Both Kushida and Ayanokoji were surprised by the question.
It took her a second to recover before she laughed while rubbing the back of her head, "While trying to talk to her yesterday I saw her family name on her notebooks." She pouted, displaying the qualities of a little seductress, "I wonder how should I make her my friend~?"
Her pitiful voice could surely make a young boy's blood boil. Along with her deflection towards another question, her response was near perfect.
Too bad, the two people in front of her were the worst people she could have come across. One knew everything about her and one she couldn't hide anything from.
Ryuji nodded in understanding before pressing her again, "It doesn't seem like Horikita wants to be your friend Kushida. Will you force her to become your friend in that case? I mean she's clearly rejected you, isn't it a bit pathetic to force a relationship?"
Kushida froze.
She looked over Ryuji as calmly as possible, trying to figure out the reason for his hostile behaviour. She remembered this guy nervously stammering during his introduction, where was his confidence coming from?
Ayanokoji stood by the side, silently watching the spectacle. Anyone else might've jumped to defend Kushida but too bad…
"Of course not!" Kushida declared, "I just feel like it's not right for her to stay alone, isolation is good for no one! Even if she doesn't want to be friends it wouldn't hurt to try to have a cordial relationship, right?" It wasn't like she could say that she was worried about Horikita's knowledge of her past.
"Hmm, makes sense." Ryuji nodded, having established his presence in her mind half his goal had been accomplished, "If there's nothing else we'll leave… or would you like to join us for lunch?"
Kushida's smile turned somewhat stiff as she waved her hands, "No no, I won't disturb you guys. It was nice meeting you two, cya later~"
She turned around and walked away.
As she left, Ayanokoji turned towards Ryuji, feeling curious, "Why provoke her?"
"Not really, she just seems like a two-faced bitch." Ryuji, unlike Ayanokoji's soft whisper, spoke loud enough for Kushida to hear.
But as if she hadn't heard anything Kushida continued to leave till she was out of sight.
"Wow." Ayanokoji murmured before shaking his head, "Do you have a grudge against her or something?"
"Not really, but doesn't she seem way too fake? I've seen people like her before and I can guarantee she's putting up an act."
"Maybe," Ayanokoji neither denied nor agreed.
Ryuji seemed like someone who judged others easily, he appeared quite brash but honest, like someone who wasn't afraid to speak his mind.
And if Kushida's angel act was fake there must be a reason for it. Though, that wouldn't change the fact that she was indeed putting up an act.
From his perspective, weren't both Ryuji and Kushida flawed in that case?
A feeling of mockery welled up in his chest.
After all, the most flawed of them all was him, Ayanokoji Kiyotaka.
…
Bastard!
I hope he dies, fucking pathetic asshole.
"Not really, she just seems like a two-faced bitch."
All of a sudden, the words I dreaded to hear echoed from behind. My mind went blank but instead of turning around to confront him for his obvious provocation I quickened my pace.
Two-faced bitch.
Two-faced bitch.
Two-faced bitch.
Two-faced bitch.
Two-faced bitch.
Two-faced bitch.
Two-faced bitch.
Two-faced bitch.
Two-faced bitch.
Two-faced bitch.
Two-faced bitch.
Two-faced bitch.
Two-faced bitch.
Two-faced bitch.
Two-faced bitch.
Two-faced bitch.
The words hammered in my head like thunder.
Why?
Why?
I've done nothing wrong.
I just asked for information about that bitchy Horikita.
Is it just prejudice? Maybe he's one of those emo pessimists who thinks the world's against them? People like that would surely find it hard to accept my selflessly kind behaviour.
But that brought up another problem…
I haven't been kind at all!
Besides saying I wanted to be friends with everyone, and exchanging for everyone's contact number I haven't done anything else at all. Why does he seem to loathe me?
A possibility I didn't want to think of welled up inside my mind.
Is he… is he also from the same middle school as me…?
All of a sudden a burst of disgust and hatred for that bastard spurted in my heart.
I want him gone.
I want him gone at all costs.
It's okay Kushida, the past won't repeat here.
It definitely won't!
…
It was 8 PM.
By now most students had returned to their dorms.
Despite the freedom ANHS provided it wouldn't allow its students to roam around at night. For boys, the curfew was 10 PM and for the girls, it was 9 PM.
Ryuji stared at the night sky sitting alone on a bench. In his vision, a few students inevitably lingered, but that was none of his concern. He glanced at the time and saw it was 8:07 PM.
His appointment with a specific someone was at 8:15 PM.
"He's here." He muttered as he spotted a figure jogging towards him with light steps. Ryuji hadn't misjudged him, the guy came way before the appointment.
The guy stopped in front of him, and he held two cans of iced tea.
"I thought I was early but…" Hirata shook his head with a wry smile, "I hope you didn't wait too long." He tossed a can towards Ryuji, "I didn't know what you'd like so I picked randomly, hope you don't mind."
"No it's fine, actually iced tea is something I drink frequently. Anyway, I just got here as well. I guess we both had the same idea haha," Laughing it off Ryuji invited Hirata to sit beside him.
The thoughtfulness the guy had showed mental maturity beyond his age, and Ryuji was impressed. It was one thing to read about it in the novel and one thing to experience it.
Hirata sat down.
"So what's the matter, Yamamoto-kun? You said you had some kind of problem only I could help with on text."
"Well…" Ryuji hesitated, appearing nervous.
Hirata didn't pressure him and just opened his can of iced tea and took a sip. A few seconds passed before Ryuji spoke his request.
Hirata was initially stunned but smiled immediately.
"I see, that's not a problem at all. I'll do my best to help you, if you ever feel the need to discuss something with me please feel free to do so without hesitation, I don't mind it all." His words were soft but full of conviction.
Ryuji's eyes flickered unnoticeably.
He smiled in relief in response to Hirata's words.
"Thank you so much, Hirata."
They talked for a bit more before Hirata got up and bade farewell.
Ryuji watched him leave with, a thoughtful look coloring his face. An evil glint shone in his eyes as his lips parted, "You're a good person, Hirata!"
Hirata who had been walking away happily froze. For a few seconds, silence stretched before he stiffly turned around and nodded with a smile, finally departing.
Ryuji watched Hirata depart, his happiness having been transformed into sad desolation.
For a safe measure…
He had intentionally dug up Hirata's old wounds.