Yamamoto’s logic was inescapable, and it brought me crashing back to earth.
He was right. I didn’t have the money for a motorcycle, let alone the fees for driving school. I couldn't exactly hit him up for a loan just to indulge a hobby, and my parents definitely weren't an option.
"B-But..."
"Besides, you're supposed to be studying for your bookkeeping exam, right?" Yamamoto continued. "Do you really have the bandwidth to study for a motorcycle license at the same time?"
"Ugh." I looked down, defeated. "I... I can do it," I muttered, though even I didn't believe it.
Yamamoto let out a long, weary sigh. "Maybe you could. But look at your goals. You’ve committed to this bookkeeping exam. Is getting a license something you absolutely need to do right now, especially if it risks everything else you're working toward?"
The fact that he wasn't telling me it was impossible or being a jerk about it showed he was finally learning how to handle me. If he’d just shut me down bluntly, I would’ve dug my heels in and insisted I’d make it work. But by framing it so reasonably, he made my demand feel incredibly selfish. I didn't have a comeback.
"It doesn't have to be today, right? You’ve got plenty of time ahead of you."
"...I guess so," I conceded.
I knew I was being ridiculous. I really did. But admitting defeat meant I couldn't pressure Yamamoto into buying a bike, either.
"Yamamoto, are you really sure you won't buy one?"
"Stop being so persistent. No."
"Why are you being so stubborn?"
"Pot, meet kettle. You've completely flipped your script from five minutes ago."
I could hardly tell him the truth: that I desperately wanted to go on a long touring trip with him, clinging to his back the whole way.
Wait, I thought. Why don't I just say it?
What if I just asked nicely? What if I acted all sweet and begged him?
It could work. Yamamoto did date Akari, after all. If he’d been susceptible to her feminine charms, maybe if I played the "girly" card and flirted a bit, he’d cave. He’d always been surprisingly weak to a direct push.
Actually, that might be the winning move...
...No. Absolutely not.
Plying a man with feminine wiles to get him to buy me something expensive—even if it was for him to drive—was basically one step away from compensated dating. I might be a university dropout working part-time, but I wasn't that far gone yet. Call it pride or the lingering ghost of my persona as "The Queen," but I couldn't do it.
Still, if I wanted him to buy a bike, I needed to learn more about them. I needed an angle.
"Ah." An idea struck me. "Hey, Nene."
"Oh, yes?"
"Could you take me for a ride on your bike sometime?"
Nene’s eyes nearly popped out of her head.
"...You’re going to drive it without a license? Are you serious?" Yamamoto asked, his gaze practically dripping with contempt.
"Excuse me?" I glared at him until he looked away. "No, idiot. I don't mean me driving. I mean... let me ride on the back. With you."
"Wait... what?"
"I’ll split the gas money, obviously. Just let me ride along and teach me a few things about bikes while we're at it."
"Wha—Eeeeeeeh!?"
"Quiet! You’ll wake the neighbors!"
"Ah! Right! Sorry!" Nene bowed her head frantically. Her emotions really were a rollercoaster.
"So? Is that a yes or a no?" I pressed.
Nene looked up for a split second before ducking her head again. "Is that... really okay?"
"Is what okay?"
"I mean, someone as beautiful as you, Hayashi-san... sitting on the seat of my filthy old bike...?"
"Hey, stop bad-mouthing your own bike. You clearly care about it."
"Y-Yikes! Sorry!"
"I’m just saying... don't do that. It’s a nice bike."
Based on everything she’d said, I knew how much that motorcycle meant to her. It felt wrong to hear her talk it down. I tried to soften my tone, but I’d already been too sharp. Nene didn't look back up.
Great, I thought. I blew it.
She probably wouldn't want to go anywhere with me now. I hated this part of myself—the way I always snapped at people. If I could just learn to speak with a little more grace, maybe my life wouldn't be such a mess.
"...I-I'll stop. I won't say bad things about it anymore."
"...Good."
"S-So, about the tandem ride..."
"Yeah?"
"I-I’d love to! Please, let's do it!"
"Oh. Okay." I nodded, then the realization hit me. "Wait, really?"
"Yes!"
"...Why?"
"Why? Isn't it obvious?" Nene leaned in, her face uncomfortably close to mine. "B-B-Because... I want to be your friend, Hayashi-san!"
I stared at her, thinking back to when she first walked into the room. Even after seeing how prickly I was—even after I’d scolded her when I had no right to—she still wanted to be my friend.
"I see..."
"Is that... a problem?"
"...No." I looked away, my face heating up. "I'm... actually pretty happy about it."
The truth slipped out before I could stop it. My cheeks were suddenly burning.
"D-Don't look at me like that!"
"Eeeh? Why not?"
"Just because! Stop it!"
I didn't even know why I was annoyed. I sat there with my arms crossed, pouting, unable to give a straight answer. But beneath the embarrassment, I felt... good.
Ever since I'd moved to Tokyo, my "friendships" at university had felt like business transactions. Nene was the first person I could actually call a real friend.
"Heh."
Getting this worked up over making a friend made me feel like a little kid. The thought was so ridiculous that I couldn't help but laugh.
"Ahahaha!"
Nene started laughing too, and for a while, we just sat there, enjoying the moment.
"Well, I'm counting on you, Nene."
"Yes! Me too!"
Finally, since coming to Tokyo and being taken in by this household, I had made a genuine friend.
"Looks like things worked out," Yamamoto muttered to himself. "Anyway, Takeshita. About the tutoring... is it okay if we just do it during breaks or between classes?"
"Tutoring?" I asked, my brow furrowing.
"Yeah. She asked me this morning if I’d help her with her studies."
"...Just the two of you?"
"Huh? I mean, I guess it would end up that way." Yamamoto rubbed his chin, oblivious.
"Oh?"
The word fell from my lips in the coldest tone I’d used all day.