“What? Ichinose-san, do you have some kind of complaint against me?”
Kadokura-san, who had taken a step back earlier, now showed a look of blatant displeasure toward Kanade.
Well, since I, standing next to her, noticed Kanade’s state, there was no way Kadokura-san, who was facing her directly, wouldn’t notice Kanade’s attitude.
As if to return the glare, Kadokura-san was glaring at Kanade with all her might.
...Kadokura-san was a beautiful girl who belonged to the top caste of this class.
However, contrary to her beautiful appearance... or perhaps because she had such a beautiful appearance, she was occasionally strong-willed... no, that doesn't quite cover it. She displayed an attitude best described as arrogant, which often troubled her classmates.
I, being one of the most low-profile students in this class, had fortunately not become her prey until today, but...
“Kadokura-san, isn’t that a bit strange?”
Seeing her acting so overbearing, I reflexively stepped in between the two of them.
“In the first place, you’re the one who started picking a fight with us. Who wouldn’t be offended after having an acquaintance belittled?”
“Ha? I wasn’t talking to you.”
“I figured.”
“If you get it, then—”
“Because I didn’t want to talk to someone like you, who can only mock others, either.”
“Hah!?”
“Well, of course. That kind of mocking remark only works among friends where that kind of ‘inner circle’ vibe is allowed. You and Kanade only talked a little yesterday. This is the first time you and I have ever spoken. To talk like that to someone you barely know... I can’t evaluate you as anything other than a person lacking delicacy.”
“...Wh-What!”
“How should I put it... it makes me think that until now, you’ve lived in a world where that kind of approach is allowed even with people you’ve just met. You’ve been spoiled, haven’t you?”
I said what I thought after seeing her attitude, but... I regretted it a little.
...Maybe saying she was ‘spoiled’ was going a bit too far.
I’m not exactly a perfect, independent adult myself, after all.
“Sorry. I went too far.”
“...Tsk.”
I apologized honestly, but it seemed I had successfully earned her resentment.
“...If you’re really sorry, then get down on your knees and apologize right here.”
“Eh.”
“A dogeza! A dogeza! Do it already!”
“I don’t mind doing it, but will you really be satisfied with that?”
“Hah!?”
“I mean, a dogeza is just an act intended to make the other person submit... In the end, you’re failing to disprove my theory that you’re just a spoiled brat, you know?”
“...”
“In other words, even if you make the other person submit, aren’t you just admitting that you’re a spoiled piece of crap? You’re a high school student; is it really okay to think that way?”
“...!”
...Oops. I went too far again.
“Uwaaaaaaan!”
...I made Kadokura-san cry.
I flustered.
The classmates who had arrived at school and were watching the situation unfold were also... speechless.
Come to think of it, this might be the first time since entering this class that I’ve seen the crying face of the always-haughty Kadokura-san.
“Geez, Ak-kun. You went too far.”
The one who stepped in to care for the still-crying Kadokura-san was Kanade.
“There, there. It’s okay now, Kadokura-san.”
“...Ugh.”
“Goodness. If you cry that much, your cute face will be ruined, you know?”
“...Eh?”
“Come on, look up.”
“...”
“...Fufu. Just as I thought. Kadokura-san, you’re very cute.”
...What am I being made to watch?
“...Th-That’s not...”
“Ak-kun is sorry, Kadokura-san.”
“I-It’s not like...”
...Perhaps because she saw Kanade’s stunning looks up close, Kadokura-san’s anger seemed to have vanished, despite them both being girls.
“Ju... Just, next time, I want you to say it... a bit more gently... maybe.”
“Hear that, Ak-kun?”
“...Yes.”
...Wait.
If you think about it, the situation only reached the point where I made Kadokura-san cry because Kanade glared at her first, right?
In other words, Kanade herself created this situation, didn’t she?
...What is this? This ‘match-pump’ feeling.
“...I’m sorry. But I think what Ak-kun said also has a point.”
“...Yeah. I’m sorry too.”
“From now on, let’s talk more kindly, okay?”
“Yeah.”
...A troublemaker like me got involved, but it seems the situation has settled down safely.
The classmates also lost interest in our interaction and went back to their usual idle chatter.
“Hey. If you’d like, why don’t we go somewhere together after school today?”
Kanade made a suggestion to Kadokura-san.
“Eh...?”
Kadokura-san looked at me with a bewildered expression.
“Ufufu. Is that a no?”
“...O-Okay.”
“Thank you, Kadokura-san...”
...Meaningful.
Well, whatever.
I’m a bit tired from talking to people more than usual.
I decided to leave Kanade and the others alone and head to my seat.
“Ak-kun.”
“Gyah!”
As soon as I sat down, Kanade spoke to me from behind, making me jump.
“Wh-What...?”
“...Ufufu.”
Kanade’s smile should have been cute, but it was somehow eerie...
“I was happy that you mediated for me. Thank you...”
However, the words she spoke were a perfectly normal thank-you.
“...No. I’m the one who should be sorry. Even though I said earlier that I wanted you to enjoy school life, I almost left a permanent grudge.”
“Ufufu. It’s fine. Something like that is nothing.”
...She’s giving off such a ‘big shot’ vibe.
“...But, I might have felt a bit of a thrill.”
“...Hm?”
Kanade leaned close to my ear...
“Next time, why don’t you try scolding me?”
She started saying something weird again.