Chapter 6 - chapter 6

After Nozomi finished his phone call, he headed to the karaoke room, only to be surprised by the sight of Chika standing by the door, gazing at Mizuki with affection. Playfully, Nozomi touched Chika from behind, causing her to let out a shocked sound that caught Mizuki's attention. When Mizuki saw Chika looking at her, her expression turned visibly unhappy, causing Chika to retreat inside the room after simply conveying a message from Aina. Nozomi, sensing Mizuki's discomfort, gently escorted her home upon her request. The following day, as Mizuki went about her usual chores after her sister left for school, she received a message from Nozomi asking to accompany her to college, to which she eagerly agreed, exchanging joyous stickers with Nozomi. Despite a change in plans from her friend Hana, Mizuki and Nozomi set off for college together, arriving early and spending time in the park due to the unfinished morning class. Sensing Mizuki feeling overheated, thoughtful Nozomi dashed off briefly to fetch water, leaving her under a tree's shade. Meanwhile, lost in thought, Mizuki was surprised by Chika's unexpected appearance, who cryptically urged her to meet in the building's back yard alone. Distracted and preoccupied, Mizuki was unresponsive to Nozomi's return, prompting concern from him. Attempting to divert herself, Mizuki joined Nozomi at college, only to be surrounded by classmates seeking assistance from the class captain, Nozomi, forcing Mizuki to withdraw to the back yard where she discovered Chika waiting carefreely. Mizuki's interaction with Chika led to a tense confrontation about a past kiss, culminating in a passionate moment that left Mizuki torn between desire and loyalty to Nozomi. The unexpected intimacy between them left Mizuki physically and emotionally shaken, prompting her to endure Chika's forceful actions and ultimatum before Chika abruptly departed, leaving Mizuki perplexed and bruised. Despite her visible discomfort, Mizuki chose to conceal her ordeal from her classmates, only for the truth to be exposed through a game of truth or dare instigated by Aina. The game spiraled into a musical performance by Mizuki, inadvertently revealing her identity, leading to mixed reactions from her peers, including teasing from Aina about Mizuki's romantic status. As the day unfolded, with truth and dare games adding twists and turns to the day, Mizuki navigated the complexities of relationships and identity within her social circle, grappling with secrets and revelations that shaped her interactions with both friends and rivals.