Hostage

Pulling herself together, Hayashi began eating her meal quietly. It seemed she had no intention of digging back into the topic of me not having friends.

“Well, I think you should try making friends. Having someone you can be yourself with—it adds some spark to your life, you know?”

Okay, so she did intend to dig back into it.

Calmly, as if it were the most natural thing in the world, Hayashi spoke.

“Hmmm.”

“What, you don’t want to make friends?”

“…It’s not that.”

I continued while stacking the dishes I’d finished eating from.

“I just… don’t know how to make friends.”

The sound of chopsticks clattering to the table came from Hayashi.

“For real?”

“Yeah, for real.”

“Whoa, that’s intense.”

“Ouch, that’s a genuine reaction. After a month of living together, I can tell when you’re serious.”

“You… how have you been making friends all this time if you don’t even know how?”

“That’s what I’m saying—I don’t have any friends.”

“Oh, right.”

…She’s being serious about this, so I won’t say it out loud, but you’re kinda being rude right now, you know?

“Sorry…”

“Don’t apologize so sincerely. It stings.”

I spoke up.

“…Right. You don’t know how to make friends, huh?”

“Yeah.”

“B-but, like, being able to admit you don’t know something is pretty great, right?!”

“That’s how you praise a grade-schooler.”

“Urgh…”

Hayashi was visibly deflated. Seeing her this down about it made my situation feel so dire it was almost funny. Wait, this isn’t a laughing matter, is it?

“Hey, Hayashi, how do you make friends? You’d know all about it, right?”

“Huh? …Well, like, if you make eye contact, you’re basically friends already, yeah?”

“With that logic, you’d have way more than a hundred friends.”

“…Now that I think about it, how do you make friends?”

“Wait, you don’t know how to make friends either? How’ve you been doing it all this time?”

“They just… kinda happen. Hehe.”

Hehe, my foot.

Do you think acting cute gets you a free pass for everything? That’s only for cute girls, you know? …Well, I guess Hayashi qualifies.

Damn it. Is this world all about looks? Is it really just about looks?

“…Alright.”

“What’s alright, Hayashi-san?”

“Yamamoto, go talk to some guys in our department today.”

“What? No way.”

“No excuses.”

“I said no!”

“No excuses!”

“No way! Why’s this turning into some childish back-and-forth?!”

I couldn’t help but snap. Hayashi’s pretty stubborn, so when we talk, stuff like this happens sometimes—okay, often. Usually, I’m the one who gives in first, but this time, with the stakes being what they are, I couldn’t back down.

“Ugh, what’s the big deal? I’m just saying to talk to someone and build a friendly connection.”

“Why do you assume talking to someone would automatically make us friends?”

“It doesn’t?”

“No. If I try talking to someone, they’ll probably just get weirded out.”

“I don’t think that’s true.”

Back in high school, people didn’t exactly like me, so it’s bold of her to say that. Still, I kept my mouth shut.

“Just try talking to a guy today. It won’t go badly, I promise.”

“It will go badly. Absolutely not.”

“No excuses… or else.”

“Or else what?”

“…I-I’ll spread rumors at work that you and I are living together.”

“Eh, go ahead. It’s not even a rumor—it’s the truth. Sure, people will give me weird looks, but considering I’m already letting you stay here, I’m in no position to complain about what people say. Even if weird rumors spread, as long as you stick around… I’d be happy, I guess.”

“…Never mind, forget it.”

“You sure?”

“I’m sure!”

Man, Hayashi’s emotions are all over the place today.

“…Fine, then I won’t cook anymore.”

“I don’t mind, but are you okay with that?”

I’d always thought Hayashi taking care of the housework was her way of earning her keep. She hasn’t gotten her first paycheck from her part-time job yet, and she’s staying in my place for free.

“…No good.”

“See? You don’t need to worry about it.”

“…Fine. I get it, okay?”

Phew. She’s finally giving up.

I was visibly relieved.

“I’ll throw out your cleaning supplies.”

“!?!?”

Wait, what?

W-what… what did she just say?

My cleaning supplies…

She’s going to throw out my cleaning supplies…!?

Did she just say she’s going to throw out my cleaning supplies!?

“Oh, sorry. Throwing them out might be a bit much.”

…Phew, just a joke.

“I’ll sell them on Mercari.”

“!?!?!?!?!?”

My heart—it’s pounding louder than it ever has in my entire life.

No way.

No way…!

My cleaning supplies, thrown out!?

No, sold!?

“Tch, there’s no way I’d let that happen!”

“What? It’s simple.”

“What?”

“Just talk to a guy a little.”

“That’s… that’s…”

“Of course, I’ll give you all the money from the sales. It’s perfect timing, isn’t it? Your closet’s bursting with cleaning supplies. You’ve even got duplicates in different colors. It’s about time you decluttered.”

“But… but…”

“Yamamoto.”

“…What?”

“You can do it.”

“Grr…”

I glared at Hayashi with everything I had. How much, you ask? Like a kid whose parents were murdered glaring at the culprit—that kind of glare.

“Fine. I get it. I just have to talk to someone, right?”

“Yup. I’ll have dinner ready when you get back.”

“Yeah, yeah, I’m going!”

I stormed out of the house with a huff.

“Cleaning supplies over me? Unbelievable. I wasn’t actually going to sell anything, even if you didn’t talk to a guy… but man, maybe I should sell them all.”

As I left, I heard Hayashi mutter something, but I couldn’t make out the words.