In the classroom on Friday morning, various sounds of chatter and flipping pages intertwined.
Imaizumi Keita leaned back in his seat, unhurriedly taking out the history textbook needed for the first period from his bag.
Just then, an energetic figure arrived with a gust of wind and stopped by his desk.
"Yo, Kin-chan, good morning!"
Imaizumi Keita turned at the sound, and what met his eyes was Shioyaki Lemon's bright and sunny smile.
She seemed to have just finished morning practice, as her short brown hair was still slightly damp with sweat, and her whole being radiated a refreshing and healthy aura.
She naturally placed her schoolbag on the empty seat in front of Imaizumi Keita, then plopped down and turned around to face him.
"Good morning, Shioyaki," Imaizumi Keita nodded in response.
Almost the instant Shioyaki sat down, he felt a gaze from the other side of the classroom.
He discreetly glanced over with the corner of his eye.
Sure enough, Yanami Anna, who had been laughing and talking with her friends just a moment ago, now had her ears perked up and her eyes fixed on his direction, not even seeming to hear what her friend was saying to her.
"Um, Kin-chan,"
Shioyaki Lemon leaned forward slightly and lowered her voice, her face carrying a clear sense of anticipation and nervousness. "About that thing we talked about in the sports equipment room yesterday..."
"Oh, about Ayano wanting to borrow a book," Imaizumi Keita nodded understandingly.
"Yeah, yeah!" Shioyaki Lemon nodded vigorously, her eyes sparkling. "You said... I could pretend to visit the Literature Club when he goes there, right?"
"Right, that's what I suggested."
"Then..." A suspicious blush appeared on Shioyaki Lemon's cheeks, and her voice became somewhat embarrassed, "Will Kouki... be going there today? I-I want to go with him after school today..."
Looking at her pure-hearted maiden-like appearance, Imaizumi Keita couldn't help but feel emotional again.
She was clearly such a strong and decisive person on the sports field, yet she became so hesitant when it came to matters of the heart.
"He should be," Imaizumi Keita nodded, giving an affirmative answer. "I'll tell Ayano later to come straight to the Literature Club to find me after school. You can just follow him there when the time comes."
"Really?! That's great!"
Shioyaki Lemon's eyes instantly lit up, her face filled with undisguised joy.
She pressed her hands together and gave Imaizumi Keita a grateful smile.
"Thank you, Kin-chan! You're such a good person!"
After saying that, she waved and returned to her own seat.
Imaizumi Keita watched her back, but his heart felt no waves.
He just silently turned his head and looked toward Yanami again.
He saw Classmate Yanami with her mouth slightly pouted and her cheeks puffed out, staring at him with a gaze full of "resentment."
Imaizumi Keita smiled at her appearance and finally couldn't resist raising his hand to make a gesture as if lightly flicking her forehead from across the room.
Yanami Anna was stunned for a moment, then realized what he meant, and the dissatisfaction on her face vanished instantly.
She wrinkled her cute nose, made a face at him, and then turned back to continue chatting with her friends.
It was just that the corners of his mouth, which were curving upward, simply couldn't be pressed down anymore.
...
The lunch break bell rang right on time.
At the familiar bench in the courtyard on the first floor of the teaching building.
Imaizumi Keita took a bite of the curry bread he bought from the convenience store, while Yanami Anna, sitting beside him, was eating the rice balls she brought herself.
"Hey, Imaizumi-kun."
Yanami Anna swallowed the rice in her mouth and asked with a puzzled look, "Could it be... that you kind of like Lemon?"
"Huh?"
Imaizumi Keita's train of thought was interrupted. He turned his head, somewhat bewildered. "When did I ever say I liked her?"
"This morning!" Yanami Anna's tone carried a hint of self-righteousness. "When you were talking to her, you were smiling so happily! You even promised to help her create a chance to be alone with Ayano-san! If that's not liking her, what is?"
Listening to this accusation that could be described as "making a scene out of nothing," Imaizumi Keita only felt it was somewhat funny.
"I say, Yanami," he put down the bread in his hand and looked at her composedly, "Do you think I'm like you? Enduring the pain to create opportunities for your crush and your love rival to be alone, and even hypocritically urging them to get together quickly..."
"Imaizumi! You..."
Seeing Yanami looking a bit triggered, Imaizumi Keita reached out and pressed down on her scrunched-up nose, emphasizing his point.
"And isn't it a bit too early for you to be getting jealous? Don't forget, we're only 'pretend' boyfriend and girlfriend."
"So what!"
Yanami Anna immediately puffed out her chest and retorted aggressively, "A pretend boyfriend and girlfriend are still boyfriend and girlfriend! As a girlfriend, pretending to be jealous of the intimate interactions between my boyfriend and other girls is also part of the 'pretend' act! This is called being professional, don't you understand!"
She spoke with such self-righteousness that Imaizumi Keita actually couldn't find a reason to refute her for a moment.
He looked at her smug expression that said "Everything I said is right, hurry up and praise me," and finally sighed helplessly.
Honestly, this woman...
Ever since that thin veil was pierced, her skin seems to have become thicker and thicker.
"Fine, everything you said is right."
Imaizumi Keita nodded and followed her lead, "Since 'pretending to be jealous' is part of the act..."
He paused for a moment, leaning his body forward slightly, getting a bit closer to Yanami's cheek.
"Then, to make our relationship look more real, it should be natural to conduct more intimate 'lover-style drills,' right?"
"Of course!"
Yanami Anna blurted out, her face full of an expression that said "Why even ask?"
However, as soon as her words fell, she met Imaizumi Keita's eyes, which were filled with a mischievous smile.
Her heart skipped a beat.
The next second, Imaizumi Keita's gentle voice rang in her ear.
"In that case..." Imaizumi asked softly, "Should we practice kissing again?"
Yanami Anna's cheeks quickly heated up and turned red.
She had originally thought she would at least hesitate for a bit.
Or, as usual, stubbornly refute a few words before reluctantly agreeing.
But she just looked into those smiling eyes of his, her heart thumping wildly.
Then, under Imaizumi Keita's surprised gaze, she nodded and answered straightforwardly:
"Okay."
This time, it was Imaizumi Keita's turn to be stunned.
He blinked, somewhat unable to believe his ears.
"Wait... Yanami, are you for real?"
He looked at her sparkling eyes, which were written with "expectation" and "hurry up and do it," and felt like he had fallen into Yanami's trap.
Could it be that Yanami Anna took the initiative to mention Shioyaki Lemon just for this purpose?!
"I say, you're not taking advantage of me, are you?"
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