After being with Naomi in the kitchen for a while, Ichika had finished her flower arrangement. Shuichi had to return for the time being; staying away too long might raise suspicion.
As of now, it wasn't yet time to lay all his cards on the table.
"Where did you go? You've been gone for ages," Sumire asked, standing up hurriedly as soon as she saw him and dragging him into a corner of the living room.
She had been watching Ichika's elegant flower-arranging posture for quite a while. Although she enjoyed it, she was still anticipating the promise Shuichi had made earlier.
While she was satisfied with things as they were, wouldn't it be even better if they could take a step further?
"I went catching butterflies." Shuichi held out three fingers, making a pinching motion.
"Catching butterflies? On the balcony?" Sumire asked suspiciously.
"Not on the balcony—in the kitchen." Shuichi smiled.
"The kitchen? Where would butterflies come from in the kitchen? Isn't Naomi-chan cooking?"
Sumire felt like something wasn't quite right, but she couldn't put her finger on it immediately.
"That's not what Sensei really wanted to ask about, is it?" Shuichi didn't bother explaining further.
"It isn't. Didn't you say before... that... you could get Kitagawa and me to call each other by our first names? And be open with each other?" Sumire asked apprehensively.
Shuichi wore an expression of "pitying her misfortune while resenting her lack of backbone"—exactly the same look Sumire had given him when reviewing his career survey form back in the day.
"I've brought her right into your home, and you still can't even manage to get on a first-name basis? Just how useless are you, Sensei?
"Also, are you aware of how you've been acting today? I told you not to be nervous, to relax and be casual, and what happened?"
"Stop, stop scolding me... I know I didn't do well enough, but I really tried. It's just that whenever I face Kitagawa, I..."
"You what?" Shuichi shook his head wearily. "Fine. I'll have to handle it."
"Yes, yes, yes, please, Shuichi-kun. Even if we can't be fully open with each other, as long as we can call each other by our first names, your previous promise still counts."
Knowing she had hindered his plan, Sumire adopted a very humble attitude.
"As long as you remember that. Leaving that aside for now, it's no problem if I stay the night here, right?" Shuichi asked with a smile.
"Stay... stay the night?" Sumire immediately tensed up. "You're staying over... what are you planning to do? Naomi-chan is here too; aren't you afraid she'll find out?"
"That's my problem." Shuichi looked unconcerned. "Is Sensei refusing?"
Sumire could see from his attitude that he was holding leverage over her. If she didn't agree, he probably wouldn't help her, right?
"If you insist on staying over, then... fine. But don't go too far. If Naomi-chan really finds out, it'll be a headache for you too, won't it? If not, I can make it up to you at school sometime..."
"Save the useless talk. Do you have a latex pillow? I can't sleep on anything else." Shuichi waved his hand to interrupt her.
"Huh?" Sumire was startled, but after looking down at her feet, she relaxed again. "No, but I can go to the supermarket and buy one for you."
"That'll do. Here, hold this. I'm lending it to you for a bit, but you have to return it, understand?"
Shuichi detached the dice keychain from his phone and solemnly placed it in her palm.
"This is..." Sumire had seen this object before, the time she was cornered in the bathroom, but she had been in no mood to pay attention to such details then.
Shuichi hadn't explained it to her either, so she had always assumed it was just a normal decoration. Back then, he had used his phone to control the Student Council President.
"The Seal of the Six States." Shuichi gave a mysterious smile.
"The Seal of the Six States?" Sumire knew a bit about this history, but she didn't understand what he meant.
"Yeah. Try pressing it," Shuichi encouraged.
"Press which one? It has six sides." Sumire looked blank.
"Whichever. You can press any side you want."
"Whichever?" Sumire casually pressed the side with one dot. "Nothing seems to be happening? Oh, I know, this is one of those fidget toys that are popular lately, right? You just click it. Is this for me to relieve stress before I try to get closer to Kitagawa?"
"Although it is quite stress-relieving, that's not what I mean." Shuichi shook his head. "Press another side."
"Another side..." Sumire hesitated, then casually pressed the five dots.
Seeing this, Shuichi looked toward the kitchen. Sumire, confused, followed his gaze.
She saw Naomi, who was busy working, suddenly stop. She wiped her hands and then reached for her handbag nearby.
After opening it, she clearly paused, then looked up in their direction, shooting them a reproachful look.
Sumire was even more confused, but under Shuichi's urging, she had to continue.
Although she still didn't understand, since Shuichi was looking at Tsuki, she naturally looked over as well. Seeing Tsuki's expression, she instantly understood something.
But after understanding, she became even more terrified. Terrible guesses flooded her mind.
Why did he make her press this? What did this have to do with Kitagawa? Could it be...
Sumire swallowed hard, feeling like she was playing Minesweeper. She didn't know when she might hit the button that caused an explosion.
This thrilling sensation sent her adrenaline soaring; her heart was practically in her throat!
Urged on by Shuichi, she pressed down again, her eyes fixed on Ichika. A vague anticipation rose in her heart, accompanied by intense panic.
However, after pressing it, Ichika showed no reaction, sitting there quietly reading her book. Instead, Sumire herself was caught off guard, a whimper escaping the corner of her mouth.
Now it was fully confirmed. What is the 'Seal of the Six States'? This thing was clearly... just...
"What? Don't dare to continue? Afraid the image of the most perfect person in your heart will collapse? Then I can't help you. I've paved the road right to your feet, but if you don't dare to walk it, that's not my problem. Regardless, Sensei's promise cannot be discounted."
Shuichi whispered from the side, seeing her hesitate.
Should she press it? Was he lying to her? How could Kitagawa possibly agree to something like this?
And when it came down to it, why would Kitagawa allow such a scumbag to get close to her, let alone accept such an arrangement?
He was definitely trying to scare her, right? Trying to use this method to trick her into giving up voluntarily, so she couldn't blame him for breaking his promise. That must be it, right?
Sumire trembled all over, her brain incessantly fantasizing about various scenarios, all involving Kitagawa being forced and molested by this little scumbag.
Such things...
Could such depraved things happen to someone as perfect as Kitagawa?
She asked this question in her heart with confusion, but inexplicably, Sumire felt it was reasonable. Doesn't the pure and innocent in this world always end up being defiled?
But Kitagawa...
"Sigh..." Shuichi sighed. "Forget it. Don't stress over it. Actually, I was lying to you. How could someone as perfect as Ichika-san possibly do something like this? Give it back."
He reached out to take the dice, but Sumire suddenly pulled her hand back.
Shuichi raised an eyebrow. "You won't press it, and you won't give it back. What exactly does Sensei want? I told you, this is the Seal of the Six States; I can't just give it to you casually."
Sumire bit her lip tightly, her eyes locked onto Ichika's profile. She suddenly pressed the two dots, and then...
Ichika still had absolutely no reaction.
"..."
Shuichi was speechless. Six sides, and she managed to leave Ichika for the very last one. What kind of luck was this?
Can someone calculate the probability of this? What are the odds?
"Still continuing? Maybe we should forget it; I think that last one used up all your courage."
Shuichi felt that Sumire's luck was truly terrible. No wonder she hadn't found an opportunity to get closer to Ichika in all these years.
"No, it's the last side. If I give up now, I'll regret it for the rest of my life."
Sumire was breathing rapidly. She even ignored the fact that her own little gift was currently buzzing.
Perhaps thanks to that, she acted on impulse and dared to press it one more time.
The next second, Sumire adjusted her glasses and stared wide-eyed at Ichika.
"!!!"
It was true! It was all true! This little scumbag wasn't lying! He had actually reached this stage!
But for Ichika to agree to such a thing, the two of them must have had even more intimate contact than this, right?
No wonder he looked down on her. No wonder he mocked her for being satisfied just by using first names. No wonder he dared to say she and Ichika could be open and honest with each other!!!
This guy... where the hell did he come from?
It wasn't that super-excellent men hadn't pursued Kitagawa before; on the contrary, there had been many, many of them.
But they had all failed without exception, unable to get even a little bit closer to Kitagawa—they were even worse off than herself!
So how did this little scumbag Shuichi manage it? Was she dreaming?
She pinched her thigh, realized she wasn't dreaming, and then suspected that Ichika might just happen to be feeling unwell, hence the reaction.
She hurriedly pressed the dice again.
Facts proved her suspicion wrong. Ichika's furrowed brows slowly relaxed, and she even looked up in their direction, revealing a gentle smile tinged with a hint of helplessness.
Just that one expression made Sumire feel like her heart stopped beating instantly.
"What are your thoughts now? Has the perfect image of Ichika-san in your heart shattered? Do you regret it?" Shuichi asked faintly from the side.
Sumire didn't speak. Instead, she pressed it again, watching Kitagawa frown once more—a look that aroused pity and love. She murmured emotionally:
"Even when frowning, Kitagawa does it so beautifully... Surely she doesn't belong to this secular world?"
"???"
This time, it was Shuichi who was confused. What was going on? Even like this, she could still worship and admire her? Is this the gold standard for a number-one fangirl?
Sumire gripped the dice, her whole body trembling. To think she could make Kitagawa show such an expression using this thing... such a thing...
Clearly, she should be condemning this scumbag severely for treating Kitagawa this way, but why... did she want to keep seeing Kitagawa with that expression?
It was so intoxicating...
Sumire simply couldn't imagine that she was able to participate in such a private matter of Kitagawa's!
If she had to describe it, it might be similar to the feeling of a child picking up a game controller for the first time and watching a powerful character on the screen perform various actions under their command.
Yes, really. No other reason.
"That's about enough." Seeing Sumire getting addicted, Shuichi quickly snatched back his Seal of the Six States.
"Lend it to me a little longer, just a little longer. I'll do anything you want later..." Sumire was anxious, feeling like ants were crawling in her heart.
Shuichi found it strange. "Sensei clearly worships Ichika-san, right? Why are you so interested in this kind of thing? Don't you feel it's blasphemous?"
"No matter what Kitagawa does, she is so perfect and holy. I've never seen that expression before, and I want to see more of it."
Sumire spoke with rapid breath, impatiently reaching out to grab his Seal.
Shuichi couldn't understand her brain circuitry. He dodged her hand and turned off all the switches.
"What's the rush? As long as Sensei keeps your promise properly, I'll bring you along when I'm alone with Kitagawa in the future. Well, provided I'm in a good mood."
Sumire had no rationality left at this point. She completely ignored the key point of how to put him in a good mood, her mind filled only with the excitement of seeing more of Kitagawa's hidden sides.
"It's a promise!"
"Yeah, yeah, it's a promise. Although things deviated a bit, it seems we've met the conditions to move forward?" Shuichi felt his brain was a bit scrambled.
"By the way, what exactly have you done to Kitagawa?"
As Shuichi turned off the dice and Ichika returned to a calm expression, Sumire finally regained a bit of thinking ability and remembered this crucial question.
"Guess."
The corners of Shuichi's mouth curled up slightly, looking quite evil in Sumire's eyes.
"A guy like you is going to hell!"
"Oh? If Sensei talks like that, my mood will turn bad, and I don't think I'll take you along in the future."
"Detestable guy, always threatening me..."
Amidst her grief and indignation, Sumire suddenly felt an inexplicable sense of melancholy. What had happened to the world? Was this still the familiar world she had lived in for over twenty years?
Why would a perfect, cold, and lofty existence like Kitagawa fall into the hands of such a scumbag?
She looked around. Naomi-chan, Kitagawa, and the Student Council President—they had all fallen into his clutches!
Oh, right, herself included... Well, never mind then.
Wait!
There should be more!
Sumire suddenly realized: the Seal of the Six States... but there were only four people here. So, there were two others not present?
This guy was truly a scumbag through and through!
What she should be doing most right now was saving Kitagawa from his clutches, right?
"Just say it—do you want to see more of Ichika-san's unknown sides or not?" Shuichi toyed with the dice calmly.
"I want to..."
In her heart, she wanted to bite him to death, but when she opened her mouth, only those words came out meekly.
Sumire felt she was truly useless, yielding so easily.
However, Kitagawa wasn't someone who could be easily tricked. Surely there was a reason for her choice? Perhaps she should choose to continue trusting Kitagawa?
Shuichi didn't know she was hypnotizing and comforting herself in her mind, nor did he care. He held her weakness firmly in his hand; escape was long impossible.
"Let's go. First, I'll help you solve the addressing issue."
"Oh, oh, okay." Sumire nodded as if possessed and followed him hurriedly.
The two returned to the living room. Shuichi ruthlessly squeezed Tsuki to the side and sat down between her and Ichika.
"So, what is the situation now?"
Ichika was inevitably a little anxious. After all, Sumire was one of her few friends. Although she usually kept a distance, Nagase had long occupied a place in her heart.
If she really had a breakdown, Ichika would be very sad.
"Things are slightly different from what I expected, but the result should be considered good?" Shuichi didn't quite know how to evaluate it either.
Ichika turned to look at Sumire, who still had eyes full of admiration and worship, and was immediately confused. "Can you explain in detail, Shuichi-kun?"
"Well, actually, one sentence explains it all: Nagase-sensei thinks that Ichika-san is beautiful and completely distinct from ordinary people, even with that kind of expression." Shuichi spread his hands.
"..."
Ichika opened her mouth slightly, revealing a stunned expression. She hadn't expected this outcome either. Has Nagase reached that level?
"Although it's different from the plan, I feel it's not a bad thing? At least the situation is clear now. No matter what Ichika-san looks like in private, in Nagase-sensei's eyes, you are perfect, and she can easily accept everything."
"Is... is that so?"
Ichika's mood was complex. She was happy she hadn't lost a friend, but also didn't know whether to laugh or cry at her friend's stubbornness.
"That's how it is. Anyway..."
Shuichi glanced at Sumire, who was sitting obediently on the side listening, afraid to even breathe loudly for fear of disturbing their conversation.
"Ichika-san doesn't need to deliberately keep a distance anymore, nor do you need to worry about Nagase-sensei being disappointed in you and having a breakdown."
"I understand." Ichika nodded thoughtfully, then looked up at Sumire with a guilty expression.
"I'm sorry. I've been a bit cold all these years, but actually, I wanted to be closer to you too. I just had some unreasonable worries. Now, since that problem is gone... may I call you Sumire-chan?"
"Yes, yes, yes! Please, you must call me that!" Sumire was so excited she couldn't control herself.
Ichika held her trembling hand and revealed a gentle smile. "No need for honorifics. Sumire-chan can call me by my name directly too."
"Ki... Ichika-chan?" Sumire tested the waters very unskillfully.
"Mn." Ichika nodded happily.
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