Amamiya Natsuki's gaze dipped slightly, landing on Fujiwara Chika's chest... The little bunnies were hopping around so cutely.
In a sense, you could probably call them puddings, right?
"I don't eat pudding."
Shinomiya Kaguya gently rubbed her temples and let out a soft sigh, suddenly understanding Zhuge Kongming's helplessness and indignation.
Stars Fall in Autumn Wind at Wuzhang Plains.
At the final moment of the Seven Star Lanterns to Extend Life, Wei Yan had kicked them over, ruining everything. The Chancellor's feelings back then must have been exactly the same as hers right now.
His great cause unfinished, Shu Han not yet flourishing.
How frustrating!
"Fujiwara-san, remember to knock before coming in next time." Shinomiya Kaguya clenched her fist.
"Got it, I'll definitely remember." Fujiwara Chika walked over, as docile as a husky, picked up the chocolate stick from earlier, and crunched away at it. "Kaguya-chan, you two can carry on. There's still enough time to do it one more time."
"No, I can't. My eyes hurt." Amamiya Natsuki shook his head and rubbed his eyes.
"Eh, Amamiya-san, you're giving up already?" Fujiwara Chika asked in surprise. "It's only been a few minutes. You're so weak."
What the hell!
How was a few minutes weak? The silverback gorilla, the strongest primate on Earth, could only keep it up for a few dozen seconds!
Ahem, this was about how long they could keep their eyes open.
Anyone who could go ten minutes without blinking was hardcore.
Fujiwara Chika continued,
"When I'm thinking about something, I often go several hours without blinking..."
You're full of it!
The Guinness World Record for not blinking was only two hours. You were claiming several hours just like that, easily breaking the world record!
"Blinking is an unconscious human behavior, like breathing. It doesn't require thought or conscious effort." Amamiya Natsuki looked at the airheaded girl and couldn't help retorting, "In fact, people blink more than ten times a minute, but few notice themselves doing it, let alone remember how many times."
"I really can go several hours without blinking."
Fujiwara Chika leaned over the desk and used both hands to hold her eyelids open. Her pink eyes were wide and bright, and she looked utterly confident. "If Amamiya-san doesn't believe me, we can test it right now."
"Let's go back to the classroom." Shinomiya Kaguya gently pressed her temples, her voice once again cool and composed. "My eyes really do need a rest."
"Okay, then."
Fujiwara Chika agreed reluctantly.
Amamiya Natsuki and the two girls left the Game Club and returned to the classroom, one after the other.
The four morning classes passed in a flash.
Lunchtime.
They only had fifty minutes to rest. Shinomiya Kaguya and Fujiwara ate the bento boxes they'd brought from home, while Amamiya Natsuki went to the school cafeteria for lunch. There was no chance to do the task at noon.
In the blink of an eye, school was out.
"Kaguya-chan, we can't go to the Activity Room. Everyone's heading there for club activities." Fujiwara Chika suggested, "Why don't you and Amamiya-san stay in the classroom and do the task?"
"Sure."
Shinomiya Kaguya nodded lightly.
"I still need to stop by the Game Club, so I'll be off." Fujiwara Chika waved and headed for the door. "Good luck, you two."
"Remember to knock," Amamiya Natsuki reminded her. "Don't just barge in."
"Roger that." Fujiwara Chika saluted.
"..."
Only Amamiya Natsuki and Shinomiya Kaguya remained in the classroom.
Amamiya Natsuki stood up, walked over to Kaguya, and sat in front of the ice sculpture girl.
The three of them were classmates, and Shinomiya Kaguya and Fujiwara Chika sat next to each other. Miko and Yurikawa Hana were in another classroom.
The two sat facing each other across a desk.
"Kaguya-classmate, shall we begin?" Amamiya Natsuki asked.
Shinomiya Kaguya answered calmly, "Let's begin."
Their eyes met.
The classroom quickly fell silent.
Bright sunlight streamed inside through the windows, forming luminous paths in the air.
A gentle breeze brushed past.
Someone had left a textbook out, and its pages rustled softly in the wind.
Amamiya Natsuki gazed quietly into the girl's beautiful ruby-red eyes, clearing his mind and entering a meditative state.
Unfortunately, one of them couldn't keep her mind still.
Before long, a faint blush crept across Shinomiya Kaguya's pretty face again.
Hey, hey, it hadn't even been a minute. Why was she blushing again?
At this rate, she'd lose her ice sculpture girl image!
Time passed, second by second.
This time, with a desk between them, the distance didn't gradually shrink like it had that morning.
Just as they were about to finish the task, the buzzing of an insect's wings suddenly broke the silence.
"Eh? Eh?"
The girl's long, slightly curled eyelashes immediately began to tremble.
"Bug, bug, a bug..."
Feeling an insect land on her head, Shinomiya Kaguya panicked.
"Don't move," Amamiya Natsuki hurriedly called out. "It's just a little ladybug."
They'd already held out for so long, and victory was within reach. If she moved now, they'd definitely fail, and then they'd have to start over.
Amamiya Natsuki had no desire to do it all again.
The ache in his eyes was awful.
"A ladybug is still a bug."
Shinomiya Kaguya gritted her teeth and tensed up.
"It's just a harmless little ladybug. What could it possibly have against you?" Amamiya Natsuki tried to reassure her. "It won't bite, and it isn't poisonous. Don't worry about it, Kaguya-classmate."
"How could I not worry about it!" Shinomiya Kaguya wanted to hit someone after hearing that, and couldn't help clenching her fists. "It feels awful having a bug crawling all over my hair."
Shinomiya Kaguya really didn't dare move right now.
They were so close to finishing the task, and her eyes were nearly at their limit. If she moved, she might not be able to stop herself from blinking.
But... having a bug crawling around in her hair felt awful. Every second was torture.
"Can you still move your hands?" Shinomiya Kaguya suddenly asked.
"Yes." Amamiya Natsuki nodded.
"...Help me get rid of the bug."
Shinomiya Kaguya bit her lower lip tightly. If she hadn't been at her limit, she never would have asked someone else for help.
"No problem."
Amamiya Natsuki agreed. Keeping their eyes locked, he leaned forward slightly and reached out with his right hand, gently placing it on top of Shinomiya Kaguya's head. Her smooth, silky hair brushed his fingertips, sending its soft texture straight to his brain. It felt wonderful.
The ladybug sensed danger and began crawling around even faster.
Amamiya Natsuki didn't dare make any large movements. Watching the ladybug's path out of the corner of his eye, he finally caught it just as he was about to reach his limit.
"Phew..."
Shinomiya Kaguya quietly breathed a sigh of relief.
Amamiya Natsuki was equally relieved. With his right hand resting on the ice sculpture girl's head, he unconsciously gave it a little pat.
"..."
The air suddenly fell silent.
Shinomiya Kaguya's eyes widened slightly. A hint of confusion flashed across them before turning to disbelief.
I asked you to catch a bug, and you took the opportunity to pat my head?
How dare you!
But... his palm was so warm.
Was this how warm a boy's palm felt?
When she patted her own head, she'd never felt this kind of warmth...
Thump, thump, thump.
Her heart sped up again inside her chest, and Shinomiya Kaguya could clearly hear her own quickened heartbeat.
Strange.
Why was her heart beating faster?
She couldn't understand.
She couldn't figure it out.
The only thing she knew for sure was that she didn't seem to dislike this feeling.
The door swung open with a clatter.
Amamiya Natsuki thought it was Fujiwara Chika, but the next moment, an unfamiliar cry of surprise rang through the entire classroom.
"Eh? Eh?"
"Amamiya-san, and Kaguya-classmate?!"
"You two, you're..."
It wasn't that idiot Fujiwara Chika.
The already tense Shinomiya Kaguya was startled and abruptly turned to look.
A girl from their class had come in through the front door. Seeing Amamiya Natsuki and Shinomiya Kaguya sitting opposite each other—and with him patting her head so affectionately—she leaned against the door and covered her mouth in disbelief.
"Stare—"
Shinomiya Kaguya fixed her with a sharp gaze, like a hawk soaring through the sky as it locked onto a rabbit on the ground.
"I-I'm sorry!" The short-haired girl trembled with fear, tears in her eyes as she crouched and covered her head. "I didn't know Amamiya-san and Kaguya-classmate were on a date. I'm so sorry for barging in! Please don't kill me!"
It wasn't as if they were hiding some shameful secret. How could they possibly kill her!
"Don't worry, we're not going to kill you."
Amamiya Natsuki closed his eyes and began massaging them, sore and uncomfortable from the strain.
Going ten minutes without blinking sounded easy, but it was actually quite difficult.
"Kashiwagi-san, did you need something?" Shinomiya Kaguya crossed her arms over her chest, her voice icy.
Before you continue