After school,
Amane-san hummed a cheerful tune while tidying her textbooks.
This level of knowledge was very simple for her.
So learning it wasn't difficult at all.
However, this wasn't enough to make her so happy.
The reason she was so happy was that
when she went to the vending machine at noon, she found a vending machine that offered a lottery.
Amane-san, with a try-it-and-see attitude, bought a bottle of tomato juice.
Hmm, a tomato-flavored drink.
And she actually won a prize!
She exchanged it for a bag of chocolates inside.
Feeling a bit addicted, she tried again.
This time, she got a bottle of banana-flavored carbonated drink.
Plus a large bag of potato chips.
When Amane-san returned with her items,
she happened to run into Kushida.
When Kushida asked her why she didn't get a shopping bag,
Amane-san told Kushida about winning twice in a row.
But she didn't expect Kushida to say that people from other classes had cleared out the entire vending machine without winning anything.
Later, after calling to inquire, she found out that the probability of winning was one in five hundred.
Amane-san's two consecutive wins were undoubtedly due to extreme good luck.
So Amane-san was in an exceptionally good mood today.
"Amane-san, do you have any plans after school?"
Wang Meiyu walked over, asking somewhat shyly.
"I haven't decided yet, Xiaoyu, do you all have any plans?"
"We're planning to go watch an anime movie~ Amane-san, why don't you come along?"
Compared to the somewhat shy Wang Meiyu,
the enthusiastic and cheerful Kushida was completely the opposite.
Normally,
although Amane-san got along well with Kushida's small group,
no one would invite Amane-san to hang out.
The main reason was that Amane-san would always say she had to accompany Horikita.
Recently, Kushida noticed that Horikita and Amane-san's interactions had become somewhat distant.
So she suggested to Wang Meiyu
that she, being the closest to Amane-san in their group, should invite her.
If successful, their future group activities could include one more person.
"I have no problem with that. Is Ruri-san coming too?"
"She's in the tennis club and has club activities after school. It's a bit of a shame. How about the three of us go together?"
Kushida directly took out four movie tickets.
Clearly, she had prepared them a day in advance.
And Kushida was quite thoughtful.
If Kushida had taken out three movie tickets at this moment, it would inevitably make Amane-san overthink.
Was she only invited because Ichihashi-san wasn't going?
But by taking out all four tickets at once, she was telling Amane-san that the original plan was to invite Amane-san.
She truly was someone who could navigate the social scene of the first-year students with ease.
"Sure, I was just wondering what to do tonight..."
Just as they were talking, Horikita also came over.
However, it was clear that she was not very comfortable in such a situation.
Her expression was a bit awkward.
"Amane... do you want to go to Palette with me tonight?"
Seeing Horikita actively invite Amane, Kushida felt a bit incredulous.
Had their relationship deteriorated?
Why did it seem like it was still the same as before?
"If Amane-san is busy..."
Kushida only heard one sentence from Horikita and immediately concluded that Amane might lean towards Horikita.
To avoid Amane's awkwardness, she directly provided an out for Amane.
Before Kushida could finish her sentence, Amane hugged her arm.
This sudden intimacy made both Kushida and Horikita widen their eyes.
"Sorry, Horikita-san, I've already promised Kikyo-chan and Xiao Yu that I'd go to the movies with them. Next time we're free, how about we go to Palette for coffee?"
Seeing Amane so decisively reject Horikita, Kushida couldn't help but lightly cover her mouth.
Their relationship had indeed deteriorated.
Now, it was probably Horikita-san who was still pestering Amane-san.
Should I help Amane-san?
Kushida narrowed her eyes.
"Perfect, we have four tickets here. Horikita-san, would you like to come along?"
Kushida flashed a sweet smile.
But beneath that sweet smile, there was a hidden mockery of Horikita.
Did Horikita need Kushida's charity?
She didn't need it!
Horikita stared at Kushida with a somewhat displeased expression.
"Thank you for Kushida-san's kindness, but I don't really like watching movies. I'll pass this time. Besides, I can afford movie tickets. It would be better for Kushida-san to give it to someone who needs it."
After Horikita finished speaking, she turned and silently picked up her book and left.
Kushida looked at the tickets in her hand with a disappointed expression.
"Kikyo, don't worry about it. Horikita-san seems to just have that kind of personality."
Wang Meiyu quickly began to comfort Kushida.
"If she doesn't like it, then we'll just go together."
Amane also chimed in.
At this moment, Kushida's expression changed from disappointment to a smile.
"Okay, let's go."
She had already remembered.
Horikita was indeed from her school.
At that time, Horikita seemed to be quite famous at school.
Of course.
In terms of grades.
But in other aspects... heh.
Just like Kushida's casual strike just now.
Pretending to be generous by giving Horikita movie tickets.
Giving her tickets when Amane rejected her.
It was pure charity.
If she took them, it would only make her more awkward.
If she didn't take them, it would be disrespecting Kushida, and she would be seen as getting angry because she was rejected.
Everyone would only comfort her, and no one would think about Horikita's reason for refusing.
No matter how you looked at it, Horikita couldn't come out on top.
But for Kushida, this was just Kushida's impromptu performance.
Pop—pop—pop.
Watching the corn burst into little flowers in the machine, Amane looked surprised.
"Is this popcorn? It looks so delicious."
Seeing Amane's greedy expression, even the usually shy Wang Meiyu started to laugh.
"Amane, have you never eaten popcorn before?"
"No, my family doesn't allow me to eat such food."
Wang Meiyu was a little curious; Amane's upbringing seemed a bit too strict.
However, after looking at Amane's physique, Wang Meiyu had to admit.
Amane's figure was the best she had ever seen among all the girls.
It didn't lose a girl's charm, yet it gave people a sense of security of being protected by a boy.
If Amane-san were a boy... Wang Meiyu's face immediately turned red.
Then she suddenly covered her face and said some strange words.
Things like having children... "Then let me treat Amane-san to popcorn as a thank you for last time."
After Wang Meiyu finally calmed down, she said to Amane.
Amane then remembered that she and Xiao Yu had agreed to drink milk tea last time, but they hadn't gone yet.
"Then I'll trouble Xiao Yu. I'd also like a drink~"
Amane readily agreed without any hesitation.
"Leave it to me."
Wang Meiyu made an OK gesture and then ordered three boxes of popcorn.
Then she quickly ran to the drink area on the other side.
She seemed to be choosing a delicious drink.
And Kushida Kikyo was checking the tickets.
Wang Meiyu and Kushida-san are both very reliable.
Amane smiled happily.
What she didn't know was.
At the very end of the line, a girl in a dress, wearing a bucket hat and black sunglasses, was quietly watching her.
Amane... she's smiling so happily.