After exging taformation with the serene and bookish Hiyori and agreeing to discuss mystery ogether iure, Hikaru's life became noticeably busier.

  Ms were reserved for running and physical training, followed by attentive participation in css. After school, Hikaru would return to his dorm to lead study group sessions with Iose, Shibata, and the others.

  Sihe upper floors of the dormitories were designated for female students and the lower floors for male students, the school enforced a strict rule: no male students were allowed to visit the upper floors after 8:00 p.m.

  If Hikaru wao hold his private study sessions with Sakura, he had to manage his time carefully. His primary group study sessions typically cluded before dinner, after which everyone would disperse from his room.

  However, today brought an ued development.

  After the group session ended, Iose impulsively suggested cooking dio reward everyone's hard work. She cheerfully volunteered as the chef and ihe others to stay and enjoy the meal together.

  "Are you sure you're okay with this, Iose-san? There are five of us, after all," Hikaru asked, watg as the pink-haired girl put on her apron.

  "It's no trouble at all. Bae, I often cooked for my entire family. Cooking for five people is nothing," Iose answered with a bright smile. Her eyes gleamed with fidence as she casually tied her apron around her waist.

  She then turoward Hikaru and, with a pyful grin, handed him the apron's straps. "Unless… you want to help me, Hikaru-kun?"

  "You're really not giving me a choice here, huh?" Hikaru sighed as he stepped forward and tied the apron's strings. "I guess I 't let you handle everything by yourself when I'm the host."

  Standing behind her, Hikaru couldn't help but notice the faint, pleasant st wafting from Iose's hair.

  She always gives so much to everyone around her, he thought as he tightehe knot.

  "Iose-san, you're always doing things for others."

  "That's just who I am." Her voice came softly as she turned her head slightly, the warmth of Hikaru's breath brushing against her ear. "Does that… bother you?"

  "Of course not," he replied, stepping back after tying the strings. "I just wish you'd think about yourself a little more sometimes."

  He turoward the others in the room and raised his voice. "Alright, team! Iose-san and I are cooking tonight, so sit tight and look forward to the meal!"

  "Got it! I'm curious to see whether you actually know how to cook, Hikaru!" Shibata teased, zily sipping his drink while watg the duo take their pces i.

  "Thanks for cooking for us," Himeno said politely. She and her friend Shiranami had been struggling with math earlier, but Iose had patiently guided them through the material.

  "Yeah, thanks, Iose-san… and you too, Hikaru-kun," Shiranami added softly.

  As Hikaru and Iose began preparing ingredients, the others huddled closer, whispering among themselves.

  "So," Shibata said, l his voice with a mischievous grin. "When do you think those two are finally gonna start dating?"

  "Hikaru-kun and Iose-san?" Himeno's eyes lit up at the gossip. "Holy, everyone's been w about that. I mean, it's obvious how close they are. They have diogether all the time, and just look at how they act around each other."

  Shibata chuckled. "Right? I'm calling it now—they're just oep away from being an official couple. Our css is about to get its perfect power duo."

  "I heard some girls wao fess to Hikaru-kun a while back," Himeno added in a hushed tone. "But they gave up when they realized peting with Iose-san was hopeless."

  "Ha! 't say I bme them." Shibata shrugged. "Who in our css would dare go against her? She's practically our queen."

  Shiranami shifted unfortably at their words, gripping her drink more tightly. "Maybe… they're just close friends," she muttered, her eyes flig toward the pair cooking together.

  Shibata snorted. "Seriously, Shiranami? You think they're 'just friends'? Look at how close they are—Iose-sa mind physical tact with him at all. That level of fort doesn't just happen ht."

  "And you'd like to see Iose-san happy, wouldn't you?" Himeno asked with a knowing smile.

  "Y-Yeah… of course." Shiranami forced a smile and quickly took a sip of her drink to hide the turmoil in her eyes.

  After nearly an hour, Hikaru and Iose brought out trays of freshly prepared dishes. The group eagerly helped set the table, and lively chatter apahe delieal.

  By the time everyone had finished eating and helped the room, it was already close to 8:00 p.m.

  As Hikaru saw the st guest out, he g his phone.

  Damn. It's past eight already. No way I go to the girls' floor now.

  He sighed and shook his head. The rules prohibited male students from visiting the upper floors, but there was ri on girls ing down.

  Which means Sakura e here. Time to send her a message.

  He opened his chat and typed:

  Hashima Hikaru: Sakura-san, I've finished ing up. You e over now.

  The reply came almost immediately.

  Sakura Airi: Okay! I'll head ht away.

  ---

  Meanwhile, in her dorm room oh floor, Sakura stood before her mirror, clutg her phoh both hands.

  I'm really going to Hikaru-kun's room…

  Her heart raced as she studied her refle. She briefly sidered ging into casual clothes but dismissed the thought. What if someone sees me in the hallway and asks questions? It'd be too embarrassing.

  Opting for her school uniform instead, she adjusted the red-rimmed gsses she wore to maintaiimid "school persona." Normally, she removed them when studying with Hikaru, but she wao avoid unwatention on her way down.

  This is fine, she reassured herself. Hikaru-kun… is my friend. There's nothing weird about this.

  Even so, her cheeks burned as she left her room and stepped into the elevator.

  ---

  Ten mier, Hikaru heard a faint knock at the door.

  "Um… Hikaru-kun? I… I'm here."

  The voice was so soft that he almost didn't catch it.

  Jeez, she really o work on that volume.

  Smiling to himself, Hikaru opehe door to find the red-haired girl standing there, fidgeting nervously.

  "Good evening, Sakura-san."

  "G-Good evening, Hikaru-kun." Her voice trembled with embarrassment as she stepped into his dormitory for the first time.

  "e in. Did y your books?"

  "Y-Yes. I brought them."

  She followed him into the room and sat at the desk he indicated.

  "Make yourself fortable. I'll get us some drinks," Hikaru said, walking toward his mini-fridge.

  While he prepared the drinks, Sakura gnced around the room.

  So… this is Hikaru-kun's dorm room.

  The room was and anized, with very few decorations. The bookshelves were lined with ly stacked textbooks and the occasional novel. His bed erfectly made, with no stray items on the floor.

  He's so responsible. I wish I were this tidy.

  Her thoughts were interrupted by a faint, unfamiliar st drifting through the air.

  Wait… this smell…?

  Her eyes widened slightly as she tried to identify the fragra was faint but distinctly feminine—something light and floral.

  Why does Hikaru-kun's room smell like that?

  Before she could dwell on the mystery, Hikaru returned with two gsses e juice.

  "Is e juice okay?" he asked, holding o to her.

  "Y-Yes, it's perfect." She accepted the gss and took a sip, the cool liquid momentarily distrag her.

  Still, the st lingered in the background.

  She wao ask about it but quickly dismissed the idea. I'm here to study. Hikaru-kun is my friend. I shouldn't ask strange questions and risk making him unfortable.

  So she kept her curiosity bottled up and opened her notebook instead.

  He's my most important friend. I don't want to do anything to ruin that.

  ~~~

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