After the final exams ended, spring break arrived quickly, and club activities became lively again.
"Hey, Saki-chan, are you going to the archery club today too?"
"Sorry, sorry! Today's a special case!"
"No worries. I was just thinking since we finally survived final exams, we should all have some fun together."
"I see. It feels like Nazuna has been sticking close to us lately. Are you worried about Nagumo-kun, or perhaps..."
"No, that's not it at all!"
"Is that so?"
Amidst the girls' laughter, one of them suddenly pointed somewhere, exclaiming with feigned surprise.
"Look who's over there!"
Asahina Nazuna instinctively turned to look and spotted a familiar figure.
Her pupils slightly dilated, but before she could blush, the girl beside her playfully nudged her shoulder with an elbow.
"Nazuna, aren't you going to say hello today?"
"H-he's talking to someone. Why should I bother him?"
"Eh? Didn't you say the same thing last time?"
"Honestly, why do you all care more about him than I do?"
Asahina Nazuna puffed her cheeks in displeasure, only to have another girl poke her cheek.
"It's because you're always avoiding your kouhai, Nazuna. Last time, and the time before that."
Another girl spoke with a serious tone, "That's not good, Nazuna. If you don't like him, you should reject him clearly."
Asahina Nazuna stammered, unsure how to respond. Did she not like him? Or should she like him?
"Alright, hurry up and go say hello!"
Someone gave her a push, startling her. Before she could retaliate, the kouhai in question appeared before her.
"Good afternoon, Asahina-senpai."
Ugh, it seems there's no escaping today.
Asahina Nazuna composed herself, maintaining her senior's demeanor.
'Wait, why is he being so formal? Calling me "Asahina-senpai" so politely? Is our relationship that distant?'
"Good afternoon, Mitoma-kun."
The girl forced a smile. "It feels like it's been a while since we last saw each other."
The kouhai standing before her was naturally Kaoru, accompanied by Kiriyama.
Kaoru couldn't help but observe the senpai before him.
She was only slightly taller than Tachibana Akane, with a slender yet curvaceous figure.
Dressed in her winter uniform, the fluffy shirt clung tightly to the softness of her chest, while the cinched waist design accentuated her slim waist.
The white pleated skirt covered most of her fair thighs but revealed her slightly flushed knees.
Her slender calves were encased in black stockings, clean and straight, with a captivating allure that made it hard to look away.
She still wore her cute hair clip, and on her wrist was a treasured omamori.
Kaoru noticed the gift he had given her dangling from her backpack zipper, sparkling brilliantly.
"It's fine. We didn't meet during winter break, but we can take our time during spring break."
Asahina Nazuna's face instantly flushed red.
What's going on? It was just one sentence, so why did her anger vanish?
Ah, this feeling again.
This was why she had been avoiding him—afraid she might impulsively agree to something again.
Kiriyama glanced at Asahina Nazuna, then at Kaoru, and said, "I'll wait for you at the café up ahead."
"Call the others over too. It doesn't matter now." Kaoru added an instruction.
Kiriyama seemed slightly surprised but quickly nodded in understanding.
'Huh?'
Asahina Nazuna grew nervous.
She wasn't an idiot; she understood what they were doing—deliberately leaving space and time for her and Kaoru to talk.
'Wait, wait. It shouldn't be like this.'
She quickly turned around, only to find that her close friends had already disappeared.
"Senpai, there's something I want to talk to you about." Kaoru said softly.
Asahina Nazuna immediately stood at attention, her mind already imagining what Kaoru might do to her—after all, she often chatted privately with Ichinose Honami.
Things like "two-person adventures" and "group activities"... she actually knew a little about them.
Although she didn't mind Kaoru having strange ideas about her, it was still too early now.
At the very least, she needed to wait a year or two to adjust.
However, Kaoru dispelled these thoughts in the next moment.
"I heard that Nagumo-senpai wants to reconcile with you?"
Instantly, Asahina Nazuna's expression became extremely complicated.
Seeing her expression, Kaoru softened his tone: "I don't mean to blame you, Senpai. The bond between childhood friends isn't something that can be easily severed—I understand that. Last time, you also asked me if you could reconcile with him, because you didn't know what to do or which side to take."
Perhaps because his words didn't sound accusatory, Asahina Nazuna whispered, "I'm sorry, but I really don't have romantic feelings for Miyabi."
"I know. Even if you did, I would still take you away from him." Kaoru said it as if it were the most natural thing in the world.
Asahina Nazuna was momentarily speechless, but because of his serious yet nonsensical words, she actually felt a little better.
"The fact that you didn't side with Nagumo-senpai means I've already won."
Kaoru said, "I'm just worried about whether my conflict with Nagumo-senpai might... cause you any distress?"
"If I said it would distress me, would you stop?" Asahina Nazuna retorted.
"No, unless he surrenders." Kaoru replied.
"So, does my distress even matter?"
Asahina Nazuna sighed, "Whether it's you or Miyabi, neither of you would listen to me anyway."
"You're the cunning one, Senpai."
Kaoru moved closer, and the moment she instinctively stepped back, he gently pinched her cheek.
"You promised to date me, but you've been avoiding me all this time."
His touch was light, but where his fingers had been felt as if burned, a faint blush spreading across her fair neck.
"I-I haven't been avoiding you! Didn't we meet at Christmas?"
"What about Valentine's Day?"
"It's... it's your fault! It's definitely your fault!"
In truth, Asahina Nazuna had prepared a Valentine's gift.
She had specifically sought advice from Ichinose Honami, only to be startled by the other girl's mention of a "sound party."
Unaware of this, Kaoru said expressionlessly, "Senpai, you're making it hard for me to decide what gift to give you this month."
"G-Gifts can wait until next time!" Asahina Nazuna stammered.
She knew Kaoru probably wouldn't do anything excessive to her, and Ichinose Honami likely hadn't meant to scare her intentionally.
Because she realized that Ichinose Honami genuinely believed hosting sound parties was normal—she had even suggested that Asahina Nazuna join one, though the Valentine's Day sound party never actually happened.
Oh no... What kind of influence had Ichinose Honami, such an innocent and adorable girl, been subjected to without her knowledge?