"What's wrong?"
Ichinose Honami straightened up, folded her hands in front of her, and leaned slightly toward Kazehara Tetsu.
Amid the clamor all around them, her gentle voice carried clearly to Kazehara Tetsu's ears.
"Coming over all of a sudden... Was there something you wanted to talk about?"
She tilted her head slightly, a hint of expectation flickering in her eyes. "Maybe... you need my help?"
Ever since her confession in the woods that day, Ichinose Honami had shed the "shell" she'd worn around Kazehara Tetsu—a perfect yet distant exterior she showed to everyone.
In its place was a more relaxed manner that she showed only to him.
"Nothing."
"I just happened to be passing by and thought I'd say hello."
At his somewhat perfunctory answer, Ichinose Honami puffed out her cheeks a little.
She gave Kazehara Tetsu a once-over, her gaze tinged with doubt.
"Oh... is that so?"
Her drawn-out words carried a clear note of amusement.
Ichinose Honami stepped half a pace closer, and her faint citrus scent grew a little stronger.
"But going out of your way to say hello seems nothing like something Kazehara-kun would do."
She gave a soft laugh and didn't press the matter.
"But never mind."
Ichinose Honami let go of her playful attitude, her expression gradually turning serious.
"Tomorrow's exam, though... It'll be our last day here."
"Kazehara-kun, how are things looking? Are you confident about tomorrow's Physical Fitness Assessment?"
Kazehara Tetsu didn't answer right away.
Through the cafeteria's glass windows, he looked out at the mountains, already swallowed up by the night.
"Not bad..."
A moment later, he calmly looked away.
"As long as everything goes according to plan and nothing extreme and uncontrollable happens, we'll most likely win."
At his confident declaration, Ichinose Honami's eyes flickered slightly.
"Hehe... If that's