Chapter Eighty-Eight: Unsound Behavior
“Um, um! Little Nagi, I still feel like this isn’t very good…”
Kano’s voice was clearly hesitant.
“What do you mean?” Nagi intentionally pretended not to understand what Kano was saying, her attitude slightly forceful as she pulled him toward the bathhouse.
This may be their last time together before parting ways.
— I must successfully plant a seed in Kano-kun’s heart that will gradually sprout after they separate.
— To leave him with an unforgettable memory.
Nagi thought to herself.
So, she couldn’t waste this opportunity.
As a typical segment in ACG works, the school trip is a perfect occasion for benefits.
Whether it was letting Kano hide under her blankets during room inspections or accidentally bumping into each other while naked in the hot spring, these moments would surely create unforgettable memories before Kano left her.
Moreover, this time, Kano did not show a strong refusal.
Nagi felt that he must have realized that this school trip was the last chance for them to create beautiful memories during their junior high school years.
Which adolescent boy doesn’t want to leave precious memories during his last school trip with the childhood friend he has always cared about?
Perhaps Kano was also worried that their relationship might become distant after he left?
As Nagi thought about this, she inexplicably felt her cheeks warm slightly.
But she still feigned calmness and released her grip on Kano’s hand.
Before Kano could react, she quietly extended her fingers towards his palm, gently prying open his fingers, and then firmly closing them together, intertwining their fingers like lovers.
“L-Little Nagi?!” Seeing this, Kano turned to look at Nagi in surprise.
Reflected in Kano’s eyes was Nagi’s slightly flushed, adorable face; her clear, bright eyes were filled with happiness, sweet and warm.
“Hehe, it’s a lover’s hand-holding style~”
Nagi said shyly while lightly resting her soft shoulder against Kano’s, using it to disguise her slightly heated cheeks from embarrassment.
Kano felt a light weight on his right side.
Through the thin gym clothes, he could clearly feel the warmth emanating from Nagi, accompanied by a faint floral scent that was refreshing and made his heart race.
Thump thump.
At such a close distance, the sound of their strong, rapid heartbeats echoed in their ears.
In that moment, they could not distinguish whose heart was beating faster.
“Speaking of lovers…” Kano’s heart was racing, a mix of tension and excitement flooding him as he finally gathered his thoughts.
He intended to seize this opportunity to confirm something that had been bothering him.
“About that curse at school, it seems to have been confirmed as just a misunderstanding.” He tried to keep his voice steady, enunciating clearly, afraid that Nagi wouldn’t hear him properly.
“Yeah, Mana-chan just mentioned that too.” Nagi gently nodded, her tone soft.
“So, our ‘pretend lovers’ relationship…”
“Does it have to end…between me and Kano-kun?” Nagi’s response was gentle.
But it plunged Kano’s heart into icy depths in an instant.
— Really? So our relationship, in the end, was just…
“But I’m really happy~”
“Eh?” Surprised, Kano turned just in time to meet Nagi’s radiant smile, shining like the sun.
“During this time as ‘lovers’ with Kano-kun, I’ve really been very happy~”
Nagi’s bright eyes seemed to hold endless warmth.
When their gazes locked for that fleeting moment—
“What about you, Kano-kun?”
“I-I feel the same—”
“Really?! That’s great~”
Nagi’s face broke into a dazzling smile, and she happily hugged Kano’s arm to her chest, the soft sensation making Kano’s cheeks turn instantly red.
This time, Nagi had no intention of giving Kano time to think.
She had decided to give him a double impact, both physically and mentally.
While intentionally burying Kano’s arm in her chest, she leaned in close to his ear—
In a voice that he could barely hear, she whispered, “I wish I could always be Kano-kun’s girlfriend…”
“L-Little, little Nagi?!” Kano instantly short-circuited, his cheeks burning bright red.
His confused mind didn’t know whether to rejoice at the amazing pressure his arm was feeling or to process her words that seemed to carry a confession.
Nagi enjoyed the admiration from this pure-hearted boy before her, involuntarily revealing a smile of happiness.
Although what she was doing was no different from before,
This time, it felt unexpectedly warm.
Perhaps this was the distinction between using it as a “means” and genuinely wanting to feel the other person’s heart, right?
Being desired like this made Nagi feel a bit giddy.
“So, even if it’s just tonight, can you continue being my boyfriend, Kano-kun?” Nagi picked the perfect moment to bring her face close to Kano’s, at a distance where they could both feel each other’s breaths.
Nagi intentionally blew her warm, sweet breath onto Kano’s face, softly and gently whispering.
Kano’s expression suggested that his rationality was nearing its limit.
Just as he could not help but stop and turn around, wanting to clarify what her words meant—
“Isn’t that Nagi and Kano?! “Mika’s voice came from around the corner in front of them.
Nagi had perfectly timed her appearance with Kano, using it to interrupt the conversation.
“Plan successful~” Nagi’s mouth curled up slightly in a place where no one could see.
Well, after all, it’s common for someone to interrupt during such important moments~ Nagi thought, smiling mischievously in her heart, as she turned with Kano to look at Mika.
“Chiba, Chiba-san?!”
Kano snapped back to reality, quickly letting go of his hands and trying to distance himself from Nagi.
At this moment, Nagi intentionally let a hint of loneliness and reluctance show on her face.
“Wah~ Were you two getting cozy? Sorry, sorry~” Mika noted the reaction of the childhood friends and realized that she had perhaps behaved in an unfunny manner.
“Ah, no, it’s not what you think, Chiba-san—!” Kano explained, his face flushed.
Nagi, feigning a response different from her usual self, blushed at Mika’s implications, showing a hint of shyness and remaining silent, leaving Kano with more room for misunderstanding and interpretation.
Kano, who had intended to turn to Nagi for cover, became even more flustered after seeing Nagi’s reaction.
For a moment, he didn’t know if his denial had hurt Nagi—
But if he misunderstood Nagi’s reaction and chose to admit it here, maybe Nagi would think he was being too demanding—
At this moment, Kano felt as if he was suddenly trapped in a whirlpool of struggle.
Seeing this, Nagi let a hint of a happy yet shy smile show, just for Mika to see.
Here, she naturally needed Mika to notice her feelings for Kano.
Otherwise, how would everyone encourage them until the time of separation…
“Ah~ Nagi, I didn’t expect—” Mika indeed revealed a sly smile upon witnessing the scene.
“—W-What is Mika doing?!” Nagi seized the rhythm to cut off Mika’s words and change the subject.
Leaving an unresolved question in Kano’s heart about what she hadn’t finished saying.
This way, when Kano recalls this time later, he will realize something from Mika’s reaction.
“Ah, actually~” With a chance to complain, Mika immediately set aside her teasing thoughts about Nagi and Kano.
“I heard that some inappropriate couples in other grades have been doing unsound things, so the teachers asked the discipline committee to patrol everywhere to keep an eye on those violating the rules.” Mika sighed deeply.
From Mika’s expression, one could sense her discontent about being assigned work during a school trip.
“As the student council president, I’ve also been pulled in to help—Huh? What’s wrong?” Mika noticed that something was off about Kano’s complexion midway through her sentence.
“N-Nothing~ I just think it’s tough for you, Chiba-san…” Kano said, somewhat guilty as he averted his gaze.
Meanwhile, Nagi, who had caused this extra work for others, whistled in her heart with guilt.
However, she kept up her innocent and carefree demeanor, volunteering to help.
Mika looked Nagi up and down, noting that she was simply wearing gym clothes, yet emitted an inexplicable allure.
How could such a attractive girl take on the role of a discipline committee member? Isn’t she the very embodiment of undermining discipline?
So, Mika decisively turned her down.
“By the way, where are Nagi and Kano planning to go?” As everyone prepared to split, Mika asked the usual question.
Even though Kano quickly reacted and wanted to stop Nagi, it was too late.
“Nagi and I are just about to head to the big bath; I heard there’s a mixed bathing area~” Nagi maintained her long-standing persona of not understanding the distance between boys and girls, showing a natural expression as she signaled her plan to bathe with Kano.
“Oh ho~ mixed bathing, huh~” Mika said, slowly shifting her gaze to Kano.
“W-Wait a minute—” Kano sensed that something bad was about to happen.
“Kano, you didn’t refuse~” Mika had a look as if she had caught them engaged in unsound behavior.
“It’s not like that! Chiba-san, let me explain—”
“Huh? Does Kano-kun not want to bathe with me?” Nagi saw her opportunity, intentionally using an innocent tone to deliver a blow.
“Ah, that’s not what I mean, no, I…” Kano panicked, trying to explain that he didn’t mean it that way.
But with Mika and Nagi’s completely different attitudes gradually closing in on him, he found himself at a loss for how to begin explaining.
Come on, Kano-kun, just admit you want to bathe with me~ This way, when the time comes for mixed bathing, you won’t have any excuses to refuse~
Nagi smiled inwardly like a crescent moon.
