Thanks to that, we became friends, didn’t we? 

At first, Rika and I, and then Chitose too, weren’t really friends. It’s not like we were hostile to each other, but I don’t think we ever really talked properly.

You see, the three of us were clearly different types, even to other people. Well, maybe you wouldn’t get that kind of thing, but anyway…

Anyway, we each naturally formed a group with kids who seemed to be on a similar wavelength, at least Chitose and I did. I think Rika was probably on her own. But that girl didn’t seem to mind. Maybe she was used to it. Anyway, there were no enemies in the class, so it was peaceful.

Do you remember the chemistry experiment? We ended up in the same group, the seven of us. Three noisy boys and one rough girl, apart from us three. No, not me, sorry.

Chemistry was taught by this scary old man, you know. So we were always quiet, but there are always people who make noise during experiments, right? Those four idiots… huh? I mean, the three boys and the rough girl. They were already close, and they stood out in the class, but they were really noisy. And they were rough with things, so it really annoyed me.

I wonder how Chitose was feeling. I might be able to tell if I saw her face now, but I didn’t know her well at the time.

Anyway, that day we were using microscopes. But since there were seven of us, we naturally split into two groups. While those four idiots were playing around, we three smart girls quickly finished our sketches and then just let them get on with it.

But then suddenly we heard a “snap” sound. That rough girl had broken the glass on the microscope. You know, that cover glass thing? Well, whatever.

It seems the lens hit the glass. The teacher always said “adjust the focus while releasing it,” so there weren’t any other mistakes like that. Maybe those four idiots weren’t listening.

The teacher was really angry. Even thinking about it now, the atmosphere was the worst. But all three boys tried to blame it only on that girl.

Well, since she was the one who actually did it, they probably wanted to say they had nothing to do with it. They were heartless guys.

“As a group, I think everyone is responsible,” Rika suddenly said. The four idiots, and even the teacher, were surprised. Of course, so was I. I don’t know about Chitose.

“Everyone couldn’t pay attention even though we should have cooperated. Everyone, including me, is at fault. I’m sorry.”

She said that and looked straight into the teacher’s eyes.

I couldn’t say anything. The three boys stared at Rika with resentment.

Well, if that’s what she said, the teacher had no choice but to agree. He yelled, “Then clean up together!” and that was the end of it.

I remember Chitose saying, “Thank goodness no one got hurt,” as she picked up the broken glass.

“Just don’t get it,” one of the boys said right after class. “We didn’t do anything. Why do we have to be involved? What are we going to do if our grades go down?”

“Yeah, we’re not going to clean up or anything.”

Rika didn’t say anything back. The girl who broke the glass didn’t even apologize, she just went home in silence.

So after school, I went to the lab to clean up. Rika and Chitose were there too. But those four idiots never showed up.

“Yeah, that girl too.”

Well, I guess it was awkward.

I can understand how she feels.

But still, I didn’t think she didn’t have to come.

“Tachibana-san, right?”

After we finished cleaning, I called Rika over.

I had something I needed to ask her.

“Yes?”

“…Why did you say something like that?”

“Something like what?”

“That everyone was at fault.”

Rika seemed a little hesitant, but she answered quickly.

“Experiments are supposed to be done in groups. The fact that we split up into groups of three and four was because we neglected communication and chose the easy way out. It doesn’t mean that responsibility was divided among us. If we had helped each other properly, the glass wouldn’t have broken. Everyone is to blame. Isn’t that right?”

“You’re not wrong. I know that. But…”

“…?”

“…But ultimately, it was her own responsibility. The teacher might have thought so too. So why didn’t she say anything herself?”

I thought I was at fault too.

So even if I was scolded along with everyone else, I wouldn’t complain.

But if I hadn’t been scolded, I thought it would have been enough to reflect on my own.

And because I was reflecting, I thought I was much better than the four idiots who didn’t even reflect even though they were worse and left the cleaning to someone else.

Isn’t this normal?

Isn’t this enough of a decent moral standard?

Do you think I’m pathetic?

…hmm. Well, that’s how it is with Kusaba…Thank you.

“I’m not really complaining. I don’t hate them. But I’m a little annoyed with them.”

“…Is that so?”

“Just why did they go that far? Do they gain anything from it? That’s just a question. And also, can’t they do things better?”

When I said that, Rika seemed to be hesitating again.

But she quickly returned to her usual straightforward gaze.

That’s when I first thought Rika was cool.

“If you hadn’t been scolded and managed to get through it smoothly, would you live your life regretting what you did?”

“…?”

“Or would you live your life as someone who can do something like that and not regret it?”

“…?”

“I didn’t like either of them. No, I was afraid of becoming like that. It would have been much better to be scolded properly there, apologize, and move on positively.”

I was really surprised.

Was that Rika-like?

But at that time, I still didn’t know about that girl.

“But…that’s…”

I couldn’t respond well.

When I was silent, Chitose, who had been quiet until then, came up to us and said:

“I understand what you’re saying. I think it’s a great way of thinking.”

“…”

“But isn’t it tough to make enemies? Actually, the kids in the group probably don’t think highly of you.”

“…That’s…”

“At least until the group changes, it might become uncomfortable. I think it’ll be equally painful, though,” said Chitose, and it was the first time I had heard her speak like that. I had thought she was a more gentle child. Well, she is gentle, but…

Anyway, now it’s about Rika.

“It may be so. However, no matter how painful it may be and no matter how others may think of you, things will eventually work out. Even if you’re close now, eventually, it will be a relationship where you’ll be apart,” Rika said.

“I see,” I replied.

“But if you end up hating yourself… that’s really sad. You have to deal with yourself for your whole life,” Rika continued.

I understood what Rika was saying, and I empathized with her, but I couldn’t agree with her. I thought it was just a platitude, and that life isn’t that easy. I didn’t have the experience of making really dangerous enemies, and I couldn’t imagine having that kind of experience in the future.

Looking back now, I wonder who I thought I was.

At that moment, I was honestly amazed. I think Chitose was too.

But Rika still hadn’t stopped talking.

“Besides, with my personality, I’m sure I’ll be disliked by plenty of people in the future. But I can’t bring myself to change who I am just to be liked. So at least, I don’t want people to hate me,” Rika said, and she appeared on the verge of tears.

But she didn’t cry.

What? Oh, no, not me. I’m talking about Rika here.

Well, maybe I was like that too.

And then I thought to myself, “Oh, she knows herself much better than I imagined.”

So I decided, “Well then, I should just like her, shouldn’t I?”

“Let’s call each other by our first names,” I said.

“Huh?”

“Hehe. Well then, me too,” Chitose said.

Because Rika was cute, and she was also cool.

It’s just wrong for someone like her not to be loved.

So I’ll protect her.

“From today, we’re friends. Any objections?” I said.

“W-well…”

“It’s fine. We’ll be working together cleaning here every day for a while anyway.”

“That’s right. If we don’t like being together, we can stop anytime,” Chitose said.

“Okay.”

“Then it’s settled. Well, I don’t think it will come to that,” I said.

After that, we just cleaned every day and that was it.

And now we’re here.

The Four Idiots? Oh, please. With me and Chitose around, there’s no way anyone could mess with Rika.

Oh, and later, Rika said something like this.

“I’m sorry for involving both of you in my obsession.”

“Huh? You were thinking about that?” I said.

“Well, because Saetsuki has her club activities too. I was being selfish… I think,” Rika said.

“Ugh, why are you bringing that up now?”

“That’s right, Rika. We like you just the way you are. And besides…”

Chitose always cheats.

She always manages to wrap things up nicely, even in situations like this.

“Thanks to that, we became friends, didn’t we?”