"Sh-Shioyaki-san... Good afternoon."
Komari Chika, after recognizing the newcomer, softly returned Shioyaki Lemon's greeting.
Shioyaki Lemon nodded, her eyes full of gossip, scanning back and forth between Imaizumi Keita and Komari Chika.
"I say," she leaned in a bit, a mischievous smile on her face, "I didn't interrupt you two, did I?"
"Shio, stop talking nonsense." Keita Imaizumi shook his head, "It was just a coincidence we ran into each other. Come on, Shio, come sit down."
"Huh?! Just a coincidence?"
Shio Lemon drew out her tone, her face wearing an expression that said, "I don't believe you."
However, she didn't press the issue further and straightforwardly prepared to sit on the bench.
"U-um... I... over here... you can..."
Seeing this, Chika Komari immediately hugged her schoolbag and proactively scooted towards the edge of the bench, making a spacious spot for Shio Lemon.
Shio Lemon sat down naturally in the empty space between the two, a position that effectively separated them.
She placed her sports bag by her feet, then looked around the corner, her face showing a somewhat curious expression.
"Come to think of it, I never noticed there was a place like this in the school before."
She stretched, leaning back against the bench, and let out a comfortable sigh.
"If you hadn't said anything, Kei-chan, I probably would have subconsciously ignored this place until graduation."
"Of course." Keita Imaizumi nodded matter-of-factly, "Otherwise, I wouldn't have been able to use it as my secret base."
"Secret base?"
This term seemed to instantly pique Shio Lemon's interest.
Her eyes lit up, and she leaned forward slightly, looking curiously at the two beside her.
"Oho? So what were you two doing sneaking around in this secret base just now?"
"Eating lunch."
Keita Imaizumi pointed to his own bento box, then to the cream bread roll that Chika still had a little bit of left.
"As you can see, we just finished."
Chika Komari looked up, glanced at Keita Imaizumi, then looked at the bread in her hand, and said inexplicably...
"K-Keita... he... he stole half my bread earlier... so... you have to remember to give it back."
Hearing Chika's words and seeing Keita's innocent expression of "I was just joking,"
Shio Lemon couldn't hold back a "pfft" and laughed.
She rummaged in her backpack for a moment, then pulled out two unopened packs of cookies and a bag of fruit gummies, generously pushing them towards the two.
"Alright, alright, since everyone's still a bit hungry, I'll contribute my snacks! Help yourselves, don't be shy!"
Looking at the two packs of snacks on the table, Chika Komari hesitated for a moment but ultimately couldn't resist the temptation, reaching out to take a pack of cookies.
Keita Imaizumi tore open the fruit gummies and shared them with the two, and the three of them snacked while chatting idly.
When the snacks were also gone, Shio Lemon patted her stomach contentedly and was the first to stand up from the bench.
"Alright, full and satisfied, what should we do next?"
She stretched her shoulders, her gaze sweeping over the two of them, "We can't just stay here until sunset, can we?"
"I'm fine with anything."
Keita Imaizumi shrugged, indicating he had no particular opinion.
Looking at Shio Lemon's eager expression and then at Keita's lack of interest, Chika Komari's heart skipped a beat.
If she didn't speak up now, she felt Shio would definitely suggest something like, "Let's all three go shopping together!"
Just imagining walking outside with these two shining normies, receiving stares from passersby, made Chika Komari's legs feel weak.
No, absolutely not.
She had already endured too much social energy today; she couldn't take any more.
Chika Komari stood up abruptly and, facing Shio Lemon who was about to speak, stammered an explanation:
"U-um... I... I have... s-something to do later... I need to go first! You two... y-you two go ahead!"
With that, she slung her backpack over her shoulder, bowed to the two, and quickly left with small, hurried steps.
Watching Chika's fleeing figure, Shio Lemon's face showed a somewhat helpless smile.
"Sigh... I scared Komari-chan off again."
"You're just too enthusiastic, Shio."
"Am I?" Shio Lemon scratched her short hair, "I just think it's more fun when everyone plays together."
After saying that, she turned her expectant gaze back to Keita Imaizumi.
"Well, Kei-chan, now it's just the two of us. Is there anywhere you'd like to go?"
Keita Imaizumi pondered for a moment, then made a suggestion.
"Since we don't know where to go, how about playing some games?"
He glanced at his phone and continued, "Track and field club practice doesn't start until almost the end of the school day, right? We should have plenty of time to go play for a bit now and come back later. What do you think?"
"Games?!" Shio Lemon's eyes instantly lit up, "Okay, okay! It's decided!"
So, without further delay, the two left the school and headed towards the Arcade.
...
The Arcade at the end of the Station's shopping street was the most popular entertainment spot for students nearby.
As soon as Shio Lemon stepped into the Arcade, she grabbed Keita Imaizumi's wrist and enthusiastically weaved between the various game machines.
Keita Imaizumi let himself be pulled along without showing any impatience, simply following behind her as they played several games.
Until they stood before a row of crane games.
Shio Lemon's steps halted. Her gaze was captured by a plush Shiba Inu doll in a lying-down pose inside one of the machines.
The Shiba Inu doll had a round, plump butt and a pair of innocent beady eyes, looking exceptionally adorable and goofy.
"Kei-chan... look at that one..."
"Want it?"
Keita Imaizumi followed her line of sight.
"Yeah!" Shio Lemon nodded vigorously, "It's super cute! I really want to take it home!"
Looking at the Shiba Inu doll that didn't seem too difficult to grab, Keita Imaizumi felt his competitive spirit and desire to show off being stirred.
He exchanged for a handful of tokens, then stood in front of the crane game and gripped the joystick.
"Let me give it a try."
Shio Lemon immediately leaned in, watching his operation with an expectant look.
The joystick moved, the mechanical claw followed, and when it descended, it grabbed the Shiba Inu doll's body.
However, just as it was about to reach the chute, the Shiba Inu slipped from the claw's grasp.
"Ah... so close!"
Shio Lemon let out a sigh of regret.
-------------------------
If you enjoy this story, you can read 70+ advanced chapters on Patreon!
Webnovel will keep getting 1 new chapter every day but Patreon readers can stay far ahead.
Maybe it's not a big deal now… maybe it will be later.
[email protected]/Rexlent
"And If you're enjoying it, drop a Power Stone for me!"