A Parting Promise

Before long, Honami returned, carrying bags upon bags and walking on those plump thighs of hers, just the right amount of fleshy.

"What did you buy, Honami?"

"Of course, a luxurious feast for Makoto tomorrow!"

He'd known it would come to this.

"Thank you, Honami. I knew you were the best to me."

"Then... is there a reward?"

A faint sheen of sweat had appeared on Honami's cheeks. With June approaching, the weather could hardly be called cool, and all that activity had already made her feel a little warm.

"Is that so?"

Makoto gently wiped the sweat from Honami's face and brushed her troublesome hair back.

The scene that had just played out in the dormitory happened all over again.

This time, however, everyone there saw it with their own eyes.

"Mmm... I want more."

A veil of moisture quietly rose in Honami's eyes. She was already no longer satisfied with just that.

"...I have a competition tomorrow."

Makoto decided to fight back with the leverage he had.

Kei's face turned bright red at his words. Kamuro Masumi, on the other hand, remained perfectly calm, while Sakayanagi Arisu...

Why was she blushing just like Kei?

Fortunately, Makoto was too distracted to notice their expressions. He focused almost all his attention on Honami in front of him.

She seemed to radiate a fatal allure, as if she wanted to draw him wholly into her embrace.

"Fine, I'll let it go this time. But you can't run away next time, Makoto. I'll bring you a present."

Honami made a dangerous declaration.

"Oh, right. Honami, you can check your phone now."

Makoto whispered beside Honami's beautiful, delicate face.

"What's on my phone? Let me see..."

At his words, Honami took out her phone and examined it closely.

"Hehehe, I knew Makoto was the best!"

Honami giggled and kissed Makoto again.

"Ah, people in love are so easy to read."

Sakayanagi Arisu let out a slightly exasperated sigh. She'd already guessed what Makoto had come up with.

He'd silence everyone in the class with sheer ability.

Even if that ability might not be his own...

"Hm? Is there something you want to say, Kamuro?"

Sakayanagi Arisu tilted her head curiously at Kamuro Masumi, who seemed to be caught between wanting to speak and holding back.

"It's nothing, it's nothing..."

Kamuro Masumi hurriedly waved her hand, trying to brush it off. She didn't dare let Sakayanagi Arisu find out about the dangerous thought she'd just had.

"...You."

Sakayanagi Arisu froze for a moment, then quickly understood. A blush rose across her pretty face.

She... was pretty easy to read, too.

The pleasant dinner ended soon enough. Kushida Kikyo never showed up after all, even though she usually arrived at the last minute.

"Guess maintaining friendships really keeps you busy."

Makoto sighed. He planned to get a good rest tonight, since tomorrow was the first fierce off-campus match.

He couldn't afford to embarrass himself.

"Right. Unlike certain people who run straight to the dorm the moment school lets out."

Sakayanagi Arisu had never hidden her desire to make a move. She spoke with a light laugh.

"Makoto has a competition tomorrow. We should be wishing him luck right now."

Honami rubbed Sakayanagi Arisu's silver hair. The latter pouted but said nothing more.

"Don't lose."

Kamuro Masumi offered some encouragement for once.

"Yeah! I'll be cheering you on in my heart, too!"

Honami pumped her fist, her expression earnest.

"Thank you, everyone—except Arisu."

Makoto bowed in thanks.

Sakayanagi Arisu smiled, unbothered by his remark.

She was always magnanimous. Besides, she didn't like Makoto as much as Kamuro Masumi imagined.

Mostly, she was curious about him.

"Well then, I hope everyone has a good dream tonight."

As he left, Makoto offered his good wishes to the three of them.

"If you say that, Makoto, I'm sure I'll have a wonderful dream tonight."

Honami no longer hid her feelings. She wasn't the same person she'd been before.

"See you, see you."

Kamuro Masumi just wanted to get out of there. The air was thick with the stench of romance, and it was making her uncomfortable.

Even if the food had been delicious...

"Until next time, Makoto~"

Sakayanagi Arisu brought the evening's dinner to a close.

At the crack of dawn, Honami was already bustling around Makoto's dorm room, up even earlier than usual.

"Honami's just like a mom."

Makoto murmured as he watched her get up even earlier than the summer sun.

He really was seeing things. It was just a little frightening to have someone appear in his dorm first thing in the morning.

Good thing he was an upstanding person.

"Did you say something, Makoto?"

Honami looked back, her gaze fixed on him.

"Nothing, nothing..."

She'd heard him, of course. She'd heard everything~

Honami thought to herself, revealing nothing on her face.

Makoto was cute like this, too.

The two of them should have looked away from each other the next moment, but now they were both staring at one another, dazed.

"Do your best today. Do it for me, too."

"If I take first place, will you give me a reward, Honami?"

Hearing that, Honami didn't look shy. Instead, she flashed a mischievous smile.

"Do you really want my reward, Makoto?"

"Yeah."

Makoto answered openly. For some reason, their gazes seemed to spark against each other in midair.

"I understand."

After that, they each turned their heads slightly, no longer able to look at each other.

Yeah, Makoto was sure now: none of them had any experience with this sort of thing.

Such good kids~