The lights in the Self-Study Room were soft and quiet, leaving only the gentle sound of pen tips gliding across paper.
The time Kanzaki Sou spent explaining problems to Kondo Haruka ended quickly; though the red-haired Childhood Friend tried to cling to Kanzaki Sou, not letting him go, she seemed to be reminded by the boy’s gaze. The slightly noisy commotion didn’t last long and soon returned to silence.
After that, like the other members of the Study Group, Kanzaki Sou responded to many other voices seeking help, moving around to answer more questions.
Then, whenever Xiao Chun Miura wanted to call out to Kanzaki Sou, Kondo Haruka, sitting behind her, would act like a constantly alert alarm, calling out to Kanzaki Sou a step ahead, before Xiao Chun Miura could even open her mouth.
As a result, Kanzaki Sou would be drawn over to Kondo Haruka, and the other students of the Study Group would come over to Xiao Chun Miura.
Xiao Chun Miura didn’t get another chance to speak with Kanzaki Sou.
***
“——Cang-kun, I still have so many questions I want to ask on the way!”
The scheduled review time for the Study Group passed in a flash; as the streetlights outside began to glow under the darkening sky, the Study Group declared today’s session over.
As if it were the most natural thing, Kondo Haruka grabbed Kanzaki Sou’s arm—who was still next to her explaining problems—and spoke, half boasting, half declaring her territory.
“Okay.”
Kanzaki Sou nodded, not refusing.
He picked up his bag, looked back at Xiao Chun Miura, who was quietly packing her things, and gave a polite nod.
“Thank you for your hard work today, Miura-san——Be careful on your way home.”
“……Mm, you too.”
Xiao Chun Miura tried to force a smile, replied softly, then lowered her head and continued slowly organizing her bag.
“Ugh~ So even while I was packing up my stationery, you had to talk to another girl, huh!”
Xiao Chun Miura didn’t have the heart to see what expression Kondo Haruka made when she said those words that sounded both like a sulk and a complaint.
……Either way, there was no space for her to join in now.
She didn’t even know why she was feeling angry.
Xiao Chun Miura grumbled inwardly.
The voices of the two drifted from the doorway into the corridor, then gradually faded into the distance.
The lively and gentle tones intertwined, echoing down the hall, a wave of youthful energy from others surging like a tide, swallowing Xiao Chun Miura’s surroundings.
She stuffed the last book into her bag slowly, feeling hollow inside.
The brief happiness from earlier felt like an illusionary dream, already mercilessly shattered by Kondo Haruka, leaving only endless emptiness behind.
……No matter how hard she tried, she was just an intruder.
They were Childhood Friends. Whether in a game or in reality, at least in their eyes, this was a fact.
Someone like her, who couldn’t hide her feelings, having only known them for a few days and already unable to suppress the small wish of “wanting to spend more time with Kanzaki Sou,” being guarded against was perfectly normal.
What could be harder to break apart than mutually fond Childhood Friends?
Xiao Chun Miura sighed, zipped her bag, and patted it lightly twice, as if locking away all her bad feelings inside.
Only a few diligent-looking students remained nearby, and Xiao Chun Miura didn’t feel like talking to them.
They’re just NPCs anyway……Time to go home.
Thinking so, Xiao Chun Miura picked up her bag and headed toward the Self-Study Room’s exit.
“——”
——At that moment, the door to the Self-Study Room was gently pushed open again.
Just as she was about to grab the handle, Xiao Chun Miura stepped back in surprise, looking up.
The figure standing at the door made her heart skip a beat.
It was Kanzaki Sou.
He had returned alone. Kondo Haruka wasn’t there.
“……Kanzaki-kun, why are you back?”
“Miura-san, you haven’t left yet?”
Kanzaki Sou looked a little surprised to see her too, his eyes widening before narrowing slightly. His lowered brows lifted as he gave a slightly apologetic smile.
“I think I forgot my school uniform jacket on the podium. I came back to look for it.”
“Oh……I see.”
Xiao Chun Miura nodded.
……Normally, she would just leave on her own now—they weren’t headed the same way, and what they needed to do was different.
But Xiao Chun Miura, as if guided by some unseen force, waited at the door.
Her gaze followed Kanzaki Sou as he walked back into the classroom, not even understanding herself why she did it.
Kanzaki Sou walked to the other side of the podium, took his jacket from a side hook, and headed toward Xiao Chun Miura at the door.
Xiao Chun Miura stood with her bag on her back, unable to decide whether to go or stay. The atmosphere was awkwardly delicate.
She quickly lowered her head, pretending to adjust her shirt and skirt, her eyes avoiding Kanzaki Sou as he approached.
“——? Ah!”
“Careful!”
But from right in front of Xiao Chun Miura, the classroom door was suddenly pushed open.
Even though she instinctively raised her arm, the impact was direct.
Xiao Chun Miura staggered, letting out a startled cry, her bag’s momentum dragging her off balance.
Kanzaki Sou, still a short distance away, reacted instantly, rushing over to try to catch Xiao Chun Miura. Because he was too far, he could only reach for her arm, trying to pull her up.
In the chaos, Xiao Chun Miura also instinctively grabbed Kanzaki Sou’s arm for support.
“Cang-kun——”
A familiar lively voice came from outside the door, and a bad feeling immediately welled up in Xiao Chun Miura’s heart.
……As expected, when Kondo Haruka saw the scene behind the door, Xiao Chun Miura had already fallen into Kanzaki Sou’s arms, both of them sprawled on the floor.
“……”
“……”
“……”
For a moment, all three froze, and the already quiet Self-Study Room plunged into an eerie silence.
Xiao Chun Miura screamed internally.
This scene was even more suspicious than the first accidental incident she’d engineered.
……Because Kanzaki Sou tried to pull her up, he lost his balance and sat on the floor too. Now, Xiao Chun Miura was fully in Kanzaki Sou’s arms, his hands steadying her shoulders from behind.
Her unzipped bag had hit the floor, scattering papers, stationery, and books everywhere.
“——!”
“……Wait, Haruka——”
“——S-sorry!”
Xiao Chun Miura scrambled up like a fish escaping a net, face bright red, apologizing as she hastily crouched down to help pick up the scattered stationery.
“It’s okay. As long as you’re not hurt.”
Kanzaki Sou knelt down as well, his voice tinged with a helpless smile.
“Cang——”
“Haruka, you pushed the door too hard. What if someone was about to leave and got hit in the nose?”
“……But I didn’t hit——”
“What if it was me?”
Kondo Haruka, who was about to explode, was rendered speechless by a few words from Kanzaki Sou.
For a moment, only the sound of two people hurriedly gathering up their things filled the small space.
Notebooks, textbooks, pencil cases……As Xiao Chun Miura picked things up, her face burned with embarrassment.
……She’d been so close to Kanzaki Sou just now, she could clearly feel his hips and legs beneath her.
Maybe it was because her current body was that of a high school girl.
——That sensation made Xiao Chun Miura feel unbearably shy.