After finishing the meal with Ishizaki and returning to my room, Ike was waiting for me outside the door.

He was looking at his phone restlessly. When he raised his head and looked around, our eyes met.

“Oh, Ayanokouji! Thank goodness, I’ve been waiting for you!”

Ike was? This is once again outside of my expectations.

“The thing is, I thought I’d visit Komiya but you crossed my mind.”

“I did?”

Ike approached and seemed to be asking me to lend him an ear, so I leaned in.

“How should I say…? It feels a bit weird to visit him alone.”

“Why?”

“Why… It’s, uh. I’ve started going out with Shinohara. When the test ended and we were on our way to the ship, we were alone together, and-“

Looks like he confessed and got an okay from Shinohara.

I wasn’t sure if they were going to progress, but they’ve surpassed my expectations.

“Is that so? Congratulations.”

When I honestly gave him my blessing, he turned his eyes away embarrassed.

“Th-thanks. But… from Komiya’s perspective, that might have been dishonest.”

“I don’t think so.”

“No, like it’s not fair… like I got a head start.”

Komiya indeed got injured and was forced to retire right away.

It’s not like you can’t say he got a head start, but that’s something you could say about anyone.

Komiya himself seemed to be on the stage of confessing on the uninhabited island.

“I really thought I’d do it after Komiya got better, you know? But, I was so relieved that the test ended, and Shinohara was beside me… and I really felt like I didn’t wanna give her to Komiya…”

Looks like that made him confess.

Of course there was also a risk that he would be rejected. If that happened Komiya would get close with Shinohara, and their relationship would get extremely awkward in the future.

“So I thought I needed to tell Komiya. If he also wanted to confess, things might get messy.”

“If you don’t do this first and it turns out that Shinohara actually prefers Komiya, it would be a problem.”

“U…! W-Why did you…!?”

Ike was greatly taken aback and shook.

On the other side of wanting to inform him was the need to stop Komiya from confessing, huh.

“Do you have the resolve to take a hit?”

“Eeh!? I’ll get hit!?”

“If the girl you like was stolen from your side, you’d do something like that wouldn’t you?”

“…Gulp.”

As if he imagined it and grew afraid, Ike showed fear.

Komiya definitely didn’t have a big build, but he hadn’t been playing basketball just for show.

On the other hand Ike had a small build for a man. They had a considerable difference in size.

“Well, his legs are injured today so his footwork won’t be stable. It probably won’t be that painful.”

“Th-that’s not the problem… I-I’m ready.”

He seemed to be determined to an extent. If that were the case I had no reason to interfere.

I’ve been curious about Komiya’s condition, so it’s a great opportunity.

“It looks like Komiya is still staying in the sickbay.”

“If he had his own room there might’ve been something seriously wrong with him.”

Even if he rested in the sickbay for most of the week it would be no wonder.

I arrived in front of the doctor’s office with Ike. Ike took a deep breath to calm himself.

Nothing would change if he hurried up so we waited patiently. Loud laughter rang out from inside.

“Wh-what is it? Come in.”

Ike, surprised from the unexpected laughter, entered the room with a moderate level of readiness. Komiya, sitting up, was surrounded by several of his classmates including Ryuuen.

Albert, Kaneda, Kondou, and Yamawaki. 4 people.

Since people outside of his class appeared, Ryuuen stood up without sparing even a glance.

“Bye Komiya.”

Having just finished their chat, Ryuuen left the room with his comrades.

I took a quick glance towards Ryuuen’s direction, but he didn’t especially look here at all.

“Scary as always Ryuuen… I mean, what were they here for?”

Not being able to see Ryuuen directly from where he was, Ike looked down and muttered.

Komiya heard that and understood, nodded and answered.

“Well they are intense. From what I could see they more or less just came to visit.”

Now that he mentions it, on the table near the head of the bed there were some sweets and juice that could’ve been from them.

“A-a visit huh… He kinda, doesn’t seem like the type to do that though.”

Ike honestly expressed what he felt and Komiya answered.

“If it were around this time last year then it might’ve been unthinkable.”

Remembering last year, Komiya broke into a smile of nostalgia.

“But, like, Ryuuen-san changed a little, you know. He softened up… no, he didn’t, but…”

Bewildered about something yet happy, Komiya spoke.

Right after enrollment Ryuuen dominated his class. He would use and throw away anyone without mercy. Even if most of his classmates rejected him it would’ve been no wonder.

“But now I feel like that guy can be meeker.”

“Ryuuen can? …I don’t get it-“

Even if he heard it Ike wouldn’t be able to understand at all. His body trembled greatly.

“Anyway, both of you, come sit.”

Komiya welcomed us from another class warmly and encouraged us to sit without reservation.

Taking him up on that, we sat on our chairs.

“You seem fine.”

I looked at Komiya’s legs which were fixed in place and ascertained his condition.

“As you can see, I’m full of life outside of my legs. But when I think that everyone is playing around outside that door it’s frustrating. I wanna get better soon.”

“When can you walk again?”

“Right now I’m asking for permission to walk with a crutch.”

They’re strange rivals, but against my expectations they can talk even on their own.

Maybe me coming here was a little unnecessary.

“But… I’m a bit worried.”

“Worried? What for?”

Ike was sitting reversed in his chair. He placed his arms on the back of the chair and asked Komiya.

“Ryuuen-san, seems to want to pin down whoever pushed me off. He asked me if I remember something and stuff like that. Just as I told Ayanokouji, I don’t have any memories of being attacked.”

It’s unlikely that his memories of that time were mistaken.

At the moment Ryuuen’s class is getting more vigorous by the day. They should be focusing on the 2nd year fights and aiming for Class A. Of course our class is the same way. But this time they shouldn’t poke their noses in.

If Amasawa, or someone else from the White Room, or someone related to Tsukishiro participated in it, there’s no guarantee that even Ryuuen would be safe.

“Ryuuen-san shouldn’t overdo it though.”

“It feels like he’ll beat the culprit half to death.”

From their perspectives, there’s no way they can imagine Ryuuen being done in.

Rather it’s natural for them to worry more about the culprit.

“So? You didn’t come here just for a visit did you?”

Komiya guessed that there was something and asked Ike.

At that instant, Ike’s body stiffened from surprise.

“Ah-no… that’s…”

As if he still wasn’t emotionally prepared, he was at a loss for words.

Seeing that, Komiya waited earnestly for his words without rushing him.

Occasionally, instant changes can be perceived in the atmosphere of a place.

The relaxed atmosphere from just a while ago didn’t even have fragments left of it.

“…I… how do I say this… I mean…”

The talkative Ike shrunk, no longer able to speak well.

“Ike. I don’t know what you’re about to say, but if it’s something important, look into my eyes when you say it.”

He probably guessed what he was about to say.

Despite that, Komiya pretended not to know and urged Ike to say it clearly.

Ike likely hadn’t noticed that Komiya had guessed, but he may have felt something as a fellow man.

It seemed he felt that this wasn’t something to say weakly.

He slapped his cheeks and forcefully opened his eyes.

“I’ve confessed to Shinohara!”

Ike, having hardened his resolve, spoke simple words with a strong voice.

Silence followed.

I knew that Ike gulped loudly beside me.

“So? What did Satsuki say?”

“She actually said okay. We’re going out now.”

“Really…”

Komiya gave a short answer. Ike continued staring at his face, not turning his eyes away. Though we’d talked about it earlier, since it looks like he got a head start, even if Komiya complains there wouldn’t be anything we could do.

It wasn’t unlikely for him to punch Ike out of the blue. It looked like that’s what he was thinking.

“Did you think I was gonna hit you?”

“Eh?”

“’I might get hit’. You’re making that face.”

“Tha-that’s… well, just a bit.”

“Really, then you’ve resolved yourself. I can’t move right now so come here.”

Komiya commanded him to come. I couldn’t see his true intention from his facial expression.

But from his intensity, it seems that Ike had made up his mind.

Even while afraid, he went beside Komiya.

Then Komiya’s right hand extended and grabbed Ike’s shoulder.

“!”

Komiya pushed his pained body to the limits and looked Ike in the eye.

“I won’t acknowledge you if you make Satsuki cry.”

Lightly pumping his left fist to Ike’s chest area, he pushed him and said that.

“Ko-Komiya…?”

Komiya’s ghastly face changed into a smile.

“What is it? Don’t look so gloomy. Satsuki chose you. That’s all there is to it right?”

“But… if you hadn’t been injured, it might have been the opposite…”

“Sorry, but I don’t think so. Satsuki has been interested in you since before. That’s why she honestly said okay. I don’t think you won because you were earlier. But…”

“But?”

“If you hadn’t faced Satsuki and kept running away, then I might’ve had a chance too.”

It’s as Komiya says. Whoever confessed first or last wasn’t so important.

An accident happened that gave him a big injury. Ike happened to be there, so he felt involved and that became a big push, allowing him to go out with Shinohara.

Without a doubt, that was the biggest reason they had gone out.

Komiya was injured and Ike had been there at the time. If either of them had arrived at a different fate, the one by Shinohara’s side might have been Komiya.

“In that sense, I wasn’t in luck with this injury..”

His love wasn’t realized, but Komiya looked cheerful.

“Thank you, Komiya.”

“Study hard alright? Satsuki… no, Shinohara’s friends have also been worrying.”

“…Right. We can’t get expelled after all.”

This love affair might have become an extremely important turning point for Ike. Just like Sudou, for himself and for the girl he likes, he was able to gain the opportunity to fight hard.

For now, Komiya accepted the report from Ike and their conversation calmed down.

“Sorry Ike, but can you let Ayanokouji and I talk on our own? I kinda wanna verify something about my injury.”

“Got it. See you Komiya. Ayanokouji.”

Ike said goodbye to us and directly left the room.

After we were alone Ike broke the ice.

“Sorry. Did Ike ask you to come along to help him?”

“No, I was also curious about how you were doing. I’ve ended up intruding.”

“Nothing like that. Anyway… there’s something I don’t really understand.”

“Hm?”

“You and I are in different classes and are supposed to fight each other, but we can now talk normally. Like, our hostilities have faded. Even though last year we were extremely brutal.”

Originally if your class was different, the other party was someone you had to defeat, someone you had to kick down.

Except if it were part of a plan, there were never many merits to getting along.

“The uninhabited island test was a fight between school years. Besides, we’ve been in the same school for a long time. Isn’t that all there is to it?”

“Hm, maybe.”

“So? What about your injury?”

This chat should be a discussion about things that have happened before. Before that there should be a main topic.

“I talked about him a bit just now but it’s about Ryuuen-san.”

“You said it looked like he was looking for the culprit.”

“I’m opposed. Frankly I want this incident to be written off as my mistake.”

“But Shinohara saw the one who attacked you with her own eyes.”

“I know. But like, I’m getting a bad omen, like this can’t end well.”

He might feel in his skin that it’s dangerous precisely because he was attacked.

“Even a little bit is fine, so could you keep an eye on it Ayanokouji?”

“I don’t think I’ll be able to do anything though.”

“I’m not telling you to accompany them directly. If you feel something is wrong then tell me please.”

Komiya trusted me with a strong light in his eyes.

We exchanged contact addresses officially so that we could contact each other anytime.

“Alright, for now I’ll devote myself to getting better even one day sooner.”

Resting is the only shortcut to recovery after all.

“Thanks. That’s right, if it’s fine with you please tell them I said thanks, the others who helped me.”

“I think they’ll be happy to hear that. They might be with Ike and Shinohara.”

“Please. After all, if I see them being lovey-dovey with each other I might cry.”

Komiya gave a bitter smile. He’s more hurt than he looks.

My little teasing failed.

Anyway, it’s not enough to justify him getting injured but I feel like the distance between Komiya and I has decreased, though just a little bit.

“See you, Ayanokouji.”

“Yeah.”

After I said goodbye and exited the sick bay, I suddenly felt strange.

My classmates, Ike and Sudou, and those from another class, Ishizaki and Komiya.

Though little by little, the number of people around me whom I can call my friends have started to increase.

I haven’t particularly been trying to make friends but this was the result.

“The way to make friends isn’t something that can be put on textbooks.”

With ridiculous honesty, I thought of such a thing.