While waiting for the shop owner to fetch the optometry equipment, Asakura Mio didn't directly answer whether she'd allow the other to change how they addressed her.
Instead, she steered the conversation toward something that would likely interest Amaori Renako more—picking out eyeglass frames.
Her own current frames were indeed a bit warped, and she had planned to replace them anyway. And choosing something she loved from a dazzling array of options was a pleasure few girls could resist.
Much like how Asakura Mio loved privately ranking the members of the "Quintet" by "most beautiful face"—by the way, Amaori Renako was currently ranked last in her book.
It wasn't that she wasn't cute, but compared to the other four girls, each uniquely striking in their beauty, Renako's looks came off as a bit more… "ordinary."
Of course, this "ordinary" was far from plain or forgettable.
It was just… well, maybe because she seemed to pair well with anyone, it somehow made it harder to feel a particularly strong "shipping desire"!
Right now, Asakura Mio simply handed the choice over to Renako, suggesting, "Could you help me pick out frames that suit me better?"
Eager to get closer, Renako immediately forgot the earlier discussion about names and threw herself enthusiastically into the new task.
"These! How about these? They look cool, kinda like VR glasses."
"Not really something you'd wear every day…"
"Then these? They're not too flashy, and the color is really close to your hair, Asakura-san. I think they'd match well."
"If the color's too similar, it's just boring, don't you think?"
"Hmm… Haruna said something like that too, ah—I mean, my little sister, Amaori Haruna!"
There really was no need for that explanation… But wait, Amaori has a little sister? That was unexpected intel. Hmm… sisterly relationships can be pretty captivating too.
Just as Mio was about to casually ask more about this sister, Renako let out a small gasp, as if she'd discovered some rare treasure.
"These! These would definitely suit you, Asakura-san!"
When she turned around, she was holding a pair of glasses in a soft pink hue—a store display model, so the lenses were just plain glass.
"No way, those are too pink. They definitely wouldn't suit me."
"Eh~ Just try them! Wearing glasses that give a totally different vibe might lead to good things! Like, maybe you'll get noticed more easily and make friends faster!"
That's even more reason not to! Making friends means having to carefully hide your true tastes. That's just more trouble than it's worth.
"No!"
"Just try them~"
"No!"
"Just for a second?"
Even though she'd said she wanted Renako's help picking, Mio swiftly shot down every suggestion.
It was clearly just an offhand remark. But Renako, enjoying herself thoroughly like a carefree, tail-wagging pink puppy, kept stubbornly trying.
In the end, Mio gave in, unable to withstand the clingy girl's persistence.
"Fine, fine… I'll try them on, but I am definitely not buying these frames!"
"Yeah, yeah! Just try them on first!"
But just as Renako was about to hand over the glasses, she suddenly paused. Then, with a serious look, she gazed at Mio and said slowly:
"How about… I help you put them on, Asakura-san?"
What is this! Why does everyone seem so keen on putting glasses on her? If they like it so much, why don't they just become nearsighted themselves! Stop treating her like some dress-up doll!
Yet, Mio didn't say "No" this time.
Because… the image of Oozuka Mai putting glasses on her at noon was just too vivid. So vivid that even now, when she closed her eyes, she could clearly recall that other girl's flawless, perfect face.
If—if she let Amaori Renako put glasses on her instead, maybe it would dilute the impact Oozuka Mai had left?
She certainly didn't think Oozuka Mai held any special feelings for her.
Fantasizing about that would only lead to pointless overthinking. And the Amaori Renako before her clearly genuinely wanted to be friends.
So—having glasses put on was just a normal act between "friends."
It was ab-so-lute-ly impossible for it to feel even remotely thrilling!
Letting a "friend's" action overwrite that suspicious flutter sounded like a smart choice. Although she wasn't sure how effective it would be… well, life was short. Why not give it a try?
"Mm… okay, fine… just, just try it then…"
Mio turned her face away slightly and muttered under her breath. Out of the corner of her eye, she saw Renako's face slowly break into a bright, radiant smile—like a tiny sun suddenly blooming in the middle of a sunflower, dazzling enough to hurt your eyes.
Darn it, I shouldn't have come for glasses today. I should've gotten sunglasses instead!
"Here I go then!"
It sounded like the opening line of some strange ritual, or like the confirmation step in some embarrassing play.
Renako announced it solemnly once more. Mio rolled her eyes slightly in exasperation but obediently lowered her head a little.
She was quite tall for a girl, nearly 170 cm. She didn't seem short even next to Oozuka Mai, and Renako looked especially petite beside her.
When Oozuka Mai told her to lower her head, it was probably to align their sightlines for adjusting the glasses. But with Renako, if she didn't lower her head, the other girl would probably have to stand on her tiptoes to reach.
But she still underestimated Renako's eagerness—before she had fully lowered her head, the other girl was already up on her toes, raising her arms and leaning in.
She had no choice but to stand still and let Renako perform the task. The cool temple tips had just slipped past her ears when—
"You two seem really close."
"Eek!"
"Ah!"
The sudden voice of a third person startled Renako, making her lose her footing. She tumbled forward.
Mio instinctively stepped back to avoid her but immediately realized that would just let the other girl fall flat on the floor. She hastily bent her knees and reached out to catch her.
But that initial step back meant she had to use much more force to support Renako—what should have been an ordinary stumble instantly turned into Mio practically lifting Renako's whole body with both hands.
And their faces abruptly drew close in this sudden motion.
So close she could clearly see her own reflection in the other's pupils.
So close that maybe less than a centimeter remained between their lips.
She could even feel Renako's suddenly quickened breath against her upper lip, then drawn into her own lungs with her next instinctive inhalation.
This kind of development… was a bit too intense.
--+--