Shiroe's friend couldn't resist poking fun at him, a playful smirk dancing on his lips as he teased, "Haha, Shiroe, looks like your little brother beat you to it, huh?"
Echoing the sentiment, another friend chimed in with a teasing grin, "Yeah, Shiroe, seems like your little bro's got some tricks up his sleeve. Dawg's got skills, haha."
Amidst the light-hearted banter, their conversation was suddenly drowned out by a booming yell from none other than Sachi. "Hey, Shirikuuuuuu!!! You got this!!! Don't worry about the crowd!!"
Junichi, ever the enthusiastic cheerleader, joined in with a spirited shout of his own, "Hell yeah! That's my best buddy right there! Show 'em what you're made of!"
The air was filled with cheers and laughter, creating an infectious atmosphere of support and camaraderie. However, amidst the jubilation, another voice pierced through the crowd with a tone of envy and frustration. "Ugh! It should have been me! Not him! It's just not fair!" The speaker dramatically dropped to his knees, slamming both arms into the ground in a fit of melodramatic despair.
The surrounding students chuckled at the theatrical display, one of them teasing, "Keep dreaming, buddy, haha."
Another student chimed in with a playful grin, adding, "Yeah, keep dreaming! ."
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Shiroe's friend couldn't contain his laughter. "AHAHAHAHA, the first years are funny. And also, I understood that reference."
Shiroe, sharing the inside joke, looked at his friend and said, "Haha, I know you do," with a smile.
Shiroe's friend couldn't resist yelling back to the first years, "Hey, first year! I understood that reference!" He waved towards the student who had lamented, "It should have been me, not him, it's not fair!"
One of the first-year students marveled, "Woah, even the third years are noticing us." The school atmosphere buzzed with excitement and amusement as Shiriku continued his journey towards Ayaka with the coffee in hand.
With everything that's happening around Shiriku gave him a little boost of courage, especially with the cheers and encouragement from his friends. However, he still felt that something was lacking, a missing piece to complete this moment. Just as he pondered this, his phone chimed, interrupting his thoughts.
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Balancing the stack of coffees in one hand, drawing curious glances from some of the students nearby. A puzzled murmur rippled through the group as they observed him checking his phone.
"Huh? Why is he checking his phone?" one student wondered aloud, furrowing their brows in confusion.
Another student shrugged indifferently, replying, "I don't know, beats me."
Shiriku's attention remained fixed on the message displayed on his phone screen, his brow furrowing in perplexity. The message, adorned with emoticons, left him puzzled. "You idiot (ー_ー゛) I'm giving you MY permission now go!" it read.
Perplexed by the cryptic message, Shiriku quickly typed out a reply, his fingers tapping against the screen. "Huh, you're giving me your permission ༼⁰o⁰;༽? What do you mean by that?" he questioned, his confusion evident in his tone.
In response, another message from Fuyumi popped up on his screen, conveying impatience. "Ugh, just do your best, SHIRIKU! (･–･) \ (･◡･)/," it read, the emoticons punctuating her exasperation.
Despite the urgency in Fuyumi's message, Shiriku couldn't help but smile. With a playful tone, he composed his reply, "Okay, FUYU-CHAN ⊂((・▽・))⊃," his fondness for his friend evident in his response.
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As Shiriku navigated through the bustling school courtyard, the weight of the coffee cups in his hands seemed to amplify the intensity of the situation. His mind was a whirlwind of thoughts and emotions, but amidst the chaos, one memory stood out vividly – the meeting he had with Aoi.
FLASHBACK:
Shiriku sat across from Aoi in a secluded corner of the school library, the soft hum of conversation and rustling of pages providing a backdrop to their conversation. Aoi's expression was serious as she leaned in, her voice low but determined.
"Shiriku, listen carefully," she began, her tone leaving no room for doubt. "Ayaka - sama entrusted me with the responsibility of devising a plan to make this operation work. She believes in us, and we cannot afford to let her down."
Shiriku nodded solemnly, his gaze fixed on Aoi's determined expression. "I understand, Aoi. I won't let Ayaka down," he replied, his voice firm with resolve.
Aoi leaned back in her chair, a hint of relief crossing her features. "Good," she said, a small smile tugging at the corners of her lips. "Now, let's get to work."
PRESENT:
Snap back to the present, Shiriku felt the weight of Aoi's words bearing down on him. The memory of their conversation served as a stark reminder of the importance of their mission, igniting a fire of determination within him.
Drawing upon newfound courage, Shiriku took deliberate steps toward where Ayaka was patiently waiting for him, the weight of the coffee cups in his hands feeling heavier with each passing moment. With a nervous swallow, he extended both hands, offering the cups to Ayaka. His face flushed crimson with embarrassment as he stammered, "Here you g-go, Aya-chan," his voice wavering with uncertainty.
Ayaka accepted one of the coffees with a gracious smile, her eyes twinkling with gratitude. "Thank you, Shiriku," she replied, her tone warm and appreciative.
Feeling a surge of relief, Shiriku hesitantly asked, "Umm... Aya-chan, the other one?"
Ayaka's smile widened as she gently declined, "Ahh, I only need one, Shiriku." She took a sip from the coffee cup in her hand, savoring the warmth of the beverage.
In a spontaneous gesture, Ayaka leaned in and placed a sweet kiss on Shiriku's cheek, her affectionate gesture eliciting gasps and delighted whispers from the onlookers. "Kyaaaa!!! They're so cute together!!" one student exclaimed, their voice filled with admiration. "I wish that was me," another sighed wistfully, their eyes shimmering with longing. "I hope one day that could also be me and my boyfriend," yet another dreamily murmured, lost in their own romantic reverie.
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Shiriku's cheeks flushed with intense embarrassment, the heat of his blush spreading across his face like wildfire as he found himself at the center of attention. Amidst the cheering crowd, the third-year students couldn't resist joining in, their voices echoing with enthusiasm and encouragement. "Hell yeah, go on, Shiroe's brother! Woohoooo!" they cheered, their words filled with excitement and camaraderie.