Chapter 13: Electro Panic Mode

Kishine-san and Futaba-san stood facing each other, a sharp tension crackling between them.

How do I know that? Well, probably because I’m being held in Futaba-san’s arms like a doll (though my feet are touching the ground).

Kishine-san’s eyes were sharply narrowed.

She’s definitely angry. No doubt about it.

…But is she mad at Futaba-san?

Or is she still angry at me for upsetting her before?

But… she is calling me "Tsubasa-chan" again…

I don’t know what’s going on anymore—my emotions feel like they’re all mashed up inside!

…And to make matters worse…

"You heard me, didn’t you? I said to get away from Tsubasa-chan."

"Hmm? Well, you called her ‘Tsubasa-chan,’ so I didn’t realize you meant her~. If you’d just said ‘Shirogane-san’ like always, I would’ve caught on right away."

And to top it off, Futaba-san was striking a totally cheeky pose toward Kishine-san. She was smiling brightly, but I could still sense the mocking tone behind it.

…I mean, come on, Futaba-san, don’t say stuff like that! Kishine-san just started calling me by my name again—if she goes back to calling me ‘Shirogane-san,’ I’ll cry! On the inside!!

"Shut up. This has nothing to do with you!"

"Aww, really? Then the fact that Tsubasa and I are on a date has nothing to do with you either, right? So why have you been following us this whole time?"

Wait, what? She was? I didn’t notice at all…

If she had joined us, it could’ve been a nice little outing for making up and getting along…

"Wh—You noticed!?"

"It was so obvious. Being all clingy but lacking even the basic skills of a stalker? That’s just sad."

"S-Shut it!"

"Oh, do you think I’m insulting you? Then let me correct that—it’s not an insult. It just means you’re totally in love with Tsubasa."

"…Don’t mock me."

"──But you know, getting all worked up just because some girl suddenly started getting close to Tsubasa—after you were the one being cold to her—that’s just nonsense. If you wanted to be close, you should’ve been kind from the start."

"…!"

It was less of a quarrel and more of a one-sided verbal pummeling. Their expressions couldn’t have been more different: Futaba-san was all smiles, while Kishine-san looked like she was glaring through pain.

The look in Kishine-san’s eyes said it all—frustrated, upset, unable to forgive. Just looking into them made me feel uneasy.

Those weren’t her usual eyes. They were filled with pain.

──Before I knew it, I was tugging on Futaba-san’s sleeve.

"Hm? What is it, Tsubasa?"

Watching them fight made my stomach twist. Seeing Kishine-san in pain made me feel like I couldn’t just stand there doing nothing.

"…Don’t like Futaba who bullies Kishine…"

Before I realized it, those words had slipped out of my mouth.

What I’d really wanted to say was, “Be kind to Kishine-san, just like you’re kind to me.” But when it passed through my body’s filter, that’s what it turned into.

Futaba-san blinked in surprise… then couldn’t hold back a soft laugh.

"I see, I see. So you don’t mind that Kishine was mean to you. Then yeah, I guess me trying to get revenge on your behalf was way off-base. Sorry for bullying your precious Kishine."

Still smiling playfully, Futaba-san ruffled my hair like I was a pet. Just full-on rustle rustle.

But even so, Kishine-san’s expression had softened a bit.

"Tsubasa…-chan…"

"Kishine… wanted… to talk…"

While getting my hair messed up, I finally felt like I’d really seen Kishine-san again. Up until now, even when I saw her in class, it always felt like there was a thin membrane separating us.

"T-Tsubasa-chan, I… I…"

Kishine-san was trying to tell me something. That harsh look she’d worn just moments ago had faded, and now she had the warm expression I remembered.

So, just as I was about to listen to that voice…

"Ah, could you wait just a bit for that?"

…Futaba-san cut in with a smile.

Kishine-san looked absolutely displeased. And of course, while I didn’t show it on my face, I felt the same way.

Because I knew—she was about to say something important.

"Don’t interrupt."

"…Futaba, I hate you."

The two of us—me and Kishine-san—joined forces in scolding Futaba-san.

But Futaba-san didn’t seem fazed at all.

"Ahaha, sorry. ──But I think I can still spice things up a little more."

With that cryptic remark, Futaba-san let go of me, whom she’d been holding to her chest. Then she ran—light steps pattering toward Kishine-san.

"W-What are you…?"

"Heave-ho!"

"Wha—!?"

All of a sudden, she hugged Kishine-san like they were best friends.

…Uh, wait!
What is even happening right now!?

Futaba-san, what the heck are you doing!?

"Wh-What are you doing!?"

"Hugging you."

"That’s not what I meant!"

"Hmm, maybe so~"

Futaba-san clung tightly to a flailing Kishine-san, clearly enjoying herself. Watching Kishine-san panic only seemed to delight her.

…Should I stop them?

But they do look closer now than they did before…

"Dazai once said: 'Love is words. Without words, love would disappear from this world entirely.'"

"D-Don’t mess around! This isn’t words—it’s brute force!"

"Yup, exactly. But see, I’m not expecting words from someone like you, Kishine."

"…What’s that supposed to mean?"

While still clinging to Kishine-san in that awkwardly close position, Futaba-san turned her face toward me.

"──Tsubasa, is it okay if I take Kishine?"

…Huh?

"Why would I go with someone like—"

"I wasn’t asking you, Kishine."

"Excuse me!?"

My eyes met Futaba-san’s.

The setting sun reflected in her eyes, making them sparkle.

"Dazai also wrote: ‘If you think love has any reality outside of words, you’re sorely mistaken.’──What do you think, Tsubasa?"

Those eyes stared into me, and my already-limited words slipped away even more.

Because I realized—her question was about me and Kishine-san.

"…That’s… hard…"

"Yeah, it is. I get it."

Saying that, Futaba-san leaned in and whispered something into Kishine-san’s ear.

Kishine-san’s face clouded with a troubled expression—then she shot Futaba-san a sharp glare.

"…You’re the worst."

"But… you’re curious, aren’t you?"

"That’s…"

She was conflicted. Futaba-san’s words had shaken something in Kishine-san.

It was rare… like witnessing something strange and precious.

After all that agonizing, Kishine-san finally gave a nod—her face twisted in frustration.

"That’s more like it!"

Futaba-san puffed up proudly, a smug little snort escaping her nose.

She turned to me with a cheeky smile—and then planted a kiss on Kishine-san’s cheek.

────Huh?

"H-Hey! What the hell!?"

"Sorry, Tsubasa. But this is kinda your fault, too, you know? I did ask you, and you dodged the question."

"Why are you doing this!?"

"Because it’s necessary, Kishine."

Gone was the sweet, innocent smile. Futaba-san now wore a sly, cat-like grin—the kind of smirk a bully would have when they’re enjoying teasing someone.

"If you don’t say you want her, I’m not giving Kishine back. So now, I’m gonna go on a date with her, okay?"

"Wh-Who would go out with you!?"

"Oh? So you just want my body, not my heart? Wow, Kishine, you’ve held it in for so long you’ve fried both your brain and your crotch?"

"Hmph!!"

"Oww, did you just hit me!? That’s the second time, Kishine! You saw that, right, Tsubasa? Kishine’s got abusive tendencies—I’m telling you, you have to break up with her!!"

"Open your mouth again and next time I’m using a closed fist."

"Yikes!"

My head went completely blank—I couldn’t think at all.

I had no idea what was going on anymore. I couldn’t keep up.

But in the middle of it all, Kishine-san’s face was the only thing I could focus on.

She looked like she felt guilty… confused… flustered… All kinds of emotions were scrunched together on her face.

My dazed eyes met her shaken ones.

And in that moment, her body gave a little jolt.

"T-This isn’t what it looks like! Don’t get the wrong idea, Tsubasa-chan!!"

She shouted that at the top of her lungs—and then grabbed Futaba-san by the scruff of the neck and bolted.

Dragged behind her like a sack of laundry, Futaba-san flailed helplessly, looking like a worn-out ragdoll.

---

By the time the sunset had completely disappeared—and the two of them were out of sight—my mind finally began to move again, creaking like rusted gears.

The things that had just happened kept swirling around inside my head.

『…You're the worst.』

『Huh? So you don’t care about my feelings, just want my body? Did you hold back around Tsubasa so much your head and your crotch got all messed up?』

『Don’t get the wrong idea, Tsubasa-chan!!』

Round and round, snatches of that conversation kept playing back in my mind on a loop.

And while I was turning it all over in my head, one particular image started to form. You could even say that, unable to reach a real answer, my brain just came up with its own conclusion.

“…So they’re like, a fighting-yuri couple or something?”

That was the conclusion my half-malfunctioning brain came up with. That deep down, the two of them were way closer than they looked. I mean, the way they talked… it was kind of indecent, honestly.

…And it felt like, when they talked to each other, they were being more honest than when they talked to me.

Thinking that far made this little pang shoot through my chest.

I don’t know why, but… I really don’t like that.