Seeing Honami Ichinose standing outside Shikime Natsu's dorm, a smile pulled at the corner of Mako Amikura's lips — as though she had seen this coming all along.
"Honami-chan."
Mako's voice carried a hint of amusement, her bright eyes fixed directly on Honami Ichinose.
Hearing Mako call her name out of nowhere, Honami felt a blush creep across her cheeks, a flicker of panic passing through those vivid blue eyes.
"Mako-chan... I can't do something like that."
"We only just... just started dating Natsu today..."
The words only deepened Honami's blush — she looked like a perfectly ripened apple, utterly adorable.
Honami thought to herself: Mako really was something else. No wonder she was a girl who had done things with Shikime Natsu — she handled this sort of situation with such ease.
Even words that should have been mortifying rolled off Mako's tongue naturally. Was this what it meant to be... completely at ease with all of it?
For Honami herself, though, it was simply impossible right now. Getting comfortable would take at least one time to break the ice first.
Just then, a thought occurred to her. Her gaze drifted to Mako, and the question formed: could it be that Mako had come here specifically tonight to do that sort of thing with Shikime Natsu?
But... today was supposed to be the first day she and Shikime Natsu started dating. If Mako and Shikime Natsu went and did something like that... it just felt wrong somehow.
At the very least, Honami's feelings right now were deeply unsettled — like something precious was being taken from her. This was bad.
"I think... if you like someone, you should be bold about it, Honami-chan. Weren't you hesitating about confessing to Natsu in the first place? But because you took that step, you became his girlfriend — didn't you?"
"So..."
Mako let the trailing word linger deliberately.
"Honami-chan, I think you know what I mean."
Hearing that, Honami felt... well, she supposed Mako wasn't wrong.
If she hadn't worked up the courage today to say those words... her relationship with Shikime Natsu might still be stuck at the "ordinary classmates" stage.
It might never have gone anywhere at all.
Honami turned that over in her mind, a thoughtful light passing through those vivid blue eyes.
But... even so... she still couldn't bring herself to make that decision. This was only their first day together.
For Honami Ichinose, she simply didn't have the nerve to cross that line.
Besides... wouldn't doing something like that make her seem like a lewd girl?
If Shikime Natsu got that impression of her, wouldn't that be terrible?
Or maybe... Shikime Natsu actually preferred girls who were forward about that sort of thing?
Honami had no idea.
All sorts of thoughts tangled together in her head, leaving her completely muddled.
Mako watched Honami's conflicted expression, a flicker of exasperation passing through her bright eyes.
Of course, if Honami was going to keep hesitating, Mako would just have to be the one to give her a push. Watching Honami waffle like this was making even Mako anxious.
"Honami-chan."
"If you don't have the courage..."
She paused, her bright eyes fixed directly on Honami.
"Then let me be the one to give you a hand."
Mako's bluntness left Honami momentarily stunned. Could someone really help with this sort of thing?
Mako turned around and walked up to the door of Shikime Natsu's dorm.
She reached out and knocked.
Knock. Knock. Knock.
Three crisp raps echoed down the quiet hallway.
Honami froze at the sight. Her vivid blue eyes went wide, pupils contracting slightly as her heart lurched.
The door opened almost at once. Shikime Natsu stood in the doorway, his pale golden eyes taking in the two figures before him.
His gaze moved first to Mako, then settled on Honami Ichinose.
Those pale golden eyes held no trace of surprise.
As if he had known all along that these two would show up.
A faint smile rested on Shikime Natsu's lips as his gaze shifted to Mako.
"Mako," he said, warmth threading through his voice. "Good evening."
Then his gaze shifted to Honami Ichinose. He seemed to consider something briefly, but said nothing further.
His expression was quiet and gentle — no questions about why she was still standing in the doorway, no curiosity about why the two of them had come together.
With Shikime Natsu looking at her like that, Honami felt her heart leap into her throat.
Especially when she thought about what Mako was about to do — her nerves were completely shot.
This can't be real, she thought. It's a joke, right? She's just trying to scare me, isn't she?
That Mako... she really had a mean streak.
Honami sighed inwardly.
"Natsu," Mako said, her voice casual, an undercurrent of amusement running through it. "Tonight... you don't have plans with any other girls, do you?"
Shikime Natsu gave a slight nod. "No."
Mako's smile brightened. "Perfect!"
Delight rang in her voice as she stepped forward and walked straight into Shikime Natsu's dorm.
At the doorway she paused, turning back to look at Honami, who still hadn't moved.
A sly gleam lit up those bright eyes.
"Honami-chan, what are you standing there for?" Mako's tone was breezy, matter-of-fact. "Come on in."
And with that, she turned and walked inside.
Honami stood rooted to the spot, at a complete loss — but now that Mako had already gone in, leaving would be strange, wouldn't it?
No, more than strange. Today of all days, when she and Shikime Natsu had just started dating — walking away now was absolutely out of the question.
And if Mako and Shikime Natsu ended up doing something together, wouldn't today become their anniversary instead?
Her own significance here would just... fade away?
Like something that belonged to her being claimed by someone else.
Absolutely not.
Something resolute — and complicated — flashed through those vivid blue eyes.
She took a deep breath.
"Excuse me..."
And with that, Honami followed Mako inside Shikime Natsu's dorm.
The door closed behind her.
Honami paused at the entrance, watching as Mako settled into a living room chair with the ease of someone right at home, those bright eyes warm with amusement.
She took a breath and walked over to sit beside her.
Those vivid blue eyes moved back and forth between Mako and Shikime Natsu.
Back in Class B, she was the one who led — but right now, Mako's presence felt absolutely overwhelming.
Was this really the difference between experience and inexperience?
Honami reflected on that, a quiet wistfulness stirring within her.
Once Mako had settled in, she looked up at Shikime Natsu with a sweet smile.
"Natsu," she said, her voice carrying a gentle pout — completely natural, not a trace of affectation. "I missed you."
The smile on Shikime Natsu's lips deepened.
He reached out and gently ran his fingers through Mako's long violet hair. "Same here," he said, his voice warm and indulgent.
Honami sat beside them, watching their easy exchange, a strange feeling settling over her.
Something complicated moved through those vivid blue eyes.
She was Shikime Natsu's girlfriend too — they had only just confirmed it today.
But... why did sitting here make her feel like such an outsider?
Why was the dynamic between Mako and Shikime Natsu so effortlessly natural, so close, while she herself couldn't seem to do anything at all?
A faint hollowness settled in Honami's chest.
She wanted to say something, wanted to join the conversation, wanted to have that kind of closeness with Shikime Natsu too.
But every time words rose to her lips, she couldn't figure out what to say.
So she sat quietly and watched Mako and Shikime Natsu talk.
The longer she listened, the stronger that sense of being an outsider grew.
Then she saw Mako lean in slightly, bringing her lips close to Shikime Natsu's ear. A sly glint passed through those bright eyes, and Mako murmured something — voice too low for Honami to catch a single word.
But she could see the slow, knowing smile that spread across Mako's face when she finished.
And when Shikime Natsu heard it, something amused flickered in those pale golden eyes, and he gave a small nod.
Watching this, Honami's unease sharpened.
What had Mako said to Shikime Natsu?
Anxiety flickered through those vivid blue eyes.
She took a deep breath, her pale hands gripping the hem of her skirt tight across her knees.
Her heart was pounding, her breathing uneven — playing it cool right now was not an option. So Honami decided to make her move.
"Natsu..."
"P-please... let me... join too..."
The words left Honami's lips barely above a whisper — so faint they seemed like they might dissolve into the air at any moment.
But they reached the other two clearly enough.
Surprise and delight flashed through Mako's bright eyes. She turned to look at Honami's deeply flushed face, her smile growing.
Sure enough — Honami needed a little outside pressure before she could make up her mind.
Mako didn't say anything further about it. She simply smiled and stepped aside.
Shikime Natsu looked at Honami's crimson face — those vivid blue eyes bright with nervous anticipation — and the smile on his lips deepened.
"Alright."
He stood up, his gaze sweeping over both of them. "Since Honami has decided to stay as well..."
He paused, then continued: "Let's shower first."
At that, Mako chimed in from beside him. "In that case, why don't all three of us go together? It'll be much faster."
Mako's dangerous suggestion had Honami's face blazing red in an instant. She had been steeling herself emotionally for this — but she hadn't anticipated there would be yet another hurdle to clear first.
Honami's face burned so red it seemed ready to bleed. Her vivid blue eyes swam with embarrassment and panic, and when certain images flashed through her mind, she felt like she might genuinely evaporate on the spot.
Not that she had any intention of refusing. Because if she said no, she would be left alone outside —
— and the bathroom's soundproofing wasn't exactly great. What if she ended up hearing... strange sounds?
That would be absolutely unbearable.
"Then let's all go together."
Noticing Honami's nod, Mako smiled. "For something to change into — could I have one of Natsu's shirts?" Her gaze turned to Shikime Natsu, eyes bright with anticipation.
"Of course," he said, and nodded.
"Then... I'd like to ask the same of you, Natsu..." Honami wanted one too.
The three of them stepped into the bathroom. The sound of water rose — and layered beneath it, a low voice, and a lighter, clearer one.
It was worth noting that Mako had spoken slightly too soon. Bathing together turned out to save very little time at all.
When the three emerged a while later, Mako had changed into one of his oversized shirts. Her long violet hair was still slightly damp, tumbling loose over her shoulders.
The shirt hung off her frame in a relaxed drape — covering just what it needed to cover. Below the hem, a pair of long, pale legs.
Her cheeks carried the warmth of a fresh shower, her whole presence easy and bright.
Honami had changed into one as well — though unlike Mako, the shirt on her frame was stretched somewhat out of shape, tracing the remarkable curves beneath.
Those sweeping contours were, if anything, more conspicuous for the loose shirt struggling to contain them.
Feeling Shikime Natsu's gaze settle on her, Honami felt a fresh blush rise across her face.
"Then... round two."
Not long after, the lights in the dorm dimmed, leaving only surging sounds in the dark.
____
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