April 1st.
The new semester officially began.
Calling it spring break.
But it was only a few days.
Spring break was no match for summer break.
Early morning.
Ichinose nudged Hachiman's shoulder, calling out softly:
"Hikki, it's already morning. If you don't get up, you'll be late."
"Five more minutes."
"Really..."
Ichinose was somewhat helpless. She tucked a lock of hair behind her ear, her cherry-pink lips gently biting Hachiman's earlobe.
"Hiss..."
Hachiman woke up instantly, covering his ear and looking at Ichinose in shock. Then, with some helplessness, he said:
"Can you not do that? My ears are very sensitive."
"Hehe."
Ichinose rested her chin on both hands and smiled indifferently: "Because Hikki looks so cute like this."
She knew.
Hachiman didn't really hate it.
Yesterday.
The two of them followed the game and learned quite a few positions.
Every time she licked Hachiman's ear, he would become even more excited.
"..."
Hachiman's face turned even redder, and then he smelled a fragrance.
"What is that smell?"
"Oh, breakfast is ready. Hurry up and get up to eat."
"Thanks. I'm sorry, making you prepare breakfast."
"Don't be so polite! This is what I should do!"
After washing up.
Hachiman sat at the low table.
He wouldn't be late; it was just that Ichinose had prepared breakfast and even woke up twenty minutes early.
"Sorry."
Ichinose sat opposite him and said somewhat apologetically: "I woke up a bit late this morning, so I only prepared this. I'll prepare properly tomorrow."
"You don't have to do that. You should sleep a bit more too. This is already very abundant. Or maybe we should just go out; that way we can both sleep a bit more."
Looking at the breakfast on the low table, Hachiman was somewhat helpless.
The past few days.
Ichinose would prepare some Japanese-style breakfasts.
But today, since they had to go to school, the breakfast was prepared more simply.
Toasted bread, fried eggs, bacon, grilled sausages, and a vegetable salad. In Hachiman's eyes, it was already very lavish.
The only slightly troubling thing was...
"Um..."
Hachiman looked at the bright red pieces in the vegetable salad with some fear:
"I really can't handle tomatoes."
"I see."
Ichinose froze for a moment, picked up the salad, and took the tomatoes out, saying with an apologetic tone:
"Then leave them to me. I'll be careful from now on!"
"No, no, no."
Hachiman felt somewhat embarrassed and hesitated: "If I set my mind to it, I could try them. You don't need to worry about it so much."
"Hmm..."
Ichinose held down Hachiman's hand that wanted to take a tomato, shook her head, and smiled:
"Hikki, don't force yourself. I said I would definitely make you happy! Making my husband full of energy every day is my duty. However, Hikki,if there's anything you don't want to eat, it's best if you tell me in advance."
"No... there's nothing else."
Hachiman quickly shook his head.
To be honest.
Being considerate to this degree.
Perhaps it was also a kind of illness.
Honestly, it was amazing that Ichinose could keep saying "husband" so easily. Every time Hachiman wanted to say something, he felt a bit embarrassed.
...
After finishing breakfast.
Ichinose handed the prepared school bag to Hachiman.
"The bento is on the second layer, and I've also prepared the books you need. Let's go."
"Oh... oh."
Hachiman's face turned slightly red as he said: "Thank you, Honami..."
"You're welcome."
Ichinose smiled, tilting her chin up and closing her beautiful eyes.
"..."
Hachiman's face turned red.
If it were before, he might not have understood, thinking if Ichinose's eyes were uncomfortable.
But now.
He understood very well.
She was probably asking for something like a parting kiss.
Just like a wife seeing off her husband in the early morning, Ichinose perhaps had a set of standards for a good wife in her heart.
Hachiman cupped Ichinose's pretty face with one hand and kissed her, but how could he possibly stay in control?
After a long time.
Ichinose's eyes were a bit dazed as she said:
"I can't do this anymore. If we don't leave now, we might really be late."
"Then... then let's go."
Hachiman nodded somewhat awkwardly.
It couldn't be helped.
Ichinose's red lips were simply too alluring. No, there wasn't a single part of her that wasn't alluring!
The two of them finally left the room.
Stepping into the elevator.
Ichinose helped him straighten his somewhat messy collar.
"At noon, could you have lunch with us?"
"Hmm? Is it Kobashi and the others?"
"Yeah, and everyone else too."
"Uh..."
Hachiman hesitated.
Occasionally.
When the Student Council was relatively busy.
Kobashi Yume and the others would also bring their bentos and run to the service club.
If it were just Kobashi Yume and a few others, it wouldn't be a problem, but based on what Ichinose meant, there were many other people too.
"Wouldn't that be a bother to them?"
"It's fine."
Ichinose shook her head and said somewhat helplessly: "Actually, everyone also wants to have contact with you."
"No, no, no, that's impossible."
Hachiman didn't quite believe it.
She was clearly just trying to comfort him; otherwise, it would be impossible for not a single person to have talked to him.
"Really."
Ichinose said somewhat helplessly: "It's just that every time class ends, Hikki is either reading or listening to music, and you give off a very mature atmosphere that makes people a bit afraid to approach, but there are many people who are curious about you."
"People often ask me how Hikki comes up with those ideas."
Although it was just casual chatter after meals.
There were indeed many people who often asked her about Hachiman's affairs.
The number of times Hachiman became a topic of conversation.
Although it wasn't as many as the cheerful boys like Hirata, it wasn't a small number either.
"I see, then let's go together".
Hachiman nodded with some embarrassment.
Though he felt a bit of shame and wasn't entirely willing, he had no choice.
He was already in this kind of relationship with Ichinose now.
Ichinose was naturally someone who could be presented with pride; she was elegant in public and capable in private. Bringing her out would certainly be prestigious, it was just that he didn't have many friends.
Being in this relationship meant being brought by Ichinose into various social situations, coming into contact with her social circle, and meeting her friends.
All of this was likely just a matter of time.
It was unavoidable.
The evaluation of Ichinose in the eyes of her friends would definitely be heavily influenced by him.
Although he lacked confidence, Hachiman could only do his best to try not to lose face for Ichinose.
"Thank you".
Holding Hachiman's arm and feeling his muscles go tense, Ichinose gave a sweet smile.
"Everyone is very kind, you don't need to be so nervous. If there are any problems, you can leave them to me".
"Oh".
Hachiman nodded, sweating profusely.
He felt like he was about to head onto a battlefield.
"So Hikki, when are you going to introduce me to your friends?".
"I'm ashamed to say, my only friend is Takatsu-kun, who sent me corn on my birthday when I was a kid".
Hachiman felt even more embarrassed.
Where are my friends? Come out right now!.
Sorry, even though he's just the son of my mom's best friend, Takatsu is probably the closest thing to a friend I have.
If he had to name others... Kanzaki, Shibata... er....
Speaking of which, if Shibata knew he was dating Ichinose, what kind of expression would he make?.
Forget it. Since it was a mutual attraction, the pure-hearted Shibata was a good guy and likely wouldn't have any objections.
In any case, neither of them had any intention of hiding the relationship.
Since Ichinose wanted everyone to know about it, Hachiman naturally wouldn't object; at most, he'd just accompany her onto the "battlefield