Chapter 11: Be my friend, uh uh

Wow! I’m going to school!

I was giddy like a child going on their first field trip, grinning as I walked to school.

As the cherry blossoms faded, the girls became more familiar with each other and the school, and they looked so lovely.

I wish someone would stir up some drama already. Like confessing to their crush in public or something!

And if the feelings were mutual, they’d become the first couple in our class.

If that really happened, I’d be ready to send a congratulatory wreath.

Though honestly, I’d just use the excuse of “supporting them” to lurk around and observe.

“Are you okay today?”

“Yeah.”

Actually, my stomach still hurts from the punch I got yesterday, but there’s no reason to tell Alicia that.

More than that, I wish she’d step aside a bit.

It’s fun seeing a pretty face up close, but I’m running out of yuri energy.

“I want to be alone.”

“To observe other girls again?”

“Yeah. …Wait, huh?”

Was there something off about that tone?

I tilted my head slightly to make deliberate eye contact that I had been avoiding.

Alicia gave a slight smile.

It looked a little mocking, or maybe just smug. Or maybe I was imagining it—I’m pretty paranoid, after all.

Either way, she didn’t seem intent on getting in my way. She didn’t speak to me further.

It bugged me a little, but asking more questions would be weird, so I just walked past her and took my seat at the back corner of the class.

But why is she following me?

“…”

“…”

“Hey. Do you have something to say?”

“Not really?”

“Then why are you staring at me?”

“You stare at the others too.”

“Not like, this blatantly.”

“Really?”

She shrugged like it was no big difference, which kind of annoyed me.

You’re staring at me like a kid frying ants with a magnifying glass.

If I stared at the other girls like that, I’d have been dragged to the police by now.

“Stop looking.”

“Why?”

That reply really leaves me with nothing to say.

She had the look of someone who’d keep bothering me unless I gave her attention.

I just got through a hellish weekend to finally see the girls again—what the hell!

I turned my body and head back toward Alicia, not hiding the pout on my face.

Is this what a dog feels like when food’s placed right in front of them, but they’re told not to eat it?

“Are you sulking?”

“I—If you have something to say, just spit it out…”

“Hmmm.”

Could Alicia be trying to kill me?

She’s trying to stop me from fantasizing about girls rubbing together so I explode!

Ugh, what did I do to deserve this? What part of me does she hate so much she wants to ruin me socially?

“Let’s go to the rooftop. There’s still some time before class.”

“No.”

“Really?”

Even after I rejected her immediately, Alicia didn’t seem bothered.

Like she knew I’d say that.

And then she just kept staring.

“….”

Ugh. This is embarrassing.

Don’t get the wrong idea. It’s not like I’m getting butterflies or anything.

It’s more like… um.

Like I’m a market vendor selling junk, and suddenly a glamorous CEO walks up and looks curiously at my stuff.

I haven’t done anything wrong, but it still feels shameful and awkward.

“Your face is red, Lily.”

“No, it’s not.”

Stop saying stuff that people could misinterpret!

She’s burning me with her magnifying-glass eyes—how could I not feel flushed? No, flushed sounds too indecent.

Let’s say… warmed? Anyway, it’s weird not to be affected.

Why is she staring at me like that with that perfect face?

If I were staring at her like that, then sure, it’d make sense.

“Let’s go to the rooftop.”

“…”

You can say no, but I’ll keep staring.

She didn’t say that aloud, but she was clearly threatening me with her eyes.

Fine. I’ll go! Gross, unfair, I’m going!

You monster. You animal abuser. You don’t understand the feelings of a dog forced to sit in front of food!

…

…

…

The rooftop was locked.

The moment I felt relief thinking we couldn’t go, Alicia smugly pulled a key from her pocket.

…Why do you have the key to the locked rooftop? Is this some kind of top-of-the-class privilege?

Well, whatever. It was nice once we got up there.

The mid-March wind was still cold, but it helped clear my head.

Still, I didn’t plan to go any farther than the stairway.

Simple reason: I wanted to stay as close as possible to the other girls.

What if they start rubbing each other furiously in the classroom while I’m gone?

Sounds absurd, but look at Serena! That lewd girl could be having s*x in the classroom!

If I missed that scene, I’d seriously want to bite my tongue and die.

“What did you want to say?”

Why am I squirming like someone who badly needs the bathroom?

My voice is shaking, too.

It must be withdrawal symptoms from not getting any yuri all weekend.

Alicia answered nonchalantly.

“I didn’t really have anything to say.”

“…”

True, she never said she had something to say.

She just said, “Let’s go to the rooftop.”

Then why did you bring me here?! Aaaah! There could be a wild lez party happening in class right now…!

Watching my expression decay in real time, she kept speaking, smiling.

“How can you be like that?”

“Huh?”

“You’re fascinating.”

That’s out of nowhere. And kind of creepy.

A chill ran through me. It felt like she knew something.

But what?

Maybe—just maybe—she’s figured out my secret. That I’m actually a TS girl.

If so, “fascinating” isn’t the right reaction. It should be “disgusting.”

Honestly, I kind of wish she’d figure it out.

That way, she’d be grossed out and stop clinging to me.

Better yet, if she hated me. I’m not into that, but it’d make distancing her easier.

Not a bad outcome.

Maybe I should just tell her?

If rumors spread, my reputation in class would tank—but who cares?

“How can you hang out with her?”

“Her? Who?”

“I mean Dana.”

Huh?

I was caught off guard. I hadn’t even thought of that name.

But the surprise was brief, and soon my brain went into overdrive.

Dana? She’s been thinking about Dana?

…

Yuri… This is definitely a yuri flag.

Oh my god.

This is great.

They acted like they were about to fight in front of the library, but it was actually tension turning into affection! I knew I was misunderstanding something.

If that’s how she feels, I’m totally fine stepping back from Dana.

Heck, I want to step back. Please take her! Rub her lonely soul all over and comfort her!

I don’t care if you’re an animal abuser—as long as the animal is a polar bear.

Kill the polar bear.

Rub your bodies and murder that polar bear…!

“Bleeegh…”

Yuri circuits are burning out…

“Lily?”

“Ah. Uh. What were we talking about?”

“I was wondering if Dana’s blackmailing you.”

“Huh?”

What the hell?

“Dana’s my friend.”

“Friend? Why?”

Do you not know the word “friend”?

You’ve probably lived your whole life being worshipped and saw other girls as maids, not friends.

That’s so hot. I love this trope: finally meeting someone you can’t control, and slowly falling for them through conflict…

“Then be friends with me too.”

“No.”

“You can be friends with her, but not me?”

“…Just because?”

When I gave a lazy response, Alicia suddenly stepped closer.

She was close. Getting closer.

Before I could react, she grabbed my wrist.

Then she raised it in front of my face.

“You’re friends with someone who does this to you?”

What is she trying to say?

I just tilted my head in confusion, and she pointed at a faint bruise.

A mark left by Dana grabbing me in front of the library.

Wait, what?

That tiny grip left a bruise? My body is way too weak.

But really, is this what she’s upset about? Isn’t that a bit much? Girls roughhouse sometimes.

I didn’t know how to react and just blinked.

Alicia let out a soft sigh.

Then she stepped even closer.

I stepped back instinctively.

But she didn’t stop even when I was pressed against the wall.

Too close. Stop. Don’t touch me. You’ll get dirty, you…!

“Hiiik…”

I guess my trembling must’ve been amusing—she even chuckled a little.

Then she leaned in and whispered in my ear,

“If we become friends… I’ll do anything for you.”

“Huh? Really?”

“Anything you want.”

Her gaze even had a hint of madness in it.

Those deep blue eyes, focused solely on me, reflected me like a mirror.

And in that reflection, my eyes sparkled with wild anticipation.

Anything? Really? You said it! No takebacks!

Oh god, my heart’s racing. It’s going to explode.

There’s only one thing I want from Alicia.

It’s my greatest, lifelong wish.

Then go rub with another girl for me!

…

Just before I could actually say it—

“Sorry. Forget it.”

“Huh?”

“I—I didn’t mean to be so pushy.”

“W-Wait, hold on—”

“This is my first time dealing with something like this. I didn’t know what to do… Sorry. That was too sudden, huh?”

“Can you just let me talk for a second—”

“Sorry.”

And just like that, Alicia left.

…What kind of girl just does whatever she wants like that?

Hey, come back! Be friends! Be friends with me! You said you’d do anything! Rub for me! Let me see that beautiful face panting! You promised me anythingggg…!