The girls, led by Emily, exit the school with excited faces, eager to embark on a shopping adventure.
Kai and his friends are aware of what lies ahead and continue with a feeling of amusement.
As they exit the school premises, Emily exclaims, "Let's go shopping!"
The girls join in, their voices harmonizing with excitement, "Yeah!"
The boys, their voices softer, echo with a resigned, "Yeah…"
The girls take charge, leading the group into the mall, and the boys follow behind.
Upon entering the mall, the girls don't waste a moment.
They head to the clothing section.
The boys continue to follow, their footsteps matching the rhythm of the girls' excitement.
Inside the store, the girls are in their element, trying on various outfits, their faces lighting up with delight as they examine themselves in the mirrors.
Kai, Alex, Michael, Ethan, and Jackson watch, content to let the girls have their moment, silently acknowledging the joy they bring into their lives.
They also observe Leon breaking away from the group to explore the boys' clothing section.
Not wanting to be left out of the adventure, Alex, Michael, Ethan, and Jackson decide to explore the mall themselves, leaving Kai standing in the store as he has no particular desire to shop.
He casually leans against a clothing rack, absentmindedly scrolling through his phone.
After a couple of minutes, Kai feels a tap on his shoulder. As he turns to see the person behind it, he is pleasantly taken aback to find Akane standing there.
Even though he feels slightly flustered, he succeeds in keeping his composure and inquires, "Um, what can I help you with, Akane?"
Akane, with an inviting smile, responds by saying, "Oh, nothing."
Kai asks if she has finished her shopping. She nods before adding, "I actually came out here to see if everyone was around, but it seems like it's the two of us. Where did the others go?"
Kai explains that the guys have gone off to explore while he chose to stay.
Curious, Akane then asks him, "So what made you decide to stay?"
Kai replies with a tone, "Well, I didn't really have anything in mind to buy, so I thought I'd just hang out here."
Akane nods understandingly and responds with an expression on her face. "Ah... I see."
Kai, intrigued, asks, "What?"
Akane finally broaches the question that has been on her mind, "So, will you now tell me the reason why you acted like you didn't know me this morning?"
Kai hesitates for a moment and lets out a sigh. "Well, the reason for that was... I didn't mention to those guys that I knew you. I didn't want you to tell them either. They were also unaware of my trip, which is why I couldn't disclose anything to them."
Akane, filled with curiosity, asks, "But why didn't you want to tell them?"
Kai explains that he has ventured into Naimisha Forest to address some cultivation challenges, and there might be dangers lurking there. He simply didn't want his friends to be exposed to any harm by revealing this information.
A warm smile appears on Akane's face as she is touched by his concern. She compliments Kai by saying, "You truly are a kind person, Kai."
Kai reddens slightly but insists in a stammering manner, "I-I'm not."
Akane chuckles playfully and counters back with a gentle tone, "Someone who isn't kind wouldn't think twice about doing what you did."
Their conversation carries on as they share laughter and stories while waiting for their friends to finish their shopping.
Kai finds himself feeling more comfortable and relaxed around Akane, enjoying her company.
After some time, the girls emerge from the store, shopping bags in hand.
As they approach, they notice Kai and Akane engaged in a lively conversation, smiling and laughing.
Curious, they decide to hide for a moment to eavesdrop on the exchange.
Emily can't help but notice Kai's smile while talking to Akane. She happily comments, "Wow, look at that smile on Kai's face!"
Aoi joins the conversation, saying, "It's unusual for him to smile like that. It seems like Kai and Akane are becoming closer."
Rachel chimes in with a knowing smile, adding, "You could say that."
Sarah questions the need for secrecy, saying, "Why are we sneaking around? Let's just go."
Emily's grin grows wider as she expresses her curiosity, "I'm really eager to know what they've been discussing."
Aoi playfully teases Emily by saying, "You really enjoy these kinds of things, don't you?"
The girls share a laugh before deciding to approach Kai and Akane.
Kai, still talking with Akane, suddenly senses the approaching girls and turns to see them coming towards him.
He asks Akane, "How did you know they were coming without even looking back?"
Akane offers to teach him the secret and takes his phone to exchange numbers and demonstrate the technique.
With the other girls joining the conversation, they enjoy a lively discussion, sharing stories, and laughter.
Meanwhile, the boys carry on with their shopping escapade. Eventually, they reunite after some time.
The girls hand over their shopping bags to the boys, who can't refuse and end up carrying them. Together they continue their spree of exploring shops and making purchases.
As the day progresses, they decide to take a break in a café, treating themselves to delicious food while enjoying each other's company.
Laughter fills the air as they relax and recharge, fostering a sense of camaraderie among them.
In the evening, Kai returns to his room. He collapses onto his bed with a satisfied sigh. "Phew~~" he murmurs to himself.
"I feel completely drained after all that... It is truly enjoyable."
A faint smile forms at the corners of his mouth as he fondly recalls the day's adventures and the joyous moments shared with his friends.
"I'm quite exhausted now," he adds before drifting into a well-deserved sleep, his heart brimming with contentment and a sense of belonging among his cherished friends.