After completing some unspeakable transaction with Horikita Manabu.
Amane finally remembered.
Where was Suzune!!!
Her big Suzune was gone.
But Amane hadn't seen her pass by the dormitory building, had she?
Where was she?
She couldn't have been abducted by aliens, could she?
Amane quickly called Suzune.
"You broke free from the ropes so quickly? I thought it would take you at least an hour."
Suzune's voice came from the other end of the phone.
"Oh, let's put that aside for now. Suzune, where are you? I was so worried when you didn't come back. Where are you? I'll come find you."
Horikita, on the other end of the phone, couldn't help but let a beautiful curve form at the corner of her mouth when she heard Amane's anxious voice.
"I'm at the convenience store."
"The convenience store is still open this late?"
Amane hadn't expected the convenience store to be open so late.
"It closes at ten. I thought I'd buy you something to eat while it's still open. You don't need to come; I'll be back soon."
Hearing Horikita say that, Amane could only agree.
Amane, who returned to the dormitory first, immediately started brewing tea.
That way, Suzune could drink it directly when she returned.
Not long after.
Horikita returned to the dormitory, carrying fragrant food.
"Suzune!!!"
Amane flung herself into Horikita's arms, nuzzling affectionately.
"You must be starving, right? I'm so sorry for tying you up for so long..."
Horikita glanced at Amane's wrist.
Her pupils contracted rapidly, almost imperceptibly.
Then returned to calm.
"It's okay. If Suzune still wants to tie me up, I'm perfectly fine with it~"
"I'm not a pervert. Eat while it's hot."
Horikita took out the food.
It was instant bento, and a heated chicken leg.
She hadn't expected the convenience store to have ready-made bento.
It was truly amazing.
"Oh, right, tonight can we..."
Amane's antenna-like hair swayed back and forth, frantically hinting.
"What?"
Horikita stopped eating and took a sip of the tea on the table.
The temperature was just right.
Unlike most people who prefer hot tea.
Horikita liked slightly cool black tea.
But because it was impossible for others to wait for the tea to cool when pouring it, such opportunities were rare. Even when Amane was around, she would only occasionally let her own tea cool down on purpose.
Now, the temperature in the cup was just right.
This didn't seem like a coincidence.
"It's that thingy~ That thingy thingy~"
Amane winked.
Horikita pretended not to know, mimicking Amane's previous gesture, tilting her head slightly.
So cute!
Amane forcibly suppressed her urge to lose control.
"Suzune, really, did you forget you promised to take a bath with me tonight?"
"I'm a bit tired today. How about tomorrow? Tomorrow is the weekend, and I was planning to go to the movies with you, Amane."
As soon as Amane heard the big pie Horikita was drawing, cough cough, as soon as she heard Horikita say she wanted to go to the movies with her, Amane immediately smiled.
"Okay, okay, let's talk about it tomorrow then."
So easy to coax.
Horikita stroked Amane's head.
Looking at Amane's silly smile.
Well.
Although Amane might not be as simple as she appeared.
She still wanted to protect Amane's smile.
Horikita leaned in slightly and gently pecked her.
Warm.
Because she had just drunk black tea, there was still a hint of tea fragrance.
Soft.
Amane covered her mouth.
"Suzune is so cunning! No, I want one too! Smooch smooch smooch."
Seeing Amane about to lean in, Horikita gave Amane a flick on the forehead.
"Hurry up and eat, then go to sleep. I'm a bit sleepy."
"Yes, ma'am~"
Amane saluted in a proper manner.
Then came a flurry of gobbling.
What Amane didn't notice was.
Horikita watched her with a constant smile.
The next day.
Horikita took Amane to the movies as promised.
The reason she had this idea.
It was all because last time Amane had abandoned her to go to the movies with Kushida-san and the others.
Leaving her to sit alone in the back, envious... Now she could openly hold Amane's hand and come.
After buying Amane a super-large bucket of popcorn, Horikita led the happily eating Amane to their seats.
She had originally thought that what followed would be a sweet and romantic two-person movie experience.
But sitting next to her was actually Kushida-san.
"Oh, isn't this Horikita-san? What a coincidence."
Kushida-san showed a gentle smile.
But Horikita wasn't falling for it.
"It really is a coincidence."
It truly was a coincidence.
Even though there were three showings of this movie, Kushida-san miraculously bought a ticket for the same showing and a seat right next to her.
What an incredible coincidence.
"Eh? Isn't this Kikyo-chan? You're here too. Why didn't Ame-chan and Ruri-chan come along?"
Kushida-san heard a familiar voice.
She leaned out slightly.
Only then did she spot Amane buried in the popcorn.
"Amane, you're here too... Ame-chan and Ruri-chan went to Hirata-san's book club. Speaking of which, Amane, can you finish all that popcorn?"
Amane?
Hearing Kushida-san's overly intimate address.
Horikita let out a soft snort.
"Kushida-san, don't worry. My Amane can eat a lot."
Saying that, Horikita ruffled Amane's head.
Her eyes, however, looked at Kushida-san triumphantly.
"It's certainly a good thing to be able to eat, but I'm just worried Amane might get a stomachache. Horikita-san, you and Amane are so close, why don't you try to persuade her?"
Kushida-san's tone became a little strange.
"I didn't want to either. Amane kept pestering me to buy it. Kushida-san, you know how clingy Amane can be."
Horikita retorted, unwilling to be outdone.
Crunch, crunch.
Amane munched on popcorn while watching the two of them clash.
"No wonder."
Kushida and Horikita stared at each other with icy gazes.
But then, they both laughed at the same time.
Kushida's eyes darted around, about to say something.
The cinema lights suddenly dimmed.
Kushida could only wait until the movie finished.
But what she didn't expect was... the torment Amane was about to put her through.
"Suzune~ I'm scared, boo hoo hoo."
Amane hugged Horikita's arm tightly.
"Wah, Suzune, that's so scary."
"Wh-what is that? Suzune, I'm scared, boo hoo hoo."
"Suzune, give me a kiss and I won't be scared anymore~"
Amane's voice was very soft.
But how could Kushida, who was sitting right next to them, not hear it?
Listening to Amane's constant flirtatious chatter with Suzune.
Kushida found the movie in front of her utterly bland.
She suddenly felt like every moment she spent there was an eternity.
Finally, the movie ended.
Kushida left the cinema in a hurry, without even saying goodbye.
Horikita first shot a triumphant glance at the fleeing Kushida.
Then, she tapped Amane's head with a helpless expression.
"What are you scared of in an anime romance movie?"
Horikita brushed the popcorn crumbs off her chest.
Honestly.
Where did Amane learn all these things?
Where did the limited edition, pure Amane from the beginning of the school year go?
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