Still, Rikki turned back to look at Tomo first.
"Is that true, Tomo?"
Shiina Rikki's tone and gaze instantly softened.
There was even a hint of nervousness, because she had not seen Tomo in a long time.
Bai Qiu was left utterly dumbfounded, even wondering if he was hallucinating.
Did she really change faces that fast?
Or did she truly see him as some kind of bad guy?
Takamatsu Tomo sighed in relief. She finally had a chance to speak.
Everything had happened too suddenly. Their rapid exchange, along with Rikki's angry expression, had left her unable to get a word in.
So Tomo immediately explained, "Yes! Rikki..."
"Qiu is my friend..."
"He's also my deskmate and a club member."
Takamatsu Tomo looked at Rikki, then at Bai Qiu, thinking that if she explained it clearly, Rikki would not be angry anymore.
However, Tomo did not notice that the more she spoke, the worse Rikki's expression became.
"H-Huh?!"
Unable to believe it, Shiina Rikki could not help opening her mouth wide.
They were already calling each other by name?!
Just how had this guy deceived Tomo?
And he was her deskmate? A club member?
Shiina Rikki felt like her mind could not keep up with Tomo's words.
Bai Qiu looked at Shiina Rikki with an expression that said, Now you believe me, right?
Yet Shiina Rikki merely crossed her arms and snorted coldly.
Her hostility did not seem to have lessened, but she was no longer glaring at him as fiercely as before.
Just as Bai Qiu was about to say something else to ease the atmosphere—
"Um..."
"Tomo, Rikki, and Bai Qiu-kun..."
Nagasaki Sosei suddenly appeared and looked at the three of them in confusion.
"What are you doing here?"
Nagasaki Sosei was delighted inside. She had merely come