivial, insignificant faults.
People want to maintain a perfect image in others' minds.
How could they easily expose their flaws?
But since it was Horikita asking… Amane had no choice but to come up with an answer.
"My flaw is that I'm just too perfect."
This narcissistic reply earned her a proper eye-roll from Horikita.
"Amane, I'm not joking. Answer seriously." Horikita pinched Amane's cheeks, forcing eye contact.
But…it really was her flaw, though.
Perfect people tend to extremes. The more perfect someone is, the more likely they have some defect in their personality.
But does a personality defect count as a flaw?
If someone asks your flaws, you wouldn't just tell them you're personality-defective.
If Amane answered like that, Horikita would probably 'sanction' her so hard she'd fast-forward to tomorrow.
"I can't think of any other flaws off the top of my head. So, in your eyes, Suzune, what are my flaws?" Amane looked at Horikita curiously.
Maybe Horikita could give her an unexpected answer.
But she hadn't expected…as soon as Horikita heard the question…
Her face strangely reddened a little. Would mentioning someone's flaws make you blush?
Suzune's so cute.
"Your flaw, Amane…" Horikita found it hard to say.
Because in Horikita's view, Amane's biggest flaw was that she was too cute and could easily be led astray.
But…was that something she could actually say?
Horikita would rather die than admit that Amane was even the tiniest, slightest bit cute.
"Say it, say it! I've been waiting!" Amane, frustrated by the half-finished sentence, shook Horikita's arm impatiently.
"I'll tell you later."
"Ehh?! Suzune, you're so mean, hmph!" Amane turned her head away with a pout.
Just then.
She suddenly felt something warm press against her cheek, then quickly pull away.
"Suzune, did you just…"
"I didn't do anything." Horikita replied with a perfectly straight face.
"Liar! I definitely felt…"
"Maybe it was just your imagination. I certainly didn't do anything."
Amane eyed Horikita suspiciously.
There were only the two of them in the room.
If it wasn't Horikita.
Then that left…Amane got a creepy feeling.
Did I kiss myself?
Yuck!
Are the neurons in my brain short-circuiting?
How could I even think that logically?
Amane touched her cheek.
Well, she'd been kissed.
Happy.
Seeing Amane cover her face and giggle foolishly, Horikita massaged her forehead in exasperation.
Is this dummy really that easily satisfied?
"Is there any coffee left in the fridge?"
"I'll go check." Amane walked to the fridge and opened it.
Inside was an array of ingredients and various condiments. As for drinks, all sorts of canned beverages were lined up neatly.
Unfortunately, the coffee was all gone. And there probably wasn't any left in the cupboard either.
"It's fine if there's none." Seeing Amane start rummaging through the cupboards, Horikita knew their stock was likely depleted.
She didn't insist.
"Suzune, if you want some, I'll just go buy a can from the vending machine downstairs." Amane put on her jacket, ready to head down.
"Don't trouble yourself. I was actually thinking of turning in early anyway. It's not worth going down so late just for a can of coffee."
The May night still held a slight chill, and the temperature tonight was particularly low.
If Amane went out and caught a cold, Horikita would definitely blame herself.
"It's worth it if I think it is. Wait for me, 'kay?" Amane zipped up her jacket and took the elevator down to the vending machine.
She bought a can of orange juice.
Opened it and took a couple of sips.
Then, just as she was about to buy the coffee…
She spotted two figures in the distance, one following the other, heading toward a school building.
Students this dedicated to studying so late at night?
But…
The girl walking in front looked familiar. She couldn't make out the face, but she could see the figure.
Based on the data in Amane's memory…
Someone with that kind of figure was probably Kushida.
Of course, it could be someone else. But a boy and a girl having a secret meeting in a school building…
No matter how you looked at it…
It seemed like they were up to something naughty.
Driven by gossipy curiosity, Amane hurried after them.
"Ah!!!— So annoying!"Kushida shouted her frustration at the empty balcony.
"So damn annoying! Why don't they just drop dead? What right does that muscle-brained gorilla have to yell at me? Who does he think he is?"
Bang, bang, bang!!!
Kushida violently kicked at the hallway door.
After a few kicks, she stood there panting, glaring at the door with undiminished hatred.
"And that bitch Horikita—does she think just because she's pretty she can go around dismissing everyone else? What does she gain from provoking Sudō? I'm still the one who has to clean up her mess!"
Kushida raged at the empty air.
Anyone who knew Kushida would never connect the girl she was now with the gentle, kind, and considerate Kushida Kikyō everyone usually saw.
"And Amane—why did she have to protect a bitch like that? She just dumped a pile of trouble on me to handle. So annoying, so annoying!!!"
Kushida's roars even pierced through the door, echoing in the silent school building.
Click.
The door moved.
"Who's there? Who is it!" Kushida demanded sharply, on high alert.
Ayanokoji emerged from behind the door.
Kushida's tense nerves relaxed slightly.
"Ayanokoji-kun, what are you doing here? You didn't happen to hear anything, did you?" Kushida switched back to her gentle demeanor.
But even Ayanokoji wasn't foolish enough to fall for that.
"Me being here is a coincidence. As for what I heard… even if I said 'nothing,' you wouldn't believe me, right?"
Kushida frowned. If any unpleasant rumors got out, it would undoubtedly ruin the image she'd built in everyone's minds.
Her eyes shifted thoughtfully.
Then she stepped closer to Ayanokoji and took his hand.
"What are you planning to do?" If he wanted to, Ayanokoji could easily pull his hand back. But he was curious what Kushida would do.
Kushida didn't answer. Smiling, she guided his hand toward her chest.
Suddenly—
The door was kicked open with a crash.
"Let go of Ayanokoji-kun! If you've got the guts, come at me instead!!!"
--+--
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.