"Phew, thank goodness you were here today, Honami-chan. Otherwise, who knows how long it would've taken to sort out the groups."
"I thought things would be easier with the girls, but it turned out to be so exhausting. Everyone's attitude toward people they like or dislike is so obvious."
"Because the other classes are enemies, right?"
"Mmm, not entirely enemies, I suppose. How about you, Kaoru? Is everything okay on your side?"
As they chatted, Ichinose suddenly shifted the topic to Kaoru.
Still unsure about what had just happened, Kaoru remained composed.
"I think it's fine. There were some minor issues, but the grouping went smoothly overall."
"I see. Maybe the boys can't really understand the situation on the girls' side."
Ichinose muttered before smiling again. "Still, you worked hard too, Kaoru."
"Honestly, I think you're the one who had it toughest."
Kaoru could see the faint exhaustion hidden beneath her cheerful demeanor.
Dealing with the girls' affairs must have brought her quite a few headaches.
"Mmm… Well, everyone trusts me, after all. Thankfully, Sakayanagi-san and Kushida-san were there to help."
Ichinose sighed deeply.
As the most popular girl in the grade, she inevitably ended up being the leader everyone turned to.
In other words, trouble didn't just find her—people actively brought it to her, hoping she could resolve it.
"You've worked hard. Here's a piece of chicken as a reward."
Kaoru picked up a piece of fried chicken and, right in front of Amikura Mako and the others, fed it to Ichinose.
"Ah—!"
After swallowing the bite, Ichinose belatedly realized this wasn't like when they were living together.
Her face flushed bright red. "Th-That was kind of embarrassing! Don't do that again!"
"Eh? What's embarrassing about it?"
Kobashi Yume grinned mischievously. "Honami-chan's other side is so cute!"
"P-Please stop!"
Ichinose wanted to cover her burning face.
For some reason, Shiranami Chihiro gritted her teeth and aggressively shoveled down a bowl of rice.
Kaoru found it a little odd—why was she acting jealous?
Just then, Amikura Mako tapped his leg again with her foot, as if reminding him of something.
Her stocking-clad toes rubbed against his calf, tracing slow circles.
Kaoru held back, watching her expression remain unchanged as he tried to figure out what she meant.
"I'm done eating. I'll head back first."
Himeno Yuki, seemingly uncomfortable staying with them, quickly stood up to leave.
"See you later, Himeno-san!"
Ichinose smiled warmly.
"She never seems very enthusiastic," Kobashi mused suspiciously. "Does she just not like exams?"
"And you do?"Amikura Mako joined the conversation as usual.
"I hate it. I really dislike exams, and isn't the training camp supposed to be for fun?"
Kobashi Yume grimaced. "And now we might get expelled? Whose rule is this?"
"Surely no one will actually be expelled, right?"
Amikura Mako hesitated, then glanced at Kaoru across from her.
Had he still not picked up on her hint?
"As long as we all work hard together, no one will be expelled. Don't worry!"
Ichinose Honami smiled warmly before turning to Kaoru, her small hand grasping his beneath the table.
"I believe in you too, Kaoru. Always have."
With his girlfriend gazing at him like that and others causing trouble below the table, Kaoru felt the pressure mounting.
"I can't help but want to kiss you right now."
"Wha—?!"
...
After the meal, the group parted ways—after all, the school had only allotted them an hour.
Kaoru spotted Shiho Manabe and the others but didn't approach them.
Instead, he communicated through subtle glances and gestures, signaling for them to pass him the information tomorrow.
Perhaps due to his tyrannical nature, Ryuuen had developed a peculiar habit—he never explained his plans to his subordinates, only forced them to comply.
In a way, this served as a form of operational secrecy.
However, he didn't know that Shiho Manabe had already sided with Kaoru.
In the upcoming operation, he wouldn't be able to keep her in the dark.
This was an advantage in intelligence.
Realizing that Shiho Manabe had understood his message, Kaoru suddenly wondered—had Amikura Mako also been trying to signal him earlier?
A short while later, he arrived at a secluded corner of the school building.
"You're so slow!"
Amikura Mako frowned upon seeing him, clearly displeased.
"Why meet here?"
Kaoru looked at the girl curiously. "Is there something you couldn't say in front of Honami?"
Amikura Mako's expression darkened with irritation. "Sakayanagi-san has a ring."
Kaoru froze.
What did that mean?
Seeing his blank stare, Amikura Mako grew even more frustrated.
"She didn't say it outright, but she kept mentioning her 'fiancé'—who else could it be but you?"
It seemed Sakayanagi had already declared her claim to the world, despite her earlier reluctance.
The thought left Kaoru feeling somewhat vexed.
"Do you want one too?" He asked bluntly.
"W-w-what?! That's not what I meant!"
Amikura Mako flushed red. "It's about Honami! She doesn't have a ring from you!"
Ichinose Honami didn't usually wear a ring, so it was natural that Amikura Mako wouldn't know.
Or perhaps Honami had simply forgotten to mention it.
Kaoru smirked. "Are you standing up for Honami?"
"Shouldn't I?"
Amikura Mako suppressed her embarrassment. "She's your girlfriend, yet you're also engaged to Sakayanagi-san. Isn't that going too far?"
Was she questioning whether he was just toying with them?
"Engagement… you could interpret it that way. But is there a rule that says you can only give an engagement ring to one person?"
"Huh?"
Stunned by his shameless reasoning, Amikura Mako was at a loss.
"Then… Honami…?"
"Right, Honami has one too. She just doesn't wear it often. Have you noticed her necklace?"
"A Christmas gift?"
"Do you like it?""..."
Amikura Mako fell silent.
At first, she thought Kaoru had simply bewitched Ichinose Honami, but it turned out he genuinely intended to Take all—he'd even given out two rings.
No wonder Ichinose showed no reaction upon seeing Sakayanagi's ring—she already had one herself!
"Still, I'm surprised, Mako. You seem quite concerned about Honami."
Kaoru walked up to Amikura Mako, who instinctively took a small step back.
However, he caught her wrist before she could retreat further.
"I'm at least your friend, so you could trust me a little, couldn't you?"
Suddenly pulled close with her wrist in his grasp, Amikura Mako's heart raced wildly—as if he might kiss her at any moment.
"I-I get it. Next time, I'll try to trust you a little more."
"Just a little?"
"Only as much as a friend would."
"Hmm, your definition of 'a little' is pretty strict."
Kaoru took her hand and, as if out of nowhere, slipped a [Wedding Ring] onto her finger.
Amikura Mako was too stunned to react, watching blankly as he slid the ring onto her.
"As good friends, this is a friendship ring—not an engagement ring. Remember that, Mako."
Hearing his words, her thoughts spiraled into chaos.
Was he proposing to her?
Even as she tried to rein in her imagination, the girl couldn't help picturing her own wedding—the white dress, the solemn ceremony, walking down the aisle with her best friend, taking Kaoru's hand, successfully getting pregnant together a few months later, naming their child Mitoma Mami, and then having their child grow up as sisters with Ichinose's kid…
Well… that wouldn't be so bad.
Aside from the slightly excessive number of brides, Amikura Mako felt like she probably couldn't refuse.
Wait—
What am I even thinking?!
Snapping back to reality, she wanted to loudly denounce Kaoru's underhanded scheme—but the moment she saw the beautiful ring on her finger, she hesitated.
"A f-friendship ring? Are you joking?" she stammered, masking her flustered emotions. "Who gives a girl a ring if it's not a proposal?"
"So Mako thinks I'm proposing?" Kaoru Mitoma asked.
"Uh, th-that's not what I meant!" Amikura Mako's face burned red. "Don't you think this is weird?"
"Not really. I want to be with Mako forever, to stay close friends for life. That's why I gave you this ring—it's a symbol of our friendship."
The more serious he sounded, the redder she became, torn between running away and staying rooted in place.
"Would Mako say yes if it were a proposal?"
"No!"
"Exactly. So it's a friendship ring. Unless… Mako wants to cut ties with me?"
"Guh…"
Under his gaze, Amikura Mako felt utterly helpless and could only reluctantly accept his reasoning.
"F-fine, I'll take it."
"That's more like it. I'm happy."
Kaoru smiled faintly. "Oh, and in return, I'd like Mako to give me a friendship gift too."
She had to give something back?
Amikura Mako blinked in confusion.
She hadn't brought anything with her—
Wait, how did he even bring that ring in here?
Was this all planned?!
The realization made her lower her head, though her flushed ears betrayed her emotions.
"I-I didn't prepare anything…"
"That's fine. You can give it to me later."
Kaoru didn't mind.
He just wanted things to be fair between them—though now, he was down another [Wedding Ring].
'Guess I'll have to draw another one next time.'
However, Amikura Mako fell silent for a moment, as if steeling herself for something.
The next instant, she stood on her tiptoes and planted a kiss on Kaoru's cheek.
Kaoru froze for a second, instinctively touching his face where she had kissed him.
The girl before him was flushed crimson, her eyes darting away as she took a small step back, fingers fidgeting nervously.
"T-This is a friendship kiss!"
As if afraid he might misunderstand, Amikura Mako loudly declared the meaning behind her action.
Kaoru blinked.
Was this really how things worked?
"I don't think I felt it just now. Can we do the friendship kiss again?"
He expected her to refuse, but instead, the blushing girl leaned in once more, pressing another sweet peck against his cheek.
Kaoru was completely stunned.
"Still didn't feel it. Can I kiss you back this time?"
This time, she didn't fall for it—Amikura Mako punched him several times in retaliation.
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