Megumi waved a hand in front of my face, narrowing her eyes in suspicion.

  – Arata, are you even listening to me?

  I blinked and looked up at her.

  – Hm? – I murmured, raising an eyebrow. – You said something?

  She let out a dramatic sigh, as if the fate of the world rested on my shoulders, and I had simply decided not to save it.

  – I asked if you had any pns today, but I see I might as well be talking to a wall. – She crossed her arms over her chest, tilting her head as if debating whether this conversation was even worth continuing.

  The sunlight pouring through the cssroom window reflected in her caramel-colored eyes, giving them warmth and depth. The freckles on her pale skin looked like cinnamon sprinkled over porcein, and her fiery red hair seemed to burn in the te afternoon light.

  I leaned back in my chair and stretched zily, deliberately deying my response.

  – Well, you know… – I began slowly. – Maybe your question was just so insignificant that my subconscious decided to ignore it?

  Megumi tilted her head to the side, then slowly nodded as if analyzing my words.

  – Or maybe you just have the reflexes of a turtle? – she shot back immediately, resting her elbows on the desk and piercing me with a look as if she had just seen right through me.

  I leaned back slightly, pcing a finger on my chin as if seriously considering her words.

  – Turtles are wise and long-lived. I'll take that as a compliment.

  Megumi rolled her eyes, then leaned slightly closer to me, her voice taking on a falsely polite tone.

  – Oh sure, it's just a shame you don't fit into either category. – She sighed, smiling sweetly.

  I crossed my arms behind my head and leaned back in my chair.

  – Well, not everyone can have reflexes like you.

  She raised an eyebrow.

  – Are you implying that my reflexes are slow?

  – I'm afraid in your case, it's more of a congenital condition.

  Megumi narrowed her eyes, but her lips curled into a slight smile.

  – Alright, Arata, where were you pnning to take me?

  I raised an eyebrow, crossing my arms.

  – And why exactly do you assume I had pns at all?

  Megumi sighed and shook her head, as if genuinely disappointed.

  – Because I know you too well. If you have a free day, you'll waste it in the most spectacurly useless way imaginable. So… since you had no pns anyway, you might as well take me somewhere.

  I frowned.

  Okay. Another day, another jab. Not exactly surprising—Megumi had a talent for this. But wait… is she trying to set me up for something?

  I raised a finger and adopted the most mentor-like tone I could muster.

  – May I remind you that YOU were the one who first asked me about my pns? – I countered. – So, technically, YOU were the one without an idea.

  Megumi put on a thoughtful expression, tapping a finger against her chin.

  – You know, you're actually right… – she admitted, and just as my lips curled into a triumphant smile, she continued: – But since I had no pns, and you had no pns, and now we're discussing going out, that means… – She trailed off, waiting for me to finish her sentence.

  Oh no. Something's off. Megumi never gives in this easily.

  I squinted, realizing I was stepping onto enemy territory without any defense.

  – That means…?

  Megumi smiled sweetly.

  – That it's only logical that you invite me somewhere, since you have nothing better to do.

  AHA! I KNEW IT! This was a setup from the start! She built the trap and just snapped it shut. But no. Not this time.

  I opened my mouth to counter, but Megumi was already speaking.

  – In that case, I accept your invitation. How thoughtful of you, Arata.

  Oh no. No, no, no, no. This is really happening? This wasn't my pn. How did this happen? Just a moment ago, I was the one pointing out that she had no pns!

  I blinked.

  – What...?

  Megumi nodded with mock seriousness.

  – Well, you could have invited someone else, but you chose me, so it's pretty obvious.

  This isn't a conversation anymore. This is a full-scale attack on my free will! This is manipution in its purest form!

  I narrowed my eyes.

  – I don't recall inviting you.

  Megumi waved a hand dismissively.

  – Oh, don't be so modest. I already accepted. It would be a shame if you backed out now.

  Backed out? BACKED OUT?! To back out, I would have had to AGREE to something in the first pce! And st I checked, I wasn't even CLOSE to making that decision!

  – I'm not backing out because I never agreed to anything!

  Megumi rolled her eyes.

  – Arata, please, you don't have to make this so official. It's not a masquerade ball.

  Or maybe it is? Because if this is a masquerade, then I'm the clown who just got pyed like a fool.

  Megumi gestured toward herself.

  – I'm not expecting flowers or poetry.

  I pressed my hands together like I was about to start praying.

  I needed divine intervention.

  I analyzed the situation again. Step by step.She asks if I have pns. I say no. Suddenly, I'm the one inviting her out.

  No. This doesn't add up. There's a logical gap somewhere.

  I looked up at her.

  – You just pyed me like an amateur.

  Megumi grinned.

  – Well, if you don't want to invite me, then oh well…

  She took two steps back as if about to walk away, but hesitated, gncing at me from the corner of her eye.

  Alright. If she really didn't care, she could just leave. But she wasn't leaving. She was waiting. Waiting for my confirmation.

  But this time, I said nothing.

  And that was the moment her entire pn fell apart.

  First, confusion flickered in her eyes. She blinked once. Then twice.Then came the frown, like she couldn't believe I wasn't answering.Next, the expression that screamed: No, no, this isn't how it was supposed to go.

  – ARATA!! – she exploded, stomping forward, waving her arms wildly as if she wanted to strangle me on the spot.

  I leaned back in my chair, trying not to ugh because her face was absolutely priceless.

  She let out an exasperated sigh.

  – You are IMPOSSIBLE!

  I shrugged.

  – And yet, here we are.

  Megumi groaned, dramatically burying her face in her hands before letting them drop to her sides.

  Then… she straightened up.

  Something in her gaze shifted.

  – You know what? – she began, voice unnervingly calm. – If you won't invite me…

  A bad feeling curled in my stomach.

  – …then I'll invite YOU.

  What.

  WHAT?!

  Megumi csped her hands together in mock delight.

  – Yes! That's it! I officially invite you for a walk!

  I squinted.

  – This is the exact same situation, just reversed.

  She batted her eyeshes at me.

  – Oh no, not at all. – She pced a hand on her chest, her tone turning dramatically sincere. – You see, I am officially inviting you. And you… well, you'd look really rude if you refused now, wouldn't you?

  She. Never. Pys. Fair.

  – Megumi – I started slowly, focusing all my attention on her eyes, searching for even the smallest crack in this devilish pn.

  There was none.The whole situation was a trap.If I said no, suddenly I would be the one rejecting her invitation.If I said yes, I'd lose anyway, because in the end, she would still win.

  This was a beautiful and perfect checkmate.

  Megumi clenched her fists and looked at me with excitement.

  – So? Arata? – she asked, fshing an absolutely innocent smile that could fool anyone who didn't know her.

  No, this isn't happening.

  Again?!

  HOW DID IT COME TO THIS?!

  I scratched the back of my head.

  – You know what, Megumi?

  – Hm?

  I sighed.

  – Sometimes I wonder what it's like to have a normal friendship without all the manipution.

  Megumi let out a soft giggle, but this time, she didn't answer immediately. Instead, she took a few steps forward, her movements fluid, natural—like she was walking in rhythm with a melody only she could hear.

  – Probably boring. – She finally said, her voice light and melodic, almost like a quiet, amused hum.

  I sighed and shook my head.

  – You know what? Since I have to go with you, that means it's actually you who gets to have my company. Do you feel honored?

  Megumi stopped for a moment, turning her head slightly over her shoulder.

  – Oh yes, Arata. Absolutely honored. – she replied, but there was something different in her voice this time. No irony, just something lighter, warmer.

  She took another step, and the hem of her dress rippled gently.

  Then, as if she had just remembered something important, she paused for a second and turned her head slightly toward me.

  – You know… – she began slowly, pying with the fabric of her dress for a moment. – Sometimes I get the feeling you should be thanking me for dragging you into this...

  Before I could answer, she lightly ran her fingers along the back of her neck, then started walking again, as if she had just said something completely insignificant.

  I let out a heavy sigh.

  – I'm never falling for this again.

  Megumi chuckled softly and gnced back at me over her shoulder.

  – Arata… – She narrowed her eyes slightly, a familiar, far-too-confident smirk dancing on her lips. – How many times have you said that already?

  Before I could respond, she raised a hand and ruffled my hair slightly, as if we were about to scheme something brilliant together.

  – I'll see you at the school entrance.

  She turned and walked toward the door, her steps nearly silent.

  Just before leaving, she paused for a moment and looked at me over her shoulder.

  – Hey, turtle, don't doze off! – she called lightly before disappearing through the door, leaving behind the echo of her ughter.

  I was left alone in the empty cssroom.

  For a few seconds, my gaze lingered on the door, as if I half-expected her to come back.

  I propped my chin on my hand and exhaled, not entirely sure why.

  Stretching in my chair, I absentmindedly ran a hand through my hair—right where I had felt her touch just moments ago.

  Warmth. A small gesture, something that shouldn't be analyzed.

  I didn't analyze it.

  I only just realized how oddly quiet the cssroom was.