6 Oof

"Kikyou-chan, do you want to stop by a café on our way back today?"

"Sure, let's go! Oh, but wait just a minute, okay? I want to invite one more person." Kushida headed towards Horikita, who was in the middle of putting her textbooks in her bag.

"Horikita-san, would you like to come with us to a café today?" Kushida asked.

"Not interested." Horikita threw Kushida's invitation back in her face, with no regard for her feelings.

This wasn't a particularly unusual scene. Ever since the entrance ceremony, Kushida had regularly tried to invite Horikita to do fun things with her.

Kenji could only envy her. After all up until now he hadn't got a single idea how to make friends. Making friends in such a peaceful, and yet cruel, world was too difficult. The difference of social and cultural norms was confusing for him. At the very least, he knows someone is a 'friends/comrades' after fighting together in the battlefield entrusting each other's lives. But alas this world don't have a Demon King or terrifying Dragons.

"I see. Well then, I'll try inviting you again another time."

"Wait, Kushida-san." Surprisingly, Horikita called out to Kushida. "Don't invite me again. It's a bother." said Horikita coldly.

However, Kushida didn't appear saddened. Instead, she smiled as she answered. "I'll invite you again."

Kushida then ran back to join her friends, and they left the hall.

"Kikyou-chan, just stop inviting Horikita-san. I hate her—"

Just before the door closed, Kenji faintly heard one of the other girl's words. Horikita, who was right next to him, must have heard as well, but she gave no indication that she cared.

"You won't try to invite me places, will you?"" she asked.

"What? Are you expecting me to do so? You could just be honest and ask you know?" Kenji replied.

"I don't know how you ended up with such a conclusion."

"Well that's how it looked to me. After all Girls are weird creatures. They might say they don't want to be invited, but deep inside they really wanted it."

"Then don't lump me together with them."

After Horikita finished getting ready, she walked out of the classroom by herself. Seeing her lonely back made Kenji sigh as if saying 'what a troublesome girl'.

"Kawamoto-kun, do you have a minute?" Hirata who was still hanging around the classroom called out to Kenji when he passed by.

"Hm? What?"

"It's about Horikita-san, actually. I was wondering if something was wrong. Some of the girls were talking about it earlier. Horikita always seems to be alone."

"Oh, she totally is. What about it?"

"Could you possibly tell her to try to get along with people a little?"

"Not really sure about that though. I mean she's not the type to listen to people." Kenji said.

Then Hirata smiled softly. "But from what I can see, out of everybody in the class Horikita-san only talked to you. So I think you could tell her."

"Well it's just up to her right? And it's not like she's causing trouble in class."

"You're right, of course. However, many people have voiced their concerns about it. I absolutely do not want any bullying in our class." Hirata looked at Kenji with the purest of intentions.

"Well, I think it'd be better for you to tell her directly rather than talk to me, Hirata." Kenji said.

"You have a point. Sorry for bringing it up."

@@

Kenji after leaving the classroom went straight to the dorms. Kushida, who was supposed to have left with a friend earlier, appeared to be waiting for someone while leaning up against the wall. Noticing him, her face brightens up with a smile.

"I'm so glad! I was waiting for you, Kawamoto-kun. There's something I wanted to talk to you about. Do you have a minute?" she asked.

"Yeah, sure..."

Is she confessing her feelings? No it wasn't... There's no way a popular and cute girl like Kushida would someone like him. Kenji started to wonder what she's up to waiting for him.

"I'll just ask you outright. Kawamoto-kun, have you seen Horikita-san smile even once?" Kushida asked

"No, mot one bit. Why'd you ask?" Kenji replied immediately.

Kushida took Kenji's hand into hers, closing in the distance. Her flower scent wafted into his nostrils. Any normal boys would have fallen immediately.

"You know, I... I want to become friends with Horikita-san." she said.

"Uh-huh... At first, a lot of people tried reaching out to her, but now you're the only one."

"You seem to know Horikita-san pretty well, Kawamoto-kun."

"I wouldn't really say that. It's just that we seat next to each other." Kenji sighed. "And why are you so persistent anyways? She already told you off to leave her alone right? Can't you just respect her wishes and let her be?"

"Won't you... help me...?" Kushida asked.

"I understand how you feel, but..."

"So that means... you can't?"

Cute + Pleading + Upturned Eyes = Lethal.

"I'm sorry."

However it was completely ineffective. Could you hear that Sigma male music in the background? Yes that's right...

"If that's all, then I'll excuse myself."

As Kenji was about to leave her behind, he felt a slight tugged on his sleeve getting his attention. He noticed that it was Kushida holding it.

"Kawamoto-kun, could it be... Do you hate me?" She asked teary eyed.

By Japanese aesthetic standards, they prefer 'cuteness' that are petite and delicate for a woman's feminity, rather than 'sexiness' that are 'seductive' and 'voluptous'.

As a reincarnated Japanese himself, Kenji learned how to appreciate the word 'cuteness'. And this girl in front of him was could definitely be described as 'cute'... However...

"Could you let go of me?" Kawamoto said.

Kushida flustered, let go of his sleeve. But her face still looked dim.

"Kawamoto-kun still haven't called me by my name."

"Oh really?"

"Compared to Horikita-san, you looked even more lonelier Kawamoto-kun. It's like you really don't want to get close with anyone." Kushida said really concerned.

"You're really kinda annoying me you know? If you want to ask my help. Just bow your head and politely ask. Don't act like a cutesy at me and then play the victim when you're not getting help. It's really creeping me out." Kawamoto said clearly a little bit mad.

Kushida noticed that he was angry. She flinched back after getting treated as a nuisance.

"I shouldn't have said that. I'm sorry, alright?" Kenji didn't even bother to wait for her response, leaving Kushida alone as he walked away completely unapologetic.

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