"So, Kazehara-kun, are you going to turn me down?"
Ichinose Honami's voice was light, tinged with the pleasure of someone whose little prank had succeeded.
"I've already prepared myself to be rejected, you know. After all, Kazehara-kun is so busy, having to deal with so many 'special' friends. You must not have much time left for ordinary friends, right?"
"...You."
Kazehara Tetsu finally turned around and met those eyes, now filled with "malice."
"How come I never noticed you were such a smooth talker before?"
"That's because the me from before was still hiding inside her shell."
Ichinose Honami smiled and stood up.
"But the me now is a whole new version. If Kazehara-kun doesn't seize his chance, someone else might snatch me away one day, you know?"
"Snatch you away?"
Kazehara Tetsu stood up too.
He looked down at the girl in front of him, who dared to tease him.
"Honami, since when did you become something people could snatch away?"
"Hmm..."
Ichinose tilted her head, pretending to give it serious thought.
"You're right. Then let me put it another way... If Kazehara-kun doesn't seize his chance, someone might 'run off with me' one day. Though I don't think anyone could actually make that happen."
After finishing with a smile, she turned and walked a couple of steps toward the door, then stopped and looked back at him.
"Come on? If we dawdle any longer, all the good seats will be taken. You wouldn't make a girl eat standing in a corner, would you, Kazehara-kun?"
Kazehara Tetsu stood still, watching the figure beckoning to him.
"...Let's go."
He started walking and followed her.
They left the Teaching Building side by side and slowly made their way along the path to the Cafeteria.
The campus was quiet in the afternoon.