As she held Shikime Natsu's hand, Amikura Mako felt as if her whole being had been plunged into a beautiful dream she never wanted to wake from.
She had truly become Shikime Natsu's girlfriend.
The girl lowered her head, her gaze falling on their ten fingers tightly interlaced.
That warm, boyish body heat flowing endlessly from his palm spread clearly across her skin and through her entire body, reminding her that none of this was an illusory dream.
Shikime Natsu stopped walking, turned his head, and looked at the girl beside him whose cheeks were still tinged with a blush.
He bent his head down slightly, the corners of his mouth curving into a gentle smile, and spoke softly to Amikura Mako.
"Since we're already in this kind of relationship now."
He gave their joined hands a little shake.
"Then, when it comes to what we call each other—shouldn't we change that a little too?"
Hearing this, Amikura Mako only then realized something.
Oh, right.
Up until the very moment she'd been confessed to just now, the name coming out of her mouth had still been "Shiki-san" the whole time.
Amikura Mako quietly savored everything that had happened over this period of time in her heart.
She had never imagined that the relationship between the two of them could change so quickly.
So it turned out that crossing that line called friendship and truly, genuinely confirming a romantic relationship really was just a matter of an instant.
After all, before heading out this morning—even though she had long since worked up the courage to go out shopping and have fun alone with Shikime Natsu several times.
Still, throughout all those moments they'd spent together, the way she addressed Shikime Natsu had always remained "Shiki-san."
Back then, the relationship between the two of them was more like that of friends who got along well, or rather, close friends a little better than ordinary classmates.
Although her heart had long been filled to the brim with her affection for him, constrained by a maiden's reserve and timidity, she had never found the courage to actively take that crucial step, to ask for more intimacy.
She never imagined that today, inside the fortune-telling room, simply by going along with the fortune-teller's words and decisively acting on an impulse, she had turned the words hidden in her heart into action.
And it had succeeded just like that!
Today really was a day blessed by the goddess of fortune.
In the depths of her heart, Amikura Mako felt incredibly thankful—thankful that last night she had mustered up her courage and sent Shikime Natsu today's invitation.
The two of them continued to walk side by side along the wide, bright path of Keyaki Mall.
People came and went all around them, but in Amikura Mako's world, it seemed as if only this tall, handsome boy beside her remained.
As she walked with light, brisk steps, she devoted her heart to savoring that reassuring warmth transmitted from Shikime Natsu's palm.
"Natsu…"
Amikura Mako tilted her head up slightly and, in a voice almost only the two of them could hear, tentatively called out this name.
"Mm."
Shikime Natsu responded quickly.
Hearing his voice, the girl's heart trembled faintly.
"Natsu."
She couldn't help but call out again, her voice a little louder than before.
"I'm here."
Shikime Natsu turned his head and looked at her patiently.
"Natsu!"
Just like she'd gotten some novel new toy, Amikura Mako called out several times in a row.
Each time she called out this name, the joy in Amikura Mako's heart leapt up a few degrees more, as though this simple form of address contained some kind of magical power.
Shikime Natsu didn't find it the least bit tiresome; he always wore an indulgent smile, responding to her one call after another.
After Amikura Mako called out his name yet again.
Shikime Natsu gave her soft little hand a squeeze, and in the same gentle tone, called out as well.
"Mako."
The moment those two syllables came out of his mouth and fell into Amikura Mako's ears.
A brilliant, radiant delight instantly bloomed in Amikura Mako's bright, large eyes.
Her pretty little face was flushed red.
She gripped his hand back tightly, then lifted her head and made a suggestion to Shikime Natsu.
"Natsu."
"Could you… come somewhere with me?"
Faced with his girlfriend's request, Shikime Natsu naturally agreed without the slightest hesitation.
He was a little curious, too, about where exactly Amikura Mako wanted to take him at a time like this.
Led by Amikura Mako, they passed through several little side lanes.
At last, Amikura Mako came to a stop.
When Shikime Natsu lifted his head and saw clearly the sign before his eyes, he couldn't help but find it a little funny.
The place Amikura Mako had brought him to was the arcade.
This place was not unfamiliar to Shikime Natsu.
Because, not long after he'd first enrolled, his very first time spending time alone and going on a date with Amikura Mako had been spent in this very arcade before his eyes.
Back then, he had shown off his skills at the claw machines here, leaving behind quite a few amusing memories.
Amikura Mako turned her head, looking at Shikime Natsu, light sparkling in those eyes.
She pulled him by the hand and walked straight up to a row of claw machines deep inside the arcade.
Then she stretched out a fair finger and, through the transparent glass panel, pointed at a pink lop-eared rabbit plushie sitting in the corner of one of the machines.
"Natsu."
Amikura Mako lifted her face and said to Shikime Natsu.
"I want this one."
Looking at the girl's adorable expression, Shikime Natsu naturally agreed with a smile.
Satisfying this little request from his girlfriend was, for him, as easy as turning his own hand.
Shikime Natsu walked up to that claw machine, dropped in a coin, gripped the joystick, and began his practiced operation.
This time, however.
Shikime Natsu didn't intend to recreate his previous "feat."
He didn't, like last time, directly clear out every single plushie inside the claw machine.
After all, he had keenly noticed that, not far from them, behind the exchange counter, the clerk in a work uniform was at that very moment staring fixedly at his movements over here with a gaze full of wariness and caution.
Clearly, this clerk still had a deep impression of Shikime Natsu, that "dangerous element" who had once "stocked up" here.
So as not to inflict too great a psychological shadow upon the shop.
Shikime Natsu merely maneuvered the mechanical claw, dropped it precisely, grabbed the pink lop-eared rabbit's center of gravity, then steadily lifted it up and let it fall into the chute.
He brought out only one.
When the sound of the plushie dropping out rang out.
Shikime Natsu bent down to take it out, then turned and handed it into Amikura Mako's hands.
Hugging that fluffy lop-eared rabbit plushie, Amikura Mako looked very happy.
After getting the plushie she'd had her heart set on.
Amikura Mako had no intention of leaving just yet.
With her free hand, she once again grabbed the hem of Shikime Natsu's clothes and led him toward another familiar corner of the arcade.
They hadn't walked far before the two of them stopped in front of a machine flickering with neon lights.
It was a fortune-telling machine.
Seeing this machine, Shikime Natsu couldn't help but raise an eyebrow as he looked at the girl beside him.
"Mako."
Shikime Natsu said with a soft chuckle.
"Didn't we just have our fortunes told by that famous fortune-teller upstairs a moment ago? How come you want to play this now too?"
Hearing Shikime Natsu's teasing, Amikura Mako gave a soft little hmph.
"That's different."
She retorted with a smile, then reached out, grabbed Shikime Natsu's arm, and gave it a couple of gentle shakes.
"Natsu, come on, keep me company and play this one more time."
Her voice was soft, carrying a coquettish, pleading note.
It had to be said—when a normally cheerful and generous girl occasionally revealed this kind of sweet, pampered, coquettish manner, it really was quite adorable.
Shikime Natsu followed Amikura Mako and walked right up in front of that fortune-telling machine.
After paying with points, several familiar options lit up on the screen, requiring the players to select the current relationship between the two of them.
At this moment, Amikura Mako stood before the machine, looking at the options flickering on the screen, and her thoughts couldn't help but drift back to the past.
She remembered clearly that the first time she'd worked up the courage to invite Shikime Natsu to come play here, when faced with this option, Shikime Natsu had without hesitation pressed the "Friends" button.
The self of that time, although there had been a tiny bit of disappointment in her heart, hadn't dared to show it.
Afterward, taking advantage of a moment when she was apart from Shikime Natsu, she had stood alone before this machine and secretly pressed the "Lovers" option, wanting to see the illusory future that belonged to them.
Even later, there had been one time when the two of them came together, and Shikime Natsu stood to the side watching her operate it. That time, she had deliberately pretended her finger had slipped by accident, feigning a mistake and tapping it onto "Lovers."
Those furtive little acts felt as if they had happened only yesterday.
But the situation now was already completely different.
Now, she and this boy beside her were already truly, genuinely in a lover relationship.
So she no longer had any need to be furtive, nor any need to pretend something was an accident.
Amikura Mako took a deep breath, then stretched out that fair index finger.
Under Shikime Natsu's gaze.
She openly and proudly pressed the button on the screen that read "Lovers."
Accompanied by a burst of cheerful electronic music.
The fortune-telling machine began to operate, and after a few seconds, a folded little slip of paper was spat out from the outlet at the bottom of the machine.
Full of anticipation, Amikura Mako picked up the slip and carefully unfolded it.
After clearly reading those few lines of auspicious words about romantic fortune printed on it, the girl's eyes curved into beautiful crescent moons.
She was very happy.
She didn't even read the contents of the slip aloud to Shikime Natsu; instead, treating it like some kind of treasure, she carefully folded it back up and gingerly tucked it away into the little bag she carried with her.
After completing this ceremonial gesture.
The two of them wandered around this gaming area at random again, playing together some two-player mini-games like racing and shooting.
In this atmosphere full of clamor and joy, time flew by quickly.
In the blink of an eye, it was already noon, lunchtime.
Walking out of the arcade, Shikime Natsu stopped and turned his head to look at Amikura Mako.
"Mako, what do you want to eat for lunch?"
Before Amikura Mako could even begin to think about which restaurants there were in the mall, Shikime Natsu directly extended his own invitation.
"If you don't mind, how about we just go eat at my dorm? I'll do the cooking."
Hearing this suggestion.
Amikura Mako's bright eyes instantly widened, her face full of delight, and she agreed without the slightest hesitation.
Being able to go to her boyfriend's private space and taste the cuisine he made with his own hands—for a girl on the very first day of being head-over-heels in love, this was simply the most perfect arrangement.
The two of them walked side by side along the tree-lined path back to the dormitory area, sunlight spilling onto them through the gaps in the leaves, leaving behind dappled patches of light and shadow.
Pushing open the door to Shikime Natsu's dorm, the room was clean and tidy, and a faint, light fragrance still lingered in the air.
Shikime Natsu swept his gaze around the room and immediately noticed that Kamuro Masumi, who had originally still been resting here this morning, had already left by now.
Looking at the empty room, the corners of Shikime Natsu's mouth lifted slightly.
It seemed that fellow Kamuro Masumi really had figured out his dating routine inside and out.
She clearly knew that if he went out this morning and successfully confirmed a relationship with some other girl.
Then by noon, he would most likely bring the newly dating girl back to the dorm and personally cook a meal.
In order to avoid the kind of awkward situation that would make the newly arrived girl feel embarrassed.
Kamuro Masumi had chosen to temporarily leave this room after waking up in the morning.
After all, as a "senior" who had long grown accustomed to this pattern, she also understood the need to give this newly joined "new sister" a bit of private space to be alone with Shikime Natsu and nurture their feelings.
Shikime Natsu had Amikura Mako sit and rest on the chair by the desk, then walked over to the open-plan little kitchen area himself.
"Mako, is there anything you especially want to eat, or anything you can't have?"
Shikime Natsu asked casually as he opened the refrigerator to check the ingredients.
Amikura Mako propped her chin in both hands, her gaze not leaving Shikime Natsu's back for even a moment.
"I'm not picky."
She answered with a smile.
"As long as it's made by you, Natsu, I like eating all of it."
Having received this reply, Shikime Natsu began deftly preparing the ingredients from the refrigerator.
Washing the vegetables, cutting the meat, heating the pan—his movements flowed like drifting clouds and running water, without any superfluous dawdling, as if the kitchen were another domain under his command.
Before long, waves of enticing food aromas spread throughout the cramped little dorm room, awakening the gluttonous worm in one's belly.
After the dishes were ready.
Shikime Natsu brought to the table two plates of golden, fragrant Japanese-style omurice, along with a refreshing vegetable salad.
The two of them sat facing each other and began to enjoy this warm, cozy lunch together.
Amikura Mako picked up a spoon and carefully scooped a mouthful into her mouth.
When that smooth, tender egg and the rice wrapped in rich sauce spread across the tip of her tongue.
Amikura Mako's eyes widened in pleasant surprise.
"Wow!"
She couldn't help but let out a gasp of amazement, not stingy at all with her praise.
"Natsu, the food you make is really too delicious! It's even tastier than what they sell at those high-end restaurants out there."
"If you like it, eat more."
Shikime Natsu responded with a smile.
Besides the main course.
Shikime Natsu had also thoughtfully prepared post-meal desserts—two delicate little puddings, along with a plate of neatly cut, chilled assorted fruit.
This lunch could be called quite a sumptuous spread.
Looking at the table laden with food, Amikura Mako couldn't help but sigh with emotion in her heart.
Her boyfriend was not only good-looking and clever-minded, but his culinary skills were even this exquisite.
Because the portion of each dish was controlled just right—not too much, actually—the two of them didn't waste any, and quickly polished the food on the table clean.
After finishing the last bite of pudding.
Amikura Mako set down her spoon, patted her slightly bulging little tummy, and smiled with satisfaction.
She looked at Shikime Natsu and thanked him sincerely.
"Thank you for the meal, Natsu."
Then Amikura Mako naturally stood up, rolled up her sleeves, and proactively walked to the table to start helping Shikime Natsu clear away those emptied bowls and plates.
Watching the girl's busy figure, Shikime Natsu didn't speak up to stop her.
When Amikura Mako had tidied everything up at the sink, dried her hands, and walked back to the center of the room.
She sat down on a soft, high-backed chair.
Her two slender little hands rested casually, folded one over the other, on the armrest to one side.
Lunch was finished, the dishes were washed clean.
For the time that came next, in this quiet private space.
And then?
What were they planning to do next?
Amikura Mako's gaze drifted a little.
To be honest, this was the very first day she and Shikime Natsu were officially dating.
In her heart, she absolutely did not want them to simply part ways right after eating an ordinary lunch.
She still wanted to stay in this room with him a little longer, to feel a bit more of this special atmosphere called being "lovers."
Shikime Natsu, who had been sitting on the edge of the bed observing her the whole time, naturally saw through in a single glance the reluctance and conflicted little thoughts in Amikura Mako's heart at this moment.
He chuckled softly.
"Mako."
Shikime Natsu looked at her and took the initiative to break the silence in the room, putting forward a suggestion.
"How about we play a little game here in this room?"
Hearing that there was a game to play, and that she could keep staying here.
The somewhat low mood Amikura Mako had originally been in was instantly swept away, and a glow rekindled in those big eyes as she happily agreed at once.
"Sure! What game shall we play?"
Shikime Natsu thought it over.
For a couple who had just established their relationship and were still in the bashful, green stage, a game that was too complicated or involved too much physical contact might backfire.
"Let's play 'Compatibility Quiz.'"
Shikime Natsu explained the rules.
"It's very simple. We take turns asking each other a question about ourselves—like our favorite color, or our most hated food, that sort of thing—and the other person has to give an answer within three seconds. If you answer wrong, you have to accept a little punishment. For example… agreeing to one small, not-too-excessive request from the other person."
After listening to the rules, Amikura Mako immediately nodded in eager agreement—this was also a chance for her to get to know Shikime Natsu better.
The game began.
"Listen up, here's my first question."
Amikura Mako looked at him with sparkling eyes.
"What's my favorite ice cream flavor?"
"Strawberry."
Shikime Natsu gave the answer without the slightest hesitation.
During their previous dates, he had long since taken note of her preferences.
"You got it right…"
Amikura Mako deflated a little, but then immediately cheered up again.
"It's your turn."
"What drink do I usually drink most often?" Shikime Natsu tossed out the question.
"Orange juice!"
Amikura Mako blurted out the answer, a touch of smugness in her tone.
As one question after another was tossed out and answered.
The atmosphere between the two of them grew more and more relaxed, and laughter rang out in the room from time to time.
Although there were occasionally times someone answered wrong, those so-called "punishments" were nothing more than a light flick to the forehead, or small interactions like pouring the other a cup of water.
Before they knew it, more than half an hour of time had quietly slipped by amid this relaxed and pleasant gaming atmosphere.
After the little game ended.
Perhaps because she had gotten up too early this morning, on top of having gone through the intense emotional ups and downs of the confession, and having eaten a full lunch.
Sitting in the chair, Amikura Mako's eyelids began to droop and fight to stay open.
She raised a hand to cover her mouth and, unable to control it, accidentally let out a tiny little yawn.
That originally spirited little face now looked as if it already carried a bit of fatigue and drowsiness it couldn't quite hide.
Seeing this scene, Shikime Natsu gave up his plan to keep finding things to talk about.
He looked at Amikura Mako and said considerately in a gentle tone.
"Mako, if you feel sleepy, you can rest here for a bit."
Hearing these words.
Amikura Mako instinctively wanted to open her mouth and refuse, saying she wasn't sleepy—after all, no matter what, she was in the middle of a date with Shikime Natsu, so how could she show such a weary appearance?
However, before she could get the words of refusal out.
She saw Shikime Natsu, sitting across from her, naturally reach out and pat the soft, smooth, large bed beside him.
Seeing this gesture.
Amikura Mako's breath couldn't help but catch slightly.
A thought instantly flashed through her mind.
Could it be… could it be that Natsu patting the bed means… means that meaning?!?
A lone man and woman together in one room, her boyfriend inviting her onto his bed to rest… This kind of scene, so extremely prone to making one's imagination run wild, instantly turned Amikura Mako's cheeks bright red, and even the tips of her ears looked as though they were dripping blood.
But the two of them had only just officially started dating this very morning!
Wouldn't this pace of progress be just a bit too fast? She hadn't even made the psychological preparations yet.
Just as Amikura Mako sat in the chair letting her thoughts run wild.
Shikime Natsu seemed to see through her flustered state and misunderstanding.
He couldn't help but chuckle softly.
"If you don't mind, Mako, you can just lie down on my bed and rest, take a nap."
He pointed at the chair beside the desk.
"I'll just sit here and read a book, I won't disturb you."
After hearing these words from Shikime Natsu.
Although Amikura Mako still felt very shy, well—right in front of her was Shikime Natsu's bed, the bed Shikime Natsu slept in every single day. It would be a waste not to lie in it; and besides, the two of them were already boyfriend and girlfriend, so this was bound to happen sooner or later.
In the end, that longing to be close to him triumphed over the reserve in her heart.
Blushing, Amikura Mako gently nodded her head and agreed.
She stood up and walked over to the bedside a little self-consciously.
After taking off her shoes.
The girl carefully and gingerly climbed onto Shikime Natsu's large bed.
She pulled over the thin air-conditioning quilt, draped it over herself, then lay down on the soft pillow.
However, she didn't choose to lie flat on her back.
Instead, she turned onto her side, burying her face slightly into the quilt, leaving only a pair of bright eyes exposed, quietly facing Shikime Natsu seated at the desk a few steps away.
Lingering at the tip of her nose was that reassuring scent of Shikime Natsu's… and also the scents of other girls.
Looking at the girl in this sleeping pose, Shikime Natsu smiled gently.
He said nothing more, but turned around, casually pulled a thick physical book from the bookshelf to the side, and sat down at the desk.
Flipping open the pages, Shikime Natsu turned his head to the side, and his gaze happened to meet Amikura Mako's somewhat hazy line of sight.
"Rest well."
____
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