Chapter 1

It's 9:15 A.M. already. We are still sitting at the restaurant. Aguri-san ordered some cake for us meanwhile. I urged to pay for that. Aguri-san, who was in a bad mood all the time, said nothing in response. I took her silence as a yes and paid for the cakes. Of course it's my fault for Aguri-san's sadness so I have to somehow make her mood okay. Hm? Wait a minute... how can it be only my fault? Regardless Aguri-san should have noticed too that it was me who she was kissing, not his unfortunate boyfriend. But it's no use now. My first priority is to make Aguri-san cheerful again.

"Hey Amanocchi", after eating half of her cake, Aguri-san finally resumed the conversation.

"Ah yeah Aguri-san. You want anything?"

"No... actually I'm sorry."

"Eh? No no don't be."

"No I should have noticed too. I can't just place all the blame to you."

"Aguri-san...", I'm feeling bad now after seeing Aguri-san so depressing.

"After all Amanocchi, you are way shorter than Tasuku and also way thinner and weaker. How can I misunderstand a porky nerd like you for Tasuku only God knows!"

"Huh? Wait a minute. Why is it seeming like insult to me?"

"Jeez Amanocchi... I knew from the start that some problem would occur whenever I'm with you."

"To be honest it should be my line. I can remember my peaceful life having a rollercoaster ride since you have arrived."

"Wait! I didn't arrive out of nowhere. You are the one who out of nowhere once came to me and ask me for having a tea with you."

"Because then you were in a verge of breakdown after witnessing your beloved boyfriend flirting with Chiaki, you remember!"

"Yeah and who caused it? You were the one who first introduced Hoshinomori to Tasuku. In fact, before Hoshinomori arriving, everything was fine between me and Tasuku. We were always lovey-dovey and not caring about the rest of the world."

"Hey wait! Uehara-kun was the one who first introduced me and Chiaki to each other." "Huh? He was?"

"Yeah and it's not any surprising that Chiaki falling in love with him. After all Uehara-kun is so handsome and smart. His harem power would intensify without him noticing."

"Huh? So gross! I knew it. You swing in that way Amanocchi. Don't come near to my boyfriend, you nerd!"

"Hey stop your BL fantasy, you hopeless gal."

"Enough! Can you two please stop now?"

"Huh?", we both looked beside us.

One of the worker lady is requesting us to stop. There were 3 customers too glancing at us being irritated.

We apologised and sat down. I then started to finish my cake.

"Hey Amanocchi... I think we shouldn't get frustrated over whatever happened. I had invited you because I wanted to talk to you to reduce my depression."

"Yeah I'm really sorry Aguri-san."

"Yeah but even so...", Aguri-san said while opening her phone. Then she showed me the screen. "Look here. I have tried to call Tasuku 13 times and messaged 21 times since last day. He has not responded yet. Oh what's the point of even living anymore!"

"Wow you have given up already!"

"What do you mean?"

"I have tried to call Tendou-san 49 times and messaged 19 times. She didn't even read my messages yet."

"Amanocchi... it's not like we are having a competition about this. So don't tell me that with your smug face"

I felt silent. Yeah that's true though. Something's really wrong with me.

"Yeah Aguri-san it's true. In the bus while returning home, Tendou-san was deathly silent. I think she doesn't even want to see me now! Looks like break up is inevitable."

"Tasuku also only responded with shaking his head whatever I was trying to clarify.", Aguri-san smashed her forehead on the table after saying this. Another moment of silence.

I can't keep this going on. It's 9:45 A.M. already. More than for a hour, we are here. And the silent Aguri-san is making the matter worse. I have to do something, and now.

"Aguri-san!"

"Huh? What happened Amanocchi?"

"You have finished your cake right?"

"Yeah."

"So let's go."

"Wait wher-"

Without letting her finish, I dragged her outside by holding her wrist. I can hear the workers breathing a sigh of relief. Outside, I asked Aguri-san, "Why are you so depressed? This is not like you."

"Huh? What do you-"

"You remember? The first day we came to this family restaurant? When we had doubt about Uehara-kun cheating on you. We became comrades to find out the matter and get your Uehara-kun back to you right?"

"Yeah Amanocchi th-"

I grabbed both of her hands without letting her finish. Then I looked straight to her eyes. It seemed like time stood still.

"Last day what happened, was unfortunate. Today once again let's become comrades to clear the misunderstandings. Don't you trust me Aguri-san?"

Aguri-san looked at me for a few moments. Then she made a bright smile, the smile that I always love to watch from Aguri-san. Seeing her smile, my 50% of depression seemed like disappeared.

"Jeez Amanocchi! We always have been comrades and always will be! Haha."

"Yeah let's look forward to it."

It's funny that we both are smiling even though we both were the reason of our depression. Now I'm thinking may be Tendou-san and Uehara-kun are more depressed than us.

"By the way Amanocchi, you looked surprisingly manly while saying that to me. That's very unlike you."

"Huh? To be honest you were also looking very cute at the moment. That's very unlike."

"Eh? You are saying I'm not cute?"

"Haha you hardly showed me your cute face before though."

"Jeez Amanocchi!"

"Looks like you two are having very fun!"

"Eh?", we both came back to earth after hearing the familiar voice. Then we saw... Uehara-kun just behind us. He was probably shopping as I saw the bag in his hand. I didn't expect him to be shopping at school time though.

He came close and surprisingly patted both of our backs. Then he laughed, "Haha today I was not feeling well to go to school so I had gone to shopping. But I didn't expect you two to be bunking school too... oh wait I actually did expect that! Seems like I am being a third party here.

Okay bye for now! Enjoy!", Uehara-kun waved his hand to us and moved on.

We stared at his direction for 30 seconds and then suddenly realising what was happening,

Aguri-san hit my hand and shouted,

"Dickhead why are we still standing here? Go and stop Tasuku!"

"And why are you still here too! Stop him!"

[To be continued]