Mochizuki had just arrived at the school gate when a breeze blew past, bringing a wave of coolness.
Then he saw Shiina Mahiru standing beside the school gate.
There were also two female classmates next to her, who seemed to be her friends, and the group was saying goodbye.
Mochizuki had no intention of walking over to greet her.
He pretended not to see her and quickly walked past from an inconspicuous corner.
By this time, most of the students had already left.
Only a small number of students who stayed late for club activities were still there.
If he were to go over and be with Shiina at this moment and be seen by others, Mochizuki was worried it might cause unnecessary misunderstandings.
It wouldn't be good to cause trouble for Shiina!
After Mochizuki left, Yukinoshita also packed up her things and went home.
After being busy in the home economics classroom for so long, she inevitably had the smell of cookies on her.
As a girl who loved cleanliness, she wanted to go home and shower early.
Of course, she wouldn't leave together with Mochizuki, thus, she had been walking a distance behind Mochizuki.
Seeing Mochizuki acting a bit suspicious after leaving the school gate, she was a little curious, was he going to be a pervert?
If that were the case, the righteous Yukino Yukinoshita would not cover for Mochizuki!
Similarly, she also saw Shiina Mahiru saying goodbye to her classmates at the school gate, but she didn't pay attention.
It was because she had a good memory and remembered the names of everyone in the school.
After saying goodbye to her classmates, Shiina turned and left.
Just as she turned around, Yukino Yukinoshita passed by her side.
Ah, what a cute and beautiful girl!
Shiina Mahiru exclaimed sincerely in her heart.
Furthermore, her cold face made her feel a hint of handsomeness.
However, Shiina didn't know Yukinoshita personally, only having heard of her, so she didn't know that the girl in front of her was Mochizuki's Service Club Bucho (Club President).
Gathering her thoughts, Shiina Mahiru glanced forward.
Her face showed a hint of surprise because she saw Mochizuki walking at the edge of the path.
She quickened her steps.
This time, it was Shiina Mahiru who overtook Yukino Yukinoshita.
She brushed past her side.
Yukino Yukinoshita was surprised.
After all, Shiina Mahiru was also a well-known figure in the school.
The surprise wasn't about brushing past her.
Rather, she was curious if she was in a hurry to go home.
Yukinoshita's gaze shifted from behind Mochizuki to Shiina Mahiru.
Then her surprised expression turned a little strange.
Because the direction Shiina Mahiru was walking was towards Mochizuki, after all, Mochizuki was walking at the very edge, close to the wall.
Of course, it wasn't impossible that Shiina Mahiru also liked walking along the inconspicuous wall!
Not knowing what was on her mind, Yukinoshita slowed down her pace, yet maintained a distance from which she could observe the two of them.
Soon, Shiina Mahiru caught up with Mochizuki.
Then she lightly patted Mochizuki's shoulder.
This pat also confirmed Yukinoshita's guess.
Her thin lips parted slightly.
It was clear that the two knew each other.
...
"Mochizuki-kun!"
Shiina walked side by side with Mochizuki, panting slightly.
"Huh, Shiina?"
Mochizuki was a little surprised, 'I deliberately avoided you, how did you still catch up!'
However, it was even more awkward to say that he deliberately pretended not to see her.
"Mm, because I saw you behind, so I chased after you."
Mochizuki glanced around, of course, he wouldn't turn his head to look behind him.
Mm, he didn't see anyone wearing a school uniform.
"Oh, did your club activity just finish?"
"Mm, yes, did yours too?"
"Yeah, someone came to seek help today."
To be precise, they came last week, but today was about helping to solve the problem.
"Was it smooth?"
Mochizuki thought about the cookies Yui Yuigahama made, but the outcome was good, so he replied, "Mm, it went pretty smoothly!"
The two walked and chatted, and from Yukinoshita's perspective behind them, their relationship seemed quite good.
Although curious about the relationship between the two, Yukinoshita could no longer follow them.
Because they had already arrived at the intersection.
No, she wasn't tracking them in the first place, she was just going the same way.
Mochizuki Yo and Shiina Mahiru continued walking forward, while Yukinoshita turned towards the intersection on the right.
...
"This is our first request!"
In Mochizuki's view, this was certainly the first request, he didn't think he was the first one.
"Oh, that's a good start."
Next, Shiina suggested going to the supermarket to buy groceries and told Mochizuki he could go back first.
However, Mochizuki went along with her.
Recently, Shiina had been buying them on her way home after school.
Mochizuki had said he would help carry things, but he hadn't done it even once.
Since they met today, how could he let Shiina go by herself?
Soon, after passing the park.
They arrived at that familiar supermarket.
Arriving at the vegetable section, the two selected many fresh vegetables.
Of course, Shiina was carefully and seriously selecting them, while Mochizuki pushed the shopping cart behind her.
"I didn't expect there was so much to buying groceries!"
"That's natural, only good ingredients can make good food."
Perhaps considering that Mochizuki would help carry things today, Shiina selected more items than usual, and of course, she also considered some that could be refrigerated.
Mochizuki, of course, didn't mind, after all, he was only responsible for eating.
Then, after passing the snack section, Mochizuki asked Shiina to wait for him for a while.
Mochizuki went in and grabbed a few cans of a certain big brand of potato chips, original flavor, tomato flavor, BBQ flavor, cucumber flavor, grilled meat flavor...
"What is this?"
"Potato chips, oh, you haven't eaten them before, have you, Shiina?"
Mochizuki guessed that Shiina Mahiru was probably a girl who didn't buy snacks much.
"Mm, aren't you buying too much?"
"No, no."
Then, passing by the beverage counter, Mochizuki wanted to grab two large cans of cola again.
Shiina stopped him, saying, "No, carbonated drinks are bad for your health."
"Ah? Didn't you say the taste was okay last time, Shiina?"
Shiina Mahiru showed an expression like an elder scolding a junior, "Okay is okay, but health is more important!"
"Think about the empty cola cans at home."
...
"I know, Shiina-sama."
In the end, Shiina only allowed Mochizuki to buy one small bottle of cola and one bottle of green tea.
As for buying green tea, Mochizuki thought, since he couldn't buy cola, that fellow Yukinoshita seemed to like drinking this a lot, so he might as well try it himself.
After paying, Shiina took out her reusable bags, and Mochizuki helped pack the items into the bags.
Seeing the two of them cooperating to organize the items, the cashier thought they were a couple and said, "You two look very well-matched!"
Both of them were very embarrassed and quickly denied it, especially Shiina Mahiru.
In the depths of her heart, there was a hint of joy instead...
The cashier looked confused, 'They aren't?'
She quickly apologized.
She worked as a cashier here every day, had seen all sorts of people, and also seen various couples, and thought she was quite good at judging people.
But she guessed, given the way they were, perhaps they would be sooner or later.
Soon, with the items packed, the two left.
Shiina took one large bag, and Mochizuki took one small bag and one large bag.
Perhaps because of the cashier's words, Shiina was momentarily too embarrassed to speak, occasionally secretly glancing at Mochizuki, then pretending not to care.
Mochizuki, meanwhile, was thinking, 'It's a bit heavy, good thing I didn't buy those two large cans of cola!'
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