My Friend Doesn't Hesitate 18

 ACT 18     What Is a Good Way to Divide Concentration?


「Come on in!」

『Sorry for bothering you.』


On their day off, in accordance with the promise they had exchanged with Kiriko, Mashiro, Akami, and Natsu were invited to the Kizaki home.

Before coming here, Mashiro was thinking about how to greet her parents, but.


「My parents left on a trip for just the two of them yesterday, so they aren't here today. I'll introduce you when there's another chance.」


According to Kiriko, it seemed that was something that was decided long ago.

In any case, they would hold their study session in the spacious living room of the Kizaki home.


「... It's a little narrow.」

「Mmm, I think four people should just barely fit?」

「Sorry, I don't usually study here, so this is the only option.」

「Sitting on a cushion instead of a chair is quite fresh.」


Although the living room was spacious, the oblong tea table the four people surrounded was rather small, and if they tried to spread out their study tools, they would quickly exceed its capacity, so they only spread out the minimum necessary textbooks and notebooks on top.

In terms of seating order, Akami was next to Mashiro, with Kiriko and Natsu facing them.


「Akami, isn't it cramped? Are you okay?」

「I'm fine with this much. If anything... it might be a bit of a benefit.」

「? Is that so?」


Even though it felt a little cramped with their shoulders touching each other, Akami beside her didn't seem to have any complaints.

She really was such a good girl, like an angel.


「So, Kiri-yan-san, what in that world is the gaah study method?」

「Ok, the studying itself isn't that different, but it depends on how you divide your concentration!」

「Divide?」

「Besides studying, try to completely avoid thinking about things you like.」

「Things I like...」

「For example, in my case, it's basketball, and I read the contents of this textbook page without thinking about it at all... Nnn...」


Kiriko closed her eyes for about a minute while leaving her textbook and notebook open.


「Nn!」


She suddenly opened her eyes and immediately looked over her textbook, then vigorously started summarizing the essentials in her notebook.

Her speed was formidable, but at the same time, her handwriting was beautiful.


「Done!」


Exactly three minutes.

As for the contents of the notebook,


「...... Ooh.」

「This is so easy to understand!?」

「It feels like you immediately output the details you grasped. This wins the title!」


It was so perfect that the three of them unconsciously let out groans.

It looked like it would be quite useful whenever it was reexamined later.


「... Or rather, can't this only be done by Kiri-yan?」

「It's okay! Controlling your ability to concentrate gets easier with practice. Once you've comprehended the knack, you'll be able to manage somehow!」

「Hmmm, if you say so, I will also... if I apply the same concentration I use when working on a manga storyboard... mmhm.」


This time, Natsu looked to start concentrating; she closed her eyes, took a deep breath, and after about a minute,


「A-ta-ta-ta-ta-ta-ta-ta-ta-ta-ta-ta!」


While making those strange noises, Natsu began to take notes.

Her handwriting was a bit messy, but as long as she herself could understand what it said, she looked to be making good progress.

The words『rapid brush writing』came to Mashiro's mind. For some reason.


「Phew... Ooh, this is nice. My stamina won't last unless I take breaks here and there, but the contents come in smoothly. This is an overwhelming title winner!」

「Right? Onatsu, you're so quick-witted, amazing!」

「Eh? I-is that so? Ehehe...」


After Kiriko's high praise, Natsu made an embarrassed laugh.

Based on the reaction she conveyed after giving it a try, it seemed she grasped the knack Kiriko talked about.

In that case, it was possible that Mashiro and Akami could do it too.


「Shiro-chan.」

「Yeah. Let's give it a try as well.」


After Akami addressed her, Mashiro nodded, and the two closed their eyes.

Kiriko said to completely avoid thinking about things she liked.

First of all was to remove the things she liked from her thoughts...

...................

.............

.......


「Nnn」


Akami's voice could be heard from next to her.

She seemed to be focusing.

Come to think of it, she had always been indebted to Akami, so if she learned this study method, she might be able to repay Akami a little.

For that purpose.......


「Shiro-chi, your concentration is disturbed! Concentrate, concentrate.」

「... Oh!」


It must have been obvious to an onlooker that she wasn't concentrating, and after Kiriko pointed it out, Mashiro once again tried to concentrate.


...................

.............

.......


「............」


Akami next to her didn't speak.

However, as mentioned earlier, their shoulders were touching each other, so perhaps due to that, Mashiro could clearly hear the sounds of her breathing.

Had she already started concentrating?

If she was excluding what she liked from her thoughts, perhaps Akami was trying to avoid seeing Mashiro?

When she thought about that... far from just a little, a tremendously large hazy feeling filled her chest...



「Ah～～～～～～～......」



She unconsciously held her head.


「Wha-what's wrong, Shiro-chi? Why are you so depressed!?」

「Shiro-chan?」


When Mashiro's mood took a nosedive, not only Kiriko, but also Akami (who had been trying to concentrate like was explained) beside her looked bewildered.


「... No matter what, I think about Akami.」

「Eh......!?」

「Above all, when I think about Akami excluding me from her thoughts, I can't stand it...」

「Sh-Shiro-chan!?」

「Aah, this might be quite tough for Mashiro-san.」

「Hmmm, it looks like this will take a while. But it's ok. There are other methods, so let's try those out!」

「... Sorry for making you go to the trouble, Kiri-yan.」


She felt a little apologetic for her bothersome disposition.

But... as she thought, this method was unthinkable.

That was how important Akami was to Mashiro.


　　☆　　★　　☆　　★　　☆　　★


Sh-Shiro-chan, you think about me that much...

But now that she says that, I also... not thinking about Shiro-chan... and having Shiro-chan exclude me from her thoughts... uu...



「Ah～～～～～～～......」



「Whooaa!? Aka-chi too!?」

「... You two are really close.」


I unconsciously started holding my head...