TamilyMart Supermarket.
“Koharu, thank you.” Nanaumi Mami said with a flat tone of gratitude.
“It's nothing. I just wasn't comfortable leaving you alone.”
Since the party, Nanaumi Mami's attitude towards him had been strange.
Sometimes she was passionate and fiery, not shying away from being close to Koharu even in a crowd; other times she was cold and distant, not giving him a good look even when they were alone, and rather than dislike, it was more like she didn't want to be around him.
Even Kinoshita Koharu didn't know what was really going on in her heart.
“Koharu, how do you think we should get along?” Nanaumi Mami looked confused, lacking her usual cheerfulness when with Koharu.
“Mami, have you been worrying about how we should get along lately?” Kinoshita Koharu activated his skill, reading the air.
[Kinoshita Koharu: Nanaumi Mami would be worried about our relationship, why? Worrying about dating? No, they dated before, though it wasn't me.]
“Something like that.” Nanaumi Mami said, then fell silent.
“It would be better if our relationship was without mutual liking.”
Nanaumi Mami whispered, and if Koharu hadn't been paying attention, he would have missed it.
[Kinoshita Koharu: A relationship without mutual liking, a relationship that needs to end, she doesn't plan on continuing it, so she dated the original body?
- Family reasons or personal reasons?
- A competitive personality with a good family background
- No way, is there a fiancé she doesn't like very much?]
As for his guesses, Kinoshita Koharu didn't intend to do anything. He just considered Nanaumi Mami a potential dating partner for now. Even if she had a fiancé, did he have to go and stir things up?
In what capacity? A friend, a friend who likes Nanaumi Mami a little.
Seriously, how could such a melodramatic plot happen in real life!
“Don't worry, I haven't 'fallen in love' with you again, so I don't have any plans to date right now. As a friend, Mami, you can treat me however you want.”
But once I do fall in love, I'll do anything...!
...
On the other side, the Ichiinose trio, separated from Kinoshita and his group, were also preparing to buy things after playing until noon.
“I'll go. I'm a little tired.”
Minamoto Chizuru volunteered, becoming the kind and gentle nun among her companions.
“It's all because Chizuru is wearing too much. She's at the beach and not wearing a swimsuit, I don't know what you're thinking?” Shinbo Yōko put her arm around Minamoto Chizuru.
She put her hand on Chizuru's small waist, feeling the delicate bone structure through her green short sleeves.
“Enough, I'm going to the store first.” Minamoto Chizuru slapped her best friend's hand away and pushed her back.
“Then we'll leave it to you, Chizuru-chan.”
“Chizuru is the best, after all.”
“You two, don't wander off while I'm gone.” Ichiinose, Chizuru’s mom, grabbed her handbag and left her two daughters.
...
In the store, aside from knowing the categories of drinks and snacks, Kinoshita Koharu had absolutely no idea how to choose. After all, this was basically the first time he'd seen these things.
Koharu followed Nanaumi Mami, becoming the proper little sidekick behind the beautiful girl...
......
“Koharu, do you want bamboo shoots?”
Of course, the bamboo shoots weren't actually bamboo shoots.
Nanaumi Mami picked up a bamboo shoot chocolate and showed it to Koharu: “By the way, Koharu, are you a bamboo shoot 派 or a mushroom 派?”
Kinoshita Koharu remembered this was a party strife that started earlier than the white study? It was about a type of chocolate snack.
“Either one is fine. I'm not picky.”
He turned the shelf with Nanaumi Mami.
A green figure passed by.
It was Minamoto Chizuru, but still the country girl version in her school uniform.
Their eyes met in the rush of footsteps, and both instinctively looked away.
Nanaumi Mami didn't know about the relationship between Koharu and Minamoto Chizuru in the past, but she could tell from Kinoshita Koharu’s momentary actions and unnatural expression.
Because of Kinoshita Koharu, Mami became interested in the country girl in front of her: “That’s you, Chizuru-chan, right?”
Nanaumi Mami smiled brightly, but Kinoshita Koharu felt that this was the reason why Mami was smiling so happily, she didn't want to smile or had another reason for smiling.
“Yes, hello.” Minamoto Chizuru glanced at Kinoshita Koharu, then said to Nanaumi Mami, “I'm Ichiinose Chizuru, we met before.”
“Hi, I'm Nanaumi Mami, just call me Mami-chan. That’s what my friends call me.”
Nanaumi Mami looked up and down at Minamoto Chizuru, her first impression was only conservative and country girl, so she didn't pay much attention.
“Well, Mami-chan, please take care of me.” Minamoto Chizuru introduced herself formally, possibly knowing that Nanaumi Mami wasn't interested in this type of good student image.
“Okay, please take care of me too.” Nanaumi Mami looked at Minamoto Chizuru, then back and forth between her and Kinoshita Koharu: “By the way, what's the relationship between Chizuru-chan and Koharu?”
“Nothing, we just met at the hospital when we were visiting relatives.” This wasn't a lie, it was just half the truth, Minamoto Chizuru wasn't nervous at all.
“Is that so?”
Nanaumi Mami didn't think much of it, after all, she didn't think Kinoshita Koharu would be interested in this country girl with his ex-girlfriend around, so she didn't have much doubt.
“Alright, Mami, there's still a lot of stuff to get.” Kinoshita Koharu quickly walked away, avoiding the awkwardness between him and Minamoto Chizuru: “Ichiinose-san, see you next time.”
“Bye, Mami-san and Kinoshita-san.” Minamoto Chizuru also deliberately ignored Kinoshita Koharu.
……
Kinoshita Koharu carried a full bag of loot, basically filled with all sorts of snacks, but he didn't feel heavy with his recently enhanced physique.
“Koharu, do you want me to carry some?” Nanaumi Mami was holding a small handbag with a small convenience store bag following behind Koharu.
“No, Mami-chan.” Koharu saw a bench and put everything on it: “By the way, Mami, please watch over things for a moment, I'm going to the bathroom.”
“Okay, Koharu, be quick.”
Although she was annoyed at being left alone, she wasn’t the type to be unreasonable.