Another month passed.
It was around October.
The transition between autumn and winter.
A season where cold and heat took turns, and one that was equally vexing—how exactly were you supposed to dress without looking sluggish?
"After all, everyone else is wearing their summer uniforms. If I'm the only one wearing autumn clothes, wouldn't I look strange?"
Kotetsu Isane bit down on her spoon, speaking in a troubled tone.
"Standing out is troublesome, you know."
Arima Shizuya pondered for a moment before trying to refute her.
"No, wouldn't worrying so much about other people's eyes be exhausting?"
"You definitely wouldn't understand, Arima-kun. This is a girl's survival skill, and the bottom line for functioning in society. If I didn't care about these things, my social life would be over!"
Was it really that important? Arima Shizuya could only say that he still found it difficult to empathize with this rather unique social climate.
He didn't understand, but he respected it.
"Well... I think you look good as you are, Kotetsu."
Kotetsu Isane gave a soft hum and spoke in a deliberately profound tone.
"You don't even add 'senpai' anymore, do you?"
"Calling you by name without an honorific makes us seem closer, doesn't it?"
Arima Shizuya chuckled and wiped the curry crumbs from the corner of his mouth with a napkin.
"Or would you rather I just call you Isane-chan?"
"..."
Kotetsu Isane immediately buried her head. Although they had known each other for nearly a year, this level of interaction was still far too stimulating for her.
Who knew whether she was simply too conservative, or if it was just her nature.
But in any case, Arima Shizuya didn't dislike this kind of "slow-burning" atmosphere.
Twisting a lock of hair that had fallen beside her temple, Kotetsu Isane quietly