The end of PE class meant that the entire day's curriculum had concluded; next up was after-school time.
Just as Shikime Natsu was intending to pack up, he encountered Kamuro Masumi walking over. The young girl seemed to have been waiting for him, intending to return together with him.
However...
"Masumi, you don't need to wait for me. I plan to make a trip to the library in a bit."
Hearing these words, Kamuro Masumi slightly raised her purple eyes and glanced at him.
Going to the library...
In her mind, this phrase quickly corresponded to a name—Class C's Shiina Hiyori.
In her own intelligence network, Shikime Natsu clearly only read books with Shiina Hiyori in the library on Wednesdays, but today was clearly Friday, so why was there a session too?
Could it be that because Shikime Natsu didn't read with Shiina Hiyori this Wednesday, he was thinking of making it up?
Even she herself didn't receive this kind of treatment!
"I understand."
Kamuro Masumi's tone remained flat, but Shikime Natsu could still hear a few traces of jealousy in the young girl's tone. His little deskmate was quite jealous.
But well, next he just had to work hard to defeat Sakayanagi Arisu. If he defeated Sakayanagi Arisu, he could agree to some of Kamuro Masumi's conditions~ Even if they were slightly excessive, it wouldn't be a problem.
Of course, actually, Kamuro Masumi could have originally seized the initiative, but...
Aside from the first week of school when Kamuro Masumi invited him to watch a movie, she basically hadn't invited him again since.
Could it be because the movie didn't suit Kamuro Masumi's tastes?
Kamuro Masumi swept a glance at Shikime Natsu, who was thinking about who knows what, and sighed with emotion that Shikime Natsu's time management skills were truly quite good. Having contact with every girl for a certain amount of time... it really made one slightly dissatisfied.
Meanwhile, on Karuizawa Kei's side, Matsushita Chiaki and Satou Maya planned to return to the classroom first to get their phones, and then wait for Karuizawa Kei in the classroom.
Matsushita Chiaki said to Karuizawa Kei while tidying her hair, "Come find us when you're done here; we'll wait for you to go shopping together."
Satou Maya also nodded in agreement from the side. "Mhm, okay."
Karuizawa Kei smiled and waved her hand. "You guys go first, I'll be ready very soon."
After the two best friends left, Shikime Natsu happened to walk over.
"Let's start packing up," he said, glancing at the few basketballs scattered on the sidelines.
"Okay~"
Karuizawa Kei immediately put on a sweet smile, following behind Shikime Natsu like a well-behaved little follower.
Although it was a joint class for two classes, the sports equipment actually used wasn't much, mainly just those few basketballs and things like badminton gear.
The two divided the work, and within a few minutes, they had collected all the scattered items and put them into a large mesh bag.
"Shiki-san, the way you shot hoops just now was really so handsome!" Karuizawa Kei couldn't help but praise him as they walked, her tone carrying a few hints of worship. "I didn't expect you to not only play tennis so well but be so amazing at basketball too."
"By the way, which one is Shiki-san more skilled at?"
Shikime Natsu weighed the mesh bag in his hand and said with a smile: "Actually, they are about the same. I know a little bit of both."
After all, the effects of the two cheats were about the same; one was tennis capable of rallying with aliens, and the other was basketball capable of confronting espers.
"Is this called a 'little bit'?" Karuizawa Kei's eyes lit up; she obviously didn't believe this kind of modest rhetoric. "It's clearly super amazing, okay!"
She blinked those large, watery eyes as she spoke.
"If Karuizawa-san wants to learn, you can come find me anytime."
"Really? Then it's a promise!"
"Of course." Shikime Natsu laughed straightforwardly.
Karuizawa Kei also laughed happily.
Talking and laughing, the two arrived at the door of the equipment room.
Looking at this slightly worn iron door before him, Shikime Natsu couldn't help but sigh with emotion in his heart. This was the legendary location for triggering classic plotlines.
Even in this Advanced High School known for "Supremacy of Ability," a place like the equipment room seemed no different from other ordinary schools.
Equally remote, equally quiet, equally... suitable for something to happen.
"This is the equipment room."
Shikime Natsu pushed the door open and walked in first.
It had to be said, this school really had money with nowhere to spend it. Even if it was just an equipment room for storing sundries, the area was surprisingly large.
Inside, it was piled high with all kinds of sports equipment, from mats used for high jump to badminton stands, and even small soccer goals; it had everything.
Clearly, the three grades of the whole school added together couldn't even assemble 480 people, yet it was equipped with facilities sufficient to satisfy the use of a thousand people.
It was also Karuizawa Kei's first time entering the equipment room here, and she looked around curiously.
The layout here wasn't much different from the equipment room in her middle school, just slightly larger, and the items were placed somewhat haphazardly. In some infrequently used corners, a thin layer of dust had even accumulated.
But well, they were just here to return the basketballs, not to act as cleaners, so naturally, there was no need to worry about those.
"Where should the basketballs... be put?" Shikime Natsu looked around in a circle.
In front of the two was a tall stack of gymnastics mats, with several soccer balls and volleyballs scattered nearby.
"Seem to be behind the mats." Karuizawa Kei pointed to an iron shelf behind the mats.
"Okay."
The two went around that pile of tall mats and arrived in front of the shelf, neatly arranging the basketballs from the mesh bag.
Right at this moment.
Bang!
A dull sound of a door closing suddenly rang out, appearing exceptionally ear-piercing in this empty and quiet space.
Shikime Natsu and Karuizawa Kei froze simultaneously.
"This is bad!"
Karuizawa Kei's expression changed, and she hurriedly ran a few steps outward.
Sure enough, the originally open main door was now tightly closed.
Could it be that someone thought there was no one inside, so they conveniently closed the door? Or could it be... this was the legendary "irresistible force"?
Karuizawa Kei walked quickly to the door and pushed the handle with force. It didn't budge an inch.
"It seems... locked from the outside." Her voice carried a trace of panic. "Shiki-san, did you bring your phone?"
Shikime Natsu touched his pocket and shrugged somewhat helplessly. "No. Just now for PE class, for convenience, I put my phone back in the classroom."
"I... didn't bring mine either..."
Karuizawa Kei bit her lip in distress, looking like she wanted to cry but had no tears.
Seeing this scene, Shikime Natsu couldn't help but sigh with emotion again. This script was simply the standard development of a royal road romantic comedy.
Trapped in a closed equipment room with a cute girl at dusk after school, calling to heaven with no answer, calling to earth with no effect.
Could it be that this actually wasn't some romantic comedy, but a school ghost story? A setting where entering the equipment room with a cute girl means the door gets closed 100% of the time?
Since they couldn't get out, the two could only helplessly retreat to the side of the mats.
At this moment, the light inside the equipment room had become somewhat dim due to the closing of the main door; only a few faint rays of the setting sun penetrated through the small ventilation windows high up.
A narrow space, dim light, a lone man and woman. The air seemed to gradually fill with an ambiguous atmosphere.
Karuizawa Kei appeared somewhat ill at ease. Those small fair hands tightly gripped the hem of her clothes, her eyes stealing glances at Shikime Natsu from time to time, her cheeks faintly flushed.
Now that the equipment was packed up, the two had nothing to do. If it meant cleaning this place, they weren't willing either.
"T-Then... Shiki-san, what should we do now?" she asked in a low voice, her tone carrying a few points of reliance.
Shikime Natsu appeared very calm, even having the mood to crack a joke.
"What else can we do? We can only pray that some kind-hearted person passes by, discovers the anomaly here, and then comes over to open the door for us."
"But... if we shout loudly, will people outside hear us?" Karuizawa Kei asked, unwilling to give up.
"It's after-school time now; generally, there wouldn't be many people specially running over to the gymnasium side, right?" Shikime Natsu analyzed. "Even the people from the basketball club have a specialized indoor training court; they rarely use the public equipment room here."
Hearing this, Karuizawa Kei's small face instantly collapsed, her brows furrowing tightly together.
"Then aren't we going to stay here for a long time..."
"It doesn't matter," Shikime Natsu comforted her with a warm voice, looking at her with a gentle gaze. "Besides, looking on the bright side, it's rare to have a chance to spend time alone with Karuizawa-san. Chatting a bit is also quite nice, isn't it?"
Mm, if they really couldn't wait for anyone, Shikime Natsu would use his tennis techniques to destroy public property.
"Eh?"
Karuizawa Kei was stunned. She hadn't expected Shikime Natsu to say this.
Actually... did Shiki-san look forward to staying alone with me? And even felt this was a good opportunity?
Could it be that Shiki-san actually had a little bit of interest in her too?
As soon as this thought popped up, Karuizawa Kei's heartbeat instantly accelerated, and her cheeks became even hotter.
"Mm... that's true too."
She nodded somewhat shyly, her body subconsciously wanting to lean against the mats behind her, looking for a support point to conceal her panic. However, she forgot there was still a soft mat scattered beneath her feet that hadn't been put away.
"Ah!"
A cry of alarm.
Karuizawa Kei slipped, her whole person losing balance and falling backward.
Thud.
She fell heavily onto that pile of thick gymnastics mats. Because she was wearing loose sports shorts, with this fall, her thighs, which were originally covered tightly, were instantly exposed to the air.
The fair and delicate skin shone with a lustrous sheen in the dim light. Her slender legs were slightly splayed due to inertia; the posture appeared somewhat wretched, yet revealed an unspeakable eroticism.
Another classic scene.
"Are you okay?" Shikime Natsu extended his hand to Karuizawa Kei at the first moment, asking with great concern.
"N-No, I'm okay..."
Karuizawa Kei sat up in a panic, her hands clutching her hem deathly tight, attempting to cover the exposed parts. Luckily... she shouldn't have been seen in any critical places, right? If she was seen... that would really be too shameful!
Shikime Natsu simply extended his hand naturally, pulling Karuizawa Kei up from the mats.
"Thank you..." Karuizawa Kei thanked him with a blushing face. To alleviate the awkwardness, she actively searched for a topic.
"Um... during the quiz last time, it was really thanks to Shiki-san's help. If it weren't for you tutoring us, I definitely wouldn't have been able to pass every subject. And now, studying doesn't seem to have that much pressure anymore."
"You're welcome." Shikime Natsu smiled, his tone gentle. "That is the result of Karuizawa-san working hard yourself."
Looking at this gentle and handsome young man before her, ripples couldn't help but rise in Karuizawa Kei's heart.
If... if I could make him become my boyfrie... Even if it's just pretend, they say real boyfriends can start from pretend ones.
Now was an excellent opportunity. Only the two of them, the atmosphere was just right, and Shiki-san looked so easy to talk to, so kind. If she told him the secret she had kept all along, maybe he would agree to her request?
The words reached her lips; Karuizawa Kei opened her mouth, but found her throat seemed blocked, unable to make a sound no matter what.
Wanting a campus celebrity like Shikime Natsu to be her fake boyfriend—this pressure was simply too great. Just thinking about how Shikime Natsu was always surrounded by so many excellent and cute girls, and her good best friend Satou Maya was also eyeing him covetously...
Did she... really have the qualification to make this kind of request?
What if she was rejected? What if he felt she was a troublesome woman?
Sure enough, could she only give up?
The light in Karuizawa Kei's eyes gradually dimmed, flashing with a touch of deep disappointment. She, this parasite wanting to find a powerful host, seemed destined to fail.
Shikime Natsu keenly perceived Karuizawa Kei's emotional changes. That look shifting from expectation to loss, and then to self-loathing, made him somewhat concerned.
"What's wrong?" he asked softly. "Is there somewhere you need help?"
Karuizawa Kei snapped back to reality, hurriedly shook her head, and forced a smile. "N-No, nothing, I'm fine."
To conceal her loss of composure, she stiffly changed the topic. "If... if only someone could open the door now."
Shikime Natsu wasn't bamboozled by her; instead, he looked straight into her eyes and asked half-jokingly:
"Could it be that staying with me makes Karuizawa-san feel very pressured?"
"N-No, not at all!" Karuizawa Kei hurriedly waved her hands to deny it, deeply afraid he would misunderstand. "Staying with Shiki-san doesn't feel pressured; on the contrary... it feels very reassuring."
"Really?" Shikime Natsu smiled, his gaze falling on Karuizawa Kei's somewhat flustered face.
"Of course it's true!" Karuizawa Kei explained urgently. "After all, Shiki-san is quite popular, and also a very kind person. Back when Shiki-san carried me when I twisted my ankle, and didn't specially try to take advantage of me, I knew Shiki-san was a good person."
"So I am a good person in Karuizawa-san's heart." Shikime Natsu nodded thoughtfully, then changed the subject.
"Since you feel I'm a good person, and also feel I'm very reassuring... Just now you looked like you planned to say something, and it seems there's some very troubling matter weighing on the bottom of your heart."
"If you don't mind, I can be a listener. Hearing your troubles, perhaps I can even give you some advice?"
Shikime Natsu spoke softly. The beautiful girls in this school seemed to have quite a few who hid another side of themselves. No, it should be said that it wasn't just this school; in fact, all places were the same. There were always people who would hide their other, extremely wretched side, and then pretend to have a glamorous appearance.
She looked at Shikime Natsu's sincere and limpid eyes, and her originally firm defense line began to waver.
Should she really say it? Say the secret that had been torturing her, making her unable to sleep at night?
After saying it, could she really go with the flow and request him to play her boyfriend? But that kind of thing... was too heavy.
Karuizawa Kei didn't have that kind of desperate boldness. On the contrary, because of those tragic encounters in middle school, her personality had actually become quite timid and inferior.
All the strength, generosity, boldness, and that personality of a gal not to be trifled with that she displayed now were all a layer of fragile camouflage.
Seeing Karuizawa Kei still hesitating and struggling, Shikime Natsu sighed and didn't force her.
"Forget it," he said considerately. "If you aren't willing to say it, I won't force you. I just wanted to tell you, if you want to find someone to confide in, I am here anytime."
This phrase "here anytime" slightly opened a hole in Karuizawa Kei's final psychological defense line.
She opened her mouth, her voice trembling somewhat, and finally made a sound.
"I... I believe in Shiki-san."
"Actually... I have something I've always wanted to talk to someone about..."
Shikime Natsu nodded and didn't speak, just looked at her quietly, signaling her to continue.
Karuizawa Kei took a deep breath, as if recalling a nightmare she couldn't bear to look back on.
"Actually... in elementary school, I wasn't like this. At that time, my grades were very good, not like a dummy like now."
"But in middle school... because I looked fairly pretty and my grades weren't bad, I was targeted by some people."
Speaking to this point, her voice began to choke up.
"I suffered... very severe bullying."
"My schoolbag was thrown into the trash can, thumbtacks were put in my shoes, and I was even locked in the toilet and splashed with cold water..."
"During that time, I simply didn't dare to go to school. I skipped class for a long time, and my studies couldn't keep up either. Even... my body still bears a wound that cannot heal to this day."
She subconsciously touched the lower side of her left chest. There was an ugly scar there, making her remember those unbearable days at all times.
"Actually... I'm very timid, really very timid. But I'm also afraid of suffering the same things again."
"So... after arriving at high school, I made myself put on this somewhat overbearing appearance. I thought, if I became a bit more overbearing, a bit not to be trifled with, then no one would dare to bully me again..."
[Ding~]
[CG44: Unbearable Past (Karuizawa Kei)]
[I can only become a parasite, and then parasitize on the body of the strong]
[Congratulations Host for obtaining Skill Card: Thornmail (Any damage caused by the opponent is reflected back to the enemy at 150%, and the enemy's damage will not be inflicted on the target possessing the Thornmail themselves; simultaneously marks the enemy's location. Can be used on others. Lasts for one event, automatically ends after one event. Can be used once per week.)]
Looking at this skill, it was a very powerful protection god-skill.
Of course, Karuizawa Kei didn't reveal everything. She concealed that core idea—finding a boy in the central position of the class to be her fake boyfriend, thereby utilizing this to elevate her own popularity and status, and thus completely eliminating the possibility of being bullied.
If her target was Hirata Yousuke, perhaps she would have said it directly. But facing Shikime Natsu, solely when facing this gentle young man, she had a strange self-esteem.
She didn't wish for Shikime Natsu to know she was a manipulative girl who used others for self-preservation. Even if it was just using, she hoped her image in Shikime Natsu's eyes was a pure victim, not a schemer.
Seeing the sorrow surfacing in the depths of Karuizawa Kei's eyes, and that slightly trembling body, a gleam of understanding flashed through Shikime Natsu's eyes.
"Shiki-san..." Karuizawa Kei raised her head, looking at him with a fragile gaze. "Is a 'me' like this... very strange?"
"Not strange at all." Shikime Natsu shook his head, his tone firm. "Seeking advantages and avoiding disadvantages is human nature; protecting oneself is absolutely not wrong. There is absolutely no problem with you doing this. The ones who are wrong are those bastards who inflicted violence upon you."
Hearing these words, Karuizawa Kei's nerves, which had been tense all along, finally relaxed a bit. Since even Shikime Natsu said so, then what she did... must be right, yes?
However, Shikime Natsu's next words made her freeze again.
"However..." Shikime Natsu changed the subject, his tone carrying a few points of earnest advice. "Although it is understandable that you disguise yourself as an overbearing character to protect yourself, you shouldn't be overly overbearing, or even hurt others to maintain this persona."
"If you are overly overbearing, it might conversely provoke some unnecessary trouble, or even affect innocent people."
Karuizawa Kei fell silent. She didn't understand why Shikime Natsu would say this. He clearly affirmed her actions just now, so why raise an objection now?
Shikime Natsu saw her lack of understanding and resistance, but he didn't stop. Instead, he asked with systematic guidance:
"Let me give an example. If one day, you accidentally did something wrong, even if you unintentionally offended someone. Then, to maintain your 'bad girl not to be trifled with' image, would you choose to deny your mistake to the death, or would you choose to sincerely apologize?"
This question struck directly at the soul.
Karuizawa Kei fell silent again. She was very clear about her own answer. To maintain that overbearing persona, she would definitely choose to be stubborn to the end, even biting back, and absolutely would not lower her head to apologize.
Because once she apologized, it meant showing weakness, meant cracks appeared in her "camouflage".
But... if she told Shikime Natsu this answer, she would definitely be hated by him, right? After all, a gentle and upright person like him probably couldn't stand this kind of unreasonable behavior the most.
But... if I don't do this, how should I protect myself?
"If you choose the former..." Shikime Natsu's voice remained calm, yet carried a kind of unquestionable power. "Then, what essential difference is there between you and those people who bullied you back then?"
This sentence carried heavy weight; Karuizawa Kei wasn't willing to hear it. If Shikime Natsu were her boyfriend, she would definitely act coquettishly and shamelessly, demanding he defend her unconditionally.
But now, they were just ordinary friends. She had no qualification to lose her temper, and even less confidence to refute.
"I... if it was unintentional, then I didn't do it on purpose..." She tried to argue, but her voice became smaller and smaller.
"But the other party isn't clear on whether you were intentional or unintentional." Shikime Natsu pointed out sharply. "The other party only knows that you did an excessive thing to them, caused harm, yet didn't even have a single sentence of apology. In the eyes of others, this is arrogance and bullying."
Karuizawa Kei was thoroughly rendered speechless. In terms of eloquence and logic, how could she be Shikime Natsu's opponent? Moreover, this dialogue made her feel her image in Shikime Natsu's heart was collapsing.
Her heart was in a mess, like a ball of tangled hemp. Ever since being bullied in middle school, her brain only had the single thought of "self-protection" left; she simply had no surplus energy to consider other people's feelings, let alone morality and justice.
"If I don't maintain an overbearing appearance... I have no way to protect myself properly!" Karuizawa Kei finally couldn't bear it anymore, her voice carrying a few sobbing tones, appearing exceptionally helpless. "I can't do it! I'm not... powerful like you..."
"You've misunderstood." Shikime Natsu sighed, reaching out to gently pat her shoulder. "Not being overbearing doesn't mean you can't protect yourself. Just like me."
He pointed at himself and asked with a smile. "Do you feel I am a very overbearing, very fierce person?"
Karuizawa Kei froze for a moment, then subconsciously shook her head. "No."
The feeling Shikime Natsu gave people had always been gentle, calm, and courteous, completely untouched by the word "overbearing".
"Then isn't that right?" Shikime Natsu spread his hands. "I am not a very overbearing person, but no one dares to bully me either, right?"
"That's... that's because Shiki-san is very excellent!" Karuizawa Kei refuted. "You are so smart, and so good at sports; everyone respects you, so that's why no one dares to make a move on you."
"Can excellence exempt one from violence?" Shikime Natsu chuckled lightly, a trace of coldness flashing through his eyes. "Actually, when I first came to this school, I was also sought out for trouble. And it was trouble involving violence."
He thought of Ryuuen Kakeru's group. If it weren't for possessing sufficient martial force value, relying solely on excellence and gentleness, he estimated he would have been beaten black and blue long ago.
"Eh?"
Karuizawa Kei looked at him in shock, as if hearing something incredible. "Is that true?"
"Of course it's true." Shikime Natsu nodded. "However, because my fist is comparatively hard and my strength is comparatively strong, those people looking for trouble were finally persuaded by me and didn't manage to bully me."
Hearing these words, the light in Karuizawa Kei's eyes dimmed again. Sure enough... it was still because of being powerful.
"But... I am very weak." She lowered her head, looking at the tips of her toes. "I'm only strong in my disguise. Encountering that kind of violent matter, I definitely have no way to solve it. So... to avoid being targeted for being too weak, I can only put on this kind of appearance. As long as I am very fierce, no one will dare to find trouble with me..."
"Is that really so?" Shikime Natsu asked back. "Even overbearing people will have trouble found with them. After all, people who are overly overbearing, or even somewhat arrogant, are often easier to provoke envy in others, and be remembered by stronger people or groups."
Listening to Shikime Natsu's words, Karuizawa Kei was thoroughly lost. Weakness would get her bullied; being overbearing would also get her targeted. Then what exactly should she do to be right?
"Rest assured."
Just when she felt despair, Shikime Natsu's voice sounded again, carrying a reassuring warmth.
"I will help you."
"If you encounter any trouble you can't solve in the future, or if someone really wants to bully you... I will definitely act to help you."
"Of course, the premise is that you also cannot bully others by relying on power, bullying the weak and becoming like those people who bullied you back then."
Karuizawa Kei suddenly raised her head, looking at Shikime Natsu blankly.
He said... he would help me?
"But... Shiki-san has no way to protect me at all times..."
"I can." Shikime Natsu looked into her eyes, his tone incomparably serious. "If you encounter danger, no matter where, I can arrive at the scene at the first moment. And then knock down all those guys who want to hurt you."
Although these words sounded like chunibyo lines from a hot-blooded manga, and reason told Karuizawa Kei this was fundamentally impossible to realize...
But at this moment, looking at the young man's serious eyes, an impulse to want to believe him actually was born deep in Karuizawa Kei's heart. Even if it was a lie... if it was Shikime Natsu saying it, she was willing to believe it.
She nodded slightly, her eyes somewhat red.
Shikime Natsu wasn't speaking any lie; just now, Shikime Natsu had directly cast the Thornmail on Karuizawa Kei. This thing was simply custom-made for the young girl.
"Also, at least in this school, as long as you, Karuizawa-san, mention my name, I think... no one will make things difficult for you."
Shikime Natsu spoke; even Ryuuen Kakeru and the others wouldn't dare to make any moves.
"Of course, if there is time, I will also teach you some self-defense techniques. Making yourself become powerful is also very important."
Karuizawa Kei was extremely moved. Shikime Natsu really treated her very well, just like when they first met. However... it was also precisely because of this excessive gentleness, and that excellence, that made Karuizawa Kei feel ashamed of her unworthiness, unable to even say the matter of wanting Shikime Natsu to become her fake boyfriend.
Karuizawa Kei nodded and agreed. Shikime Natsu was right; she needed to become strong, not only to protect herself but also to obtain Shikime Natsu's recognition.
When the time came... could she enter Shikime Natsu's line of sight and have the courage to confess to Shikime Natsu?
"By the way."
Shikime Natsu suddenly remembered something, his gaze sweeping over the lower side of the left chest that Karuizawa Kei had just subconsciously covered.
"Regarding that wound you mentioned just now... I have a way to help you solve it..."
Right at this moment.
Click.
The sound of the door lock turning suddenly rang out. Immediately after, the equipment room's main door was pushed open from the outside.
"Kei! Are you inside?"
The voices of Matsushita Chiaki and Satou Maya drifted in. The two saw that Karuizawa Kei hadn't returned for a long time and worried that some accident had happened, so they searched all the way over.
Sure enough, they discovered the two trapped inside the equipment room.
Seeing the rescue arrive, Shikime Natsu very tactfully shut his mouth and didn't continue the topic from just now. That was a secret belonging to Karuizawa Kei, probably only told to him, so... he would also keep this secret.
"Great, it's good that you guys came." Shikime Natsu revealed a grateful smile toward the two. "Otherwise, Karuizawa-san and I really would have been trapped here overnight."
"It's good that we made an appointment with Kei to go play together, otherwise... it would have been dangerous."
Satou Maya's gaze circled around Shikime Natsu and Karuizawa Kei. Aside from Karuizawa Kei's eyes being a bit red—though she was smiling again and hadn't been bullied—she didn't seem to discover any abnormalities, so she breathed a sigh of relief.
Immediately, as if thinking of something, she invited warmly, "By the way, Shiki-san, we are going to Karaoke to sing. Do you want to come together?"
"Sorry."
Shikime Natsu looked at the sky outside. He must have been trapped here for a period of time; fortunately, not long.
He revealed an apologetic smile to the group. "I already have an appointment this afternoon, so I can't go with you guys for the time being."
"Is that so... then let's do it together next time." The young girl was somewhat disappointed but didn't say much more, then looked at Shikime Natsu excitedly.
"Mn, next time for sure."
Shikime Natsu nodded, then exchanged a glance with Karuizawa Kei and revealed a faint smile. The meaning he wanted to express was also very clear: talk later.
Watching the group leave, Shikime Natsu returned to the classroom to retrieve his phone. He checked the time; twenty minutes had already passed. Next, he had to rush to the library without stopping.
____
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