Seeing Shiraishi Makoto's perfectly even-handed attitude, Kushida Kikyo's lips curled into a sly smile. She found his serious expression especially amusing.
But she did not say anything more. Instead, she lightly stepped around to Shiraishi Makoto's side, affectionately wrapped herself around his left arm, and gently rested her cheek against his shoulder. Her soft hair brushed against his neck, carrying the faint fragrance of shampoo, as she nestled against him as though acting spoiled.
The sudden warm, soft sensation against his arm made Shiraishi Makoto stiffen slightly.
"Then I'll be counting on you, Sakura-san~" Kushida Kikyo said with smiling eyes as she looked toward Sakura Airi, who stood some distance away.
S-So bold.
Seeing Kushida Kikyo act so intimately, Sakura Airi's heart trembled, and her cheeks instantly flushed crimson.
Although she had already sorted out that Shiraishi and Kushida were not currently dating, her "love rival" was openly declaring war and provoking her right in front of her—and all she could do was take pictures of it with her camera...
A sour feeling welled up in Sakura Airi's heart. Yet in the end, she said nothing, merely raised her camera and quickly took the photo.
"I-It's done." Sakura Airi lowered her camera, her gaze unconsciously shifting to the arm Kushida Kikyo was hugging.
Under the force applied to it, the soft object had visibly deformed.
"Kushida-san, please come take a look at the photo," Sakura Airi blurted out, unwilling to let Kushida Kikyo keep clinging to Shiraishi Makoto.
"Let me see." Kushida Kikyo did not push her luck. She walked over to Sakura Airi and looked over their photo together.
While Kushida Kikyo was checking the picture, Sakura Airi looked at her, then lowered her gaze to look at herself.
Was it really because she had picked the wrong outfit?