"...Uuuh. Why does it end up like this every time?"
Takagaki-san took a step back with teary eyes.
I wonder what she means by it ending up like this every time...?
Come to think of it, even though Takagaki-san has a fairly sharp tongue and a personality that isn't easily intimidated, she always ends up acting like a frightened puppy whenever she's up against Kanade.
...Is it a matter of compatibility?
"Hey, hey, Takagaki-san. We're friends, right? Us?"
Kanade said that in a flat, expressionless voice.
"...O-Of course."
Takagaki-san stammered.
Well, it's been about a month since Kanade transferred here.
In places I don't know about, these two must have already become something like best friends.
"..."
"...Takagaki-san?"
"Actually, thinking about it calmly, aren't we not friends?"
"Hau...!"
Eh, is that so?
"I mean, it's been nearly a month since Ichinose-san transferred, but the number of times we've talked can be counted on one hand, right?"
Eh, is that really so...?
"...Calling such a shallow relationship a friendship is something only a troubled video streamer, who considers someone an acquaintance after talking to them just once, would do."
That was quite something; Takagaki-san's insults are as edgy as ever.
"...I-I thought of Takagaki-san as a friend, you know?"
...Before I knew it, Kanade was half-crying.
Looking at her like this, it seems she's being sincere.
"Eh. Really? If that's the case, you could have been more proactive in interacting with me."
"T-That is..."
"That is?"
"Because Takagaki-san... you're cool."
"In what way?"
"Like that personality of yours that isn't afraid of anything."
"No, it's not really something to be proud of. This personality of mine."
Well, a personality that appeals to one group is often disliked by another, and it's not rare for it to cause resentment and lead to interpersonal troubles. I thought she was right about that.
"...Muu."
Kanade puffed out her cheeks.
"Are we done? Ichinose-san. I have business with Hagiwara-kun."
"Ah, come to think of it, you did."
"...Wait, Takagaki-san. Not yet. Not yet...! Our verbal battle has only just begun!"
"Eh...? You were challenging me to a verbal battle...?"
Kanade had an unusually serious look on her face.
It seems... she's serious.
"Anyway, Takagaki-san. ...No. Ayaka-chan."
*Gulp.*
"Please become my friend!"
She said it...!
Kanade, what a powerful request.
If it were me, I'd reply instantly with 'likewise'.
...Even the tough Takagaki-san must be flustered by this.
"Eh...?"
...She was flustered, but it was different from what I expected.
"I-It's different from what I expected!"
Kanade seemed to think the same thing and raised her voice.
"...A-Ayaka-chan. Do you hate being friends with me?"
Kanade's eyes began to moisten as she started to plead.
"...Hmm."
"..."
"If you're asking if I hate it or not..."
"..."
"Hmm..."
...That's a long thought.
Long. Way too long.
Morning homeroom is going to start.
...Wait, is that her goal?
Is this that politician-like behavior where they give an irrelevant answer to stall for time and survive the moment when questioned about a scandal in the Diet?
"...Well, I guess it's fine."
Ah, I guess I was wrong.
"Yay!"
"Wait."
"...Eh?"
"I don't mind being friends, but there are conditions."
...Was becoming friends something that required attaching conditions?
"Yes. I'll listen to anything."
"Hm? Did you just say anything?"
"I didn't."
"You did... yeah. You didn't say it."
Takagaki-san cleared her throat.
"First, don't suddenly sneak up on me from behind."
Come to think of it, every time Takagaki-san talks to Kanade, it starts with her jumping in surprise.
"It really startles me."
"...Eh? Am I suddenly sneaking up from behind?"
"You're not aware of it...?"
Takagaki-san held her head in her hands.
"Next, don't talk to me in such a high-pressure way."
"...Ahaha. I thought I was talking as gently as possible, though?"
"Then that makes it even worse..."
Takagaki-san was completely exasperated.
"Finally... This is the most important condition."
Despite her exasperation, Takagaki-san was a person with enough grit to say everything she wanted to say.
"What is it? What is it?"
Kanade pressed closer to Takagaki-san with a smile.
"The... the pressure is too strong..."
Seeing Kanade's smile, Takagaki-san took another step back.
...Calling the pressure strong after seeing such a cute smile, what does that even mean?
"...A-Anyway, this is the last condition."
"Yes. Tell me!"
"...Well, if you're asking if this is a condition, to be honest, it's a bit different."
"Is it?"
"Yeah. If anything, it's more like... a declaration?"
"A declaration?"
Kanade tilted her head slightly.
Facing that Kanade, Takagaki-san swallowed hard and continued.
"I don't even like Hagiwara-kun!"
...I feel like I was just suddenly rejected.
"So, let's get along, okay!?"
...Eh, that's surely a bad move.
Kanade and I are best friends.
Normally, if your best friend is insulted... wouldn't you be driven by anger?
...Kanade was.
"Really!??"
She had a beaming smile.
"Yeah. I don't like him. He's not my type. Not at all."
"Really, for real!?"
"Yeah. Really, really."
"Ufufu. Ufufufufu!"
Kanade started jumping up and down on the spot.
"Ayaka-chan, I love you!"
And then Kanade... dove into Takagaki-san's chest.
"...If that was a lie, you know what happens, right?"
Then... she muttered something in a low voice that I couldn't hear.
...Even though Takagaki-san is being hugged by a cute classmate, for some reason, her face has turned pale.
I wonder what was said to her?
It's honestly pitiful that she has to go through this just for becoming friends of the opposite sex with someone who has a slightly foul-mouthed and yandere admirer.
Damn. I'll have to put her through even worse things.