Amamiya Ichika and Her Bottom Line? What's That? Only Honest People Let Themselves Be Bound by One!

Oreki thought to himself.

Considering Horikita's condition, Oreki did not leave.

Instead, he decided to stay with her for a while.

Crackle, crackle.

The small pile of firewood burned brightly.

At the edge of the fire lay four ears of corn skewered on wooden sticks.

There were also several strips of jerky, prepared to be warmed before eating.

As for the instant noodles Oreki had obtained as supplies, he did not think there was any need to use them.

Oreki contributed some jerky that Horikita had gotten from Ibuki.

"..." Horikita said. "Come to think of it, you've been staying around the supply points these past few days, haven't you?"

Horikita Suzune suddenly spoke up.

"Yeah." Oreki nodded. "Yanagi is there too."

Yanagi had also taken part in the exam, serving as the commander of Class A.

She was responsible for communications and ensuring Oreki and Kōenji's victory.

Her role was significant.

She was also the Student Council President and highly capable.

However.

"..." Horikita Suzune said. "Then, you and Sakayanagi, have you..."

Horikita had just been about to ask.

But she felt that topic was somewhat strange, so she stopped halfway through.

Oreki noticed her odd behavior.

The atmosphere seemed to suddenly grow heavy.

That atmosphere left Oreki somewhat dazed, because it felt like they had returned to the cruise ship back then. They had been alone together, and the atmosphere had become unbearably awkward. At the time, he had even asked Kikyou Kushida for help.

And now, a year later, they were back here again?

"Are we strangers?" Oreki asked.

"..." Suzune said. "Probably not."

"Then we're friends, aren't we?" Oreki asked.

Friends...?

Indeed, Horikita Suzune had never really had any friends in the past. After coming to this school, she had initially believed there was nothing