Chapter 102: you don't hate me
____
"What did I forget?"
Ichinose looked at Rin, slightly stunned and a bit confused. "Nothing, I think."
"Where's Shiranami? Did you forget about her?"
"Ah!" Ichinose's crystal-clear lips parted as a look of realization dawned on her face.
"Oh no, Chihiro-chan! How could I forget her again?"
Back in the gym earlier, Ichinose had a vague feeling she'd forgotten something. And now, it hit her that once again, she'd forgotten about Shiranami.
"Rin, I need to head back to the gym to find Chihiro-chan!"
Rin chuckled, seeing Ichinose's flustered reaction. "Go ahead. Let's keep in touch through Line."
"Right, Line," she echoed, reluctantly letting go of Rin's arm before turning and walking quickly back toward the gym.
When she reached the gymnasium, Ichinose found Shiranami waiting in the literature club room. Chihiro looked heartbroken, her pouty lips and teary eyes giving her the appearance of a sad little puppy left behind by its owner.
"Chihiro-chan, I'm back!" Ichinose greeted her friend, feeling a pang of guilt.
"Where were you, Honami-chan? You took so long to come back!" Chihiro sounded as if she might start crying at any moment.
Ichinose felt an intense guilt over forgetting her friend and couldn't bring herself to confess the reason. How could she possibly tell Chihiro that she'd been so focused on Rin that she'd forgotten her entirely?
If she told the truth, Chihiro would undoubtedly burst into tears—the kind of tears that would attract everyone's attention.
Determined to avoid that situation, Ichinose quickly changed the subject. "Chihiro-chan, have you submitted your application to the literature club?"
"Not yet. Without you, Honami-chan, I was too nervous to do it," Chihiro replied, looking up at her with wide, anxious eyes.
"Oh, Chihiro-chan, you're too shy! You need to work on your courage. Come on, I'll help you submit it."
"Um, thank you," Chihiro nodded.
Under Ichinose's guidance, Chihiro successfully submitted her application and joined the literature club. With that settled, Ichinose's gaze wandered to where the new swimming club members were gathering.
Through the bustling crowd of freshmen, she spotted Asahina sitting nearby, casually trimming her nails. The senior looked entirely at ease, unaware of Ichinose's watchful eyes.
"Honami-chan, let's go to the cafeteria," Chihiro suggested.
"The cafeteria..." Ichinose paused. Going now would probably mean running into Rin there, but she felt an even stronger urge to speak with Asahina.
She wanted to ask Asahina if Rin had actually joined the swimming club.
This thought weighed heavily on her mind. In fact, she couldn't deny that she was more than a little curious.
"Chihiro-chan, I need to check something with that senior first. Would you like to go to the cafeteria without me?" Ichinose pointed toward Asahina.
"No, I'll go with you, Honami-chan."
"Alright, let's go."
Not wanting to be left alone, Chihiro followed Ichinose as they approached Asahina.
"Hello, Senpai. We meet again," Ichinose greeted her politely.
Asahina looked up from her nails and, upon seeing Ichinose, offered a warm smile.
"Hey, isn't this Ichinose-san? Do you need something? Are you planning to join the swimming club?"
"I'm sorry, senpai, but I don't have that in mind," Ichinose replied, shaking her head. She hesitated, then asked shyly, "I actually wanted to ask you about Matsuoka-san."
"Oh~~ Asking about Matsuoka, are we?"
Asahina spoke with a meaningful tone that made Ichinose's cheeks flush slightly.
Shiranami's face fell again. It was Matsuoka again! Why did Honami care so much about his affairs?
"Yes... well, didn't Matsuoka ask you to talk to the vice president earlier? Did you find out if he successfully joined the swimming club?"
"I haven't asked Miyabi about that yet."
With a teasing expression, Asahina rested her chin on her hand and continued, "Ichinose, you seem quite eager to know. Aren't you a bit too concerned with Matsuoka's affairs?"
"Well... that's because I want Matsuoka to join the student council too. If he can't join the swimming club, I thought maybe I could encourage him to join us in the council," Ichinose replied hesitantly.
"Ah, I see," Nazuna teased. "You want to be in the same club as the boy you like. I totally understand"
"No, no! I…well, I…" Ichinose was flustered, while Shiranami also seemed uneasy.
Hmm? Why does Chihiro look so uncomfortable? Could it be she, like Ichinose, also has a crush on Matsuoka?
"Junior, don't you like Matsuoka?" Asahina asked with a smile.
Ichinose quickly looked away, and replied shyly, "No... I don't."
"If you don't hate him, it means you like him," Nazuna teased further. "I'll just tell Matsuoka the good news right away." She pretended to reach for her phone, and Ichinose, blushing and flustered, quickly grabbed her arm.
"Senpai!"
Asahina looked at the blushing, impatient Ichinose and couldn't help but let out a hearty laugh. "Ahahaha."
"Don't worry, I'm just planning to contact Miyabi now to see if he can let Matsuoka join the swimming club."
"Really..."
Given how much Asahina liked to tease her and Chihiro, Ichinose wasn't entirely sure she could trust her senior.
"Really~" Nazuna confirmed with a playful grin.
Asahina genuinely wanted to get the handsome underclassman into the swimming club so she could admire his perfect physique every day. But, on the other hand, she also enjoyed promoting the relationship between her pink-haired junior and the handsome underclassman. Perhaps instead of letting Matsuoka join the swimming club, she could encourage him to join the student council with Ichinose Honami.
Still somewhat conflicted, Asahina decided to dial Nagumo, putting the call on speaker so Ichinose could listen in as well.
"Hey, Nazuna," Miyabi answered, "calling me at this hour. Are you planning to accept my confession and become my girlfriend?"