F-... Fine... [She looked at her starstruck, a familiar shyness making her shrink.]

[Come the corner and Nature would take the bait, keeping her position in check by heading inwards. Perhaps not the best position to make a move...] Soon... [Something she muttered to herself. Everything felt right on this run so far. And now Nature was ready to make a move.]

... [Nature felt silent for a moment.] D... Do you wanna have that talk now? I... I-I'm afraid... I'm really afraid... Of what I'm gonna say...

Mm... O-Okay~... [She smiles shyly, bringing herself in a little closer.]

Yes we are! I... I wanna be your friend! [Her ears flop down, trying to see her eye to eye.] But I'm so hopeless. I-I only know what I know... [Sniffle.] Y-You look at me with those eyes and I wanna be better... But I can't possibly be the "Nature-sensei" you need me to be...

If I had a notebook to write down every time I have told you I love you without saying the words, I would have run out of pages by now.

First, I need to sleep. Second, I wanna go out. A fun outing together... Now that we're... A-Alone... [And they'd also be right now. It made the girl blush even harder.]

...Hic.... I-I feel like I've been lying to you all the time... I'm sorry... [Doing her best to hold back tears, she hugs Kita-san as tightly as she could.] I really w-wanna be better...

[Pulling back from the hug, Nature rubbed an eye with her hand.] ...K-Kita-san, thank you. Thank you... For trusting me, for being my friend, for being so honest... I really mean it. [She smiles a little bit, looking down in embarassment.]

...Let's... C-Cuddle together. [A smile on her face.] You said no night training, so I get my hugs instead...

[She shakes her head lightly, ears perking back up before patting Kita-san's head.] P-Pretty sure I'm the biggest dummy between us, don't worry...

Agh... I want it, I really do... [The girl smiles awkwardly, scratching the back of head while taking her partner's hand with another.] I-I just wanna make sure what happened during summer doesn't happen again... So maybe not this time...

[A peck to her cheek, gaining a little confidence back.] ...You tell me, ehe~.

//🥉OOC Eepy returning, gonna have to tap out for a lil 😴