An Excuse

"An Excuse" (口実) is a short story from Gamers' store privilege for volume 2 of 2nd Year arc of You-Zitsu light novel series, together with other three short stories.

Summary
This short story is from the POV of Hiyori Shiina:

While Ishizaki called out Ayanokōji, who was the first choice for them to create the small group, for the newly announced uninhabited island special exam, Hiyori and Albert were waiting on standby at the corner. When they came in front of Ayanokōji, he has a surprised look seeing the unusual mix of members gathered. Being a rushed plan, when Ayanokōji asked them to move, Ishizaki, who had presented the idea to invite him, had no idea where to move.

Sensing the danger in front of him, Ayanokōji tried to take his leave. To not let him leave, Hiyori and Albert went behind Ayanokōji, and grabbed his hands in a tight grip. While Ayanokōji was confused being suddenly grabbed, Hiyori already knew it won't work even by forceful means and he would probably go Solo or with a group made of his classmates. Still she went together with Ishizaki’s plan was because she wanted to meet Ayanokōji and wanted an excuse. While putting more force in her embrace, she wanted to look forward to the time they would spend together, even if it was just a second longer—