Lately, things between Serika-chan and Kikuno-chan have become strained.
The cause was Kikuno-chan being in the same class as Kaburagi.
When we realised it after the class announcements, Kikuno-chan was dancing for joy.
Since then, every day, it’s been talk about Kaburagi.
Stuff like “When he was reading the passage out during Japanese class, it was so dreamy.” or “After Kaburagi-sama used the piece of chalk, I ended up using it too”.
From my perspective it’s just idle gossip, but apparently that wasn’t the case with Serika-chan.
“Reika-sama, don’t you think that Kikuno-san been getting ahead of herself lately? Just because she’s in the same class as Kaburagi-sama, every single day she does nothing but boast about it. What on earth is with her!”
Oh my my~
Even though Serika-chan and Kikuno-chan are like a duo, now that one side’s been stealing a march on the other, cracks are appearing in their relationship.
“Aren’t you frustrated, Reika-sama? Kikuno-san is acting as though she’s closer to Kaburagi-sama than you are! So arrogant!”
I’m not frustrated at all, but…?
I mean, I don’t particularly like him after all.
Only, considering how many fans those two have in school, there’s no reason for me to stir up trouble by admitting that. So thus far I’ve just been randomly following along with everybody and saying stuff like “How wonderful.” when appropriate.
“She says things like how Enjou-sama occasionally comes to visit her class! And lately, that girl hasn’t even been spending lunch time with you, Reika-sama! She’s betraying us!”
Uwahh~ She’s getting all heated up.
I wonder what I should do.
“Perhaps Kikuno-san is merely doing so because she felt that you would be happy to hear such stories. I do not think that she means ill, you know?”
“…I can’t imagine that she doesn’t, but…”
Her expression clearly says that she doesn’t believe me. But well, I also think that Kikuno-chan was just happily bragging.
“After all, Kikuno-san seems to think dearly of you, Serika-san. A while back when she was ill and you waited with her in the infirmary, she told me that she was very grateful to you. She even said that when push comes to shove, you were the one that could be relied on, you know?”
“Eh-…”
This is half truth and half lie.
It’s true that she was grateful about Serika-chan accompanying her in the infirmary.
As for the stuff about being reliable, I said “Serika-san is reliable, isn’t she.” and Kikuno-chan just replied “Yes”.
“Kikuno-san said…”
“I think that Kikuno-san is just ecstatic about joining the class of the one she admires. I am sure that she will calm down, given just a little time. To begin with, Kaburagi-sama is more or less indifferent towards girls, after all. In the end, rather than the far-away Kaburagi-sama, it will be you that she values more.”
“That’s true…”
Oooh, she bit!
In that case…
“Serika-san, please take this.”
“Eh-, a macaron?”
I had given Serika-chan a pink macaron.
“It is a limited time cherry-flavoured macaron. Kaburagi-sama’s favourite.”
“EH-!? Kaburagi-sama’s!?”
“Yes. Earlier when I went to the Pivoine salon, Kaburagi-sama was eating them. I helped myself to one as well, but brought it here without eating it. You should eat it, Serika-san. Keep this a secret from Kikuno-san, all right?”
“Goodness…”
Serika-chan happily accepted the macaron with two hands.
“It isn’t often that you get to see Kaburagi-sama eating sweets, is it.”
“My. That is not the case at all. He has quite the sweet tooth, you know?”
He eats sweets in the salon a lot, and he was a sweet tooth in Kimidol as well.
For a while when he was in Kyoto, he was totally in love with this old tea shop’s matcha chocolate after all.
I don’t think he’s hiding the fact or anything, but to begin with we aren’t allowed to bring sweets to school, so the only chance of seeing him eating them is in the salon I guess.
Since Serika-chan is in a good mood again, I guess that’s good enough for now.
“Umm… Reika-sama. What I said earlier…”
“Of course, I did not hear a thing. After all, it was not how you truly felt, was it.”
“No. Thank you very much, Reika-sama.”
No, no. You’re welcome.