The bell signalling the end of classes rang, and the students in the classroom packed up their things in twos and threes, getting ready to leave.
Shikime Natsu tidied up his desk without much thought. As for the arrangements for the Papershuffle, nobody felt any particular need to stay behind and discuss it. The reward wasn't much either, barely a drizzle, though of course that was still better than nothing.
That was what Shikime Natsu was thinking as he got ready to stand and go.
Then the phone in his pocket buzzed twice.
"Bzzz…"
Shikime Natsu pulled out his phone. The screen lit up, and a message popped out.
[Mako Amikura: Natsu, do you have plans after school?]
Shikime Natsu glanced at it, tapped a few times on the screen, and replied.
[Shikime Natsu: Nothing special. What's up?]
Not long after the message went out, the phone buzzed again.
[Mako Amikura: Great! Could you come to the coffee shop at Keyaki Mall? There are some things I want to talk to you about~]
[Mako Amikura: I'll be waiting! (^_^)]
Looking at the little emoticon at the end of the message, the corner of Shikime Natsu's mouth curved up.
[Shikime Natsu: Sure, I'll be there soon.]
Once he'd replied, Shikime Natsu slipped the phone back into his pocket and walked straight out of the classroom.
Before long Shikime Natsu arrived at Keyaki Mall, found the coffee shop Mako Amikura had mentioned, and pushed the door open.
After a quick look around, he spotted two people sitting by the window.
One was a girl with a big purple ponytail, those bright eyes of hers lively and quick, her whole bearing radiating energy. That was Mako Amikura.
Sitting across from Mako Amikura was a girl with long strawberry-blonde hair and deep blue eyes.
The gentle, warm smile on that delicate little face made people want to draw closer without realizing it. That was Honami Ichinose.
Shikime Natsu strode over toward them, perfectly natural about it, and sat down across from the two girls.
Once he was seated, those pale golden eyes took in the pair of them, and with a slight smile he greeted them softly.
"Mako, Ichinose-san."
Noticing that Shikime Natsu had arrived, a sweet smile spread across Mako Amikura's lips.
"Natsu, you're here!"
There was a skip of delight in her voice, and her bright eyes brimmed with joy.
Honami Ichinose gave a small nod, a polite smile rising on that delicate little face as she answered softly.
"Good afternoon, Shiki-san."
Honami Ichinose's gaze lingered on Shikime Natsu's face for a moment, then slid away again, a little uneasily.
Having sat down, Shikime Natsu didn't beat around the bush.
He turned his head, looked at Mako Amikura, and asked, "Mako, is there something you wanted to tell me, calling me out to the coffee shop today?"
Hearing the question, Mako Amikura tilted her head slightly, a sly glint flashing through those bright eyes.
She reached up and cupped her own cheeks in both hands, the gesture carrying that playful, adorable quality unique to girls her age.
Then she smiled and spoke slowly, in a tone with a hint of a wheedle in it.
"What is it, Natsu~"
"Am I not allowed to just want to see Natsu?"
Hearing that answer, the smile at the corner of Shikime Natsu's mouth deepened.
"Of course you are."
There was indulgence in Shikime Natsu's voice.
Watching the exchange between Shikime Natsu and Mako Amikura from the side, Honami Ichinose's deep blue eyes filled with envy.
She envied that natural, close, utterly unaffected way the two of them had with each other.
That kind of relationship, where you could pout and tease and say whatever you felt whenever you liked… for Honami Ichinose, it was a luxury she could see but never reach.
Simply being able to hold a normal conversation with Shikime Natsu was already hard enough for her.
Let alone doing what Mako Amikura had just done, saying something like "Am I not allowed to just want to see Natsu?" in that coaxing tone.
Honami Ichinose thought about that, and a faint disappointment passed through those deep blue eyes.
Then she remembered the scene she had witnessed in the elevator that morning.
Sakayanagi Arisu with her arm looped through Shikime Natsu's, the two of them walking side by side.
That image and the present one—Shikime Natsu sitting beside Mako Amikura—overlapped in her mind.
The feeling it gave her was impossible to put into words.
Still, Honami Ichinose pulled her emotions back together quickly enough. She drew a deep breath, and that gentle smile returned to her face.
It was right then that Mako Amikura spoke up.
Those bright eyes looked straight at Shikime Natsu, and a meaningful smile tugged at her lips.
"Natsu."
"Have you… already become boyfriend and girlfriend with Sakayanagi-san?"
She paused, then went on, "This morning I saw the two of you show up together, and you looked awfully close."
Hearing the question, Shikime Natsu didn't deny it.
"Mm, that's right."
"So that's how it is~"
"I was wondering about it. When I saw you and Sakayanagi-san turn up together this morning, I thought the mood between you two felt different."
As she spoke, Mako Amikura reached out, lifted the coffee cup from the table, and took a light sip.
"Still… that was pretty fast."
She set the cup down, amusement flickering in those bright eyes.
"Natsu really is Natsu, huh."
Shikime Natsu smiled and said nothing more.
Just then a server came over, a tray in hand with several drinks on it.
Mako Amikura quickly took it, then set one of the coffees down in front of Shikime Natsu.
"Natsu, this one's yours."
As she spoke, she placed the other coffee in front of herself. "And this latte is mine."
Then she put the last drink down in front of Honami Ichinose.
"Honami-chan, this is yours. Honey yuzu tea."
"Thank you," she said softly.
The atmosphere in the coffee shop was warm and easy, the soft yellow lights spilling over the three of them and softening every outline.
Shikime Natsu took a mouthful of coffee. The bitterness spread across his tongue, carrying with it a rich, distinctive aroma.
He set the cup down, his gaze settling on Mako Amikura.
"Mako." There was concern in Shikime Natsu's voice. "How's the training been going lately? The exercises, I mean."
At the question, Mako Amikura's eyes lit up at once.
"Great! Super great!" Excitement threaded through her voice. "I've been practicing those movements you taught me last time ever since, and the results are really obvious!"
As she spoke, she stretched out a hand and mimed one of them.
"And besides…"
"My body's been feeling a lot better lately too. I don't tire out as easily as before!"
Shikime Natsu listened and gave a small nod.
"That's good." There was a note of satisfaction in his voice. "With training, the most important things are consistency and correct form. Once the movements are right, the results come on their own."
Mako Amikura nodded hard, then, as if something had just occurred to her, turned to look at Honami Ichinose beside her.
"Oh right, Honami-chan has been going to the gym lately too." Encouragement colored Mako Amikura's voice. "And… she's been practicing the same exercises you taught me."
At that, Shikime Natsu's gaze shifted to Honami Ichinose, curiosity flickering through those pale golden eyes.
"Oh?"
He raised an eyebrow slightly, a smile at the corner of his mouth. "Ichinose-san works out too?"
Asked so directly by Shikime Natsu, a faint flush rose on Honami Ichinose's delicate little face.
She lowered her head a little and answered softly, "Mm… I have been going recently."
There was a trace of embarrassment in her voice.
"But… I'm not as good at it as Mako-san. A lot of my form is still off…"
Hearing that, Shikime Natsu smiled.
"That's fine. Everyone's like that at the start. Stick with it and you'll get a feel for it."
"If there's anything you don't understand, you can ask Mako anytime. Or you can come ask me."
At those words, Honami Ichinose's heart gave a hard thump.
Surprise flashed through those deep blue eyes, followed by a flutter she couldn't name.
"Thank you…" Honami Ichinose said quietly, shyness threading through her voice.
The three of them sat there in the coffee shop, talking about easy things.
Training, schoolwork, funny things that had happened recently. The mood stayed light and pleasant.
Then, as if something had just struck her, Mako Amikura glanced down at the time on her phone, and surprise flickered in those bright eyes.
"Oh no!"
There was apology in Mako Amikura's voice. "Sorry, sorry, I just remembered I've still got something to take care of."
As she spoke she stood up and picked up her bag.
"Natsu, Honami-chan, I'm heading off."
Mako Amikura smiled, and then her gaze went to Shikime Natsu, and then to Honami Ichinose.
A meaningful light glinted in those bright eyes.
Then she waved at Shikime Natsu and winked at Honami Ichinose.
Catching that look from Mako Amikura, a flush rose on Honami Ichinose's delicate little face.
Her heartbeat quickened in that instant, beyond her control.
Was Mako Amikura making a chance for her to be alone with Shikime Natsu?
Honami Ichinose thought so, and a flustered look crossed those deep blue eyes.
It was a rare opportunity. At school, getting time alone with Shikime Natsu was no easy thing at all.
That Mako Amikura would help her like this left Honami Ichinose deeply grateful.
Before long Mako Amikura's figure disappeared through the coffee shop door, and now there were only Shikime Natsu and Honami Ichinose at the table, sitting face to face.
Between them was one small table, the coffee and the honey yuzu tea on it still giving off thin curls of steam.
Honami Ichinose felt her heart beating faster and faster. She wanted to say something, wanted to break the quiet that had grown almost suffocating.
But the words stalled at her lips, and she had no idea what would be right to say.
All she could do was keep her head down, not daring to look at Shikime Natsu.
At last Honami Ichinose drew a deep breath and gathered her courage.
She lifted her head, those deep blue eyes on Shikime Natsu, and pulled a somewhat forced smile onto her lips.
"Shiki-san…"
"I'm sorry… for putting you to this trouble…"
She paused, then went on, "Mako just suddenly…"
She didn't finish, but the meaning was clear enough.
Hearing that, Shikime Natsu smiled and shook his head.
"Not at all." There was a gentleness in his voice. "I don't find it any trouble."
He paused, those pale golden eyes looking straight at Honami Ichinose. "Getting to talk with Ichinose-san is a happy thing too."
When Shikime Natsu said that, his tone was sincere—sincere enough that it landed very well with Honami Ichinose, leaving a warmth in her chest.
His words did her a great deal of good.
Every time she was alone with Shikime Natsu like this, Honami Ichinose felt a thick, welling happiness, and a sense of being safe.
"So am I…"
Honami Ichinose had barely finished answering when her phone received messages from Mako Amikura.
[Mako Amikura: Honami-chan, do your best! This chance took a lot of work to make for you, so grab it properly! (>_<)]
[Mako Amikura: Catch him off guard and take Natsu down in one go! I believe in you!]
[Mako Amikura: No need to thank me (^_^)]
Reading those messages, Honami Ichinose's already flushed little face turned so red it looked ready to drip blood.
Those deep blue eyes were full of shyness and panic. She bit her lower lip, thinking helplessly to herself.
Mako Amikura, honestly—catch him off guard and take Shiki-san down in one go?
How on earth was she supposed to manage something like that?
Honami Ichinose thought so, and a wry smile passed through those deep blue eyes.
She drew a deep breath and put the phone back in her pocket.
Then she raised her head, those deep blue eyes on Shikime Natsu.
Her delicate little face still carried the flush, but her expression was a good deal steadier than a moment ago.
Honami Ichinose's gaze settled on Shikime Natsu, and she spoke slowly.
"Shiki-san…"
"I never expected… that you and Sakayanagi-san would start going out so quickly."
Hearing that, Shikime Natsu blinked, caught off guard for a beat.
Then he smiled, and something like wonder flickered in those pale golden eyes.
"To be honest…"
"I didn't expect it at all either."
He paused, then continued, "Yesterday I went to Sakayanagi-san's dorm to check on her… she'd fallen ill."
"And then it just happened, naturally."
Shikime Natsu had already guessed that getting together with Sakayanagi Arisu would never follow the ordinary, step-by-step course most people took. Even so, he hadn't imagined it would come about quite so abruptly.
It ranked second only to how things had gone with Morishita Ai, really.
When Honami Ichinose heard all this, a serious light came into those deep blue eyes, and she quietly filed away everything Shikime Natsu had said.
A sickbed visit… an illness… and then the relationship leaps forward…
Honami Ichinose turned it over, thought flickering through those deep blue eyes.
And then an idea she herself found utterly absurd surfaced in her mind.
Should she… get sick too?
And then… trade it for the chance to leap forward with Shikime Natsu?
As Honami Ichinose entertained the thought, her already flushed little face gained a few more degrees of heat.
But she shook her head quickly and pushed the terrible idea out of her mind.
How could she think like that?
Falling ill was nothing to wish for.
And besides… she had a stretch of dark history she couldn't bear to look back on.
Someone like her… wasn't worthy of Shikime Natsu.
Honami Ichinose thought so, and those deep blue eyes dimmed.
Being able to watch Shikime Natsu from a distance… that was already a kind of luck.
At the very least… far luckier than those who never even got to see him.
Honami Ichinose comforted herself that way, and a bitter smile touched the corner of her mouth.
But right then she remembered the words Shikime Natsu had said to her before, and the bad mood was thrown behind her. He had gone to such lengths to reassure her—if she stayed exactly the same as always, wouldn't that be letting him down?
Those deep blue eyes softened again soon enough.
____
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