In the school courtyard, bathed in the lingering summer sun. Haruto sat cross-legged on the grass in the shade of a tree, staring blankly at the bento box he’d brought. Seeing that Haruto’s chopsticks weren’t moving at all, Tomoya, sitting cross-legged next to him, spoke up. “Yo, Haru. Suffering from summer fatigue? If you don’t have an appetite, give me that fried chicken.” “Sure…” “You’re really giving it to me? You sure? I’m gonna eat it.” “Sure…” Haruto, his mind clearly elsewhere, continued to give listless, absentminded replies. “I asked you properly, so don’t complain later,” Tomoya said, then helped himself to the fried chicken from Haruto’s bento. “Mmm, your bento is as delicious as ever.” “Sure…” “…Hey, Haru. Is something wrong with your ears? You’ve been touching your earlobes this whole time.” For a while now, Haruto had been pinching his earlobes between his index finger and thumb, gently pulling and fiddling with them. “…Hey, Tomoya.” After a slight delay, he slowly turned his face toward Tomoya. “Have you ever had your earlobe bitten?” “Huh? Earlobe? Uh, no…” Tomoya looked baffled by Haruto’s question. “What’s up, Haru? Did a stray dog attack you or something?” “Maybe… I was attacked…” “Seriously?! Are you okay?!” “Yeah… It’s not that I disliked it or anything. In fact, it was kind of nice, I guess… Having my ear bitten isn’t so bad…” “You… seriously?” Tomoya’s expression twitched. Haruto, on the other hand, was still responding blankly, his mind clearly elsewhere.
As the two of them were having their mismatched conversation, a voice called out to them from a distance. “Oh, there they are. Ōtsuki-kun.” It was Saki. Spotting Haruto and Tomoya in the courtyard, she walked over, giving them a small wave. “Aizawa-san, what’s up?” Haruto looked up at Saki as she entered the same patch of shade. “I wanted to ask you something, Ōtsuki-kun. Mind if I sit here?” said Saki, pointing to the spot next to Tomoya. “Be my guest.” “Thanks.” “Isn’t Tōjō-san with you?” “Ah, Ayaka’s still getting grilled with questions, as usual.” Saki was usually seen with Ayaka, but she wasn’t with her now. Saki gave a wry, sympathetic smile, thinking of Ayaka probably surrounded by a crowd of students. “Our classmates’ interest in Tōjō-san is a little abnormal, isn’t it?” “Right? But if everyone found out Ayaka’s secret, the whole school would be in an uproar.” Saki agreed with Tomoya, then shot a teasing grin at Haruto. “…What did you want to ask me, Aizawa-san?” Haruto received Saki’s gaze and scratched his head with one hand to hide his embarrassment before asking. “Right, right. I heard from Ayaka, is it true that Dōjima-san is kind of like your childhood friend, Ōtsuki-kun?” “Shizuku? Well, Shizuku is the only daughter of the master at the karate dojo I’ve been going to since I was a kid, so I guess you could call her a childhood friend.” “Hoh, I see…” Saki placed a hand on her chin and nodded deeply at Haruto’s explanation. “Is something wrong with Shizuku?” “This morning, on her way to school, Ayaka ran into that Dōjima-san. And apparently, Dōjima-san asked to be her friend.” At Saki’s words, Haruto’s eyes widened slightly in surprise. “Huh? Shizuku did?”
“That’s right. And they even walked to school together today.” “Seriously…?” Haruto muttered, then started to ponder what Shizuku was thinking, getting so close to Ayaka. Just then, Tomoya spoke up. “You told Shizuku-chan about you and Tōjō-san, right?” “Yeah. And she said she’d help me, but…” “Hmm? So, Shizuku-chan is trying to become friends with Tōjō-san to help you guys out?” At Tomoya’s question, Haruto twisted his lips. “I think so…” Haruto had no idea how Shizuku becoming friends with Ayaka would help. Seeing his confusion, Saki spoke with a wry smile. “Ayaka came to me for advice this morning. She said Dōjima-san told her, ‘Let’s be besties for life.’” “Ah, that sounds just like Shizuku.” Haruto could easily imagine her saying that, and a smile unconsciously formed on his lips. “Shizuku is a little weird, but she’s a really good person. So I think we can trust her when she says she’ll help.” “I see. If you say so, Ōtsuki-kun, then Dōjima-san must be a good kid.” Saki nodded at Haruto’s words. Just then, the preliminary bell signaling the end of lunch break rang across the school grounds. “Crap, I haven’t eaten any of my bento.” Haruto hurriedly looked down at the bento box on his lap. He then noticed that the main dish, the fried chicken, had completely vanished, and he shot a sharp glare at Tomoya. “Hey, Tomoya…” “I asked you properly before I took it!” “But you ate all of it?!” “Ahahahaha, you two get along so well.” Saki laughed, amused by Haruto and Tomoya’s argument over the bento. Later, after the afternoon classes had ended, Haruto was in the classroom, getting ready to go home. He glanced toward Ayaka in the center of the room and saw that she was already surrounded by a crowd of female students. Haruto let out a small sigh and slung his bag over his shoulder. He was about to leave the classroom when, just like yesterday, Shizuku appeared at
the rear door. Did she come to ask me to walk home with her again? Haruto thought, starting to walk toward her. However, Shizuku only glanced at him for a moment before raising her voice and calling out toward the center of the room. “Aya-senpaaaai! Let’s walk home together!” Haruto was so surprised by Shizuku’s unexpected words that he just stared at her. In the meantime, Shizuku strode into the classroom and pushed her way through the group of girls surrounding Ayaka. “Come on, Senpai, let’s go home. Time to punch out for the day.” “Ah, w-wait, Shizuku-chan.” Shizuku grabbed Ayaka’s arm and gave it a tug. Ayaka looked flustered. Seeing this, one of the girls Shizuku had pushed aside glared at her suspiciously. “Hey, what do you think you’re doing, barging in here? Can’t you see you’re bothering Tōjō-san?” “Hm? What are you talking about? There’s no way Aya-senpai is bothered. We’re besties for life, after all.” “Huh? I have no idea what you’re talking about.” The girl sneered. But Shizuku wasn’t intimidated in the slightest. Instead, she replied in an exasperated tone. “Honestly, you can’t even understand something this simple. Besides, aren’t you the ones bothering Aya-senpai? Crowding around her like this even after school is over.” “Excuse me, we were having a conversation. We were enjoying it. Got it?” “Oh? Is peppering someone with one-sided questions a conversation now? Senpai, have you ever heard of the concept of ‘playing catch’ with words?” Perhaps annoyed by the girl who had been picking a fight with her, Shizuku laced her words with thorns. The girl’s eyebrows shot up at her attitude. “What’s your deal? You’re a first-year, right? Have you got no respect for your upperclassmen? There’s a limit to how rude you can be.” “I show my respect to those who deserve it, regardless of whether they’re my senior or junior.” “Hey, what was your name, Dōjima? Who do you think you are?”
The girl twirled her brightly dyed hair around her index finger and shot a sharp glare at Shizuku. Meeting that gaze head-on, Shizuku stared back, her expression still blank, without a hint of fear. “I think I’m Shizuku-sama, but what of it?” “Huh?” A tense atmosphere descended between the girl and Shizuku. Ayaka looked back and forth between them, then brought her hands up to her chest in a fluster, trying to calm them down. “Y-You two, please calm down, okay?” “Tōjō-san, is this girl really your friend?” “Tell her, Aya-senpai. That we’ve been best friends since our past lives.” “Huh?! U-Um, well…” Shizuku and the girl both turned and pressed in on Ayaka. Overwhelmed by their pressure, Ayaka panicked and her words caught in her throat. Just then, Saki, who had been observing the situation from close by, slipped between Ayaka and Shizuku with a cheerful smile. “Now, now, now! Calm down, calm down. Shizuku-chan has really loved Ayaka for a long time.” “Hm? …That’s right. After all, we’re besties.” For a split second, a question mark seemed to appear over Shizuku’s head at Saki’s sudden appearance, but she quickly went along with it. “Let’s just say I like my three meals a day only slightly more than I like Aya-senpai.” “Hey! You should like Ayaka more than food!” Saki shot back without a pause at Shizuku, who was puffing out her chest proudly despite her blank expression. “Hey, Aizawa? Was this girl really Tōjō-san’s friend?” “Yep, that’s right. Right, Ayaka?” “Ah, uh-huh, uh-huh.” At Saki’s glance, Ayaka nodded her head vigorously. “Hmmph.” Seeing Ayaka and Saki’s reactions, the girl looked at Shizuku with a displeased expression. Saki was known by everyone as Ayaka’s childhood friend and closest companion. With her acknowledging Shizuku as Ayaka’s friend, and Ayaka herself nodding in agreement, the girl had no choice but to accept it.
The girl let out an annoyed “Hmph,” looked away from Shizuku, and left the circle of students surrounding Ayaka. Shizuku followed the girl’s back with her eyes for a moment, then turned to Saki. “Are you walking home with us too, Aizawa-senpai?” “Huh? …I guess so. Shall the three of us walk home together?” Saki seemed surprised for a moment at Shizuku’s invitation but quickly put on a smile. Seemingly satisfied with Saki’s response, Shizuku grabbed Ayaka’s arm and started pulling her along. “Come on, come on, let’s go home, Aya-senpai. It’s time to let’s-a-go home.” “Ah, wait, Shizuku-chan!” Ayaka quickly grabbed her bag from the side of her desk and let herself be pulled along by Shizuku. Saki followed behind them with a wry smile. The three of them headed for the classroom exit, but Shizuku suddenly stopped halfway there. “What is it, Haru-senpai? You’ve been sending me such passionate gazes this whole time.” “Huh? N-No, I wasn’t…” Haruto looked surprised at being suddenly addressed by Shizuku. “It can’t be helped. You can come home with us too, Haru-senpai.” “Huh? Ah… o-okay.” Haruto, immediately grasping Shizuku’s intention, gave a slightly flustered nod. “Are you coming with us too, Tomo-senpai?” Shizuku then asked Tomoya, who was standing next to Haruto. “Is it okay if I come along?” “Of course.” “Then I’ll accompany you.” “Mm, very well. You may approach.” With that exchange, the group of three girls—Ayaka, Saki, and Shizuku— became a group of five, including Tomoya and Haruto, and left the classroom, drawing the attention of the other students. After they had left the school grounds and walked for a while, Shizuku trotted ahead of the group and turned around. She had a very triumphant look on her face. “What do you think, Haru-senpai? Of this perfect plan of mine?” Shizuku placed her hands on her hips and puffed out her chest proudly. “I’m impressed. You’re amazing, Shizuku.”
“Hmm, hmm, praise me more.” “Yes, Shizuku-sama.” Haruto gave an exaggeratedly deep bow in response to the seemingly pleased Shizuku. Shizuku’s plan was this: by becoming friends with Ayaka, Shizuku would become a mutual friend to both Haruto and Ayaka. Then, she could use that position to naturally close the distance between them. At school, Haruto and Ayaka’s relationship was now that of a friend of a friend, through Shizuku. “Um, Shizuku-chan… thank you.” “You too, Aya-senpai. Praise me.” “Ah, y-yeah. You’re amazing, Shizuku-chan.” “Fufufun.” At Ayaka’s praise, Shizuku snorted happily. Just then, Tomoya, who had been walking next to Haruto with an amused smile, joined the conversation. “By the way, was it really okay for us to come along?” he asked, glancing at Saki. “No problem at all. In fact, it’s more convenient to have people other than just Aya-senpai and Haru-senpai around at first,” Shizuku replied to Tomoya’s question with a thumbs-up. “It looks more natural to have other side characters around, rather than just singling out Haru-senpai and Aya-senpai.” “Ahaha, side characters, huh.” “Yes, side characters.” Tomoya laughed happily at Shizuku’s bluntness. Hearing Shizuku’s explanation, Saki nodded, impressed. “I see.” “Dōjima-san, I thought you were kind of reckless, but you really thought this through.” “Of course. By the way, I just invited you on a whim, but who are you, Senpai?” Shizuku tilted her head slightly as she turned to face Saki. At her reaction, Saki gave a wry smile and introduced herself. “Ahaha, I’m Aizawa Saki. I guess you could call me Ayaka’s childhood friend and best friend.” “Oh, so Aya-senpai had a real best friend. I thought she was a loner.” “Why did you think I was a loner?!” “Isn’t it a classic trope? The beautiful girl who’s too perfect to have any friends.”
“I don’t have that kind of backstory!” “What a shame.” “A shame?!” Ayaka pressed Shizuku, asking, “What do you mean, a shame?!” but Shizuku coolly dodged her questions. The five of them continued walking in a lively atmosphere. When they reached a crossroads, Tomoya raised a hand. “Well, I’ve got something to do at the station, so I’m out here.” “Oh, I take the train home, so want to walk to the station together?” Saki suggested in response to Tomoya. “You take the train, Aizawa-san? Then yeah, let’s go together.” “Okay. See you later, everyone.” “Bye-bye, Saki.” Ayaka paused her banter with Shizuku to wave. Haruto and Shizuku also raised a hand. After Tomoya and Saki left, the remaining three walked with Haruto in the middle and Ayaka and Shizuku on either side. Haruto glanced at Shizuku, walking to his right. “But seriously, thank you, Shizuku. Thanks to this, I think I’ll be able to gradually get closer to Ayaka at school too.” “I was surprised when you suddenly asked to be best friends this morning, but thank you, Shizuku-chan.” “My assistance has only just begun. I’ll be dropping by your classrooms from time to time from now on.” “I see. Thank you so much. Let me do something to thank you next time.” “Oh, no, no, not at all. It would be far too presumptuous of me to ask for the cream puffs from the department store by the station as thanks.” “O-Oh.” At Shizuku’s usual antics, Haruto nodded with a wry smile. Ayaka, watching the two of them, covered her mouth and let out a small chuckle. Just then, as if remembering something, Haruto spoke to Shizuku. “We’re really grateful for your help, but… it would be great if you could try not to cause too much trouble.” “Are you referring to the upperclassmen who were crowding around Ayasenpai?” “Well, yeah.”
Perhaps because she had walked the path of martial arts since she was a child, Shizuku was incredibly mentally tough. Furthermore, since she was also quite skilled in karate, she had no fear of speaking her mind to anyone she disagreed with, whether they were older or male. That was one of her good points, but at the same time, it also made her prone to trouble. “Hmm, it is not my intention to wreak havoc on your class, Haru-senpai… Understood. I will be careful to cause as few problems as possible.” “Thanks, that’s a big help.” Haruto bowed his head to Shizuku. Ayaka, listening to their conversation, slowly opened her mouth. “Hey, Shizuku-chan.” “Yes?” “Aren’t you scared? You know… to let out what’s on your mind, to tell people your opinion directly.” “…There are times when I am,” Shizuku replied after a slight pause. “I might get harassed for confronting an upperclassman. It might turn into bullying. And because of that bullying, I might lose friends. But things like that don’t matter to me. Once you decide they don’t matter, the fear naturally disappears.” “Huh? Th-Those things don’t matter?” Ayaka asked again, her eyes wide with surprise. “They don’t matter. Anyone who would distance themselves from me just because I was bullied by an upperclassman isn’t a true friend. It doesn’t matter to me if a hundred people like that disappear.” After saying that, Shizuku looked at Haruto. “More importantly, I want to cherish my relationships with the people who would treat me the same even if that happened.” “Why are you looking at me when you say that?” Haruto said, scratching the back of his head, embarrassed. “Because no matter what happens, you’ll still be my friend, Haru-senpai.” “…If you didn’t bathe for a month, I’d definitely keep my distance.” “In that case, you can give me a bath, Haru-senpai.” As she said this, Shizuku hugged Haruto’s right arm tightly. Instantly, Ayaka’s eyebrows shot up. “Sh-Shizuku-chan!” Ayaka called Shizuku’s name in protest, then pulled Haruto’s left arm toward her, trying to peel Shizuku off.
“I’m happy you’re helping us, but hugging Haruto-kun is not allowed!!” “Hm? But you’re hugging him too, Aya-senpai.” Shizuku, looking displeased at being pulled away from Haruto, pouted and protested to Ayaka, who was clutching his left arm with both hands. “I-I’m Haruto-kun’s girlfriend! It’s normal for a girlfriend to hug her boyfriend!” “Then it’s normal for a childhood friend to hug him too. Hiyah!” With a spirited cry, Shizuku once again leaped onto Haruto’s right arm. “Hey! I told you, you can’t do that, Shizuku-chan!” “Aya-senpai, a possessive, clingy woman will get dumped by Haru-senpai in a heartbeat, you know?” “That’s not true! Haruto-kun really loves me!” Ayaka said desperately, pulling hard on Haruto’s left arm. In response, Shizuku spoke in a calm, cool tone, her expression still blank. “It’s not enough to just ask for love, Aya-senpai.”
“I’m not just asking for it! I l-love Haruto-kun too!!” The moment Ayaka shouted her love for Haruto, Shizuku immediately let go of his arm. Then, in a rare break from her deadpan expression, she smirked. “So she says, Haru-senpai? Good for you.” “You…” “Thanks for the passionate words of love for Haru-senpai, Aya-senpai.” Finally realizing she had been played by Shizuku, Ayaka turned bright red all the way to her ears. “U-Ugh… You idiot, Shizuku-chan…” Ayaka covered her tomato-red face with both hands, her voice thin and trembling. Seeing this, Shizuku looked up at Haruto and said, “How about it, Haru-senpai? Seeing a beautiful girl writhing in embarrassment and blushing. Doesn’t it get to you?” “Shizuku… please, stop bullying Ayaka.” “I’ll do my best.” Lightly brushing off Haruto’s words, Shizuku turned her gaze to the still bright-red Ayaka. To Haruto, there seemed to be a hint of amusement in her eyes. Though she had said she would “do her best,” Shizuku seemed to not have had enough of teasing Ayaka yet, and a rare, slight smile played on her lips. “Come on, Aya-senpai? If you don’t shout your love for Haru-senpai, I’ll hug him again.” Walking on Haruto’s right, Shizuku exaggeratedly pretended she was about to hug him, chanting, “Come ooon, come ooon.” Ayaka, her ears still red, glared at Shizuku with eyes glistening from embarrassment. “Ugh… You’re so mean, Shizuku-chan… I’m cutting ties with you!” “If that happens, you won’t be able to get closer to Haru-senpai at school, you know? Are you okay with that?” “Ugh…” “Come on, come on, Aya-senpai. Shout your love one more time, just like before.” Shizuku teased Ayaka relentlessly, her expression sparse but her tone clearly delighted. Haruto raised his voice to stop her. “I told you, stop bullying Ayaka.”
Watching them go back and forth, it was getting hard to tell who was the senior and who was the junior. “I see. So you’re on your beloved girlfriend’s side, Haru-senpai?” “Well, yeah. I’m Ayaka’s boyfriend, after all.” “Haruto-kun…” Ayaka smiled shyly, looking happy at Haruto’s words. Seeing this, Shizuku puffed out her cheeks, still keeping her deadpan face. “Hmph. I’m just a third wheel anyway.” Haruto gave a wry smile at Shizuku’s sulky tone. “But really, I’m grateful to you, Shizuku. Thanks to your help, I’ve got a way to interact with Ayaka at school now.” “Are you really grateful?” Shizuku shot Haruto a suspicious look. “Yeah, I am.” “Are you grateful too, Aya-senpai?” “Yeah, I’m grateful from the bottom of my heart for that, you know?” “Then kiss me, Haru-senpai.” Shizuku said something outrageous with a completely straight face. Haruto, used to her jokes, just laughed it off with a “Haha,” but Ayaka, lacking any Shizuku resistance, panicked completely and protested fiercely. “What are you saying, Shizuku-chan?!” “Since you both say you’re grateful, I thought I’d receive a token of that gratitude.” “Why does that have to be a kiss from Haruto-kun?!” “Ah, see, Aya-senpai, you always try to hog Haru-senpai like that.” “I’m his girlfriend, so of course I do!” Hugging Haruto’s left arm tightly again, Ayaka pleaded desperately. At her reaction, Shizuku narrowed her eyes. “Getting so worked up… don’t tell me, Aya-senpai… you haven’t kissed Haru-senpai yet?” Provoked by Shizuku’s words, Ayaka retorted heatedly. “W-We have!” “Not on the cheek, you know? Mouth-to-mouth.” “W-We’ve done it mouth-to-mouth too!!” “Then, have you French kissed?” “F-Fr-Fre-Fren-French… French… French kissed too…”
Under Shizuku’s suspicious gaze, Ayaka tried to answer, her cheeks burning with shame, but she was so embarrassed she was stumbling over her words. Unable to watch any longer, Haruto stopped Shizuku again. “Give her a break, Shizuku. Ayaka, calm down for a second.” “Au… okay…” Ayaka looked down, her face so red it looked like steam might start pouring out of her head. “A shy Aya-senpai is cute.” “I hate you, Shizuku-chan…” “I think I’m going to really love you, Aya-senpai.” Haruto wore a weary, wry smile as the two girls bantered across him. After that, they walked for a few minutes, repeating the cycle of Shizuku teasing Ayaka and Haruto stopping her. When they reached another intersection, Shizuku stopped walking. “Well then, Aya-senpai, I go this way.” “Oh, really? We go this way, so it’s the opposite direction.” Shizuku pointed to the right of the intersection, and Ayaka pointed to the left. “Well then, this is where we part ways. See you, Shizuku-chan.” Ayaka looked relieved to be free from Shizuku’s teasing. She quickly waved her right hand, saying “Bye-bye” to Shizuku. However, Shizuku’s eyebrow twitched in reaction to Ayaka’s words. “We…? Isn’t your house straight ahead, Haru-senpai?” Seeing Shizuku tilt her head in confusion, Haruto scratched his head with one hand and spoke somewhat bashfully. “Ah… actually, right now, I’m staying at Ayaka’s house.” “What did you say?!” Haruto’s statement must have been quite a shock, because Shizuku’s usual deadpan expression crumbled, and her eyes widened in surprise. “Aya-senpai, have you smartly started living together with Haru-senpai?!” “Ah, no, um… it’s a little different from living together…” “What’s different about it?! If lovers living under one roof isn’t living together, then what is?!” Saying this, Shizuku pressed in on Ayaka. In response, Ayaka held up her hands in a “whoa there” gesture to calm the excited Shizuku. “U-Um, you see. Haruto-kun is staying at my house because his grandmother is working as a live-in housekeeper for us…”
“Haru-senpai’s grandmother is a housekeeper at your house, Ayasenpai?” At Ayaka’s explanation, Shizuku furrowed her brows and shifted her gaze to Haruto. Receiving her look, Haruto explained his current situation. “Actually, the diner where my grandma used to work closed down, and when she was looking for a new job, Ayaka’s family hired her as a housekeeper.” “I see… but how does that lead to you and Aya-senpai living together, Haru-senpai?” “Ah, that was Shūichi-san… Ayaka’s father’s suggestion.” Haruto explained the circumstances of how he came to live at Ayaka’s house. Shizuku listened to his explanation until the end, then crossed her arms and nodded slowly, murmuring, “Hmm.” “I see… Entrapping Haru-senpai with the whole family, and even taking in his weakness, his grandmother… You’re quite the strategist, aren’t you, Aya-senpai?” “W-What do you mean, Shizuku-chan? I just wanted to help Haruto-kun, that’s all.” Ayaka replied a little too quickly, though she kept a smile on her face. Shizuku stared at her with half-lidded eyes and muttered back, “How very admirable of you.” “Anyway, hiring a housekeeper means your family is super rich, Ayasenpai?” “Ah… well…” Haruto was stuck for an answer and looked toward Ayaka. “Um… I wonder? My dad and mom both run their own companies, so…” “You’re a company president’s daughter, Aya-senpai?” “It feels weird to be called a ‘daughter’ in that sense, but I guess… technically?” Ayaka tilted her head hesitantly and looked at Haruto. “Well, based on position alone, isn’t that right? Since both Shūichi-san and Ikue-san are presidents.” Seeing Haruto nod in affirmation, Shizuku looked up at the sky. “With those looks, that amazing figure, and now even a prestigious family background… Equality is nothing but an empty fantasy after all…” As Shizuku murmured with a vacant expression, Ayaka could only keep a strained smile plastered on her face.
“Aya-senpai, if you’re that rich, does that mean your house is huge too?” “Umm, I don’t know? Maybe a little bigger than a normal house?” Shizuku glanced at Ayaka, who was averting her eyes as she answered, then looked at Haruto next to her. “Well, to put it mildly, Ayaka’s house is a mansion.” “Hoh.” Haruto supplemented Ayaka’s explanation with concise words. Hearing that, Shizuku placed a hand on her chin and nodded slightly, as if thinking about something. Then, after a pause, she looked back and forth between Haruto and Ayaka. “I’ve thought of the next strategy.” “Eh? What kind?” Ayaka leaned forward half a step to ask. “Fufufu, that’s a secret. By the way, since your house is a mansion, it’s spacious, right, Aya-senpai?” Shizuku looked at Haruto as if to confirm. “Yeah, it’s spacious.” “Then there’s no problem. Oh right, Aya-senpai, let’s exchange contact info.” “Eh? Ah, okay.” At Shizuku’s sudden request, Ayaka took out her smartphone, flustered but complying, and they exchanged contact information. Shizuku stared at Ayaka’s icon, which had been added to her messaging app, for a moment before lifting her face from the screen. “Well then, I’ll talk to you about the strategy tomorrow.” Saying that, Shizuku hurriedly turned her back on Haruto and Ayaka and walked away. “Haruto-kun, what do you think Shizuku-chan’s strategy is?” “Hmm, I’ve known her for a long time, but it’s hard to read her actions.” Haruto replied with a wry smile to the puzzled Ayaka.