Next, Ichinose happily pulled Shiranami Chihiro along to sing a song together.
Since Class B often had gatherings for friends organized by Ichinose, both girls knew a little about singing.
Ichinose's voice was clear and full of energy, her melody bright and rising. Her singing was like dancing flecks of light, its rhythm lively and cheerful, carrying a young girl's unique vitality.
Shiranami Chihiro, beside her, had a completely different style. Her voice was soft and delicate, mellow and lilting. Her singing was like warm water washing over the heart, its melody gentle and tender, carrying a faint trace of shyness.
Natsukawa watched the two sing from the side with a smile.
Ichinose's expression was relaxed, her smile cheerful, and her manner easygoing.
Shiranami Chihiro kept her eyes slightly lowered, her long eyelashes trembling gently as she occasionally looked up at Ichinose Honami beside her.
Natsukawa thought to himself, Was this the joy of youth? One lively and outgoing, the other timid and shy, yet both such beautiful girls.
Shiranami Chihiro's gaze occasionally swept over Natsukawa, who sat nearby. She grew flustered, and her singing became a little quieter.
Why was Natsukawa looking at me with such appreciation?
He was looking at Ichinose too, of course.
But that intense, smiling, encouraging gaze was really hard to ignore.
He really was gentle.
Shiranami Chihiro had a great fondness for people who were gentle like Ichinose.
Ding! Affection Rating +20
After the two finished singing, Ichinose happily asked Natsukawa how they had sounded.
Shiranami Chihiro, meanwhile, blushed and breathed a sigh of relief, clutching her drink as she curled back up on the sofa, her heart still fluttering a little.
Unable to refuse Ichinose's invitation, Natsukawa decided to sing a duet with her, choosing another song that was very famous in Sakurajima. Naturally, it was also a work Natsukawa had brought over early on.
"My All"
♬
How much time
Had we spent together?
How many roads
Had we walked together?
The tracks we had left behind so far
Though not quite perfect, had shone brightly too
To be honest, along the way
It had not all been
Joy and happiness
Yet I had never been alone
♬
During the song, Ichinose said with a lively, happy smile:
"Oh wow! What a surprise! Natsukawa, your singing is so good! That's amazing! You sound exactly like the original singer! Are you sure that wasn't you?"
Natsukawa replied with a smile:
"What do you think? Your voice is lovely too, Ichinose. It's even more cheerful, with real feeling!"
Ichinose continued with a bright smile:
"That's Natsukawa for you! If I'd known you were such a good singer, I would've invited you to our earlier Class B gatherings. What a shame I didn't get to hear you sing sooner."
Shiranami Chihiro sat nearby with flushed cheeks, watching Ichinose and Natsukawa sing and interact with a smile of her own.
He was amazing. I hadn't expected Natsukawa to be such a good singer on top of being handsome.
And he was so gentle too.
Affection Rating +10
Of course, Ichinose was great too!
I still preferred seeing Ichinose happy.
How nice, being able to sing a song together in such perfect harmony.
Natsukawa and Ichinose were both so gentle, and their looks complemented each other too.
I was so jealous. That settled it! I would sing this song with Ichinose someday too!
Soon, Shiranami Chihiro noticed something was wrong.
Something about this felt strange...
Affection Rating -5
The next verse came, and Natsukawa and Ichinose resumed their duet.
♬
I want to show you where dreams lie
Never ending, never fading
I hope you can see dreams like those
That is my wish
I want to keep protecting you for the rest of my life
No matter what may happen
I am willing to give my all
To protect you always
♬
Shiranami Chihiro stared wide-eyed at the cheerful pair whose looks complemented each other.
She felt a faint sense of hurt, and then that feeling grew more and more intense.
Why? Ichinose was happy! I should have been happy too, shouldn't I?
B-but!
They really were so compatible.
Affection Rating -5 Affection Rating -5 Affection Rating -5
After their gathering ended, the three said their goodbyes downstairs from the karaoke venue at Keyaki Mall.
Ichinose waved happily to Natsukawa and said:
"Bye, Natsukawa! I had so much fun today! I'm looking forward to getting together again!"
Natsukawa likewise smiled and waved:
"Bye, Ichinose! You too, little Shiranami!"
Shiranami Chihiro, who had seemed preoccupied and unhappy ever since Ichinose and Natsukawa finished singing, lowered her head and replied quietly:
"B-bye, Natsukawa."
Ichinose and Shiranami Chihiro left first. After they had walked some distance, Shiranami Chihiro seemed to say something to Ichinose.
Ichinose waited where she was, while Shiranami Chihiro jogged back to Natsukawa.
The girl was blushing and catching her breath, her hesitant expression seemingly easy to understand.
Natsukawa was not surprised either and greeted her as warmly as before. He smiled and said:
"Little Shiranami, was there something else?"
Shiranami Chihiro gathered her courage and looked straight into Natsukawa's eyes, her face red.
"Anyway, but! I'm not going to admit defeat!"
Before Natsukawa could ask anything, Shiranami Chihiro ran back to Ichinose like a startled rabbit.
As Shiranami Chihiro ran back after saying that, her heart pounded wildly with panic.
Oh no! What I said was so out of nowhere. It must have been really confusing!
Anyway, I'd worked up my courage and somehow blurted it out. Now I was so flustered and scared, and my heart was racing!
What I'd meant was that I would never give up and hand Ichinose over to Natsukawa. I was Ichinose's best friend!
Natsukawa wouldn't misunderstand and think I liked him, would he?
And think I was competing with Ichinose over him or something!
Aah, Chihiro, what were you doing back there? This was such a headache, so embarrassing!
Anyway, whatever!
Ichinose was so gentle and understanding. I wanted to be with her forever!
Even if Natsukawa was just as gentle and suited Ichinose so well.
I absolutely couldn't let Ichinose fall for him!
I would commit myself to becoming Ichinose's best friend!
Ichinose did not know what Shiranami Chihiro had said to Natsukawa either. She waved to him from a distance, and the two girls left together.
On their way back, Ichinose asked curiously:
"Chihiro, did you have something to say to Natsukawa just now?"
Shiranami Chihiro lowered her head and stuck out her tongue.
"N-no, nothing!"
"Anyway, I'm going to become your best friend, Ichinose!"
Seeing Chihiro's determined expression, Ichinose replied with a smile:
"Of course! You're my best friend too, Chihiro!"
Shiranami Chihiro hugged Ichinose's arm and said with a smile:
"Ah, Ichinose, you're so sweet!"
The two returned to the dormitory, chatting and laughing.
Meanwhile, Natsukawa smiled and shook his head.
Her Affection Rating had dropped considerably for no apparent reason earlier.
Had she awakened?
Although Chihiro's words just now had come out of nowhere, Natsukawa had read the original story, so he could naturally make a guess.
That was brave little Chihiro for you.
But it was fine. As long as she grew increasingly dependent on Ichinose, mistook those feelings for something else, and worked up the courage to confess to her...
Then Ichinose would very likely seek help from me, her special friend.
Then I could quickly win both of them over.
Today's gains:
Ichinose Honami Affection Rating: 70 Shiranami Chihiro Affection Rating: 30
It was around ten at night. Natsukawa felt it was still early, so he decided to try his luck on the rooftop.
At that moment, someone was at the entrance to the school building's rooftop, kicking the railing hard to vent.
"You damn bastard!"
Before you continue