Being with Ichinose

A gentle spring breeze brushed across the campus, and pink cherry blossom petals drifted down like snow.

Light footsteps echoed softly along the corridor.

Creak~

The door to the infirmary where Yi Chen was staying opened again.

Yi Chen had just been faced with a conversation between two girls, and he still hadn't quite come back to his senses.

The door opened, and the person who entered was the pink-haired Ichinose.

A warm smile lit up Ichinose's face.

The moment Yi Chen saw Ichinose, a flicker of delight passed through his eyes.

Yi Chen didn't want to look away from Ichinose for even a moment.

"Why are you here?"

Yi Chen's voice was a little hoarse.

Ichinose quickly put down what she was carrying and walked over to Yi Chen.

She reached out and touched his forehead.

"You caught a cold. How could I not come?"

There was concern in Ayako's voice.

At her words, Yi Chen's face turned bright red.

Then Ichinose took out some cookies she had made herself and held them out to Yi Chen.

"Try one. I made them myself."

Yi Chen's heart thumped as he watched Ichinose feed him a cookie.

A little nervously, he took a bite. The sweet, crisp flavor spread through his mouth, and warmth welled up inside him.

They sat by the window, looking out at the cherry blossoms as the atmosphere gradually grew cozy.

Ichinose began telling him about funny things that had happened at school lately. Yi Chen listened quietly, a faint smile on his face.

Their laughter echoed through the infirmary, as though time itself had stopped.

"Yi Chen, look how beautiful the cherry blossoms are outside. I really wish I had someone to walk over there with."

A light of anticipation gleamed in Ichinose's eyes.

Looking at Ichinose, Yi Chen felt his heart surge. He spoke softly.

"Sure. I can go with you."

Ichinose's cheeks flushed as she looked at Yi Chen tenderly.

"What? What can you do?"

After meeting Ichinose's gaze, Yi Chen felt embarrassed, but then he seemed to make up his mind.

Yi Chen said quietly,

"I think I can keep you company."

"Ichinose."

"On a walk beneath the cherry trees."

At his words, Ichinose happily held out her little finger.

"Pinky promise."

The two of them talked about all sorts of things that day, sharing fun stories and their thoughts on the world around them.

They were reluctant to part, but Ichinose had some things to take care of with her class.

That evening, Yi Chen had mostly recovered and returned to his dorm.

Ken Sudō came to visit him with Yamamura Naiki and Yukimura Teruhiko. Seeing that Yi Chen had nearly recovered, they all relaxed.

The group hung out in Yi Chen's room until late at night, then went back to their own dorms.

Yi Chen looked at the messages in his phone inbox.

Ichinose:

"Yi Chen, will you have your phone with you tomorrow? I'll be free after my club activities in the afternoon."

"What about you? We did make a pinky promise."

Yi Chen smiled at the sticker and replied:

"Got it. I'll be free tomorrow."

The next day, Yi Chen got up feeling a little better and got ready.

Looking at himself in the mirror, Yi Chen decided he still looked pretty handsome.

Ken Sudō came to ask Yi Chen to go to class with him.

When Yi Chen entered the classroom, he saw Kushida chatting cheerfully with her classmates, just like always.

Yi Chen looked over at her and greeted her.

Kushida ignored him. Yi Chen began to worry, but forced a smile and went over to thank Kushida for helping him over the past two days.

The girl beside Kushida watched Yi Chen closely.

Kushida said crossly,

"You don't have to thank me. It's what classmates should do. Even if I hadn't brought you the notes, someone else would've helped."

Yi Chen smiled awkwardly, thanked her, then returned to his seat.

Ayanokoji and Horikita glanced coldly at Angela Yi Chen.

Yi Chen felt something was off.

This feeling... Could Kushida...? But she seems to treat everyone the same.

Watching Yi Chen get shot down, Ken Sudō couldn't help laughing as he came over to tease him.

Ken Sudō leaned close to Yi Chen and spoke at a moderate volume.

"Hey, buddy, that's not how you pursue a girl. You like Kushida, don't you? Haha."

Ken Sudō laughed and patted Yi Chen on the shoulder.

Yi Chen looked at Ken Sudō with disdain.

"No, keep your voice down. You've got the wrong idea, man. Don't say stuff like that."

"Go take care of your own business. I'm going to read manga."

Ken Sudō gave Yi Chen a knowing smile and patted him on the shoulder.

"We're buddies. I get it. Kushida's pretty cute, too."

After class that afternoon, Yi Chen checked his inbox.

Sure enough, the person he'd been thinking about had sent him a message.

Ichinose:

"Club activities are canceled this afternoon."

"Want to check out the new café at school now?"

Yi Chen quickly replied, agreeing.

"Okay, see you in a bit?"

Ken Sudō came over and invited Yi Chen to play basketball, but Yi Chen turned him down.

Yi Chen said he had something important to take care of, and the two went their separate ways.

Yi Chen quickly got ready and headed out.

Ayanokoji and Horikita also got ready and left.

Airi and Kushida both gave Yi Chen a peculiar look.

Before long, Yi Chen found the new café.

Ichinose soon came into view.

She wore her usual uniform, and beneath her short skirt were a pair of fair, slender legs.

Her pink hair fluttered gently in the breeze, just like cherry blossoms in bloom.

"Yi Chen, sorry for the wait!"

Ichinose ran over to him.

Yi Chen shook his head, and the two walked into the café side by side.

The café was bustling with students. Most were sitting in pairs, a boy and a girl, chatting together.

Yi Chen and Ichinose found an empty table and sat down.

Just then, a girl called out,

"Ichinose?"

Ichinose looked toward the voice, puzzled.

The newcomer was a classmate of Ichinose's from Class B.

Ichinose smiled and greeted her.

The girl gave her a knowing grin.

"Ichinose, is this the boyfriend you told me about last time? He's pretty handsome."

Hearing that, Ichinose looked at Yi Chen expectantly.

Yi Chen noticed Ichinose looking at him, smiled, and said to the girl,

"Yes, I'm Ichinose's boyfriend."

Ichinose looked at Yi Chen happily and smiled.

After that, the two groups went about their own business.

Yi Chen and Ichinose chatted casually in the café.

After a while, they left the café.

Ichinose took Yi Chen for a walk around the school.

Before long, they reached a cherry tree and stopped to chat.

Cherry blossom petals drifted down like snow, settling on their shoulders.

Yi Chen and Ichinose found a spot beside a flower bed and sat down.

As their eyes met, everything around them seemed to disappear.

Suddenly, Ichinose gazed at Yi Chen with tender affection.

"Yi Chen, can you sing?"

Looking at the cute Ichinose in front of him, Yi Chen answered confidently.

"What would you like to hear? I can sing anything."

Ichinose named a few songs from Japan. Luckily, Yi Chen had heard them before and had studied music in the past.

Yi Chen sang casually while Ichinose gazed at him admiringly.

Yi Chen realized that he seemed to sing even better than before.

Yi Chen thought,

So this is the charm of the Five-Tone Singing King card.

Before long, the sky began to darken.

Yi Chen's throat was getting a little dry from singing.

Ichinose took Yi Chen to a vending machine and bought him a can of green tea.

Ichinose held her drink in both hands and gazed at Yi Chen with tender affection.

As he drank, Yi Chen thought,

Damn, I'm really good at singing! This card is incredible. I've never enjoyed singing this much before.

Ichinose looked at the ground, taking small steps as she spoke.

"Yi Chen, you're really good at singing."

Yi Chen snapped back to his senses.

"Thanks. I just got lucky."

Ichinose blushed.

"Yi Chen, you must have lots of girls who like you, right?"

A little puzzled, Yi Chen looked at Ichinose and thought for a moment.

"I don't think so. Why would anyone like me?"

Ichinose felt a little pleased inside.

"How could that be? You're so wonderful, Yi Chen. I'm sure lots of girls like you."

Yi Chen looked at Ichinose quietly.

"Wonderful? Haha, I bet you're the only one who thinks that, Ichinose."

Ichinose blushed.

"Yi Chen, are you this nice to every girl?"

Yi Chen looked at Ichinose, who had her head lowered.

"Am I nice? I don't know. What do you mean, 'the same to every girl'?"

Ichinose giggled, raised her head, and met Yi Chen's gaze with tender affection.

"I mean, would you sing for other girls, too?"

Yi Chen said softly,

"No. Today was the first time I've ever sung for someone. Now that I think about it, I don't know why, but I was able to sing freely for you."

"Before, I always sang by myself, quietly, to my phone."

Ichinose glanced at Yi Chen, then lowered her head again.

Seeing her looking as if she wanted to say something but couldn't, Yi Chen asked,

"What's wrong?"

Ichinose gripped her drink tightly, as though she had made up her mind.

Ichinose suddenly raised her head and stepped closer to Yi Chen.

Ichinose's ample breasts were pressed so close to Yi Chen's chest that there was practically no distance between them.

Yi Chen's heart pounded.

Ichinose:

"Yi Chen..."

Just then, a sudden voice rang out.

Angel:

"Mission issued:

"Fight Back Against the Bully"

Mission details:

"Ryuen of Class C suspects that no one from Class D will be expelled in this exam and has sent someone to test the host."

"Please retaliate accordingly."

Mission reward:

One Gold Card:

Yi Chen couldn't help laughing.

"What the heck? Testing me? Retaliate?"

Ichinose's eyes glistened with tears, and she choked out:

"Is that so wrong? I knew someone like me would never be someone you could like, Yi Chen."

Seeing Ichinose crying, Yi Chen was taken aback.

"What! I'm sorry, Ichinose. I spaced out just now and didn't hear what you said."

"I'm sorry. Why are you crying?"

Yi Chen took a tissue from his pocket and gently wiped away Ichinose's tears.

Ichinose spoke slowly, tears in her eyes.

"It's okay, Yi Chen. Just pretend I never said anything. Someone as outstanding as you would surely like someone outstanding, too."

"Besides, I haven't known you for very long. It's my fault for being so rash."

"It's my fault for being so headstrong. I really was too careless."

"Someone like me could never deserve to be with you, Yi Chen."

From her words, Yi Chen roughly understood what was going on.

Yi Chen's heart raced wildly. His face flushed bright red, and his heart felt as if it were about to burst.

Looking at Ichinose, Yi Chen stiffly pulled her into his arms.

Yi Chen said nervously:

"No, Ichinose. My mind really just wandered off into another dimension. I didn't hear you."

"Um, would you be my girlfriend?"

At his words, Ichinose stopped crying. Her face flushed as she stared at Yi Chen in disbelief.

"Really, Yi Chen? Someone like me can be your girlfriend?"

Looking at Ichinose in his arms, Yi Chen was already over the moon.

Yi Chen:

"I like you, Ichinose."

Ichinose:

"I like you too, Yi Chen."

A night breeze stirred as Yi Chen and Ichinose held each other.

Yi Chen:

"Then we're really a couple now. Haha."

Ichinose smiled tenderly and pinched Yi Chen at the waist.

Amid their joyful mood, they bashfully let go of each other.

Dusk settled in.

Yi Chen walked Ichinose back to the girls' dormitory, and they reluctantly said goodbye.

Ichinose was all Yi Chen could think about as he made his way back to his room in a daze and lay down.

It all felt too unreal, and Yi Chen fell asleep right away.