If Things Get Heated, I Can Only Hold One in Each Arm

Looking at his stepped-on shoe, then at Horikita Suzune walking ahead of him.

Kamigami Haruo curled his lips.

Hadn't he just said one thing? Since a hand chop wasn't enough, she had switched to stomping on his shoes.

Feeling the scorching sunlight pouring down on him, Kamigami Haruo quickened his pace, overtook Horikita Suzune, and ran toward the bookstore.

Horikita Suzune watched his retreating figure with the look one might give a childish kid.

After wiping the sweat from his forehead, Kamigami Haruo entered the bookstore and said,

"Whew, this school really embraces everything."

"It is a campus under closed management, after all."

Horikita Suzune said it without much concern.

"Let's each find the books we need, then meet up later."

After saying goodbye to her, Kamigami Haruo wandered over to the light novel and manga section.

After picking out quite a few books, the two of them coincidentally appeared in the line waiting to check out.

"They're all philosophy books. I don't get them at all. Not even a little."

While standing in line, Kamigami Haruo leaned over to look at the books in Horikita Suzune's basket.

As a light novel fan, he simply couldn't read that sort of thing. He couldn't even settle down enough to get through it.

"They can pass the time while increasing your knowledge. I don't see anything bad about that. The books you chose perfectly explain what kind of person you are: someone immersed in a fictional world to escape reality, yet unwilling to apply that same effort to studying."

Horikita Suzune gave Kamigami Haruo's books a cursory glance.

They were things like Oregairu, Tokyo Ghoul, and Food Wars!: Shokugeki no Soma.

"Apologize to otakus all over the world, asshole. Even if that's true, so what? See this? You're just a downgraded version of her."

Kamigami Haruo honestly admitted that she had hit a nerve.

Then he pointed at the cover of Oregairu and took a jab at Horikita Suzune.

At his words, Horikita Suzune narrowed her eyes again and stared at Kamigami Haruo with a dangerous look.

But Kamigami Haruo was not afraid in the slightest and returned her gaze in kind.

Yet after a while, Horikita Suzune still made no move.

If you say I'm a downgraded version, then I'll see what the difference is.

That was what she thought.

Although Kamigami Haruo was surprised that she did not strike back, he said nothing and simply waited to pay.

Outside the bookstore.

"Was coming straight to the bookstore a little hasty? My hands are completely full now."

As he spoke, Kamigami Haruo awkwardly sent a message on his phone.

"This is the result of not planning properly. The moment something unexpected happens, you panic and don't know what to do."

Though Horikita Suzune spoke with a calm expression, a faint note of schadenfreude could be heard if one listened closely.

Looking at the shopping bag in her hand that held only a few books, Kamigami Haruo curled his lips.

"Look, it's almost two o'clock. You haven't eaten either, right?"

Kamigami Haruo's bento had been made by Horikita Suzune that morning, but he had not delivered it until he received her message at ten o'clock.

That meant she knew he had not eaten lunch yet.

For someone with such a regular routine, still not having eaten by now was already well past the limit.

"Mm, I really haven't eaten yet."

"We can't let ourselves go hungry. Let's go."

Student cafeteria.

Just as the two were about to eat, an interloper arrived.

"Hello, Horikita-san, Haruo-san."

Kushida Kikyo, who looked as though she had merely happened to pass by, greeted them and then took it upon herself to sit beside Kamigami Haruo.

Kamigami Haruo exchanged a glance with Horikita Suzune across from him and could see that she was irritated.

So he could only handle it himself.

"What a coincidence, Kikyo. Are you here for lunch too?"

"Yep. I never expected to run into you two by chance. This is great."

"Then why don't you go get some food, Kikyo? We can eat together."

"Ah... okay. Make sure you wait for me."

With that, Kushida Kikyo got up and went to buy a set meal.

"She came looking for you, Horikita. Your mess."

"I was about to ask whether you invited her. After all, you two are close enough to call each other by your given names."

Horikita Suzune immediately turned the tables on him.

"I wouldn't risk being punished by you just to call her over. Never mind, she's back."

Kushida Kikyo carried over a set meal and sat in the seat beside Kamigami Haruo.

"Thanks for the meal. Let's eat together, Haruo-san and Horikita-san."

"If you don't start eating soon, Kikyo, I'll eat it for you."

Seeing how much buildup she was giving it, Kamigami Haruo could not help teasing her.

"Oh, stop it. I'm eating now."

Once Kushida Kikyo obediently began, the other two picked up their chopsticks as well.

Kamigami Haruo finished first and used his free time to watch the two of them eat.

It was obvious at a glance that Horikita Suzune placed great importance on etiquette. Every movement was textbook-perfect, making her seem like some refined young lady.

Kushida Kikyo, meanwhile, radiated youthfulness with every movement.

The key was her expression. Every now and then, she revealed a blissful, delighted look.

It felt like watching her expression while eating would make the food taste better.

"Thanks for the meal." ×2

After Horikita Suzune and Kushida Kikyo finished eating, both of them said it.

Without minding that Kamigami Haruo had not said it, Kushida Kikyo brought up a topic.

"Did you two go to the bookstore just now? Wow, that's amazing. You bought so many books."

"Haha, the two of us are both loners, after all. When we have nothing to do, we can only read to pass the time."

Kamigami Haruo laughed it off.

"Do you have anything planned next? Would you like to go shopping together?"

Kushida Kikyo joined the conversation and directly extended an invitation.

"No. I'm going back."

"Eh? Wait, Horikita-san."

Horikita Suzune picked up her shopping bag, ready to leave.

But Kamigami Haruo remembered there was still something he needed to do and called Horikita Suzune to a stop.

"Wait. Have you bought any clothes or anything? If not, come with me. We still have some points right now."

Horikita Suzune showed no reaction upon hearing the first half.

But after hearing the latter half, she stopped walking.

So there won't be any points next month after all?

With that question in mind, she returned to her seat and sat down.

"Haruo-san, can I come too?"

Kushida Kikyo looked pitifully into Kamigami Haruo's eyes.

With her eyes faintly glistening with tears, anyone would have softened.

Kamigami Haruo first looked toward Horikita Suzune. Seeing that she had no objection, he nodded and agreed to let her come along.

He had thought they might start fighting, in which case he could put an arm around each of them to calm them down, but in the end, there was no need.

Kamigami Haruo and Kushida Kikyo began chatting about everyday things.

Kushida Kikyo occasionally spoke to Horikita Suzune, but Horikita Suzune either ignored her or gave a perfunctory response.

Walking between the two of them, Kamigami Haruo drew plenty of attention, and people cast envious looks his way.

While they shopped, many people greeted Kushida Kikyo, and she returned every single greeting without missing one.

Kamigami Haruo gradually had no choice but to silently retreat behind Horikita Suzune.

"Horikita, save me. I'm getting weak all over and my heart is racing again."

"I'm not Kushida. I'm not that easy to fool."

"How boring. I thought you'd think I'd fallen for her."

"Hadn't you?"

"You're overthinking it. I'm just enjoying the emotional value she brings."

Although shopping with girls was a little tiring, after watching Kushida Kikyo's fashion show as she changed outfits,

he was still quite satisfied. It felt as though both his body and mind had been healed.

It was just that Horikita Suzune had taken several outfits into the changing room and was admiring them by herself.

Looking at the various clothes, Kamigami Haruo scratched his head in speechless frustration.

They were all flashy, gaudy outfits. He felt that if she wore them in Harajuku, they would definitely draw a lot of attention.

Left with no other choice, he finally picked out a few highly elastic loose T-shirts and sweatpants, then went to pay.