Equilibrium

Intervention

Naegi’s classmates can't remember the last time they'd hung out with him.

It has been a long, long time since anyone had last been able to talk with Naegi outside of class. There’s always someone getting in the way.

All week his friends have desperately tried to get Naegi to spend time with them only to be shot down time and time again.

The excuses all sound the same.

Like the time Fujisaki, Kuwata, and Owada invited Naegi to go work out with them. He seemed extremely excited at the invitation, only for his facial expression to shift within seconds into one of nervousness.

“Ah, sorry I can't. I already promised Komaeda-kun we'd go to the arcade. He really wants to go! I can't let him down.”

The other three looked astonished at this refusal, Naegi had always been up for a session of strength building. Even if he's not the most toned guy around.

There was also a time where he turned down Maizono, the one he used to be most fond of.

“Naegi-kunnn!!” She had cried out to him from across the courtyard when she spotted him exiting the school’s doors. “Come join me! I saved you a spot so you can sit with us!”

She patted the spot on the bench next to her, and smiled. Next to her were Saionji and Mioda, also waving to him. For a moment it seemed like he was actually going to join them, approaching them joyfully.

And then he spoke.

“Sorry, I'd love to, but I’m going to go eat with Komaeda-kun! Maybe some other time?”

He quickly left after that, Maizono’s face going pale at the declined invite. She'd never been turned down by Naegi before. Saionji and Mioda looked at each other silently.

No one could get Naegi by himself anymore. The upperclassman is always stuck to him like a leech. No two people should be together for every second of the day. It just isn't healthy.

It's time they take action before things get out of hand and it's too late.

The sound of several shoes and boots running up stairs echoes behind Kirigiri Kirigiri.

Right on time.

She turns to face the sound's sources, now face to face with all of her classmates.

“So, Kirigiri-san… why'd you ask us to meet you on the rooftop today?” A timid voice squeaked out, immediately regretting the fact that he asked first.

“Yes, I'd like to know too. I did give up my own personal free time to go here after all.” Backs up another, sounding more stern than the last.

“I’ve been keeping an eye on Naegi-kun lately and his...friend.” She emphasizes the last word more strongly than the rest, trying to see if that gets a reaction out of her classmates.

As she expected every single one of her classmates become tense and start to look around nervously, but none of them dare say a word. The atmosphere feels way more heavy than before, despite being out in the open.