We feel the same way
Without any other incident happening after that, we successfully arrived at the fast-food restaurant, taking over one corner or, to be more precise, four tables to accommodate our whole group.
I said we’re going to have fun and I mean it. But it’s in a sense of the ringlet girl becoming comfortable around everyone. That’s including Sumire, Umi as well as the other tag-along.
Initially, she clearly only accepted my invitation because of me. Befriending my girls or familiarizing herself with them wasn’t really in her plan.
That much was kind of understandable. For Marika, it’s enough for her to be with me. Anything else was irrelevant.
That changed a little after what happened. The biggest factor for it was Shizu or the helping hand she delivered out there.
For sure, not counting myself, it’s probably the first time for her to have someone other than her followers step up for her. Furthermore, Shizu wasn’t treating her as someone to worship like her followers do.