"Senpai, I didn't think you had the willpower to train at night, but it seems you're trying to improve, huh?"

Nagatoro said in her cheerful voice, tilting her head slightly and looking at me with her golden eyes glowing in the moonlight. I swallowed and tried to reply firmly, but felt a bit nervous.

"Uh... yeah, I just wanted to work out a little."

She took a step closer, placing her hands on her hips as she smiled confidently.

"Heh. Is it because you want to get stronger so you stop being so weak in front of me?"

My face flushed a little. This girl always knew how to get on my nerves, but I realized she wasn't just teasing—she was enjoying our time together. I looked at her sweating after her workout, her long black hair sticking to her neck and her face glistening under the dim light. Gathering my courage, I took a deep breath.

"Nagatoro... I really like spending time with you."

I didn't expect her facial expression to change so quickly. For once, she didn't have her usual sly smile, instead, there was a look of tension and surprise on her face. Then suddenly, she smiled a soft smile that was different from her usual.

"Senpai... do you realize that you come across as cute when you're trying to be serious?"

She leaned closer, until there was almost no distance between us, then she whispered in a low voice,

"If you like spending time with me... then maybe you should spend more time with me from now on, right? Oh, I forgot, Senpai. I want to show you something really exciting. Do you want to see? If your answer is yes, let's go somewhere more private so I can show it to you, Senpai?"