The days have to pass, the White Cat has to be caught, and study sessions cannot be dropped.
After the quick conclusion of the special assessment for the second and third years, the pressure on the first year was unparalleled. Class A members did not disband their study group after the midterm exams like the other three classes, but still gathered in the library as usual.
Shiina was once again pulled into Katsuragi Ren's study group, working with Ichinose to give Airi "love education."
Pointing at a difficult problem in the practice set, Ichinose cheered for Airi: "Airi, this is the question, here is the pen, you can do it!"
"Ichinose-san, actually... Airi-san doesn't seem to have learned this yet."
Looking at the question that Ichinose pointed to, which should be a hell-level question for the current Airi, Shiina felt embarrassed.
She didn't understand why the gentle Ichinose was making things so difficult for Airi in today's study session. Were the two of them having a fight?
Without any resistance, Airi obediently picked up the pen and started thinking about the problem.
Airi knew very well why Ichinose was "making things difficult" for her.
It wasn't really difficult; it was simply Ichinose looking for a way out.
After all, she had "stolen" Katsuragi Ren's home. If she didn't let Ichinose find a reason to vent, Ichinose would not know how to face her in the future.
"Shiina-san, it's okay. We can't just keep explaining the questions to Airi; she has to try it herself."
Placing the small grass bag in her arms into Shiina's arms, Ichinose began to mislead Shiina.
Shiina felt the atmosphere was strange and asked in confusion: "Is that so?"
"That's right." Katsuragi Ren answered the girl's question, letting Shiina focus on him.
It's normal for good friends to be like this. It will be fine once Ichinose and Airi get used to it more.
"Katsuragi Ren-kun, what books have you been reading recently?" Just as Katsuragi Ren expected, Shiina shifted the topic to Katsuragi Ren.
Apart from the weekend library, Shiina didn't spend much time with Katsuragi Ren. She was quite interested in Katsuragi Ren's book collection.
"Light novel, um... Love Metronome?" Tilted the left side of the book towards himself, Katsuragi Ren saw the cover name and answered.
It was a random one he grabbed from the light novel section. He felt it was okay after reading it, barely readable.
As soon as she heard the title, Hiyori Shiina inferred the general direction of this light novel: "Love Metronome... is it about romance?"
"Smart." Shifting his gaze back to the book, Katsuragi Ren praised Shiina.
"Is it good? Let me see too." Shiina moved towards Katsuragi Ren's seat. After not feeling any rejection from Katsuragi Ren, she gradually moved closer to the side where the young man was holding the book and started reading the book with Katsuragi Ren.
This action by Shiina made Ichinose, who was supervising them, and Airi, who was racking her brain trying to solve the problem, look towards Katsuragi Ren's direction simultaneously.
An alarm rang loudly in the hearts of the two girls.
"Ren-kun, why did you start playing with a Rubik's cube recently?" Ichinose acted one step ahead of Airi and brought up the question that had been lurking in her mind.
During this period, Katsuragi Ren seemed especially interested in the Rubik's cube, never forgetting to hold one and twist it wherever he went.
Even now while reading, the Rubik's cube in his right palm never stopped turning, but he had never solved it once.
Stopping his right hand from turning, Katsuragi Ren tossed the Rubik's cube to Ichinose: "Honami, the Rubik's cube is fun, you should try it too."
Ichinose took the black Rubik's cube that Katsuragi Ren tossed to her and examined it seriously.
This was a very ordinary standard square Rubik's cube. Except for the scrambled order on the surface by Katsuragi Ren, it should be no different from the ones bought at the supermarket outside.
Seeing that Ichinose had received a gift, Airi whined in a spoiled tone: "Ren~"
"There's only one Rubik's cube, and it's already given to Honami. Airi, if you want anything, you can tell me."
It happened suddenly. Katsuragi Ren also did not expect Ichinose to ask about the Rubik's cube at this time. After giving it to Ichinose, Katsuragi Ren indeed did not have anything left that could be called a gift.
Knowing that he couldn't favor one over the other, Katsuragi Ren simply let Airi make her own request.
Shiina, who was by Katsuragi Ren's side earlier, had now moved to Ichinose's side, examining Katsuragi Ren's Rubik's cube with Ichinose.
Based on a woman's sixth sense, Hiyori Shiina felt that this Rubik's cube must have some other purpose.
"Shiina-san, do you want to try it?" Ichinose, who hadn't managed to solve the Rubik's cube after fiddling with it for a while, offered the cube in her hand to Shiina.
The highly curious Shiina did not decline, took the cube, and also began attempting to solve it.
While Shiina and Ichinose were completely focused on the Rubik's cube.
Airi pulled Katsuragi Ren towards the depths of the library. Coming to a deserted corner, Airi stated the gift she wanted.
Katsuragi Ren stepped forward, forcing Airi back against the library wall. He placed his right hand on the wall next to the girl's head, completing a kabedon, and slightly hooked Airi's chin with his left hand: "Airi, are you so eager to be bullied by me?"
He thought Airi wore a trench coat today because she wanted to try a different style.
The result... boyfriend-meeting tips?
After Airi unzipped the outer trench coat, the slightly smaller white shirt, pure black pleated skirt, paired with a patterned tie, and thigh-high socks that slightly squeezed her legs, fully displayed the girl's entire figure.
"Mmm... I only want to be bullied by Ren~"
Meeting Katsuragi Ren's red eyes, Airi lightly bit her lip, and the tenderness in her eyes was about to overflow.
Katsuragi Ren leaned down, moving closer and closer to Airi's mouth...
When it was time for a break,
Katsuragi Ren, sitting cross-legged on the floor, let Airi lean in his arms, gently watching the little hamster in his arms happily sharing various selfies with him.
No longer as self-conscious as before, nor as timid as before.
Airi spoke in detail to Katsuragi Ren about her past days as a popular idol and the changes after being with Katsuragi Ren.
After recounting her life journey, Airi looked up at Katsuragi Ren, who was watching her, and asked expectantly: "Ren, can I upload our picture together to my blog?"
"Is it a public announcement? Yes, you can~" Katsuragi Ren tightened the hand wrapped around Airi's waist, pulling the girl closer to himself: "But…"
After receiving Katsuragi Ren's affirmation, Airi was already choosing which picture to post in her mind. Hearing Katsuragi Ren's follow-up, she repeated: "But?"
"Let's take one more in this pose."
Katsuragi Ren lowered his head and pecked Airi's cherry lips. Airi, understanding, took out her camera and permanently captured this moment.
...
Shiina, who also hadn't solved the Rubik's cube, returned it to Ichinose: "It's fun, but a little difficult."
She decided that when she returned later, she would also buy a Rubik's cube to play with, whether or not Katsuragi Ren had given Ichinose a hint in it.
Shiina didn't think Katsuragi Ren would give Ichinose an ordinary Rubik's cube. She felt that it must be connected to something.
Her own failure was indeed scary, but Shiina's success would make her anxious. Seeing that Shiina also didn't succeed, Ichinose agreed: "Right, right, I think so too."
"Ren-kun, Airi, you guys... huh, where are they?"
Ichinose, who had detached herself from the Rubik's cube, then realized that Katsuragi Ren and Airi had disappeared sometime.
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