Horikita Suzune was startled by Amane.
She hastily pressed her fingers beneath Amane's nose.
Still breathing. Seemed she'd just fallen asleep.
This ability to drop off so quickly was honestly alarming.
Phew.
Horikita confirmed Amane hadn't kicked the bucket right there on her bed.
Only then did she pat her chest in relief.
Ever since running into Amane, this day had been… a bit too eventful.
Felt even more packed with incidents than her entire three years of middle school.
Horikita Suzune no longer felt like reading now. She just idly scrolled through her phone.
And then she saw the messages Amane had sent her.
Weird.
She definitely hadn't added Amane as a friend.
How did she manage to send these?
Horikita first skimmed the chat log.
--+--
"Horikita-san, wanna have dinner together tonight?"
"I made some tamagoyaki~ and chicken wings too."
"Oops, sorry, I got a bit peckish and ate the chicken wings already, but there's still tamagoyaki!"
"Come quick, before it gets cold!"
"Come on, come on~"
"Don't tell me Horikita-san fell asleep?"
--+--
Reading the messages, Horikita felt totally duped.
What nonsense about hearing her snoring from next door—clearly, she'd just guessed Horikita was asleep from the unread status.
But she could've just missed the messages.
Or been busy with something else—how could Amane be so sure she was sleeping?
Suddenly, Horikita remembered something.
She quickly opened her phone's camera.
Switched to selfie mode.
Sure enough.
Her hair was a complete mess. Looked exactly like someone who'd just woken up.
Hmph.
Amane-san. I'll remember this.
Horikita looked down at the soundly sleeping Amane.
She'd originally thought about pranking her back, but instead, she just ended up ruffling her hair.
It felt surprisingly soft.
Quite like the cat back at her home.
But with just that one ruffle, Amane suddenly rolled over and wrapped her arms around Horikita's waist.
!———
Horikita could feel the heat rushing to her face.
"A—Amane-san…?"
She really wanted to shake her awake, but seeing Amane's peaceful, almost kitten-like sleeping face, she could only heave a heavy sigh.
Then she turned off the light.
--+--
The next day.
Amane drowsily opened her eyes.
She realized she seemed to be hugging something.
But she hadn't brought her body pillow from home, had she?
Amane rubbed her eyes with one hand.
Horikita was staring back at her, completely expressionless.
"You're finally awake. Do you have any idea what you did last night—"
"Horikita-san, why are you in my bed!!!"
A shrill scream.
Horikita Suzune's mind went completely blank with a clatter.
"Huh? Why would I be in your bed…"
Something felt off to Horikita. Amane was clutching a pillow, shivering as she huddled in the corner.
"Amane-san, wait, let me explain—"
"Wahhh…"
"I didn't mean anything by it, I don't even know how I…"
"Wahhh…"
"Wait, hold on—this is my room. You're the one sleeping in my bed."
"Wah… Huh? Really?"
It was as if Amane's memories had finally finished loading.
"Amane-san."
"Horikita… ehehe, Suzune-chan, I was just still half-asleep… Please forgive me, okay? Pretty please~"
"Your cute act won't work on me."
With practiced ease, Horikita lightly pinched Amane's ear and shoved her off the bed.
"Go borrow a key from the dorm supervisor and get your room open."
"Oh, okay. But should I go dressed like this?"
If Amane went down in her pajamas, with how she looked, some guy might just carry her off to his room.
"Wear my uniform for now."
"Are you sure?"
"Do you have a better idea?"
"Well, in that case, don't mind if I do! Suzune, your uniform feels a bit tight though."
Stare———.
"Ahem, I'll go get the key now!"
Seeing the annoying girl finally disappear, Horikita could at last enjoy a moment of peace and quiet.
"Suzune-chan…"
I wonder, would braising or stewing bring out a better flavor…
Only after Amane got the key and opened her own room did true quiet finally return for Horikita Suzune.
After washing up and putting her own uniform back on, why did her chest area feel a little loose now…
--+--
Checking the time, she was already running a bit late. The moment she opened her door, she found Amane waiting, smiling and waving at her.
"Morning, Suzune!"
"...Morning."
"Sleep well last night? …Uh, forget I asked."
The two hurried all the way, managing to slip into the classroom just before the bell rang. Since it was the first day, the teachers didn't cover much material.
After briefly outlining the teaching plan for the term, the morning classes concluded.
At noon, Horikita went to the convenience store and bought a sandwich to tide her over.
But when she returned, she found Amane surrounded by a thick crowd.
Had something happened again?
Meh.
Probably none of her business.
…And then Horikita found herself squeezing into the crowd.
It turned out everyone was gathered around to see Amane's lunch box. Inside was a whole row of tri-color dango, octopus-shaped wieners, and tamagoyaki.
She'd even brought miso soup.
Looked like last night's leftovers.
But the tri-color dango…
Had she been preparing it yesterday afternoon already?
"Miyako-san, you're amazing! You made the dango yourself?" Wang Meiyu looked astonished at the lunchbox contents.
"Want to try one?"
"Then I'll gladly accept!"
Wang Meiyu used a small pick from the side to spear one.
She popped it into her mouth and chewed.
The one she ate was the milk-flavored dango.
The sweet creaminess of the milk and the peanut filling created a delightful burst of flavor, making her face light up with bliss.
"It tastes just like the ones you buy outside!"
Hearing Wang Meiyu's review, everyone immediately switched into food-grabbing mode.
"Miyako-san, I want one too!"
"Me too, me too!"
"So yummy…"
Horikita decided her worry had been totally wasted.
She returned to her seat and started on her sandwich.
"Your sandwich looks pretty good," a voice beside her remarked. It was Ayanokōji.
"Are you making fun of me? Amane's handing out dango over there. Go get one if you want."
Horikita said this without looking up, continuing to eat her sandwich.
Ayanokōji glanced at the dense circle of girls.
He scratched his head helplessly. In a situation like this, he couldn't exactly squeeze in and ask for food.
Karuizawa looked hesitantly at the matcha-flavored dango in her hand, but took a bite anyway.
It really was quite good. Miyako-san was pretty and skilled at cooking.
She'd probably become the central figure among the Class D girls soon, wouldn't she?
Karuizawa's chewing intensified.
By the time the crowd dispersed, Amane's lunchbox was completely empty.
It was then that she noticed Horikita eating her sandwich alone.
Amane pulled her chair over.
"They finished all your lunch, didn't they? Well, don't expect me to share my sandwich," Horikita said, then broke off a large piece from the untouched side of her half-eaten sandwich and held it out to Amane.
"If you don't mind it…"
"I knew Suzune was a good person!"
"…"
Is this what they call repaying kindness with enmity?
Then Horikita watched as Amane, like a magician, produced one last white dango and one octopus wiener.
She also opened a thermos, used its lid as a bowl, and poured Horikita a cupful of…miso soup!
--+--
T/N: While I am an inexperienced Translator, I have a Patreon! While it may seem empty as of now, webnovel will get 3 Chapters Every Day, and advanced chapters will be uploaded on Patreon.
It may not seem worth it now, but maybe in the future. Who knows!
[email protected]/AspenTL
If you guys wanna check it out.