Kaburagi's coming here, now!?

"I see. I'll be in the way, so I'll excuse myself," I smiled.

"You're not in the way. Just relax, and stay," Enjou smiled.

"No, no. I'm sure best friends have plenty to talk about. I'll leave."

"Don't say that. You still have cake left." I could finish what's left in 5 bites. But before I could pick up my fork, Enjou's hands stretched across the table and took my fork. He's fast!

Enjou smiled darkly. "No, Kisshouin-san. You can't run away by yourself. It's fated. We're sharing this burden."

"…Isn't he Enjou-sama's best friend?"

"He is." Then how can he talk about him like a complete troublemaker? Enjou twirled around the fork in his hand like a prize of war. "Kisshouin-san."

"Yes…?"

"I know. Kisshouin-san can't leave food uneaten."

"Ugh..." …That's right. I'm not Kaburagi, but when I think of how the cook would feel, I can't leave food uneaten. That's why I eat, even if uncomfortable. There's no way I could leave something uneaten at a cozy place like this.

Seeing my weakness, Enjou gazed at the fork shamelessly stated, "Then you can't leave without finishing your cake."

"…" What a jerk. He's dark… Too dark…

Ignoring my frustrated look, he poked the cake with the hostage fork, and said, "Don't look so scary. Here, take your time eating. Oh, should I feed you? Here, Kisshouin-san, open wide."

"Excuse me. May I have another fork?" I called to a worker. Enjou prostrated on the table laughing. 'Open wide, my butt. Mocking me! This is why I hate Rejoicing in Love village members! Angry at being made fun of, blood rises to my head. Should I stick a fork in your whorl?!

I ignored the still laughing Enjou and silently ate the cake with my new fork.

"Are you mad?"

"…"

"Sorry. It's your fault for trying to run away." Is it okay to keep talking about your best friend like that?

"Why does an outsider like me have to be treated so…?"

"Outsider? The three of us are childhood friends." Huh!? We're childhood friends!? …Well, we've known each other since we were six, so I guess you can say that. But we're just classmates who attended the same school, so I don't have that impression. That was a surprising statement. "Besides, Masaya wants to talk to you."

"Me…?"

"He said that he mailed you, but hadn't gotten a reply."

"Mail!?" I look for my phone in my bag… There it is… Mail from Kaburagi.

"Did you see it?"

"Yes…"

"Was it something urgent?"

"Just talks about lunch today."

"…That's it?"

"He had curry." How is this urgent? With a look of pity, Enjou slid my fork back… "Enjou-sama, do you know how to block communications?"

"I understand how you feel, but it's probably pointless."

"I believe that declaring one's intent is important."

"Hmm…"

I can talk tough, but I'm a coward, so I can't actually cut off Kaburagi. At most, I can resist by pretending I had a bad signal and delay. "What is Kaburagi-sama coming for…?"

"He probably just wanted to come after hearing we were here." Another words, he didn't want to be left out. Didn't want to be lonely.

Enjou pointed at my bag and said, "Kisshouin-san, your bag looks heavy with so much in it."

"Perhaps. I have my books from cram school."

"Oh, you're on your way back today."

"Yes."

Enjou was interested, so I showed him my books. "Hmm… They're going fairly deep into it."

"That's right. We went through this material today, but it's so difficult… I have to review tonight."

"Oh, this is…" Enjou went on to explain simply. I see.

"So what about this?"

"Where?" I took out a pen and had Enjou solve a problem I was having when the door opened. "He's here."

"Eh?" I turned around to see Kaburagi approaching. That was quick. I put away my study materials.

Enjou waved to him. "That was fast. Were you nearby?" He moved over so Kaburagi could sit next to him.

"I was already in the car." Saying so, he gazed at me.

"Gokigen yoh…" I felt somewhat guilty for being at Kaburagi's favorite shop without permission, so I only mustered a soft voice. There are those who care about such things… "Um, I liked the coffee here, after you introduced me to this shop the other day."

"Oh." Kaburagi nodded, and ordered coffee for himself. "So if you had time to relax over coffee, hurry up and reply to my mail." So that was your problem.

"People won't always notice communications in real time." Besides, I can only reply to a lunch menu by saying, 'is that so.'

Enjou agreed, "That's true," and Kaburagi looked displeased.

Sigh… "So you had curry today." I shifted the topic.

"That's right!" Kaburagi started to talk about today's events. "I opened the lunch box, and if was nothing but white rice, no side dishes. I thought she just forgot about it or put it in another lunch box, but beneath it was the curry!"

"Oh, that's new."

"I would understand if it were dry curry."

Kaburagi nodded to our reaction and continued. "The cram school doesn't have a cafeteria, but there is a microwave. After Takamichi placed it in the microwave, the smell of curry spread, I realized that it was hidden inside for the first time." That's pretty bold of Wakaba-chan to bring the curry in the same container.

"She likely did so reduce the luggage she carried, since she's bringing lunch for two," I theorized.

"Oh, that why." Enjou sounded convinced.

"Takamichi always surprises me."

"So was the curry good?"

"Of course. It was different from what I usually have, but the taste was good."

I would think so. Wakaba-chan's curry tastes of home, so it should be good.

"That's nice. And? Are you going to a curry shop next?"

"Huh?"

"Huh?" What's Enjou talking about?

Seeing our surprise, Enjou looked exasperated. "If she brought curry for lunch, she likes it. You could have asked her out to a nice curry shop."

There was such a hand to play… A natural way to ask her out. And I'm convinced. He's not from our village.

Kaburagi folded his arms and sunk into the sofa. "I'll ask her out for some curry next. Any other ideas, Kisshouin?"

"Huh? Me?!" Ideas? I have nothing.

"Right. An idea to shrink the distance between us at once. I'm going overseas for family business, so I can't see her for a few days."

"Hmm… Let's see. How about utilizing mirroring?" It's supposed to build rapport with others by imitating the gestures and attitudes of another.

"Oh, that. Like touching your hair when they do, fold your arms when they do, eat the same things…"

"Yes, that."

"That was used in a Mira Hakase story. Manipulating someone with mirroring, he kills them. Masaya, you should ready a full sized doll or Takamichi-san."
"Definitely not!" Enjou! You're too dark in everything. Can't you think of anything positive!?

"What the heck are you all making me do…?"

"I'm innocent!"

"Right, we're innocent. Right, Kisshouin-san?"

"Please don't include us together, Enjou-sama."

"That's cold. We were born on the same boat."

"Quit imagining things!" Like I'd end up on the same boat as Enjou! "Also, something is bothering me. Kaburagi-sama has had Takamichi-san make you lunch every day since summer school started."

"Yeah. What of it?"

Since I'm treated to a meal every time I go there, I can't really talk, but many a little makes a mickle. If she makes lunch every day, the Takamichi family is spending extra money on food.

When I told him that, Kaburagi looked glum. "Should I pay her the cost?"

"Giving her money is a little…." I'd think twice about exchanging cash between high school students, and if he does, it might turn into a job, so a rift might open between them.

"Then what?"

"You don't want to give up on lunch?" Kaburagi frowned and went silent. Of course. "Then how about payment in kind?" With my family, and likely Kaburagi's, we receive summer gifts from all over around this time, so how about giving them nice meats and foodstuffs? "Not something that you went out of your way to buy. If you do so, she wouldn't have as much reservations on accepting them."

"I see. I'll consider it."

"Hey." Enjou suddenly spoke, after listening this entire time. "You were talking about thanking Takamichi-san for lunch, but we haven't really done anything for Kisshouin-san although she's always helping us."

"Huh?" What is he saying all of a sudden?!

"To Kisshouin…" Kaburagi went into thought.

"No, I don't really need anything," I quickly denied.

"We can't have that."

"No, don't mind me at all." More like not involving me in any more of your messes would be the best.

After I stubbornly refused, Enjou backed down saying, "Really? If there's anything we can do for you, let us know."

We went back to talking about what to give Wakaba-chan and Kaburagi's recounting of the morning glory date.

"Speaking of the morning glory fair, did you go, Kisshouin-san?"

"Uh, yes…"

"Oh, you came, too?"

"No, I went to a different one…" I didn't want them to ask who I went with, so I picked up my bag and said, "I'm done with coffee, so I should be going."

"I'll pay yours, Kisshouin-san." Enjou stood up and grabbed my tab before my hands reached it.

"But…"

"I'm the one who kept you here."

"Thank you, then."

I stepped outside after Enjou paid the bill, and I saw the first star in the sky. Fascinated, I missed a step.

"Watch ou…OW!" Kaburagi who was behind me supported me as I slipped, but I stepped on his foot will all that force.

"Oh, I'm sorry!"

"Ow… You pig-foot!"

"Pi, pig-foot!?" I was speechless.

"Kisshouin-san's feet aren't fat at all. That's insulting to a girl," scolded Enjou, but Kaburagi was holding back the pain in his foot, and wasn't apologizing.

"I don't believe it… To say something so horrible to a girl. I've told you many times before. Kaburagi-sama lacks consideration, common sense, and delicacy! Don't you have any delicacy?!"

"Kisshouin. I was silent until now being considerate, but you've gotten fat."

"Uh…" Everything went dark.

"Masaya! It's not true, Kisshouin-san. You're still plenty skinny."

From my shock, ectoplasm seeped from my mouth, and Enjou tried to console me, but I can't hear anything. Oh, I'm about to faint. As he says, I've gained 2 or 3 kilograms… I didn't think that anyone would notice, but Kaburagi did…

"It's your fault, Kaburagi-sama…"

"Huh?"

"You dragged me around to fast food and okonomiyaki, so I ate too much! How dare you…"

"Hey, Kisshouin. If you exercise, you won't gain weight by eating. You don't exercise at all, do you?"

"How would you know?"

"I can see. Besides, the upper arm I held a minute ago had no muscle. Proves you don't exercise." I hid my upper arms that were showing out of my sleeveless one piece by holding my arms. "You're always at my mom's diet plans, but fasting and going to a salon to lose weight without exercising is wrong."

Huh? Is it all right for the son of the company that ran the event to say that?

"You used to walk, but have you continued?"

"I'm on a break…" It was jogging, not a walk. I took a break saying that it was too cold, and then never started back… I feel Mihara-san, my bodyguard's gaze sometimes and feel bad about it… That reminds me, I don't think I gained weight when I was jogging.

"Okay, I get it." Huh? Get what? "I'll get you on your diet."

"HUH!?" What are you saying!?

"Shuusuke said it. I should give something back to Kisshouin. I'll make you lose weight!"

"HUH!?"

"We'll start after I return to the country."

Huh? Huh? Quit deciding things!

"Our gym has the newest machines, so you can expect a lot."

This is an unwelcome favor! This time I did faint.