"I feel like I've kind of... gotten used to this whole kissing thing."
Back home, Mio touched her own lips. The sensation of the kiss she'd just shared with Haruno was still so vivid.
If this had happened right after she first transmigrated, there was no way her heart would have stayed this calm after kissing someone.
Mio could feel her boundaries being chipped away, bit by bit, because of the System's Tasks—and at this rate, she'd probably grow used to even racier things before long.
Whatever it was she found herself picturing, a faint blush bloomed across her fair cheeks.
She rubbed her face, sealing away the strange thoughts drifting through her mind, and only then went to the table to eat breakfast alongside Mashiro.
Curious, Rita asked, "How's that senpai of yours doing? You're not taking another day off today, are you?"
"She's all better. Back to class as usual today."
"You could've just let me look after her yesterday," Rita said, spreading her hands.
"Knowing Senpai's personality, she probably wouldn't have let anyone but me take care of her. And besides, yesterday gave me the perfect chance to slack off and finish the illustration," Mio said with a smile.
She'd sent the illustration to her editor last night. Barring anything unexpected, her novel should go on sale soon. As for whether it would actually make money—Mio had long since stopped caring about that.
What she cared about was whether the novel would take off. And if it did, whether it might get adapted into an anime.
That had been her dream back before she transmigrated. She wasn't picky about the anime, either—as long as the characters actually moved, she'd be happy.
Breakfast dealt with, Mio set off toward school with Mashiro, same as always.
They were only halfway there when Mio spotted Eriri's familiar figure up ahead.
She smiled and walked over to say hello. "Morning, Eriri~"
"M-morning." Eriri glanced at Mio, then at Mashiro trailing along beside her. Sure enough, whether it was the walk to school or the walk home, Mashiro was always right there at Mio's side.
Wait—why am I even paying attention to that?
It's not like I could do anything even if Mashiro weren't around... right?
"You know, I keep running into you on the way to school lately, Eriri~" Mio sidled up to her with a bright grin and asked teasingly, "Don't tell me you've been waiting here for me on purpose?"
At that, a flash of panic crossed Eriri's eyes before she put on a show of composure. "As if I'd ever wait around here just for you! I only happened to be passing by, that's all! Don't go reading into it!"
For all her protesting, though, the truth was that lately she really did find herself instinctively slowing to a stop whenever she reached this spot.
As if she were waiting for a certain someone to appear.
Realizing as much, Eriri felt her face suddenly go hot, and to keep Mio from catching sight of her rattled expression, she deliberately quickened her pace.
Off to the side, Mashiro had naturally noticed Eriri too.
At first she hadn't thought much of it—but the moment Mio mentioned that she kept running into Eriri here lately, it clicked for Mashiro that she really had been bumping into Eriri on the way to school quite a lot.
And Eriri seemed to be on rather good terms with Mio, too.
"Enemy."
"Mashiro, did you just say something?"
"No."
It was only a suspicion in her own mind—but the look Mashiro fixed on Eriri now carried a distinct trace of wariness.
Even the arm she had looped around Mio tightened a fraction, without her quite meaning it to.
······
"Morning, Mio~"
No sooner had Mio walked into the classroom and sat down than Yuigahama Yui appeared at her side, greeting her in a voice full of pep.
"Morning, Yui~" Mio flashed Yui a sweet smile.
Just as Yui was about to pull out the notes she'd copied for Mio the day before, Miura Yumiko, off to the side, beat her to it and set a notebook down in front of Mio first.
"Yesterday's class notes. If there's anything you don't get, you can ask me anytime."
"Thanks."
Yui shot Yumiko a look. She really hadn't expected to get ambushed like that!
Even so, she was going to hand over her own notes too.
With that in mind, Yui placed her notebook in front of Mio as well. "Um, actually, I made you some notes yesterday too."
"Th-thanks."
Looking at the two notebooks sitting on her desk, Mio suddenly felt the atmosphere around her turn a little strange—she could even faintly catch the whiff of gunpowder in the air.
How did it end up like this?
Thankfully, the tense mood didn't last long, because the bell for class soon rang.
Left with no choice, Yui had to retreat to her own seat first.
Still, she couldn't resist glancing back at Mio and Yumiko. She wanted to sit near Mio too! Sadly, where she sat wasn't something she got to decide.
As if sensing Yui's gaze, Yumiko looked over in her direction and gave a smug little smile.
She and Yui might be good friends, but when it came to the girl she liked, she wasn't about to concede an inch!
The only shame was that the teacher had shown up too fast today. Otherwise she'd have liked to use the time to chat with Mio a bit—and slip in a question about whether Mio was free tomorrow, maybe to go on a date.
Ever since she'd laid her feelings on the table, she still hadn't actually been on a date with Mio.
She wondered how it might feel now, compared to before.
The class period passed in no time, and the moment the bell rang and the teacher dismissed them, Yui was at Mio's side in a flash.
But quick as she was, she couldn't outpace Yumiko, who sat right next to Mio. Yui had barely reached her before Yumiko's voice rang out: "Mio, are you free tomorrow or the day after? If you are, want to go somewhere together?"
"I should have time, yeah." Mio tapped her lips, seriously running through her plans for the next few days.
"Then it's settled~" Yumiko clenched a small fist. It looked like this round was her win.
Beside her, Yui pressed her lips together. She'd been a step too slow after all—but no matter. Even so, she wasn't about to give up.
After thinking it over, Yui put on an innocently curious expression and asked, "Are you two going out somewhere tomorrow? Mind if I tag along?"
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