The Ambiguous First Encounter with a Girl

Early the next morning.

After washing up, Horikita Etsuka was about to head out to buy some drinks so he could spend the whole day relaxing in his dorm.

He had just opened the door when a small hand happened to knock against his chest.

Ichinose was standing outside.

Summer vacation had begun, and she wasn't wearing her uniform. Instead, she had on a pale pink sleeveless top and denim shorts, her whole being brimming with youthful energy.

Their eyes met, and the atmosphere fell into a subtle silence.

In the end, Horikita Etsuka was the first to speak, breaking the momentary awkwardness:

"What a coincidence, Ichinose. I'd just opened the door, and you were already knocking."

"Y-yeah..." Ichinose drew back her hand, a little embarrassed, and smiled awkwardly.

She looked at Etsuka and asked brightly:

"Summer vacation starts today, doesn't it? Are you heading out, Horikita?"

"Nothing much. I just want to buy some food. Want to come with me?"

"Sure. There's something I want to talk to you about, too."

With that, they walked side by side toward the elevator.

At the other end of the hallway, Amikura Mako was looking down at the brand-new Switch in her hands. As she turned the corner, she caught sight of Etsuka's back.

She was about to raise her hand to greet him, but then she noticed Ichinose walking beside him.

The words on her lips suddenly stopped.

She stood silently where she was, watching them slowly disappear into the elevator.

Amikura lowered her head, her fingers unconsciously brushing the body of the Switch. The screen reflected her distracted eyes.

No one knew what she was thinking at that moment.

At the supermarket.

There were hardly any students around at this hour—both the upperclassmen and the first-years were still in class. With only a few people in the spacious store, Horikita Etsuka and Ichinose seemed especially relaxed.

Etsuka carried a shopping basket, picking out snacks as he spoke:

"So you found out that Class C was posting a lot of unverified Secret Keys in the Anonymous Chat System?"

Ichinose's hand paused just as she was about to pick up a snack.

"Yeah. I'm a little worried their actions might affect us."

"It's fine. The key lies with each class's spies. As long as the spies think the time isn't right, they can only wait."

The spies had been submitted anonymously by each class. Since Ryuen ruled Class C by force, he should have figured out who their spy was.

But Class A and Class D were different. They couldn't find out who their own spies were, so even if they learned about the Secret Keys, they couldn't pass the information along. They had to figure things out step by step on their own.

Etsuka spoke calmly, picked up a toothpick from the sample counter, speared a piece of pineapple, and held it to Ichinose's mouth.

"Don't think too much about it. Try this."

Ichinose was distracted, and without thinking, she leaned down and took a bite.

The next second, the sourness flooded her mouth, and she immediately frowned, coming back to her senses.

"Ugh... It's so sour!"

When she realized Etsuka had fed it to her, a faint blush crept across her cheeks.

Etsuka looked at her with a half-smile. "Well? Does it taste good?"

Ichinose immediately realized it had been a little prank.

She pressed her lips together, then suddenly reached out and lightly pinched Etsuka's waist.

"Whoa!" He instinctively hopped backward, staring at her in disbelief. "Ichinose, you've learned to be mischievous? Who taught you that move?"

Etsuka had already been traumatized by Suzune pinching him, so his reaction was quick.

Ichinose blinked, wearing an innocent yet sly smile.

"You're allowed to prank me, but I'm not allowed to fight back?"

Etsuka folded his arms and raised an eyebrow at the girl, who rarely showed this playful side of herself.

"All right, but you'd better watch out. I'll get you back."

After a whole semester together, this was the first time Horikita Etsuka had seen Ichinose act so playfully. It was a rare sight.

Ichinose copied his pose, folding her arms as her eyes curved into crescents.

"Sure. I'll be ready."

After they finished shopping, they parted ways at the elevator.

As soon as Etsuka stepped out of the elevator, he saw a girl with long purple hair crouching beside his door.

She wore a simple white blouse, her black skirt spread across the floor. She sat there with her arms around her knees, as if she'd been waiting for a long time.

"Hey, are you all right? What are you doing here?" Etsuka asked as he walked over in confusion.

The girl looked up at his voice, revealing a familiar face—it was Amikura Mako.

She was clutching a brand-new Nintendo Switch to her chest, and her eyes lit up.

"Etsuka! You're finally back!"

She sprang to her feet and hurried over, pushing Etsuka's back with one hand to urge him forward.

"Hurry up and open the door! You promised to teach me how to play!"

Etsuka answered as he opened the door, then glanced down at Amikura's skirt and asked curiously, "Mako, are you wearing shorts?"

The door opened with a click.

"Yeah." Amikura walked into the room with her hands behind her back, then turned to face Etsuka and spun lightly. A faint blush rose on her face as she asked with some anticipation:

"Well? Does it look good?"

Horikita Etsuka rested his chin in his hand and nodded seriously. "Pretty nice. Those skort shorts make your legs look long."

Hearing his praise, Amikura couldn't help smiling. Her voice carried a hint of smugness. "Of course~"

But then she held out her index finger and lightly tapped Etsuka's chest, tilting her head up to look him over curiously.

"By the way, Etsuka, why are you still wearing your uniform during vacation?"

"Ahem!" Etsuka cleared his throat and answered solemnly, "It's called staying true to the school style. I quite like it."

"Oh~?" Amikura blinked and gave him a sly smile, deliberately drawing out her words. "So Etsuka still hasn't bought any clothes~"

Etsuka looked at Amikura in surprise. He hadn't expected her to be so perceptive about this, considering how airheaded she usually seemed.

He could only shrug helplessly. "All right, you saw right through me."

"I knew it!" Amikura nodded smugly, then said enthusiastically:

"Since Etsuka's going to teach me how to play, I'll go clothes shopping with you this afternoon as a thank-you!"

"There's no need to go to that trouble..."

"What do you mean, no need?" Amikura immediately put on a "fierce" expression.

"Are you trying to make me feel indebted to you on purpose?"

Looking at the girl in front of him, who was trying hard to look fierce but only came across as a little silly, Etsuka couldn't help laughing. He quickly agreed:

"All right, all right. Then I'll trouble you to come with me, Amikura."

Only after he agreed did Amikura nod in satisfaction. She turned her face slightly to the side, her gaze drifting away as she mumbled:

"That's more like it... You'd be really great if you didn't get so close to other girls."

"What did you say?"

"N-nothing!" Amikura immediately replied, as if he'd stepped on her tail.

"I said girls have a good eye for clothes! Etsuka, you'd better learn from me!"

"Oh~"

"What are you waiting for? Come teach me how to play!"

"Sure!"

The cover's changed, too. What do you think? (´I`)