Between a Joke and a Hard Place

"Good morning, Ayanokouji-kun."

"...ah, good morning, Basori."

Monday morning, just before first period.

As per usual, I was staring out the window when my neighbor walked in and greeted me with her usual sharp, no-nonsense tone.

This student had a knack for embodying discipline—almost to a fault.

'I heard she's joining the Student Council not long ago. Sounds like a fitting role, given her love for rules and all that.'

"There's a test today, isn't there?" I mentioned.

Basori nodded. "That's right. Have you prepared, Ayanokouji-kun?"

"As much as I could. How about you? Actually... I think I know the answer."

She looked almost offended by the insinuation.

"Obviously, I always keep up with my studies."

"I see..."

We both lapsed into silence after that, and for a few minutes, I went back to staring at the window, my mind wandering idly.

I thought back to a few days prior.

When Yanami realized I'd covered her bill, she was quite embarrassed and insisted she'd find some way to pay me back, no matter what. I declined her offers of money except a one-time payment—and then the bento idea she tried to give me afterward. I had a feeling her attempts at repayment would only lead to some sort of chaos. Besides, I could make my own meals, and from just a rough guess, Yanami didn't seem like the type who spent much time in the kitchen.

Running out of ideas, she finally came up with a more unique proposal.

Knowing my appreciation for good food (not to be mistaken for gluttony), Yanami suggested she act as a sort of 'culinary guide'—someone who'd introduce me to the best hidden spots in town. She seemed to know nearly every place that served a meal worth tasting, like she'd been mapping out the food scene for years. Not every good place was in the internet, so it was a tempting offer.

So, of course, I accepted.

"?"

A crumpled sheet of paper landed on my desk.

At first, I assumed it was some forgotten note, but a glance at the top corner stopped me in my tracks. A red "32" was printed next to Basori Tiara's name. 'That was concerningly low—'

"What—?!"

Basori lunged and snatched the paper from my hand.

"T-that's none of your problem, okay?!" she stammered, her cheeks burning as she clutched the paper defensively. "I was experimenting with different study methods! That's all— ugh?!"

She caught herself mid-ramble, glancing around to ensure we were still alone.

Luckily for her, it was early enough that no one else was nearby to overhear.

"Experimenting?" I raised an eyebrow. "So you're saying this was intentional?"

"Don't be ridiculous."

"Well, I wouldn't expect anything less from a member of the student council."

"I'll be scoring high on today's test. Don't think this means anything!"

"If you're aiming for a perfect score, you must already know all the key points for today's material, right?"

"That's obvious..."

She didn't know.

"Cool, just checking in case you needed a refresher or something," I said.

She glanced at me, seemingly trying to read my expression. "You seem pretty confident about today's material, Ayanokouji-kun."

"Well, prepared enough to help you go over it, if you'd like."

"Don't think I need your help," she huffed. "But... if it's to make sure you don't miss anything, then I'll be more than willing to check the materials again together."

***

As we went through the material—

"Hold on," I stopped her, pointing to a specific problem. "Look, it's simpler than it looks. You're overthinking it. Just follow the formula directly here."

She blinked at me, her brows knitting as she recalculated. This time, her pencil moved with less hesitation, and a flicker of satisfaction crossed her face when she got the right answer.

"That was... easier than I thought," she mumbled.

I nodded. "Sometimes you're better off keeping it simple."

A reluctant smile tugged at the corner of her mouth, though she quickly suppressed it. She hesitated, then asked, "Why are you helping me, Ayanokouji-kun?"

"Because it's the normal thing to do," I answered.

In that moment, a whirlwind of thoughts spun through my mind.

'What did it mean to be "normal"?'

For most, it seemed straightforward: helping a classmate in need was just a part of the unwritten social contract. But for me, who had always lingered on the periphery of those unwritten rules, defining normality felt like trying to grasp smoke with my bare hands.

I had watched others effortlessly navigate the maze of friendship and support for the past few months, and all their interactions were fluid and genuine. Yet, every time I ventured a step closer, I was reminded of the distance that remained—one that I had grown accustomed to, almost comforted by. So when I said it was normal, perhaps I was merely parroting what I observed rather than expressing a heartfelt sentiment.

Was helping her truly an act of kindness? Or was I simply fulfilling an obligation, an expected role that society had thrust upon me? The complexities of human relationships often left me pondering my intentions. Perhaps it was both, a fusion of instinct and obligation.

So, I repeated, "It's just the normal thing to do."

"I see..."

I hoped that the answer wouldn't sound as hollow to her as it did to me.

***

Class began shortly after, and the teacher for the first period entered, passing out our test papers. As usual, I took my time answering the questions, aiming for a score that wouldn't stand out.

"—ahh, that felt great!"

The test ended quickly, and the break between periods began. Basori said so with an uncharacteristically relaxed look on her face.

"Confident about your score?" I asked.

She nodded. "Yes, thanks to you, Ayanokouji-kun."

Despite her stubbornness, she at least knew how to express gratitude when the time called for it—unlike a certain blue-haired anomaly I knew.

"Do you want anything as thanks?" she asked.

"No—" I was about to decline, but thought better of it. "Do you know of any shops that sell good desserts? If it's not too much trouble, I wouldn't mind one."

"Desserts? I didn't expect you to like that sort of thing, Ayanokouji-kun."

"Well, I never tried them before high school."

"That... sounds pretty sad. Alright, I'll treat you. After school?"

"Sure."

"Just as a suggestion, don't eat too much of that stuff. It's not good for your health."

"I know. Thanks for the warning, anyway."

Basori wore a satisfied expression.

"...Tiara-chan—"

"Eek?!"

That weak voice startled her. I looked over at the girl who had crept up behind Basori with a slight amusement.

She had the appearance you'd call a gal, though her demeanor was more akin to a zombie—quite the opposite of the lively image a gal usually projects.

"Sh-Shikiya-senpai!? What are you doing here?"

"I... wanted to see you..."

"D-Don't sneak up on me like that! It's bad for my heart, okay?"

"You're... the one ignoring me. You were too busy... talking to that boy."

As she said this, her gaze shifted toward me. I understood my cue immediately.

"She's right, actually. Shikiya-senpai has been calling your name a few times, but each time, you just ignored her."

"What? I did not!" Basori protested.

Shikiya-senpai's tired gaze lingered on Basori for a moment, then returned to me, a faint curiosity flickering in her eyes. Basori shot me a glare.

"You're making it sound like I intentionally ignored her."

"I'm just calling it like I see it."

"Tiara-chan... you ignored me..." Shikiya-senpai murmured, her voice trailing off with that same hypnotic pause. "I... felt... abandoned..."

Basori's face went white.

"I-I didn't ignore you! You just... didn't make it clear you wanted to talk to me!"

Shikiya tilted her head. "I... called your name... three times... in a row..."

I couldn't help myself. "That's pretty clear, wouldn't you say?"

Basori shot me a very reproachful look.

Shikiya's gaze slowly slid over to me, her zombie-like manner making it look like her head had been dragged by invisible strings. "Ayanokouji-kun... did you know... that Tiara-chan... has been talking about you?"

'We're gonna keep going?'

I didn't know she liked to fool around this much.

"S-Senpai, that's not true!"

"Tiara-chan... if you like him... you could... just tell him..."

Basori's entire face turned red. "Senpai! I... do not—!"

"Oh, but you do talk about me?" I interjected.

Basori stammered, looking anywhere but at us.

'—huh. She might not be joking around.'

"I-I was only talking about... how you're... difficult sometimes..."

"Difficult?" I repeated, and then pretending to look hurt by clutching my chest. "That's certainly unexpected. Here I thought you'd call me helpful, supportive, maybe even insightful."

Basori clenched her fists, clearly close to exploding. "That is not—!"

Shikiya tilted her head again, her eyes narrowing with something vaguely resembling curiosity. "Ayanokouji-kun... have you ever... thought about... kissing Tiara-chan?"

'That's playing it too far now.'

Basori froze, her mouth hanging open in shock, while I just stared back at Shikiya, my expression was the same as her; blank.

"Tiara-chan... how would you... answer that?"

"Th-There's nothing to answer!" she snapped, flustered. "Senpai, you're saying such ridiculous things!"

Shikiya blinked, her eyes drifting from Basori to me in slow motion. "Not... ridiculous... Just... a possibility..."

Basori looked like she was on the verge of bolting out of the room.

"It's just a joke, Basori," I said finally. "I wouldn't take it so seriously."

"A joke...? Right... of course. Haha."

She forced a laugh. It sounded more like she was trying to convince herself than anyone else, though.

Shikiya tilted her head again, her expression as blank as ever. "Oh... a joke... I see..."

It seemed she was the last to realize.

I decided to push it a bit further. 

"But, Shikiya-senpai, you really had me there. I almost thought you were serious."

Basori shot me a glare, and I could tell she was resisting the urge to smack me.

Shikiya's deadpan stare drifted back to me, her voice as monotone as ever. "Ayanokouji-kun... if it weren't a joke... would you have... considered it?"

That earned a silence from Basori, and she looked at me with an expression that seemed to scream, 'Don't even think about it!'

"I'd say there's a fifty-fifty chance I'd consider it," I replied evenly, meeting Shikiya's gaze with the same blankness.

Basori's face went red all over again. "Don't joke like that! It's... weird."

"Alright, alright," I said with a shrug. "No need to get all worked up. Besides, I've already told you— it's a joke."

She crossed her arms, muttering, "Some joke... You have a terrible humor, Ayanokouji-kun."