Nonoka Miyanaga and Miyako Fuji

No!

No...

No!

No...

-chan!

ka-san.

C'mooooon!

Not "Nonoka-san"! Yes, "Nono-chan"!!

Surely I can call you whatever I like.

Well, sure, but why?!

Ahem... Once upon a time, there lived a girl named Miyako-chan who called Nono-chan "Miyanaga-san."

Nono-chan thought she was doomed to spend the rest of her life as "Miyanaga-san"... But then, one fateful day, Miyako-chan said...

"Nonoka-san"...!

That's right.

Nono-chan's heart lit up, and she dared to dream that being called "Nono-chan" might be next.

But no! It's been "Nonoka-san" ever since!

Is there some problem with that?

Yes, there is! If first names are okay, nicknames should be too!

No. I only switched because "Nonoka" is easier to say than "Miyanaga."

There was no deeper meaning behind it.

Mmm...

Very well. In that case...!

(She's pushing up glasses she isn't even wearing...)

Micchan!

Yako-chan!

Mya-chan!!

Behold! Nono-chan's nickname barrage! You're thrilled, right~?

...

Wait! No reaction from Miyako-chan...!? But why...?

I'll tell you why!

Maru-kun!

The truth is, Miyako's never had anyone call her by a nickname before!

So it's not even about whether she's happy, she doesn't even know what to make of it yet!

!!

I-I lose...

So... there you have it. Excuse me.

Miyako-chaaaaaan...!

(Hmph... It's no big deal. I'm sure there are plenty of people who've never been called by a nickname.)

Huh...? Why is it raining in here...?

*Sigh*...

(This chapter introduces a new character, and I'm further behind than I expected...)

(I can work on it at school, but the real push starts after class. Until then...)

Conserve energy... Elevator is a must...

There she is! Mi-ya-ko-chaaaan!

...

Okay! Time for a good-morning hug~!

I'm fine, thank you. See you later.

No ignoring me!!

She got in front of me in an instant...!

Hehhehheh... Nono-chan is a master of side-to-side hops!

Ngh... Very well.

Wait! I can hug you?!

Do as you please...

Yay~♪ Okay, Miyako-chan, here comes your hu...

Look. There's a rabbit tap-dancing with a tuna over there.

No way!! One of them can't breathe!

Where, where?! Miyako-chan, I can't find it anywhe...

Who knows where it went? Perhaps I saw it. Perhaps I didn't.

Heyyy! You're already in the elevator!

Then I'll see you upstairs.

Grrr...

Phew... I think I finally lost her. Now to hurry to the classroom...

Not so faaaaaast!!

Nonoka-san...!? You were still on the first floor...!

DO YOU KNOW... Stairs?

You ran all the way up here?!

Nono-chan is great at taking the stairs two at a time too!

Now then, Miyako-chan. Let's try this again...

No, really, I don't need one...!

A good-morning...

(It's no use. There's no escape.)

Huuuuuuug!!

W-Waaaaah!! W-Wait, you're way too strong...!

Heehee~ What a great way to start the day~!

...

Oh, Miyako-chan. Morning~

Hello.

There's Maru-kun! Gotcha!

Gyaah!?

Morning to you too, Maru-kun~

L-Let go of meeee!

Okaaay.

*Sigh*... Honestly, you're such a handful.

Nonoka-san, please don't be so rough with Maru-kun.

I wasn't being rough! I just gave him a nice, gentle hug!

That's exactly what I'm calling rough!

Come on, when you see something cute, don't you just want to squeeze it?

I see. That explains it.

Exactly~

Hey, Miyako-chan. Are Maru-kun and Baru-kun friends?

You mean Baru-kun, the character from Magilulu?

Yeah! I just thought they kind of look alike~

Maru-kun was inspired by him, but he's a completely separate character.

Oh, I see~ They're both so cute!

Naturally.

Do you like cute things, Miyako-chan?

Yeah, I'd say so. I especially like things that are small and cute.

Some are soft and pillowy, others plump and squishy... Even "cute" comes in different textures.

There are all kinds of expressions too: big, round eyes, sharp little eyes, even adorably blank, dopey faces...!

Whoa, Miyako-chan, there's no stopping you.

Just looking into their little eyes makes me happy...! Ah, my heart warms just thinking about them...!

I want all the adorable things I've welcomed into my home to be just as happy as they make me...!

So your house is full of cute things?

Of course! You can never have too many adorable things...!

Ohh~

Then what about Nono-chan?

Hm?

Isn't Nono-chan cute too?

Would having me at home make your heart all warm and fuzzy?

Huh...?

...!

You have a certain... intensity, so it's not quite the same.

Whaaaat!? Whyyyy!?

Just because.