606 Is It Just Imagination?
"There's nothing to discuss."
Looking up towards the second floor, Nino abandons the idea of continuing to chat with Ren when she sees Ichika in her pink pajamas appearing at the second-floor railing.
"I don't believe it."
Saying this, Ichika walks downstairs.
"You didn't go back to your room to sleep late at night. Instead, you're chatting with Ren-kun in the living room. No matter how you think about it, it's suspicious~"
"Is there something suspicious?"
Nino doesn't want to tell Ichika what she just talked about with Ren.
After all, Ichika is involved.
Moreover, she just got the idea of introducing Ichika to Ren as a girlfriend.
"Could you be discussing some personal topics?" Ichika sits next to Ren, "If that's the case, then I'll disturb you two."
"What personal issues could I discuss with Kamikawa-san?" Nino asks, "He and I are just casually chatting about trivial things as friends."
She and Ren are just friends for now, so she's very sure she's right.
"Then can you take me with you? I also want to join your conversation." Ichika seems very interested in their conversation.
"...Didn't you say during the day that you wanted to sleep earlier and planned to catch up on your sleep?"
After a moment of silence, Nino reminds Ichika very "kindly."
"It's late now, so you should sleep earlier."
"You must be discussing something very secretive."
Her attitude clearly shows that she wants to drive her away.
Seeing Ichika sitting with Ren, Nino sighs, then continues: "When did you become so nosy, Ichika?"
"Wasn't I always like this?" Ichika says quite confidently.
"I'll tell you what I just talked about with Kamikawa-san, but after you listen, you have to give your opinion."
Seeing Ichika still here and not leaving, Nino gets an idea and says with a smile.
"Okay."
Ichika agrees without hesitation.
She's very skilled at this kind of thing.
"Well, let me tell you the truth. I was actually discussing with Kamikawa-san my plan to date someone I like, Kamikawa Naoki."
Nino says this.
"?"
Hearing this, Ichika is stunned for a few seconds, then bursts into laughter.
"Ha ha ha—"
"Why are you laughing?"
Seeing Ichika's strange reaction, Nino is somewhat confused.
"No, no, it's nothing... Ha, ha, I'm just thinking of happy things, right."
Ichika tries to calm down, but she can't, and instead laughs even harder.
Yet, upon closer examination, what Nino said is very normal, and there's nothing funny about it.
But the problem is, Ren is Naoki!
It's just that Nino doesn't know.
Realizing this, hearing Nino's words makes her burst into laughter.
"Really?"
Nino squints her eyes and looks at Ichika suspiciously.
It's hard for her to believe her explanation.
"Of course."
After holding back her smile and answering his question, Ichika asks again, "Nino, did you just discuss with Ren-kun about dating Naoki?"
"On the contrary? If you don't believe it, you can ask Kamikawa-san."
After saying this, Nino winks at Ren, hoping he will cooperate with her and not let this matter be revealed.
So, Ichika turns to Ren, waiting for his answer.
"Yes."
Although Ren doesn't fully understand the meaning of Nino's gaze at him, there shouldn't be a problem if he follows Nino's words.
"Pfft hahaha..."
Ichika's smile, which she finally holds back, returns as she laughs at her words.
Is he serious?
Did Ren really discuss such a thing with Nino?
"Why do you want to discuss such a thing with Ren-kun?"
"Just for reference, Kamikawa-san is a guy, so he can still give a lot of advice on dating plans." Nino lies without changing her expression.
"Let Ren-kun give you advice..."
These words once again make Ichika laugh.
"Ichika, you're acting strange now. Are you hiding something from me?"
Nino looks at Ichika, who is lying on the sofa laughing, and her suspicion of her deepens.
"No, no, nothing at all."
Holding her stomach, Ichika stands up and walks upstairs.
"I feel very sleepy now and need to sleep, so I won't continue chatting with you here."
If she keeps staying here, there will be a big problem, and the truth that Ren is Naoki might be revealed.
"Hey, didn't you just promise to give me advice?"
Nino doesn't let Ichika go so easily.
"Sorry, my bad. I shouldn't have been curious about what you were talking about."
Ichika apologizes very seriously and runs upstairs without looking back.
"What's wrong with Ichika?"
After Ichika's figure completely disappears from her sight, Nino complains.
"Nino, do you really need help giving references?"
Ren is slightly worried about the dating plan that Nino just mentioned.
"No, I'm just fooling Ichika."
Nino didn't expect slow Ren to give him useful advice.
"Okay." Ren nods, then asks, "Then shall we continue chatting?"
"No, it's late. Let's go to bed earlier."
Because of the trouble caused by Ichika just now, Nino loses her mood to ask him for information.
"Okay."
After drinking all the warm water in cup, Ren stands up and walks towards the stairs.
Stopping in front of the stairs, he thinks for a moment and whispers, "Sorry, Nino."
"What's wrong?"
Nino is very surprised by his words.
Ren didn't do anything wrong, did he?
There's no reason to apologize to her, right?
"..."
Ren doesn't know how to answer her question, so he just stays silent.
"What I want to say right now is good night, not sorry."
Seeing him not answering, Nino doesn't pay too much attention and says casually.
"Good night, Nino." Ren says softly.
Nino replies, "Good night, Kamikawa-san."
But she doesn't know if it's just her imagination, she he always feels a bit awkward when Ren just called her "Nino."
Is it just her imagination?
