COTE: Horikita Is My Childhood Sweetheart

Chapter 137: please lend me your shoulder

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The smile Rin offered to Ichinose was both handsome and gentle, like a ray of sunlight breaking through dark clouds. It warmed her heart, filling her with a profound sense of peace.

With a slight sway of her body, Ichinose Honami softly rested her arm on Rin's shoulder.

"Matsuoka-san, can I borrow your shoulder for a moment?"

"Yes, of course," Rin replied.

His response made Ichinose close her blue eyes, which had been tinged with shyness and unease. She leaned her head lightly against Rin's shoulder, her senses filled with the serene aura emanating from him.

As she rested against him, her soft pink hair naturally draped over his body. A few playful strands fell on Rin's neck, causing a faint tickling sensation.

"Ichinose," Rin said softly.

"Yes?" Ichinose replied with her eyes still closed, her voice gentle.

"Don't share the story about the hairpin too freely. If the wrong people learn about your past, they might use it to threaten or manipulate you," Rin advised.

"I won't tell anyone."

But you, Rin-san, are the exception.

The only exception.

"Besides," she added, "everyone at this school seems kind. There wouldn't be anyone bad enough to threaten me over something like this, right?"

"Not exactly. Take the vice president of the student council. He caused trouble for me before, bringing a group of people with him."

"If he knew about your past, he would certainly try to use it against you," Rin said, his tone serious.

Ichinose would soon be joining the student council alongside Matsuoka. Before she encountered the yellow-haired, playboy scoundrel Nagumo, Rin wanted to instill in her the importance of caution and vigilance.

"Well, that vice president does seem like a bad guy," she admitted.

"Exactly. So, bad people do exist in this school. Ichinose, you should keep your secrets to yourself."

"All right, all right. I'll remember that," she said, her tone playful yet sincere.

Ichinose, still leaning on Rin's shoulder, smiled brightly. It was clear that Rin's words of concern had made her happy.

But seeing her carefree smile, one couldn't help but wonder if she had truly taken his warning to heart.

As she rested on Rin's shoulder, her expression was serene, exuding a rare tranquility. The atmosphere between them was warm and peaceful, as though the rest of the world had faded away.

However, this tranquil moment was disrupted when Kanzaki and Shibata emerged from a nearby path, having just finished their lunch.

The two spotted Ichinose leaning against Rin's shoulder. Their eyes immediately locked with Rin's.

"..." Shibata froze in place, stunned.

"..." Kanzaki maintained a composed expression, though his gaze lingered.

Rin met their stares silently. Ichinose, oblivious to the situation, remained nestled against his shoulder, completely unaware of the outside world. All she felt was the support and comfort Rin provided.

Shibata, on the other hand, felt his secret crush shatter before it had even begun to bloom.

Earlier, when he and Kanzaki had seen Ichinose and Rin chatting and laughing as they entered the restaurant together, it only hinted at a close friendship—not necessarily a romantic relationship.

But now...

Now, Ichinose was leaning on this boy's shoulder, her expression radiating happiness.

Even if Shibata wanted to convince herself that Ichinose and Rin were just ordinary friends, she couldn't. The sight before her made that impossible.

Rin recognized the two students—they were Kanzaki and Shibata, both from Class B in their first year, the same class as Ichinose Honami.

"Um, good afternoon, both of you," Rin greeted politely.

"Good afternoon," Kanzaki responded calmly.

"...Hello to you too," Shibata replied, tears welling up in her eyes. "We'll leave now and won't disturb your date."

Although Shibata had a crush on Ichinose, upon realizing that she seemingly had a boyfriend—Rin—he resolved to silently wish her happiness.

Well, the people in Class B really are little angels, Rin thought.

The sound of Rin's conversation with Kanzaki and Shibata caused Ichinose's long eyelashes to tremble slightly before she opened her eyes.

"…"

Upon seeing her classmates, Kanzaki and Shibata, Ichinose's fair face immediately turned a charming shade of pink.

Flustered, she quickly lifted her head from Rin's shoulder.

"Um...ah, haha, you two are here at the mall too? Buying things? What a coincidence," Ichinose stammered, her face flushed.

"Um…"

"Matsuoka-san, it's getting late. I'll take my leave now!"

"Yeah," Rin replied with a smile, amused by her shy and hurried demeanor. "Take care, Ichinose."

"Okay."

Ichinose gave a shy smile, waved at Kanzaki and Shibata, and quickly said goodbye before hurrying off.

The idea of her classmates seeing her leaning on Rin's shoulder was something Ichinose had never experienced before. Embarrassed, she wanted to escape their sight as quickly as possible.

Kanzaki watched her retreating figure before turning his gaze to Rin, who remained seated on the bench.

"Matsuoka-san, sorry for disturbing you," Kanzaki said politely.

"There's no need to apologize for this," Rin replied, shaking his head.

In fact, Kanzaki and Shibata's arrival had been a great help. Rin had been unsure how to end his time with Ichinose Honami gracefully.

It wasn't that he disliked her leaning on him—on the contrary, he quite enjoyed her softness and the subtle scent she carried. However, the time was already 12:47, leaving only thirteen minutes until his meeting with Karuizawa. Rin didn't want to let Karuizawa down and had been struggling to find a way to say goodbye to Ichinose.

Fortunately, Kanzaki and Shibata had inadvertently solved this dilemma, as their appearance prompted Ichinose to leave in a flurry of shyness and embarrassment.

After exchanging farewells with Kanzaki and Shibata, Rin stood and began walking toward the entrance of the shopping mall.

"Shibata, let's go. Didn't you say you wanted to check out the video game store for a while?" Kanzaki asked.

"No, forget it. Let's just head back to the dorms and sleep... ," Shibata replied, heartbroken.

"...Okay," Kanzaki agreed with a sigh.

Feeling dejected, Shibata left Keyaki Shopping Center alongside Kanzaki.

Rin arrived at the mall's entrance and sat on a bench under the shade of a beech tree. Closing his eyes, he waited patiently for Karuizawa Kei to arrive.

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