Under a large tree on the shopping street,
Haruka, who arrived early at the meeting spot, endured the many lewd stares directed at her from the passersby, scrolling through her phone and waiting for her good friend.
"Haruka~"
Airi, who also arrived at the location, saw Haruka waiting under the tree and waved, calling out her nickname.
Hearing Airi's voice, Haruka's eyes lit up. She looked toward the source of the sound.
Airi was not wearing her signature pigtails as before. Instead, she had gently undone her red hair, letting it flow down her back like a waterfall.
The girl had also discarded her black-rimmed glasses, and her blue eyes were covered by the red contacts she wore today, making her look noble and slightly otherworldly.
Hugging Haruka around the waist, Airi pressed against Haruka repeatedly, completely disregarding the fact that they were on a busy street full of pedestrians.
"Airi-chan, stop, stop." Airi didn't feel awkward, but Haruka was somewhat embarrassed and gently pushed Airi away for the first time.
Haruka felt that Airi had changed so much. She was truly astonishing, like someone completely different after a long absence.
If it were before, Airi would bury her head like an ostrich the moment Haruka dragged her shopping and she felt the surrounding attention. Let alone initiate intimate contact in public.
The timid Airi from Class D is truly gone.
"Haruka, what's wrong?" Seeing her good friend lost in thought, Airi waved her hand in front of Haruka in confusion.
"It's just… I feel like you've changed so much, Airi," Haruka said with a smile, coming back to herself.
"Really?" Placing a finger on her lips, Airi also began to contemplate her own changes: "Maybe it's because everyone in Class A is easy to get along with?"
Airi decided to attribute her change to Class A.
Haruka took out a small mirror from her shoulder bag, brought her face close to Airi's, and looked at their reflection, teasing her:
"Is that so? Then what about your hair and the contact lenses?"
Airi finally blushed, burying her head low and walking forward quickly.
In a trance, Haruka, standing behind Airi, seemed to see Ren Katsuragi's shadow in Airi's current appearance.
It seems Airi was truly raised very well by Ren Katsuragi…
"Haruka, let's go!" Seeing that Haruka hadn't followed, Airi waited for Haruka where she stood.
"I'm coming, Airi-chan."
...
Stars Cafe,
Suzune Horikita pushed open the door and immediately saw Ren Katsuragi sitting by the window, looking at a menu. She walked straight to the seat opposite him.
"Horikita, what would you like to drink?" Ren Katsuragi, who had just finished ordering, handed the menu to Suzune Horikita.
Suzune Horikita politely declined the menu and said to the waitress standing by: "Just a glass of cold water, thank you."
"Alright, one iced Americano and one glass of cold water. Please wait a moment."
After the waitress left, Suzune Horikita looked at Ren Katsuragi.
"Katsuragi, what do you want?"
Suzune Horikita, who had reviewed the situation after returning home last night, finally understood.
Ren Katsuragi had deliberately come to catch her brother with leverage last night; it wasn't a "coincidence" at all.
Her brother was about to graduate from Class A of the third year. Suzune Horikita could not let Ren Katsuragi interfere with her brother at this time.
"What do I want? I already told you yesterday, I want the position of Student Council President."
Taking the iced Americano the waitress handed him, Ren Katsuragi took a small sip…
How bitter… This is probably the most bitter taste I've ever had in my life.
"Horikita, are you messing with me?" Ren Katsuragi pushed the iced Americano away from himself and spoke flatly.
Setting aside whether Suzune Horikita was capable of securing the Student Council President position, the girl's meaning was clear: she intended to wait until Manabu Horikita graduated before striving for it.
"Then, what is your suggestion?" Suzune Horikita chose to listen to Ren Katsuragi's thoughts.
...
"Haruka, look at the camera! Cheese!!!" Airi, who had dragged Haruka to a clothing store to try on clothes, complimented her without reservation and used her camera to record the beautiful moment.
Unlike Airi, who was inclined towards cute styles, Haruka was the older sister type. After changing into the clothes Airi had chosen for her in the dressing room, she looked absolutely stunning.
"Airi-chan…" Haruka was a bit helpless. She hadn't expected Airi to spend the entire shopping trip looking at clothes.
Calling over the clerk waiting nearby, Airi pointed to the clothes Haruka was wearing: "Hello, please wrap this outfit up for me later, thank you."
Airi was well aware of Haruka's constant care for her. Now that her points had reached seven figures, it was time to give back.
Airi had paid for all the eating and drinking along the way, and she never stopped Haruka when the other girl insisted on paying.
"Airi-chan!" Haruka was anxious. The price of the dress was not cheap, and she didn't want her good friend to overspend.
"It's alright, Haruka. It's fine! Airi has plenty of points in Class A, you know." Without stating the exact number of her points, Airi gave Haruka a vague answer.
Having no choice, Haruka was forced to accept the gift from her good friend.
After leaving the clothing store, Haruka refused to browse any more clothing stores. She was truly afraid Airi would overspend for her again.
In her eyes, Airi was spending the 96,000 points issued by the school to Class A at the beginning of each month.
Haruka was quite touched by this; she also figured out Airi's purpose for inviting her out today.
Airi was afraid she didn't have enough points and would be too embarrassed to borrow from her, so she could only use this method to take care of her.
Stopping Airi, who was trying to enter another store, Haruka solemnly told Airi: "Airi-chan, if I need points, I will borrow them from you. You don't need to do this."
"Okay, Haruka. If you have any difficulties, be sure to tell me!"
Airi still thought her plan was flawless: "I'm a little hungry, Haruka. Shall we go eat something?"
"Airi-chan, isn't that Katsuragi?" Haruka pointed toward the Stars Cafe window.
Hearing Airi say she was hungry, Haruka searched the nearby restaurants with her eyes and spotted Ren Katsuragi chatting with Suzune Horikita in the cafe.
...
"Do you accept, Horikita?"
"I accept. I hope you keep your word," Suzune Horikita accepted Ren Katsuragi's condition and stood up to leave.
"Horikita, let me give you a friendly reminder."
"I was a coincidence last night. Do you think Ayanokōji was a coincidence?" Ren Katsuragi didn't care if Suzune Horikita listened or not; he planted a small seed of doubt in the girl's mind.
Hearing Ren Katsuragi's reminder, Suzune Horikita paused just as she was about to pull open the door.
That's right. The location last night should only have been known to my brother and me.
The moment Suzune Horikita paused, the door was pushed open from outside. Airi happily waved to Ren Katsuragi: "Ren~"
"Airi, come sit here." After waving back to Airi, Ren Katsuragi pointed to the empty seat beside him.
"One strawberry cake, one five-color macaron set, and one cappuccino, please. Thank you."
After ordering from the waitress, Ren Katsuragi looked at Haruka, who was sitting in Suzune Horikita's former seat: "Haruka, what would you like to drink?"
"Just a cappuccino, thank you."
"Then, two cappuccinos. Thank you for your trouble."
Handing the menu back to the waitress, Ren Katsuragi looked at Airi, who was sitting obediently beside him: "Airi, is that enough?"
"Mmm hmm, it's enough!"
Airi, who was giggling, picked up the iced Americano Ren Katsuragi had set aside, stuck out her small tongue, and lightly licked the drink: "Ren, it's so bitter QAQ."
Seeing Airi's distressed face, Ren Katsuragi laughed and pinched the girl's cheek.
"Right? I also think it's very bitter."
------
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