Entrance of the gymnasium.

The wind roared, carrying the loud slogans of the Track and Field Club from the playground.

Aozawa left the school building, not yet at the entrance, but already saw Hojo Shouko standing there from afar.

She was wearing Brilliant High School's uniform, but the impression was somewhat different from usual.

The short skirt, which should have covered her knees, was lifted, much of it hidden under the white shirt, appearing unnoticeable from the front.

The bulging curve of the chest made Hojo Shouko's abdomen look a bit chubby.

The shirt couldn't adhere to the flesh of the belly, naturally covering the skirt's color.

But it wasn't the same from the side.

The white shirt closely hugged the water-blue pleated skirt, releasing a subtle allure into the air.

"Shouko, aren't you cold without a jacket?"

Aozawa approached, a hint of concern flashing on his face.

Hojo Shouko returned to her senses, shook her head, and said, "It's fine, my body is very strong now, and the weather isn't too cold.

Aozawa-senpai, I'd like you to help with organizing some equipment from the sports warehouse this time."

"No trouble at all, you can always ask me for help with this kind of physical work."

Aozawa patted his chest, feeling somewhat perplexed.

Normally, when organizing these things, Hojo Shouko should be acting alone; it wouldn't be necessary to ask him for help.

Now, asking for his help and having Iroha provide a cover, such unusual behavior.

It couldn't help but make Aozawa wonder if she intended to enact a locked-room scenario in the sports warehouse?

No, it couldn't be...

Thinking about Hojo Shouko's personality, Aozawa felt his previous thoughts were too mature.

Shouko has always been well-behaved; she couldn't possibly do such a thing.

Aozawa suppressed his thoughts and followed Hojo Shouko towards the side of the gymnasium.

There was a sports warehouse resembling a single-story building.

In the afternoon, the green tiles on top of the sports warehouse glistened in the sunlight.

Motley shadows of trees fell on the walls like inseparable friends.

Hojo Shouko took out the key, unlocked, and opened the sports warehouse door, its width barely enough for one person to enter, allowing Natsuka Yanagimachi to close the door.

The inside of the warehouse looked quite chaotic.

Some sports equipment meant for the shelves were all lying on the ground.

There were also skipping ropes placed on the wooden gym horse meant for jumping.

Such a cluttered scene hardly looked like normal use by students.

There were signs of deliberate mischief.

Aozawa wondered to himself and looked at the narrow door.

Hojo Shouko didn't rush inside, afraid that he might open the door on his way in, "Aozawa-senpai, you go in first."

"Okay."

Aozawa stepped into the sports warehouse.

The air carried a cool freshness as Hojo Shouko followed in, the door remaining narrow.

She felt her heart racing, as if someone were furiously beating a war drum.

Hojo Shouko said tremulously, "Aozawa-senpai, let's start organizing."

"Alright."

Aozawa didn't probe for the underlying reason, just feeling parched, with the air becoming increasingly suggestive.

The situation was leaning more towards the possibility he had imagined.

He had no mind to organize sports equipment, merely picking them up instinctively.

His thoughts were chaotic.

Aozawa couldn't help but glance sideways.

Hojo Shouko was bending over to pick up balls from the floor, the curve of the short skirt reminding him of a juicy summer peach.

Below, legs clad in shiny black stockings, unlike stick-thin legs, Shouko's legs weren't too thick nor too thin, just the right proportions, quite attractive.

Just a bit higher!

Aozawa swallowed, unbothered by the dim environment affecting his vision.

But Hojo Shouko was merely picking up the balls normally, not deliberately enticing.

Therefore, the skirt didn't reveal the blue and white beneath.

Hojo Shouko, too tense to notice Aozawa's gaze, was counting down in her mind, wanting to know when Natsuka Yanagimachi would close the door.

However, while the two were inside, outside Natsuka Yanagimachi suddenly closed the door and then walked away as if nothing happened.

This move was too obvious, wasn't it?

Hojo Shouko wondered.

She felt that this way seemed no different from directly stating it.

Why did Natsuka and Senior Takahashi think this method was more subtle?

As she was lost in thought, Natsuka Yanagimachi, who was lurking outside, had already rushed forward, quickly shut the barely open warehouse door, and secured the latch, "Oh, Shouko really slipped up, leaving the sports warehouse door unclosed."

Saying this, Natsuka Yanagimachi quickly ran away.

...

Even though it was daytime, the sports warehouse had very small windows.

Once the door was closed, the interior was instantly draped in a thin veil of darkness.

Hojo Shouko hurriedly ran forward, pretending to try opening the door, naturally without any movement, turned her head, and said, "Aozawa-senpai, it seems we've been locked in here and can't get out.

I didn't bring my phone with me."

As she finished speaking, she lightly bit her lower lip, trying to keep her face calm, but her bright apricot eyes were full of tension.

She wasn't good at lying.

The emotions she normally kept hidden were now exposed due to her lie.

Aozawa found it quite endearing.

The two Treasure Users were locked inside the sports warehouse, unable to get out.

This kind of thing that would only be seen as a joke online had become a reality at this moment.

"Yes, being locked inside means we can't get out."

Aozawa replied with a straight face, understanding Shouko's intentions.

He stepped forward.

The faint sound of footsteps echoed loudly in the silent sports warehouse.

Hojo Shouko leaned against the door, her wildly pounding heart almost ready to leap from her chest.

She felt her legs going weak.