460 Short Story 3 : Suzune Horikita’s SS - Unconscious Awakening

"IT'S NOT SOMETHING I can share. I want to keep certain things to myself."

Even though I was extremely interested in Ayanokōji-kun's past, I definitely understood that probing further would be rude.

"You better take a break to calm down."

That was true. My throat was incredibly dry, and fatigue was starting to set in.

"Yes, you're right..."

Following his advice, I picked up the cup of coffee I had completely forgotten.

The coffee I thought was still hot had cooled down much more than I had anticipated.

"It's gotten cold."

"It's gotten cold, hasn't it?"

When I absentmindedly responded, Ayanokōji-kun said something similar.

"Don't copy me."

"Please don't copy me."

It displeased me, so I replied as such. Somehow, however, the same words coincidentally overlapped again.

At that moment, the overlapping of words, what I had complained about just a moment ago, seemed strangely funny.

I ended up laughing.

He, before my eyes, also thought it seemed somehow funny and laughed a little.

"Eh—?"

"What's wrong?"

The expression on his face was the same as usual.

But the face he showed just before was, how do I put it, too fresh...

It made an unforgettable impression on my eyes.

I didn't know how to respond to his inquisitive question.

I just conveyed what I saw as it was.

"No... that... I just... saw you smile a little..."

"Huh? So, what's wrong with that?"

"It's just that I feel like I've never seen that expression on your face in the last two years..."

"How rude. I'm not a baby who's just learned to smile."

To smile, to express joy, was a common thing for someone to do. But the one in front of me wasn't just a 'someone,' it was Ayanokōji-kun.

These expressions seem out of place for him, so… 

"You're right, it might've been a rare moment."

In response to my observation, Ayanokōji-kun pondered deeply for some reason.

"I wonder why I smiled. Would you know if you were the one who smiled?"

He wore a serious expression.

I couldn't have imagined someone asking so seriously about such a trivial thing.

At that moment, a sense of wonder sprouted within me.

Unexpectedly overwhelmed by the urge to look away from his straightforward eyes and question, I felt the impulse to run away.

"I... I wouldn't know either if you asked me with such a serious face."

So, I ran away. I had to follow my instincts and run away, listening to my impulse's command.

"So, it's not that something particularly funny happened, right?"

His persistent questioning continued. I had no choice but to forcefully end it.

"...As I said, I wouldn't know even if you asked me. Because of your strange thinking, I feel like a fool for laughing as well..."

I decided to go home after finishing my tasteless coffee. It tasted like water.

I didn't know the reason, but I must have been uncomfortable.

There was no doubt about it.