Shimizu Akira leaned against a pillar near the mall entrance, checking his phone—4:10 PM.
He swiped open the chat log, the last message still displaying Kushida Kikyō's:
[Let's meet at 4! I'm going home to change—wait for me~]
(Is she running late...?)
Just as he debated whether to text her, light, hurried footsteps approached from behind.
"Shimizu-kun! Sorry for the wait~"
The moment he turned, a delicate gardenia fragrance wafted over him.
Kushida Kikyō skidded to a stop in front of him, slightly out of breath, her cheeks tinged pink.
She wore a soft yellow sundress, her hair still damp at the ends—clearly fresh from a shower.
"Sorry for making you wait." She clasped her hands together, blinking playfully. "Picking an outfit took longer than expected. So... how do I look today?"
"That color suits you." Shimizu's gaze lingered briefly, his tone carrying genuine appreciation.
Yellow was notoriously hard to pull off, yet it inexplicably complemented her, giving her a radiant, spring-like glow.
"Thanks~" Kushida tilted her head slightly.
Her eyes swept over Shimizu's outfit—a simple white tee layered under a light blue casual jacket. The understated combination accentuated his tall, well-built frame effortlessly.
"Shimizu-kun looks really handsome today too."
"Thanks for the honesty."
Kushida clasped her hands behind her back, hopping half a step closer. "So... can I plan today's itinerary? I was thinking we could grab dessert on the second floor first, then go to karaoke—sound good?"
"Sure." Shimizu nodded.
Mentally reviewing the plan, it seemed reasonable.
It was already May, and the heat was creeping in. An indoor date like this was far more comfortable than roasting outside.
Side by side, they entered the mall, the blast of air conditioning instantly soothing the early summer stickiness.
Kushida led the way with practiced ease, guiding Shimizu to the second floor, where a pastel-hued dessert shop adorned with macaron-shaped lights came into view.
"This place is famous for its giant matcha parfait! Rumor has it, if you finish it in ten minutes, it's free! Wanna give it a shot, Shimizu-kun?"
Her eyes sparkled with excitement, and before Shimizu could respond, she'd already eagerly ordered the signature dessert.
When the towering parfait glass arrived, Shimizu's eyes widened—it was easily two or three times the size of a normal parfait, piled high with bright strawberries and mangoes, the matcha ice cream forming a veritable mountain.
"Wait... is this even humanly consumable?" Shimizu gestured at the "dessert skyscraper."
Kushida, busy angling her phone for the perfect shot, winked. "The sign says it's totally doable~"
Following her finger, Shimizu spotted the "10-Minute Challenge" rules.
A server helpfully started the table's countdown timer—the digits already ticking down from 9:59.
"But this is a two-person challenge, right?!" Shimizu glanced at the utterly relaxed girl across from him. "You're not expecting me to solo this, are you?"
The rules clearly stated it was a duo activity.
Shimizu pointed to a nearby table. "Look, even those guys are sharing—"
Mid-sentence, their attention simultaneously snapped to the conspicuous pair a few seats away.
A blond upperclassman lounged lazily in his chair, eyes closed as a female student spoon-fed him bites of parfait.
The girl carefully lifted a spoonful to his lips, her expression obsequious.
"Vice President Nagumo... I spent all my points this month just to treat you..." Her voice carried a hint of a whine.
"Not bad." The blond—Nagumo Miyabi—swallowed indifferently, his lips curling into an arrogant smirk. "Consider your next 'tribute' waived."
He cracked an eye open, drumming his fingers on the table. "Oh, and midterms are coming up. Remember—no buying papers from third-years behind my back."
Adjusting his cufflinks idly, he added, "The entire second year only needs one set of papers, and I'll handle it. If anyone dares waste my points..."
"U-Understood!" The girl nodded frantically, her spoon trembling slightly.
"Good girl." Nagumo's smile turned predatory. "Who knows? I might save you a special recommendation spot before graduation."
He leaned back again, parting his lips lazily. "Continue."
"Yes!" The girl perked up immediately, carefully scooping another bite of matcha ice cream.
Shimizu averted his gaze discreetly.
(So this is the infamous Vice President Nagumo Miyabi...)
The guy carried himself like a preening peacock.
Flashing his student council title and astronomical personal points to indulge in unchecked privilege.
From the corner of his eye, Shimizu caught the girl's strained smile—this wasn't a consensual date but a blatant transaction.
Behind those fluttering lashes wasn't affection but desperation for points.
("One set is enough"—so he's treating the entire class's funds as his personal piggy bank?)
His arrogance was, in some ways, far more grating than Sakayanagi Arisu's.
At least Sakayanagi never treated class funds as her personal spending money.
That entitlement was more offensive than any deliberate provocation.
More concerning was Nagumo's level of control over class affairs.
If he could so easily interfere with Class C's exam purchases, his influence had likely seeped into internal class management.
(Does this guy have a say in all second-year decisions? That's... concerning.)
"Shimizu-kun?" Kushida's voice snapped him back to reality. "If you space out any longer, we'll fail the challenge~"
"Hm? You're not eating?" When Shimizu refocused, he found himself face-to-face with the dessert mountain, its strawberry peak dusted with sugar.
"Sorry, Shimizu-kun." Kushida pressed a hand to her stomach, her tone sugary. "I started feeling a bit off after my shower. You'll have to handle this one alone~"
Shimizu stared at her hand, though his mind was crystal clear—who goes to an ice cream parlor when they're unwell?
This was obviously a ploy to make him tackle the giant parfait solo.
As icy shards melted on his tongue, he couldn't help but frown.
(Huh? When did I piss her off?)
(Just this morning, I was praising how well she treated me. Why the sudden 'targeting'?)
He shoveled a massive spoonful of whipped cream into his mouth, the cold numbing his tongue—until he caught Kushida's mischievous grin peeking over her cup.
The confusion instantly dissolved into silent, resigned amusement.
How childish.