An unexpected person appeared.
Megumi Hayashi—my roommate and self-appointed caretaker. For some reason, she was currently fixing me and the girl beside me, Takeshita, with a gaze filled with pure hostility.
I wondered. Had I done something to incur her resentment?
Nothing came to mind.
If it wasn't me, then... was it the girl next to me?
No, Hayashi and Takeshita were meeting for the very first time right now. There shouldn't have been any seeds of conflict between them.
If that was the case... then maybe it was just that.
Hayashi just happened to be in a foul mood today. Honestly, she was a handful.
"Sorry about the lunch, Hayashi," I said.
"..."
"To thank you and apologize, I’ll treat you to something later. What do you want?"
"..."
"I mean... I know it was my fault for forgetting it, but cheer up. I do feel bad for making you come all this way."
"That's not it," she muttered.
"Hmm?"
"I said that's not it!" Hayashi suddenly shouted.
I was taken aback, and Takeshita practically jumped out of her skin.
"Who is she?" Hayashi’s voice was icy.
Takeshita was currently overwhelmed by the sheer pressure of a popular girl and had retreated completely into her shell.
"...This is Takeshita. A classmate from my department."
"Huh?"
"What do you mean, 'Huh?'"
I had simply stated the facts, yet I was being intimidated. It was strange. Were we living in an age where stating facts was a social taboo? If so, what a difficult era this was. I felt like I was going to burst into tears.
"She’s not just a classmate, is she?"
"No, she’s just a classmate."
If anything, I hadn't even known her face until today.
"Liar."
"On what grounds?"
"There’s no way you, a guy with no friends, would be talking to a 'mere classmate' this early in the morning."
"...Hmm." I placed my hand on my chin. "Good point."
"Wait, you’re agreeing with that!?" Takeshita was the one who looked shocked now.
However, it couldn't be helped. Look, I didn't have friends, and I believed I was better off without them. If you asked me whether I’d sacrifice my precious early morning hours to converse with a stranger, the answer would be a resounding no. Hayashi really knew my habits well.
"Why are you lying to me?"
"I wasn't lying. I just didn't realize it myself."
"...What is that even supposed to mean?" Hayashi glared at me for a moment. "...Well, since it’s you, I suppose I can accept that."
"Wait, you’re accepting that logic?" Takeshita interjected again. She seemed to have been unable to follow the conversation for some time now.
"So, what is she to you then?" Hayashi ignored her and pressed me for an answer.
"...In that sense," I said, as our previous conversation at the apartment crossed my mind. "She’s a friend candidate."
Hayashi blinked in surprise. Then, she seemed to connect the dots.
"So it was a girl..."
But the moment she understood, her eyes suddenly welled up with tears. I could see a flash of deep regret on her face.
"...You... you really are... You jerk!"
"I don't really get it, but could you stop hitting me?" I asked as she began lightly pummeling me. "The lecture is about to start. Can we finish this later?"
"...Fine. I get it." Hayashi’s voice was thick with irritation.
"Here." She thrust the lunch box toward me.
"Thanks. And sorry."
"...You don't have work today, right?"
"I don't."
"Then come straight home the second your lectures are over."
"Ehh..."
"Come. Home."
"...Fine."
"And bring that girl with you."
"Wait, why?"
"Just do it!"
"..."
When she put it like that, refusal was effectively impossible. I let out a heavy sigh, my face sour.
"See ya."
Hayashi turned on her heel and hurried out of the lecture room.
"...Um, Yamamoto-kun?"
"Sorry about that. I didn't mean to drag you into something so weird."
"..."
"Takeshita?"
"Are you serious right now!?" Takeshita was fuming. "Who was that!? Who was that person!? She was terrifying! Absolutely terrifying! I’m definitely going to be slaughtered by her later!"
"...Ah, well, it’s complicated."
"At least lie to me and say I won’t be slaughtered!"
I looked away from the half-sobbing Takeshita. It wasn't my fault. That was the first time I’d seen Hayashi that angry, too. To be honest, I had no idea what an enraged Hayashi intended to do to her.
"Yamamoto-kun, you liar!"
"Wait, about what?"
"You said you didn't have a girlfriend!"
"I don't."
"Then who was she!?"
"My roommate."
"Even though she isn't your girlfriend?"
"Correct."
"Does that mean you live in a share house?"
"No."
"What’s the floor plan?"
"A one-room apartment."
"You’re telling me a man and a woman who aren't dating are living together in a single room!?"
"Yes."
"How can you say that like it's perfectly normal!?"
Watching Takeshita get worked up, I could only marvel at what an emotionally volatile person she was.