It was afternoon at Keyaki Mall, and Shikime Natsu was strolling leisurely down the street by himself.
It was the weekend, and Keyaki Mall was hardly short of foot traffic.
Just as he passed an open-air café, a crisp, bright voice suddenly rang out from the side, calling his footsteps to a halt.
"Ah, Shiki-san!"
That voice was quite familiar, carrying a highly recognizable cheerfulness to it.
Shikime Natsu stopped walking and turned his head.
What came into view was a girl sitting at one of the café's outdoor seats.
She was dressed in a simple, clean white blouse and a black skirt.
That head of glossy black hair had been carefully tied into two braids that hung down on either side of her shoulders—it was Nishikawa Ryouko.
She was sitting there all alone, one hand propping up her chin, the other gently stirring the coffee cup in front of her.
The moment she noticed Shikime Natsu turn his gaze toward her, a radiant smile instantly bloomed across her delicate face, and those pale golden eyes curved into lovely crescent shapes.
"Are you free right now, Shiki-san? Why don't you come and have a drink with me?"
Her voice was as bright and refreshing as ever, pleasant to listen to.
Shikime Natsu glanced at the table in front of her.
There was only a single cup of coffee on it—clearly... Nishikawa Ryouko was on her own right now.
Seeing this, Shikime Natsu didn't hesitate much. Quite naturally, he walked over, pulled out the chair across from Nishikawa Ryouko, and sat down.
"By yourself?"
Shikime Natsu spoke first, that gentle smile hanging on his face.
Hearing this question, Nishikawa Ryouko gave a light little laugh.
"Isn't Shiki-san by himself right now too?"
She lifted her coffee cup, took a shallow sip, then continued.
"To tell you the truth, I'd made plans to go shopping with someone today... but quite obviously, I got stood up."
Her tone was rather relaxed as she said this.
Shikime Natsu looked at her, the corner of his mouth curling into a hint of a smile.
"Even though you got stood up, you don't look the slightest bit unhappy about it, Nishikawa-san."
"Oh?"
Nishikawa Ryouko tilted her head slightly, a flicker of sly light flashing through those pale golden eyes.
"I'm actually quite angry right now, you know."
She deliberately put extra emphasis on the word "quite," yet the smile on her face didn't fade in the least.
"After all, getting stood up—how could anyone possibly be in a pleasant mood?"
Shikime Natsu smiled.
"Well, from the look on your face right now, Nishikawa-san, I can't tell at all."
"Is that so?"
Nishikawa Ryouko laughed softly a couple of times, then set down her coffee cup, crossed her hands and propped them on the table, leaning her body slightly forward as she looked at Shikime Natsu.
"Never mind, let's not talk about that."
"What would Shiki-san like to drink? My treat."
Before Shikime Natsu could even open his mouth, she quickly added another line, her tone carrying a trace of sly teasing.
"That said, if it's something too expensive, I really can't afford to treat you, Shiki-san."
After all, the cost of living at this school wasn't low—an ordinary cup of coffee cost several hundred Private Points, and if it was one of those specially-mixed premium drinks, the price would be double that.
Although Nishikawa Ryouko was in Class A, and Class A currently had plenty of Class Points—these days basically none of the Class A students were short on Private Points—but still... one always had to keep a reserve of hidden funds squirreled away.
Shikime Natsu smiled, and didn't stand on ceremony with her.
"Then I'll just have a coffee, whatever you're having is fine."
"Alright."
Nishikawa Ryouko waved her hand, signaling for the waiter to come over, and ordered Shikime Natsu the same coffee she was having.
After the waiter left, Shikime Natsu looked at Nishikawa Ryouko and casually asked.
"Nishikawa-san, do you plan to just spend the rest of your day whiling away the time at this café?"
"Originally I was planning to leave once I finished this cup of coffee."
Nishikawa Ryouko answered truthfully, then those pale golden eyes settled on Shikime Natsu, and the corner of her mouth curled into a faintly playful smile.
"But now that Shiki-san is here, I don't mind staying a while longer to keep you company and chat, or something like that."
She gently placed her small hand against her chin, striking a rather amused pose as she looked at Shikime Natsu.
"After all... Shiki-san is by himself too, and you look kind of pitiful."
That tone, that expression—it was clearly saying, "I'm doing you a charity here, you know."
Watching that little-devil-like manner of hers, Shikime Natsu couldn't help but let out a soft chuckle.
"Then, thank you very much, Nishikawa-san."
"You're welcome, you're welcome."
Nishikawa Ryouko waved her hand, the smile on her face growing a few shades brighter.
Before long, the waiter walked over carrying a steaming cup of coffee and gently set it down in front of Shikime Natsu.
"Please enjoy."
"Thank you."
Shikime Natsu picked up the coffee cup, gently blew on it, then took a shallow sip.
The taste wasn't bad. It couldn't be called top-grade coffee beans, but for a school café, it was already a pretty decent standard.
The bitterness was just right, and the sweet aftertaste was quite pronounced.
The very instant he set the cup down, Nishikawa Ryouko, seated across from him, suddenly spoke up again.
"Shiki-san..."
She drew out the words, those pale golden eyes glittering with a certain eager, itching-to-try light.
"May I gossip about a few things with you?"
"Gossip?"
Shikime Natsu raised an eyebrow and looked at her.
"Mm-hm."
Nishikawa Ryouko nodded repeatedly, those two braids swaying gently along with her movements.
"It's just... asking a couple of little questions, it won't take up too much time."
Watching that expectant look of hers, the corner of Shikime Natsu's mouth curled into a hint of a smile.
"And what if I said no?"
Hearing this answer, the smile on Nishikawa Ryouko's face not only didn't fade—it actually deepened a few shades.
She extended one slender finger, tapping it lightly on the table, and spoke in a matter-of-fact tone.
"Shiki-san has already drunk the coffee I treated you to, you know."
She deliberately paused for a beat, those pale golden eyes brimming with slyness.
"A girl's drink isn't something you can just drink carelessly—there's always a price to pay."
"Oh?"
Shikime Natsu regarded her with great interest.
"Then... what price will I have to pay?"
Seeing Shikime Natsu playing along so obligingly, Nishikawa Ryouko couldn't help but have her eyes light up, those pale golden eyes instantly radiating brilliance.
That expression was clearly saying, "You really know how to play, don't you."
Nishikawa Ryouko straightened her body back up, crossed her hands on the table, and the corner of her mouth curled into that signature smile laced with a touch of wicked mischief—the very picture of a little devil.
"Then... I'll go ahead and ask, you know."
She cleared her throat, those eyes fixed intently on Shikime Natsu's face, as though trying to capture even the slightest, most subtle change in his expression.
"Shiki-san..."
"Mister Scumbag."
"..."
Hearing this form of address, the expression on Shikime Natsu's face didn't change in the slightest—not even the curve of his smile shifted.
He merely gave a soft little laugh, then responded in that same relaxed tone.
"Please, go ahead."
He paused slightly, those pale golden eyes likewise turning to look at Nishikawa Ryouko, the smile at the corner of his mouth deepening a few shades.
"Nishikawa-san—you who once wore the very same piece of clothing as me."
"——!!!"
Nishikawa Ryouko's complexion underwent an obvious change the very instant she heard this line.
That little face, which had originally been wearing a sly smile and getting ready to enjoy the show, froze up almost in the blink of an eye.
Then a visible flush of red spread up from her neck, quickly creeping to the tips of her ears, and finally covering her entire fair-skinned cheeks.
Those pale golden eyes suddenly went wide, a flicker of panic and shame flashing through them.
"You, you——"
She opened and closed her mouth, wanting to say something in rebuttal, but the words that reached her lips turned into a string of stammering syllables.
That composed, unflappable little-devil manner of hers collapsed in that moment.
She had absolutely never imagined that Shikime Natsu would, at a time like this, bring up that incident on the Deserted Island—the one that had embarrassed her so badly she'd wanted to dig a hole and bury herself in it.
And what's more... he'd said it so bluntly!
What if this sort of thing got overheard by someone else?
What Shikime Natsu had just said could be considered quite suggestive, so Nishikawa Ryouko looked left and right, making sure there were no other students eavesdropping nearby, or wearing any surprised expressions.
Once she'd finished confirming, Nishikawa Ryouko couldn't help but breathe a sigh of relief, then those pale golden eyes glared viciously at the Shikime Natsu before her.
Even though she had been the one to launch the offensive against Shikime Natsu in the first place, this counterattack of his was simply going too far—it had directly touched upon something the girl deeply cared about in her heart.
After all, this was the first time the girl had swapped clothes to wear with a boy, and it had to be said—Shikime Natsu had left quite the impression in the girl's heart.
Damn it... Not only had Shikime Natsu failed to embarrass himself, he'd nonchalantly turned the tables and checkmated her.
Nishikawa Ryouko drew in a deep breath, trying to calm herself down.
But it was no use—the memories of that day came surging madly into her mind like floodwaters bursting through a dam.
By the riverside, she had fallen into the water, soaked from head to toe.
Her white T-shirt had turned half-transparent, her underwear faintly visible through it.
Shikime Natsu had lent her his own dry clothes to wear.
She had worn that loose, oversized T-shirt of Shikime Natsu's, breathing in the scent lingering on it.
And then...
She had handed her own wet clothes over to Shikime Natsu, and Shikime Natsu had put on that women's T-shirt of hers that was obviously several sizes too small...
That scene—just recalling it was enough to make Nishikawa Ryouko feel her cheeks were hot enough to fry an egg.
"Th-that was all such a long time ago!"
She finally found her voice again, lowering her volume, speaking with a touch of flustered exasperation.
"Shiki-san, could you please not just bring up this kind of thing so casually?!"
"Oh?"
Shikime Natsu lifted his coffee cup, took another leisurely sip, then looked at her with an expression that was half a smile and half not.
"You were the one who called me Mister Scumbag first, Nishikawa-san. I was merely returning the courtesy."
"And besides..."
He set down the cup, those pale golden eyes carrying a touch of playfulness.
"The title 'Nishikawa-san who once wore the very same piece of clothing as me'—is there something wrong with it?"
"Of course there's something wrong with it!"
Nishikawa Ryouko practically forced the words out through gritted teeth.
"That time was just a special circumstance!"
"Mm, I know."
Shikime Natsu nodded, the smile on his face as composed as ever.
"So is Nishikawa-san denying the fact that we wore the same piece of clothing?"
"I——!"
Nishikawa Ryouko was left speechless. Of course she couldn't deny it, because it was the truth.
"Shiki-san..."
She looked at Shikime Natsu, those pale golden eyes carrying a touch of resentful grievance.
"You're really quite mean-spirited."
"Right back at you."
Shikime Natsu smiled.
"Weren't you also hoping to see me look embarrassed, Nishikawa-san?"
Hearing this line, Nishikawa Ryouko's complexion changed again.
She had indeed... indeed been hoping to see Shikime Natsu reveal an embarrassed or awkward expression.
But... she'd never imagined that before her offensive had even properly gotten underway, it would be dissolved with a single nonchalant sentence by Shikime Natsu—and that she herself would be plunged into an awkward predicament in return.
This feeling... was really unpleasant.
But there was no way to argue against it either.
Because what Shikime Natsu had said was indeed correct.
From the very beginning, she had come to gossip with the intention of "wanting to watch this man make a fool of himself."
And the result...
The one making a fool of herself had become her.
Nishikawa Ryouko bit her lip, those pale golden eyes staring at Shikime Natsu for several seconds, and then suddenly she burst out with a "pfft" of laughter.
"Alright, alright, I concede."
She raised both hands in a gesture of surrender, and though the flush on her face hadn't fully receded, that sly smile had once again crept back to the corner of her mouth.
"Shiki-san really isn't such an easy fellow to deal with after all."
"I never intended to deal with anyone in the first place."
Shikime Natsu shrugged.
"It was just Nishikawa-san coming up to me on your own."
"My, listen to you talk—as if I'm some kind of troublemaker."
Nishikawa Ryouko lightly patted the table, pursing her lips in feigned displeasure.
"Aren't you, though?"
Shikime Natsu shot back.
"...Fine, maybe a little."
Nishikawa Ryouko admitted it rather frankly, then her gaze settled on Shikime Natsu once more, the corner of her mouth curling into a smile full of deeper meaning.
"But, since Shiki-san has already admitted to having worn the same piece of clothing as me..."
She deliberately drew out the words, those pale golden eyes glittering with a sly light.
"Then wouldn't that make the relationship between us something out of the ordinary?"
"Hm?"
Shikime Natsu raised an eyebrow, gesturing for her to continue.
Nishikawa Ryouko extended two index fingers, making a little gesture in front of her chest.
"It's just... how should I put it..."
"Ordinary classmates wouldn't just carelessly swap clothes to wear, would they?"
"So, following that logic, Shiki-san and I should count as..."
She tilted her head, as if pondering an appropriate word.
"Intimate friends?"
Having said this title, she herself was the first to be unable to hold back her laughter.
"Of course, this is just my own one-sided way of putting it. Shiki-san is free not to acknowledge it."
Watching her talk to herself and amuse herself like that, Shikime Natsu couldn't help but shake his head.
"Nishikawa-san, have you ever thought about one thing?"
"What thing?"
"From the moment we sat down just now up until now, you seem to have been the one actively bringing up topics the whole time."
Shikime Natsu lifted his coffee cup and swirled it gently.
"And what's more... every single topic seems to have something to do with the relationship between you and me."
"Oh?"
Nishikawa Ryouko blinked, a trace of wariness flashing through those pale golden eyes, but it was quickly replaced by a smile.
"So what is it that Shiki-san is trying to say?"
"What I'm trying to say is..."
Shikime Natsu set down the cup, leaning his body slightly forward, those pale golden eyes gazing straight at Nishikawa Ryouko.
"Nishikawa-san—you wouldn't happen to have some sort of feelings for me, would you?"
"——!!!"
Nishikawa Ryouko's complexion changed again.
This time, the change was even more obvious than before.
That little face, which had originally been wearing a sly smile, froze up almost visibly the very instant she heard this line.
Then the flush that she had just barely managed to force back down came sweeping across again with irresistible force, quickly covering her cheeks, the tips of her ears, and even staining her neck a faint shade of pink.
Those pale golden eyes suddenly went wide, her pupils trembling slightly, her lips opening and closing, closing and opening again—the whole of her looking just like a cat whose tail had been stepped on, every hair on her body standing on end.
"Wh-what, what are you even saying?!"
Her voice involuntarily rose half a pitch, then she hurriedly lowered it, terrified of being heard by the people around her.
"How could I possibly have feelings for you?!"
Watching this state of hers, Shikime Natsu couldn't help but let out a soft chuckle.
"Nishikawa-san, your reaction... is a bit much, isn't it?"
My, my—the little devil's defenses had been breached in one fell swoop, even though they'd only just sat down to chat.
____
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