Half-convinced

“No.”

It was a swift refusal. Miura Komoe didn’t even need to think twice before giving that answer to my suggestion.

She then raised her upper body and leaned forward, just enough for her to probably see my face clearly. “Onoda-san. Why do you have to offer yourself? Like you said, this is just a job for you. If you’re only doing this as a pittance to my idiotic decision, please don’t. That’s not going to comfort me.”

“Pittance, huh? Let’s say there’s a little bit of it but the more proper reason I asked if I can be your friend is to protect you.”

“You’re really obnoxious. Can’t you at least lie and say ‘I genuinely want to be your friend.’? Anyway, protect me from what? It’s gonna be fine, I can just enroll again next year or transfer to another school once I finish acting out my stupidity. There’s no point in me going back there where I will have to spend my days getting talked about.”