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"You didn't tell me you'll live with Nanami-san?!" Souda Kazuichi was the first to bring up the topic that Nanami Chiaki forgot to tell the brunette. That must be why the Ultimate Mechanic joined her in fetching her best friend so everyone could eat Hanamura Teruteru's cooking by the courtyard.
"Huh?" Hinata Hajime's eyes widened, peering at the Ultimate Gamer for answers. The reserve course student was tense for a split second before he raised his hand to rest his chin on his fist. Hajime didn't seem to mind the idea of living with Chiaki, playing along with the idea. "Well... Yeah. Why not?"
"Huh? What do you mean, why not?" Kazuichi smacked his friend's back, probably thinking about the societal expectations again. Chiaki noticed Kazuichi upheld the same view as Koizumi Mahiru on the idea of a girl and boy living together after graduation. "This is serious! You can't just live with a girl!"
"Really?" Hajime slightly tilted his head, a habit he surprisingly learned from Chiaki. The gamer ducked her head in embarrassment, recalling Sonia Nevermind teasing her on pointing facts the same way as Hajime. "Don't worry. Our parents are usually away, so there won't be any issue."
'Right. We're alone...' Chiaki forgot about that, recalling one of her free time events with Hajime. They both had busy parents, but Chiaki's parents were on the path of neglect compared to Hajime's tryhard family. Mr. and Mrs. Hinata work hard because they want Hajime to be successful while her parents...? Chiaki isn't close to understanding her parents' motives because she barely talks with them.
"Bro. That's not the point! It'll be weird if one of you gets a partner~!" Kazuichi tugged at his hat, rightfully concerned for them. One of many relevant points to the game of life. If they plan to live together, conflict will emerge once another party enters the scene.
"..." Chiaki chose not to respond, half-heartedly focusing on her Game Girl while the three walked to the courtyard.
"Then, would you stop panicking if Nanami and I got together?" Hajime's words almost made Chiaki trip on a crack, but the brunette grabbed her bag and pulled her back. Chiaki turned to face Hajime, hearing the familiar GAME OVER noise on her game controller as Hajime asked. "What do you think, Nanami?"
"..." Chiaki felt hot, but she refused to show weakness. The gamer adjusted her feet, letting Hajime let go as she moved her body to face the smug teen. Then again, Hajime stepped back, tensing again at the realization that he said some sort of pick-up like in a third-rate novel. However, Chiaki didn't mind the arrangement. Instead, she retaliated with a somewhat rhetorical question. "Aren't we always together, Hinata-kun?"
"Uh.." Hajime is flustered, a pattern mostly found in the first year of their interactions. Chiaki wasn't sure why Hajime stopped acting lovestruck at the start of the second year. That's when she remembered Sternberg's Triangular Theory of Love while studying how to beat dating games. Hajime is no longer infatuated with her, moving on to cement their commitment. The brunette averted his gaze, muttering. "As lovers unless you have someone else in mind?"
"No. Nothing comes to mind," Chiaki states with a period because she isn't the only one desirable in this theoretical relationship. Hajime doesn't notice his admirers because of his lack of self-esteem. The brunette finds himself unworthy of love, but no one has yet to exploit it. No. Maybe there were a couple who attempted, but Hajime failed to notice with the handful of obligations in the reserve course department and pending friendship objectives imposed on him. Chiaki chuckled, seeing Kazuichi's expression, as she closed the deal. "Good. Let's be lovers and live together, Hinata-kun! I will work hard for both of us."
"Eh?" Hajime suddenly realized her intent, but before he could voice a counterattack, someone yelled several feet away.
"What?! Why is Chiaki-chan and Hajime-chan confessing here of all places?!" Mioda Ibuki's exclamation might be the true seal of their status. The Ultimate Musician shared the same horrified expression as the shocked mechanic, making them compatible partners.
"Uhmm... This is bad. What should we do?" Ibuki raised her fingers to rub her temples, coming up with an explanation of the words she heard prior. "Can we even redo confessions?"
"Jeez! This is all your fault, Kaz!" Ibuki pointed at their classmate, accusing the instigator of the last love event. "The vibe here ain't good! Boring with a capital B! The love birds deserve better!"
"M-me?! I did nothing!" Kazuichi defended his innocence while Chiaki looped arms with Hajime, observing the two possible love couples. "I was just asking my soul bro! How should I know this would happen?!"
"You sure about this?" Hajime asked, seeing more of Class 77-B coming over because of the argument.
"I am," Chiaki smiled, curious how Hajime and her admirers would react. 'Oh well.'