Shiriku's expression softened, a hint of amusement dancing in his eyes as he watched Fuyumi regain her composure. He raised his voice slightly, his tone firm yet laced with warmth.
"Oi, Fuyumi!" he called out, his finger pointing at her in a playful gesture. "Me pretending to be Ayaka's boyfriend doesn't mean anything, alright? I'm doing this because I'm her friend. Got it? So get that into your smart head, Ice princess."
Fuyumi's lips curled into a small smile at Shiriku's teasing tone, a sense of relief washing over her as she listened to his words. She nodded in understanding, her arms resting lightly on her chest as she maintained her poise.
"Understood, Shiriku," she replied, her voice steady and composed. "I won't forget."
Shiriku's smile widened at Fuyumi's response, a sense of warmth filling his chest as he watched her regain her usual demeanor. He took a step closer to her, his hands sliding into his pockets as he leaned in slightly.
"And promise me one more thing," Shiriku continued, his voice softer now, a hint of concern in his tone. "Promise me you won't cry in front of me again. I hate seeing our ice princess cry, okay?"
Fuyumi's expression softened at Shiriku's words, a mixture of gratitude and determination shining in her eyes. She nodded solemnly, her arms crossing in front of her chest as she made her vow.
"You can count on that, my dear Kami," she replied, her voice firm and resolute.
Shiriku's smile grew wider at Fuyumi's response, a sense of relief washing over him as he saw her return to her usual self. He reached out and gently ruffled her hair, a playful glint in his eyes.
"That's it, that's the Fuyumi I know," he said warmly, his voice filled with affection. "The cold, strong, and cute Fuyumi."
Fuyumi's cheeks flushed slightly at Shiriku's compliment, a small smile playing at the corners of her lips. She glanced up at him.
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As Shiriku watched Fuyumi's expression shift from amusement to silence, a flicker of concern crossed his features. He tilted his head slightly, studying her intently as he noticed her change in mood.
"Fuyumi, are you okay?" Shiriku asked gently, his voice tinged with genuine concern. He took a step closer to her, his expression softening as he reached out a hand to touch her arm.
Fuyumi's heart raced as Shiriku's hand made contact with her arm, sending a shiver down her spine. She swallowed nervously, trying to find the right words to express herself. After a moment of hesitation, she finally mustered up the courage to speak.
"Um, Shiriku," Fuyumi began, her voice wavering slightly as she struggled to form her words. "I-I was just wondering... um, do you... do you like me?"
Her cheeks flushed crimson with embarrassment as the words tumbled out of her mouth, her heart pounding in her chest. She couldn't believe she had just blurted out such a question, but the words had escaped before she could stop them.
Shiriku's eyes widened in surprise at Fuyumi's unexpected question, his brows furrowing in confusion. "Huh? Where did that come from?" he replied, his tone incredulous.
He took a step back, his expression reflecting his bewilderment as he tried to make sense of Fuyumi's sudden inquiry. His mind raced with questions, his thoughts swirling in a whirlwind of confusion.
Fuyumi bit her lip nervously, regretting her impulsive question as soon as it left her lips. She lowered her gaze, unable to meet Shiriku's eyes as she braced herself for his response.
"I-I'm sorry, Shiriku," she stammered, her voice barely above a whisper. "I don't know what came over me. Please forget I said anything."
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As Shiriku observed Fuyumi's panicked attempts to change the subject, he couldn't shake off the confusion sparked by her sudden question. He furrowed his brows inquisitively, his curiosity piqued as he sought answers from Fuyumi.
"Why would you randomly ask me if I like you?" Shiriku questioned, his tone gentle yet probing. He took a step closer to Fuyumi, his expression filled with genuine curiosity.
Fuyumi's heart raced with anxiety as Shiriku pressed her for an explanation. She bit her lip nervously, her mind racing as she struggled to find a way out of the awkward situation. Finally, she managed to stammer out a response, her voice barely audible.
"I-I... um..." Fuyumi's voice faltered, her cheeks burning with embarrassment. She cleared her throat, mustering up the courage to speak louder. "C-cute!"
Shiriku's confusion deepened at Fuyumi's unexpected outburst. He blinked in surprise, his gaze shifting between Fuyumi and the finger she pointed at him. "Huh? The word cute?" he echoed, his tone laced with bewilderment. "Are you that embarrassed that I called you cute?"
Fuyumi's cheeks flushed even brighter at Shiriku's question, her embarrassment evident in her flustered demeanor. She shook her head vehemently, her voice trembling as she responded. "Y-you, Shiriku Kami! How dare you call me cute?!"
Shiriku's eyebrows shot up in surprise at Fuyumi's outburst, his confusion deepening. He took a step back, his gaze fixed on Fuyumi as he tried to make sense of her reaction. "Huh? I mean, if you hate it, I'll take back what I said," he offered, his voice tinged with concern. "I didn't mean to upset you."
Fuyumi's eyes widened at Shiriku's offer, her heart pounding with a mixture of panic and frustration. "N-no, you can't!" she exclaimed, her voice rising in pitch. "You already did it, so you have to take responsibility!"
Shiriku blinked in confusion at Fuyumi's words, his brow furrowing as he struggled to understand her meaning. "Responsibility? For saying the word cute to you?" he repeated, his tone tinged with incredulity. "But I always say the word cute to Sachi, and she doesn't react like how you're reacting right now."
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As Fuyumi's mind raced with confusion and frustration, she struggled to comprehend Shiriku's response. Her eyes widened in disbelief as she processed his words, her heart pounding with a mixture of emotions.
"S-Sachi? You also call Sachi cute?!" Fuyumi exclaimed, her voice tinged with incredulity. She took a step back, her hands trembling slightly as she struggled to contain her rising emotions.
Shiriku nodded, his confusion deepening at Fuyumi's intense reaction. "Yes, I do," he replied calmly, though a hint of confusion lingered in his tone. "And she loves how I call her that. It always brings a smile to her face."
Fuyumi's brows furrowed in frustration as she tried to make sense of Shiriku's words. She bit her lip, her mind racing with a whirlwind of thoughts. Unable to contain her emotions any longer, she muttered to herself in a hushed tone.
"There you go again, I can't hear what you're saying," Shiriku interjected, his voice filled with concern as he noticed Fuyumi's distress. "Hello, Fuyumi?"
Fuyumi's gaze snapped up to meet Shiriku's, her eyes blazing with intensity as she pointed accusingly at him. "You cheater! Double-timer!" she exclaimed, her voice trembling with anger.