"Chihaya, thanks for last night."
During a break the next day, Chihaya Rei was sitting in the classroom reading a mystery novel when Horikita Suzune's somewhat formal voice suddenly reached his ears.
"Don't mention it. I earned some points too, didn't I?"
Chihaya Rei put down his novel and gave Horikita Suzune a slight shake of his head.
She should be thanking me, too.
He also noticed that Horikita Suzune had regained her usual composure. It seemed the soft and pliant Suzune from last night had only been temporary.
Still, Horikita Suzune seemed a little uncomfortable around him.
After all, he'd seen her vulnerable side, as well as her secret of imitating Horikita Manabu.
"..."
Hearing Chihaya Rei's answer, Horikita Suzune fell silent for a moment.
Well, at least she didn't have to worry about Chihaya Rei spilling what had happened last night.
"Are you free at lunchtime? Could you have lunch with me?"
Horikita Suzune lightly bit her lip. A flush spread across her cheeks as she asked Chihaya Rei, her heart full of apprehension.
"Of course, my treat."
Worried he might turn her down, she hurriedly added that.
"Sure."
Chihaya Rei didn't mind having lunch with Horikita Suzune.
In fact, he wondered to himself, Kamuro treated me last time, and Horikita's treating me this time. Who'll it be next?
Besides, Horikita Suzune really did owe him a meal.
Last night, he'd transformed into life mentor Chihaya-kun and given Horikita Suzune a thorough talking-to.
With Horikita's limited powers of comprehension, would she really have understood Horikita Manabu's words so quickly otherwise?
Who knew how many more dead ends she would've gone down?
It was just a shame that Horikita Suzune had resolved to be herself again. That meant fewer chances to torture her.
But who am I supposed to make up for that lost torture experience with?
Chihaya Rei looked up at Karuizawa Kei, who was sitting in the row in front.
You'll have to make up for it, Karuizawa Kei.
I'm sure you'll get used to it, even if I increase your training load.
The pressure was now on Karuizawa Kei.
Karuizawa Kei was chatting with a classmate in the row ahead when she inexplicably felt a chill run down her back. She couldn't help turning around to look.
Huh?!
Why had Horikita invited Chihaya to lunch?
And Chihaya had agreed so readily.
At the next table, Sakura Airi had overheard their conversation. Her eyes widened in surprise.
She remembered that the two of them hadn't been particularly close before.
If only I had the courage Horikita does. As a fan of Chihaya Rei, I want to have lunch with my favorite band member too...
At noon, in the school cafeteria.
Horikita Suzune bought two set meals. She placed the more expensive-looking one, which also came with a more generous serving, in front of Chihaya Rei.
Her own meal looked more ordinary.
It was all to save points, and fortunately, Horikita Suzune wasn't much of a foodie.
She didn't mind eating something plain, as long as it filled her up.
"Then I'll take you up on that."
Chihaya Rei gave her a thumbs-up, approving of Horikita Suzune's attitude toward asking him for help.
Then he picked up his fork and speared a piece of hamburger steak with a crispy, seared crust. After checking that it was at a suitable temperature, he began to eat.
Horikita Suzune stared at Chihaya Rei chewing and swallowing, almost like a lovesick girl. Only after she saw his Adam's apple bob as he swallowed, and noticed that he seemed to like the food, did she let out a long breath.
"This is a little embarrassing to ask, but Chihaya, I'd like to ask you for advice... How do I make friends?"
Horikita Suzune lowered her head slightly, looking awkward, but there was a sincerity in her voice.
As far as Horikita Suzune could tell, Chihaya Rei seemed to have quite a few friends, so he was the right person to ask.
Besides, she didn't have anyone else she could turn to for advice.
Chihaya Rei looked up and met Horikita Suzune's gaze.
He nearly blurted out, First, let's define what a friend is.
Fortunately, he held it in.
He couldn't say he had many friends at Advanced Nurturing High School, but outside of school, he had more than a dozen bandmates, each with a distinctive personality.
So when it came to answering Horikita Suzune's question, Chihaya Rei could speak with confidence.
"That's not an easy question to answer, but I think taking the initiative is important."
Horikita Suzune blinked in confusion, then said thoughtfully, "So you mean I should be proactive?"
"I think you could try talking to Kushida Kikyo. She'd be happy to become friends with you."
Chihaya Rei thought it over, then offered Horikita Suzune another suggestion.
At the mention of Kushida Kikyo, Horikita Suzune hesitated. She sounded uncertain as she spoke.
"Kushida... She gives me a strange feeling, as if she's plotting something. That's why I don't want to get involved with her."
Of course she is. She's got her eye on you.
You're on her expulsion list.
I might be next.
Chihaya Rei gave her an encouraging smile. "It's fine. Who cares what she's up to? What's she going to do to you? Just talk to her first. Doesn't Kushida want to be friends with everyone?"
"Think of her as a practice partner and learn how to make friends from her. That'll definitely help you."
Horikita Suzune paused, then frowned. "Wouldn't that be a little rude to her?"
"But if we're talking about making friends, Kushida is definitely someone I could learn from."
Horikita Suzune nodded slightly as she added that.
"It's fine. You're helping each other grow, and you don't have any bad intentions."
Chihaya Rei smiled. Kushida Kikyo really ought to thank him.
He'd said so many good things about her to Horikita Suzune.
"..."
The air fell silent for a moment. It was unclear whether Horikita Suzune planned to befriend Kushida Kikyo. Just as Chihaya Rei lowered his head and continued eating—
"Would you be willing to try being my... friend?"
Horikita Suzune bit her soft pink lip. Her face flushed bright red as she finally managed to get the words out.
She felt that if she had to choose her first friend, Chihaya Rei would be a much better choice than Kushida Kikyo.
Although they'd had a few unpleasant encounters, they'd gradually gotten to know each other better along the way.
Horikita Suzune believed she could grow by becoming friends with Chihaya Rei.
And from the moment she'd asked him how to make friends, she'd been hoping he would take the initiative and say, "I'll be your friend."
That way, she wouldn't have felt so awkward.
But he didn't seem to have any intention of saying it, so she'd had to ask herself...
Chihaya Rei immediately looked up and studied Horikita Suzune closely, noticing that she'd turned soft and pliant again.
He put on a serious expression and spoke in a low voice.
"Then you'll have to try harder. I have high standards for my friends."
Horikita Suzune was undeniably beautiful, with a pretty face and a great figure. She was one of the most attractive girls at Advanced Nurturing High School.
And after what had happened, her personality had changed somewhat.
She'd become a lot more likable.
But he was practically immune to good looks, and he was a Honami fan.
So he wasn't going to accept Horikita Suzune as a friend right away.
At the very least, she should raise his affection level step by step, like in a dating sim... until she unlocked a special CG at some important moment. Only then would he accept her as a friend.
Hearing Chihaya Rei's answer, Horikita Suzune didn't seem too disappointed. Instead, she took him seriously.
"Okay, I understand. Then I'll do my best to get you to accept me as a friend."
Horikita Suzune spoke each word clearly, as if she'd just made an important resolution.
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