Sudo's Case-6 [Ayanokoji PoV]

Suzuki left the classroom with Sakura for some reason apologizing that she couldn't hang out with everyone as to not cause trouble.

"I planned to… fade out, but…"

Lunch break. For some reason, I was involved with the usual group and went to the cafeteria.

The members were me, Kushida, Horikita, Ike, Yamauchi, and Sudo.

It was inevitable. When lunchtime arrived, Kushida came up to me and asked, "Want to go to lunch?" with a smile. I couldn't possibly refuse, right? So I said, "Sure!"...

The topic of discussion was about how to prove Sudo's innocence.

"Well it can't be helped, so we'll assist you as friends, Sudo."

Although he treated Sudou as a bad person at first, Ike's attitude changed quickly. It's definitely because Kushida stepped in. Ike, he changes sides really quick depending on who is in the vicinity. Though he talks about Suzuki all day, as soon as some other girl is nearby, he changes sides to try his luck. Even so, Sudou apologised.

"I'm sorry for causing trouble. However, I wasn't the one at fault. I was really frustrated at Ryuen and was panicking about what did he do to Yui..."

Any normal person would have lost their composure, and Sudo was especially easy to anger if it involved Yui.

"I'm sorry, but I don't really feel like helping."

Horikita immediately rejected Sudou's request for help.

"The most important thing to our class in order to rise up to class A is to not loose any points. However, because of you, we probably won't be able to get any points. In other words, you've just messed up that plan. Knowing Suzuki-san, she would have warned you about an exact situation like that, did she not?"

"Wait a second. It's true, but I'm seriously not the one at fault! What would I do if Yui was in danger!? I am a man! I gotta protect her!"

"Grow up from that mentality. Even though she is a girl, no one can possibly beat her. I know you are stupid, but you should have at least remembered her warning."

After seeing Suzuki scaring her brother with just a glare, Horikita has formed a firm belief that nobody can beat her.

"Horikita-san, that's heartless! What would you do if something like that really happened?" Kushida asked with a sad face. If she made that face, I would probably hug her to comfort her. But Ike and Yamauchi will probably kill me. Like they were going to when I was going on dates with Suzuki.

"First I would call her to check."

Sudo received massive damage.

"And I have complete confidence in Suzuki-san."

Horikita declared with unwavering conviction.

"Yeah! I know I am stupid. But I don't regret beating up that wimp."

"Is that so? Well, good luck."

Grabbing her untouched tray, Horikita stood up.

"Are you not going to help!? Aren't we friends!?"

"Don't make me laugh. I've never considered you as a friend. I feel most uncomfortable when I'm with people that don't realize how stupid and foolish they are. Goodbye."

Horikita sighed, looking more exasperated than angry, and left the room.

"What's up with her!? Dammit!"

Unable to vent his anger anywhere else, he hit the cafeteria table.

I noticed the nearby student's miso soup spilling . I saw him glare at Sudo, but felt silent upon looking at his face. And I understood how he felt.

"I guess we'll have to make do with what we have"

"I knew you would understand, Yamauchi. I'm relying on you too, Ayanokoji."

Seems like I'm second to Yamauchi. Well, it's not really surprising.

"Even if you ask me to help, I can't really do much, you know?"

It's ineffective to self-deprecate whenever someone asks for help, it seems. Sudo looked at Ike and said while pointing at me.

"Ike, say something."

"No, but… well, it's strange for Ayanokoji to say that he won't be useful. Well, it's better than not being there. Probably."

As expected, Ike couldn't come up with how I would be useful.

With a smug face, I looked at Kushida. It was though I was showing off the power of being a boring person.

"This is disheartening. I thought we got along when we were preparing for the test…"

Ike said in a disappointed tone. I saw Horikita sitting back down in the distance, looking slightly irritated.

"I don't understand Horikita at all. What's wrong with her, Ayanokoji? Why is she like that?"

I didn't know the answer to the question. What am I, a user manual for her? To avoid answering, I stuffed my face with rice.

"It's strange though. Horikita-san wants to get to class A, right? If we save Sudo-kun, the class would receive points. I wonder why she doesn't want to."

"Isn't it because she dislikes Sudo? She said she didn't think of him as a friend."

Saying that wasn't going to help..

They misunderstood what she said earlier for her dislike of Sudo..

"I don't want to think that way, but I guess it's true…"

"Kushida, Horikita is—"

I unconsciously start to speak. Kushida looked at me in interest.

"Horikita-san is?"

"Ah… It may not be relevant, but here are my thoughts on this: I think Horikita normally talks in a harsh manner. But I also think you guys are misunderstanding her."

"Huh? What do you mean?"

"She won't help if there's no reason to do so… I think."

"What do you mean by, 'I think, I think'? Are you just guessing?"

Sudo bursts into the conversation.

Horikita had probably realized this when Chiyabashira-sensei was telling us about the incident.

This happened for a reason. And the ending she foresaw… in other words, the probability that this would end with positive results is near impossible. Upon realizing that, Horikita purposely acted cold towards Sudo. Sudo wasn't exactly seeing a problem with beating up Ryuen, and even acting like he would beat him up again.

If it were to be said here, it would not be able to much of a difference as it'll only make them feel disheartened. Without knowing how things will end, I hesitated to reply to Sudo's outburst.

Not wanting to pour cold water onto their plans, Horikita probably didn't say anything and left.

"Well… It's a guess like you say, Sudou."

"You don't even have a reason for thinking that way?"

"Horikita's smart after all. I felt like she came to a conclusion that made her act that way."

"A conclusion? Yeah, a conclusion to forsake me."

"Let's not accuse others, Sudo. It's only natural for Ayanokoji-kun to defend Horikita, since he's always with her all the time.. She's important to him, you know?"

Ike quipped at me with an evil smile on his face.

"This bastard was so desperate to go on dates on Yui-chan that he lived by feeding on grass. I am proud of you Ayanokoji."

I expected that our friendship will end, but they were proud of me for some reason and were happy that I and Suzuki do not contact each other much.

Sudo clicked his tongue and reached out for his tray, still feeling irritated.

"If someone came up as a witness, it would be great. Since the teachers asked all the classes, this will probably be resolved quickly."

I understand wanting to think that way, but would the situation be resolved that easily?

After all, the issue was serious. It's not unreasonable for Horikita to give up. It would be checkmate if the witness, assuming there is one in the first place, was from Class D. It would be natural for class D to hide the truth in order to protect themselves. After all, this school is made up of ranks. It's unlikely that any feelings of guilt will outweigh the disadvantages the class may get.

But if the witness is not from class D, the problem is where to look.

If it was someone that was neutral and had seen the situation unfold from the beginning, the result may be different.

"Ah, sorry, I'll be gone for a bit. I'm going to go ask my senpais that I just saw over there."

Kushida stood up from her seat.

"You're doing your best for people like Sudo, Kushida-chan. It's cute."

Fascinated by Kushida's back, Ike was enchanted.

"Yui-chan is out of league for me. I should probably go after Kushida-chan…"

"It's impossible. You think she'll drop to your level?"

"I have a better chance than you do."

"Nah. The only girl that stand on the same level as me is Yui-chan."

Yamauchi gloated. The other people in the cafetaria started laughing loudly at his statement.

"Good joke buddy!"

"As if Yui-chan will drop to your level."

Ashamed, Yamauchi counterattacked. "I just haven't become serious!"

Everyone continued laughing at him.

"If Yui-chan became my sugar mommy...fufu!"

Drooling, Ike started to fantasise with indecent thoughts. Ike was becoming creepy.

"Hey. Why are you fantasizing about my Yui-chan?"

"Noo…"

"W-what delusions are you having!? Talk!"

It seems like he lost his sense of control.

"What do you mean, what? Of course I'm thinking of her nude, right next to me. In other words, cuddling."

Somehow, the whole scene was imaginable to a certain extent with those few words.

"Dammit, I won't lose! I've also thought of various things!"

Hey hey, that's neither ethical nor suitable.

"Stop it. Don't touch my Yui-chan with your filthy hands."

In some way, Suzuki seemed pitiful.

She's probably the object of several boys' fantasies every night. And it was not just Ike and Yamauchi. Several boys had a creepy grin. If they were allowed, they will start a cult.

"As I thought, the best part about high school are the girls. I really want a girlfriend. If I have a girlfriend during summer, I can go to the pool with her! It'd be the best!"

"It would be the best if Yui-chan was my girlfriend… it would be the best if she was my girlfriend…"

As if it was something valuable, Yamauchi said it twice.

"But since Yui-chan is so hot, won't she get a boyfriend sooner or later…?"

"Don't say that, Yamauchi. It doesn't look like she has a boyfriend, so it's alright. And she totally lost interest in dating after going on dates with Ayanokoji. Ayanokoji, we are very grateful to you."

That hurt. Well, the rumours say that she won't try dating anyone but will wait for a chance encounter.

Ike patted my back with a large smile like a proud parent.

"Realistically, Yui-chan is out of our league… she wouldn't drop to our level. Would it be possible if I aimed lower like Kushida-chan or Hasebe-chan…?"

"Yea… in the first place, my girlfriend can't be ugly…"

Yamauchi has turned the most hated boy in the class for comments like this.

"They've got to be at least a 70…"

It seems like the two boys started to dream about getting a girlfriend.

Their wild delusions were shattered, but they could not get rid of their high expectations.

"Ayanokouji, do you want a girlfriend?"

"Well, if it's possible."

If I was able to get a girlfriend just because I wanted one, I wouldn't have much difficulty socialising with others.

"Of course he wants, with how much desparate he was for Yui-chan!"

"Say Ayanokoji, I'm just asking again, but are you sure you don't feel anything for Horikita?"

He thrusted his chopsticks towards me while asking.

"I don't, really."

"Are you sure?"

He asked again, looking like he didn't believe me. I nodded my head vigorously to get the point across.

"…Then it's fine. I thought you were clinging onto her. I mean, that would be a bother for Horikita."

I don't remember clinging onto anyone. Especially not her.

"But are you ok with Horikita? Well, she's cute, but… she's pretty boring, right? I wouldn't be able to stand someone like her. She wouldn't want to go to the pool or go on any dates."

"If it was someone unrelated, she would refuse the date, but if it was her boyfriend, she would probably agree, right? And she would show her boyfriend expressions that she wouldn't show any other boy."

"I see… I can imagine it too. She's cute, after all."

While glancing at Horikita, who was sitting quite a distance away, Yamauchi entered his delusions.

It seems like Ike decided to look for girls around a chest size of 70 while keeping Suzuki as his main goal.

"Sae-chan-sensei said that we would have a vacation in the summer, right? I'll definitely get a girlfriend then. Kushida-chan if possible! Or some other cute girl!"

"Me too, me too! Even if she's the worst, I'll get a girlfriend… and then I'll have my lovey-dovey high school life!"

"…When should I confess to Kushida…"

"I don't care as long as you don't bother Yui."

The three of them talked about the girls in their minds.

"We should have a competition to see who gets a girlfriend first. The first person to have a girlfriend will treat all of us with food! Alright?"

It was difficult to decide if I was a true friend by participating in a competition like this.

"What's wrong, Ayanokouji? By any chance, you're not going to say that you won't participate, will you?"

"No, I was just wondering why the first person to get a girlfriend is the one to treat everyone else."

"Oh, I see. You're just being jealous, right?"

"A person who gets a girlfriend is happy. Since they're happy, they treat everyone. It's that kind of feeling."

Although they were getting excited, Sudo's problem still persists.