The Back-and-Forth, Here We Go, I Won't Be the One to Take the Fall, Sorry, I'm Simply Destined

Time slipped quietly into Friday. The setting sun slanted across the tree-lined paths on campus, stretching the shadows long across the ground. The evening breeze carried the warmth peculiar to mid-May and brushed against their cheeks with a pleasant softness.

The Joint Study Group after school went on as usual, ending only when dusk began to fall.

After packing up his books and notes, Akiyama Shin politely declined Kushida Kikyo's invitation to walk together. He also waved off Horikita Suzune's hesitant look, then headed alone toward the boys' dormitory with his bag on his back.

He had indeed been neglecting the girl who was always wearing a bright smile lately.

After all, with all his attention focused on the quiz and gathering information, there was naturally little energy left to spare for anyone else.

Just like today, as school let out, Kushida Kikyo had taken advantage of the moment while they were packing up to sidle over to him.

Her voice was soft and sweet, with a hint of coyness and a faint, hard-to-detect note of complaint.

"Shin-kun's really been able to stand being lonely lately, hasn't he~"

The hint in her tone couldn't have been clearer. She was missing the intimate nights they used to share.

At the time, Akiyama Shin had been looking down as he sorted through his exam papers. When he heard her, he looked up and calmly met her cute face. His voice held not a trace of wavering, yet carried an undeniable firmness.

"I won't let myself get distracted until the Midterm Exam results come out. You should focus on your studies, too."

"Even if you're not aiming for a higher rank, you should at least make sure your grades improve steadily."

The smile on Kushida Kikyo's face faded a little, and a flash