In August on campus, the cicadas chirped themselves hoarse.
Inside the Keyaki Shopping Center, although the air conditioning was running high, Natsukawa Sosuke still felt exhausted.
That exhaustion wasn't physical, but rather a mental drain resulting from the activity of "accompanying girls shopping."
"Um... Natsukawa-kun? How about this one?"
The fitting room curtain opened, and Karuizawa Kei stepped out wearing a pale blue off-the-shoulder dress. She nervously spun around, her skirt blooming like a flower.
Natsukawa Sosuke was currently slumping ungracefully on the sofa in the store's lounge area, holding a half-drunk can of soda, completely sinking into the cushions.
Hearing the sound, he laboriously lifted his eyelids, his gaze sweeping over the girl's delicate collarbones and slender calves.
"Mhm... not bad."
He yawned, his tone perfunctory yet holding a hint of sincerity: "It looks great. Take this one, buy it."
"Eh? So fast?" Karuizawa Kei was momentarily stunned, shyly pinching the hem of her skirt. "But... I still wanted to try the pink one..."
"Try them. You can try them all."
Natsukawa shifted into a more comfortable position, like an old cat basking in the sun: "Just don't make me get up to give my opinion. You decide for yourself. Once you've settled on something, just use my card."
Saying this, he tossed his terminal onto the coffee table in front of him, then closed his eyes: "I'm going to nap for a bit. Call me when you're done trying things on."
Karuizawa Kei looked at the boy on the sofa who had already begun resting his eyes, feeling both amused and helpless.
Was this the man who secretly controlled the storms of the entire grade?
Right now, he looked no different from an ordinary high school boy dragged out shopping by his girlfriend, who just wanted to find a place to play games.
He was even a little... adorably lazy.
The tension she always felt when facing her "master," which had constantly weighed on her heart, quietly dissipated quite a bit at this moment.
"Honestly..."
Karuizawa muttered softly, but the corners of her mouth couldn't help but turn up. She picked up Natsukawa's terminal, feeling a surge of warmth in her heart, as if she had been granted a special privilege.
His impatience wasn't because he disliked her; it was simply because... he was lazy.
This realization gave Karuizawa a strange sense of peace... Half an hour later.
Karuizawa Kei returned to the lounge area, carrying many shopping bags and feeling satisfied.
Natsukawa Sosuke maintained his previous posture, seemingly truly asleep. His breathing was steady, and his eyelashes cast a small shadow beneath his eyes. The unfathomable coldness he displayed during the special exam was gone, replaced by an unguarded youthful demeanor.
Karuizawa set down the bags and quietly sat in the empty spot beside him.
She tilted her head, secretly observing his sleeping face.
(He's always so overbearing normally, I didn't expect him to be so quiet when sleeping...)
She extended a finger, inexplicably wanting to poke his cheek. But the instant her fingertip was about to touch him, Natsukawa suddenly frowned, as if dreaming something, and mumbled softly:
"...Such a hassle... don't want to move..."
Karuizawa burst into laughter.
With that laugh, Natsukawa woke up.
He groggily opened his eyes, his gaze still unfocused. Seeing the smiling face magnified before him, he instinctively asked, "...Are you done?"
"Yep! I bought everything!"
Karuizawa handed him a newly bought ice cream cup, presenting it like a treasure: "This is a reward for Natsukawa-kun for accompanying me shopping! It's vanilla flavor!"
Natsukawa sat up straight, rubbed his stiff neck, took the ice cream, and scooped a spoonful into his mouth.
The cold, sweet taste melted on his tongue, chasing away his sleepiness.
"Let's go. Let's find somewhere else to sit. This sofa is too soft, my back hurts."
Natsukawa stood up and naturally reached for the shopping bags on the floor.
"Ah, I can take them!" Karuizawa quickly reached out her hand.
"It's fine, don't overexert yourself." Natsukawa avoided her hand, easily lifted the pile of bags with one hand, holding the ice cream in the other. "Besides... you're wearing heels, you can't walk fast. I don't want to wait for you under the sun."
Although he complained about the hassle, his actions didn't genuinely treat her like a servant.
Karuizawa followed behind him, looking at his back—not broad, but exceptionally reliable—and her heart couldn't help but beat a little faster.
Compared to that high-and-mighty condescension, this kind of down-to-earth consideration made her feel... that she was being treated like a girl, not just a tool... The two arrived at the open-air cafe on the top floor of the mall.
Although it was summer, the evening breeze felt quite cool on their skin.
Natsukawa leaned back in his chair without any pretense, stirring the ice cubes in his cup with a straw.
"So tiring... why do we have to compare so many clothes? Couldn't you just pick one you like and be done with it..."
Karuizawa sat across from him, resting her chin on her hand and watching him complain, unable to hide the amusement in her eyes.
"Because girls just love to shop, shop, shop."
"Next time, don't ask me for this kind of thing. Go ask Hirata, or Matsushita is fine too," Natsukawa said weakly.
Hearing those two names, Karuizawa's smile diminished slightly.
"No way." She whispered, "Hirata seems really busy lately... Besides, if I didn't come with Natsukawa-kun, it wouldn't mean anything..."
Natsukawa lifted his eyelids, looked at her slightly awkward expression, and chuckled.
"Fine. Seeing as you behaved well today."
He pulled a delicate small box from his pocket and casually pushed it toward Karuizawa.
"This is for you."
"Eh? What is this..."
Karuizawa opened the box in surprise.
Inside was a delicate golden necklace, the pendant shaped like a small heart-lock inlaid with tiny diamonds. It sparkled under the glow of the setting sun.
"I saw it at the counter next door while waiting for you to try on clothes," Natsukawa said casually. "Felt like it suited you, so I bought it on a whim."
"It's so beautiful..."
Karuizawa took out the necklace, admiring it greatly.
"Can you help me put it on?" She looked up, her eyes sparkling as she gazed at Natsukawa.
"Such a bother..."
Although Natsukawa complained verbally, he still stood up and walked around behind her.
He took the necklace, his fingertips accidentally brushing the delicate skin on the back of Karuizawa's neck. Karuizawa flinched slightly but didn't move away.
"Done."
After clasping the closure, Natsukawa sat back down across from her.
The golden necklace rested against the girl's fair collarbones, the heart-lock pendant settling perfectly in the hollow, rising and falling slightly with her breath.
"It looks good," Natsukawa commented objectively.
Karuizawa touched the pendant, her heart feeling as if it had been filled with honey.
Just then, laughter drifted up from downstairs.
Natsukawa and Karuizawa looked over simultaneously, seeing Ichinose Honami from Class B walking by, chatting and laughing with a few girls. Ichinose seemed to sense the gaze, looked up, and met Natsukawa's eyes.
She paused for a moment, then showed a warm smile and waved at Natsukawa.
Natsukawa also lazily raised his hand in response.
This scene, witnessed by Karuizawa, instantly dampened her previously soaring mood.
She subconsciously gripped the pendant on her chest.
Ichinose Honami from Class B... she was someone fundamentally different from Karuizawa.
Dazzling, upright, and beloved by all. While she herself was just a parasite who could only survive by clinging to Natsukawa.
Not only that, but Natsukawa seemed to have known Ichinose for a long time. She had heard that when something happened to that plain girl Sakura in their class, Natsukawa directly called Ichinose for help, and Ichinose came straight to their classroom.
And his attitude towards Ichinose-san... seemed very different... If she didn't work hard... if she wasn't cute enough... Just as the panic of being abandoned began to surface, Natsukawa's voice reached her.
"What are you looking at? Your ice cream is going to melt."
"Stop thinking about unnecessary things."
Natsukawa tapped her cup with a small spoon, making a crisp sound.
"Good students like Ichinose are exhausting to deal with. Compared to that, it's much easier being with you."
"...Really?"
"Why would I lie to you? Do I get points for lying?" Natsukawa rolled his eyes, reverting to his lazy demeanor. "Hurry up and eat. We're going back when you finish."
Karuizawa looked at him like this, and the gloom in her heart vanished completely.
That's right.
Natsukawa-kun is someone who hates trouble.
And all she had to do was be a good girl who not only didn't cause him trouble but also made him feel "relaxed."
This was her advantage, and her unique value.
"Mhm!"
Karuizawa nodded firmly, a smile blooming on her face once more.
She lowered her gaze to the necklace on her chest.
"Natsukawa-kun..."
"What is it now?"
"Nothing, I just feel like... the ice cream today is especially sweet."