Not participating in the KTV gathering organized by some classmates, Izumi Chihiro and Eriri chose to go straight home.
"There's an interfering fellow who always likes to butt in, it's really annoying."
On the way, Eriri looked at the photo in her hand and muttered.
Izumi Chihiro smiled without speaking.
After taking another careful look, Eriri safely placed the photo in the interlayer of her handbag.
"Placing the photo so carefully, is Eriri worried it might accidentally get damaged on the way home?"
Seeing this, he teased her.
"Well, not really, although unpleasant things have happened, but… for now, this period of middle school life still has a tiny bit of commemorative significance, mm, not much."
Eriri glanced sideways.
Very few people left an impression on her, and she was even given the annoying nickname 'Shimamura Middle School's Jade Maiden', but on this final day, an inexplicable emotion arose in her heart that she couldn't shake off.
"Perhaps, this is what makes youth worth reminiscing about."
Izumi Chihiro clasped his hands behind his head, looked at the sky, and suddenly exclaimed.
"Pfft, Chihiro, you're trying to act profound, aren't you?"
Eriri couldn't help but laugh.
He turned to look at the girl, then shook his head.
The twin-tailed girl sensitively noticed this.
"What do you mean by shaking your head!?"
Eriri's eyes narrowed slightly.
"It doesn't have any special meaning… making a big deal out of a small matter, that's Eriri's flaw, you should learn to correct it, otherwise, you'll suffer greatly in the future."
Izumi Chihiro said airily.
"You don't need to teach me! Besides, you've said that many times! It's annoying!"
Eriri immediately showed impatience.
Izumi Chihiro was not surprised; this always happened whenever he pointed out his childhood friend's shortcomings.
Hmm, because not humbly accepting others' opinions is also Eriri's flaw.
Speaking of which, she has too many flaws!
Perhaps, only he, this kind and benevolent childhood friend, could tolerate her.
While chatting, footsteps suddenly sounded from behind them.
"Chihiro!"
"Hmm?"
The two stopped and looked back.
"Hoo…"
A red-haired girl ran over, stopping breathlessly, hands on her knees.
"Maki, is something the matter?"
Izumi Chihiro asked.
"That… I have something I want to… talk to you about alone."
Nishikino Maki looked up, her gaze gradually firm.
Amidst her hesitation, she finally made up her mind.
"We've already graduated, and you're still pestering him."
Eriri glared sideways.
Nishikino Maki completely ignored her, her eyes directly meeting Izumi Chihiro's, without the slightest evasion.
"I understand."
Izumi Chihiro nodded, then turned and said, "Eriri, you go back first."
"Hmph, it's not like I have to stay here and wait for you, even if you're going on a date with someone, I don't care."
Eriri looked at him with disdain, then turned and left, as if without a trace of reluctance.
When she looked back, she found that the two of them had already walked in the other direction.
"Hmph, for the last day, I'll give you some face!"
The girl snorted lightly and walked towards the train station.
"By the way, when did those two start calling each other by name?!"
Eriri's expression suddenly froze, and she stopped in her tracks.
…
The two arrived at a small garden, and when they sat on a bench, Nishikino Maki seemed a bit at a loss for what to do.
She had mustered up her courage and followed him, but she hadn't thought about what to say.
She felt very troubled at the moment.
"Maki, just say it, I'll listen carefully."
Finally, Izumi Chihiro spoke first.
He had always been an understanding person, and after seeing Maki's predicament, he took the initiative to communicate.
Nishikino Maki calmed down a bit.
As the saying goes, third time's the charm, this was her third and final chance.
So she gathered her courage again, pressed one hand to her chest, took a deep breath, and said,
"Chihiro, can I have your contact information?"
"Eh?"
Izumi Chihiro's expression froze.
"N-no?"
Nishikino Maki's expression became a bit awkward.
She had just managed to muster up her courage, wouldn't saying that make her seem too stupid?
"No, no, I thought it was some kind of big request, but it's just a small matter, so I was a bit surprised… Now that I think about it, it is a bit strange that we've known each other for so long but don't have each other's contact information."
Izumi Chihiro immediately reacted.
"So you're saying…"
Nishikino Maki felt a surge of joy in her heart.
Was it really that simple?
She was indeed the stupid one for worrying so much before!
"Here's my phone number, and let's add each other on Line too, Maki, you use Line, right?"
Izumi Chihiro took out his phone.
"Mm-hmm."
Nishikino Maki nodded happily.
Ozaki Mako had helped her set up Line, and now her friend list finally welcomed its second close friend.
Thinking of this, she felt a little proud.
"Ding-dong."
She received a greeting emoji.
This, of course, was from the person beside her.
Nishikino Maki immediately responded with a cheerful smiling emoji of Sakura Kyoko.
Not only that, but her emoji collection was mostly filled with characters from puella magi madoka magica, showing how much she loved the work.
By the way, although she was kind-hearted, she had collected a large number of forbidden emojis of Kyubey's various deaths.
"Besides that, Maki, is there anything else you want to talk about?"
Izumi Chihiro understood, put his phone away, and said with a gentle expression.
"Yes, of course! If… Chihiro, you're not in a hurry, could I trouble you for a while?"
Nishikino Maki's eyes revealed a thirst for knowledge.
"Of course."
Izumi Chihiro readily agreed.
For the rest of the time, Nishikino Maki let herself go a bit, completely abandoning her usual reserved demeanor and acting very enthusiastically, as if she wanted to empty his mind of all knowledge.
This contrasting enthusiasm almost overwhelmed him.
But there was an end to everything.
The two took the evening train home.
"Goodbye, Maki, let's chat online if you have time."
Izumi Chihiro stood up, preparing to exit the station.
"Mm, goodbye."
Nishikino Maki watched him leave, and after a few seconds of stunned, she took out her earphones from her handbag, connected them to her phone, and put them in her ears.
I go to school to see you
I wake up early for you
You were the one who moved me
I've always admired you
...
As she listened, her ears turned red.
---
💯 PS = 2 bonus chapter