Mmm... Can we reconcile?

Honami appeared inside dormitory 301.

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

Honami stared at the two of them on the bed, their hands clasped together.

"What... were you two just doing?"

"Let me explain, let me explain!"

Makoto raised his other free hand, looking eager.

"I just came back up from downstairs with some hot milk, getting ready for bed. Who knew that the moment I opened the door, I'd see Kushida sitting on my bed, dragging me into a conversation about getting someone in her class expelled."

"Anything else?"

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

"I see... then is there anything else you'd like to say, Kikyo?"

Upon hearing this, Honami began to question Kushida.

"Mhm, it's just as Makoto said. As for the key, I secretly copied it from you; it has nothing to do with him."

Kushida decided to tell the truth this time, fearing that if she lied, she wouldn't be able to walk out of this room.

She didn't doubt for a second that Makoto, who prided himself on being a good person, was capable of such things, and Honami was likely in on it with him.

Therefore, it was better to try and win their favor here.

"Alright, I understand the situation. Now, please explain why you were sitting on Makoto's bed?"

Honami stepped quickly toward the pair, placed her hands on Kushida's shoulders, and pushed her firmly down onto the bed; Makoto took the opportunity to let go of her hand.

He loved watching women fight.

The current scene was:

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

"Did you cause these wrinkles on the bed?"

Facing the beautiful face so close to her own, Kushida's eyes didn't waver in the slightest.

She gave a light nod.

"Why?"

Honami asked. Her expression couldn't be called angry, and it certainly wasn't joyful.

It was more of a... complex look?

However, Makoto didn't see any of this. From his perspective, he could only see a part of Kushida's cheek and the two of them pressed tightly together on their right sides...

"Because I like Makoto just as much as you do. Is that not allowed?"

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

Even though this was supposedly his own dormitory, Makoto had already decided to slip away.

At worst, he would just hang out outside for a while; the atmosphere in here was truly a bit suffocating.

"Mhm, Makoto, you can go out first."

Without turning her head, Honami agreed to Makoto's desertion.

Sorry, he was just that kind of cowardly person.

Makoto thought to himself as he silently left his room.

"Can you talk now?"

After Makoto left, Honami had no intention of letting go; she continued to pin Kushida down firmly.

"Didn't I just tell you?"

Kushida retorted, "Who I like is my own freedom, isn't it?"

"What do you even know about him? Anyone who hasn't prepared themselves should leave as soon as possible!"

Honami sneered; her relationship with Makoto was unshakable.

"Of course I don't know him as well as a childhood friend like you, but... I am truly, genuinely attracted to the things he has revealed. Is that not allowed either?"

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

Honami asked, her expression devoid of fluctuation.

"If Karuizawa can do it, why can't I? There should be a limit to your double standards."

Kushida wore an expression as if she were about to cry, though it was impossible to tell if it was an act or genuine emotion.

She reached out and wrapped her arms tightly around Honami's slender waist, the gap between the two of them shrinking further.

"Then, what if I demand that you betray Class D for this?"

"That goes without saying."

Kushida's response was instantaneous; she had no real emotional attachment to the class as a concept, let alone when it included an anomaly like Horikita Suzune.

"You can let go now."

Hearing this, Honami signaled for Kushida to release her arms from around her waist so she could get up.

"And then what? After hearing everything I've said, don't you want to express something?"

However, Kushida had no intention of stopping there; she wasn't the type to let herself be at a disadvantage.

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

"If you don't tell me, I won't let go."

The strength in Kushida's arms increased.

Due to their positioning, Honami couldn't easily break free, and her face began to flush a deep red.

"...Must I say it?"

"I've already said so much; wouldn't it be cunning of you not to say anything in return?"

Despite being in the physically inferior position, Kushida seemed to hold the upper hand in the conversation.

She was dying to know what had made a beautiful girl like 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; what kind of cliché hero-saves-the-damsel plot was this?

If Makoto knew what she was thinking right now, he would surely shout something like, "This is the classic trope, what do you know!"

"It's not like that."

Honami shook her head and continued, "When we were little, he always took special care of my feelings, helping me through difficulties in all sorts of roundabout ways. Even though it seems like a premeditated plan on his part now, but..."

"He helped the me from back then; that is an ironclad fact. I can no longer turn back."

"Are you satisfied now?"

As she spoke, Honami's eyes grew distant, as if she were recalling some beautiful memory.

But as soon as she finished, she snapped back to reality and spoke to Kushida in a flat tone.

"Ah, actually, I wanted to hear something more specific, but forget it. After all, aren't we good friends?"

Kushida giggled and released her grip; she was actually quite satisfied.

"What did you mean by 'premeditated' just now?"

She was still curious about the meaning of that phrase. Weren't the two of them the same age? How could she use the word "premeditated" to describe Makoto?

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

Honami stood up and gave a playful smile. Unlike Sakayanagi, who had already received Makoto's approval, Kushida still had a long way to go.

"Wow, it sounds like there's a huge secret!"

Kushida's curiosity had been thoroughly piqued by Honami, and she was now dying to know what this secret was.

"Can you really not tell me?"

"If Makoto doesn't agree, there's no way I'm telling you."

"Fine."

Kushida pouted in disappointment. It was just Makoto's permission, right? She was certain she could secure that.

Seeing Kushida's dismissive expression, Honami felt both annoyed and amused.

"You don't actually think it's going to be easy to find out this secret, do you?"

She had only found out herself quite recently!

It had been over ten years!

Just thinking about how easily Sakayanagi had pried this secret out of her today made her teeth ache with frustration.

The little secret between the two of them had become a medium-sized secret among three.

If it turned into a big secret among four this quickly, she would be very sad.

Seeing the expression on Honami's face, Kushida steeled her resolve.

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

"It doesn't seem right to keep staying here, let's get going!"

"I didn't say you could leave."

Facing Kushida's request to slip away, Honami flatly refused.

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

"Ugh... can we reach a settlement?"