As soon as he stepped out of the classroom, Lin Zhi spotted a familiar figure standing at the corner of the hallway.
"Nishimiya-san, you haven't gone home yet?" he asked, a little surprised.
"Ah…"
When Nishimiya Shouko heard his voice, her face bloomed into a gentle smile. She turned and instinctively began to use sign language—but the moment her hands moved, they froze midair. The faint light in her eyes dimmed slightly.
Lin Zhi frowned for just a moment before smoothing his expression into a calm smile. "Were you waiting for me?"
She nodded softly.
"Then let's go together," he said casually.
After all, back in the countryside, he'd often gone to and from school with a few girls—oh, and one quiet guy too.
Since it was the first day of school, clubs and the student council hadn't officially started activities yet. The halls were nearly empty, and they didn't run into anyone else as they walked.
At least, not until they turned a corner near the stairs—
"Ya—Yazhi!"
That name. It had been a long time since he'd heard it.
Lin Zhi blinked, a bit dazed, before looking toward the energetic figure bouncing before him.
Bright blue eyes like sapphires. Golden twin tails that shimmered under the light. A cute, doll-like face currently twisted into a furious scowl as she glared up at him, baring her teeth like an angry little puppy.
"Teacher Kashiwagi Eiri's little fang is kind of cute," Lin Zhi said with a faint laugh.
The blonde girl—Sawamura Spencer Eriri—froze mid-snarl. Then, as if struck by lightning, she stumbled back a few steps, steam practically rising from her head as her pretty face flushed a deep red.
"Wh—what are you talking about?!" she stammered.
Standing beside Lin Zhi, Nishimiya Shouko looked on curiously.
Wasn't this the new student representative who gave the speech this morning? Did she and Nozono-kun know each other?
Eriri, who could easily handle praise from another girl, completely melted down under a boy's compliment. She stammered for a good while before finally collecting herself, glaring daggers at Lin Zhi with those vivid blue eyes.
"Don't call me that name again," she hissed through gritted teeth.
Then she darted a quick glance toward Nishimiya, her eyes flashing with suspicion.
Did this girl hear that? Should I… silence her?
So cute.
Nishimiya blinked, staring blankly at Eriri. She really did look like an angry cat.
Huh?
Eriri frowned slightly. What was with that gaze?
Why did it feel… affectionate?
A warm, doting kind of affection? Wait—what?!
Her imagination spun out of control, filling with increasingly strange and vivid images.
The longer she thought, the pinker her cheeks grew, until her entire face was a brilliant shade of red and little wisps of imaginary steam seemed to rise from her head.
"Ah!"
She suddenly yelped, snapping out of her daze, her face still burning.
Watching her flustered expression, Lin Zhi couldn't help but look at her strangely. "Teacher Kashiwagi Eiri, was there something you needed?"
Eriri took a small step back, avoiding his eyes. But the next second, she puffed up like a cat whose tail had been stepped on. She lunged forward, grabbed Lin Zhi by the collar, and yanked him down to her eye level.
"I told you—don't call me that name!" she growled, her sapphire eyes locked on his.
Lin Zhi's expression turned a little awkward. He was quite a bit taller than her, so right now she looked like a tiny cat hanging off his shirt. He had to bend down just to keep from choking her grip.
"Ahem… maybe you could let go first?" he suggested.
"Hmph!"
Realizing the situation, Eriri blushed again and quickly released him, pretending nothing had happened.
Straightening his collar, Lin Zhi sighed. "So, Eriri, what are you doing here anyway?"
"Obviously I was waiting for you, idiot! What are you doing here?" she shot back, glaring suspiciously at him—though there was a flicker of embarrassment in her eyes, too.
Lin Zhi gave her a once-over, then said with a faintly amused look, "Don't tell me you think I came here because of you."
Her face turned even redder—but her eyes didn't waver. She kept staring straight at him.
Wasn't that the reason?
"Of course not," Lin Zhi said easily. "I didn't even know you were studying here."
"Really?"
Eriri's suspicion faltered a little, and a strange sense of emptiness crept into her chest.
"Really. You're way too paranoid, Miss Kashiwagi."
"I told you not to call me that!!" she shrieked.
Her anger flared again, and she unleashed her ultimate move—Golden Twin-Tail Whip!
Swish!Swish!Swish!
Lin Zhi dodged nimbly, finally catching one of the flailing twin tails mid-swing.
"Sorry, sorry. I guess I just got used to calling you that," he said, looking genuinely apologetic.
"Hmph!"
Snatching her hair back, Eriri pouted, then lifted her chin proudly, puffing up her nonexistent chest.
"From now on, let's pretend we don't know each other at school. Especially—don't call me by that name!" she declared, trying to sound commanding. "But since you're here, it'll be easier to discuss our story ideas later. Speaking of which, where's my script?"
"Haven't written it yet."
"What?!"
Her eyes widened in outrage. She stomped her little boot at him, but he sidestepped easily.
"You'd better take my project seriously!" she fumed.
"There's still plenty of time," he said with a shrug. "I'll think it through."
"I don't care! I want the full draft at least one month before Summer Comiket!" she demanded, crossing her arms and glaring up at him, every inch the furious little artist ready to bite.
"Summer Comiket, huh? Fine," Lin Zhi agreed after a moment's thought. "There's still time."
"Good. Then I'm going."
Satisfied with his answer, Eriri hesitated briefly, glanced at Nishimiya again, then turned and headed down the stairs.
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T/N:
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