The situation wasn't particularly serious.
Though the methods were disgusting, Ryuen knew this kind of probing wouldn't yield any valuable information.
Hasebe Haruka told Kaoru that their Class D now discussed exam matters exclusively in group chats, basically never consulting in public places.
Therefore, Ryuen was openly sending people to harass Class D students simply to annoy them.
Not only him, but Sakayanagi had also sent people to gather intelligence.
The reason Yamamura Miki felt guilty earlier was because she too had been following someone—a student from Class B of the first year.
This was an unavoidable situation.
If they could learn in advance what exam items the other side had prepared, it would give them a significant advantage in the upcoming test.
After finishing the meal, Yamamura Miki cautiously confessed her actions to Kaoru before returning to the classroom, perhaps worried that he might misunderstand her.
How could Kaoru possibly hold it against her?
Instead, he was curious about why Yamamura Miki would follow Sakayanagi Arisu's arrangements.
"I... I don't know either... Maybe it's because very few people smile at me."
Yamamura Miki hung her head dejectedly, "Someone like me... doesn't really deserve to be with all of you..."
Kaoru had almost forgotten her intense self-loathing.
She must have gone through something in the past.
However, Kaoru didn't press about her past.
Instead, he asked, "Miki, have you ever seen a really ugly apple?"
"Ugly apple?"
Yamamura Miki tilted her head, not understanding why he was bringing this up.
"Typically, these apples often have scars and uneven colored spots on the surface, looking completely unappealing."
Kaoru smiled, "But I've eaten them. Beneath that unpleasant exterior lies a sweet flavor, crisp texture—one bite and you'll think of the word delicious."
At first, Yamamura Miki didn't understand what he meant.
Noticing he kept looking at her, she eventually realized, her eyes flashing with flustered light from embarrassment, her pretty face gradually blushing.
"In my eyes, it's sweet, and Miki is sweet too."
Kaoru maintained his smile—it was just some inspirational talk, something he was quite experienced with.
"I-I-I..."
Yamamura Miki stammered, partly because she rarely heard anyone comfort her like this, and partly because Kaoru was being too direct.
Yes, Kaoru hadn't considered the issue of appropriate distance.
Even between friends, such words clearly teased a young girl's heart.
Fortunately, she didn't know what distance true friends should maintain either.
"You're really good at compliments."
Just then, Kaoru suddenly heard someone speaking.
Beside the path where the two were walking stood a rest bench.
Morishita Ai sat up from the chair, eyes drowsy, lazily stretching her somewhat slender waist. The girl's full chest could be seen forming a pleasing curve.
She yawned, completely unconcerned about Kaoru's gaze, and asked, "Is Yamamura Miki your girlfriend too?"
As these words fell, Yamamura Miki—who had been wondering why she was napping here—immediately short-circuited, steam seemingly rising from her head as if her CPU had overloaded.
"Which answer would you like to hear?"
Kaoru saw the desires on her.
After some observation, he finally understood why she had those wishes.
Sleeping in every day, lying around snoring everywhere—she really should be...
"I overheard a bit of your conversation earlier. Is this how you win over girls?"
Morishita Ai carefully examined Kaoru, "Actually, you're quite good-looking. Most girls would like you."
"Morishita-san thinks highly of me." Kaoru was also sizing her up.
Perhaps because she had just woken up, her hair was slightly messy.
Her school uniform was neatly worn, and beneath the skirt were slender legs clad in black tights.
"You always seem very interested in my gossip. Should we find a place to sit and chat?"
"Kaoru, there are rumors about me involving you."
Morishita Ai was somewhat displeased.
She didn't know who had been loose-lipped on the forum, actually counting her as one of Kaoru's people.
Moreover, since Kaoru had previously assigned her to manage the class's Personal points, it seemed everyone basically assumed she was one of his people, no matter how much she protested.
Morishita Ai knew that Kaoru had been secretly watching her, but the two of them truly had little interaction.
She had a naturally aloof disposition, often enjoying the world alone in her daily life, with no place for Kaoru in it.
To the girl, Kaoru was merely a classmate.
If she had to say, Morishita Ai acknowledged that his existence made her life easier, sparing her the trouble of dealing with class conflicts.
"Just explain it to them. We usually have no relationship anyway."
Kaoru understood she held a faint hostility toward him, but teasing her was just too fun.
"I've already explained, but no one believes me."
Morishita Ai said, "So, I plan to make it clear to you—I can't accept someone like you existing like this."
Her serious expression was somewhat amusing, and Kaoru couldn't help but ask.
"Does this mean I'm being rejected before even confessing?"
"A reminder."
Morishita Ai pressed down her skirt—he was peeking at her legs again.
"I have no interest in romance."
Kaoru blinked: "So it's not because you find me particularly annoying that you're rejecting me?""
"I don't particularly dislike anyone."
Morishita Ai said, "Are you planning to return to the classroom?"
"Want to come together?"
Kaoru nodded.
Sure enough, Morishita Ai stood up and followed him, making Kaoru's expression turn peculiar.
He didn't know how to describe this girl.
She certainly had the wariness one would expect, yet she also gave the impression that she had no defenses at all.
She had just rejected Kaoru, but now she naturally intended to return to the classroom with him.
"Aren't you annoyed being associated with me?""
"Kaoru, do you think I should be avoiding you right now?"
"Shouldn't you be?"
"I know I haven't done anything wrong, why should I avoid you?"
Morishita Ai glanced at Yamamura Miki beside him and greeted, "Hello."
Yamamura Miki hid behind Kaoru, lightly tugging at his sleeve. Having listened from earlier, she felt Morishita Ai was a strange person.
Rather than strange, it was more like she was self-centered; otherwise, she wouldn't persist in doing as she pleased despite knowing about the rumors.
If she felt she hadn't done anything, then she hadn't—no one could tell her otherwise.
The reason she warned Kaoru was because he really had been peeking at her.
Sure enough, after returning to the classroom, Morishita Ai paid no attention to Kaoru or the surrounding gazes, quietly sitting at her own desk.
She simply wanted to return to the classroom.
Kaoru rubbed his chin.
This scenario felt familiar to him.
As a producer, he had dealt with many girls of different personalities.
However, he scoffed lightly—why was he thinking about this?
Wasn't things troublesome enough already?
Morishita Ai didn't even want to join the Student Council, so how could there possibly be any chance for the two of them to interact, unless he forcibly pushed this relationship forward.