Kitasan Black and Satono Crown sat on a bench together. The atmosphere seemed tense.
After eating a takoyaki, Satono Crown praised, "This is delicious."
"..."
Kitasan Black remained expressionless.
What is with this girl? She bounces back way too fast. And she's way too familiar.
And why didn't I just say no? Why did I let her sit down?
Satono Crown didn't eat much. She soon stopped and said, "I'm full. Thank you for the food."
Kitasan Black thought she'd leave after eating, but to her surprise, after wiping her mouth with a handkerchief, Crown stayed right there, just staring at her.
"Is there something else?"
I gave you what you wanted to eat. What more do you want?
Is this still about before?
But without evidence, no matter how much you suspect, it's useless.
Satono Crown shook her head. "No."
Though she still had some suspicions about Kitasan Black, she also knew there was no point pursuing it further. Their earlier conversation had made it clear she'd never get an answer from Kitasan Black.
And after calming down to think, she'd realized something.
There was no need to keep pursuing this.
What she truly wanted had never been to know the answer. She wanted Kitasan Black to take her seriously.
To get closer to Kitasan Black. To truly beat her in a race!
Yes—she wanted Kitasan Black's acknowledgment. She wanted to become true friends with her!
She'd understood her own heart now. That's why she was here.
"If there's nothing, why are you still sitting here?"
She said it!
Kitasan Black felt a spark of triumph.
After I said that, this young lady will definitely be too embarrassed to stay.
But Satono Crown's expression remained calm.
"I see. Kitakami-san really does seem to dislike me. Did I offend you somewhere along the way? If so, please tell me when it happened. If it was truly my fault, I'll apologize."
The earnest young lady pressed forward step by step. That straightforward sincerity left Kitasan Black momentarily at a loss.
Should she say it was because her radar detected danger, so she'd been avoiding her?
That would sound too weird.
So after a moment of silence, Kitasan Black organized her words: "No, I just don't want to interact with you."
Right, no reason—I simply don't like you. Perfect!
Kitasan Black was quite pleased with her quick response.
Hmph, this should make Crown-ojousama give up.
After all, they were practically strangers. Just classmates with minimal interaction. Crown-ojousama had no reason to persist.
Satono Crown was indeed surprised by this answer.
(So Kitakami-san really does dislike me?)
She'd always sensed that Kitasan Black avoided her and had anticipated this possibility, but she hadn't expected it to actually be true. She felt a moment of regret—why hadn't she discovered this sooner?
If she'd known earlier, she would have started working on it long ago. But it wasn't too late to know now.
Satono Crown wasn't discouraged. After all, she was someone who didn't know how to give up.
"May I ask why Kitakami-san dislikes me?"
She thought there might be some misunderstanding between them.
If Kitakami-san disliked her because of a misunderstanding, she absolutely had to clear it up!
"I don't dislike you. Don't get it wrong—I just don't like you. Understand?"
Kitasan Black deliberately put on a cold demeanor. Anyone could tell she was imitating McQueen-senpai.
Cold, proud, loftily treating everyone with equal indifference.
Though Kitasan Black couldn't replicate McQueen-senpai's essence, putting on an act was still doable.
"I'm not singling you out. I have the same attitude toward everyone. We live in different worlds—there's no need for us to be friendly!"
Young ladies, begone!
Kitasan Black figured after saying all that, even someone as persistent as Satono Crown would back off.
But she never expected Satono Crown to suddenly laugh.
What? Was my acting not convincing?! Kitasan Black thought nervously.
"What are you laughing at?"
"Nothing. I'm just happy."
"???"
Kitasan Black was completely thrown off. What did this young lady mean?
"So Kitakami-san doesn't dislike me. Just thinking about that makes me happy."
Hearing this, Kitasan Black's hair stood on end.
What the hell!
What level of response is that?
Kitasan Black felt immense pressure.
McQueen-senpai, your technique doesn't work at all!
"Even though Kitakami-san doesn't want to be friends with me, I still want to be friends with Kitakami-san."
Satono Crown continued pressing forward.
Kitasan Black's tail wanted to curl up between her legs.
"Think whatever you want. That's your freedom. But my feelings won't change."
"Is that so? But I'm very persistent, so I won't give up on becoming your friend!"
Satono Crown looked directly into Kitasan Black's eyes with complete sincerity.
She believed that if she offered her genuine heart first, she would definitely move the other person.
"...Boring!"
Kitasan Black felt she couldn't hold out any longer, so she decisively employed an escape technique.
If I can't fight, at least I can run!
Fine, you won't leave? Then I will!
In an instant, Kitasan Black gathered the remaining snacks and quickly fled from the terrifying young lady.
Watching Kitasan Black's retreating figure, Satono Crown didn't chase. A delighted smile appeared on her face.
Though their relationship seemed to have made no progress at all, she felt like she'd somehow gotten closer to her.
"Crown, do your best! You'll definitely become good friends with Kitakami-san!"
Satono Crown was still basking in momentary joy.
Not far away, Satono Diamond watched her expressionlessly.
She still couldn't understand Crown's thinking.
Knowing Kitakami-san's true nature, why would she still want to befriend her?
That person had desecrated the sanctity of competition.
Crown, what are you thinking?
Originally, Diamond had wanted to hang out with Crown, but now she wasn't in the mood.
(Kitakami-san, I'll be the one to defeat you and expose your true face!)
Satono Diamond believed Crown had been bewitched by Kitasan Black.
She had to save the deceived Crown!
Without Kitasan Black's knowledge, her image in Satono Diamond's mind had been upgraded to that of a major villain.
From then on, Kitasan Black kept avoiding Crown-ojousama.
She had to admit she was scared. She couldn't handle someone with that kind of personality.
The lively sports day came to a close.
Next was the stage performance. Since Kitasan Black's class had won the most events, they were performing on stage this time.
The center position naturally wasn't Kitasan Black's.
Though the dance instructor thought highly of her talent, she'd deliberately hidden her abilities, so her performance wasn't the best in class.
Unlike the proper uma musume Winner's Stage, where performers usually sang live, this performance used a CD. Students only needed to dance along to the music.
After all, expecting elementary schoolers to sing and dance simultaneously was too demanding.
By the time the performance ended, it was completely dark. The eventful day was coming to a close.
Many students, like Kitasan Black, were saying goodbye to their parents at the school gate.
Her senior disciples were all packing up their stalls and weren't around, so there were no embarrassing scenes.
"Well, we're heading back now. Kita-chan, if there's anything you want to say, now's the time."
"Bye, Dad."
"Don't you need a hug?"
"No. Goodbye."
"You won't see us again until the weekend, you know."
"I know. Goodbye."
The old man seemed to have some misconceptions about her.
Kitasan Black looked at her expectant father with exasperation. He doesn't actually think I'm going to act spoiled, does he?
"Kita-chan's all grown up now. You don't cling to Daddy anymore."
"I never did that! Are you dreaming, old man?!"
The moment she finished speaking, her father patted her head.
"Alright then, Dad and Mom are really leaving now. Call us if anything comes up. Dad will rush right over."
"Got it."
Though the old man had ambushed her, Kitasan Black didn't resist.
Watching her parents' retreating figures until they disappeared from sight, Kitasan Black finally turned back toward the dormitory.
(Shower first, then dinner at the cafeteria.)
Back at the dorm, Kitasan Black didn't see her roommate.
Not concerned about where she was, she grabbed her clothes and headed to the bathhouse.
She'd been uncomfortable at first about the school not having private bathrooms, but she was used to it now.
The bathhouse was large enough, and with few students, it was usually quite empty.
Nothing unusual happened during her bath. Afterward, Kitasan Black headed to the cafeteria.
Meanwhile, the two people she'd been worried about had just returned from outside school.
Satono Crown's parents were abroad and hadn't attended the sports day. They'd gone out to video call Crown's parents.
On the path back to the dorm, Satono Diamond started and stopped several times, wanting to say something to Crown.
She wanted to know how Crown really viewed Kitakami-san, and wanted more information about that person.
For example, how did Crown know Kitakami-san had held back in today's race? But she didn't know how to bring it up.
As that person's roommate, did she really need to ask Crown about her?
The thought made Diamond uncomfortable.
Wouldn't that make her look incompetent?
Living in the same room, yet knowing nothing about her roommate.
"Diamond, if you have something to say, just say it. This hesitation isn't like you at all."
Diamond's behavior was too obvious to hide from Crown. Satono Crown was curious what was troubling her.
As an older sister figure, she wanted to help.
Feeling Crown's concern, Satono Diamond knew this was just how Crown was. But the more so, the less she could understand.
What was so good about Kitakami-san? Why had Crown been bewitched by someone like that?
"I heard your conversation with Kitakami-san today."
Satono Diamond steeled her resolve once more.
She was going to expose that person.
For that, she needed more information—information Crown surely had!
(Sorry, Crown. I know you want to be friends with that person, but I have to do this.)
She didn't think that person was fit to be Crown's friend.
Hearing Diamond's words, a flash of surprise crossed Satono Crown's face.
(That time?)
She really hadn't expected Diamond to be hiding nearby then.
She felt she needed to confirm which conversation Diamond meant, since she'd interacted with Kitakami-san quite a bit today.
"What are you referring to?"
"When you said Kitakami-san was holding back in the race."
Satono Diamond's gaze locked onto Crown.
(...So it was that time.)
Satono Crown felt a headache coming on. Diamond had overheard that conversation.
She knew things were getting complicated.
Because judging by Diamond's expression, she clearly believed Kitakami-san had been holding back. Otherwise, Diamond wouldn't look like this.
She felt she should help Kitakami-san out.
Though she still harbored suspicions herself, if Diamond pursued this, nothing good would come of it.
"That was just my misunderstanding. I already apologized to Kitakami-san."
"That's not true! Crown, you're acting strange. You clearly know it wasn't a misunderstanding!"
Diamond hadn't expected Crown to try covering for that person. This hurt her even more.
Had Crown really been bewitched to this extent?
She had to act. She had to save Crown!
"Diamond, why are you so certain it wasn't a misunderstanding?"
Crown was getting curious now.
Why was Diamond so sure it was true? Even she herself wasn't certain anymore.
Could Diamond have information she didn't?
"Because Crown, you don't know what kind of person Kitakami-san really is. She's nothing like what you all think!"
"...Diamond, what do you mean? Can you explain in detail?"
Crown perked up with interest.
She wasn't upset by what Diamond said, because she really didn't know much about Kitakami-san.
But since she didn't know much, she'd just have to learn more starting now.
Though Diamond felt Crown's reaction was off, her original intent had been to expose that person's true face to wake Crown up from her bewitchment, so she didn't hold back.
Next, Diamond told Crown everything she knew about Kitasan Black, including all her speculations, hoping Crown would come to her senses.
Crown listened intently. If she'd brought a notebook, she'd be taking notes right now.
With Diamond's help, Crown's understanding of Kitasan Black deepened considerably.
Diamond still hadn't realized that though she'd meant to extract information from Crown, the situation had reversed completely.
...
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