What's with this inexplicable feeling of anxiety?
"No, nothing."
Nishikino Maki turned her head away, a little awkwardly.
"What a strange fellow. Nishikino, you seemed to be eavesdropping just now, right? You're clearly very interested. Could it be that Nishikino, you're secretly hiding something from us...?"
Eriri propped herself up and looked at her with interest.
"How did you know I was eavesdropping? And besides, at this distance, it's normal to hear things, isn't it?"
Nishikino Maki turned her head again and retorted stiffly.
"I didn't notice just now, but now I'm certain."
Eriri smiled faintly.
"Sawamura, you...!"
Nishikino Maki's expression instantly tensed.
She didn't expect to be outsmarted!
"If you have anything you want to ask, just ask, Nishikino. Don't be shy. We're not exactly strangers anymore, are we?"
Izumi Chihiro said with a smile.
"Seriously, don't say strange things."
Nishikino Maki replied.
"Oh, are we that close? I didn't know."
Eriri also raised an eyebrow.
The law of female repulsion remained unchanged.
"Nishikino, didn't you already play "White Album" before? Topics like this aren't exactly taboo, are they?"
Izumi Chihiro saw Nishikino Maki's expression and felt she was holding back, so he decided to be direct.
"Eh...?"
Her voice trailing, Eriri's strange gaze fell upon her.
"Really? You actually play galgames?"
"There's a reason for that! Because Izumi-kun asked me to compose music, I was a little curious what they were used for. Besides that, I haven't played any other games of this type...!"
Nishikino Maki explained, flustered.
"So, you still played it, didn't you?"
Eriri's smile grew even brighter.
"So what if I played it? It's not bothering you!"
Nishikino Maki simply gave up.
"Wait, why do you know so much about it?"
Suddenly, she realized this very unreasonable point.
"Uh, this... uh, I..."
Eriri was also speechless for a moment.
Lady Sawamura completely forgot that this was also her weakness!
"Oh, I understand...! Sawamura, you..."
Nishikino Maki wasn't stupid. Seeing Eriri's expression, she understood.
Being accustomed to a childhood friend's identity as a light novel author, and having a considerable understanding of "White Album", there must be an unspeakable secret hidden within!
The tables had turned.
"Hmm... this..."
Eriri, under Nishikino Maki's gaze, instead averted her eyes.
The name Kashiwagi Eri really wasn't suitable to be exposed in broad daylight!
Suddenly, the train arrived at the station.
"I'm leaving first!"
Eriri hurriedly left a retreating figure, rushing out of the train.
Nishikino Maki then looked up and met Izumi Chihiro's eyes.
"Don't ask me, I don't know anything."
He spread his hands.
If it were anyone else, he wouldn't mind saying it, but the two of them were currently at odds. If he said it now, Eriri would definitely make him pay for it.
"It doesn't matter..."
Nishikino Maki said softly, "Um, I have a few questions, Izumi, could you...?"
Her expression was slightly shy.
She had already mustered immense courage.
"Of course. If you have time later, feel free to ask anything."
Izumi Chihiro nodded.
After school in the afternoon, the two agreed to meet in the music room. This was only his second time meeting Nishikino there; the last time was already a year ago.
"Um, Izumi-kun, about puella magi madoka magica..."
Nishikino Maki no longer hid her desire to ask questions that had accumulated over several months, asking like a little fan.
Since she had already been exposed, there was no need to be shy anymore.
The questions Nishikino asked were relatively simple, some of which he had even answered during his live streams. However, it was clear that while Nishikino liked puella magi madoka magica, she hadn't paid much attention to these specific details.
Even so, he answered patiently. Whether as his reader or as a friend, this was the appropriate attitude.
"Sorry for wasting your time, Izumi."
After the Q&A session, Nishikino Maki expressed her apologies.
"If you want to apologize, why don't you sing a few songs for me, Nishikino?"
Izumi Chihiro looked up and said slowly.
"...Okay."
Nishikino Maki nodded reluctantly.
It wasn't the first time she had played for him alone, anyway!
"Nishikino, you still remember those two songs from "White Album", right?"
He asked tentatively.
"My memory is quite good."
Nishikino Maki replied.
"Do you want to hear these two?"
"Yes, Nishikino's singing is also quite good, it's a good chance to relive them."
...
Every day we brushed past each other, gradually increasing
Deep down, we always hoped to stay by each other's side
Even if you and I couldn't meet, we never felt lonely
Whether singing or playing, there wasn't a trace of unfamiliarity, suggesting it couldn't have been achieved with just two or three practices. Perhaps on days when he didn't visit, others would pass by and hear the girl's slightly melancholic and moving voice.
Izumi Chihiro temporarily forgot his jumbled thoughts, with only the girl's singing circling in his ears.
In a flash, it reached the end.
"It's over."
Nishikino Maki stopped her fingers.
"Both your singing and playing are excellent, Nishikino! It seems you have great potential to be a school idol!"
Izumi Chihiro opened his eyes and clapped in praise.
"School idol? Like Ogiso? Please, spare me that."
Nishikino Maki shook her head.
Their conversation grew more like that between friends.
"It's getting late, it seems we should head home..."
Izumi Chihiro looked up at the window; the colors of the sunset had already entered his vision.
"Mhm."
Nishikino Maki also nodded.
However, things were a bit awkward now.
The first half of their journey home was exactly the same; they couldn't deliberately avoid each other, could they?
They were friends, after all!
So, the two walked side by side, but maintained a subtle distance, all the way to the train.
Fortunately, at this time, there weren't many people in the school, otherwise, a new rumor might arise tomorrow.
"By the way, does Takasago also know Izumi-kun's other identity?"
In silence, Nishikino Maki suddenly thought of a question.
"Yes."
He replied.
"No wonder Takasago often comes to find you."
At this, Nishikino Maki suddenly understood.
Because she occasionally saw adoration in her eyes, and now it seemed that was entirely the feeling of a fan for an idol!
---
💯 PS = 2 bonus chapter