Two days until the release!!
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"Akito! You're always doing such reckless things... making excuses to Sanzenin-sensei was a real pain, you know!"
"I-I'm sorry..."
While we were relaxing and playing games at Ryũya's house, Riran arrived after school.
And so, I was currently sitting in seiza in front of Riran.
Ryũya and Neika were watching with smirks on their faces. Stop looking over here.
"And Neika, I made an excuse for your part too. I said Kurashiki's condition took a turn for the worse."
"Really!? Ehehe, thanks, Rira!"
Riran stood there with her arms crossed, looking quite huffy.
Even so, she's a good person for properly making an excuse for Neika as well.
"Nishishi. Look at you getting scolded."
"Kurashiki! In the first place, this happened because you were moping around!"
"Y-Yes ma'am..."
Yeah, yeah, it's all your fault.
Even Ryũya seemed to be reflecting, as he shrank back under Riran's glare. Pupu, serves you right.
"So, did you finish making up?"
"Yeah, perfectly."
"Hey, hey, hey! From now on, Akito and I are best friends again!"
"Get off me, you're suffocating."
"Akito's so harsh~"
Stop putting your arm around my shoulder. Don't poke my cheek.
Riran put down my and Neika's bags, and then opened her mouth as if she just remembered something.
"Oh, right, Akito. The Principal said he wants an answer about that matter soon."
"That matter?"
"The pamphlet model offer."
Ah, I forgot.
That's right, he did say they wanted to do the photoshoot in October.
It'll be October in a few days. Timing-wise, it's about that time.
"What's this? Akky and the others are going to be pamphlet models?"
"Yeah. For next year's school pamphlet."
"I can see it for Akito and Kuonji. They've got those Dark Scarlet threads, they look great together."
Ryũya and Neika nodded in agreement.
It's true that we're connected by Dark Scarlet threads. It's a rare color, with only a few cases confirmed in history.
But Ryũya and Neika are also connected by red threads.
It felt a bit off for only us to be the pamphlet models...
………….
"Alright, I'll take the pamphlet model job."
"Understood. Then I'll tell the Principal—"
"In exchange, I have a condition."
"...A condition?"
Riran tilted her head, and Ryũya and Neika also looked at me with suspicious eyes.
"Well, I'll talk to the Principal directly about the condition."
"...Alright. I'll leave it to you then."
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A few days later. Sunday, October 3rd.
Riran and I visited the school on our day off for the pamphlet photoshoot.
And along with us, there were three other people.
"Why are we here too?"
"No idea. Akky said it was his condition for accepting."
"I understand Kurashiki-kun and Neika-san, but why me too?"
Yes. It was Ryũya, Neika, and Rion.
The condition I set was that Ryũya and Neika would be in it too.
Ryũya and Neika are also tied together by the red thread of fate. It wouldn't be fair if we were the only ones being photographed.
Besides, they're my best friends, and I wanted to leave behind some memories if we're doing this anyway.
The condition Riran added after hearing mine was that Rion should be in it too.
Of course, the Principal readily agreed.
In fact, he said it was perfect because he needed extras anyway.
First, we took photos inside the school building in front of a photographer the Principal had arranged.
To capture the feeling of a break period, we gathered in the hallway.
"Hey, hey, I'm getting a little nervous."
"So you actually understand the concept of being nervous."
"Akito, what do you think I am? I'm a delicate soul, you know."
"I know that all too well."
"As expected of my best friend, you know everything about me!"
"Don't you dare forget what happened the other day."
This guy has such a convenient brain.
"Ooh, this is looking good. Ah, Sanada-kun, a little more smi~le, smi~le."
"...Yes sir."
I received instructions from the Principal, who was accompanying us.
S-Smi~le...
"Pfft. Akito, your face is so stiff."
"I-I can't help it. I don't exactly do fake smiles often."
"Fufu. Then, how about this?"
With that, Riran clung to my arm.
I involuntarily widened my eyes.
Riran said nothing and just smiled.
Looking at her like that, I couldn't help but smile too.
"Great! That's it, Sanada-kun, Kuonji-san!"
"Mu! Ryũya, we can't lose to them!"
"You bet!"
"Oooooh! Kurashiki-kun and Jūmonji-san are also wonderful!"
"Riran-chan, shall we take a photo together too?"
"Yes, Rion."
"Kuonji-san and Ryūguūbi-san are woooooooooondeeeeeeeeeerfuuuuuuuuuuuuuul!!!!"
The Principal's energy is way too high!