Nishikawa Ryouko watched the scene unfolding before her, thinking to herself that this sort of thing was absolutely unacceptable.
She had to find an opportunity to strike back.
Only... if she tried to counterattack the two of them, she might just end up getting counterattacked in return.
What she'd said a moment ago was a perfect example.
All she had done was remark that "Shiraishi Asuka and Shikime Natsu seem to have quite a good relationship," and yet this Shikime Natsu had the nerve to ask her point-blank whether she was jealous.
How could she possibly be jealous?
And besides... even though Shiraishi Asuka hadn't said a word just now, why was it Shikime Natsu who spoke up first?
Was he shielding Shiraishi Asuka that much?
At this thought, Nishikawa Ryouko's mood couldn't help but grow a little complicated.
Looking at it this way... in Shikime Natsu's heart, could it be that Shiraishi Asuka's priority ranked above her own?
The moment that idea surfaced, Nishikawa Ryouko startled herself.
Wait, why was she even thinking about something like "priority"?
It wasn't as if she and Shikime Natsu shared any special relationship—there was no priority ranking to speak of at all.
But still...
If he didn't particularly care, then why would Shikime Natsu take the bullet for Shiraishi Asuka at the very first moment?
That remark of hers had clearly been directed at Shiraishi Asuka. Shikime Natsu could have easily stayed out of it.
And yet he'd jumped in anyway, going so far as to use an ambiguous word like "jealous" to counter her.
Wasn't that just... him protecting Shiraishi Asuka?
Nishikawa Ryouko bit her lip, a flicker of complicated light flashing through those pale golden eyes.
Forget it. She wouldn't think about this anymore.
She drew in a deep breath, forcibly suppressing all those chaotic thoughts, and then turned her head to look toward Shiraishi Asuka.
On her face, a little-devil-like expression emerged.
In those pale golden eyes, a sly light rekindled.
She thought to herself that if Shikime Natsu wanted to further win over Shiraishi Asuka, then naturally she would lend a hand.
Though deep down, Nishikawa Ryouko found this feeling rather strange—it felt almost as if she were teasing herself.
But then... she hadn't exactly confirmed any relationship with this Shikime Natsu guy, so it didn't really count.
And besides, she'd just been outmaneuvered by this Shikime Natsu guy—there was no way Nishikawa Ryouko could swallow that grievance.
Since she couldn't handle Shikime Natsu, then naturally she'd choose to go after Shiraishi Asuka instead.
After all... Shiraishi Asuka had also launched an offensive against her earlier.
Though that kind of offensive had been harmless enough, combined with Shikime Natsu it had still left her a little unable to hold her ground.
Now, it was her turn.
Nishikawa Ryouko adjusted her sitting posture, those pale golden eyes fixing straight on Shiraishi Asuka, the corner of her mouth curving into a meaningful smile.
"Shiraishi-san."
She spoke, her voice carrying a deliberate sweetness.
"Hm?"
Shiraishi Asuka tilted her head slightly, a flicker of puzzlement flashing through those purple eyes.
"Just now, Shiki-san and I were chatting about... the matter of birthdays."
Nishikawa Ryouko deliberately put a heavier stress on the word "birthday," then continued:
"Shiki-san asked me for my date, and said... he was going to give me a present, you know."
As she spoke, she stole a glance at Shikime Natsu out of the corner of her eye.
Hearing this, Shikime Natsu's expression didn't change in the slightest, still holding his coffee cup and sipping leisurely.
As if what Nishikawa Ryouko had said were a trivial matter entirely unworthy of attention.
Nishikawa Ryouko gave a soft, secret snort inside, then continued questioning Shiraishi Asuka:
"Shiraishi-san... have you ever received a birthday present from Shiki-san?"
"Or rather... has Shiki-san ever asked you for your birthday, Shiraishi-san?"
At these words, Shiraishi Asuka was slightly taken aback, a flicker of surprise flashing through those purple eyes.
She glanced at Shikime Natsu, then looked at Nishikawa Ryouko.
She hadn't expected... that Shikime Natsu had already reached this point with Nishikawa Ryouko.
So he already planned to give a present directly to Nishikawa Ryouko?
For some reason, when Shiraishi Asuka heard these words, an odd feeling couldn't help but well up in her heart.
That strange feeling, that faint, indescribable sensation...
It couldn't quite be called envy, nor could it be called disappointment—it was more like a... subtle, indefinable emotion that couldn't be put into words.
As if she had missed out on something.
Of course, Shiraishi Asuka's face still wore that gentle smile, without revealing any flaw.
She gave a light laugh, then slowly opened her mouth:
"As for me..."
"In the past, I rather liked spending my birthday alone."
Her tone was very calm, as if she were stating something perfectly natural.
"So I never told anyone my birthday."
Nishikawa Ryouko was slightly stunned.
The subtext of this statement was already quite clear—Shikime Natsu had never given Shiraishi Asuka a present, and moreover, Shiraishi Asuka's own birthday had already passed.
Before Nishikawa Ryouko could think further, Shiraishi Asuka suddenly shifted the tone of her words.
"However..."
She tilted her head slightly, those purple eyes falling upon Shikime Natsu, the smile at the corner of her mouth deepening a few degrees.
"From now on, I'm actually looking forward to... having a classmate give me a present, you know."
She paused, then said softly:
"My birthday is... July twenty-first."
Having said this, she revealed a faint smile toward Shikime Natsu, those purple eyes carrying a glimmer of anticipation.
"Shiki-san."
"Hm?"
"I'd like to know—will I be able to receive a birthday present on July twenty-first?"
Shiraishi Asuka's voice was very gentle, pleasant to the ear.
Shikime Natsu set down the coffee cup in his hand, looked into Shiraishi Asuka's purple eyes, and nodded with a smile.
"Of course you can."
"—!"
Nishikawa Ryouko felt like her whole self had gone to pieces.
That move of hers had not only failed to cause Shiraishi Asuka any trouble, but had instead allowed Shiraishi Asuka to seize the momentum and tell Shikime Natsu her birthday.
And then... Shikime Natsu had even agreed to give Shiraishi Asuka a birthday present.
But...
This Shikime Natsu guy—of all things, he still hadn't agreed to give one to her!
Nishikawa Ryouko fumed inwardly.
Just a moment ago she had "graciously" told him her birthday, and in the end he hadn't even said so much as an "I'll remember it."
Now look—Shiraishi Asuka merely opened her mouth, and he agreed just like that.
This difference in treatment was way too obvious, wasn't it?
Nishikawa Ryouko was furious.
But... her face still wore a smile.
It was just that the smile was a little hard to hold up now.
The curve of her lips grew slightly stiff, her gaze carrying a trace of resentment and unwillingness.
She told herself in her heart to calm down, calm down.
Since it was like this, then she would simply go along and take it for granted that Shikime Natsu had remembered her birthday and intended to give her a present on that day.
Right, that was it.
Even though he hadn't said it explicitly, still... he had asked, so how could he possibly not remember?
And besides... he hadn't refused, either.
So... so it should count as... tacit agreement, right?
Nishikawa Ryouko desperately tried to convince herself, attempting to calm her unbalanced heart at least a little.
But it was right at this moment.
"Bzzt—bzzt—"
Nishikawa Ryouko's phone suddenly began to vibrate.
She was slightly startled, then pulled the phone out of her pocket and glanced at the screen.
It was a message.
She tapped it open and looked; her brows furrowed slightly, then relaxed again.
After reading the message, Nishikawa Ryouko lifted her head and revealed an apologetic smile toward Shikime Natsu and Shiraishi Asuka.
"Sorry..."
Her tone had become much gentler, losing that slyness and little-devil flavor from before.
"Someone's looking for me, so I'll have to head off first."
"Is that so."
Shikime Natsu nodded.
"Take care on the way."
"Mm."
Shiraishi Asuka also gave a light nod, that gentle smile hanging at the corner of her mouth.
"Nishikawa-san, goodbye."
"Goodbye."
Nishikawa Ryouko stood up, picked up her bag, gave a slight bow toward the two of them, then turned and left.
Her walking pace was a little quicker than usual, as if there really were something waiting for her.
Those twin braids swayed gently with her steps, and she soon vanished into the crowd of the Keyaki shopping center.
Once Nishikawa Ryouko's figure had completely disappeared beyond sight, the atmosphere at the table grew a little quieter.
Shiraishi Asuka picked up her coffee cup, took a light sip, then set the cup down, those purple eyes looking toward Shikime Natsu.
At the corner of her mouth, a meaningful smile curved.
"Shiki-san."
"Hm?"
"You really are a wicked-hearted fellow, aren't you."
Her tone carried a touch of teasing, and a touch of helplessness as well.
"Oh?"
Shikime Natsu raised an eyebrow, looking at her with a smile that wasn't quite a smile.
"Why does Shiraishi-san say that?"
"Why..."
Shiraishi Asuka tilted her head lightly, that teardrop mole looking especially playful in the sunlight.
"Shiki-san clearly knew that Nishikawa-san... cares very much about your reactions."
"You deliberately said nothing after she finished asking, just sat there drinking your coffee..."
"She was bound to get anxious."
"And besides..."
She paused, a flicker of slyness flashing through those purple eyes.
"Just now, when it came to my birthday, Shiki-san... agreed so readily."
"Nishikawa-san must have felt terribly unbalanced inside, right?"
"Hehe... truly wicked-hearted."
Hearing these words, Shikime Natsu couldn't help but laugh.
He didn't deny it; instead he picked up his coffee cup, took a leisurely, self-satisfied sip, then looked at Shiraishi Asuka and asked back:
"In that case... what about you, Shiraishi-san?"
"Hm?"
"Just now, weren't you also playing along with me, Shiraishi-san?"
The corner of Shikime Natsu's mouth curved into a playful arc.
"When Nishikawa-san asked whether you'd ever received a birthday present from me, Shiraishi-san could have easily not mentioned her own birthday."
"But... Shiraishi-san still told it."
"And even asked me... whether I could give you a present on that day."
"Wasn't that... playing along with me to tease Nishikawa-san together?"
Hearing Shikime Natsu's words, Shiraishi Asuka was slightly taken aback, then couldn't help but cover her mouth and laugh softly.
"Pfft—"
"Shiki-san really is... rather sharp, isn't he."
"Nothing can be hidden from your eyes."
"So, the wicked-heartedness Shiraishi-san mentioned just now includes yourself too, you know."
Shikime Natsu set down the coffee cup, those pale golden eyes calmly regarding Shiraishi Asuka.
Shiraishi Asuka fell silent for an instant, then gave a light nod.
"Alright, I admit it."
"I really am... just a tiny little bit wicked-hearted."
She extended her slender index finger, making a "just a little bit" gesture, her face carrying a playful smile.
"But..."
Her voice suddenly softened a little, those purple eyes falling upon Shikime Natsu's face, carrying a hint of seriousness.
"The birthday I mentioned... is real, you know."
"July twenty-first."
"I've never told it to anyone before."
Hearing these words, Shikime Natsu nodded.
"Mm, I've remembered it."
He paused, then added:
"When the time comes... I'll present Shiraishi-san with a birthday gift."
"After all..."
He smiled.
"I already promised just now, didn't I."
"..."
Shiraishi Asuka gazed at Shikime Natsu's smiling face, a barely perceptible light flashing through those purple eyes.
She parted her lips, seeming to want to say something, but the words that reached the tip of her tongue were swallowed back down.
Then a very faint blush quietly crept up her cheeks.
That blush was very, very light—so light that unless you looked carefully, you could hardly make it out.
But... it truly existed.
Shiraishi Asuka lowered her head and gave a soft "mm."
That sound was very faint—so faint it was nearly drowned out by the café's background music.
But Shikime Natsu still heard it.
He picked up his coffee cup, took another sip, the smile at the corner of his mouth deepening a few degrees.
The sunlight outside the café was as bright as ever, spilling down through the gaps in the parasol, casting dappled patches of light and shadow across the tabletop.
The two of them simply sat quietly like this for a while, neither one speaking.
That silence wasn't awkward.
Instead there was a kind of... rare contentment.
Just like two friends who had known each other for a long time, needing no deliberate topic of conversation, only to sit quietly together and enjoy this moment of tranquility.
After a while, Shiraishi Asuka suddenly lifted her head, looking at Shikime Natsu, and asked softly:
"Shiki-san..."
"Hm?"
"Now that you know Nishikawa-san's birthday, do you really intend to give Nishikawa-san a birthday present?"
Her tone carried a touch of curiosity.
"Or was it... just a casual question?"
Shikime Natsu looked at her and asked back with a smile:
"What does Shiraishi-san think?"
"I think..."
Shiraishi Asuka tilted her head, putting on a thoughtful appearance.
"Shiki-san probably... really does intend to give one."
"After all... with Shiki-san's personality, if you didn't truly intend to give one, you probably wouldn't ask such a question."
She paused, a flicker of slyness flashing through those purple eyes.
"Watching Nishikawa-san's reaction just now, Shiki-san probably showed a slight difference in treatment when learning our birthdays, right?"
"Otherwise, when Nishikawa-san heard you say you'd remembered my birthday just now, her expression wouldn't have gone so stiff."
"Of course, if Shiki-san didn't intend to give one and were really planning to toy with a maiden's feelings, then I'd consider such behavior utterly unforgivable, you know."
After hearing Shiraishi Asuka's words, Shikime Natsu smiled.
"That naturally won't be the case. I'll give Nishikawa-san's birthday present, and Shiraishi-san's birthday present just the same."
"Then... I'll be looking forward to it."
Shiraishi Asuka made a gesture of anticipation.
"On the day of Shiki-san's birthday, I'll give a return gift too, you know. Shiki-san's birthday is April first, right?"
"Mm, then I'll be looking forward to Shiraishi-san's gift as well."
Shikime Natsu nodded. At this school, his birthday was no longer any sort of secret.
"Mm, then Shiki-san should look forward to it."
When Shiraishi Asuka laughed, her eyes narrowed slightly, and she looked quite lovely.
"It's still early. If you don't mind, would Shiki-san be willing to go to karaoke with me?"
Shiraishi Asuka's coffee before her had reached the bottom, and looking at Shikime Natsu before her, she seized the moment to extend an invitation.
"Since it's an invitation from Shiraishi-san, then naturally I agree."
Shikime Natsu looked at the Shiraishi Asuka before him with a slight touch of surprise—Shiraishi Asuka was different from how she'd behaved before.
____
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