On the bench, Suzuran Ayano was the first to break the silence.
"I'm sorry, Akimoto-kun. I think I dragged you into this, too." Ayano spoke with her head bowed.
She really had dragged him into it.
Suzuran Ayano was jealous of the gyaru hanging around Fukayama Midori, while Fukayama Midori was jealous of the blond guy—Akimoto Yoichi—who was always around Suzuran Ayano.
But Akimoto Yoichi couldn't claim to be innocent, either. Even if he hadn't gone out of his way to do anything, simply showing up beside a heroine was enough to trigger the "blondie effect."
He said, "It's nothing. I should be thanking you, Suzuran. Without your support, I'd have had a hard time with both my studies and Student Council matters, even if you were only doing it out of a desire to repay me."
During her argument with Fukayama Midori, Suzuran Ayano had said things she usually kept to herself.
Like how she helped Akimoto Yoichi, how Nishida Yuki wasn't her friend, and why she'd agreed to help him.
Though Suzuran Ayano had never mentioned it, she had been trying to repay Akimoto Yoichi.
Of course, before that, she'd also been doing it for Fukayama Midori.
She had stepped in to make up for what her childhood friend hadn't done, which was why Suzuran Ayano had been so willing to help Akimoto Yoichi.
"Ah... I-I didn't—I mean, it wasn't entirely because I wanted to make it up to you that I stayed by your side, Akimoto-kun. I..."
Watching Suzuran Ayano flusteredly try to explain herself, Akimoto Yoichi chuckled and placed a hand on her head, gently ruffling her hair.
"It's okay. I was joking. I know you consider me a real friend now, so I never minded what you thought at first. If you were only trying