"Hello! "
"Gojo-kun!" Kitagawa's excited voice came through the phone.
"I'm here, I'm here."
Wakana was startled, almost dropping his phone, and quickly responded.
"Is something wrong, Gojo-kun?"
Marin asked, holding her phone, with Sugaya Nowa watching her talk.
Could Gojo-kun finally have come to his senses and want to ask me out?
Should I agree to go out with him?
Or should we have a date at home?
Marin thought to herself.
"Kitagawa-san, it's like this." Wakana's voice came through the phone, sounding uniquely charming and magnetic in Kitagawa's ears.
Gojo-kun's voice is so nice!
"Akira-kun came to make clothes with me today, and when he left, he said he wanted us to meet tomorrow."
Wakana said, feeling a bit embarrassed.
"Because I have a lot of photography questions I want to ask Inui-san's sister, I eagerly agreed."
"But Akira-kun also seemed to want to invite Kitagawa-san, so I don't know if Kitagawa-san is free…"
Wakana hadn't even finished speaking when Kitagawa's answer came.
"I want to go too!"
"Alright, Kitagawa-san."
Wakana replied.
"I also want to learn some photography. Last time at the Anime Convention, seeing them with cameras felt super cool."
"Eh?! Ah! Oh."
Wakana's clearly emotional voice came through the phone.
Marin lightly twirled the ends of her long hair with her right hand, the one not holding the phone, and a faint voice entered the microphone.
"Besides, I don't want Gojo-kun to think about photography alone."
"Eh, what did Kitagawa-san say?"
Wakana asked. Kitagawa-san's voice was too faint, even though he pressed the phone tightly to his ear.
He still didn't hear what Kitagawa-san said clearly.
"Eh!" Kitagawa-san's cheeks instantly flushed red, white mist appeared above her head, and she froze.
Why did I suddenly say something like that just now?
It's a good thing Gojo-kun didn't hear it; it's so embarrassing.
"It's nothing, nothing!"
Marin continued nonchalantly, "Last time, Akira-kun mentioned that Zhu Zhu-sama has a sister."
"I really can't wait to meet Zhu Zhu-sama's sister."
Sugaya Nowa, who had been beside Marin, had unknowingly walked ahead, looking completely listless.
"Marin—"
"I'm starving!"
Sugaya Nowa's voice also sounded full of resentment.
Marin put on an apologetic expression, bowing slightly to Sugaya Nowa and saying, "Sorry, Naho, you go in first."
"I'll be in shortly."
"Marin, honestly. Well, I'll wait for you inside then."
With that, she turned and entered a shop.
Only then did Marin continue talking to Wakana on the phone.
It was just discussing tomorrow's plans, but it felt like a late-night chat between lovers.
"Gojo-kun."
"Yes!"
"I'm super excited."
"I'm also very excited."
Wakana's equally excited tone came through the phone.
Marin, however, didn't speak for a long time, finally blushing slowly and softly saying into the phone, "Gojo-kun."
"Yes! I'm here."
Wakana was also wondering why Marin wasn't speaking.
"Let's end our talk for today."
"Yes!"
"See you tomorrow."
"See you tomorrow, Kitagawa-san."
Marin slowly hung up the phone, gently covering her face.
Her expression carried an alluring, slightly tipsy feeling, and a subtle, unreadable smile played on her cheeks.
I really want to keep listening to Gojo-kun talk.
I accidentally ran out of things to say to Gojo-kun.
Recalling their conversation, it felt like Gojo-kun might also be hiding some thoughts of his own.
Akira-kun and Zhu Zhu-sama!
They really seem like a good match.
Kitagawa thought this, then remembered that Akira-kun, whom she considered a good match, had also said that she and Gojo-kun were a good match.
As if she had certified herself, Kitagawa wanted to crouch down and gently hug her knees to hide her flushed face.
Gojo-kun, he must feel my emotions too, right?
"Marin!"
Sugaya Nowa's voice came from ahead.
"Eh!"
Marin looked up, her blush still present.
"You've been standing here for ages; I've been eating in the restaurant for ages."
"Aren't you hungry, Marin?!"
Sugaya Nowa looked pouting.
"Naho-chan, I'm coming now."
Marin said guiltily, and Sugaya Nowa pulled her into the restaurant.
-------------------------------------
Before it got dark, Akira took the train to Sajuna's house.
He gently pressed the doorbell, and soon after, Shinju, dressed in loungewear, opened the door for him.
It always feels a bit troublesome to have Shinju open the door.
But it is Sajuna's house, and it's unlikely he would have a key.
"Good evening, Shinju."
Akira nodded politely.
"Akira -ge, good evening."
Shinju smiled and returned the greeting.
Taking off his shoes in the entryway, Akira, as usual, picked up the men's slippers prepared for him and put them on. As he entered the living room, he suddenly had an inspiration and said, "I'm home."
The sound of stir-frying still came from the kitchen, with no other sounds.
Shinju, on the living room sofa, turned her head to glance at Akira, then turned to look at the kitchen.
She was also curious how her sister would react.
This kind of homely dialogue was happening right in front of her.
Before, she was always sent back to her bedroom.
Shinju seemed to have strong opinions about Akira and Sajuna sending her back to her bedroom.
"Welcome home."
Sajuna, wearing an apron, walked out of the kitchen, still holding a spatula used for stir-frying.
Akira walked over, gently hugged Sajuna for a moment, and whispered, "Do you need my help, Sajuna?"
Sajuna gently pushed away Akira, who was hugging her.
"You'll get the smell of food on Aki-Kun."
"No need. After all, Aki-Kun has been busy all day."
After Sajuna finished speaking, she tentatively leaned her head over and gently sniffed Akira's clothes.
"Aki-Kun still smells so good."
"Then smell more." Akira smiled, wanting to hug Sajuna again.
Sajuna, her cheeks red, stepped back half a pace, "I told you, you'll get the smell of food on you."
It seemed that saying such a thing had taken immense courage.
She used to blush when she said sweet things.
Akira thought to himself, today's proactive Sajuna was a bit unexpected.
Seeing Akira wanting to stand there, a slight annoyance appeared on Sajuna's cheeks, and she gently pushed Akira with both arms towards the living room.
"Aki-Kun, just rest here."
Seeing Sajuna's firm demeanor, Akira didn't object.
Instead, he obediently found a seat, propped his cheek with one hand, and began to observe Sajuna cooking.