25 -25- Interested?
In comparison to the beginning of the month, the crowd at Keyaki Mall has decreased as we near the end of the month.
"It seems like everyone has spent their points, so they're not daring to come here for shopping as frequently as before."
"Yeah."
Kushida Kikyou and Karuizawa Kei walked ahead, chatting like this while happily browsing through one store after another, showcasing girls' love for shopping to the fullest, which was quite pleasing to the eye.
Nanaya Hori and Ayanokouji Kiyotaka silently followed behind, observing the scene.
Initially, they thought Ike Kanji and Yamauchi Haruki would eagerly follow Kushida Kikyou to showcase themselves, but unexpectedly, these two instead surrounded Hirata Yousuke from both sides, exuding extraordinary pressure.
"Um..."
Hirata Yousuke seemed troubled.
However, Ike Kanji and Yamauchi Haruki seemed oblivious to it all, maintaining a serious atmosphere.
"Hey, Hirata."
"Can we ask you a question?"
Ike Kanji and Yamauchi Haruki said this with serious expressions.
"O-Of course."
Hirata Yousuke seemed intimidated by their aura and nodded stiffly.
In this situation, Ike Kanji was the first to inquire.
"We heard you're dating Karuizawa, is that true?"
"Huh...?" Hirata Yousuke seemed flustered. "H-How did you know?"
It seemed like he intended to hide this fact.
Unfortunately, Yamauchi Haruki spilled the beans.
"Everyone in the class already knows, even people from other classes. You're just too popular, and guys wish girls would shift their attention away from you. So, everyone consciously spread the news about you having a girlfriend."
Surely, Yamauchi Haruki had played a part in this, right?
"I see..."
Hirata Yousuke smiled wryly.
On the contrary, Karuizawa Kei, who seemed to have heard the conversation, came closer and directly hugged Hirata Yousuke's arm.
"See? I told you this couldn't be hidden for long, right?"
Karuizawa Kei said happily, seeming proud of their relationship, almost as if she wanted to announce it to everyone.
Just like boys take pride in dating cute girls, girls also feel proud to date popular boys, right?
At least, Ike Kanji and Yamauchi Haruki understood Karuizawa Kei's reaction this way.
However, Kushida Kikyou interpreted it differently.
"That's nice, Karuizawa. You look so happy." Kushida Kikyou smiled with a hint of envy. "I wish I could find a guy who loves and cherishes me like that."
Kushida Kikyou's words instantly caught Ike Kanji and Yamauchi Haruki's attention.
"Cough...!"
"Cough...!"
The two of them coughed incessantly, as if trying to attract Kushida Kikyou's attention, almost as if they were about to tell her, "I'm the one."
However, Kushida Kikyou didn't notice Ike Kanji and Yamauchi Haruki at all. Instead, she continued chatting with Hirata Yousuke and Karuizawa Kei.
"If it's you, Kushida, there must be many guys interested in dating you, right?" Hirata Yousuke sincerely said.
"Do you have your eyes on anyone? Do you want me to find out?" Karuizawa Kei seemed eager, resembling a girl who loves gossip.
Karuizawa Kei's question caught the attention of Ike Kanji and Yamauchi Haruki, making them stop pretending to cough and immediately listen attentively. Apparently, these two were worried that Kushida Kikyou might already have someone she likes.
However, Kushida Kikyou blushed shyly.
"N-No! I don't have anyone I like at the moment!"
This statement made Ike Kanji and Yamauchi Haruki's eyes light up simultaneously, showing expressions of hope for themselves.
Unfortunately, these two fools didn't realize that if there's no opposite-sex crush, it means they're also not in Kushida Kikyou's consideration.
As a result, even Ayanokouji Kiyotaka felt somewhat uncomfortable and spoke up, which was rare for him.
"It doesn't necessarily have to be liking someone; even just feeling concerned about the opposite sex can lead to developing a romantic relationship, right?"
Ayanokouji Kiyotaka, who usually didn't speak much, immediately got everyone nodding in agreement.
"I think the guys in our class are all pretty decent." Hirata Yousuke said kindly to Kushida Kikyou, "Kushida-san, have you considered anyone?"
Upon hearing this, Ike Kanji and Yamauchi Haruki looked at Hirata Yousuke with gratitude and admiration in their eyes.
"Huh? Guys in our class?" However, Karuizawa Kei retorted at this moment, "I think it's better not to compare. The guys in our class are all so immature, except for Yousuke, none of them are even worth considering. Kushida, you should consider guys from other classes, like Satonaka from Class A."
At these words, Ike Kanji and Yamauchi Haruki looked at Karuizawa Kei with eyes full of anger and fiery glares.
"Feeling concerned about the opposite sex?"
At this moment, Kushida Kikyou seemed hesitant.
Seeing her like this, Ike Kanji and Yamauchi Haruki's hearts skipped a beat.
"W-What... What's wrong, Kikyou?"
"I-Is there really someone you have your eyes on?"
The two of them didn't realize their voices were trembling as they asked.
But Kushida Kikyou lifted her eyes and glanced in a certain direction, appearing somewhat restless.
"Hmm?"
Walking side by side behind everyone else, Nanaya Hori noticed the gaze and furrowed his eyebrows.
At this point, everyone else noticed too.
The person caught in Kushida Kikyou's gaze was Nanaya Hori.
This surprised Hirata Yousuke and Karuizawa Kei.
"Could it be..." Hirata Yousuke seemed surprised, "Kikyou-san, are you interested in Hori-san?"
With this statement, the atmosphere immediately changed.
"No way?" Karuizawa Kei spoke out, "What's good about that loner? Kushida!"
In front of everyone, this girl with a spicy personality was speaking so bluntly.
"N-No... that's not it! It's not!" Kushida Kikyou seemed to realize it just now and hurriedly denied it, blushing.
But her demeanor seemed shy no matter how you looked at it.
This made Ike Kanji and Yamauchi Haruki glare fiercely at Nanaya Hori, their expressions becoming as fierce as demons.
Ayanokouji Kiyotaka, as if not wanting to be involved, slowly distanced himself from Nanaya Hori.
As for Nanaya Hori, he furrowed his brows.
The look he gave Kushida Kikyou became somewhat suspicious.
