Nino had been waiting specifically for Makoto.
After school today, she had sent Miku and Yotsuba home first, and then she called Itsuki to wait for Makoto's arrival.
She didn't have any other purpose; it was just that her curiosity and concern for her sisters couldn't be controlled, and she wanted to find out the relationship between Makoto and Ichika.
She had called Itsuki along because the latter had a good relationship with Makoto, and with Itsuki there, Nino felt she could perform better.
Simply put, she considered Itsuki as a support character to enhance her role as the main one.
"Fushimi-kun, what's going on with you two?"
Nino spoke first while holding Itsuki's hand.
"I've made plans to go out with Hayama and the others. Are you waiting for someone?"
Makoto guessed that they were waiting for him, though he wasn't sure of the exact reason.
"We're waiting for you."
Nino hesitated. With others around, it wasn't easy to be the main one.
Itsuki suddenly asked, "Fushimi-kun, are you going to have dinner with your friends?"
Makoto shook his head. "I'll be home before dinner."
He had plans with Mayu to go to that beautiful teacher's house for dinner.
Nino's gaze flickered when she heard this, and she felt like she could join them.
Only Makoto and Hayato noticed this, but since Hayato wasn't familiar with the Nakano girls, he didn't speak up.
So Makoto sent out a team invitation: "Then let's walk together. How about we chat while we walk?"
He looked towards Yumiko and the others, silently asking for their opinions.
"Sure."
Yumiko didn't refuse.
She had a good impression of Makoto. He didn't make decisions on his own, like pulling Nino and Itsuki into the group; instead, he first asked her opinion.
"He seems like a careful guy, just like Hayato," Yumiko thought.
Seeing this, Nino also agreed.
Now, the "happy group" had two more members, making it even livelier than before.
However, after some exchanges, Makoto realized something: Nino and Yumiko didn't get along.
In some ways, the two girls were similar.
Both had impulsive and fiery personalities, yet their inner feelings were very delicate.
The difference was that Nino handled things skillfully, seeming to be fiery and fast-paced, yet even boys her age respected her.
Yumiko, on the other hand, lacked basic social skills. Her attitude towards people outside her friend group was nearly harsh.
So, after only a few brief exchanges, the atmosphere became a bit awkward.
Thankfully, Makoto and Hayato were able to smooth things over.
Nino intentionally pulled Itsuki back behind the group and tugged at Makoto's sleeve.
Makoto slowed his pace, then quietly asked, "What's up?"
He thought Nino was going to explain why she was waiting for him today.
But to his surprise, Nino frowned and whispered, "Are you close with Miura?"
"We're just acquaintances. I get along pretty well with Hayama," Makoto answered truthfully.
Nino relaxed her brows and pouted, "That's good."
"You two don't get along?"
"Not really. I've heard some things about her before. She's quite famous at school, but I don't like her," Nino was very direct.
Makoto nodded, "So, what's the reason you're looking for me today?"
Nino hesitated again.
Now wasn't the right time to talk about Ichika's feelings.
But if she didn't ask now, she had a feeling the day would be wasted.
She still needed to go home and cook for "the kids."
In the end, it was Itsuki who spoke up: "Have you seen Ichika these past few days?"
Makoto: "We saw each other at school, but I haven't seen her after school."
"Same here. She's been acting all mysterious lately. I don't even know what she's busy with," Itsuki sighed.
Nino suddenly cut in, "Ichika seems to have developed a late-night snack habit recently."
"Late-night snacks?"
Makoto and Itsuki looked confused.
Nino didn't hide it:
"The cucumbers I use for cooking are missing one every day. At first, I thought Itsuki was eating them, but then I found out it was Ichika who took them."
Itsuki blushed awkwardly: "Why would you doubt me?"
Nino calmly replied, "Who else in the house is so obsessed with food besides you?"
Itsuki, red-faced, was about to argue when Makoto timely interrupted, "Actually, the thing Ichika's been hiding from you, the answer is in the club we formed."
The two girls were stunned simultaneously.
Nino unconsciously puffed out her chest, turning to look at Itsuki: "So, you've known this whole time?"
Itsuki, with a confused look on her face: "Known what?"
"You've joined Fushimi-san's club, right?"
"Yeah, but I didn't know that."
"..."
Nino was completely thrown off.
Itsuki's confused expression didn't seem like an act.
Makoto didn't seem like he was lying either.
So, was Itsuki just too slow?
Nino thought to herself.
The group first strolled along the roadside shops, and the variety of products easily piqued the girls' interest.
Even Nino and Itsuki were no exception.
After about fifteen minutes of shopping, Yumiko led the group to a nearby park.
"This park has a great atmosphere. Many girls come here to take photos."
Yumiko said, her eyes fixed on Makoto.
Clearly, the professional photography skills Makoto had mentioned earlier piqued her curiosity.
Seeing that Makoto didn't respond, she bluntly said, "You should be able to take my photo, right?"
There was no "please help me" or anything polite; she was more direct.
Makoto seemed oblivious: "I can, but you have to follow my instructions throughout."
"Eh?"
Yumiko was momentarily stunned; this wasn't the scenario she had imagined.
Makoto looked very serious:
"Photography is an art. Even though we only have phones and not professional equipment, which means we can't capture your charm as accurately, I take photography very seriously."
The phrase "can't capture your charm as accurately" instantly made Yumiko's heart flutter.
He was talking about the equipment, but still managed to compliment her.
That made her happy.
Yumiko immediately agreed: "Okay, I'll follow your instructions."
The two boys who were originally playing on their phones beside Hayato were now distracted and quietly muttering: "This guy seems to really know his stuff. Learned something."
Hayato, however, wasn't concerned. With his emotional intelligence, he quickly thought of similar things to say.
He was more curious about Makoto neglecting the two Nakano girls. Was that not a bit inappropriate?
In fact, Nino was indeed a bit annoyed at that moment.
But it wasn't directed at Makoto—it was at Yumiko.
Asking someone to take photos without any courtesy, was she really acting like a queen?
Nino remembered the nickname her classmates had for Yumiko.
She was about to ask Itsuki's opinion but saw her spacing out next to her.
"What are you thinking?" Nino couldn't help but ask.
Itsuki looked nostalgic:
"No wonder he was so serious when taking our photos last time. This is what he was thinking. Photography is an art, and it does sound very reasonable."
"Wait, you two took photos together?" Nino was more concerned with this.
Itsuki picked up her phone and said:
"He insisted on taking my photo last time. But he actually took really good photos. I really like the ones he took. Oh, by the way…"
She remembered something and tapped on her phone screen: "I also saw a photo of Ichika and him online. It was probably taken that day in the bookstore."
Nino quickly leaned over and saw a post on a social forum with Makoto and Ichika's photo.
In the photo, Ichika had a beautiful smile, and Makoto was focused on holding the phone.
The caption read: "This famous bookstore has wild handsome guys and beautiful girls."
Though everyone online knows that taking sneaky photos is illegal, there are always people who upload others' videos or photos, most of which are accidents or fights.
Nino, after reading the post, unintentionally glanced at the most liked comment.
Then she couldn't hold back anymore.
The comment said: "Although I don't know these two people and don't know if they're a couple, I think they look great together. Does anyone else feel the same way?"
Nino recognized this account immediately.
It was clearly Ichika's alt account!
This move was really hard to ignore.
"Itsuki, send me a screenshot of this post."
After saying that, Nino turned her attention back to Makoto.
Yumiko was already posing as per Makoto's instructions.
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