After parting ways with Sumitomo Ryouta and the others, Kuroba Akira pointed his chopsticks at Shiginomiya and asked:
"Speaking of which, Shion, didn't your dad say something about helping you sort out any problems if you wanted to keep studying? You could technically return to school anytime, right?"
He was subtly probing to see if Shiginomiya had truly meant what she'd just said.
However, in response to this casual question, Shiginomiya didn't show the same cold detachment as she had towards Saionji Mao. Instead, she asked him hopefully:
"Does Akira-kun want me to go back to school?"
"Uh... From my perspective, of course I'd prefer you focus on becoming a professional rather than school."
"Then I won't go back to school. I'll follow whatever Akira-kun arranges for me, because we made a promise, right? I've already handed my future to you."
Shiginomiya bluntly and decisively jumped to this conclusion.
Tashiro Benika's jaw practically dropped at Shion's near-confession, then widened her eyes as she stared at Akira.
Akira, just what on earth did you tell this girl!? If you said something of this magnitude to Shion-chan, you're definitely stealing her heart!
Akira awkwardly scratched his head. At the time, he'd simply been determined not to let slip a 3S-level genius like Shiginomiya, so he'd said something rather heavy-handed. But he never imagined Shiginomiya would be so completely won over by it, remembering those words clearly and constantly bringing them up.
"Well, I just worry you might have regrets. After all, school life only happens once, and youth doesn't come back again."
"Hmm... I get what Akira-kun means, but I'm really not forcing myself. I'm happy enough like this."
Of course, she had regrets—but it wasn't about missing school itself. It was regret over not being able to attend school alongside Kuroba Akira.
Actually, Shiginomiya had trouble getting up early, but she still worked hard to overcome her low blood pressure, waking up at 6 AM just like Akira, purely to spend as much time together with him as possible.
Though every morning, when she sent Akira out the door, she felt like a wife bidding farewell to her husband leaving for work, filled with worry and anticipation.
But still, she wished more strongly to leave together with him, walking shoulder-to-shoulder to school, chatting about trivial things… and maybe holding hands, or even clinging onto his arm.
Once at school, it'd be perfect if they could sit side-by-side, so she could see his profile every time she turned her head, sneak him notes, or pretend she'd dropped her eraser, getting him to pick it up and then rewarding him...
Or being seated behind him would be fine too, so she could gaze at him all day, secretly write characters on his back, blow gently on the nape of his neck, tease him with her foot, massage his shoulders, or play with his hair...
Then, at lunchtime, they'd eat their bentos together—maybe she'd even feed him by hand... Akira-kun, say ahh~
Shiginomiya's delusions had already gone off the rails. Imagining herself feeding Akira with chopsticks, watching him eat happily, then naturally placing those chopsticks into her own mouth, licking the tips with her tongue...
At that moment, Shiginomiya was actually holding chopsticks, and couldn't resist sucking lightly, swallowing the saliva that was rapidly pooling beneath her tongue.
Rather than delicious food, she found herself craving the taste from his mouth, greedily wanting to savor his saliva…
Just as she previously fantasized about him embracing her, Shiginomiya now began coveting his lips.
If she ever saw Akira sleeping deeply, she knew she'd be unable to hold back and would definitely kiss him. Shiginomiya was desperately thirsty for a kiss.
Sadly, such an "ordinary" student life was hopelessly out of her reach...
But right now, more than her regret at missing out on school life with Akira, Shiginomiya was more afraid of another woman stealing what she herself couldn't have.
The one most worthy of caution was the girl named "Hitomi." Judging from what that Sumitomo classmate had just said, she seemed quite close to Akira at school.
"By the way, Akira-kun, do you get along well with that girl called Hitomi?"
Upon hearing this, Akira himself barely reacted—but Tashiro Benika instantly perked up.
Shion-chan's investigating her rival!
Moreover, Benika herself was also very curious about Akira's romantic life at school, eager to know just how many girls this kid had attracted there.
"Hitomi? Ah, you mean Class Rep."
Shiginomiya noted Akira's way of referring to her unseen "number-one rival" as "Class Rep," which indicated some emotional distance.
If they were really close friends, he'd probably call her by name, like he did with herself.
In that aspect, I've got the upper hand!
"I get along well with Class Rep; we're pretty good friends, I guess."
"Good friends, huh… Then, is she pretty?"
"Quite pretty."
Shiginomiya's mood plummeted.
"But not as pretty as you."
Damn Akira, pausing like that—but still, it was the absolute truth.
As of yet, no one could match Shiginomiya in terms of looks—she was genuinely ahead by miles, eclipsing everyone else.
Shiginomiya's mood soared. For the first time, she felt genuinely happy about being pretty, even proud of her appearance.
She wanted the person she liked to also like her—to like her looks, her body, and everything else…
This romantic feeling dissolved her past hatred toward her own appearance, neatly cutting through her emotional knot with the mighty force of love.
"But Class Rep is one of those rare people who seriously value friendship, so being considered a good friend by her is honestly fortunate for me... Though sometimes, I feel quite pressured too."
Akira had already felt the immense "gravity" coming from Class Rep several times, prompting this minor complaint.
"I see…"
It seemed they were only friends for now—but overly close friends still had the potential to become lovers.
Shiginomiya's mood fluctuated wildly, even affecting her overall demeanor.
"Friendships from school days rarely last forever, so Akira, make sure you cherish this friendship, okay?"
Tashiro Benika deliberately emphasized "friendship," trying to soothe Shiginomiya's emotions a bit.
From her perspective, she still rooted more for her "family."
"Of course, I'm already doing that—after all, I don't have many friends at school."
"..."
They're still just friends...and Akira-kun and I are also friends.
Looked at this way, everyone was still at the same starting line.
But Shiginomiya felt she had "home-field advantage," because she lived with Akira, even sleeping in the same room.
Thus, she shouldn't hope for more than necessary. Asking to attend school with him would only make Akira's affection drop, becoming counterproductive.
Better to yield the school territory. The home is my main battlefield.
Anyway, Akira-kun would eventually graduate, while she could keep living with him indefinitely.
Although, after debuting, their time together would drastically decrease…
So, before that happened, she had to boost Akira's affection as much as possible, making him inseparable from her—even if just physically!
Hitomi's existence triggered a sense of crisis in Shiginomiya Shion, pushing her to resolve to become more aggressive from now on—no more passively waiting around.
"Well then, we finished eating, let's go back, Akira-kun—back to our home."
"Yeah, it's about time."
Tashiro Benika smiled wryly from the sidelines. Shion-chan seems to have completely forgotten I exist.
Fortunately, Akira still had some conscience and didn't forget the one who paid for their meal, patting his stomach appreciatively.
"Thanks for the meal, Benika-san—I thoroughly enjoyed it. I'll remember this one."
"No need to be so formal with Onee-san; it's not like it was anything expensive. Just glad you enjoyed it."
Benika smiled softly, watching the two youngsters radiating youthful energy, quietly asking herself:
Hey, what do you think?
They're both good kids, right?
Have you started wanting to get closer to them?
And about Akira's proposal for you to become Shion-chan's manager...
If you accept, you'll step onto an entirely different path.
Think about it carefully, Tashiro Benika—this is your life, after all.
---
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