Another Like Me - Part I (CoTE x OC) ?

Chapter 59.5 - Trust

"Don't worry. I wouldn't let go of such priceless evidence now, would I?" I smiled. Kushida stiffened up, and immediately made a beeline for my door.

"Wait up. Why're you in such a hurry to leave?" I asked genuinely. "I'm making coffee. Have a seat."

"Why would I have coffee with someone like you?" she scoffed. "Don't try to hold me back, I'm leaving."

"I'm being nice here, Kushida-san. Please stay."

"No."

"I insist."

Kushida slowed down, and turned to look at me with furrowed eyebrows. "Why do you want me here?"

"Hmm? No reason. As a class leader, I want to get to know everyone in my class," I replied. "Even though you've done nothing but hold back the class, you're still a part of it. Hence, my request."

Kushida bit her lips, as though to stop herself from shooting back a retort.

"Fine."

She sighed, and walked back into my room, and seated herself on my bed. "I don't think we have anything to talk about."

"We do, in fact."

"And what might that be?" she taunted.

"We can come to that later," I replied. "Tell me how your day was, Kushida-san."

Kushida looked at me like I was deranged.

"My day?" she repeated blankly.

"Yes," I replied crisply. "How was your day?"

"....." Kushida remained silent. "Why do you want to know?"

"Well, if you're uncomfortable starting off, I'll start with mine," I responded. "So classes were normal as always, and I decided to go and spend some time with Yosuke, since I hadn't spoken to him in a while. I caught up with Shibata-kun and Kanzaki-kun after school, and even had a small chat with Hiyori from Class D. And I returned to my room after a pretty hectic but fun day. I called you shortly after. What about you?"

"..... I talked to many friends today," she said quietly. "Nene-chan, Ruri-chan and Maezono-chan from our class, and we went shopping today. We bought a lot of cute dresses, and then spent some time along with Karuizawa-san's group at a café. I had an appointment with a few girls from Class A after that, so I decided to spend some time with them as well. I returned back to my dorm room only around half an hour back, and I received the message from you then."

I stretched back on my chair. "So both of us had pretty exhausting days, huh?"

"..... guess you could say that," she replied sourly. "I told you. What now?"

"Nothing. It just feels like you didn't tell me everything."

"Didn't tell you everything?"

"You and Karuizawa-san's groups don't get along, do you?" I asked, having heard this tidbit from Chiaki earlier. "It's strange how you sat together in a café and spent time together?"

Kushida bit her lips.

"Karuizawa, that bitch....."

She closed her eyes, and balled up her fists tightly, as though to try and control herself from lashing out.

"Hey, Kushida-san."

"....." She looked up at me.

"Let it out."

She widened her eyes. "What do you mean?"

"It's not good to bottle up negative emotions inside. Let it all out. There's no one here except you and me."