The Day After I Told My Shut-In Genius Childhood Friend, Who’s Highly Dependent on Me, “I Got Confessed To,” She Showed Me a Hypnosis App - Chapter 16

“Heh. So you made up with that girl from yesterday?”

“Yes, it’s all thanks to Senpai.”

After class, I went to the literature clubroom. Today, Senpai invited me to study there. It was also a good chance for me to thank her for helping me make up with Momose-san.

After I said my thanks, Kirisaka-senpai smiled mischievously.

“So, does that mean you might go out together to celebrate making up?”

“Huh!? How do you even know that!?”

“I’m just guessing.”

She giggled. I always think Senpai’s insight is amazing. Yeah, my expressions are easy to read, but can she really guess things just like that?

“How can you guess it right just by guessing…?”

“I’m surprised too. I didn’t think you’d actually go on a date… you know?”

Maybe it’s just me, but Senpai looked a little annoyed.

“I want to hang out with you, too, Honami-kun.”

“Eh. Really? I’d love to go too… but.”

“But?”

“…I thought maybe I’d just get in the way if I came along. Senpai probably wants to enjoy yourself alone, right?”

“Hehe, you wouldn’t get in the way at all. I’d actually want you to come.”

“Eh… is that right?”

That was unexpected. I always imagined Senpai as someone elegant, listening to classical music and reading quietly. I never thought she’d want to go out with someone.

“When are you free, Honami-kun?”

“…Um. I’m mostly free…”

“Then, maybe the week after your date with that girl?”

“…I think that should be fine…”

“Do you have any worries?”

I was surprised how easily plans were coming together. Senpai must have a lot of people she could go out with, so is it really okay to go with me? But she’s right, I do have a small concern.

“I’m making meals for my childhood friend.”

“…Hmm?”

“As long as it doesn’t overlap with that, it’s fine.”

Senpai frowned.

“…Wait, Honami-kun.”

“Yes?”

“…You have a childhood friend?”

“Yeah, that’s right.”

I usually don’t mention Mio’s name, but it’s not like I’m hiding it.

Senpai looked at me with a slightly exasperated expression.

“…I knew it. She’s a girl, right?”

“H-How do you know!?”

“Of course.”

She looked away and sighed. So, I’m not the only one she’s keeping an eye on… she muttered. Enemy, she called it.

“…Well, whatever. The reason you don’t talk much about your life outside school is probably because of her.”

So she had noticed all along.

Since entering high school, I haven’t really talked about my private life with anyone.

“That’s true… It’s not that I really want to hide it.”

“It’s okay. There’s a reason, right?”

I nodded.

I want to go to school with Mio someday.

If I were to talk about Mio at school, it could give people the wrong idea or make them have prejudices. Right now, Mio just spends her time at home online and sometimes invents strange things. I don’t think talking about her would give a good impression.

“Hmm… I guess that makes sense. Yeah, there are a lot of things… maybe I should’ve acted sooner… then she might have noticed…”

Senpai muttered something with sharp eyes, but I couldn’t quite catch what she said.

◇

After talking with Senpai, I studied for tests in the quiet clubroom.

I usually study with Mio, but Senpai is really smart too. She even understands the teacher’s style and explains things, so studying with her makes preparing for tests much easier.

“By the way, Honami-kun.”

After a while, when I started losing focus, Senpai suddenly looked up.

“Yes?”

“Today, it’s just the two of us in this clubroom, right?”

“That’s right but…”

Momose-san had said the same thing to me before. Why does everyone check with me if we’re alone? Well, it’s true today. Akimoto-senpai isn’t here, it’s just me and Kirisaka-senpai.

I tilted my head, and Senpai muttered, “I see,” with a disappointed look.

“…Not today.”

“Not today?”

“No, I’m sorry. I was just curious.”

“That’s what the girl asked me to… Is this some kind of trend?”

“Hm —She asked the same thing?”

“Yes.”

In the nurse’s office, Momose-san also asked, “Just the two of you… right?”

Senpai put her hand on her chin and looked like she was thinking deeply.

“…Could it be her too? I see, so that’s why I thought she was silly…”

She muttered something quietly to herself.

I wonder if there’s some reason behind it.

“Senpai?”

“Ah, I’m sorry. I was lost in thought again.”

She smiled while holding her pen to her mouth to hide it.

“…Oh, and one more thing. Honami-kun, I’ve been hearing some weird sounds coming from your backpack.”

“Huh? Weird sounds?”

When Senpai said that, I picked up my backpack and looked inside. But there wasn’t anything that would make a strange noise. Maybe my phone? Other than that, there were textbooks, workbooks, notebooks, and a stuffed toy Mio had given me.

Senpai’s eyes landed on the stuffed toy.

“Honami-kun, did you have a stuffed toy like that?”

“Aah. This, Mio… my childhood friend gave it to me this morning. She told me to attach it to my backpack.”

…Now that I think about it, I forgot to show it to Momose-san. It was too shocking to pull out at the time.

“…Can I hold it for a moment?”

“Eh, this? Yeah.”

I took the string off my backpack and handed it to Senpai. The Prikle Lux looked like a small, chibi-style mascot. It wasn’t hard to make, design-wise, but the fact that Mio could make it so quickly was impressive.

(Though, usually she’d make something a bit more elaborate…)

I felt a little off. If Mio made a stuffed toy, it would normally have more features, like a voice recording or maybe even a call function.

(Well, I guess it’s fine to make a normal one sometimes.)

After inspecting it, Senpai returned the toy.

“Hmm. Thank you for showing me. It’s a really well-made stuffed toy.”

“That’s right. She’s amazing. My childhood friend.”

I thought for a moment.

Maybe it’s okay to tell Senpai a little about Mio.

Senpai, my childhood friend, isn’t at school right now, but if she comes, could you look after her a little―?

(…But maybe not right now>)

Senpai handed the toy back, put her hand to her mouth, and was lost in thought again. I didn’t want to disturb her when she was thinking. Mio probably doesn’t need help immediately anyway.

(I’ll ask her the next time we go out.)

I thought about that and stretched, then went back to studying for the test.