After the two beautiful girls locked eyes, the atmosphere became slightly subtle.
Kamuro Masumi was not unfamiliar with Shiina Hiyori; she knew that Shikime Natsu went to see Shiina Hiyori every Wednesday, and she had even seen Shiina Hiyori from a distance once.
It was just that... the two had never had any interaction.
However, for Shiina Hiyori, the name and face of Kamuro Masumi were quite unfamiliar.
After all, her world was truly very small.
Aside from the library and the classroom, she almost never went anywhere else, and her meetings with Shikime Natsu every Wednesday were always in a quiet corner of the library.
Moreover, when Shikime Natsu went to see Shiina Hiyori, he basically went alone, so Shiina Hiyori did not recognize this purple-haired beautiful girl.
Looking at Kamuro Masumi's movements as she walked in, she seemed quite familiar with Shikime Natsu's dorm, completely lacking the restraint Shiina Hiyori had shown when she first entered.
Shiina Hiyori revealed her signature smile toward Kamuro Masumi.
"Hello, nice to meet you."
Her voice was soft and gentle, carrying a natural affinity that made it hard for anyone to feel aversion toward her.
"Hello..."
Because Kamuro Masumi still spoke too little, she was quite unaccustomed to others actively striking up a conversation with her, especially one showing such goodwill. The majority of Kamuro Masumi's conversations were solely with Shikime Natsu.
"Let me introduce you."
Shikime Natsu timely broke the slightly awkward silence between the two, smiling as he walked between them.
"This is Class C's Shiina Hiyori."
"And this is Class A's Kamuro Masumi."
The two nodded slightly; Shiina Hiyori considered herself to have learned the name of this girl who had entered Shikime Natsu's room so naturally.
As for Kamuro Masumi, she had long anticipated this day. After all... that guy Shikime Natsu basically went to the library every Wednesday to chat with this girl. She wasn't surprised in the slightest that he would invite her to the dorm at some point.
It was just that... this progress... was still too fast!
Shikime Natsu turned his gaze toward Kamuro Masumi.
"By the way, Masumi, have you eaten dinner yet?"
"Do you need me to prepare a portion for you?"
Hearing these words, Kamuro Masumi's body stiffened slightly.
She glanced at Shiina Hiyori.
The young girl's small, fair hands still had a few undried water droplets on them, clearly indicating she had just washed something.
Combined with the enticing aroma of cuisine in the room that had yet to dissipate...
The two had definitely already eaten dinner; she had arrived late.
Mmh, Kamuro Masumi had come over on an empty stomach. She had originally thought that by coming a bit earlier today, she might be able to eat dinner with Shikime Natsu. Unfortunately... Shikime Natsu had prepared the meal early today, and she was a step too late.
She didn't get to eat cuisine made by Shikime Natsu's own hands. Of course, she could basically eat it at lunch, but could lunch and dinner be the same thing?
She wanted lunch, and she also wanted dinner.
Kamuro Masumi hesitated; the young girl fell into a dilemma.
If she answered that she had eaten, then she would spend several hours of study time here at Shikime Natsu's place on an empty stomach. If her stomach uncooperatively made a shameful sound, then the young girl could just die on the spot.
That would be not only awkward but also miserable.
However, if she said she hadn't eaten, then she would have to make Shikime Natsu go to the kitchen specially to busy himself again. Even if Shikime Natsu didn't mind, her doing so would be quite inconsiderate. It might even affect her image in Shikime Natsu's heart, causing her score to drop kaka (rapidly).
Noticing Kamuro Masumi's conflicted little expression, Shikime Natsu secretly found it funny in his heart.
Although the time he had spent with this tsundere girl wasn't long—only about a month—he believed he had figured out her temperament pretty well.
"Actually, the food I made just now seemed to be a little too little; I'm slightly not full myself."
"I just happen to plan on making a bit more. If you don't mind, Masumi... do you want to eat a bit together?"
This was clearly a lie. Kamuro Masumi felt she understood Shikime Natsu quite well; when this guy prepared bento, it was basically impossible for him to prepare too little or too much, unless it was his first time preparing for someone else.
But... that was in the case of many people. Right now, in Shikime Natsu's dorm, there were only Shikime Natsu and Shiina Hiyori. She didn't believe Shikime Natsu couldn't grasp the portion size properly; he was giving her a way out.
...Since you've put it that way.
She turned her head away, muttering in a low voice with some embarrassment.
"Then... I'll trouble you."
Although her mouth remained somewhat dishonest, the tips of her ears, which were faintly flushed red, betrayed her true mood at this moment.
"Okay, wait a moment."
Shikime Natsu turned and walked toward the kitchen.
Shiina Hiyori, sitting at the side, watched this scene quietly.
Her gaze shifted between Shikime Natsu and Kamuro Masumi, her heart thoughtful.
Just now, Shikime Natsu addressed this Kamuro-san as "Masumi."
Calling her directly by her given name... it seemed their relationship was also quite good.
Although her face didn't show any particular change, still wearing that quiet smile, in the young girl's heart, Kamuro Masumi's name was etched a bit more deeply.
"By the way, Hiyori."
Shikime Natsu, who had just walked into the kitchen, suddenly popped his head out.
"Since it's still early anyway, do you want to stay and study together for a while?"
"I think Masumi shouldn't mind one more study partner, right?"
Hearing how Shikime Natsu addressed Shiina Hiyori, Kamuro Masumi, who was just preparing to find a place to sit, paused her movements.
Hiyori...?
Her pupils constricted slightly.
She hadn't expected that the relationship between these two had also reached the level where they could intimately call each other by given names?
Although Shikime Natsu was quite gentle, and there were quite a few girls Shikime Natsu addressed directly with intimate nicknames—like Kikyou, Mei-chan—there were also people who had known Shikime Natsu for a long time yet were still addressed as Sakayanagi or Horikita.
To be able to receive such an intimate address from Shikime Natsu meant she stood in the same position as herself.
The two young girls each harbored their own thoughts.
Shiina Hiyori's gaze swept slightly over the document bag printed with the school LOGO that Kamuro Masumi was holding, which contained a thick stack of materials.
Did she come over specifically to seek Shikime Natsu for studying?
"Okay, then I will intrude."
Hearing Shikime Natsu's invitation, Shiina Hiyori didn't hesitate; she nodded slightly and agreed.
If it were usual, in order not to disturb Shikime Natsu's serious business, she might have chosen to take her leave.
But today...
For some reason, she just felt she should stay.
If she stayed a little longer, maybe she would discover a little bit more?
The young girl's intuition told her that going back a bit later today would be better.
Because he had long anticipated the situation where multiple people might visit simultaneously—after all, besides Kamuro Masumi, Horikita Suzune or others would occasionally come over—Shikime Natsu had the foresight to buy a few more folding chairs.
They came in handy right now.
However, Shikime Natsu's single dorm had limited space after all. A room originally suitable for one person living in it suddenly appeared somewhat crowded with the addition of some tables and chairs.
Kamuro Masumi and Shiina Hiyori sat side by side on one side of the dining table, while Shikime Natsu busied himself in the kitchen.
Was it really okay to leave only two young girls in the room, two beautiful girls who could be said to have no further understanding of each other?
It was slightly awkward...
Kamuro Masumi wasn't the type to talk much in the first place, and certainly not the type to actively find topics to chat about.
She kept a straight face, lowering her head to flip through the materials in her hands, pretending to be very busy. This way, if she didn't actively provoke a topic, it should be fine, right?
As for Shiina Hiyori, she was a typical quiet-type beautiful girl. Usually, she also read books quietly; if no one actively struck up a conversation, she could go a whole day without saying a word.
Thus, apart from the slight sound of Shikime Natsu cutting vegetables in the kitchen, the room was surprisingly quiet to a weird degree.
The two beautiful girls, still quite strangers, sat shoulder to shoulder like this. They could both sense the aura on each other's bodies, yet neither spoke first.
This silence made both of them involuntarily feel somewhat nervous.
Shiina Hiyori turned her head slightly, sizing up Kamuro Masumi beside her with her peripheral vision.
Kamuro Masumi naturally also sensed that sizing-up gaze from the side.
But she didn't turn her head, only gripping the pen in her hand a bit tighter.
Say what?
What could she say?
She wasn't good at these social pleasantries to begin with, let alone when the object was a girl who looked like she came from a completely different genre than herself.
Kamuro Masumi just kept a straight face, looking at the book in her hands just like when she was in the classroom, saying nothing.
Of course, Shiina Hiyori wouldn't think Kamuro Masumi was scary because of this.
After all, she was in the environment of Class C. Even Ryuuen Kakeru and the others didn't make her feel very scared; of course, she didn't like violence, that was all.
After a while, Shiina Hiyori took the lead in breaking the silence.
"Is Kamuro-san here to ask Shiki... Natsu for tutoring? Natsu is really good at teaching people. Back in the library, he taught Satou-san and the others very well."
Shiina Hiyori unconsciously wanted to address him as Shiki-san, but she reacted quickly; she should address him as Natsu. If she addressed him as Shiki-san, she felt... it would make her appear somewhat weaker.
Shikime Natsu addressed both of them very intimately. If Kamuro Masumi addressed Shikime Natsu, it must also be Natsu, right?
Shikime Natsu had once taught Satou Maya and the others during the exchange week, and Shiina Hiyori was also nearby at the time. Now that Kamuro Masumi was also seeking Shikime Natsu for study, she had found a common point: Shikime Natsu.
And... since the two were strangers, the only topic they could revolve around was Shikime Natsu.
Hearing this sentence, the pen in Kamuro Masumi's hand paused.
"...Ah, indeed."
She nodded in agreement, rarely opening her mouth to chime in.
"Thanks to Natsu helping me tutor my schoolwork, I've improved quite a lot in terms of studying."
Hearing Kamuro Masumi's response, Shiina Hiyori couldn't help but breathe a sigh of relief.
Fortunately, it seemed she wasn't the type of person who was difficult to communicate with.
As long as they could strike up a conversation, the subsequent exchange would be much easier.
"In that case..."
Shiina Hiyori continued to ask along the topic, her purple eyes flashing with the light of curiosity.
"Does Natsu tutor Kamuro-san here every day after school?"
Although she wasn't clear if it was every day, every Wednesday, Shikime Natsu basically left directly in the evening.
If he really tutored Kamuro Masumi every day... then this time spent "alone" accumulating...
Kamuro Masumi shook her head.
"Not every day."
"It's just... starting from this month, I requested him to help with tutoring."
Starting from this month...
Shiina Hiyori silently translated this sentence in her heart.
Although it hadn't been very long, this meant that for this past month, Kamuro Masumi had the opportunity to come here almost every day to spend time alone with Shikime Natsu.
And... since it was tutoring, they must definitely eat dinner together just like today, right?
This mode of getting along...
Was slightly... somewhat enviable.
"So that's how it is."
Shiina Hiyori nodded, maintaining the smile on her face.
Since the other party was honest about her reasons, she felt she should also explain her reason for being here as an exchange.
"Today I came over to try Natsu's cuisine. Natsu's culinary skills are truly very excellent, so I also requested Natsu, wanting to learn Natsu's cooking techniques."
Learning cooking skills?
Kamuro Masumi was quite clear about how strong Shikime Natsu's culinary skills were. Wanting to learn Shikime Natsu's culinary skills... who knew how many donkey's years that would take?
Moreover, if she was learning cooking, it meant that from now on, Shiina Hiyori might become a frequent visitor to Shikime Natsu's room.
Thinking about it this way, the frequent visitors in Shikime Natsu's dorm were getting more and more numerous.
For Kamuro Masumi, this was definitely not a good thing; another competitor had been added.
Of course, the young girl's smell of gunpowder wasn't displayed. Being jealous was okay, but showing hostility toward Shiina Hiyori was a no-go; Shikime Natsu wouldn't like it.
Maybe he would treat her directly like Sakayanagi Arisu then.
Besides, the young girl herself was also a person who didn't like to display her hostility, only getting jealous secretly.
Right at this moment, the phone Kamuro Masumi had placed on the table suddenly lit up.
Buzz—
It was a new message.
She glanced at the phone; it was a message sent by Sakayanagi Arisu. The other party was already outside Shikime Natsu's dorm door and wanted her to open the door.
At Shikime Natsu's dorm, instead of sending a message to Shikime Natsu, she sent it to her; what did this mean?
Was she looking for trouble with her again?
Just like yesterday?
As soon as she thought of the words Sakayanagi Arisu said to her when she came to her dorm last night, Kamuro Masumi knew that this guy definitely wanted to affect her exam state.
However... this was Shikime Natsu's dorm. Since this black-hearted smug brat had come over, then... just let Shikime Natsu teach her a good lesson.
Kamuro Masumi suddenly stood up.
Shiina Hiyori, at the side, couldn't help but freeze, looking at Kamuro Masumi's slightly frowning appearance and thinking, Could it be that I said something wrong just now?
"Um... Kamuro-san?"
"Someone has come over. I'll go open the door."
Then, she walked straight to the entryway and opened the door.
"Ara, good evening, Kamuro-san."
An elegant and sweet voice came from outside the door; that belonged to a girl.
Immediately after... it seemed there were two more girls' voices?
Shiina Hiyori sat on the chair, listening to the commotion coming from the entryway, a trace of surprise flashing past her eyes.
Exactly how many girls were in Shikime Natsu's dorm?
____
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