Tch-tch

“W-Well, what a fine day it is! Perfect weather for a visit to Yamamoto-kun’s place, don’t you think?”

The one who suddenly turned talkative was Takeshita.

Her response was met with a curt grunt, barely even a reply, which made her stand out as anything but normal. Sweat beaded on her forehead, and despite her chatty demeanor, her lips trembled slightly.

“Ugh, cut it out with that stuff.”

Hayashi said coldly.

It was blatantly unnatural.

Still, one question nagged at me: why did Hayashi seem so upset right now?

I didn’t have the faintest clue.

…If that’s the case, then.

Kasahara? (Idiot)

Well, no helping it then.

Cleaning up after an ex-girlfriend is just part of an ex-boyfriend’s duty, I suppose.

“Hayashi, that attitude’s uncalled for. She’s just trying to lighten the mood, you know?”

“Shut up. Idiot.”

“…”

Shot down in an instant.

It felt like she’d delivered a full-force toe kick to my already lifeless corpse.

“S-So, this is the house you two live in? I’ve been looking forward to this since this morning!”

“Yeah, I could hear your conversation from the front door, you know?”

A chilly breeze seemed to sweep through the air.

I mean, if you think about it, it’s easy to guess that Hayashi opened the door because she heard our voices.

Maybe Takeshita had the same thought but chose to say something else, hoping it wasn’t true.

Even so…

I’d expected an awkward atmosphere inside the house, but I never imagined it’d get this disastrous before we even stepped foot through the door.

If it’s come to this…

“Hayashi, sorry for always causing you trouble.”

I took a bold step toward Hayashi.

“W-What…?”

Hayashi faltered.

“No, I was just thinking… I’m such a hopeless guy, aren’t I? Really, what a useless jerk I am.”

I signaled to Takeshita, who was standing behind me.

Get it.

Say it.

That’s what I meant to convey.

Say what, you ask?

Obviously, the line I’d drilled into Takeshita on the way here.

“If you’re ever stuck for words, just trash-talk me.”

I felt Takeshita catch on to something.

“Y-Yeah, totally! Yamamoto-kun’s such a hopeless guy!”

That was Takeshita.

“Can you stop badmouthing Yamamoto?”

The iciest words of the day came from Hayashi.

And then!!!

The frostiest front doorstep moment of the day.

Heavy… the air was so heavy.

So heavy it felt like my shoulders might cramp.

“Liar.”

“…Sorry.”

I apologized to Takeshita behind me.

But honestly, who could’ve predicted it’d turn out like this? It’s not my fault.

Everything’s trial and error.

I’d have to learn from this failure to pave the way for future success.

…Not that I could say that to Takeshita right now. I decided to just own it and move on.

Hayashi was glaring at me from under her lashes.

Then, after a moment, she let out a sigh.

“Why don’t you come inside already?”

“Huh?”

Takeshita let out a goofy sound.

“What? You don’t want to come in?”

“N-No, it’s not like that…”

“…Let me guess, Yamamoto put you up to this, didn’t he?”

“Yes.”

“Yeah.”

“Don’t you chime in too.”

Hayashi shot me another glare.

“Don’t worry about it. Just come inside already. Standing here talking is bothering the neighbors.”

“Fair point.”

“W-Well then, pardon the intrusion.”

Finally, we stepped into the house.

But I bet Takeshita’s nerves were shot, wondering what kind of harsh treatment Hayashi had in store for her.

“Sit over there.”

Hayashi headed to the kitchen, gesturing for us to go to the living room.

“What about you?”

“Just go.”

Her tone left no room for argument.

With no choice, we headed to the living room.

“…Why’d you come back so early?”

Hayashi called out from the kitchen.

“Didn’t you tell me to come back early?”

“Why would you actually listen when I tell you to come back early?”

“…Sorry.”

Takeshita, seated across the table in a formal kneel, gave me a pitiful look.

“You’re so whipped…”

Takeshita muttered under her breath.

“Oh, I forgot.”

Hayashi spoke up.

“Eek!”

She was holding a kitchen knife.

What was she planning to do with that?

We both froze.

“…What?”

“N-Nothing…”

“Hey, you, over there…”

Hayashi didn’t seem fazed.

“What about dinner?”

“Huh?”

“Dinner. …Also, what’s your name?”

“Oh… I’m Takeshita.”

“That’s your last name.”

“Nene…”

“Nene, huh. So, dinner?”

“Uh? W-Well…”

“Dinner. You live alone? Around here?”

“Y-Yes, I live alone. Dinner’s… always kind of lonely. I get a bit homesick. I’ve even gotten used to talking to the walls.”

“Got it.”

Whoa, that’s it?

Was that something to brush off so casually?

Takeshita’s giving a self-deprecating laugh over there…

Wait, can you even have a conversation with a wall?

“Then eat here tonight.”

“What?”

What?

“…N-No way, someone like me intruding on you two?”

“Huh? You’re not intruding or anything.”

“…Huh?”

“I mean, you’re Yamamoto’s friend, right?”

“…”

“I can’t just not show hospitality to Yamamoto’s friend, can I?”

“What are you, his mom?”

As I threw in that quip, it clicked.

Yeah, knowing Hayashi’s meddlesome nature, this is totally something she’d do.

“…Is that okay?”

“Huh?”

“I mean, someone like me getting treated like this?”

“What are you even talking about?”

Hayashi flashed a grin.

“It’s only natural, isn’t it?”

“…”

“?”

“Wahhh…”

She started crying.

“Hey, Yamamoto. Isn’t this girl’s emotions a bit… intense?”

“I already pointed that out earlier.”

“Oh, right.”

Hayashi set the knife down in the kitchen and started comforting Takeshita.

I know I absolutely shouldn’t say this, but I’m gonna say it.

This girl is such a handful!!!

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