Mmph... Can We Make Peace?

Honami showed up in Room 301.

"I won't ask why Kikyo is in Makoto's room."

Honami looked at the two of them holding hands on the bed and beside it.

"What were you just... doing?"

"I'll explain, I'll explain!"

Makoto raised his other, free hand, looking eager to speak.

"I just bought some hot milk downstairs and came back to get ready for bed. Who knew that when I opened the door, I'd see Kushida sitting on my bed, talking to me about how she wanted someone in her class to drop out?"

"Anything else?"

"...I don't think... there was anything else important, was there?"

"I see... What does Kikyo have to say?"

Honami turned to question Kushida.

"Yeah, it's just like Makoto said. I secretly copied your key. He had nothing to do with it."

Kushida was telling the truth for once. She was afraid she wouldn't make it out of the room if she lied.

She had no doubt that Makoto, who fancied himself a good person, was capable of something like that. Honami was probably in on it with him, too.

So she might as well try to win them over.

"Good, I understand the situation now. So, explain why you were sitting on Makoto's bed."

Honami strode toward them, put both hands on Kushida's shoulders, and forcefully pushed her down onto the bed. Makoto took the opportunity to let go of her hand.

He loved watching women fight.

The scene before him was this:

Kushida was pinned down on Makoto's bed by Honami. Their faces were still a little apart, but their more prominent parts were already pressed tightly together.

"Did you make these creases on the bed?"

Faced with the beautiful face just inches away, Kushida's gaze didn't waver at all.

She gave a slight nod.

"Why?"

Honami asked. Her expression couldn't exactly be called angry, but it certainly wasn't happy, either.

It was more... complicated?

Makoto couldn't see any of this, though. From where he stood, all he could see was part of Kushida's cheek, along with the two of them pressed tightly together on the right...

"Because I like Makoto just like you do. Is that so wrong?"

"Um, excuse me, can I leave now?"

Even though this was apparently his own room, Makoto had decided to make a run for it.

He could always spend some time outside. The atmosphere in here was just too oppressive.

"Sure, Makoto. You can go."

Without turning around, Honami gave him permission to make his escape.

Sorry. He was just that much of a coward.

Makoto thought to himself as he quietly left his room.

"Can you explain now?"

After Makoto left, Honami didn't loosen her hold. She continued to pin Kushida down.

"Didn't I already explain?"

Kushida retorted.

"Who you like is a matter of personal freedom, isn't it?"

"What do you even know about him? Someone who isn't ready to commit should leave as soon as possible!"

Honami sneered. Her relationship with Makoto was unshakable.

"I don't know him as well as you do, his childhood friend, but... I really am attracted to what he's shown me. Is that so wrong?"

"Even though you know he and I are already in that kind of relationship?"

Honami asked, her expression unchanged.

"Karuizawa can do it, but I can't? There's a limit to how hypocritical you can be."

Kushida looked as if she were about to cry. It was hard to tell whether she was putting on an act or genuinely upset.

She wrapped her arms around Honami's slender waist, squeezing her tightly. The space between them grew smaller and smaller.

"Then what if I asked you to betray Class D for this?"

"Of course I would."

Kushida answered without hesitation. She didn't have much attachment to her class to begin with, especially with an oddball like Horikita Suzune in it.

"You can let go now."

Hearing her answer, Honami told Kushida to release her waist. She wanted to get up.

"And then? After hearing me out, don't you want to say anything?"

Kushida, however, had no intention of letting her go just yet. She wasn't the type to let herself get the short end of the stick.

"Why do you like Makoto? Can you tell me?"

"If you don't, I'm not letting go."

Kushida tightened her arms.

Because of their position, Honami couldn't easily break free. Her face gradually flushed.

"...Do I really have to say it?"

"I've already told you so much. Wouldn't it be pretty sly of you not to say anything?"

Although she was physically on the bottom, Kushida seemed to have the upper hand in the conversation.

She really wanted to know what had made such a beautiful girl as Honami fall hopelessly in love with that man.

"...Makoto once saved me."

"He saved your life, and then you fell in love with him?"

Kushida asked in surprise. Was this some tired old damsel-in-distress story?

If Makoto knew what she was thinking, he'd surely shout something like, "That's a classic for a reason! What do you know?"

"It wasn't like that."

Honami shook her head and continued.

"When we were little, he always paid special attention to how I felt. He helped me through difficult times in all sorts of roundabout ways. Looking back now, it seems he'd planned it all out from the start, but..."

"He helped me back then. That's an undeniable fact, and there's no going back for me now."

"Are you satisfied?"

As she spoke, Honami's eyes grew a little unfocused, as if she were remembering something pleasant.

But as soon as she finished, she quickly came back to herself and spoke to Kushida in a calm voice.

"Ah, actually, I wanted to hear more details, but never mind. We're friends, after all."

Kushida grinned and let go. She was already quite satisfied.

"What did you mean when you said he'd planned it all out from the start?"

Still, she was a little curious about that. Weren't they the same age? Why describe Makoto as having planned things long in advance?

"That... If you want to know, go ask him yourself!"

Honami stood up with a playful smile. Unlike Sakayanagi, who had already gotten Makoto's approval, Kikyo still had to work hard.

"Wow, sounds like a huge secret!"

Honami had thoroughly piqued Kushida's curiosity. Now she desperately wanted to know what the secret was.

"Are you really not going to tell me?"

"If Makoto doesn't agree, there's no way I'll tell you."

"Fine."

Kushida pouted in disappointment. All she needed was Makoto's approval, right? She could definitely get it.

Seeing Kushida's unconcerned expression, Honami felt both exasperated and amused.

"Don't tell me you think it'll be easy to learn this secret?"

She'd only found out about it recently!

After more than ten years!

Thinking about how easily Sakayanagi had learned the secret from her today made her grit her teeth in frustration.

Their little secret had become a medium-sized secret shared by three people.

If it became a big secret shared by four so soon, she'd be very sad.

Seeing Honami make that face only strengthened Kushida's resolve.

She was going to get that secret, no matter what!

"It doesn't seem right to stay here any longer. We should get going!"

"I never said you could leave."

Honami flatly refused Kushida's attempt to slip away.

"I haven't settled the score with you over Makoto's room key yet~"

"Mmph... Can we make peace?"