"Eh, Kikyo, are you feeling unwell?" As soon as she entered the room, Hasebe noticed the medicine placed beside Kushida's bed.
"Yeah, I've got a slight cold." Kushida nodded, then quickly put the medicine box on the desk into the drawer below. Most people would not be able to recognize the name of the medicine, but it would be troublesome if someone saw through her lie.
"But I'm already feeling much better after taking medicine. Did you need something from me, Kaka?"
"It's not anything important." Hasebe wound a strand of hair around her finger. Seeing Kushida like this, she hesitated before speaking. "Airi seems to have fallen in love recently. A couple days ago, I even saw her practicing how to invite someone out while facing the wall by herself. But when I asked who it was, she refused to tell me no matter what."
Thinking of it made her a little annoyed. She worried that Airi might have been deceived by some bad person.
The reason Airi refused to mention Sawahara's name was that Sawahara had told her before that it would be bad if people in their class learned they were close. So, obedient Airi kept the secret even when her good friend pressed her for answers.
"Today, Airi is going to give that boy a Christmas present. I want you to come with me, Kikyo, so we can follow her and see what kind of person he really is."
...So you planned to stalk your own friend and drag me along to give you courage?
"That wouldn't be very good, would it? Sakura would definitely be unhappy if she found out." Kushida gently tried to dissuade her. "And maybe you misunderstood, Kaka. They might just be ordinary friends."
As she spoke, her gaze involuntarily drifted toward