Ichinose Had Grown (Continued)

No wonder I didn't feel sticky; did Shuichi wipe me down?

After spending nearly half an hour calming herself down, Ichinose returned to bed and checked the time; it was almost six o'clock.

Looking at Shuichi Kanda's face, Ichinose picked up a small lock of her long hair and gently brushed the end of it across Shuichi Kanda's nose.

Instinctively, Shuichi Kanda swung his right hand, trying to swat away what was bothering him, and then slapped Ichinose in the chest...

"Ah~"

Seemingly caught off guard, Ichinose cried out in surprise, which also woke Shuichi Kanda.

Their eyes met, Shuichi Kanda felt an unusual sensation in his hand, subconsciously applying more force. Ichinose, feeling the strangeness in her sensitive area, blushed again.

"Good morning, Shuichi."

Ichinose lowered her eyes slightly, not daring to look at Shuichi Kanda's expression.

As for Shuichi Kanda, although the sensation in his hands was exhilarating, his lower body was numb!

"Good morning." Shuichi Kanda's face gradually hardened with pain. "Could you help me? My legs are a little numb."

"Huh? I... I understand."

Ichinose quickly got out of bed, then helped Shuichi Kanda lie down on the bed, and after hesitating for a moment, she also lay down next to Shuichi Kanda.

The school beds are 1.2 meters wide and 2 meters long, so even with two people lying down, it doesn't feel particularly crowded.

Shuichi Kanda was also stunned by Ichinose's actions, and for a moment he forgot about his still numb legs.

"Honami, you..."

Before Shuichi Kanda could finish speaking, Ichinose pressed herself against him and simultaneously silenced him with Shuichi Kanda kiss.

After a long silence, their lips parted, Ichinose's eyes were somewhat glazed. "Shuichi, I like you."

Reaching out to Ichinose's face, Shuichi Kanda's own face broke into a genuine smile, "Me too, Honami, I like you."

Their eyes met, and then their breathing became rapid.

At eight o'clock in the morning, Shuichi Kanda fed Ichinose spoonful by spoonful of red date and yam porridge.

"I'll come over again at noon, you get some rest."

"Yes, I will."

After Shuichi Kanda left, Ichinose lay on the bed, staring at the ceiling, and soon a silly grin appeared on her face.

Sorry, Masumi and Kikyo, it seems I'm in the lead.

Two days later, on Monday, February 14th, Valentine's Day, Shuichi Kanda left home rather late. As soon as he came out of his room, he saw Ichinose waiting at the door.

"Ah, good morning, Shuichi."

"Good morning, Honami. Are you feeling alright?" Shuichi Kanda closed the door behind him and then looked Ichinose up and down.

"If it were a cold, it would have gotten better by now. Shuichi, you didn't get infected, did you?"

"There shouldn't be any; I don't have any uncomfortable symptoms yet."

Shuichi Kanda touched his forehead and then nodded.

"You can't feel it like that, lower your head a little." Ichinose said this while gently pressing the back of Shuichi Kanda's head with her hand, then standing on tiptoe and pressing her forehead against Shuichi Kanda's forehead.

After a moment of reflection, she stood up straight again and nodded.

"Hmm, your temperature is normal."

Although he was very grateful to Ichinose, Shuichi Kanda slowly opened his mouth and said, "Well, you should know that I wasn't talking about the cold..."

Before Shuichi Kanda could finish speaking, Ichinose's face immediately turned red, looking incredibly alluring.

"Shui-yi is an idiot, an idiot, an idiot!"

Ichinose spoke, she gently punched Shuichi Kanda's chest with her small fist.

Shuichi Kanda smiled helplessly, and just as he was about to say something, an untimely voice came from beside him.

"I mean, while I understand you want to show off your love, is it really necessary to be all lovey-dovey so early on Valentine's Day? And, are you two even in that kind of relationship?"

Turning my head, I saw Kiyotaka Ayanokoji in room 401.

However, at this moment, there seemed to be a hint of resentment on Ayanokoji's dead face.

Upon hearing Ayanokoji's words, Ichinose smiled somewhat embarrassedly, while Shuichi Kanda looked at Ayanokoji with a smug smirk, without even saying a word.

The level of mockery is off the charts!

It's hardened! The fist has hardened!

Ayanokoji felt a strange, unsettling feeling welling up inside him. It was a peculiar feeling—what was it? Anger? Jealousy? Or envy?

In short, this was the first time Ayanokoji had felt this way.

"Let's go, Honami."

With that, Shuichi Kanda grabbed Ichinose's wrist and headed towards the elevator.

"Oh, right, this is for you."

Ichinose seemed to remember something, and then took out a delicate little package from her schoolbag.

"What's this?"

"I used some ingredients from a friend to make chocolate yesterday," Ichinose said, her eyes pleading for praise.

Her only response was Shuichi Kanda.

"Don't move around if you're not feeling well, you idiot," Shuichi Kanda hint of reproach. "But Honami. This is a one-of-a-kind, isn't it?"

"Hehe, of course."

Seeing Shuichi Kanda and Ichinose interacting, Kiyotaka Ayanokoji, who was walking behind, seemed to have suffered a major blow to his heart.

At that moment, the elevator came up from below, and then Hirata stepped out of it.

"Hey, Hirata, it's strange that you're not in the classroom at this hour."

Hirata gave a wry smile, then raised his hand and showed Shuichi Kanda what he was holding.

Oh, I see, it's chocolate.

Being a popular man isn't always a good thing, especially being single and popular.

"Then we won't wait for you. Don't be late!"

"Yes, I'll be careful."

When Shuichi Kanda, Ichinose, and Ayanokoji arrived at the first floor in the elevator, there were several girls in the lobby, ranging from Class A to Class D, but thankfully none of them were second-year students.

"Um, Kanda- kun, could you please accept this?"

Looking for me?

Shuichi Kanda was a little confused. "Wait, who are you, classmate? I don't know you at all."

Seeing the chocolate offered to him, Shuichi Kanda moment, unsure whether to accept it or not, so he turned to look at Ichinose beside him.

"This is a token of Kiyota's appreciation, Shuichi, please accept it."

Ichinose seemed to notice Shuichi Kanda's embarrassment and immediately spoke up to remind him, also mentioning who the girl was.

So, who is Kiyota?

Upon witnessing this scene, Kiyota appeared as if struck by lightning.

Why?

What is the relationship between these two?

Why does Kanda need Ichinose's permission to accept chocolates?

Could it be that these two people have that kind of relationship?

"Um, if..."

"Terribly sorry!"

Before Shuichi Kanda could finish speaking, the girl named Kiyota put away the chocolate and ran away.

So, what's going on here?

Shuichi Kanda looked at Ichinose again, a blank expression on his face.

"Shuichi, what were you about to say?"

"Oh, I was thinking, if it's out of obligation, then I'll accept it."

Hearing Shuichi Kanda's words, Ichinose nodded in satisfaction.

Meanwhile, the girls who witnessed what had just happened all backed down. It wasn't that they weren't trying, but Ichinose's aura was just too strong; they simply didn't dare to go over there!

Watching this scene, Ayanokoji sighed softly, then said in a very low voice, "I've never accepted chocolate in my entire life..."

Oh, really?

You will receive it today.

Kushida said last night that he would give chocolates to all the boys in the class, and he hopes Shuichi Kanda won't mind.

After the three walked for a while, Hirata caught up from behind, seemingly concerned about the time.

"Thank you for your hard work, Hirata."

Upon hearing Shuichi Kanda's words, Hirata shook his head again with a wry smile.

Upon arriving at Class C's classroom, Shuichi Kanda found the boys gathered together, seemingly discussing something.

Meanwhile, some people turned their attention to Shuichi Kanda and his classmates who had just entered the classroom. However, the look they gave Shuichi Kanda and Hirata Yosuke was hostile, which left Shuichi Kanda feeling somewhat confused.

"Ayanokoji, come here for a second."

The three of them entered the classroom together, but only Ayanokoji was called upon.

At that moment, Shuichi Kanda felt offended.

But he quickly came to terms with it; they were just a bunch of stray dogs huddling together for warmth. He forgave them.

"Ayanokoji, did you receive the chocolate?"

Ayanokoji had barely walked past when Sudo glared at him with a look of utter resentment.

"Um, I've never received chocolate in my entire life..."

Ayanokoji's words silenced the boys around him, and their eyes filled with pity as they looked at him.

Although there are some like Ayanokoji among them, they wouldn't admit it as directly as Ayanokoji.

"So, do you know if Kanda received any chocolates from Horikita?"

Sudo's voice sounded somewhat nervous.

"Well, you can just ask them directly about this."

"Idiot, how am I supposed to ask about something like this? Besides, didn't you come together? You should know, right?"

Sudo's face showed impatience.

"Uh, that's true. Kanda came to school with Ichinose this morning. I saw Ichinose waiting for Kanda when I went out." Ayanokoji answered honestly to the impatient Sudo.

"Oh, that's good." Sudo breathed a sigh of relief.

However, the other students were somewhat unsettled.

"Ichinose is actually waiting for Kanda? Could it be that what was said on the forum is true?"

"Are you talking about Kanda being two-timing?"

The topic seemed to be veering in a different direction.

As for Shuichi Kanda, several girls came over as soon as he sat down. Among them were familiar faces like Kushida and Karuizawa, and casual acquaintances like Wang Xiaomei. There were also a few girls he hadn't spoken to much before.

Good morning, Kanda- kun.

"Um, good morning."

Being surrounded by so many girls was a first for Shuichi Kanda.