Passing by a video store, Izumi Ryoka stopped and looked inside.

"Kashiwahara-kun, actually, I like records."

"Records? Is this still popular now?" He felt puzzled.

"Is there any difference between vinyl records and digital music?" Kashiwahara asked curiously.

"There is a difference~"

Izumi Ryoka stepped up her calves and said with a smile, holding her hands behind her back:

"Digital music can be listened to by everyone, anytime and anywhere, so it has become cheap and not cherished. Vinyl records mean that you really own the music."

"But vinyl records will wear out, and maintenance is troublesome and expensive..."

"Yes, after all, the more sophisticated something is, the more expensive it is. I really like that kind of atmosphere. It's a pity that the record player is too expensive."

Kashiwahara seems to understand but not understand, how to understand this.

The sky was getting dark, so they found a soba restaurant next to the station. It was almost seven o'clock when they finished eating.

"It's getting late, Kashiwahara-kun, let's go back."

"good."

After all, the two of them had an awkward relationship at this time and it was not easy to go somewhere to spend time at night.

The tram I took back was not during rush hour tonight, so the carriage was quite empty.

Sitting shoulder-to-shoulder with Izumi Ryoka in the light blue carriage, even though she was studying in the morning and shopping during the day, she did not look tired and was full of energy.

Izumi likes to shake his calves to show his lively and joyful mood.

"~Humph~"

She likes to sing very much. In the empty carriage, she hums softly and the sound of clear water flows, which is surprisingly pleasant to the ears.

When you get close to her, you can seem to smell the fragrance of her hair. It smells good and fresh.

Kashiwahara was suddenly surprised. Isn't this the smell of sage?

It seems that I smelled it wrong.

If you just look at the girl's appearance and get in touch with her for a short time, you will really have a good impression on her. It is natural that you can't help but like such a girl.

If we didn't know the bad side behind the seemingly innocent appearance, perhaps the 58% heartbeat value at this moment would have climbed again.

"I'm almost at the station~"

"oh."

The standard straight man spoke, causing Izumi Ryoka to give the boy a charming look, but continued to hum without saying anything.

The tram door opened and some people got off one after another.

"Kashiwahara, I hope you like it."

The girl smiled like a flower and placed the small gift box in the boy's arms.

"whee."

"The boy I like is him."

The fair arm grasps the pink mobile phone.

On the screen was a boy with long hair, slightly green, with evasive eyes.

It was ‘Kashiwahara Kiyaki’ half a year ago

Leaving behind a playful ringtone, Izumi Ryoka smiled and waved goodbye through the car door, like a triumphant little fox.

Kashiwahara clenched the gift box in shock. Was this considered to have been flirted with by this guy?

Ding ~ a pleasant sound.

A pleasant taste spread from my heart.

Like a bucket of ice water on a hot summer day.

Because of her confession, cheers, celebrations, joy.

In the desolate ruins of the soul, there are the residual thoughts of 'Kashiwahara Kiyaki'.

It is constantly evaporating, rising and disappearing.

Kashiwahara let out a long sigh of relief from the previous depression in this body.

Heart rate soared to 80%

Holding the phone, he was about to send the words he had prepared for the purpose of pretending to be a performer.

But subconsciously, I held the handle and silently deleted it.

In fact, this can be considered a rare and beautiful period.

Although full of impurities and fragile, the dreamy bubbles burst at the drop of a hat.

It's hard to say whether Izumi Ryoka today is showing her true feelings or is still acting.

Maybe both.

However, let this complex and subtle emotion stay for a moment and experience it carefully.

Entering the 6-chome intersection in Kuroishi-cho, Adachi-ku, and ascending Shirasaka Slope Road, you can see the dojo in the distance.

The members of the Flower Field Group did not have the time to stare at him every day, which made him feel relieved.

I jumped across the vestibule, opened the wooden door of the dojo and walked in. Only then did I have time to take out my phone and check the line.

[Kashiwahara-kun, I am very happy today, thank you for staying with me]

【Thank you for your gift, I...】

[No need to say anything, we won’t remember anything when we get up tomorrow, okay? Good night]

The speaker of the mobile phone played the gentle greetings of Izumi Ryoka.

It seemed that he didn't want Kashiwara Kiyaki to think too much.

【Good night】

Kashiwahara spoke in a complicated tone.

At this time, open the game email:

[Congratulations to the player for obtaining the love material ‘The Temptation of Green Tea*1’]

[Congratulations to the player for obtaining the love material ‘Attentive Flattery*1’]

Something unexpected - if it weren't for Izumi Ryoka's naughty smile at the end, it's really hard to imagine where this love material would have come from.

However, the hunt and counterattack have begun.

Anyone who gets emotional first will lose the initiative in this game, and may even lead to the defeat of the game.

Kashiwahara will remember to treat this as a game.

He will definitely be the one to win the game in the end.

Put the gift box given by Izumi Ryoka in the cabinet, wash up for a while, tonight's swordsmanship training is unintentional.

I changed into my pajamas, lay down on the tatami, and fell into a deep sleep.

…

After class, I was chatting online with Izumi Hisoka as usual. Before I put my phone away, I was interrupted by Masato Yamazaki:

"Kashiwahara, I have something to tell you." He said seriously.

daisuki?

Obviously not.

"Kashiwara, let me ask you, have you been very close to Izumi-san recently?"

"You know?" Kashiwahara asked in surprise. These things were not publicized to the outside world.

"I saw it accidentally. Listen to me, are you and Izumi...in a relationship..."

Kashiwahara was about to answer no, but then he suddenly recalled some information needed for the love sequence and thought about his words.

Fortunately, no one was paying attention to this corner of the classroom, so I wasn't worried.

"I'm pursuing her." Kashiwahara just said that.

"Pursuing... Kashiwahara, are you crazy?! The scar has healed and you have forgotten the pain. You have forgotten what she teased you about half a year ago?!" Yamazaki looked at his best friend in disbelief.

"..."

"Listen to me, it's impossible for a girl like Izumi Ryoka to like you. Don't be blinded by temporary temptation. There are so many boys pursuing her. Why should they like you and fancy you?"

Yamazaki Masato's words were a bit vulgar and straightforward, but he was worried about his best friend and couldn't bear for him to continue to get stuck in the quagmire.

"No, Izumi is different now. I believe she must have a crush on me, otherwise she wouldn't have taken the initiative to find me!" Kashiwahara continued to say stubbornly, not listening to his friend's dissuasion at all, and continued to perform, as if he was extremely lustful.

Licking the dog.

"...Kashiwahara, I don't want to see you sad again. Girls like Izumi Ryoka look innocent and cute, but are very difficult to deal with. You think she likes you, but maybe she is just hanging on you..."

"No need to say more, I have made up my mind. I like her and I can't live without Izumi-san!" Kashiwahara is very persistent and refuses to change, but he apologizes in his heart and the performance must continue.

"You...hey." Yamazaki shook his head and sighed. Kashiwahara was as stubborn as a donkey, leaving him helpless.

"Thanks."

Kashiwahara's words made Masato Yamazaki pause and scratch his head in frustration. He didn't need a thank you from his friends, he just needed his friends to see Izumi's true face. Hey, I really wanted to give him a friendly punch!

You finally get out of the quagmire and then fall into it again in the blink of an eye. Are you so happy just being a licking dog?
Chapter completed!