Still, this area was practically a student hotspot, so running into acquaintances wasn't exactly shocking.
The girl had her hair tied in a thin, low ponytail, with two longer strands framing her temples and draping down to her chest—giving the illusion of three ponytails from certain angles. Her melon-seed face boasted sharp, elegant features, easily landing her in the ninety-point beauty range. What stood out most, though, was the aura she exuded: that of a diligent, model honor student.
Since she was Sumitomo Ryota's childhood friend, she had to be one of the Four Yonko—specifically, the one who'd gone off to the all-girls school.
Honestly? She looked more like a class president than the actual class president did.
Unlike Asato Hitomi's ever-present warm smile, this girl's expression was serious, almost meticulous—radiating an air of righteousness, perhaps? It was probably amplified by her neatly pressed school uniform and immaculate appearance.
Kuroha Akira mentally placed bets: even if she wasn't the class president, she was definitely on the disciplinary committee or something similar.
Her chest, however, was on par with Shinomiya's—both comfortably in the "medium cup" range.
What intrigued Kuroha more was the girl's reaction to Shinomiya. They clearly weren't mere acquaintances; otherwise, she wouldn't have looked so stunned. But they probably weren't friends either—friends didn't greet each other by full name like that. Around here, using someone's full name upon meeting came across as distant and impolite.
The girl seemed to realize this herself. After a moment to compose herself, she bowed her head apologetically to Shinomiya and tried again.
"Forgive me... that was rude. Miss Shion, it's been a long time."
Shinomiya acknowledged her with a small nod.
"...Indeed it has, Saionji."
Saionji, huh?
That surname immediately triggered a certain association in Kuroha's mind: a cleaver-wielding girl, the beginning and the end of a certain Makoto's tragic tale.
Sumitomo Ryota, ever the social butterfly, seized the moment to playfully introduce his serious childhood friend.
"Oh? So you two know each other? What a coincidence—we both ran into school friends here... Akira-kun, let me introduce you, her name is—"
But before he could finish, Saionji cut him off.
"Ryota. Allow me."
"Ah, right, of course... Please do."
Sumitomo immediately hunched over and extended a hand in an exaggerated gesture of deference.
He seemed... slightly intimidated by her.
Saionji placed a hand gracefully over her chest and announced her full name with quiet dignity.
"I am the current student council president of Shirayuri Girls' High School. My name is Saionji Mako. A pleasure to make your acquaintance."
Student council president. That explained the authoritative aura.
Shirayuri Girls' High School was one of Chiyoda's prestigious all-girls schools with a sky-high deviation value. Located not far from Hibiya High, it was a frequent topic of conversation among the boys in Kuroha's class—usually involving grandiose fantasies about dating a Shirayuri girl or... less savoury remarks about infiltrating their restrooms.
An all-girls high school was basically a land of dreams for teenage boys. The school's name alone invited plenty of... flowery associations.
Since Saionji Mako had taken the initiative to introduce herself formally, everyone else followed suit.
"Shinomiya Shion."
"Hehe, I'm Tashiro Kurenai. Just call me big sister~"
"Domo, Kuroha Akira desu."
Sumitomo's brow furrowed slightly when he noticed that the two women accompanying Kuroha had different surnames from his.
If she wasn't his sister... maybe a distant relative? He really hoped so.
Because if they weren't related, then Hitomi was in genuine danger. Miss Shion's beauty was simply too overwhelming a threat.
Having already experienced heartbreak himself, Sumitomo genuinely wanted the person he'd once loved to find happiness. And in his eyes, Kuroha Akira was the most suitable candidate to stand beside Asato Hitomi—he'd never seen Hitomi open up to any guy the way she did with Akira.
Sumitomo Ryota had officially become a card-carrying supporter of the Akira-Hitomi ship.
Unfortunately, the crucial member of that ship wasn't present right now... But that wouldn't stop him from playing wingman.
"Oh, by the way! Akira-kun and Hitomi are really close now! He even joined the Literary Club—the one Hitomi's in. And get this—he's the only guy in the club right now!"
Brilliant. Just brilliant. Could you pour any more salt in the wound?
Kuroha Akira shot him a death glare, mentally rehearsing the perfect chokehold technique.
He'd deliberately avoided mentioning school life at home for a reason—mainly because he was terrified of Shinomiya feeling left out. She'd sacrificed her normal school years to pursue her professional path, and if she suddenly got nostalgic about "wanting to go back to school," his carefully laid plans could be delayed or even completely derailed.
And now Sumitomo had just lobbed a massive boulder into that calm lake, sending ripples everywhere.
Shinomiya's mind immediately seized on the key information.
Akira-kun joined the Literary Club?
Ah, so that's why he started writing novels... must be club activities.
But more importantly... Hitomi.
Definitely a girl's name. And Sumitomo said she was Akira-kun's close friend.
He'd also mentioned Akira-kun was the only boy in the club... so Hitomi was certainly a girl.
It wasn't strange for Akira-kun to have female friends at school. Someone as amazing as him must have plenty of friends.
But... a close female friend... those could develop into something more, couldn't they?
Unlike with herself, Akira-kun and this Hitomi girl had no financial entanglements. No obstacles to dating at all.
...No.
This was annoying!
She didn't want to imagine Akira-kun dating someone else. She didn't want to picture that scene at all!
Having just realized how impossibly difficult her own romantic situation was, this "bad news" hit Shinomiya like a freight train. Her mood plummeted instantly, and a fierce blaze of jealousy ignited in her chest—so intense it made it hard to breathe.
"Oh? So Kuroha-san and Hitomi are friends?"
Saionji Mako looked mildly surprised, but what truly caught her attention was that Sumitomo Ryota had volunteered this information.
She knew Ryota had harbored feelings for Asato Hitomi since childhood. Hitomi's departure from their friend group had affected him most deeply—it was after that he'd dyed his hair blonde.
Knowing Ryota's personality, if he'd successfully confessed and started dating Hitomi, he'd absolutely be showing off to his childhood friends right now. He'd probably be trying to mend bridges between Hitomi and the rest of them. But he hadn't mentioned Hitomi at all until now—which meant either he'd never confessed, or he'd been rejected.
And now here he was, casually mentioning that Kuroha-san and Hitomi were close, with an almost... matchmaking tone.
So Ryota had given up on Hitomi and was now supporting Kuroha-san as her potential partner.
Having been childhood friends, Saionji Mako correctly interpreted Sumitomo's true intentions from that single statement. And if Ryota trusted Kuroha Akira enough to play cupid for him, then he must be worthy of that trust.
A warm smile crossed her face as she extended her hand to Kuroha Akira in a gesture of friendship.
"Kuroha-san, thank you for being willing to befriend Hitomi. Although she chose to leave us back then, I believe she had her reasons. For the gentle Hitomi, parting from friends must have been incredibly painful. So it truly is wonderful that she's found a new friend in you."
"I didn't really do anything special... but the class president does have her reasons. On her behalf, thank you for still believing in her."
It would've been rude to leave a girl hanging, so Kuroha politely shook her hand.
Shinomiya's gaze locked onto their clasped hands, her lips pressing into a thin line.
Only Tashiro Kurenai noticed the shift in her demeanor.
My, my... the vinegar is strong with this one. The sourness is practically overwhelming.
Akira-kun... Shiro-kun, your luck with women seems to be running dangerously high in this life.
But please, be careful not to let it turn into a full-blown love calamity, alright?