The Fourth Class Is Modern Chinese (Continued)

Then, after spreading the brochure out on the table and leaving an appropriate distance between us, Yuihama let out a smug little "hmph-hmph" laugh.

"Let's look at it together."

"O-oh... Thanks..."

From a third-person perspective, I was in the classic situation of having forgotten my textbook.

The only difference was that when I forgot my textbook, nobody would share half the viewing rights with me...

...More precisely, it was this sense of distance.

I couldn't tell whether the scent came from body wash or perfume, but as Yuihama leaned in to look over the brochure, the floral fragrance was close enough to make my heart flutter.

The little tuft of hair swaying before my eyes made me instinctively lean back. Yuihama and I each propped our cheeks up with a hand while facing different directions, then subtly readjusted ourselves. Even with some distance between us, our shoulders still occasionally brushed. Still, making an obvious effort to pull away from someone who had generously shared with me would be rude.

Trying to find the most natural possible distance, I occasionally swept back my hair and rolled shoulders that were not actually stiff. Only then could I look at the brochure from afar, until before long...

I leaned my upper body back to its absolute limit, and my spine had already started making cracking noises. Groaning, I stretched my back—and then noticed Yukino at the edge of my vision, her sharp eyes narrowed. A chill shot up my back.

Our eyes definitely met, but Yukino said nothing. She merely let out a short sigh, weary, resigned, and helpless.

With an "oh dear, oh dear" sort of sigh, she trembled slightly, then rose to her feet in one swift motion.

Was she going to pick flowers...? That was my guess, but she showed