<h4>Chapter 380: Short Story 5 : Mei-Yu Wang/Mii-chan SS – Reliable ssmates?</h4>


    I asked Ayanokouji-kun for advice regarding a certain matter at a cafe corner. But I wasn''t able to take the initiative and a long silence followed.


    I need to do something about it, I need to do something about it.


    That feeling took priority even over the matter I had wanted to get his advice on. I feel bad for Ayanokouji-kun, who''s wasting his time on me...


    "Umm, you see...umm, it''s about Hirata-kun".


    I somehow desperately managed to squeeze my voice out. I continued before I end up choking my words back.


    "I want you to tell me all about him...".


    I think I exined that badly too but there''s nothing I can do about it. Because I can''t straight up tell him ''I''m in love with Hirata-kun'' after all.


    "Hirata and I aren''t particrly close, you know?".


    Even after seeing me panicking, Ayanokouji-kun''s tone remained the same as always.


    "But Hirata-kun told me Ayanokouji-kun is the most reliable one though?".


    "...did he now?".


    The impression I had of Ayanokouji-kun was that he''s like ''air''. Describing it as ''air'' may be somewhat rude but I''ve got nothing else to go on. He''s a boy whose thoughts I find hard to tell after all. Besides, he seems a little scary in a way different from that of Sudou-kun and the others. But---


    "Yeah. He says you''re the most level-headed one in ss. He really sang your praises".


    Hirata-kun, who cares more about his ssmates than anyone else and who keeps an eye on his ssmates more than anyone else, praised Ayanokouji-kun.


    I''ve never seen Hirata-kun talk about a friend that energetically before so that surprised me.


    I still don''t know the reason for that though but...


    "Recently there''s been talk that Hirata-kun and Karuizawa-san, umm...broke up, have you heard?".


    "Of course".


    It''s not just ss C but the whole school year that''s paying attention to this topic. The cmity that befell Hirata-kun and Karuizawa-san. It was unbelievable for me too.


    But I can''t take action on my own.


    Because I can''t possibly confess knowing full well I may be rejected.


    "That''s why, umm.....".


    Let''s get some advice. From Ayanokouji-kun, who Hirata-kun referred to as the most reliable one. I''m a coward but...in order to be able to confess.


    ".....d-does Hirata-kun currently have someone he''s interested in?".


    Let''s take the first step towards oveing this cowardice. I definitely can''t look in the mirror, knowing my face is probably turning red. That''s what I thought.