Although they hadn't known each other long, Hasabe Haruka could feel that Sakura Airi was the type of person who was extrely poor at socializing. Thus, she thought of using this thod to close the distance with Airi and reduce the pressure in the other girl's heart.
"Using nicknas can wait a step; Airi-chan, you at least have to address us by our given nas!"
Haruka pointed a slender, fair finger toward Sakura Airi.
"It was 'Ai-chan' just a second ago, and now it's 'Airi-chan.' You're just doing whatever you want," Katsuragi Keima muttered a small retort from the side.
Hearing Haruka's words, Airi could only nod sowhat blankly. Mustering all the strength in her body, she managed:
"Ha... Ha... Ha... Hasabe Haruka-san!"
After saying the na, Airi felt as if she had exhausted every bit of energy in her entire body; her whole being went a bit limp. However, in her heart, she was happy. This was the first ti she had addressed soone by their given na.
"Good job, Ai-chan!"
"Is it back to Ai-chan again?"
"From now on, you have to at least address the rest of us by our given nas!"
Hearing Haruka's words, Airi nodded, but her gaze instinctively landed on Keima's face.
'Address Katsuragi-kun by his given na?'
Airi's brain whirled at high speed, constantly imagining such a scene.
...%&
Her brain felt like it was overloading, nearly emitting smoke, and her cheeks were so red they seed ready to explode. Airi quickly lowered her head, burying her face in her hands.
"Ai-chan, are you okay?"
"I... I... I'm fine..." Airi finally took a deep breath, adjusted her state, and looked up again. "I—I understand! Hi... Hiyori-san... Elsie-san... Ke... Ke... Ke..."
Before she could finish, Airi's head overheated again, and it slamd onto the table like a ball.
"Ai-chan?"
"Maybe Airi-san worked too hard studying just now! Let her rest for a bit!" Elsie said from the side.
"Alright then—that just leaves one person!" Haruka's gaze moved to Keima's face.
"Have rcy on , you—"
"Ma-kun? How about Ma-kun?"
"It's very 'not how about'!" Keima sighed helplessly. Since Hasabe Haruka joined the study group, the atmosphere had undergone a very obvious change. It was developing in a strange direction!
"Haru-chan! Nii-sama actually has a dedicated nickna!" Right then, Elsie looked toward Haruka with a serious face.
"What?" Haruka asked curiously.
Shiina Hiyori's gaze focused on Elsie's face, and even Sakura Airi, who was nearly losing consciousness, turned her head slightly to aim her ear in that direction.
"Wait a minute, wait a minute!" Keima seed to realize what was coming.
"The God of Conquest!!!" Elsie shouted out Keima's nickna with imnse pride.
"..."
The mont Keima heard the voice, he pulled out his handheld and started playing.
'I can't hear anything! I can't hear anything!' Although Keima always referred to himself as the God of Conquest, having Elsie shout that na so proudly in front of outsiders was truly embarrassing.
"Haha, I know that na," Shiina Hiyori said with a smile.
"Oh?"
"After all, Katsuragi-kun—sorry, should I be calling him Keima-kun now? Keima's online handle is 'God'!"
Hiyori was also completely inexperienced in this regard. Although she felt shy deep down, under Haruka's lead, she was gradually adapting. Addressing those close to her by their given nas was actually sothing Hiyori wanted to do.
She just never knew how to express her thoughts; after all, though she was better off than Sakura Airi, Hiyori's social skills were still lower than those of an average person.
"So you gave yourself the nickna 'God'? It really fits your style!" As Haruka spoke, she pressed her hands together and nodded toward Keima. "An, Amitabha... bless , God."
"..."
-
-
-
After Haruka joined, the study group's atmosphere beca even more relaxed. However, calling it "studying" was a stretch; half the ti was spent chatting. The nervous tension in Airi's heart eased considerably.
"Then let's call it a day for now. Tomorrow and the day after are the weekend, so there won't be a study session."
The ti was about up, and Keima prepared to leave. Beside him, Airi instantly beca serious again.
'A-After the study session ends, I'll find Katsuragi-kun alone to give him the gift!'
After managing to say Hasabe Haruka's na earlier, Airi felt for a mont as if she had grown once again. Perhaps she should use this surge of courage to give the gift.
But, but... but! How should she address him? Was she really, really, really going to use the na "Keima"? At the thought of this, Airi's cheeks flushed red again, and her body trembled slightly.
'I must... I must speak up!'
While Airi was still trying to ta her own brain, Shiina Hiyori walked up to Keima's side:
"Keima, do you have plans for later?"
Hiyori's voice also seed a bit nervous; compared to her usual slow pace, she was speaking a bit faster this ti.
"What's up?"
"I tried the ga you recomnded yesterday, and it's truly wonderful! This is the first ti I've encountered this sort of thing... It gave an experience outside of reading books!"
When talking about related topics, Hiyori's expression beca exceptionally serious again. Today was her first ti trying a ga, and it provided a very special feeling. Hiyori couldn't wait to share it with Keima, just as she used to want to discuss an interesting novel with fellow book lovers. In this school, Hiyori didn't have any book friends. But if it was gas, it was different. Discussing plots and sharing insights—Hiyori loved doing such things.
"Would you like to go to the school cafe later and have a coffee together? I also have so questions about the ga I'd like to ask you."
"Ugh..." Hearing Hiyori's words, a small whimper escaped from the depths of Airi's throat.
"Sorry, Hiyori." At that mont, Keima pushed up his glasses. "I have other arrangents tonight."
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