I haven't lived for a particularly long time, but in my life, has there ever been an atmosphere this awkward at a Mac? (No, there hasn't.)
"Muuu..."
At our table, there's Erina-san, who is glaring reproachfully at a seat a short distance away,
"Ah, ahaha... Hey, Konuma-kun?"
And Ichikawa, who is asking for my agreement for some reason even though she's just smiling,
"I hear that..."
And then there's Konuma, who is agreeing for the time being without really knowing what's going on.
Following Erina-san's gaze, I see Sakosh and Hazama sitting across from each other in a sofa booth over there.
"Isn't that a seat for three or more people...?"
"No, that's not what you should be worried about right now..."
The pair in question appeared before us while we were already seated.
"Ah." "Seriously..."
After letting out those awkward voices, Sakosh said,
"...Wait a bit, I'll join you guys later," and headed to a seat a little further away, where she's now talking with a serious look (or rather, an expressionless one) on her face. I can't see Hazama's expression since his back is to us, but his spine is pin-straight, so there's no doubt he's talking seriously.
"I wonder what they're talking about? Those two."
"Who knows..."
"Aren't they on a date, leaving Erina all alone?"
Princess Erina, who was sulking and being difficult to her heart's content, pouted her lips. A date...
"Hey, hey, Konuma-kun, can't you tell what Sakosh-san is thinking from her expression?"
Ichikawa asked while tugging at the sleeve of my uniform, but I'm not some kind of youth-novel bassist. Please don't have excessive expectations.
"No, she's not in a bad mood, and she's not angry, but I can only tell that she's just earnestly counseling him on something."
"I think knowing that much is plenty, but... hmm..."
While Ichikawa suddenly dampened the mood, Erina-san let out a carefree voice.
"What's 'counseling'? Is it a Pokemon?"
"That's Satoshi... Erina-san, aren't you a returnee? Wasn't he not called Satoshi overseas?"
While we were having such a completely meaningless conversation, Sakosh stood up and approached us.
"Yossu."
"What's with that greeting? It's the first time I've heard it."
"Is that so?"
While tilting her head slightly at my retort, Sakosh sat down in front of me, next to Erina-san.
"Tsuuun..."
"U-um... what about Hazama-kun?"
Instead of Erina-san, who was looking away, Ichikawa asked with a strained smile while scratching her cheek. Don't actually say 'tsuuun' out loud, Erina-san...
"Mm, thinking time."
"With that pronunciation, it sounds like 'sinking' time though..."
Beside Sakosh, who answered with a nod, the sulking Erina-san threw in an unnecessary retort.
"Ha? What's with this girl?"
See, now Sakosh is getting annoyed...!
"Um... what is he thinking about?"
When I asked to try and smooth things over, Sakosh glanced at me and said,
"...Nothing special."
No, it can't be nothing...
"Anyway, for today, we're acting separately. Kenji will go home on his own, and we can do whatever we want."
"I see..."
Glancing at Hazama's seat, he had his head in his hands with his forehead pressed against the desk, looking like he was about to sink right into the table. I don't know what she's making him think about, but I pray he doesn't sink into a swamp of overthinking... good luck.
"Actually, isn't it rare for you three to be together?"
Sakosh asked with a slight tilt of her head. (Probably.)
"No, I mean, all three of us are in Class 6, you know?"
"More like we're not together? Erina is by herself, and those two over there are just together as a pair."
"Don't say things like Konuma-kun, Erina-chan..."
"I've never said anything like that..."
Then Sakosh made a face like she was thinking, "Fumu," and said,
"...I see. Sorry, Erina, for leaving you alone," and quietly stroked her head.
"Nooot really."
She acted like she was giving a curt reply, but her voice tone went up a bit.
"I was talking to Kenji for Erina's sake... or rather, for the sake of the three of us."
"Huuun, I see... What kind of talk?"
While still face down on the desk, she looked up at Sakosh like a swimmer taking a breath during a crawl.
"I'll tell Erina properly next time," Sakosh said while gently stroking her hair.
"...Not next time, I want it now."
"...I see."
Sakosh nodded and stood up softly.
"Then, shall we go to karaoke, Erina?"
"...Yeah!"
Erina-san laughed with a 'hehe' and stood up as well. It's nice that her mood recovers so quickly. I'd like a certain angel to learn from her.
"See ya, Takuto-kun and Amane-chan!" "Later."
The dance club girl duo turned their backs and left.
"Sakosh-san really knows how to handle Erina-chan..." Ichikawa said with admiration.
Well, you two aren't exactly on the best of terms...
"Even so, I wonder what Sakosh-san talked to Hazama-kun about."
Those words were asked with an unexpected amount of emotional weight.
"Who knows..."
Anyway, I understood that there was likely a reason Sakosh didn't tell me or Ichikawa.
Glancing toward Hazama again, he was still burying his head in the table.
"...Hey, hey, Konuma-kun."
When I looked back after being called, Ichikawa, who was sitting right next to me, was staring intently at my face.
"What is it...?"
"Do you know what I'm thinking right now?"
Whoa, what kind of question is that... Are you mad? Did I do something?
"Sorry, I don't know... And I have no idea why..."
"Thought so..."
Ichikawa laughed a little disappointedly.
"Um... what's the answer?"
Knowing it was fast, I gave up and asked, and Ichikawa puffed out her cheeks slightly.
"...Nothing special. I just thought, 'I wish you'd look at me enough to understand what I'm thinking from my expression, just like when you looked at Sakosh-san earlier.'"