"Oh, it's Ino."
Shin greeted her calmly.
"I didn't expect to find you out here, Shin."
Ino replied with a soft smile, strolling over with her hands clasped behind her back. As she walked, her eyes scanned the area.
Kunai and shuriken were scattered across the ground, a few coils of steel wire lay beside them, and the surrounding trees were marked with countless gouges and slashes.
"Training, huh?"
She stopped just in front of him. They were nearly the same height, so meeting each other's gaze came easily.
"Practicing shuriken," Shin said with a nod and a faint smile.
"You're so diligent."
Ino spoke as though the two other girls nearby didn't exist, her attention fixed solely on Shin.
"Um, Ino," Miyuki finally piped up, unable to stay silent any longer.
Ino glanced at them briefly but said nothing.
"We just remembered everyone's probably waiting for us back at the river, so... we'll head out first," Miyuki said with a forced smile.
"Yeah... we'll go now."
With that, she and Nana quickly turned and left, not even bothering to say goodbye to Shin.
Ino didn't acknowledge them not even once.
Their figures faded into the trees.
"Ugh! Damn it, why did Ino have to show up?"
As soon as they were out of sight, Miyuki kicked a nearby tree in frustration, causing the dappled light above to quiver.
"She probably came to look for us," Nana replied with a sigh.
Suddenly, Miyuki turned and glared at her, her eyes filled with fury. Nana flinched.
"Suiwa Nana, what was that all about?"
"What was what?"
"Don't play dumb. Back there with Shin you were trying to get close to him!"
"I just talked to him. We're classmates," Nana retorted, her tone hardening.
"Yeah, right. As if you had good intentions," Miyuki sneered.
"You !"
"Irie Miyuki, you're really not all that," Nana shot back. Her initial anger cooled into sarcasm. "When Ino was around, you didn't dare say a word. And now you're trying to pick a fight with me?"
"You really think a coward like you has a chance with Takamine Shin?"
Miyuki stared her down, eyes dark with rage, her expression cold enough to chill the air.
But Nana didn't back down. She met her gaze, steady and unafraid.
Eventually, Miyuki scoffed and stormed off on her own, leaving Nana alone in the clearing.
"Tch. What's so great about her anyway?" Nana muttered.
"So... what were you talking about with them?"
Ino stood in front of Shin, smiling sweetly. To Shin, she seemed even more troublesome than the last two.
"Nothing much. Just idle talk about class," he replied, his tone flat.
"I see..."
"You're kind to everyone, Shin."
"Am I?"
The corner of Ino's eye twitched slightly. Her smile faded.
"Of course you are. I would know."
"After all, I'm just one of 'everyone,' aren't I?"
"…"
"Ino, was there something you needed from me?" Shin asked, resigned.
"Nope. I came to look for the others and just happened to run into you."
She gave a little shrug and tilted her head innocently.
"Besides, you were chatting with Irie and Suiwa for quite a while. What's wrong? Already tired of talking to me after just a few sentences?"
She smiled again, but it didn't reach her eyes.
"You're joking."
"…"
"…"
Ino gave a small nod and walked past him, hands still behind her back. Her gaze wavered, as if lost in thought.
"You..." she began quietly, but the words didn't come. She hesitated, then stopped herself.
"Hm?"
"...It's nothing."
"…"
She let out a soft, bitter laugh, then turned toward the trail leading out of the forest.
"Ino?" Shin called out as she passed him, a hint of concern in his voice.
She turned slowly, her expression hard to read. Then she smiled again.
"Keep training. I won't bother you. I didn't come here for anything important anyway."
"…"
"There's someone waiting for me back there. I should go."
"See you later, Shin."
She waved lightly before turning around and heading toward the forest's edge.
Shin stood in silence.
Back by the river, Hiyori and Yazu were finishing up the barbecue setup. Suzume was by the water, keeping an eye on the fishing rods.
A figure came rushing out from the woods.
"Irie?" Hiyori looked up, surprised.
Yazu and Suzume also turned toward her.
"Why are you alone?"
"Where are the others?"
"Yeah, what about Ino?"
The boys' questions came one after another, only fueling Miyuki's growing frustration.
She glanced at them but didn't answer. Instead, she turned and began walking along the riverbank without a word.
"Hey, Irie-san, where are you going?"
"What about Ino?" Yazu shouted after her.
Miyuki suddenly stopped in her tracks. She turned back sharply, her face twisted in anger.
"Ino, Ino, always Ino!"
"She's not going to like you!"
Yazu: "???"
"And none of you have a chance either!"
Hiyori: "???"
Suzume: "???"
With that, Miyuki stormed off again, not bothering to look back.
"What... was that all about?" Yazu mumbled in confusion.
"No idea..."
"Did she have a fight with Ino?"
They were all left guessing.
A moment later, another figure emerged from the forest this time, more slowly.
"Suiwa-san?"
Nana scanned the riverside, searching for Miyuki, but she was already gone.
"Suiwa? Where's Irie?" Yazu asked.
"She left. Looked pretty mad, too," he added with a sigh. "Even yelled at me for no reason."
"I see..." Nana lowered her head.
"What exactly happened?" Yazu asked cautiously.
"...Nothing," Nana replied.
"Suiwa-san, what about Ino?"
"Ino?" Nana glanced back toward the forest and pointed.
"She's still in there. With Shin."
"With Shin?"
"You mean Takamine Shin?"
"Takamine Shin?!"
The three boys practically shouted in unison, their eyes wide with disbelief.
They were silent for a beat. Then, Yazu suddenly turned and started heading toward the forest.
Hiyori and Suzume clearly intended to follow.
"Hey!" Nana called after them.
"Don't go!"
"Why not?!" Yazu snapped, unwilling to stop.
"If you go now... you'll just make Ino mad."
"But Shin's there!"
"So what if he is " Nana started to argue, but their reactions made her swallow her words.
"In any case, if you don't want to upset Ino, just stay here," she said firmly.
The boys exchanged uncertain glances. In the end, none of them moved.
"Tch. This sucks," Yazu muttered.
When Ino returned to the river, she saw that the grill had been set up. The boys were preparing to cook the fish, and Nana was sitting by the water, staring blankly at the river.
"Ino! You're back!"
Suzume lit up and quickly stood. Hiyori and Yazu also rushed over as soon as they heard.
"Ino."
"Are you okay?"
"How are you feeling?"
"We've got everything ready."
All their voices piled on at once, and Ino found herself getting irritated.
"Ino..." Nana had noticed the commotion and stood up quickly, looking nervous.
Ino swept her eyes around, realizing that someone was missing.
"Where's Irie Miyuki?" she asked.
"She left already. Seemed pretty upset," Yazu said.
"What happened?" he asked again, this time more cautiously.
Ino shot him a look, and he immediately shut up. She turned to Nana, who said nothing, only pressing her lips together.
"Don't worry about her. Just do what you're supposed to."
"Ino, I caught four fish!"
"Mm."
"I built the grill!"
"Mm."
"We did it together, though!"
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