After classes ended, me and Kushida both looked at each other. Alright, now it's time.
"Horikita-san. Do you have some free time today after class?" I asked.
"No, I have to go back to the dormitory and prepare for tomorrow." She really does seem to study all the time.
"Well, it is something that only I can ask you, unfortunately. If I am asking you then you should know this."
"Then what is it."
"There is this café, Palete café on the campus that I have really wanted to go to for some time now. Unfortunately, only girls go to that café, so I have a gut feeling that guys are just banned from entering there as an unspoken rule.
"Certainly most customers there are girls, but aren't men also allowed to come anyways regardless?"
"Well yeah, but they never go alone. Even the likes of Ike wouldn't do something like that. This means that only if they are friends with girls or if they are someone's boyfriend. Plus, I am too shy to go there alone anyways." I added.
"And by the way, I don't plan on making friends with you through this." Even though my expression is already unreadable, I meant it.
"Hmm, alright then Ayanokouji-kun. There are some things that I am interested in asking you personally. It is regarding your swimming performance. I assume there is no need for any further rehabilitation either. And I'll overlook the fact this could be a set up." How perceptive.
"That is comforting to hear, but also scary to hear. Anyways, lets go already. The café is pretty busy so finding a seat would be tricky especially at this hour."
The café inside indeed did look very busy inside. Unfortunately, there wasn't a table for two available. Once again, Koenji is there and it looks like he is getting settled in as class only just ended 5 minutes.
"Nee~ Koenji-kun, why did you come here earlier than usual."
"My, my, pretty girl. Did you miss me that much? I just thought a perfect existence myself would want to see you and the rest of you just a few minutes earlier today after all." Koenji grinned. It looked like one of the girls was holding his mirror for him while he combed his hair and applied hair gel to it.
"Uhgh, what a nuisance," Horikita muttered.
"Yeah, he comes here everyday, I am a little jealous though. I would have asked him to bring me here but his presence is very dominating, I am looking for a more relaxed experience, when trying to enjoy the food here." I mentioned.
"Do you like sweets, Ayanokouji-kun?" she asked.
"Yeah, I wanted to try pancakes as I also never had them before." This was something that I was curious about.
"I guess we will have to wait a bit. Oh never mind, look, some seats are available." Now that I think about it, this café has some nice music to it. This would be a good place to go on a date with.
"Hey, I just thought of something. If the people around here see us like this, they'll probably think we're a couple..."
Horikita's face remained expressionless.
"Or not."
I then heard the two girls sitting next to me say, "Let's go," before grabbing their drinks and leaving. And then here comes Kushida.
"Ah, Horikita-san. What a coincidence! And Ayanokouji-kun too!" she said.
"Yo."
Kushida had chosen 4 class D friends in her class to assist in this plan. I sent the first 2 a signal for them to move, which lead to the other 2 leaving after a bit, making it look like Kushida arrived via a coincidence.
"Did you come here together, Ayanokouji-kun, Horikita-san?"
"Yeah, Today I---"
"I'm leaving," Horikita said.
"H-hey, we just got here, though."
"You don't need me now that Kushida-san is here, though. Right?"
Interesting. Her dislike for Kushida has grown this much already to the point where she doesn't want to talk about my swimming like she insisted.
"Hold on, that's not a problem. Kushida and I are just classmates."
"You and I are just classmates, too. Besides..." She gave Kushida and me an icy look. "I don't like this. I had expected a setup, but not with her. What are you plotting?" She'd seen through our plan.
"N-no, it was just a coincidence," Kushida said.
Kushida shouldn't have said a thing here. Acting ignorant would have been the better play for her.
"When we sat down together, I saw the two girls seated here were from class D, as well as the ones sitting next to us just before. Was that a coincidence as well?"
"Oh, wow, really? I didn't notice at all," Kushida said.
"We came straight here after class as well. No matter how much they could have rushed, they would have only had been here for one or two minutes at most. Way too early for them to leave. Am I wrong?" Her perceptiveness and memory really were excellent.
"Sorry Horikita, we did plan this."
"I thought this was a little suspicious from the start."
"Horikita-san, please be my friend!"
"I guess I wasn't clear enough last time, so I won't blame you. But if you keep this up, I wont forgive you."
"Hey Horikita, why do you act like this? Do you see yourself as better than her, better than the other people in your class?"
"I can hardly see why that isn't the case. I'm leaving now."
Kushida looked defeated. Horikita left.
"Kushida-san, I'll go after Horikita alone, there is something I need to say to her."
"Well, alright then." Kushida replied, attempting to smile.
I managed to catch up to Horikita. She was a pretty fast walker.
"Hey Horikita, Horikitaaa!" I shouted.
No response. If you are going to act like that just because of Kushida then...
"Horikita Manabu"
"...you... don't say my brother's name."
"So I was right. To think your brother is in the student council president. Not that it matters at the moment. It looks like the way you have acted so far has been a superiority complex. Certainly a rather undeserving one."
"Eh? What do you mean by that."
"Horikita-girl, you clearly aren't on our level." Koenji came in and made his perfect appearance.
"Do you have any basis for that?"
"Yes, for I am the perfect human being. But that clearly isn't enough for you to accept. So how about we make a bet, little one?"
"What kind of bet?"
"Lets see who gets the highest total marks in the next upcoming tests, when it arrives. Whoever wins, the losers has to pay up 50,000 private points to the winner. If there is a tie for the top 2, then the loser has to pay up 50,000 private points to each winner. How does that sound?" I interjected.
"What kind of idiot would agree to that kind of deal? Not that I wouldn't win that."
"Well we can sign a memorandum for this bet to be foolproof. Or did you not know about that?"
"...Fine, it will be good if it means the two of you aren't going to bother me anymore."
"Then we have a deal, Horikita-girl."
"But first, tell me. What is the connection between the two of you?"
"We are just friends. Nothing more. In fact, I didn't even invite him over here. Great minds just happen to think alike." I said. Horikita eyed me suspiciously. Looked like she wasn't done.
I was telling the truth though, Koenji came out of his own free will.
Horikita then ended up leaving, looking determined.
There is one notable problem lurking around as of right now, however. It seems like Koenji noticed as well, but it clearly didn't bother him. I decided to call him again now that the deal has been accepted.
"So who are you calling?" Koenji questioned.
"Someone who can help fund our bet," I said.
Side Note: No way Horikita is gonna win this lol