"Where should I put these things?"
"P-put them on the table!"
"Okay."
Tachibana Akane stole a glance at Kaoru.
Though it was a face she had grown accustomed to, she now felt an indescribable nervousness and shyness, as if it were the first time she had brought a boy into her room.
Damn it, she had impulsively called Kaoru up without any forethought, and it wasn't until they stepped into the room that she realized what she had done.
Inviting a boy to her room in the middle of the night—no matter how you looked at it, it seemed like the behavior of a desperate girl!
"W-would you like something to drink?"
Akane swallowed hard, her gaze drifting toward him involuntarily, yet she couldn't bring herself to meet his eyes.
Once she became aware that they were alone together, a boy and a girl in the same room, her cheeks began to burn uncontrollably.
"No need. Since you're hungry, I'll just make you a bowl of noodles."
Kaoru had already entered the kitchen. "Eating nothing but snacks isn't good for your stomach."
Somehow, seeing him tie on an apron made Akane's nervousness fade away.
"Your fridge is practically empty."
Kaoru opened her small refrigerator and couldn't help but sigh in disbelief.
Fortunately, he had asked beforehand and bought noodles and ingredients at the convenience store.
"I... I usually cook too!"
Akane raised her voice loudly to cover her embarrassment. "You just came at the wrong time. I finished all the ingredients, that's why it's like this."
Kaoru touched the kitchen utensils—they seemed dusty?
However, he didn't expose Akane's stubbornness and instead started preparing to cook the noodles.
"Since it's late, most of the ingredients at the convenience store were sold out, so I can only make you plain noodles. Don't expect too much."
"Who would have high expectations for a boy's cooking skills anyway?"
Perhaps having relaxed, Akane walked over to Kaoru's side, crossing her arms.
"Actually, don't judge me by my appearance. I did take home economics in middle school, and I'm somewhat confident in my feminine skills. So, dear junior, why don't you step aside and let your respected senpai take over?"
"Don't be like that. You dragged me here out of the blue, only to end up cooking noodles for me. If word got out, I'd be so embarrassed."
Akane felt as if she had been struck by a critical blow.
With a muffled "Auuu," she crouched down, covering her head defensively.
"Stop it, don't say things like that! I don't even know why I called you up here, and you could have refused! Why did you agree so decisively?"
Perhaps overwhelmed by shame, Akane covered her face with both hands, nearly rolling on the floor in agitation.
It seemed she was the same person whether in public or private—not very good at hiding her emotions.
As Kaoru thought this, he began preparing the noodles.
To be honest, he didn't know why he had followed her up either.
Maybe he was just used to entering a beautiful girl's room.
In fact, the moment he stepped inside, Akane's personality was reflected in the room.
The textbooks and extracurricular books on the shelves showed that she studied diligently in private.
He could even spot a few exam prep books, likely from when she worried about not being able to graduate from Class A and considered applying to university independently.
On the bed, a hugging pillow and a cute nightgown were tossed aside, with hints of pink clothing faintly visible.
Meanwhile, the desk was cluttered with bottles and jars typical of girls, clearly indicating she had been experimenting with makeup.
Of course, Kaoru had been deliberately ignoring the entire row of shoujo manga on her shelf.
In short, this was a room filled with a girlish atmosphere, and unmistakably a high school girl's room.
"You seem quite skilled at this."
Tachibana Akane had been watching his movements for some time without him noticing.
"When did you get the impression I couldn't handle basic tasks?"
Kaoru turned his head expressionlessly, causing her to shrink back slightly.
"Haven't you been constantly taken care of by Honami and the others?"
Tachibana Akane pursed her lips, "Last time I visited, you had such an enjoying expression. With two cute beauties cooking for you, if I weren't there, they'd probably be feeding you by hand, wouldn't they?"
She expected Kaoru to retort, but he silently averted his gaze instead.
Immediately, Tachibana Akane puffed up with anger - so they really had been feeding him!
"How nice, soon you'll be second-years. I suppose you'll have two whole years to flirt around. Underclassmen are so carefree, never considering their senpai's feelings."
"I recall inviting a certain senpai out on a date, wanting to create some nice memories, but she refused."
"W-who would go on a date! We're... we're not a couple..."
As she spoke, Tachibana Akane's voice grew progressively weaker until it became completely inaudible.
"So kissing doesn't make people lovers? Was that kiss just a joke then?"
Kaoru stared at her intently.
"K-kiss... What right do you have to care about kissing!"
Tachibana Akane complained discontentedly, "You've already kissed them! I asked Honami about it... you... you shameless people!"
She stammered, unable to voice the words clearly, resorting to cursing to vent her emotions.
"Are you referring to doing naughty things?"
A mischievous smile played on Kaoru's lips.
Tachibana Akane immediately turned away: "How should I know? Aren't you the one who knows best?"
"I see. So in senpai's eyes, only doing naughty things together makes people lovers?"
Kaoru suddenly leaned in, closing the distance between them, "Or is senpai inviting me to do naughty things with her tonight?"
Tachibana Akane's breath hitched.
She stared wide-eyed at the face so close to hers, feeling as if something had struck her.
An electric current passed through her heart, and a surge of blood rushed to her brain, making her cheeks burn bright red.
"N-no..."
Yet the girl could only whisper this.
Kaoru raised an eyebrow slightly - had he been too stimulating to the girl's heart?
"Doing naughty things with you... it's not possible... I'll graduate soon... Even if we could meet... Honami and the others are so cute, in two years maybe..."
Tachibana Akane lowered her head. Maybe in two years he would forget about her.
Compared to Ichinose Honami and the others who could see him anytime and were with him daily, she was just a senpai about to graduate.
Two years was really too long - she was terrified.
So she might not be able to hold on.
Perhaps it would be better to graduate and bid farewell to this high school life along with these complicated feelings.
For some reason, seeing Kaoru's silent expression, Tachibana Akane suddenly grew flustered.
"Ah, the atmosphere seems a bit strange. Did I say something..."
Just as she tried to lighten the mood, Kaoru took a ring from his pocket.
Her smile immediately froze, and she became even more shaken than before.
"I've actually been waiting for the right moment to give this to you, and now seems perfect."
Kaoru said, "Even if you graduate, I'll chase you to the ends of the earth. Don't think you can escape like this, Akane."
This was the final Wedding Ring.
The moment he decided to give it to Tachibana Akane, the Wedding Ring's effect activated, transforming into the most dazzling brilliance in her eyes.
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