2 Chapter 3.8: The unexpected witness Part 8

That evening, I received a phone call as I was browsing through some online shops. My cellphone's screen lit up as it was charging next to my bed, the caller ID indicating it was from Kushida Kikyou. I couldn't resist doing a double-take to confirm that I wasn't seeing things. Since I didn't have the courage to call back if I missed it, I rolled across the room in my chair, grabbed my cell phone and dove onto my bed.

"Sorry for calling so late. Did I wake you up?"

"Hmm? Oh, I was thinking about going to bed in a little bit. Do you need something?"

"Sakura-san's digital camera broke, right? I feel like I'm partially to blame because I was talking to her and made her nervous, so I wanted to take responsibility for that..."

"At least, I don't think you need to feel responsible for that. Besides, she's just going to get it fixed, right? Since it's important to her, wouldn't she go even if she had to leave it with the shop?"

As I asked this question, I realized that it wasn't so simple. Sakura was extremely inept at talking with people, and she didn't seem confident enough to go to the store on her own to repair it. It was probably somewhat similar to the situation where you'd feel slightly hesitant when you enter a restaurant alone.

It was a little hard to believe that the world was full of people of all kinds of characteristics and personalities.

Isn't it particularly surprising that there are people who have trouble connecting with others?

"So you offered to help?"

She probably acted proactively in order to establish some common ground with Sakura.

"Yep. She was a little hesitant, but she eventually said she'd be fine with the day after tomorrow. I think that digital camera is probably really important to her."

In order to have Sakura open up to her, Kushida had done a splendid job with taking the first step.

"But why are you telling me this? Won't it go smoothly with just the two of you?"

"That's true if we were just going to go get it repaired. However, there's one more important thing that I'd like to ask for your cooperation with, Ayanokouji-kun."

"Did you want me to ask about whether or not she knows anything about Sudou's incident?"

"Horikita-san is convinced that she's the witness, and after getting a bit closer to Sakura-san myself, I'm also thinking that she knows more about the incident than she's letting on. However, since she's been denying it, there has to be some reason as to why she's keeping quiet."

While it's true that having Horikita go along with her would be the best option, it would be delusional of me to think of Horikita and Kushida going out with each other on their day off. Through the process of elimination, she probably decided to choose me as I was the least likely to cause any issues. If she was to invite Ike or Yamauchi, they would focus all of their attention on Kushida.

Moreover, it's convenient. I've been wanting to go to the electronics retail store at least once.

I sat up on my bed and leaned my back against the wall. For some reason, it felt rude to make arrangements while laying down.

"Okay, I get it. Let's go."

Although I only had to respond normally, I was a little too eager and my voice cracked slightly.

Fortunately, she didn't say anything about it since it didn't seem particularly strange.

For a while after that, Kushida and I chatted enthusiastically about various unimportant topics.

Since the conversation was casual, I didn't feel nervous about it. Rather, there wasn't any reason to get worked up at all.

It stood as proof that she could intrude upon my personal space by this much and still not make me uncomfortable.

I guess on the inside, I've already firmly recognized her as a friend.

"By the way, it was terrifying when Kouenji-kun and Sudou-kun were about to start fighting."

"Ah. It was an explosive situation, but I guess you could say that they were on the verge of exchanging blows."

Although Kouenji always does things at his own pace, if Sudou had swung a blow at him, he would've fought back.

If things had continued any further, it would've been a catastrophe.

"I was so scared that I couldn't move... Hirata-kun is amazing. Truly respectable."

"Yeah."

Realizing I was a little jealous of her praise for Hirata, I did some self-reflection.

It was only natural to feel respect for somebody who could courageously interject into a situation like that.

"Class D was somehow able to take shape thanks to you and Hirata. It's also due to the fact that both boys and girls were involved."

Sometimes, matters between girls can only be resolved by girls.

"I'm just doing things as I normally do. It wasn't anything special."

"I think Hirata would've said the same thing."

Most of the time, special people don't consider themselves as such.

"While we're speaking of special, isn't Horikita-san more special than someone like me? She can study and her physical abilities are excellent. It makes me wonder why she was placed in Class D."

That doesn't make her special. Instead, that makes her a rather unique type of person.

I kept quiet as I was afraid that saying too many bad things about her would come back to bite me later on.

"Wasn't she assigned to Class D partially because she's not very sociable?"

"But isn't she normal when she interacts with you, Ayanokouji-kun?"

"You're saying that's... normal?"

If we were to base things off my interactions with her, the way Horikita treats others is really miserable in comparison...

I trembled slightly as I recalled Ike fainting in agony.

"I still feel like there's some sort of wall between Horikita and I. Or perhaps I should say that's just the extent of our relationship, just in case you're misunderstanding something."

"Uh-huh~"

She responded with an amused, yet doubtful tone in her voice. I really don't want to be misunderstood by Kushida.

"Ah, that's right, there's something I wanted to ask you. Your room is on the 9th floor, right?"

"Eh? Ah, yeah that's right. What about it?"

"No, it's nothing. I was just a little curious is all."

Before I realized it, Kushida had fallen into silence. A silence that came unexpectedly, without any signs of arrival.

Our conversation, which had been going smoothly for some time now, suddenly stopped.

Usually, Kushida would continue our conversation almost immediately, but that wasn't the case here.

Perhaps it was a bad idea to ask what floor she lived on?

I was too restless to calm down, and aimlessly looked around every corner of my room.

Aaah, I want to be an ikemen with exceptional communication skills right now. I couldn't help but think so.

It was so quiet that we could only hear each other's breathing.

"It's getting late. Should I hang up?"

Unable to bear the silence anymore, I gave up.

It was too painful to stay on the phone with a girl in complete silence.

"Say."

"Hm?"

Kushida broke the silence but didn't continue to speak. It felt like she was hesitant to speak, nothing like the usual Kushida who would always try to make the conversation brighter.

"If..." She trailed off. "What if I... I-"

She stopped once again. Silence came as five, then ten seconds passed by.

"... No, it's nothing."

That reaction doesn't seem like it's nothing...

However, I didn't have the courage to respond with something like 'What is it? You were about to speak, so just say it.' so I decided to let it go. Sorry Kushida, forgive me. If I was to go to the battlefield, I'm the type of person who would chicken out and hide in the back with a sniper rifle, far away from all the action.

"I'll see you the day after tomorrow then, Ayanokouji-kun."

With that, Kushida cut the call.

I wonder what she was trying to say there?

It seemed like it was going to be a long, sleepless night.