Sincerely, Me [Kindaichi Yuutarou] | ✔

Interior Decorating

Shino simply stared up at Najimi as the brown-haired girl did a 'nice-guy' pose, declaring, "And that's how you make the perfect squid balls!" The blonde girl's gaze was not as impassive as usual, and there was a dash of curiosity in her blue eyes.

It was a cloudy Monday morning at Aobajosai, and the students in class 1-5 were enjoying the time they had before their form teacher (who also happened to be their demonic math teacher) arrived, most of them up and about. Shino was sitting at her desk, Najimi sitting on the blonde's desk with Ami, who sat near the front, positioned diagonally across Shino, listening in.

"Maa, maa, Najimi," Ami appeased when she sensed that Najimi was going to start vehemently ranting about how squid balls were the best food in the world. "Some people don't like that much sauce with their squid balls."

"Eh?! Those kinds of people are evil!" Najimi deflected.

Ami immediately wilted, a comical depression cloud forming above her head. "I'm not evil..."

"Argh, I didn't mean you!" Najimi palmed the sides of her head frantically.

Shino's phone buzzed, and the girl shifted her attention from Najimi and Ami to check the text she had received. Yet another photo from Ueno... Somehow, she managed to find the time to take a shot of each Holy Mountain...

Kindaichi, who sat in front of her, turned around in his seat, breaking out of casual conversation with Kunimi. "Is it Ueno-san again? What did she send you this time?"

Shino turned the phone screen to them. "All three Holy Mountains."

Kunimi nodded appreciatively. "Nice. But when did she find the time...?"

Shino shrugged. "Somehow, she always manages to find time for everything." She swiped through her gallery, the first fifteen photos being nature shots from Ueno. "For a lazy bum, she sure enjoys breaking the stereotype and being outdoors."

But Kindaichi wasn't interested in hearing about Ueno's escapades. He seemed to be more invested in Shino's pastel blue phone case. "You know," he started. "Your phone looks pretty plain. Most of the other girls have a phone charm. Why don't you get one?"

"I suppose it never occurred to me," Shino answered honestly, eyeing her phone. While she didn't really care for the appearance of her phone, a little decoration never hurt anybody. "What kind of charm were you thinking of?"

"Maybe something you like?" Kunimi suggested.

"Get a squid ball one!" Najimi interjected, gaining an annoyed look from Kunimi. The two never really did get along after the former accused the latter of being a mechanophile and the latter accused the former of being an idiot. Now, they mostly dealt with their mutual dislike by pointedly ignoring one another as much as they could. But the snark couldn't help but rear its ugly head at times.

"Wasn't asking you," Kunimi grouched. "Troublesome girl."

"Shut up, you nerd, I'm just trying to be helpful."

"Cake," Kindaichi said before his best friend and the upbeat Najimi could get into a hot-and-cold war. "Why don't you get a cake charm?"

"Perhaps..." Shino trailed off, becoming lost in thought.

"Are we still on for rollerskating next week?" Kunimi piped when it became clear that Shino had no more to say on the topic of phone charms. Najimi peeked up with interest at the mention of rollerskating.

"Oh, Najimi, you do ice skating, don't you?" Ami recalled, tapping her chin. She had recovered from her depression cloud. "It's a bit like rollerskating, isn't it?"