Horikita Suzune: I Want to Be Friends with Chihaya Rei

"Chihaya, thank you for last night."

During a break the following day, Chihaya Rei, who was sitting in the classroom reading a mystery novel, suddenly heard Horikita Suzune's slightly formal voice by his ear.

"Don't worry about it. I earned some points too, didn't I?"

Chihaya Rei set down his novel and gave a slight shake of his head toward Horikita Suzune.

She really ought to be thanking me.

Besides, he noticed that Horikita Suzune's mental state had already recovered; it seemed the soft, mushy Suzune from last night was only a limited-time offer.

However, when facing him, Horikita Suzune's expression still looked a little unnatural.

After all, he had discovered her vulnerable side and the secret of her imitating Horikita Manabu.

"..."

Hearing Chihaya Rei's reply, Horikita Suzune couldn't help but fall silent for a moment.

Well, at least she didn't have to worry about Chihaya Rei leaking what happened last night.

"Do you have time at noon? Could you... eat lunch with me?"

Horikita Suzune bit her lip slightly, a flush of red flashing across her cheeks as she spoke to Chihaya Rei with a heart full of trepidation.

"Of course, it's my treat."

Afraid of being rejected, she quickly added.

"Sure."

Chihaya Rei didn't mind having lunch with Horikita Suzune.

He even thought to himself, last time it was Kamuro who treated, this time it was Horikita, so who would it be next?

Besides, Horikita Suzune really did owe him this meal.

Last night, he had transformed into Chihaya-kun, a life coach, and given Horikita Suzune a thorough talking-to.

Otherwise, with Horikita's meager insight, would she have been able to grasp Horikita Manabu's words so quickly?

She would have been stuck in a rut for who knows how long.

It was just a pity that now that Horikita Suzune had made up her mind to be herself again, the opportunities to torture her would decrease.

So, who was going to make up for that lost torture experience?

Chihaya Rei lifted his head and glanced at Karuizawa Kei, who was sitting in the front row.

I guess I'll have to let you make up for it, Karuizawa Kei.

Even if I increase the training load, I'm sure you'll be able to adapt.

The pressure was on Karuizawa Kei.

Karuizawa Kei, who was chatting with classmates in the front row, felt a sudden chill down her back and couldn't help but turn around to look.

Eh?!

Why did Horikita-san invite Chihaya-san to eat lunch together?

And Chihaya-san accepted so readily.

Sakura Airi, at the desk next to them, heard their conversation and widened her eyes in surprise.

She remembered that the two of them hadn't been that close before, right?

Wuu, if only I had the same courage as Horikita-san. As a fan of Chihaya Rei, I want to eat lunch with the musician I like, too...

12:00 PM, school cafeteria.

Horikita Suzune bought two set meals; she placed the one that looked a bit pricey and more abundant in front of Chihaya Rei.

Her own portion looked a bit more ordinary.

This was all to save points, though Horikita Suzune didn't have much of a craving for food anyway.

She felt it didn't matter if she ate something simple, as long as it filled her stomach.

"Then, I'll thank you in advance."

Chihaya Rei gave a thumbs up, inwardly acknowledging Horikita Suzune's attitude toward asking for favors.

He then picked up his fork, skewered a piece of hamburger steak with a crispy, charred exterior, and after testing that the temperature was right, began to taste it.

Horikita Suzune stared at Chihaya Rei's chewing and swallowing motions like a fanatic, and only after seeing his Adam's apple bob and noticing his expression seemed quite good, did she let out a long sigh of relief.

"Although it's hard to say, Chihaya, I would like to ask your advice... on how to make friends?"

Horikita Suzune lowered her head slightly, her face showing some embarrassment, but one could feel the sincerity in her tone.

In Horikita Suzune's general impression, Chihaya Rei seemed to have quite a lot of friends, so she couldn't go wrong asking him.

Besides, she had no other candidates to consult with besides Chihaya Rei.

Chihaya Rei looked up, and his eyes met Horikita Suzune's.

He nearly blurted it out: "First, let's define what a friend is."

Fortunately, he held it back.

He wouldn't dare claim to have many friends at Advanced Nurturing High School, but outside, he had over a dozen bandmates, each with their own unique personality.

Therefore, when faced with this question from Horikita Suzune, Chihaya Rei could answer with confidence.

"That's not an easy question to answer, but I think taking the initiative is important."

Horikita Suzune blinked blankly, then said thoughtfully, "So, you mean I should be proactive?"

"I think you could try approaching Kushida Kikyo; she would be more than happy to become your friend."

Chihaya Rei pondered for a moment before suggesting another approach to Horikita Suzune.

Upon hearing the name Kushida Kikyo, Horikita Suzune hesitated, then spoke with a hint of confusion:

"Kushida... she gives me a strange feeling, as if she's plotting something, which is why I don't want to get involved with her."

Well, of course, she is. She's got her eyes on you.

You're on her list for expulsion, after all.

Perhaps I'll be next.

Chihaya Rei offered an encouraging smile. "It doesn't matter. Why worry about what she's doing? What could she possibly do to you? Just try interacting with her first. Isn't it Kushida's wish to be friends with everyone?"

"Just treat her like an experience-gaining NPC. Learn how to make friends from her; that will definitely be helpful to you."

Horikita Suzune paused, frowning, "Wouldn't that be a bit impolite to her?"

"But from the perspective of making friends, Kushida is indeed someone worth learning from."

Horikita Suzune added with a slight nod.

"It's nothing. You're just helping each other out, and you don't have any malicious intent."

Chihaya Rei smiled. Kushida Kikyo really should thank me.

I've put in so many good words for her in front of Horikita Suzune.

"..."

The air fell silent for a brief moment. It was unclear if Horikita Suzune intended to go and befriend Kushida Kikyo, but just as Chihaya Rei lowered his head to continue eating.

"Then... could you try to be my... friend?"

Horikita Suzune bit her pink lips, her face flushed red as she forced the words out.

She felt that if she had to choose a first friend, the Chihaya Rei before her was a much better choice than Kushida Kikyo.

Although the two had experienced some unpleasantness, they had gradually grown familiar with each other through the process.

Horikita Suzune believed that becoming friends with Chihaya Rei would allow her to grow.

Moreover, from the moment she asked how to make friends until now, she had been secretly hoping that Chihaya Rei would take the initiative and say, "I'll be your friend."

That way, she wouldn't have felt so awkward.

But since he seemed to have no such intention, she had no choice but to say it herself...

Chihaya Rei immediately looked up, scrutinizing Horikita Suzune, and found that she had become soft and gentle once again.

He put on a serious face and said in a deep voice:

"Then you'll have to work for it. I have very high standards for my friends."

Although Horikita Suzune was a genuine beauty—with the face, the figure, and a ranking among the top in Advanced Nurturing—and her personality had shifted somewhat after their recent ordeal.

She had become much more likable.

But he was the most resistant to character models, and he was a Honami loyalist, after all.

So, he wouldn't just accept Horikita Suzune as a friend right off the bat.

Horikita Suzune ought to, at the very least, be like someone in a galgame, raising his favorability step by step... until she unlocked a special CG at some important moment, only then could he acknowledge her as a friend.

Upon hearing Chihaya Rei's response, Horikita Suzune didn't look overly disappointed; instead, she took it seriously.

"Alright, I understand. Then I will work hard to make you acknowledge me as your friend."

Horikita Suzune spoke the words clearly, as if she had made a major resolution.