join the Church of MissRaven and become a Sequence 9: Reader p atreon.com/KeyofStars for more chapters
"Bug, bug, bug..."
Feeling an insect land on her head, Shinomiya Kaguya immediately panicked.
"Don't move." Amamiya Natsuki quickly called out, "It's just a small ladybug."
They had already persevered for so long, and victory was within sight. Moving now would surely make all their efforts futile, and they would have to start all over again.
Amamiya Natsuki absolutely did not want to do it again.
The feeling of sore eyes was really unpleasant.
"A ladybug is also a bug."
Shinomiya Kaguya bit her silver teeth lightly, tensing her body.
"It's just a harmless little ladybug; what bad intentions could it have?" Amamiya Natsuki tried to persuade her, "It won't bite people, and it's not poisonous. Kaguya-san, don't worry about it."
"How can I not worry about it!" Shinomiya Kaguya wanted to hit someone after hearing that, and couldn't help but clench her small fists. "A bug crawling around in my hair feels absolutely awful."
Shinomiya Kaguya truly didn't dare to move right now.
The task was almost complete, and her eyes were about to reach their limit. Moving around would likely make her blink involuntarily.
However... the feeling of a bug crawling in her hair was absolutely awful; every second was torture.
"Can your hand still move?"
Shinomiya Kaguya suddenly asked.
"Yes." Amamiya Natsuki nodded.
"...Help me get rid of the bug."
Shinomiya Kaguya bit her lower lip tightly. If she wasn't at her breaking point, she would never ask anyone for help.
"No problem with that."
Amamiya Natsuki agreed, maintaining eye contact while leaning forward slightly, extending his right hand, and gently placing it on Shinomiya Kaguya's head. The silky smooth texture of her hair transmitted from his fingertips to his mind; it felt wonderful.
The little ladybug sensed danger and began to crawl faster and erratically.
Amamiya Natsuki dared not make too large movements, watching the ladybug's movements out of the corner of his eye, and finally caught the insect before the limit was reached.
"Hoo..."
Shinomiya Kaguya quietly let out a sigh of relief.
Amamiya Natsuki also felt relieved, his right hand resting on the ice sculpture girl's head, subconsciously stroking her hair.
"..."
The air suddenly fell silent.
Shinomiya Kaguya's eyes widened slightly. First, a hint of confusion flashed in her eyes, followed by disbelief.
I asked you to help catch a bug, and you took the opportunity to stroke my head?
How dare you!
But... his palm was so warm.
Is this the warmth of a boy's palm?
When I stroke my own head, I've never felt this kind of warmth...
Thump, thump, thump.
The speed of her heart beating in her chest accelerated again. Shinomiya Kaguya could clearly hear her own rapid heartbeat.
Strange.
Why is my heart beating faster?
Cannot understand.
Cannot figure it out.
The only thing she could be sure of was that she didn't seem to dislike this feeling.
Slam!
The door was suddenly pushed open.
Amamiya Natsuki thought it was Fujiwara Chika, but then a strange gasp echoed through the entire classroom.
"Eh, eh, eh?"
"Amamiya-kun, and Kaguya-san?!"
"You, you two are actually..."
It wasn't that idiot Fujiwara Chika.
Shinomiya Kaguya, whose nerves were taut, was suddenly startled and sharply turned her head to look.
Entering from the front door was a female classmate. Seeing Amamiya Natsuki and Shinomiya Kaguya sitting opposite each other, and in such a doting pose with his hand on her head, the girl leaned against the door, covering her mouth in disbelief.
"Stare—"
Shinomiya Kaguya's gaze was sharp, like a hawk soaring in the sky, locking onto a wild rabbit on the ground.
"S-sorry!" The short-haired girl trembled in fear, her eyes welling up as she hugged her head and crouched down defensively. "I didn't know Amamiya-kun and Kaguya-san were on a date, I'm so sorry for suddenly bursting in, please don't kill me!"
There's no secret that can't be seen, how could I kill you!
"Don't worry, killing is out of the question."
Amamiya Natsuki closed his eyes and began to massage his sore and uncomfortable eyes.
Not blinking for ten minutes sounds simple, but it's actually quite difficult.
"Kashiwagi-san, is there something you need?"
Shinomiya Kaguya crossed her arms over her chest, her tone icy.
The task was interrupted at the last minute, and all efforts went to waste, which was quite upsetting.
"I'm sorry," the short-haired girl trembled, her voice timid, "I forgot my keys in the classroom, so I came back to get them… I'm sorry for disturbing you, I'll leave immediately."
"Stop."
Shinomiya Kaguya's clear, cold voice echoed in the classroom.
The girl, who was about to flee, trembled and turned her head to look back pitifully, her eyes misty with fear.
"The classroom is a public space." Shinomiya Kaguya gently pressed her brow, closed her eyes, and said, "Take your keys and then leave."
"Thank you, Kaguya-san."
The short-haired girl's eyes lit up. She scurried to her seat, retrieved her keys, clasped her hands to her chest, and said firmly, "Please rest assured, Kaguya-san and Amamiya-kun's relationship, I will definitely keep it a secret and guarantee not to tell anyone."
"Wait, when did I start dating Kaguya-san?" Amamiya Natsuki couldn't help but open his eyes. "Don't spread rumors."
It was just a task; it had nothing to do with dating.
Shinomiya Kaguya crossed her arms and likewise said, "We are not dating."
The short-haired girl blinked, a gossipy expression of 'you can't fool me' appearing on her face. "Amamiya-kun was clearly stroking Kaguya-san's head just now."
What's wrong with stroking her head?
If stroking her head means dating, then if he were to stroke her foot, wouldn't he have to marry her!
"You saw wrong." Amamiya Natsuki said decisively.
"Huh?" The short-haired girl was startled and instinctively retorted, "I saw it clearly just now, you were just…"
Shinomiya Kaguya's voice was faint: "You indeed saw wrong."
"S-sorry!"
The short-haired girl turned and fled in a panic.
Both of them were so terrifying.
The classroom became quiet once more.
"This is it." Amamiya Natsuki displayed the ladybug in his hand, then threw the insect out the window. "The task wasn't completed, was it?"
"No."
"We have to do it again." Amamiya Natsuki sighed. "The classroom is a bit risky. It hasn't been long since school ended, and other students might come back later."
Shinomiya Kaguya's delicate brows furrowed slightly.
She wasn't part of any club, so she had no clubroom to use. Now, she felt a bit lost.
She really had to run for Student Council.
Then, with the Office door closed, she wouldn't have to worry about being disturbed.
"Let's rest for a bit." Shinomiya Kaguya's voice was as clear and composed as ever, the blush on her face gradually fading. "We'll talk in half an hour."
Amamiya Natsuki nodded, took a book from his backpack, and began to read intently.
Half an hour passed in a flash.
The school gradually quieted down, and no footsteps had been heard in the Corridor for quite some time.
"Again?" Amamiya Natsuki asked.
"Yes."
Shinomiya Kaguya looked up.
The first time their eyes met, he was inevitably a little nervous. The second time was much better, and now, coming to the third time, Amamiya Natsuki was completely relaxed.
Gazing into the ice-sculpture girl's beautiful, ruby-like eyes, Amamiya Natsuki felt at ease and enjoyed the sight.
Their eyes met.
On the girl's snow-white skin, a blush quietly rose again.
This time, finally, no accidents occurred, and the task was successfully completed.
"My eyes hurt so much." Amamiya Natsuki let out a long sigh of relief, stood up, and started to walk out. "Kaguya-san, see you tomorrow. I'm going home."
"…See you tomorrow."
As Amamiya Natsuki left, a blonde girl with a side ponytail suddenly slipped in through the door, her movements silent and exceptionally mysterious, a lollipop still in her mouth.
"Young Miss, it's time to go back."
Shinomiya Kaguya rubbed her temples, opened her eyes, and said in a cool, indifferent tone, "Where are the materials I asked you to investigate?"
"Hmm, here."
The blonde girl with the side ponytail took a file from her backpack.
Shinomiya Kaguya's gaze shifted slightly downwards, landing on the file, where Amamiya Natsuki's photo was prominently displayed in the center.
Age.
Birthday.
Home address.
Parents' identities.
School attended…
"And a childhood friend?"
Shinomiya Kaguya's gaze narrowed slightly, and her slender, mountain-like eyebrows lifted gently.
"It's Yotsuya Miko, who's in my class." The blonde girl, still chewing her lollipop, explained, "She's Amamiya-kun's neighbor and they went to Shuchiin Middle School together. Their relationship seems very close, and they might officially start dating any day now."
"…"
Seeing Shinomiya Kaguya frown and remain silent, the blonde girl took two books from her backpack and, while still sucking on her lollipop, said:
"While investigating, I picked up a book at the bookstore. Young Miss might want to take a look."
"What book?"
Shinomiya Kaguya looked over curiously, her eyes widening slightly, only to see written on the book's cover…
"A Loyal Dog Boyfriend's Handbook"
join the Church of MissRaven and become a Sequence 9: Reader p atreon.com/KeyofStars for more chapters