“You looked like you were in trouble.”

“…I see.”

Kanae thought for a moment and then shook his head.

“I didn’t know you were such a nice person.”

“What kind of lover are you?! You shouldn’t say stuff like that!”

“But we’ve been friends for a while now. Yuichi, you’re really not the kind of person to go out of your way for someone in need.”

“…you might be right.”

Yuichi nodded.

“Yeah, I wouldn’t help anybody.”

“Right, so why did you help me?”

“You might not like the answer.” Yuichi took a casual bite of his pizza.

“I was just dumped by a girl. And yet everyone was talking about this other guy, and not our high-profile breakup. So I got interested.” “Interested? In what?”

“You’re the Cool Beauty, right? I heard the rumors that you’d do both guys and girls, and I wanted to know what kind of person you were. And every time I saw you, you would flash that gorgeous smile of yours. I thought that it would be an excellent opportunity to ask some of those questions I’d been dying to know the answers to. And strangely, I found that I really liked you.”

“Really?!” Kanae hadn’t realized that he was that famous. People had been talking about him so much that it overshadowed even Yuichi’s breakup. And yet, it wasn’t so bad that he was the subject of so much gossip. It had grabbed Yuichi’s attention.

“Well, when I finally was able to talk to you, I realized what a stupid person you are. I wondered why no one else noticed it. The reason why you never answered their questions was probably because everyone was talking too fast for you to understand! You’re so dim!”

“Shut up!” They often had play fights like this when they had been friends. “I’m not that dim.”

“You are dim. Dimmer than me anyway.”

“You talk too fast. That’s how you trick so many girls and why you’re able to do so many cruel things. It’s how you’ve become the subject of vicious rumors and why no one else will come near you.”

“…again with the hurtful remarks.”

“That’s rich, coming from you. You’re always picking on me.”

“It’s all right if I do it, but not you.”

“Why?! It’s that kind of selfishness that scares everyone away from you!”

“I have you. So I haven’t scared away everyone. Kanae, you’re a girl.”

“I am not a girl! What makes you say that?!”

“You act like one. So that means I’m your boyfriend, right?”

“…maybe.” Dating, lovers, Kanae guessed that’s the way it was.

“So that means you are my girlfriend. Oh, but you’re my lover too. See? So I’ve got myself a girlfriend! Or rather, 'Got myself a lover!'”

“Hm, that might be better I suppose, oh, wait a second…”

I may be a little stupid, I guess.

“Who are you going to tell?”

“Everyone. People have been calling me a ‘loner’ lately. I can boast about it.”