It was probably the result of both of us avoiding each other.
Despite Erina-san’s advice, the after-school bell rang without me having a chance to speak to Ichikawa, let alone pass her in the hallway.
Today, since Sako has her dance club activities, there will be no amane practice.
When I lifted my head from the desk where I had been slumped since morning, Ichikawa was already gone from the classroom. ...Actually, it was because I had been playing dead until the classroom was empty of people.
I had broken the unspoken agreement to 'basically go home together,' and I felt like the fact that Ichikawa and I were having a falling out could no longer be hidden.
"...Guess I’ll go home."
I muttered a few words to myself in the empty classroom and stepped out into the hallway. Then—
""Ah.""
My eyes met those of a brown-haired girl who had stepped out of the Class 4 classroom at the exact same time.
"Oh, Azuma, what about your club?"
Azuma, carrying her bass, trotted over to me.
"Yeah, today is a self-practice day, so it’s my last shift at my part-time job before the school festival. I can’t exactly take two whole weeks off, you know."
"Hoh... Ah, is that so!"
Crap, that was close. I managed to add some words before she could scold me for my half-hearted reaction.
"Yes, yes, good boy. ...Wait, where’s Amane?"
"Don't know. She went home."
"...Huh?"
Azuma stopped in her tracks, thrust her neck forward, and frowned so deeply I could tell even from a distance.
"...It’s not like we have a promise to go home together every day or anything," I said defensively.
"No, regardless of promises, Amane herself got really angry about that once before, didn't she...?" she hit me with a logical counter-argument.
"What, did you guys have a fight or something...?"
"Yes..."
I confessed honestly. I couldn't hide anything from Azuma anyway.
Azuma started walking again, holding her head with one hand while muttering, "Sigh, I told you so..."
We naturally started walking toward the school exit together.
"But I see. Well, I did think it was strange..."
Azuma bit her lower lip and looked out the hallway window.
"What was?"
When I asked, Azuma replied.
"Because yesterday, I saw Amane going home together with Sōshi-san."
This time, it was my feet that stopped dead.
"Is... that so..."
A hoarse voice squeezed out of my throat.
"Geez, don't make that face..."
Azuma, who had moved a step or two ahead, turned back and looked at me with sad eyes.
"What kind of face am I making...?"
"Hah...?"
I probably thought that Azuma might know the cause of this hazy feeling that I couldn't understand no matter how much I agonized over it.
I asked that question as if clinging to her.
"There’s no way I’m going to tell you that..."
Azuma looked at me with an expression that was a mix of exasperation, resignation, and disappointment.
"Why...?"
When I asked, she suddenly bristled like a cat about to attack.
"Because! You dummy, dummy, dummy! Dummy Konuma!"
She showered me with low-level insults.
"Hey, Azuma-neesan, hasn't your vocabulary taken a hit?"
How about my smart retort? No? I see.
"Huh!? I don't want to hear that from you! Dummy, dummy!"
"What!? Whoever says 'dummy' is the real dummy!"
"Gross! You’re talking like a middle schooler! Actually, you’re more like an elementary schooler now! Dummy, dummy!"
"I told you, stop calling me a dummy!"
After finishing our round of low-level bickering, Azuma let out a short laugh.
"...So, Konuma, do you intend to fight with me too?"
"Ugh..."
Seeing me at a loss for words, she grinned.
"Well, that was a little fun, so I'll forgive you. So? Why did you fight?"
I felt like she had somewhat forcefully diverted the topic, but oh well...
"Well, uh... it's hard to say..."
As I hesitated, Azuma spoke up.
"It's fine, it's fine."
She gave a disclaimer before continuing.
"I’m talking to you while fully aware that you’re a pathetic, hopeless, good-for-nothing guy with a rare level of spinelessness."