Ichinose's Service

Before long, Ichinose arrived at the library with Kanzaki, who was carrying two large foam coolers filled with lemonade and various other drinks.

They had all been bought with class funds. Everyone had agreed to contribute the same number of points to Ichinose, and the class had been very cooperative about it.

Ichinose and Kanzaki handed out chilled drinks. Almost everyone got a bottle, while two glasses of lemonade sat on Horikita Etsuka's desk.

No one objected. They were all reasonable people.

Horikita Etsuka was teaching them, so he deserved it. Besides, even if he couldn't teach, no one would complain. Everyone had chipped in for the lemonade, and it hadn't cost much.

After taking a satisfied sip of lemonade, Horikita Etsuka slowly rose from his seat. "Everyone, I'm feeling very motivated right now. Feel free to ask me anything."

"Oh! I have a question!" Kobashi Yume immediately raised her hand.

Horikita Etsuka went over to her. Kobashi Yume pointed at the problem with her little hand and said with a troubled look:

"I've already tried two or three different ways to solve this, but no matter what I do, I keep getting the wrong answer."

Horikita Etsuka gently tapped her on the head and pointed to the problem. "Look, we need to approach it from another direction..."

Amikura Mako, sitting nearby, was stunned. She was closest, so she was in the best position to judge.

He's so gentle~

Hamaguchi Tetsuya couldn't help nodding along as he listened to Horikita Etsuka's explanation.

"There are some methods Etsuka's using that I've never even heard of, but they're really practical, and the steps are simple, too."

With the class's top student giving his approval, everyone looked at Horikita Etsuka differently.

He was handsome, good at sports, gentle, and a top-notch student, too. Why had someone like him been placed in Class B?

"How boring~" Nakanishi Jiro lay face-down on his desk, looking utterly dejected. "I knew this was how it'd go."

Time flew by, and before they knew it, the monthly exams had arrived.

After their final exam, everyone in Class B finally breathed a sigh of relief.

Hamaguchi Tetsuya adjusted his glasses and turned to Horikita Etsuka. "Etsuka, how do you think you did?"

Horikita Etsuka rolled the pen between his long fingers and replied casually:

"About as well as you'd expect."

"Oh, right!" Kobashi Yume came over excitedly and looked at them. "Now that the exams are over, should we go out and celebrate? We could relax a little."

Hamaguchi Tetsuya instinctively adjusted his glasses. "How many people?"

Kobashi Yume thought it over, counting on her fingers. "Let's see... me, you, Horikita, Himeno, Ichinose, Kanzaki, Mako, Chihiro..."

"Hey, hey! You forgot me!" Nakanishi Jiro complained as he arrived right on time.

"Oh, right, and Nakanishi," Kobashi Yume added absently.

"Wait, why does it sound like I'm optional?" Nakanishi Jiro quipped.

"Hehe, not at all." Kobashi Yume stuck out her tongue sheepishly.

Himeno Yuki, who was flipping through a book, said coolly, "Is it really okay to invite yourself to someone else's gathering without asking?"

"Come on, Yuki~" Kobashi Yume hugged Himeno Yuki's arm and pleaded, "We really want you to come."

As she spoke, she kept shaking Himeno Yuki's arm.

Horikita Etsuka propped his chin on his hand. "You might as well come. It won't be a hassle."

Himeno Yuki closed her book and sighed helplessly. "Fine. Just stop shaking me, Kobashi."

"Yay!" Kobashi Yume happily made a V sign.

Ichinose came over and asked curiously, "What are you talking about? You all seem so happy."

Kobashi Yume turned to Ichinose. "Honami, we're talking about going to a get-together today! You won't turn me down, will you?"

Ichinose glanced at Horikita Etsuka. When she saw him give the faintest nod, she smiled and said, "Of course I won't. I'll definitely be there."

"Great! Could you also invite Chihiro for me?"

"Sure!" Ichinose replied with a smile.

In the late afternoon, with the sun setting, Horikita Etsuka walked back to the dorms with a shoulder bag slung across his body.

"Horikita, wait up!" Ichinose called from behind him.

Horikita Etsuka turned around and saw Ichinose running toward him, her chest bouncing with each step.

Hm... Auto-aim is on.

She ran up to him, panting, and rested her hands on her hips. "Horikita, why are you walking so fast?"

"Because I'm pretty enthusiastic about heading home after school," Horikita Etsuka replied honestly.

"Don't we have something to deal with tonight? Wouldn't it be inconvenient to go to the get-together?"

"It's fine." Horikita Etsuka took out his Student Terminal and waved it. "The latest news is that Class C has suspended its attacks for today."

Ichinose blinked. "Horikita, do you already have eyes in Class C?"

Horikita Etsuka smiled and shook his head. "Not exactly. It's just an exchange of favors."

Ichinose was one of the people Horikita Etsuka trusted most in Class B, so he didn't mind letting her in on certain secrets.

Ichinose gave Horikita Etsuka a curious look. "Horikita, you wouldn't..."

"Hey, Ichinose, are we close enough to joke about something like that already?"

"Hahaha, sorry, Horikita." Ichinose laughed and patted Horikita Etsuka on the shoulder, then said seriously:

"But you've been working hard lately. Even you must be tired, Horikita."

Ichinose took Horikita Etsuka by the hem of his shirt and led him toward a bench by the roadside.

As Horikita Etsuka followed, he raised an eyebrow. "What are you up to, Ichinose?"

Ichinose gently pressed down on Horikita Etsuka's shoulder. "Just sit down first, Horikita."

I'll just do what she asks for now.

Horikita Etsuka slowly sat on the bench. A cool hand reached up and pressed against his temple.

As Etsuka wondered what she was doing, Ichinose spoke softly and gently:

"You must have been really tired lately, Horikita. I can tell."

Her voice was soft and warm, like a spring breeze brushing against Etsuka's ear.

Ichinose's fingers trembled slightly as she slowly began to massage his temples in small circles.

The gesture seemed casual, yet it revealed a tender thoughtfulness.

A warm feeling welled up inside Etsuka. He wanted to tell Ichinose that he wasn't tired at all—in fact, he was enjoying himself.

But just as he was about to speak, he suddenly realized: wasn't this moment itself something he was enjoying?

He quietly enjoyed Ichinose's service, feeling the gentle touch of her fingers. The relaxation and comfort soon had him completely absorbed.

The campus was especially quiet at that moment, as if the whole world had been reduced to just the two of them.

The campus paths were wide and empty. A vending machine stood silently off to one side, and every so often, a yellowing leaf drifted down in the breeze, adding a faint touch of desolation to the scene.

The only sound was the distant, excited cheering after a goal.

Horikita Etsuka sat completely relaxed on the bench, every cell in his body immersed in the peace and comfort of the moment.

Ichinose chatted slowly about amusing things that had happened at school. Her voice was clear and sweet, as melodious as a bird's song.

Whenever she got to a funny part, she let out a soft laugh. It rang through the air like a silver bell.

Ichinose's breath brushed lightly against Etsuka's ear, making it tingle.

"Etsuka? What are you doing here?"

Just as Etsuka was immersed in the pleasant moment, a voice suddenly broke the brief silence.