Chapter 8: November — The Birthday

“Happy birthday, Tsumugi-san.
Present for you!”
When he opened the small box to show her, a necklace with a cat charm dangling from it gleamed dully.

She couldn’t help but gaze at it—and before she knew it, her fingers had reached out.
“Eh? Is it okay? Isn’t it expensive?”
She had fallen for it at first sight.
Just one more word—depending on Shingo’s reply, she was ready to hang it around her neck at any moment.

“Of course. It’s a present, after all.
Besides, I made it myself, so it’s not expensive.
If you like it, that makes me happy too.”
He smiled brightly.
In his line of sight was the first smile she had ever shown him.

“You’re amazing, you know.

This is really cute.”

She hung the necklace around her neck, pinched the little cat ornament between her fingers, and gazed at it in admiration.

“It has GPS, so if anything happens to you, Tsumugi-san, I’ll come running right away!”
Clenching his fist tightly, Shingo showed his resolve with a posed face.

“Eh? Really?”
Still stunned, she finally forced out her voice.
Shingo, keeping that posed face, gave a small nod.

“…I’m giving it back.”
Her voice made no attempt to hide her disappointment.
Quietly, she took the necklace from around her own neck and hung it around Shingo’s.

“Why? You liked it, didn’t you?”
He spread his arms wide as he asked, but without a pause, she shouted,
“It’s because of that stupid extra function! Idiot!”

“Ugh, it was so cute, too…”
Turning her back to Shingo, Tsumugi headed toward the classroom.
Her back looked a little smaller than usual.