Imaizumi Keita's question made Yanami Anna, who was still immersed in joy, suddenly freeze.
Her bright eyes blinked, and the smile on her face stiffened for a moment.
Right... the seniors are still here.
This issue was still very critical.
Hiding "staying out overnight" from her parents was one thing.
Announcing it in front of all the Literature Club members was another matter entirely.
Although her relationship with Keita was already seen as a couple in the eyes of everyone in the Literature Club, in their eyes, they hadn't been dating for long.
Walking around the Festival hand-in-hand was nothing, but if they said they were going to stay at a hotel...
The meaning behind that would be clear even to the most oblivious person.
Although the two had done it many times and Yanami Anna was somewhat addicted to this relationship, it didn't mean she wanted people to know about it...
"I..."
Yanami Anna's cheeks flushed uncontrollably, and her gaze began to wander.
"I... of course I mind! How could I not mind!"
She argued stubbornly, but her obviously lacking confidence made it sound more like she was acting spoiled.
"Then what should we do?" Imaizumi Keita asked on purpose, looking at her like this.
"We can't just say in front of everyone, 'Keita and I are going to get a room, you guys go back first,' can we?"
"W-What are you talking about!"
Yanami Anna was flushed red with shame by his blunt wording and reached out to punch his chest lightly.
"Who's going to get a room with you! I just... I just want to spend more time with you!"
"Yes, yes, yes," Imaizumi Keita went along with her words. "Then we have to find a reasonable excuse, right?"
Yanami Anna bit her lower lip and fell into deep thought.
Say she wasn't feeling well?
No, she was just bouncing around a moment ago; it would be too fake.
Say they missed the last train?
It was still early; that reason wouldn't hold up either.
Say she was going to stay at a friend's house?
In this neighboring city, where would she have a friend...
Thoughts flashed through her mind one by one, only to be rejected one by one.
Seeing her cute appearance as she racked her brains, Imaizumi Keita finally couldn't help but laugh out loud.
He reached out and gently pinched her puffed-up cheek.
"Alright, alright, don't think about it anymore," he said with a smile in his voice. "I'll handle this."
"Eh?" Yanami Anna looked up in surprise. "You have a way?"
"Of course."
Imaizumi Keita gave a confident smile.
Just then, the laughter and chatter of the other Literature Club members came from nearby.
"Ah, Imaizumi and Yanami are already here!"
Tamaki Shintaro called out a greeting to the two of them in surprise.
The figures of Tsukinoki Koto, Shioyaki Lemon, and Komari Chika also appeared in their sight.
Obviously, Shioyaki Lemon had run into the other Literature Club members on her way back.
She was holding a small stuffed dolphin in her arms.
It seemed that after she left, she went to play at a shooting game stall and successfully won a prize.
When her eyes met Imaizumi Keita's, she just smiled naturally.
Then she proactively looked away, as if nothing had happened between them.
On the other hand, Komari Chika, who was at the very back, subconsciously averted her eyes when she saw Imaizumi Keita and Yanami Anna standing close together, her small body shrinking further behind Shioyaki Lemon.
"You two got here quite early." Tsukinoki Koto walked up and glanced at her watch. "There are still a few minutes until nine-thirty. Our timing is perfect."
"Did you guys have fun, Senior?"
Yanami Anna let go of Imaizumi Keita's sleeve, her cheeks a bit flushed, as she proactively started a conversation.
"Yeah, it was pretty good," Tsukinoki Koto nodded, then looked at her with some concern. "But Yanami, are you okay? You didn't look too well just now, so I was quite worried."
Just as Yanami Anna was about to wave it off and say she was fine, Imaizumi Keita took a step forward and asked in surprise, "Eh, Anna's face didn't look good before?"
"Yeah... her face was a bit pale before, but now it feels a bit excessively flushed..."
Tsukinoki Koto looked at Yanami Anna's face with a strange expression. Under the influence of Imaizumi Keita's questioning, she felt even more that Yanami Anna's flushed face looked a bit unhealthy...
"Pale just now, and now a bit red..."
As Imaizumi Keita spoke, he naturally reached out and touched Yanami Anna's forehead. "Hmm, it's a bit hot. Could it be heatstroke..."
"Eh?"
Yanami Anna subconsciously wanted to object but was stopped by Imaizumi Keita's gaze.
"Heatstroke?" Tsukinoki Koto immediately showed a worried expression and walked quickly to Yanami Anna. "Anna, are you okay? Do you want to go to the infirmary?"
"I..." Yanami Anna's mind went blank, and she could only respond vaguely, "It seems... I am a little dizzy..."
"That won't do!" Shioyaki Lemon also came over, looking at her with concern.
"It's all because there are too many people today, and the air is bad. How about we find a place for her to sit and rest for a while?"
"I think it's better not to take the train back for now."
Imaizumi Keita frowned, his tone full of worry. "The train will definitely be packed now. What if it gets worse on the way?"
"I happen to have a relative living near here. I'll take her there to rest first. You guys go back first, don't wait for us."
"That... works too."
Tsukinoki Koto thought for a moment. Although she felt it was a bit strange, she still nodded.
"Then I'll have to trouble Imaizumi-kun. Yanami, you should also pay more attention. If you feel uncomfortable, you must say so."
"Um... thank you for the concern, Senior."
Yanami Anna lowered her head, her voice sounding weak and listless; her acting was top-notch.
"Then we'll head out first," Tamaki Shintaro waved his hand carelessly. "Imaizumi, take good care of Yanami-san!"
Shioyaki Lemon stood aside without saying much, holding the doll as she comforted Yanami Anna. "Anna, then get some good rest."
After saying that, she turned and followed the senior and the president through the ticket gate.
Komari Chika was the last to leave.
Before the ticket gate, she couldn't help but look back at Imaizumi Keita and Yanami Anna, who were still standing there.
Under the dim yellow light, Imaizumi's figure looked exceptionally reliable, while Yanami... looked completely dependent on him.
She opened her mouth as if to say something.
But in the end, she silently turned around and followed the others.
Seeing the backs of the Literature Club members disappear into the crowd at the ticket gate, Yanami Anna finally breathed a sigh of relief.
"Keita... you're amazing!" she couldn't help but praise in a low voice. "I really thought we were going to be caught just now. My heart was beating so fast!"
"That's why I told you to watch more movies,"
Imaizumi Keita flicked her nose with his finger, his tone full of amusement.
"The basic quality of an actor is to remain calm in the face of danger."
"Hmph, easy for you to say."
Yanami Anna puffed out her cheeks indignantly but then couldn't help laughing.
She proactively took his arm, her eyes full of expectation.
"So... where are we going now? To that relative's house of yours near here?"
"What relative?"
Imaizumi Keita was amused by her playing dumb.
"Of course... we're going to find a place where you can 'rest' properly."
He deliberately emphasized the word "rest."
Yanami Anna immediately understood the implication in his words, and her cheeks turned red again in an instant.
But this time, there was no shyness in her eyes; instead, they sparkled with excitement and provocation.
She stood on her tiptoes and leaned into his ear, deliberately saying in a cloyingly sweet whisper, "Then... you must 'take good care' of me tonight, boyfriend."
After saying that, she deliberately blew a breath into his ear.
Imaizumi Keita felt a warm current surge from his ear throughout his body, causing an immediate physical reaction.
Anna-chan, this little vixen... she's getting better and better at teasing.
He sighed helplessly, but the arm around her shoulder tightened even more.
"Let's go. I'll take good care of you, my 'patient' lady."
...
Meanwhile, on the train back.
The carriage was still crowded, but compared to the trip there, it felt a bit more like a weary journey home.
The Literature Club members found a corner to stand in.
Tsukinoki Koto and Tamaki Shintaro stood side-by-side, discussing some interesting things they had seen at the Festival in low voices.
Meanwhile, Shioyaki Lemon and Komari Chika stood beside them in silence.
The dolphin plushie from earlier was now hanging from Shioyaki Lemon's drawstring bag, and she held the rabbit plushie in her arms, her gaze empty as she watched the night scenery speeding past the window.
What had just happened between Imaizumi Keita and Yanami Anna at the station was replaying in her mind...
Anna's condition might be due to heatstroke, but it was unlikely that Anna's condition was due to heatstroke...
But sending her to rest at a relative's place...
Knowing the two were likely progressing quickly, she immediately felt it was just an excuse they had made up.
They were probably holding hands right now, looking for a place to 'rest'.
At this thought, a sour ache welled up in Shioyaki Lemon's heart.
The small sense of satisfaction and victory she had gained from the 'date replay' at the Festival earlier was now mercilessly shattered by reality.
Is this the privilege of the 'official girlfriend'...
It's just... so frustrating.
No.
I can't just admit defeat like this.
Anna has her strengths, but I have my own weapons.
Kin-chan hasn't completely sided with Anna.
I still have a chance.
And a very big one at that.
Thinking this, Shioyaki Lemon took a deep breath, slowly calming her troubled emotions, her eyes regaining their determination.
It's okay to fall behind for a while, as long as I can win in the end.
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