An Introvert's Hookup Hiccups: This Gyaru Is Head Over Heels for Me! Volume 3

pensive. As a gift, a necklace seemed far less loaded with meaning than a ring did.

That was why I was taking advantage of my time alone, to come to the mall and gather the materials. However...

“Isn’t this cute, Nanami-san?” I called when I wasn’t thinking. Damn it—I’m here alone! Now I’ve made myself look like a weirdo. That was a perfect ten for creepiness.

From that point on, I did my best not to say anything out loud, but no matter what I saw or touched, my thoughts trailed back to Nanami-san. Is this because I’m thinking of a gift for her?

After that, I managed to buy the materials that spoke to me, making sure to get some extra, just in case. I walked around the mall while Nanami-san texted me from time to time, but...I don’t know, I just couldn’t seem to calm down. Something didn’t feel right.

“I feel lonely,” I said out loud. It was my own muttering that made me realize my predicament. Oh, I get it. I’m lonely. I was lonely because Nanami-san wasn’t with me.

I mean, the whole time from Saturday until that morning, I’d been together with Nanami-san. With her suddenly gone, of course I’d feel a sense of loss. The feeling was unfamiliar, so it had taken me a while to realize what it was. Given just how much I’d changed, I was in no position to say anything about Shibetsu-senpai.

Was this a good change, though?

With my purchases stashed away in my bag, I sat down on a mall bench and looked up at the ceiling. Nanami-san had messaged me, saying she’d finished her meeting with the girls and that she was heading over to meet me.

Seeing that message, I muttered to myself again, this time consciously. “Nanami-san... I can’t wait to see her.”

In response came the voice I’d been waiting to hear—the voice I hadn’t been expecting to hear yet at all.

“Me too! I couldn’t wait to see you, so I rushed over.”

When I looked in surprise toward the direction of the voice, I saw Nanami-san standing there together with Otofuke-san and Kamoenai-san