Don't Cry, Yuri-chan

p2
>I have plans with Yuu-chan and the others,
>so you can go on without me.

>I'm giving my underclassman some advice today.

>...

>Kuroki-san's got so popular lately that we haven't been able to go home together, huh?
>Are you feeling lonely, Yuri?
>Not really.

>She hasn't gone home with us for a week now.
>And there are days where we don't get to eat lunch together too.
>It's nice that she has so many friends now, but it is a little lonely.

p3
>Lonely...?

>I have been feeling this prickliness this whole time.
>You've been hanging out together with Yoshida-san too, right, Mako? I'm so lonely~ (lol)
>Yuri?!

>Yuri-chan, wanna go home together today?
>!

>You're by yourself for once, Miss Popular?
>Th-That's a snide remark...
>I just so happened to be a little busy this week, that's all.

>Let's stop by the book store on the way home. There's a new release.
>I don't mind.

p4
>Sorry, Yuri-chan!
>I forgot I had a prior engagement!

>I made a promise with them first so...
>I'm really sorry!
>Ah, but if you could just wait for a little bit, Yuri-cha-...

p5
>What~?
>A fight...?

>Eh?
>Hold on!

>I said I had a prior engagement... There's no need to get so...

>You're the one
>who broke our promise!

p6
>Yuri-chan!

>Why did she
>get so upset?

>Just because we couldn't go home together.
>Together.
>Ah.
>How many days has it been...?

p7
>>volume

>I'm a despicable person.

>I feel mixed every time when Tomoko makes a close friend.
>It feels like they're taking Tomoko away from me.

>I'm despicable.
>And to Tomoko, I'm a despicable friend.

p8
>I wanted us
>to go home together.

>Wait!
>Yuri-chan!

>Huh? She's not crying...?
>Hah
>Hah

>...When I told her that my 'best friend' was in trouble, Ogino-sensei let me leave right away...!
>Eh? Your engagement was with Sensei?
>She wouldn't shut up about wanting to hear about my recent friendships... Wait, did I never tell you that?!
>At any rate, I'm sorry!
>Even though I had made a promise with you, I'm really sorry!

p9
>...Were you that upset because we couldn't go home together?
>Were you lonely?

>...I was.
>Too quiet!
>Eh? What was that?!

>It felt like
>you and I
>were growing further apart, Tomoko.

>...You thought we were growing further apart?

>I mean... I don't think of our relationship as something so frail, Yuri-chan...
>Even if we can't go home together or see each other, I don't think our relationship will change...

p10
>So, Yuri-chan...
>don't cry...
>I can't say it.

>That her calling me her "best friend"... and saying our relationship wouldn't change...
>made me cry from happiness.
>I can't say it.

>Once again,
>do you wanna go home together?
>The two of us.

p11
>The prickliness
>I don't mind.
>went away.