Before long, Ichinose came in with Shiranami Chihiro.
Holding Shiranami Chihiro's hand, Ichinose greeted him cheerfully:
"Hey, hey, Natsukawa, we're back! This is Chihiro!"
Shiranami Chihiro had neat, short, pale light-brown hair, with a small white flower clip tucked into it. Her deep blue eyes were clear and gentle, and her little round face had a childlike look. Petite and slender, she had a naturally timid, sweet air.
For the weekend, she wore a simple, light-colored short-sleeved T-shirt. The loose fabric made her shoulders look particularly slight, and the hem rested lightly at her waist. She paired it with a short pleated skirt, its hem hanging lightly at mid-thigh and revealing her slender, shapely calves. White mid-calf socks made her skin look even fairer.
``` Target: Shiranami Chihiro
"Current Affection Rating: 10"
Shiranami Chihiro looked very timid. Ichinose knew her personality, too, so she spoke first to liven things up.
Natsukawa also spoke with a smile:
"Ichinose, come sit down with Shiranami."
"Hello, little Shiranami. Remember me?"
Shiranami Chihiro lowered her eyes slightly, her fingertips unconsciously clutching the hem of her T-shirt out of habit. She looked up at him, her long lashes trembling gently.
Because of her timid nature, she leaned a little closer to Ichinose, holding her hands awkwardly in front of her. With her lips lightly pressed together and a faint pink blush on her cheeks, she said:
"H-hello, Natsukawa."
Shiranami Chihiro answered quietly, a little embarrassed. She had not expected Natsukawa to greet her first, either, when she was the one who had interrupted his time alone with Ichinose.
Ever since arriving at school, Shiranami Chihiro had felt Ichinose's warmth. Ichinose always looked after her, too, and she felt that Ichinose was the most important person to her.
She usually stayed with Ichinose, watching her interact with their classmates. That gentle, kind, lively, and confident personality had deeply influenced her.
Ichinose usually got together with their classmates, but today she had politely declined most of their invitations.
Shiranami Chihiro had not thought much of it at first. As long as she could stay beside Ichinose, that was enough. If she went to find Ichinose, they could spend time together alone.
So Shiranami Chihiro, who had been keeping an eye on her friend Ichinose's location on her phone, secretly followed her, hoping to find a chance to show up and go shopping with her.
Until she saw Ichinose meet a male student at Keyaki Mall, chatting and laughing with him, shopping together, and going to karaoke...
Shiranami Chihiro knew that guy. Ichinose had introduced him to her last time.
Shiranami Chihiro had special feelings for the gentle Ichinose, though they had not yet developed into the resolve to work up the courage to confess. She simply felt that she cared very much about Ichinose Honami.
But the uncomfortable feeling that her place as Ichinose's friend was being stolen, which she had felt when she first met Natsukawa, had eased after she discovered how close Natsukawa and Shiina were. What she saw today made her feel threatened again...
Natsukawa?
Why? Wasn't he close to Shiina?
Why was he with Ichinose on the first weekend?
So she waited downstairs from the karaoke place for a while, deeply conflicted, timid, and hesitant, but Ichinose and Natsukawa never appeared.
Imagining how intimate the two of them might be upstairs, Shiranami Chihiro's heart was enveloped in discomfort and fear. She worried that once Natsukawa tricked Ichinose Honami into going with him, Ichinose would no longer treat her so gently.
Because she had seen on her phone that once a friend got a boyfriend, all her attention would be on him, and afterward, she would grow a little more distant from her original close friends...
So Shiranami Chihiro worked up the courage to contact Ichinose on the messaging app.
Natsukawa said with a smile:
"No need to be so formal, little Shiranami. I already know. You're here because you were worried about Ichinose, right? You're a good girl!"
Shiranami Chihiro blushed, unsure what to say.
In truth, countless thoughts flashed through her mind.
H-he actually called me little Shiranami. Only Ichinose gets to call me that.
I don't know how to handle this.
I was supposed to feel a little hostile toward Natsukawa, but he doesn't seem to mind that I interrupted him and Ichinose.
Is he the same lively type as Ichinose, someone who can easily give people nicknames?
N-no, this won't do. With their personalities so alike, Ichinose is about to be deceived by him.
Though I'm a little embarrassed about interrupting him, for Ichinose's sake, I can't let his appearance fool me so easily.
Chihiro, you should take responsibility for protecting Ichinose and find his weakness!
Ichinose led Shiranami Chihiro over to sit down and said happily:
"Chihiro is my best friend in class, Natsukawa, so don't you bully her!"
Then Shiranami Chihiro sat down awkwardly beside Ichinose on the sofa to one side.
Ichinose livened things up, happily chatting with Natsukawa and Shiranami, and Shiranami would chime in on her topics. Whenever Ichinose spoke, Shiranami responded happily, losing some of her earlier awkwardness.
As they chatted, Shiranami Chihiro also discovered that Natsukawa was easy to get along with. It seemed she had misunderstood him a little.
Natsukawa opened a bottle of strawberry milkshake and handed it to Shiranami Chihiro.
"Little Shiranami, would you like this? It's pretty good!"
Her face slightly flushed, Shiranami Chihiro said quietly:
"Th-thank you!"
Shiranami Chihiro accepted the drink Natsukawa handed her and held it in both hands. Her lips were lightly pressed together, and a faint pink blush colored her cheeks. Her short hair stirred gently in the private room's air-conditioning. She looked soft and sweet, full of girlish cuteness that made one want to protect her.
Why is Natsukawa looking at me? But that sincere, sunny smile is making me shy, too...
Natsukawa seems very gentle, too. It's no wonder he could become Ichinose's friend as well.
Should I apologize?
"Affection Rating +20"
Shiranami Chihiro said quietly:
"Um, Natsukawa, I'm very sorry. I shouldn't have interrupted your get-together with Ichinose. It's just, I, I..."
Natsukawa interrupted with a smile:
"It's all right. I don't mind. Little Shiranami, I understand how you feel. Ichinose has already spent quite a bit of time with me, so you haven't interrupted us!"
Ichinose also said happily:
"Don't worry, Chihiro! Natsukawa is a really nice person! So don't let it bother you! Natsukawa is the first friend I made at school, and you're my best friend in Class B, Chihiro, so you're both equally important!"
"Shiranami Chihiro Affection Rating -3"
Shiranami Chihiro automatically ignored the preceding sentence and answered happily:
"Mm-hmm, I'll be your best friend, Ichinose!"
Ichinose continued with a cheerful suggestion:
"Chihiro is a very gentle girl, too. It's livelier with more people here, so let's sing together!"
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