I went to the front of Kanade's room and stood there for a few seconds.
My mother and Kanade-mama had told me to call her, but... how could I get her to come out when she said she didn't even want to see me?
For now, I desperately racked my brains in front of the door.
I thought of various ways to get Kanade out of her room, but no good ideas came to mind.
Damn it.
If I knew it would be like this, I should have just lost the test.
If I had, Kanade wouldn't be angry, and today's visit to the Ichinose house would have ended on a peaceful note.
...No, there’s no way I could have lost.
In this test showdown, I was betting on whether or not I’d give up on my goal of studying abroad in France. If I had lost to Kanade, I might have had to give up on that dream. That’s why I fought with everything I had.
...That's not all.
I knew before the match that there was a possibility of upsetting someone important to me.
Even so, the reason I didn't hold back on the test, knowing the risk of upsetting Kanade...
...wasn't just about whether or not to give up on my goals.
I have worked hard at studying all this time. On hot days, on cold days, even if I had a fever... no matter what happened, I never spared any effort when it came to my studies.
In other words, the risk of upsetting someone important... was not an item to be prioritized to the point of denying all my efforts until now.
That's why I didn't hold back on the test.
...So in the future, even if Kanade challenges me to a test match like this again, I will absolutely not hold back.
“Kanade. Kanade.”
I realized there was no option of losing the test. In that case, all that was left... was to somehow get her back in a good mood.
Without any particular plan to win back her favor, I decided to just let things take their course for now.
I knocked on the door and called out to her, but...
“...”
There was no answer. I didn't think Kanade would be this upset about losing the test.
Does that mean she was playing that seriously?
Or perhaps...
“Kanade... can you hear me?”
I spoke to the door.
“About the other day...”
I was about to say I was sorry, but I stopped. Because, as I thought earlier, I don't think it was a mistake to give it my all and defeat Kanade.
It would be strange to apologize for something that wasn't wrong.
“...The other day, we both did our best.”
So, I won't apologize.
“There were some accidents... but in the end, I'm really glad we both finished the tests safely.”
...I decided to praise our mutual efforts.
“Let's compete again on the next test.”
I thought that was my way of showing sincerity.
“...I'll face you with everything I've got next time too. So you... if you still want to make me give up on studying in France, then come at me again.”
There was no reply from the other side of the door.
“Let's keep pushing each other higher like that from now on.”
...No matter how much I tried to inspire her, was I not reaching Kanade?
“...Kanade.”
...I was starting to feel a little anxious. I was starting to feel similar to the way I felt on the day I parted with Kanade.
...Am I going to end up having a falling out with Kanade like this?
“...Kanade, please come out.”
That was the one thing I didn't want.
“...If you come out, I'll do anything.”
My voice had lost its vigor and become weak, to the point where it was questionable if it reached the other side of the door.
...However.
Patter, patter, patter...
“Ak-kun.”
Kanade opened the door.
“Ak-kun. What did you just say?”
Kanade had a huge smile on her face, enough to make me wonder if the fight had even happened.
“Ak-kun. Ak-kun... what did you just say?”
...Did something that happy happen?
“...Uh, well.”
“Ak-kun. Ak-kun. You said it just now. You said you'd do anything, right?”
“...Yeah.”
“Ak-kun. Ak-kun. You said you'd do anything just now. You said you'd do anything just now.”
...Why are you repeating it so much? Are you a broken record?
“...I said it.”
“That's right. You said it. You said you'd do anything just now.”
“...Yeah.”
“I wonder what I should have you do. I wonder what I should have Ak-kun do.”
Kanade was giddy. I truly couldn't believe this was the same person who had been angry and shut herself in her room until a moment ago.
...Wait, was I set up?
...No, no way. No way, no way, no way.
Not Kanade, she wouldn't do such a...
“Ufufu. Ufufufufu. I wonder what I should have Ak-kun do~. Ufufufufufufu.”
“...”
“Ak-kun. For now, can I confirm the rules?”
“Rules?”
“Yeah. You said you'd do anything just now, but does that really mean anything?”
“...There are limits to everything.”
“Ehh. Then even though you said you'd do anything, you won't do anything? Did you lie? Ak-kun, did you lie to me?”
“Yeah. I lied.”
If she used logic like that, I had no choice but to say it was a lie. So, I declared it immediately.
“...I see.”
The light vanished from Kanade's eyes.
“Ufufu. Ufufufufu. Then, how far would Ak-kun go to do anything?”
“...How far, I wonder?”
“For example...”
Kanade tilted her head cutely.
“Is 'give up on studying in France' applicable?”
“That is excluded.”
That would be going too far. If that were allowed, then what was the point of the test match?
“It's excluded? ...Hmm. Then. Then?”
Kanade was smiling cutely.
“Is it possible to use the 'right to do anything' to increase the 'right to do anything'?”
“It is not.”
“Ufufu. It's not? I see. Then. Then?”
Kanade took a step closer to me.
“Ak-kun. Ak-kun. Is it okay if you teach me how to study every day from now on?”
“...Huh?”
Is that all? After the intensity from before, I thought she would demand something much more extreme.
“That's fine.”
...Haha. Since the first conversation after fighting and making up was a request for me, I guess I was too on guard.
“Really? Yay!”
Kanade rejoiced.
“Then, from now on, let's study at Ak-kun's house every day!”
“Yeah.”
“At least one hour a day!”
“Yeah.”
“In Ak-kun's room!”
“Yeah.”
“I will also specify the seating arrangement!”
“Yeah! ...Huh?”
“Of course, that's for both Saturdays and Sundays too, okay?”
“...Yeah.”
Hmm. There were several concerning requests... but well, they're within the range of tolerance, I suppose? Compared to the initial request to give up on studying in France, at least this is much better.
...I can't help but feel like this was a classic negotiation tactic: presenting an impossible request first to lower the hurdle for the subsequent requests.
“It's a deal. It's an absolute deal.”
“I understand.”
“A man doesn't go back on his word?”
“Yeah.”
“Good boy. As expected of Ak-kun! So cool!”
“Ehehe. Don't praise me that much.”
“Then, let's go to the living room.”
“Yeah.”
...Well. If Kanade is feeling better, then that's fine.
“La la la~”
Seeing Kanade skipping happily made me feel a little happy too, and I smiled.
This is no time to be smiling.