A rare day off was used up.
As a member of Class D, Amane naturally wouldn't waste the last precious day of her holiday.
After making arrangements with someone in advance, Amane happily changed into the little dress she had recently bought with Karuizawa's aesthetic approval, intending to go out for her appointment.
"Suzune, I'm heading out."
After greeting Horikita, Amane was about to leave, but Horikita stopped her.
"Where are you going dressed like that?"
Horikita looked at Amane, who was dressed very lightly, with a suspicious look in her eyes.
Isn't that outfit for a date or something?
"I'm planning to go shopping at the mall with a friend... If there's still time, we'll just wander around. Is there a problem?"
Amane began to examine her attire.
It didn't seem like there was anything wrong; her light makeup made her look very cute.
Everything was perfect in Amane's somewhat critical gaze.
So what was Horikita concerned about?
"Going out to play together... that's fine, I don't have anything to do today, would it be convenient to bring me along?"
Horikita's words startled Amane.
"Eh? Suzune, you're actually planning to go shopping with me?"
Amane looked at Suzune with some surprise, as Suzune had only gone shopping with her alone a handful of times.
What on earth happened to make Suzune, who was clearly a homebody, want to go shopping with her?
If it were any other day, Amane would have agreed without hesitation.
After all, such an occasion was extremely rare.
But today, it didn't seem possible. The person she was meeting was a shy girl, and suddenly adding another person might make her overthink things.
However, she didn't seem to have a good reason to refuse Horikita.
It was originally a perfectly normal gathering.
If she tried to hide it, Horikita might overthink things.
"Is it difficult?"
Horikita saw that Amane seemed a little troubled, so she asked.
"A little bit, yes. The other person's personality is... it might be hard for her to accept an activity that suddenly changes from two people to three. Even if she doesn't say anything, I don't think she'd have much fun. How about we go out alone another day?"
Amane politely declined Horikita's request.
But seeing Amane seriously considering it,
she judged that it wasn't about going out with some ill-behaved girls, which made her feel a little relieved.
But two people...
It looked like a date, but Amane's open demeanor didn't suggest she was secretly dating a girl behind Horikita Suzune's back.
Maybe she really did have something important, and since she didn't like crowded places anyway, she wouldn't join in the fun.
"Alright, then we'll go out together when we have time. But... don't secretly develop any strange relationships with other girls, do you understand what I mean?"
Horikita Suzune pinned Amane against the wall.
Her gaze met Amane's.
Amane blinked her pretty eyes in response.
"The other person is also a girl who doesn't like social activities. I helped her with something before, and she probably invited me out today to thank me. It's fine."
Upon hearing that the other person was inviting Amane out to thank her for her help,
Horikita Suzune completely dropped the idea.
After all, if it were her, and she invited someone to thank them, but they brought another acquaintance along, she wouldn't say anything, but she would definitely feel that the other person didn't respect her.
Moreover, a thank-you gathering like this usually wouldn't last long, as the relationship between the two parties might not be very close. An hour or so would be enough to run out of things to talk about.
There was also no need to worry about Amane being led astray by others.
Horikita Suzune had considered basically all scenarios.
But she overlooked one crucial point.
She forgot to ask Amane the other person's name.
And that person's name was Sakura Airi.
"Sorry, sorry, I'm a little late."
When Amane arrived at the agreed location, she realized she was about ten minutes late.
If she had explained it to Horikita earlier, maybe... maybe she wouldn't have been able to come at all.
Amane had long felt that Horikita didn't think much of girls with Airi's personality.
Plus, Amane had gone to great lengths to save Airi, to the point where Horikita was even a little jealous. With these factors combined,
if Horikita had really come along this time,
then this outing would probably have become the most awkward social activity for her and Airi. Under Horikita's low pressure, Airi would definitely not dare to say a word.
"It's okay, I just got here too. Amane-san, where are we going to play next? Although I occasionally go out and about, I'm always alone..."
Airi looked a little nervous.
Amane directly put her arm around Airi's shoulder.
"Don't be so nervous, I won't eat you. Since we're out, let's just wander around."
Amane's words seemed to encourage Airi.
Gradually, Airi's expression became less tense.
"Just wandering around like this isn't a solution. Is there anywhere you want to go, Airi?"
Amane, holding Airi's small hand, didn't seem to realize that another pair of eyes was staring intently at Airi nearby.
And so, Amane and Airi walked along the commercial street, chatting and laughing.
Not far behind them, a male figure quietly followed.
"It's her after all... there's no mistake."
In a somewhat dark corner,
the man took out a stack of letters and repeatedly kissed them.
His expression was quite fanatical.
"Hey, old man, what are you looking at?"
Just as the man was about to continue following Amane and Airi,
a hand suddenly clapped him on the shoulder.
The man's legs immediately went weak, and he almost fell to the ground.
"You, who are you?"
Looking at the man and woman in front of him, the man hadn't yet recovered from the shock of being suddenly greeted.
"Huh? Of course we're students from this school? What are you doing, old man? Stalking?"
The shorter girl beside him spoke up, scolding him in dissatisfaction.
"Ibuki!"
Ryuuen glared at Ibuki, displeased.
Before reaching a conclusion, one should not jump to conclusions easily.
Ibuki pouted.
If she hadn't been sharp-eyed and seen this man furtively following the girl named Miyako,
Ryuuen probably wouldn't have noticed this guy until now.
Just as Ryuuen was about to continue questioning him,
the man suddenly became bolder in his wickedness.
He actually took advantage of Ryuuen looking back at Ibuki.
And punched Ryuuen in the face.
"Ryuuen, watch out!"
Bang!
The next second.
The man's hand was firmly gripped by Ryuuen.
Ryuuen's expression was slightly twisted as he looked down at the man, whose fist was tightly held and unable to move.
"Old man, don't underestimate me."
---------------------------------
If you'd like to read the next 40 chapters in advance, you can support me on Patreon.
I regularly post chapter previews there, so you'll always be up-to-date and won't have to wait too long.
patreon.com/SolyuraMT
And if you enjoy the story, don't forget to give me a Power Stone. Your support really motivates me to continue translating!