Defective Item

"Cold, cold," I uttered while rubbing my palm.

It is 13:30 and it should be our science class but our proctor wouldn't make it today since he caught a cold. Well, it's a given because of the current weather. I can even notice light snow outside at times. What an indication of the impending winter.

While it should be a self-study hour right now, the whole classroom is like a... MARKET!

Why are these guys so noisy anyway? The other block might hear us and be disturbed!

"Sure they are a little bit ruckus, aren't they?" asked Suzuki.

"Uh yeah, they are," I replied. "What are you reading?"

" 'The science of blushing: Human Psychology Sixth Edition'," said Suzuki.

"Are you being serious, Suzuki-san?" I asked.

It feels like she's messing with me.

"Wow, you're getting things quite quicker than before," said Suzuki.

"Well, mind conditioning, I guess?" I said.

I felt confident after being complimented.

"Except on one thing, as usual," added Suzuki.

"Huh? What are you talking about?" I asked.

What was that addition? Weird.

"Anyway, check this out," said Suzuki as she gets something from her bag. "Tadaah! I bought a new headphone."

"Wow, it looks great!" I reacted. "Did you bought it for yourself?"

"Hmm, as would say it as gifted," said Suzuki.

G-Gifted? Did someone give this to Suzuki as a present?

I-It wasn't gift-wrapped but it is still sealed. More like, she got it from someone just this today.

W-Why am I suddenly getting...

"Why don't you test it right now?" I suggested. "It's noisy out here, perfect timing."

"I'd do it later in my free time," said Suzuki. "Plus, I want to chat with you more than listening to music."

"W-What are you..," I reacted. "You're reading, right...?"

Tsk, giving me misleading thoughts again! I-I'm getting confused...

"Haha, getting really red when it's already cold, aren't you?" teased Suzuki.

"I-I'm not! It's just your imagination!" I said.

"Guess imaginations do really manifest into reality, hmm~" added Suzuki.

"I told you I'm not blushing!!" I reacted.

As we are talking, someone suddenly opens our classroom's door.

"Hey! Would you keep it down?!" yelled Mitsuki-sensei. "I am discussing lectures next room and your noise is disturbing my class!"

Eek! Mitsuki-sensei! I guess everyone will behave since she's a bit terrifying when mad.

"Hey Tanaka, look," said Koyanagi as he comes to my seat. "It's time for our 10 roll gacha."

"Hey, it's class hours, we aren't allowed to use our phones, right?" I asked.

"Technically, there's no class since we don't have a proctor," said Koyanagi.

Y-You're sneaky, aren't you?

"C'mon, I already pulled a while ago and I just got a 4-star character and the rest are common weapons," added Koyanagi. "Damn, my luck has been bad the past 40 rolls. Today might be your lucky day, pal."

H-He still didn't get the newest 5-star character?! Poor you, Koyanagi. It looks like that character and I are the fated ones to be paired.

"Since you insist, I will then do my 10 draws," I said. "Watch me get the strongest character in this game!"

"Boo~ It's going to be some common sword..," teased Koyanagi.

Here I go! Gacha gods, please be with me!!!

I literally close my eyes whenever I do this, even at home. My luck has also been bad the past 70 draws so I hope I'll get what I wanted now!

"I-I-I GOT IT...," I uttered. "I GOT IT!!!! YAHOO!!!"

I finally received a 5-star character from this game! Thank you, gacha gods! I can now beat several bosses in the dungeon! I'm excited to play it now!

"HOW WAS THAT KOYANAGI?!" I said. "MY ACCOUNT IS THE MOST POWERFUL AMONG THE THREE OF US! HAHAHA!"

"C-Congratulations, but..," said Koyanagi.

Someone grips my shoulder from behind.

"You have the balls to play games on your phone while on the class and also have the audacity to scream as if you're the only person here, aren't you?!" asked Mitsuki-sensei.

A-Ah! Sensei!!

"S-Sensei, y-you see..," I said.

"Detention! You'll clean the chemistry lab after class!" ordered Mitsuki-sensei.

I'm going back there again...?!

"Tsk, that Koyanagi, he should be also here," I uttered. "Gah, I got too excited earlier."

"Tanaka-san, is that you?" asked Akari-san. "What are you doing here at this hour? It should be your dismissal an hour ago."

"Oh, Akari-san," I greeted. "I got into a bit of trouble and I got stuck cleaning this place. I'm almost done, though. How about you?"

"Ah, I just forgot my pencil case here earlier," said Akari-san. "How is Kotori doing?"

"S-she's doing fine, I guess," I said. "She must have gone home now at this point."

I'm sure she didn't wait for me, did she?

"That reminds me, she got new headphones," said Akari. "Ugh, I'm envious! If only I haven't spent my savings last month then I could have bought one also."

Oh yeah, the one that was gifted.

"W-Was it a present from someone?" I asked.

"Yeah, it was a gift," revealed Akari.

What? S-So someone really gave her a Christmas present already...

"Apparently, she bought it online as her gift to herself this Christmas," added Akari.

"E-Eh?" I reacted. "C-Come again? S-She bought it for herself?"

"Yeah, she said it was a present to herself," said Akari. "She just received it this morning from the delivery guy. She wasn't able to bring it to her room since we were hurrying to go to school so she just brought it with her."

S-So that's the case all along...

"Not that I am intruding but..," said Akari. "You and Suzuki are close friends, right?"

Eek, that question...

"W-Well, yeah," I said. "I guess you can call it like that."

"Then, why don't you try addressing her on a first-name basis?" asked Akari.

M-Me? Calling Suzuki on her first name? That's absolutely embarrassing!~

"I-I-I-can't!" I reacted.

"You can call me via my first name, so you can do it to her too!" said Akari.

Y-You're placing your hopes on me in the wrong situation, Akari-san!!

"She's a different case, Akari-san!" I said.

"Different case..," uttered Akari. "Ah~ I get it."

"I-I don't like what you just thought..." I uttered.

"Well, why don't you try it at least once?" asked Akari. "I'm sure she'll be happy if you do that."

"T-That's..," I uttered.

"I'm going now, good luck with your endeavors!" said Akari as he leaves the room.

First name, huh?

"K-K-Ko-Ko-Kot...," I whispered. "Gahhh!!! This is hard!"

I better finish this to go home already! I'm tired...

"Y-You're awake, aren't you?" I asked. "Let's go home."

I-I still have something to do... but... can I really do it?

"Y-You better not be awake, alright?" I asked.

S-She's not responding. It must be because of the headphone! T-This is a perfect opportunity!

"K-K-Ko-Ko-Kot-Koto...," I uttered. "...Kotor... Suzuki!"

Gah! I can't do it! What an embarrassment to my clan!

"M-Maybe I'll try it next time..," I uttered. "Instead, h-here."

I put a white beret on her head.

"D-Don't misunderstand, okay?" I asked. "I-It's just a Christmas present."

Why I am even talking to someone asleep?

"Idiot Suzuki, why are you always teasing me like it's your hobby..," I asked. "You're making me so confused about what I am feeling inside me..."

Gya! Why am I uttering these words right now?!

"You always mislead me so I can't help but be embarrassed..." I said. "W-Why can't you be direct sometimes for once...? For God's sake, you're a sly girl."

Oh, this is a chance to rant in front of her without her hearing!

"I'm often annoyed but..," I said. "I will never hate you since you are my one and only..."

Eek! Word choice! I'm so embarrassed that words are starting to come randomly! >_<

"I-I mean, a teasing friend who is super close with me! Hahaha..." I said. "I hope you'll like my gift. Merry Christmas, hope we can get along next year and the other and more."

I-I'm just wishing her well, okay?! N-No malice intended!

"Argh, a trip to the comfort room to extinguish embarrassment~," I hummed. "Be right back~"

Crap, I'm so flustered right now! Anyone who'll see me will notice immediately!

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(PoV Shift: Suzuki's)

Dummy~ I heard everything from the start.

I got up when Tanaka goes to the comfort room.

This beret... So he bought this exclusively for me...

Haha, this is bad. My heart can't stop beating the moment he placed this in my head and said those words. I can't hide my embarrassment from this point...

The weather is cold but my heart has been warmed by happiness right now.

"Ah, guess I really like him a lot," I uttered.

"O-Oh, you're already up," said Tanaka. "L-Let's go home. Sorry for waiting."

"Did you hear?" I asked.

"Heard what?" said Tanaka.

Hah~ Almost there.

"Nothing," I said. "Do you know who placed this beret on my head?"

"I-I-I have no idea about that..," said Tanaka.

He's really obvious. Hahaha.

"Oh~ Sure who gave this knows what suits my style, huh...?" I said. "He/She probably knows me well..."

"W-Well, it might be the case..," said Tanaka.

"Let's go home already, it's getting dark," I said.

"Y-Yeah, I agree," replied Tanaka.

Good thing the ambiance is dim right now. I can't also look him in the eye like I usually do when I tease him.

"Thank you..," I uttered.

"W-What are you talking about?" asked Tanaka.

"G-Good point..," I said.

I know he got my gratitude when I said it. W-We're just both flustered right now.

"How does it look like to me?" I asked as I wear the beret.

"I-I-It looks g-g-g-great on you," said Tanaka as he tries to avert his gaze.

"Thanks!" I said. "Give me one minute to fix my stuff and we'll go."

Why did I hear everything though? I-I'm sure I played the music the moment I laid my head down b-but...

The volume is set at maximum yet I wasn't able to hear any sound. Hmm...

Good grief, so my headphone is defective. Ah~ I need to return this, then...

"What are you doing, Suzuki?" asked Tanaka. "Let's go."

"I'll stand if you call me by my first name," I said.

"T-The heck I can do that!!" he reacted.

Hahaha, his reactions are just the best! I don't want to lose him. We will get along forever.

"Sigh, maybe having a broken headphone isn't bad at all in this situation," I uttered as we are walking in the hallway.

"Hmm? What is it?" asked Tanaka.

"Nothing, I just remembered a super great dream when I napped earlier," I said.

-----------------END OF CHAPTER 37----------------