Relationships After Morning Exercise

"Keep walking slowly for a while. I'll see how Honami's doing."

After giving Karuizawa those instructions, Makoto gradually moved away from her.

Right after that, Honami also ran out of steam after three laps.

"Looks like your stamina really does need some work."

Makoto summed it up.

The difference between five and eight laps might look huge—sixty percent, after all—but it wasn't actually that hard to make up.

As long as you were willing to put in the sweat, the results would be real.

"Let's stop here for now. Honami, keep walking slowly for a little while longer. Karuizawa, follow me and stretch."

"Okay."

After a brief reply, Honami wiped the sweat from one side of her cheek. With a hint of delight, she wandered around nearby.

Makoto led Karuizawa through some simple stretches for the front and back of her calves and thighs.

Honami watched them closely from the side.

"Makoto, can you check if I'm doing this right?"

Once Karuizawa finished, Honami didn't wait for Makoto's instructions. She just started doing the stretches herself...

And got every one of them wrong.

"That's not right. Bring your legs a little closer together. Why are you spreading them so far apart?"

"You're supposed to keep your leg straight for this one. Are you trying to knee me or something?"

Makoto seriously suspected she was doing it on purpose.

Just so he'd have to correct her himself.

Damn it, woman. I'll remember this!

Makoto only dared to complain silently. Wearing a blank expression, he corrected Honami's posture.

Seeing this, Karuizawa's thoughts, which had just settled down, began to stir again.

Could she do the same thing?

"That's why you should've watched more carefully earlier. Then you wouldn't have made such a basic mistake."

At Makoto's words, Karuizawa reconsidered.

She'd done everything perfectly just now. Wouldn't it be strange if she suddenly messed up next time?

Ichinose was different from her. She could act as spoiled as she wanted, but if Karuizawa tried that, Makoto would only find her annoying.

She didn't believe Makoto couldn't see what Ichinose was up to.

Karuizawa's eyes shifted slightly as she abandoned that dangerous idea. What she needed to do now was improve herself so Makoto would pay more attention to her in the future.

That was all she hoped for right now.

"It's about time for breakfast. What are we having today?"

Makoto spoke with an expectant look.

Food lovers had food-loving souls; food was heaven! Food was earth!

If you weren't enthusiastic about eating, there was something wrong with your head.

"Since we got up even earlier than usual today, we'll have to buy some bread at the convenience store."

When Makoto heard Honami say that, his face fell.

Bread was the worst...

"Makoto, you should have a sandwich. I'll just have bread. What would you like, Karuizawa?"

Seeing Makoto's expression, Honami twirled a strand of hair that had stuck to her temple.

So cute...

"I'll have the same as Ichinose. I need to be careful with my points lately."

Karuizawa didn't want Ichinose to spend extra because of her. From the way she'd put it, Ichinose was clearly offering to treat them.

Even the most miserly person would put on a good face around someone they liked.

Besides, Karuizawa wasn't that kind of person.

"From now on, just call me Honami. Can I call you Kei?"

After sharing their morning exercise, Honami offered Karuizawa an olive branch, an invitation to take their relationship to the next level.

"Of course! Honami, I love you!"

Kei nodded enthusiastically.

That meant she'd probably get to see Makoto more often, too.

"We're going to be steadfast partners from now on!"

Makoto stared at the two of them, bewildered by their sudden change in relationship.

If he remembered correctly, he'd seen this scene just last night.

Only then, the main character had been Kushida Kikyo.

No, seriously. What were you trying to do, Honami?

"Then can I call him... Makoto?"

Kei asked timidly. The person she was asking about was standing right beside her, but she asked Honami instead.

"Sure. Let's get along from now on~"

Makoto: "..."

"Let's go together, Makoto! From now on, you can call me Kei!"

Kei beamed as she linked arms with Makoto, while Honami linked arms with his other side.

If the two of them had been wearing police uniforms, the person in the middle would surely have been the suspect.

They escorted Makoto away, and the scent of sweat mingled with what might have been perfume, invading his nostrils without warning.

It was another beautiful day...

"Makoto, walk us to class."

After breakfast, Honami asked Makoto.

Normally, she wouldn't do that when he was skipping his morning classes.

But today, she wanted to.

"Okay."

After his brief reply, Makoto felt a little amused.

Who was she trying to put on the spot here?

Him?

Or Kei?

Or both of them?

Honami herself would probably face some gossip, too...

Makoto didn't know how to respond to her.

It had always been what he wanted, yet now that it was about to happen, he felt like backing out.

He shook his head hard, as if trying to drive the cowardly thought from his mind.

Makoto strode confidently with the two girls to the door of Class D's classroom.

"Pay attention in class, Kei~"

"Mm, I will."

At Honami's reminder, Kei nodded firmly.

Academic ability was important, too. As long as she resolved to study hard and set herself a clear goal, she believed she could do it!

Wait...

Kei suddenly realized this might also be... an opportunity?

She began hatching a little plan, though she showed none of it on her face. As usual, she greeted Matsushita and Mori with a "Good morning."

"When did things progress? I thought you'd only said that because you got carried away in the moment."

Matsushita asked curiously.

Makoto already had a childhood friend who'd become his girlfriend, and Kei had still gone for it.

Although Makoto's girlfriend had acted very graciously at the time, Matsushita thought she'd only said that to keep Kei from feeling awkward.

For the angel everyone in their year knew, that wasn't impossible.

"It just happened! And Honami doesn't seem to mind at all. She even helped make it happen herself. I'm already more than satisfied."

"?"

Matsushita felt like the whole world had gone mad. What kind of girl would do that?

"When did he put you under his spell? How did he make you fall this hard?"

After blurting that out, Matsushita furrowed her brow slightly.

Had she fallen behind the times?

"Yeah, exactly! There are so many great guys out there. Why fixate on one tree, especially a two-headed one?"

Mori chimed in, too.

Matsushita felt a little relieved. She'd known she was normal. It was great that Mori thought the same way.

But what on earth was a two-headed tree? She'd never heard of one.

"Sorry, but I've already decided he's the one for me."

After explaining with a grin to her two friends, Kei opened her textbook.

"Recently, I suddenly realized how important studying is. I can't just work hard enough to pass. I need to do my best, too!"

Seeing Kei like this, Matsushita and Mori exchanged bewildered looks.

Oh no. Their friend really had fallen in love...