Eriri couldn't believe it.
She had laid her intentions bare, yet this idiot still didn't get it.
If she'd genuinely wanted to pair up with Kato, would she have been acting so flustered? Did she look like some noble soul too proud to accept a favor?
She was starting to suspect that Kanade was feigning ignorance on purpose—just to see her blow a gasket.
"Don't trouble Kato," Eriri muttered, trying to steer the conversation back. "She might have someone she wants to invite too. We shouldn't disturb her…"
"That's true…" Kanade mused aloud.
Given Kato's personality, she would probably agree if asked, but it wouldn't be fair to her. Why should she have to babysit this troublesome little blonde during a fun game?
What Kanade failed to realize was that Eriri didn't know he was silently picturing her as some potential menace to Kato. Instead, she was busy brainstorming how to steer the topic toward her true goal.
"Exactly, there's no need to bother her over something so trivial…"
"But in that case, there's no one else," Kanade said, falling deep into thought.
Other than Kato, there weren't many suitable candidates. Most weren't close to Eriri, some were unreliable, and people like Chika Fujiwara were both unfamiliar and unreliable—utterly hopeless choices.
"You idiot! Isn't there someone else?!" Eriri huffed, trying to nudge him in the right direction.
Finally, Kanade thought he understood.
"I'm sorry to disappoint you," he said earnestly, "but second- and third-year students are assigned to separate locations, so it's impossible for you to pair with Kasumigaoka-senpai."
"…???"
Eriri was on the verge of exploding.
What was he even talking about?! Did he seriously think she wanted to pair with that black-stockinged, smug-faced senior? How could he misunderstand her feelings this much?
She and Kasumigaoka were bitter rivals, not bosom buddies!
"…"
Seeing Eriri press her lips together in silence, Kanade thought he'd hit the mark. He tried to comfort her.
"It's not that big of a deal, is it? Even if you can't team up with someone you know, you might make a new friend. Who knows?"
"…"
Eriri kept her head down, refusing to respond.
"Uh… How about I still ask Kato?" Kanade offered, feeling awkward. "Maybe she—"
"You just don't want to pair with me, do you?!" Eriri suddenly snapped, looking up at him with tearful, reddened eyes.
"Huh?" Kanade was stunned.
What… just happened?
"All this roundabout talk—just say you don't want to team up with me!" Eriri continued, her voice trembling. "I'm not cute, I'm mean to you, I have a bad personality, and I'm always causing trouble…"
As her voice faltered, she became angrier—not with him, but with herself.
She hated that she had let Kasumigaoka's sly remarks shake her confidence. She hated how she always acted contrary to her feelings, even when she wanted nothing more than to be honest. She hated that she couldn't bring herself to trust Kanade more, because if she had, she'd already be nestled in his arms, whining freely.
"Well, what are you waiting for? Go ask the person you actually like!" Eriri turned her back on him, desperately holding back tears. She didn't want to see him walk away.
But instead of leaving, Kanade gently grabbed her hand. Before she could lash out, he pulled her into his arms.
"Sorry, I didn't understand what you meant earlier…" Kanade's voice was soft.
Right now, it didn't matter who was at fault. His priority was calming down the tearful Eriri in his arms.
"I don't dislike you," he said earnestly. "And I don't think you're a bother. It's just… I've already promised someone else, so I didn't consider that option at first."
In hindsight, the misunderstanding stemmed from a gap in communication. Still, Eriri's personality had played a role too.
If this had been Kato, she would have openly extended the invitation. Even Kasumigaoka might have turned it into a playful demand, saying something like, "I'll graciously allow my junior to accompany me for the evening."
But Eriri, being her shy and prideful self, always spoke in vague, roundabout ways. This made it genuinely hard for Kanade to grasp her true intentions.
"Mmff... Liar," came a muffled complaint from his chest.
Only then did Kanade realize he might've been holding her a bit too tightly.
Not that it mattered much—her petite frame didn't exactly make her presence felt in his arms. If it had been Kato or Kasumigaoka, he might have been more aware.
"Of course, I'm not lying," he said, loosening his grip slightly. "I'd have no reason to lie to you."
Kanade gently placed his hands on her shoulders and pushed her back just enough to look her in the eye. Her eyes, slightly wet, met his.
"And I'd never find you a bother. If I did, I wouldn't have gotten close to you in the first place," he said seriously.
In truth, Kanade had known Eriri's personality quirks from the start. What others might see as flaws, he saw as part of her charm.
"But Eriri, I need you to understand something—I'm not very perceptive. Sometimes I can't figure out what you mean. But I promise you, I'll never dislike you or think you're a burden."
"So, in the future, if I'm being dense or don't get how you feel, can you just tell me directly? No matter what it is, I'll listen and won't judge you."
Kanade knew this might not change things overnight, but he hoped it would help.
After all, he preferred the cheerful, feisty Eriri over this teary-eyed, self-doubting version of her. Sure, her current vulnerability was endearing in its own way, but an Eriri without her signature sass and tsundere charm was like a sunset without its colors—missing its soul.
"…Fine," Eriri muttered, her cheeks flushed. "But only because you said so!"
"Great," Kanade smiled.
"Then you'll pair with me for the courage test tonight—"
"No." Kanade shut her down without hesitation.
"…?"
Eriri stared at him, dumbfounded once again.