Akane couldn't understand why she would meet Satoru at Suzuka's doorstep.
Her first thought was actually,
How touching! He said he wouldn't come, but he secretly came to give me a surprise!
But then she immediately thought, no, that's not right.
Even if he wanted to come, he wouldn't know the address.
Even she hadn't been to Suzuka's house many times!
With this conclusion, the "surprise" was completely reduced to just "shock."
Ding-dong.
The doorbell rang.
"Wait—" Akane tried to stop it, but it was already too late.
Suzuka seemed to have been waiting at the door for a long time; as soon as the doorbell rang, the door was immediately opened.
A girl with a jet-black ponytail appeared at the doorway.
She wore a white sailor uniform that exuded both energy and cuteness, and the length of her pleated skirt allowed a glimpse of her plump, round thighs.
On her feet were pink bunny slippers, adorned with pure white bubble socks.
"Oh, Satoru, you've arrived." The girl's face lit up with joy, her lips gleaming with a vibrant and alluring luster under the sunlight.
Her eyes curved into a smile, and her pupils glowed with an icy blue light.
Colored contacts! She was wearing colored contacts!
Suzuka wasn't a girl who liked to wear makeup, and she almost never used colored contacts.
These colored contacts had even been a gift from Akane.
This time, to entertain the boy she liked, she could say she had put in her utmost effort!!
Oh no, oh no, oh no, oh no, oh no.
Akane screamed internally. She used her phone screen to check her simple appearance, not even bothering to tidy her messy hair ends.
In contrast, Suzuka's attire looked especially exquisite.
Akane would never have thought that one day, she would lose... at her own hands.
"Akane, why aren't you coming in?"
After inviting Satoru inside, Suzuka, her cheeks flushed, asked Akane, who stood at the doorway like a zombie.
Akane stiffly pulled at the corners of her mouth.
The moment Suzuka called out the first address, "Satoru," Akane had already fully understood the situation.
Even if her Satoru-chan agreed to come today, this wouldn't be a quadruple date; it would only be a trio!
While Akane was changing her shoes, Suzuka leaned close to her earlobe and softly whispered:
"Satoru… he's very handsome, isn't he?"
Akane's lips continued to twitch. She held back, finally suppressing the question that had welled up in her throat: "...Yes, he's handsome."
"I told you so~~~" Receiving her best friend's approval, Suzuka was even happier than if she had been praised herself.
Akane remembered.
She had once told Suzuka that Satoru-chan was handsome and tall.
Suzuka also said that the boy she liked was also handsome and tall.
Akane then said: "I didn't expect Satoru-chan's grades to be so good."
Suzuka also said that she had initially thought the boy she liked was only good at math, but it turned out he excelled in all subjects.
Akane also said: "Satoru-chan seems heartless, but he's quite kind at crucial moments."
Suzuka also said that the boy she liked had helped her escape danger multiple times.
Akane suddenly understood.
At this moment, in the girl's ear, it was as if a deity was asking: "Are the boys you like... the same person?"
...Yes!
Akane almost ground her teeth to dust. How could something like this happen?!
She watched as Suzuka had already scurried over to Satoru's side.
The location for their study session was the living room.
When she first heard Suzuka mention this, Akane had suggested, "Good strategy, but I want to take it a step further; let's just do it in your room." However, due to Suzuka's extreme shyness, the idea was rejected.
It was a good thing it was rejected, otherwise Akane would really slap herself.
He, he hadn't even been to her room yet! How could he enter another woman's boudoir first!?
In the living room, there was a low table, with a distance of less than a meter from left to right.
Reference books, exercise books, and stationery were already placed on this table.
After Suzuka scurried over to Satoru's side, she whispered a few words, and the two took their seats.
The girl motioned for the boy to sit on the far left, while she sat in the middle, the far right seat clearly reserved for Akane.
"Satoru." Suzuka called him softly: "I mainly don't understand this problem—hmm, look—"
Suzuka's strengths were her energy and straightforwardness, but Akane emphasized to her the importance of a contrasting cuteness.
If you're boisterous with others but gentle and considerate towards the boy in your heart, no man can resist that.
So Akane suggested that Suzuka speak softly and gently when facing the boy she liked.
Suzuka obediently listened to her words.
"So you were already studying before I arrived."
Satoru chuckled softly, looking where Suzuka's finger pointed: "Oh, regarding this problem…"
Why is he smiling like such a lovesick fool!
In the eyes of a mortified Akane, Satoru's relieved smile could be equated with "lecherous."
Because they had to look at the reference book together, their two heads were very close.
Not only that, but because the table itself was quite narrow, when Satoru explained the problem to her, his elbow even touched Suzuka's chest.
Suzuka's face flushed slightly with shyness, but she didn't try to stop the boy.
"Nanao's Love Compendium," Second Form: Deliberately create natural physical contact; this will easily increase mutual favorability.
Upon hearing this, Suzuka's face immediately turned red, and she kept saying "Muri muri muri muri" (no way, no way, no way, no way).
Through the video call, Akane could even see her cute hands waving repeatedly in front of her chest.
At that time, Akane was still thinking that perhaps such a thing was a bit too radical for Suzuka.
But!
Today... you did very well, Suzuka!!
Akane could hear herself grinding her teeth.
Grit, grit, grit.
"So that's how it is."
Having received the explanation, Suzuka clasped her hands together, her face filled with joy: "Satoru, you're amazing."
"Just average, I merely have a slight understanding," Satoru said indifferently.
"Huh, Akane? What are you still standing there for? Come over quickly." Suzuka patted the spot on the left side of the low table.
"Get lost!" Akane charged over, performed a "desktop clear master" by pushing the entire table over, then asked with chilling murderous intent, "What exactly is going on with you two!? Why do your relationship seem abnormal to me?"
↑ This only appeared in Akane's imagination.
The reality was, Akane twisted the corner of her drab-colored shirt, forcing out a stiff smile:
"Alright… I'll be right over…"
Suzuka's gaze returned to the reference book.
Satoru rested his chin on one hand, watching the plain-looking girl slowly approach with interest.
Then he was glared at fiercely by the girl.
...
...