Kushida, Who Loved Making Friends

Sakamoto put on a serious expression and blinked.

"Who, who would enjoy being forced to work? Don't talk nonsense."

Despite the guilt written all over her face, Kamuro Masumi did not lose an ounce of momentum, trying to cover up how unsettled she was.

"Oh my, so I guessed right."

Hmph.

Kamuro turned her head away.

She thought about how she could get out of this situation...

She did not actually hate this assignment that much. Unlike Ichinose Honami, Kamuro Masumi did not feel deep guilt over stealing. To Kamuro, stealing or stalking was "merely an act of tasting the awareness and thrill of sin."

It was precisely because Sakayanagi had seized on that point that she had brought Kamuro under her wing. Working for her gave Kamuro a sense of adventure that replaced the thrill she sought through stealing.

Kamuro Masumi was also something of a problem child. According to her student record, she lacked teamwork skills, was poor at communication, and had a personality that did not make her particularly well-liked. She gave off an unapproachable air and usually had few friends.

Although her relationship with Sakayanagi had begun as one of exploitation and being exploited, it was not limited to that. They were more like friends. Sakayanagi filled the gap left by the role of a friend, while Kamuro gained the satisfaction of being needed.

(The above was purely for plot purposes and the author's subjective opinion.)

"Sakayanagi should be somewhere waiting for a response right now, shouldn't she?"

The voice interrupted Kamuro's thoughts and pulled her back to reality.

"Huh? How do you know that?" Kamuro looked confused.

"Did you forget? Sakamoto and Sakayanagi have known each other for a long time. If someone could send people to follow him, it would only be Sakayanagi, who has trouble getting around," Hashimoto chimed in.

So I was just one part of your play?

Kamuro's mouth twitched.

Elsewhere, in a luxurious and elegant room, Sakayanagi sat on a sofa, sipping tea as she waited quietly.

At the thought of Sakamoto's shocked expression after learning that his secret had been discovered, the corners of her mouth could not help rising.

This was a perfect opportunity to needle Sakamoto.

Sakayanagi leisurely opened her book. The quiet room held only the soft rustle of turning pages.

She was quite satisfied with the current atmosphere as well.

Except...

Sakayanagi put down her book and checked the time.

Why had no one come?

"Are you really not going?" Kamuro Masumi asked.

"Not interested~"

All she received was Sakamoto's back as he walked away without looking back.

Furious, she kicked the vending machine beside her.

"Forget it. Whether you go or not has nothing to do with me. I'm leaving!"

Kamuro Masumi could not be bothered with this nonsense. If that brat Sakayanagi had not threatened her with her stealing, who would have wanted to get involved in something like stalking?

And she had nearly been...

Tch! Kamuro Masumi stomped hard on the floor.

"With you, I promised dreams for the future at summer's end~"

"Don't forget our grand hopes~"

"In August, ten years from now~"

"I believe we'll meet again~"

Class A's Shibata Kaede, Kobashi Yume, and Rinaka Satoshi led the celebration group in singing at a KTV private room. Nearly the entire class was there, except for Sakayanagi Arisu, who had said she was unable to attend due to physical inconvenience.

Sitting at the edge, Kamuro held a can of soda and sat stiffly on the couch. Across from her, Sakamoto showed no restraint whatsoever. He sat with one leg crossed over the other, drinking soda—minors were not allowed to drink alcohol—while chatting with the people around him, as though yesterday's events had never happened.

But she cared! She could not stay in this environment for even a day!

"What's wrong, Kamuro? Are you feeling unwell?"

Sakamoto asked about his opponent's condition with great interest.

"Ah, no... It's just... I'm not used to this..."

"It's fine. Come a few more times and you'll get used to it."

Hashimoto casually leaned over and placed one hand on Kamuro's shoulder.

"Want to sing a song?"

"No, thank you. Ahaha..."

It's because you people are here that I can't get used to it!! Kamuro screamed inwardly.

"I'm going out for a bit."

Unable to endure it any longer, Kamuro found an excuse and left the room.

"That guy was definitely doing it on purpose. He just wanted to embarrass me..."

"Ah!"

Kamuro collided with a girl and fell to the ground.

"That hurt," Kamuro Masumi said, supporting herself with one hand while rubbing her forehead.

The girl who had also fallen got back to her feet.

"Are you okay?"

The girl hurriedly asked after her. Only then did Kamuro look at her properly.

The short-haired girl had an exceptionally pure and lovely face. Her bangs parted upward at the center of her forehead, fully revealing her pretty features.

She wore no makeup at all, yet her skin was flawless. Even her light eyebrows needed no grooming. She looked at Kamuro with an expression full of concern... Kamuro did not know what words to use to describe her.

And she discreetly glanced at the girl's front armor. That level of power...

"Are you hurt, miss? I'm so sorry. I was in a hurry and did not watch where I was going, so I accidentally ran into you."

"I'm fine. I wasn't hurt either."

Kamuro Masumi likewise indicated that it was nothing, but that also ended the conversation, leaving her unsure what to say next.

However, the situation here had drawn the attention of others as well.

"Ah, it's Kikyo!"

"Did little Kikyo come to sing too?"

Several girls spotted Kushida Kikyo outside and warmly came out to greet her.

They invited her to join them in the private room as well.

Kushida Kikyo smiled and declined their invitation, saying that she would definitely come next time. She then apologized to Kamuro again, and only left after receiving her response.

Kushida Kikyo was the social butterfly of the grade and also a two-faced person. She was one of the most important figures in Classroom of the Elite. She had come here to "make friends" with students from other classes.

On one hand, during her month at Ikusei, she had used her exceptional social skills to build good relationships with many students across all four first-year classes.

On the other hand, she had repeatedly failed to "make friends" with Horikita Suzune, so she planned to carry out a scheme.

That scheme required someone close to Horikita, as well as several people to cooperate and provide cover.

She already had a target for the former. Next, she needed to find several people from other classes to provide cover. Since she had received an invitation from a friend to come to the KTV, Kushida Kikyo had decided to look for some helpers here.

Yet on the way over, she had accidentally bumped into a girl. What a nuisance. It had delayed her.

Kushida smiled as she expressed concern for Kamuro, then made a special point of apologizing. The latter did not seem to have anything to say.

Today had been terrible. Kamuro left the KTV alone.

Kushida looked back at her. Was that girl in a bad mood?

What a pain...

"Please wait a moment. Do you have any troubles? You can tell me. I'll help you!"

An angelic smile appeared before Kamuro, who suspiciously stepped back two paces.

Kushida Kikyo noticed the movement, making her even more impatient inside, but her expression did not change in the slightest. She even moved closer to Kamuro Masumi.

Her face was full of concern.

"It's okay. You can tell me anything. I'm willing to help you. I'm Kushida Kikyo from Class D. What about you?"

"Kamuro Masumi... Class A."

"You're actually in Class A! Kamuro, you must be amazing!"

"No..."

"Huh? But what troubles could such an amazing Kamuro possibly have? If you let your worries build up inside, you'll eventually break down. You can tell me, as your friend."

Kushida, who "loved making friends," smiled even more brightly. If it had been an ordinary girl, she would surely have been moved by Kushida's trusting tone and attitude, believing that she had just made a friend, and would have shared her troubles.

Although Kushida Kikyo's performance had not shown the slightest flaw, enough to earn her an Oscar,

Kamuro Masumi sensed a trace of falseness that put her deeply on guard. In the end, without saying a word, she fled the scene.

Bang!

Kushida, Who Loved Making Friends