Because of Kanade's statement, the classmates who had been in high spirits all day over the appearance of the beautiful transfer student suddenly fell into a dead silence.
The current situation, where the gazes of the classmates were gathered on me, made me feel somewhat sick.
To be specific, I felt like I was going to throw up.
That Kanade, she didn't have to go and say something like that in front of such a large crowd.
Doesn't she know I'm a gloomy person, both in my own eyes and the eyes of others?
"Hey! Hey! Let's go home early! Ak-kun!"
Without noticing my distress, Kanade was in high spirits as usual.
"I-Ichinose-san! Just a moment..."
"Eh? What is it?"
A male classmate called out to the cheerful Kanade.
"...Um, Hagiwara-kun, was it? Are you and him... acquaintances?"
The male classmate... or rather, the handsome and extroverted Yoshida-kun. I'm surprised he knew my name.
Even though we were in the same class, I don't think I've ever had a conversation with him.
"Yoshihira-kun, yeah. That's right."
...It would be pathetic if I was the one who had his name wrong.
"Heh, what kind of relationship is it?"
"Hmm. ...If you ask what kind of relationship, it might take quite a bit of time to explain."
"I'd definitely like to hear it."
...Really? From where I'm standing, it looks like he's just being persistent because of Kanade's attitude.
"Is that so? Then... ah, but to explain it as briefly as possible."
Why is there a need to go out of the way to explain it briefly?
"I was told I had only a short time left to live when I was in elementary school."
The classroom buzzed.
"And you see, Ak-kun is my childhood friend. He came to visit me almost every week, and he encouraged me many times when I was suffering and venting my weaknesses."
...Encouraged, huh.
"That's why I thought I'd like to spend time with Ak-kun first after returning to the country. Sorry."
With Kanade's explanation, several classmates seemed to give up.
"I see. In that case, I can certainly understand the feeling of wanting to prioritize time with him."
It seemed Yoshihira-kun also showed a smile and backed down.
"Then, how about we all go play together, including Hagiwara-kun?"
No, apparently Yoshihira-kun hadn't backed down yet.
"I see. That's a pretty good idea."
"Right?"
"Yeah."
...I'm sorry you haven't backed down, but.
"But, I'm sorry. I'll pass for today."
You guys, couldn't you respect my will even just a little bit?
I have no memory of ever agreeing to play with my classmates—even if it's as Kanade's tag-along—or for that matter, playing with Kanade herself. The conversation just keeps moving forward on its own, and it's nothing but trouble for me.
"Alright, Ak-kun. Let's go."
"Whoa..."
Leaving behind the stunned classmates, Kanade took my hand and started walking.
...It's been several hours since I reunited with Kanade, who arrived as a transfer student this morning.
To be honest, until this very moment, it hadn't really sunk in that I had reunited with Kanade.
However, being pulled by her... having our hands forced together, and feeling the warmth of her hand.
"...She's alive."
I muttered.
"Ahaha. Did you think I was dead?"
"..."
"...Fufu."
"...Yeah."
"Ahaha!"
Kanade, walking ahead of me, was laughing.
"I thought so!"
Kanade turned around and smiled mischievously.
As usual, I was walking with my hand being pulled by Kanade.
"...Was it alright?"
As we reached the shoe lockers, I decided to ask Kanade.
"What was?"
"...Turning down everyone's invitation."
"Yeah."
It was an immediate reply.
"Well, if possible, I wanted to deepen my friendship with the classmates I'll be living with for the next year or so, but it's a matter of priorities."
"Priorities?"
"That's right. When Yoshihira-kun and the others invited me to play, I thought about what to do, and I thought about it calmly."
"About what?"
"Whether to deepen friendships with classmates, or to play with Ak-kun."
"..."
"For the current me, playing with Ak-kun was more important than deepening friendships with classmates."
"...I see."
I looked down. I was a little embarrassed.
"...But wouldn't that mean there's no reason not to accept Yoshihira-kun's proposal?"
"Because, Ak-kun, you thought playing with your classmates would be unpleasant, didn't you?"
"I didn't say a single word about that, though."
"But you were thinking it, right?"
Certainly, though I didn't say it out loud, I did think playing with my classmates would be unpleasant.
I thought that spending several hours with people I wasn't close to would be nothing but pain.
But how did Kanade notice that?
"I can tell by looking at your face."
...I'm no match for Kanade.
"...I still haven't said I want to play with you either, Kanade."
"Ahaha. That's impossible. Non-negotiable."
"I see."
"Our relationship has been like this since a long time ago, hasn't it? I push my way through, and Ak-kun reluctantly accepts. So, reluctantly go along with my pushiness this time too."
Certainly, I feel like our relationship has been like this for a long time.
"...I'm looking forward to it. It's my first time in Japan in a while. I want to go to all sorts of places."
"..."
"Just the two of us, Ak-kun!"
...Well, since today is also to celebrate her recovery, maybe it's fine to be pulled by her hand again.
"Ak-kun! Where should we go now!? The sea. The mountains. Maybe karaoke or a movie would be good too!"
"...That's true."
"Yeah. Yeah! Ah, really, there are too many places I want to go! I wish time would just stop forever!"
"...I guess so."
"Yeah! ...In that case, Ak-kun, for now."
"Yeah."
"Lend me your smartphone."
"...Eh?"
"Eh?"
...Did I mishear her?
"Ak-kun, lend me your smartphone."
...Kanade's eyes, which were showing a smile and were full of hope until a moment ago, somehow didn't have any highlights in them now.
"Eh, why?"
"What do you mean why... Geez. It's to exchange contact information!"
...Ah. Oh, so that's what it was.
"No, if it's just to exchange contact info, you don't need me to lend you the phone, right?"
When I thought about it calmly, I wasn't convinced at all.
"...Ehh? What? Is there some shameful reason why you can't lend me your phone?"
"There is. There definitely is. It's a smartphone, you know? It's a mass of personal information."
Anyone would naturally have at least one or two pieces of shameful information in there.
"...Hmm. I see, so it's a no."
Kanade backed off surprisingly easily.
With this easy backing off, did she press me to lend her the phone on the premise that she'd be rejected, despite her tone?
"I understand. Then, Ak-kun."
"Hm?"
"Let's play at Ak-kun's house today."
"...Ehh—"
"Let's play at Ak-kun's house today."
"But..."
"Let's play at Ak-kun's house today."
"...Alright."
Where did that moving atmosphere from earlier go?
"Yay. Then it's settled."
Kanade happily started skipping along.