My deskmate is actually my yandere reader.

He merely glanced at the other person, left a single sentence, and departed without looking back.

When I arrived at the Animal Research Department, Shiraishi Chire and Inari Yuki were sitting at the birchwood table by the window, enjoying tea, reading, and playing games.

Kurose Izumi took out the school uniform she had put away, left the Animal Research Club, went to the restroom to change her clothes, and then returned.

He walked to the square table, pulled out a chair, plopped down, and then collapsed onto the table as if completely exhausted.

"I'm so tired..."

Kurose Izumi let out a weary sigh.

"Is it really that tiring?" Shiraishi Chiren closed her book, looked up at Kurose Izumi, and asked with a smile.

"Isn't that obvious? Working at such a high intensity for three hours straight is bound to be tiring!"

How busy are you asking?

Kurose Izumi didn't even have time to go to the toilet, as she was constantly busy receiving guests!

"Would you like me to give you a massage?" Shiraishi Chiren asked with a smile. "My technique is surprisingly good, you know?"

"Ok?"

Upon hearing this, Kurose Izumi immediately looked up, but upon seeing Shiraishi Chire's smiling face, she immediately abandoned the idea of ​​having her massaged.

She's probably plotting something wicked!

For example, like the massage Shiraishi Chire received during her previous imprisonment.

Although it was indeed very comfortable and the technique was quite proper, it became very vulgar when paired with the words she said!

"Come on, just lie there like that."

Ignoring whether Kurose Izumi wanted it or not, Shiraishi Chiren stood up on her own, walked behind him, and stretched out her hands.

"Stop messing around, I don't want your massage!" Kurose Izumi shrank back warily.

"Don't worry, I won't do anything strange. And if I do, you can fight back, right?"

"...That seems to be true, then go ahead and press it."

Kurose Izumi remained silent for a while, thought about it carefully, and felt that what he said made sense, so he agreed.

Besides, Inari Yuki is right there.

Shiraishi Chiren would at least consider the feelings of outsiders, right?

"Then close your eyes and try to feel it with your heart."

Upon hearing this, Kurose Izumi obediently closed her eyes and lay on the table like a salted fish.

Then he felt a pair of hands on his shoulders, gently kneading them.

At the same time, a gentle voice lingered in my ears: "Relax, don't be so tense, your shoulders are so stiff."

"Wow wow wow..."

Inari Yuki, who was sitting opposite the two, immediately covered her eyes with her two small hands upon seeing this scene.

But from Izumi Kurose's perspective, Inari Yuki's small hand opened slightly wider.

'Is he a repressed pervert?'

He muttered to himself.

After that, Shiraishi Chiren did not do anything strange, nor did she tease Kurose Izumi.

After all, Inari Yuki is here.

Save the flirting for when you get home.

Time passed quietly, and when Izumi Kurose casually turned her head to look out the window, the sky had already turned dusky.

thump—

The melodious chimes rang out at the right time, announcing the end of the first day of the cultural festival.

"Come on, go home."

Kurose Izumi closed the book, put it back on the shelf, and then washed the tea utensils.

The other two also started packing.

At the school gate, they parted ways and went their separate ways.

Holding hands, walking home, Shiraishi Chiren suddenly said, "Izumi, I have a surprise for you."

"Hmm? A surprise?" Kurose Izumi looked puzzled. "Aren't surprises given as gifts? Why are you telling me?"

"Why can't a surprise be a notification?"

"...Okay, stop fooling around, tell me, what surprise is it?"

Kurose Izumi pondered for a moment, "If 'surprise' means something like that, could it be that I'm pregnant?"

'No, no, no, how could that be!'

He shook his head violently, trying to stop himself from overthinking it.

But what Shiraishi Chiren said next really surprised him...

"We'll be performing on stage together tomorrow, okay?"

Kurose Izumi stopped abruptly, staring in astonishment at the smiling Shiraishi Chiren, and asked, "Perform? What do you mean?"

"Of course it means the literal meaning. Izumi wouldn't be that stupid, would he?"

"No, no, no! I mean—what's a performance?!"

"Then let me explain, yesterday..."

Afterwards, Shiraishi Chiren gave a brief explanation about the performance.

The gist of it is: Shiraishi Chiren and Komi Megumi applied to perform on stage temporarily—along with Kurose Izumi.

The performance consisted of musical acts; she played the violin, and Izumi Kurose played the piano.

"...You really gave me a surprise." Kurose Izumi sighed softly and gave a helpless bitter smile.

Now that things have come to this, how can he not go on stage?

"Hmph, is it wrong for me to create more memories with Izumi?"

"...Okay, but could you discuss it with me first next time?"

"Good~"

And so, the two of them started walking again, returning together to their home.

-

The next day, at 7:40 a.m.

Kurose Izumi and Shiraishi Chiren entered the animation club, put down their bags, and sat down at the birchwood table.

Since it was still early, there were only the two of them in the office.

"Speaking of which, haven't we gone on a date in a while?" Kurose Izumi said casually, brewing two cups of black tea.

After thinking for a moment, Shiraishi Chiren replied, "It's been about half a month."

"So, where should we go for fun this weekend?"

"I'll do whatever you say," Shiraishi Chiren replied with a smile.

"Hmm...it's autumn now, I think it would be better to go see the maple leaves?"

"However, there aren't many places to see autumn leaves nearby, so we might have to go to a city in the surrounding area."

"Well, if you're not interested in seeing the autumn leaves or think it's too far, then let's consider something else?"

Kurose Izumi kept talking about her plan to herself, but it sounded more like rambling.

He was undecided and didn't know how to arrange his itinerary.

Shiraishi Chiren propped her cheek with her hand, gazing at him quietly until he finished speaking before saying, "Anything I do with you is always interesting."

"...That's a foul of you to say."

Where was the foul committed?

"Wait a moment."

Kurose Izumi didn't answer her question. Instead, she got up, went to the door, closed it, and locked it from the inside.

Then, he walked up to Shiraishi Chiren, cupped her face in his hands, and slowly lowered his head.

"Um……"

Shiraishi Chiren obediently closed her eyes and responded to him, murmuring softly.

"It's the kind of foul that makes me feel that urge."

After a brief entanglement and exchange, Kurose Izumi separated from her, his breathing slightly rapid.

"..."

Shiraishi Chiren silently raised her head, her eyes slightly moist.

And so they gazed at each other in silence, yet a tender atmosphere lingered between them.

"not enough."

After a while, Shiraishi Chiren scolded softly, then suddenly stood up and hugged his neck.

"Huh—?!"

Kurose Izumi was taken aback by the sudden attack, but she accepted it until she was satisfied.

……

"call……"

Kurose Izumi let out a long sigh of relief, opened the door, and felt a sweet warmth in her heart.

In contrast, Shiraishi Chiren wore a pleasant smile, her face flushed slightly.

"Thank you for your hospitality, Quan."