“Takuto-kuuuun... want to go to Mac after school today...?”
Before my eyes, Erina-san was looking up at me with a face that looked like she was about to cry.
“What happened...? I mean, what about your club activities after school?”
“Uuu, I’m skipping today...”
“...I see. It sounds like things are pretty bad.”
Erina-san is the selfish, attention-seeking type and has a lazy way of speaking, but she shouldn't be the type to act spoiled in such a regressive, childlike way. I think she’s actually a self-reliant person with more philosophy than most.
Even regarding her club, it’s not like she usually skips so easily.
The reason Erina-san is in this state must be, after all...
“Is it about Hazama...?”
When I asked in a low voice, the meek little devil gave a small, silent nod.
“I see...”
Now then.
Here, I hit a dilemma for the first time in my life.
The thesis is this:
‘A female friend in what seems to be an emergency, or a girlfriend in normal times—which one should I choose?’
...Yeah, putting it into words makes it clear. What a detestable way of thinking I have.
Perhaps my hesitation showed on my face.
“Ah, it’s Amane-chan, isn’t it...? Ah, then it’s fine... Bye-bye then...”
“No, wait a second.”
Erina-san has taken care of me and helped me out so much until now; it would be wrong not to return the favor when she’s struggling. That feeling rushed ahead, and I called out to her back.
Erina-san turned around and tilted her head.
“Um... I’ll talk to Ichikawa and work something out, so let’s talk after school. It’s an emergency, right?”
“Yeah. But, I don’t think Takuto-kun can persuade Amane-chan...”
“...Hm?”
“Because Takuto-kun is the type to be henpecked...”
Why is this person attacking me even though she’s acting so meek...?
“You’re pathetic, and uncool...”
“Excuse me?”
While being blamed for some reason, a single question raised its head inside me.
A moment ago, I thought, ‘Erina-san who has taken care of me and helped me out so much until now.’
When exactly did she help me...?
“I see. In that case—”
“But you know,”
Interrupting my words as I tried to refuse, she tightly pinched my sleeve.
“I actually do rely on Takuto-kun, you know...?”
Erina-san looked at me with an upturned gaze that was one hundred percent calculation.
“Yes, yes...”
I won’t fall for that tactic of putting me down just to pull me back up.
...Well, I’ll negotiate with Ichikawa, though.
I returned to Class 2-6. In the corner of the classroom where people were sparse.
“Heeh... So Konuma-kun chooses Erina-chan over me?”
Ichikawa was staring straight into my eyes with a furrowed brow.
Rather than being angry, she had an expression of being unable to understand.
I had immediately approached the Great Ichikawa to inquire if I might be permitted to visit McDonald’s with another girl after school today.
Erina-san had said, “It feels like it’ll get troublesome if Erina is there...” and was apparently waiting outside the classroom. Yeah, I think that’s for the best.
Transfixed by those straight, clear eyes and breaking into a cold sweat, I worried about how to answer. It wasn’t really about ‘choosing’ one over the other, but in terms of who I would spend time with after school today, I suppose that phrasing was technically correct...
“...Did you think I was going to say that?”
Ichikawa tilted her head to the side with a ‘koterin’ sound.
“Eh? Ah, well, yes...”
Though I felt the wind taken out of my sails, I answered honestly for now.
“You have quite the ego, Konuma-kun. Did you really think I felt that strongly about it?”
Being rebuked as if she were delivering a finishing blow, I felt embarrassed thinking that she was indeed right.
“...Well, I do feel that strongly, though.”
She abruptly turned her face away. The cheek of her profile was slightly puffed out.
“But I know. Konuma-kun tries to help everyone.”
“No, I’m not the kind of person who’s like a protagonist of a shonen manga...”
“That’s true. You’re right about that.”
Ichikawa nodded with a ‘hmu’. Being agreed with felt a bit complicated, but it was the truth, so it couldn't be helped.
“But, it’s true that Konuma-kun is kind to everyone. I think that part of you isn’t bad. ...Though it’s not good, either.”
It’s not good...?
“It’s not good at all.”
Ichikawa, pouting her lips, looked at me as I stood there apologetically, and her cheeks suddenly softened into a smile.
“Well, but that’s just how Konuma-kun is, so it can’t be helped. It’s my own weakness for falling for you, jeez.”
And then, she gave me a smile without any hidden meaning and said:
“Have a good time, Konuma-kun.”
Wiping my forehead, I left the classroom.
“Was Amane-chan okay?”
The little devil asked me.
“Yeah. She seemed to understand. She’s a really mature person...”
“I see. But Takuto-kun, don’t take her for granted, okay? Even Amane-chan isn’t an angel, after all.”
She warned me.
“Hey, Erina-san. I don’t really understand things like romance or social relationships, and I’m always getting scolded by you. I’m sorry if I’m wrong, but...”
“Hmm? What is it?”
Erina-san smiled gently, as if saying, ‘Go ahead and tell me.’ Having gathered my courage, I spoke to her.
“Should you really be the one saying that, Erina-san?”