"Is this the Kiyomizu Temple's lucky cherry bell?"
Taking the bell from Kaoru's hand, Asahina Nazuna examined it carefully and noticed it didn't quite match her impression of the famous charm.
This one was engraved with a legendary phoenix, its flames swirling and dancing within, giving it an almost sacred appearance.
"What are you thinking? We can't go out right now. I bought this amulet online—it's said a highly respected master specially blessed it with spiritual power."
This was Kaoru's reward, so of course he had the right to spout nonsense.
In truth, this was the "Wind-Summoning Bell."
If rung at the right time with the correct number of chimes, it could immediately summon the weather effect desired by its holder—including storms, thunderstorms, typhoons, tornadoes, and other extreme conditions.
Because the effect was a bit terrifying, Kaoru had used another reward to seal the bell's power, rendering it temporarily inactive.
Unaware of the truth, Asahina Nazuna gently shook the Wind-Summoning Bell, listening to its crisp, pleasant chime as a small smile curled at her lips.
"Is this a special gift for me?" Asahina feigned a sigh. "You know I already have a charm—where am I supposed to put this little bell?"
"Hang it on the back of your bag or use it as a keychain." Kaoru had considered every possibility.
"Besides, your charm has expired. My bell is better."
Asahina Nazuna let out a soft hmph, as if expressing her dissatisfaction, before smiling again.
"Well, since it's my junior's kind gesture, I'll gratefully accept it."
"Merry Christmas," Kaoru said.
"You already said that earlier!" Asahina Nazuna pulled a gift box from her small bag.
"Now it's my turn. This is a gift Santa entrusted me to deliver to Mitoma-kun. He thinks that although you're a pervert with strange tastes, you're still a good kid overall."
So she could still insult him like this.
Silently, Kaoru accepted the gift box—from the outside, there was no telling what was inside.
"Don't open it now," Asahina stopped him as he tried to unwrap it.
"Why?" Kaoru asked, puzzled. "Does it contain your treasured little H book?"
"You're the one who'd give H books!" Asahina glared at him.
Such perverted behavior—how could she ever do something like that?
"Could it be that you're embarrassed?"
The moment he said it, he noticed her subtly avert her gaze.
"Fine, I'll open it when I get back."
"That's more like it."
As if trying to hide something, Asahina picked up the hot coffee on the table and took a small sip.
It was slightly sweet—had she added too much sugar?
Ding-dong—
Someone pushed open the café door. It was a familiar figure—golden hair, a carefree smile, leading a girl inside.
"Your relationship seems pretty strained lately," Kaoru met the newcomer's gaze.
For a moment, the other's expression twisted grotesquely before quickly returning to normal.
"Yeah, thanks to someone," Asahina also noticed him and sighed softly.
"Actually, I've been reflecting on myself too. Maybe I took things for granted before, which led to Nagumo-kun misunderstanding and made our relationship drift away from what childhood friends should be."
"Did you never like him?" Kaoru asked.
Asahina looked at him with a faint, ambiguous smile, though she quickly reined it in.
"Let me think—if you had a really amazing friend since childhood, would you fall for her?"
"Possibly. I am a bit of a horndog, after all."
"..."
Asahina wasn't sure if he was joking
Given his usual demeanor, it didn't seem like he was.
"Nagumo-kun has always been incredible. I've never seen him lose to anyone, not even once. Everyone always gathered around him," Asahina murmured.
"After people found out about our relationship, some thought I was in the way—that I didn't deserve to be near him. So, I used to minimize my presence, avoiding Nagumo-kun and them."
"So, you were never happy?" Kaoru could somewhat understand that feeling.
If the gap between two people was too wide, it could make one feel like they were dragging the other down.
"Mitoma-kun, if you keep teasing me like this, I might just hit you, okay?" Asahina smiled sweetly, but her tone was icy.
"No, I'm just jealous of Nagumo," Kaoru said. "He got to see you when you were little. I didn't. That makes me a little jealous."
Asahina froze for a moment, her heart skipping a beat.
Before she could process her reaction, the corners of her lips had already curled up.
"My, my, is that all it takes to make Mitoma-kun jealous?"
"Because I'll always love Asahina-senpai."
"..."
She had been planning to keep teasing him, but his sudden declaration left her expression stiff.
Had this guy really gotten so comfortable casually saying "I love you" now?
"In the sixteen years of your life before we met, I regret not finding you sooner. It really frustrates me."
"Ahaha, i-is it really that frustrating?"
"I wanted to be your childhood friend too."
Under his gaze, Asahina grew flustered.
Just like when he had kissed her out of the blue, her heart betrayed her, pounding wildly.
No one had ever made her feel this way before.
Perhaps it had started the day they met—when he had taken her foot in his hand, her heart had already begun to flutter against her sensitive chest, as if fate itself had orchestrated their encounter.
'Fate, huh?' Asahina thought it could stand to be a little more flexible.
"Hmm, childhood sweetheart is out of the question for you."
The girl reached out and took Kaoru's left hand that had been resting under the table—they say this side is closer to the heart.
"But how about being your first love?"
Kaoru was slightly taken aback this time.
He had expected Asahina to struggle with the decision for much longer.
"What's with that look? Did you think I wouldn't agree?" Asahina glared at him disapprovingly, yet her fingers interlaced with his.
"You've already pushed me this far. Even if I wanted to turn back, there's no place for me beside Nagumo-kun anymore. What else could I possibly do besides being with you?"
Grr—
For some reason, Kaoru faintly heard someone gnashing their teeth, even catching fragments of loud shouts as if trying to draw his and Asahina's attention.
"So, senpai has decided to be with us then?"
Not "me," but "us"—this phrasing held their little secret.
"If Honami was willing to accept me, why shouldn't I accept her?" Asahina smiled, though her eyes gleamed with dangerous light.
"If I were the type to refuse, the old Nagumo-kun would've been more than enough to make me walk away."
"This feels unreal," Kaoru murmured.
"But let me make one thing clear upfront—you can't be too much of a playboy." Asahina's expression turned stern.
"That's my bottom line. Besides, with too many people, even you wouldn't be able to handle it all."
This time it was Kaoru who subtly averted his gaze, making Asahina narrow her eyes suspiciously.
"You. Won't. Be. A. Playboy. Right?"
"Of course not."
"I'll trust you for now."
Though still somewhat doubtful about Kaoru, Asahina reasoned few girls would ever accept his unconventional ideas anyway, so she didn't press further.
Meanwhile, Nagumo Miyabi's glare burned toward them with particular intensity.
As if proving he no longer needed Asahina, he deliberately wrapped his arm around another girl nearby, spouting some show-off lines.
"Should I kiss you now?" Kaoru asked.
"Hey now, I just agreed to this. Doesn't mean I'm ready for that." Asahina shot him a sidelong glance.
"Even if you're a pervert, no early H-scenes allowed."
"Wasn't planning on lips anyway." Kaoru's logic was simple—girls had more kissable spots than just their mouths.
"Not the face either—too many people here." She poked his cheek away. "Even if I'm okay with it, think about how others would see us?"
Indeed, several had already noticed Kaoru.
"Fine."
Kaoru didn't insist.
Once he ruled the entire school, there'd be plenty of time for recklessness.
What he didn't expect was the sudden sensation of warmth against his cheek—
Sweet. Soft.
Carrying the girl's delicate fragrance as her hair brushed against his neck and earlobe, tickling slightly.
"There. Nobody saw that." Asahina withdrew casually, sitting primly like the proper senpai she was.
Kaoru instinctively touched his cheek, only to notice her ears turning faintly pink.
"Pathetic. Chitose, let's go to our next dating spot."
Nagumo Miyabi's voice came from nearby—having undoubtedly witnessed the scene and finally reached his limit.
"Don't do this again," Asahina suddenly said.
"Because he was following you, senpai. I don't think he's given up on you yet." Kaoru could vaguely guess Nagumo Miyabi's thoughts.
After all, he knew the effect on Nagumo hadn't worn off—he was probably trying to feign a proper departure to catch her attention.
Unfortunately, Nagumo Miyabi had to witness her kissing another man.
"I'm not upset about that," Asahina said. "If you wanted to kiss me, you could've just done it outright, like before. The fact that you asked first made me feel a little uncomfortable."
Kaoru froze for a moment.
His intention had been to make Nagumo give up, and Asahina understood that.
But her feelings were different—it almost felt like she was being forced to prove her loyalty.
Realizing this, Kaoru tightened his grip on Asahina's hand, interlacing their fingers.
"Senpai, how about we visit Tokyo Daijingu together next time?"
Asahina paused.
Was this a promise for after graduation?
The corners of her lips twitched, her eyes brimming with amusement.
"Why not Izumo Taisha instead? I've heard it's especially auspicious."
Ah, this senpai now had an extremely flexible approach to matters of faith.
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