Jealousy

"Jealousy" (嫉妬) is a short story from Melon Books' store privilege for volume 9 of 2nd Year arc of You-Zitsu light novel series, together with the other three short stories.

Summary
Ichinose is in a state of nervousness and embarrassment as she takes a brief respite from her conversation with Ayanokouji and Mako. She uses the excuse of hydrating herself to step away momentarily. Despite being accustomed to 30-minute workout sessions and usually handling them with ease, this time she's experiencing an unusual amount of sweat and a heightened heart rate. She attributes these physical reactions to her earlier conversation with Mako.

Mako had unexpectedly commented on Honami's bold appearance, and this remark caught Honami off guard. She hadn't realized how she looked, and this realization left her feeling exposed and self-conscious. Her intentions may have been to offer assistance, but it had the opposite effect on Honami. She ended up dedicating her entire focus to the treadmill for a full 30 minutes to distract herself from her embarrassment making her sweat more.

Afterward, as she prepares to return to the gym, Honami reflects on her feelings. She acknowledges the gym session ahead and intends to concentrate solely on her training to overcome her unease. However, as she observes Ayanokouji and Mako engaging in lively conversation and seemingly enjoying each other's company, Honami's unease deepens. She notices that their interaction flows naturally, suggesting they've grown closer since the school trip.

Honami's emotions become increasingly restless, and she can't shake off the unpleasant sensations enveloping her. She feels a subtle sense of jealousy and insecurity. Despite initially feeling weighed down, her inner turmoil propels her to return to Ayanokouji and Mako. She is determined to regain her usual composure and confront her inner turmoil head-on. She takes a deep breath, steeling herself for the situation ahead.