Imaizumi Keita felt a sense of admiration as he watched Shioyaki Lemon change the subject.
Though Yakishio could be a bit airheaded sometimes, she was much better at considering others' feelings than Yanami...
She really was... a person you just couldn't bring yourself to dislike.
Imaizumi Keita followed Yakishio's lead and turned his gaze toward the mine cart.
"Yeah," Imaizumi Keita played along, looking curious. "This thing looks like it has quite a bit of history. I wonder if it really used to carry people."
"It definitely could!" Shioyaki Lemon's attention was successfully diverted. She walked quickly to the mine cart and pointed. "Look, there are seats inside. It feels like two or three people could sit in here no problem."
As she spoke, she excitedly walked a circle around the mine cart.
"Imai-chan, look, there's even a control lever here! Say, if it could still move, do you think it would take us straight to the center of the earth?"
"It would probably crash through this wall first."
Imaizumi Keita pointed to the wall directly in front of the mine cart, mercilessly shattering her fantasy.
"Mm... I guess you're right."
Shioyaki Lemon pursed her lips in slight disappointment, her face no longer showing any trace of her previous inner conflict.
The two of them stood around the stationary mine cart, chatting back and forth.
They talked about everything from the history of the mine cart to adventure movies they'd seen, and from adventure movies to their plans for the rest of summer vacation.
The conversation drifted aimlessly without much logic, yet it was surprisingly relaxed and comfortable.
Seeing the bright smile return to Shioyaki Lemon's face, Imaizumi Keita felt relieved and asked her what she was thinking.
"Lemon."
"Hmm?"
Shioyaki Lemon was enthusiastically examining the rust on the mine cart's wheels. Hearing his voice, she turned back with a hint of confusion.
"Have you sorted out your feelings?"
The expression on Shioyaki Lemon's face froze for a moment.
She blinked those eyes that were always full of life. After a few seconds, she realized what he was asking and looked away, feeling a bit embarrassed.
"Ah... that."
She scratched her short hair, a somewhat helpless and bitter smile appearing on her face.
"Actually... it's already nothing much."
Shioyaki Lemon's words carried a sense of relief, mixed with a bit of frustration at her own lack of resolve.
"It's just... seeing the person I used to like being so intimate with another girl, it still feels a little awkward in my heart."
She laughed dryly as she said this.
"Haha... but Imai-chan, you should probably understand that feeling, right?"
As soon as the words left her mouth, she realized something and immediately waved her hands, adding in a panic, "Ah! I don't mean that you've had the same experience, Imai-chan! I just... I just feel..."
She stammered for a long time, unable to find the right words to describe her current mood.
"I understand."
Imaizumi Keita interrupted her explanation.
"Eh?"
"I said, of course I understand."
Imaizumi Keita looked at Yakishio, nodded, and spoke slowly.
"Because, Lemon, even though you're with me right now, you keep talking about Ayano-san."
He paused, a look of helplessness on his face and a hint of resentment in his tone.
"I'm feeling a little bit awkward too."
This unexpected answer caused Shioyaki Lemon's brain to stall for a moment.
After processing the information in his words, a surprised and teasing smile immediately appeared on Shioyaki Lemon's face.
"Huh?"
Shioyaki Lemon leaned forward slightly, getting closer, and asked back with great interest.
"Imai-chan... why are you being jealous? Don't tell me you like me?"
She had thought that Imaizumi Keita would at least try to brush it off somehow.
But to her utter surprise, not only did Imaizumi Keita not deny it, he even nodded quite seriously.
"With such a cute girl like you by my side,"
His voice was soft, carrying a natural frankness, "it's hard not to have certain thoughts, isn't it?"
"Eh—?!"
Shioyaki Lemon's eyes widened instantly, her face filled with undisguised shock.
She looked the man in front of her up and down again, as if she were meeting him for the first time.
However, this time, her face didn't show any typical girlish shyness or panic.
After a brief moment of being stunned, it was replaced by a look of sudden realization.
"Wow..."
Shioyaki Lemon let out a heartfelt exclamation. She looked at Imaizumi Keita, her eyes even carrying a hint of admiration.
"Imai-chan, you always praise me with such a calm face; it really makes me think you might actually like me."
Her tone was full of novelty. "I think... I think I'm starting to understand why you're so popular with girls."
"Being popular with girls is mainly because I'm good-looking."
Imaizumi Keita spread his hands with an innocent expression. "It doesn't have much to do with being a smooth talker."
"That's true enough."
Shioyaki Lemon nodded solemnly, accepting his narcissistic claim, but quickly added another comment.
"Though, personality definitely has something to do with it too."
After saying that, she didn't continue the topic that was making her heart race, and instead took the initiative to steer the conversation back to the exhibition in front of them.
"Alright, let's stop talking about that! Let's catch up, or Mitsuki and the others will get too far ahead!"
As she spoke, she naturally grabbed Imaizumi Keita's wrist again and walked quickly toward the deeper parts of the exhibition hall.
Being pulled along by her, a helpless smile appeared on Imaizumi Keita's face.
This girl Yakishio...
She really is full of energy no matter when.
Shioyaki Lemon pulled Imaizumi Keita by the wrist, cheerfully looking at the various items on display along the tour route.
"Wow! Imai-chan, you're amazing! You even know about this kind of stuff?"
"I just read about it in a book before."
"What about this? What is this thing?"
"This is..."
Shioyaki Lemon discovered that when she was with Imaizumi Keita, she felt... really relaxed.
The two of them wandered for a while and finally stopped in front of a giant wall displaying various insect specimens.
Looking at the various strange and beautiful specimens before her, Shioyaki Lemon couldn't help but show a satisfied expression.
"Imai-chan, look, that butterfly specimen is really pretty..."
"Let me see..."
Imaizumi Keita turned his head to look, giving an unromantic evaluation: "I don't think it's as cool as that stag beetle over there..."
"No way, I think the stag beetle you mentioned isn't as cool as that rhinoceros beetle..."
"Clearly the stag beetle looks better..."
While Imaizumi Keita and Shioyaki Lemon were arguing over which insect looked better, a sneaky figure approached them from behind.
"Yo."
Ayano Mitsuki's voice sounded behind them without any warning.
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