COTE: A Man On A Mission || Love is War?

”So how are you going to deal with this? Take skiing event this time for example. I’m a beginner, and you, Ibuki-san, are an advanced skier. Do you want me, a beginner, to compete with you, and then you’ll be happy if you beat me?”

”Eto...Horikita-san, what’s going on?”

”Do you like to win unfairly? If so, I will just admit that I am not as good as you, Ibuki-san.”

Splash!

”Grrr....Then let’s do this for now.” Then, Ibuki simply took a shower and left without saying hello to.

”.....” Kushida-chan. ’For me, someone with a simple personality like Ibuki-san is actually hard to fool, because you can’t be sure what her next reaction will be. As a result, a straight-laced woman like Horikita-san was able to tame the other person. Is it true that every profession has its specialties?’

Kushida-chan felt like she had been taught a lesson today.

”Is there anyone else in there?” At this time, an archangel with straight pink hair also entered the bathhouse.

The fog was quite thick, so she could only confirm that there were still people in hot spring.

When she saw the other person, Kushida’s eyes lit up.

Because she was always thinking about Horikita Suzune and stuff, she almost forgot about important things.

There was only one reason why she chose to stay alone and book entire place, and that was...she had an appointment with Ichinose in the evening.

xxxxxx

Ichinose and Kushida are both the ones who have an engagement agreement with Hikigaya.

According to the information obtained by Kushida.

’Although Amasawa hated it, she only got the agreement and did not sign the marriage registration form. In other words, in Hikigaya-kun’s heart, she was directly passed over. Therefore, my real rival in love is only Ichinose Honami....!’

The opponent was an archangel, who crushed her in all aspects.

It’s sad to hear this news, but Kushida-chan is not a complete failure.

After all, she got the identity of Hikigaya’s girlfriend first.

Although Ichinose also goes to Hikigaya’s room, it seems that she is just cleaning it.

She didn’t lose either. Kushida had already obtained Class A ticket that Hikigaya had paid for. ’Did Ichinose-san achieve this? If she doesn’t get it, then I win. So, I can give it a try....’

”Ah, Kushida-san, Horikita-san is here too.” Ichinose walked into the hot spring and noticed that Kushida-san, who had messaged her to ask her out, was not the only one there.

Then she saw Horikita Suzune with her straight black hair wrapped in a towel.

...Ahhhh.

’So, when Kushida-san sent a message saying that she wanted to talk, did that actually include Horikita-san?’

To Ichinose, Kushida is a good friend.

She is also her main rival in love. ’However, I am a latecomer, and if I take Hikigaya-kun away completely, I will be a bad woman....’



”...Why is there a lot of fog here now? Ichinose-san, are you responsible for this?”

Horikita is staying in the hot spring obediently, but she just told Kushida that she wants to stay and soak in hot spring, but now stone slab behind her is very hot, so should she just give in?

Finally, after taking a shower, Ichinose-san wrapped her hair and came to the hot spring.

”Eh...Am I? How is this possible? Horikita-san is a funny person....”

Because it is a large public bathhouse and hot spring is also very large, in fact, if Ibuki had been shameless, she could have proposed a swimming competition with Horikita.

”Oh, Tv commercials were right. Hot spring is so comfortable~~!” After Ichinose sat down, she noticed that Horikita seemed a little unnatural.

Kushida-chan still looks like a little angel.

So, Ichinose- took upon herself to bring up the topic, ”What were you talking about just now? I saw Ibuki-san going out in a hurry.”

”Horikita-san fooled her away...teehee~”

Giggle~

”I don’t like your insinuation, Kushida-san. Are you defaming me?”

~Wave~

Horikita moved a little with a cold look on her face, she looked a bit angry now.

”Baaah! We were...we were just talking about love.” Kushida-chan responded with a nervous smile, after getting a little trauma back of how she was molested in cafe by her, ”This has nothing to do with Ibuki-san.”

”Hey! Can we discuss this? I am very interested.” Ichinose became excited, so rapidly with eyes glittering as if she had found her new sweet.

O ? O

This puzzled Horikita Suzune greatly, because she and Kushida were not discussing this topic.

She even wanted to leave without losing face, because stones in hot spring pool were too hot, and she couldn’t even see clearly because of white fog or mistletoe.

However, Suzune is different now and knows how to check the atmosphere. So her response was.

”Well, we were discussing Kushida-san’s personal affairs that she wanted to gossip about. Ibuki-san was not interested, so she left.”

Grass!

Kushida thinks Horikita is poisonous, because why would you take the initiative and add more topics when you can just stay aside and keep silent?

Normally, if Kushida deliberately discussed the topic of love, she could lead directly to Ichinose. ’How did it end up that I was the one being analyzed? Horikita Suzune is really doing more harm than good!’

Archangel did not disappoint.

”Meow? Meow~ Kushida-san’s love experience...! So, does she have someone she likes now?” Ichinose asked continuously without breathing.

”Woo.” Kushida’s face immediately turned red, but she was actually cursing Horikita Suzune in her heart for being a stupid teammate. ’As expected, I was singled out for comment. However, if I want to reject Ichinose-san now, it will be difficult to dig out information from her later, so I have no choice but to follow this topic honestly....’

”It’s unrealistic to say that there is nothing realistic about person you like.....”

”What’s that supposed to mean? Horikita-san, do you know something?”

Suzune just shrugged in a cool manner, girl didn’t get it either.

”B-But it’s embarrassing to say it out loud.” Kushida didn’t dare to say more. In other words, Ichinose had the same status as herself, so if she said something bad about Hikigaya, Ichinose would definitely tell him.

’If this happens, I will suffer a big loss. Besides, I have no complaints towards Hikigaya-kun right now....’

”I see.” Ichinose nodded.

She was Hikigaya’s engagement partner, and although he said that the final choice was in their hands, she still felt that her chances of winning were not very high.

After all, Hikigaya and Kushida had dated much more than she had.

So, Ichinose herself is just a latecomer. She still recognizes her own position.

’But today, my classmates came up with new excuses. It seems that Hikigaya-kun explained that he was not in a relationship with me, but I was working for him part-time....In other words, I was denied by Hikigaya-kun, but does this mean that I can openly go to his room at a set time in the future, not on weekends, but during normal class hours? If it’s cleaning, you should do a small one every two days and a big cleaning every three days, right? So, number of times I can go to Hikigaya-kun’s room has increased. It’s a small step forward....!’

While thinking this, Ichinose heard Kushida-chan’s continued questioning, ”By the way, Horikita-san, do you have any experience in love?”

”No.” Horikita denied it directly.

”It’s really amazing...Horikita-san is so straight forward.”

”I am always like this. Nothing special.”

So that’s it.

’Horikita-san’s decision to go to Class C and follow Hikigaya-kun might not be out of romance.....’ Still, Ichinose realised this might be a good opportunity to clear some doubts, and get information for her own, ”But everyone in school seems to think that you and Hikigaya-kun are dating. Don’t you have any thoughts of falling in love with him?”

Woah!

Although this topic did not come to Ichinose, it was still a valuable question for Kushida whose eyes suddenly got a lot bigger.

’Horikita-san, have you also signed a marriage agreement with Hikigaya-kun? You know he is my boyfriend....You girl, are you going to cheat on me? You were the second person besides Hikigaya-kun that I agreed could see my true face, yet you cheated on me so rudely?’ That’s why, Kushida-chan actually wants to know the answer.

’I wonder if this wood has come to its senses. Damn Horikita.’ Kushida decided to record this girl’s voice.

’Even if Horikita really takes that step in the future. But now you have denied him, haven’t you?’

~~Woosh~~

”Ha...I am soaked.” Thinking of this, Kushida-chan stood up, went to the basket where she placed her personal belongings, and picked up her cell phone.

But at this time, she noticed that there was a towel in Nishikawa’s basket.

’Doesn’t everyone put your towels in recycling?’ Thinking of this, she prepared to help other person pick up the towel and put it in recycling area.

”Sorry, I forgot it here....”

As a result, Kushida saw the towel being picked up and taken away, with a blue pen, a recorder, placed underneath.

”.....” Kushida-chan. ’Damn, are girls in Class A really like this?’

Today, Nishikawa came to her crying, saying specifically that she didn’t have the confidence to show her body in front of everyone, so she wanted to take a bath with Kushida-chan.

Then she left after seeing Horikita coming.

As a result, a recorder was left in the basket, recording what they said, and even... it might have recorded the true face of Kushida-chan just now. ’It turns out all girls in Class A are liars! Bitches.... Cunts go die!’

xxxxxx

Kushida-chan then returned to hot spring with a sullen look plastered on her face.

”What’s wrong, Kushida-san?” Ichinose is the best at recognizing other people’s emotions.

”I...uh...well, I don’t like girls in Class A. They are so annoying. Um..No.” Kushida shook her head, as if denying it out, ”Horikita-san, let’s continue the topic. Do you have romantic feelings for Hikigaya-kun?”

”…..” Ichinose who saw the contrast of a fallen angel just now. ’Did something happen...? I never saw Kushida-san like this. Is she being bullied?’

xxxxxxx

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