Fushimi was restless.

First period was about to end, and she was planning on turning Honma down face-to-face.

I had told her she could just text before class, but she shook her head.

“This kind of thing should be done in person, not over text,” she said, going on about good faith or whatever.

She always wanted to do things the right way.

“I’m worried about how she’ll react…”

“I doubt she’ll hold it against you,” I muttered with a glance at Honma, who sat near the front of the class.

The teacher closed the textbook with a thud and declared class over. Fushimi stood up to lead the farewells, and the bell rang, marking the start of a short break.

“Whooooo…”

She took a few deep breaths, like a martial artist preparing for the next match, stood up, and headed over to where Honma was chatting with friends. Fushimi’s concern infected me, too, and I watched her with bated breath.

“Ahhh, I figured,” Honma said, laughing dejectedly.

The reaction wasn’t anything to worry about. What a relief.

“Sorry for turning you down over and over. I’ll help you look for someone else.”

Fushimi’s tone made it clear she was just being considerate. She should be more honest, I thought. You don’t have to be so tactful. But I don’t know anything about how it is between girls.

“No, no, it’s fine. I’m the one being so adamant.”

After all that, she came back with the weary look of someone who’d finished a day of hard work.

“Good thing it all went smoothly.”

“Yeah. So next up we have biology… We’re moving classrooms, right?”

“We are?”

“Geez. Fine, I’ll go ask the teacher.”

I tried saying I’d go with her, but she was already gone before I’d even stood up all the way.

I returned to my seat and opened up social media on my phone to pass the time.

“…What is she even busy with? She’s not in any club, right?”

“I don’t know what she’s doing, but…”

“What a bitch. What’s wrong with helping out just a bit?”

“She’s like antisocial or something. She always goes home early when we ask her to hang out. Like she’s a grade-schooler or something.”

I lifted my head at the irksome laughter. There I saw Honma with an awkward smile on her face, surrounded by three other sports-club girls.

“Unbelievable. You just asked her to play tennis for one day.”

“She’s been rude like that since last year. We were in the same class.”

I put my phone down on the desk with an audible thud that echoed throughout the entire classroom.

“…Then one of you go to the tournament,” I said directly to the people surrounding Honma.

Apparently, my voice carried better than I’d expected—everyone else shut up.

“She just needs one person to round out the team, it doesn’t matter who goes.”

All three of them were astounded at my sudden interjection.

“It’s just ‘helping out a bit,’ right? …Don’t go assuming people have tons of free time just because they’re not in any club. What people do with their time is none of your business.”

The classroom was painfully silent compared to the usual break-time chatter.

I came to my senses after hearing the hustle and bustle coming from the hallways.

…This is exactly why I have no friends.

“I’ll go ask the teacher if we’re moving classrooms now…”

I couldn’t bear to stay there any longer, so I excused myself and stood up from my seat.

I turned around and saw Torigoe sitting in the last row, holding her thumb up with her usual inexpressive face. That got a smile out of me, and I headed out the classroom a bit more relaxed.

“…Ah.”

“Whoa!” I bumped into Fushimi at the door.

“We’re moving classrooms for biology.”

“Oh, cool. Okay.”

Fushimi slowly entered the silent classroom and wrote Next class will be in the biology room on the blackboard. I could tell her hand was trembling.

She must’ve heard the whole conversation from just outside the classroom. She was waiting for the right moment to come in…

Our classmates grabbed their notebooks and textbooks and left the classroom in a hurry, one after the other, as though escaping from the awkward mood. Soon, there was no one left.

Fushimi turned away from the blackboard.

“I was fine. You didn’t have to say all that.”

“Don’t lie.”

It’s obvious it affected you. Anyone would be shocked hearing someone talk behind their back.

“I’m used to it.”

“Please don’t get used to that.”

“Everyone will blame you for it.”

“I don’t care. It’s not like anyone has a good opinion of me anyway.”

“Ah-ha-ha,” she laughed painfully, trying to not make me worry.

“Don’t force yourself to laugh.”

“No… I have to…or I’ll cry.” Tears were already welling up in her eyes.

Too late.

I said nothing; instead, I rubbed her hair. She rested her head on my shoulder and sniffled.

“Ryou… Thank you.”

Looks like both class reps are gonna be late to next period.