Check out advanced chapters on P@treon: [email protected]/CosmicKaminari
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The bell for the end of school rang on time.
Akira gently closed his Japanese Language textbook, his fingertip pausing on the cover.
He'd finally gotten through most of the knowledge points from the first week of school—it seemed the content of the high school Japanese Language textbook wasn't entirely beyond him after all.
He remembered the practice tests he'd received for free from the upperclassman and had no intention of just memorizing his way through the exams.
After all, besides Japanese Language, all his other subjects were consistently above ninety points, so there was no need to put too much effort into this one.
As for Japanese Language... it was indeed a troublesome weakness.
However, it was only Wednesday, and there were still more than three weeks until the next test, so there was no need to rush.
If he put in some effort and studied for a while, passing should not be a problem.
As he was tidying up the textbooks on his desk, two figures suddenly approached.
Akira looked up and saw Yamauchi and Ike, the duo from the Three Stooges, his classmates.
"Shimizu-kun! I heard you're going on a date with Kushida-san after school today? That's so enviable!" Ike's eyes clearly showed envy.
Yamauchi, who was standing next to him, originally wanted to tease him, but a glance at Akira reminded him of his formidable strength, so he swallowed his words and just stood quietly beside Ike, though his eyes couldn't hide his jealousy.
"Mm." Akira responded, having a decent impression of Ike, and casually asked, "How did you two know?"
Ike immediately replied, "Kushida-san posted it on her social media! Lots of people in class saw it!"
Akira unlocked his phone screen and scrolled through Kushida's latest post.
{My first date, with Shimizu-kun from my class, my heart is pounding with nervousness~♡}
The accompanying picture was a delicate selfie of the girl, her eyelashes fluttering, truly making her look adorable.
"Uh..." Akira narrowed his eyes.
This Kushida really was... impatient. The date hadn't even started, but she'd already set up the public opinion.
The caption—it was so standard, like it was copied directly from a "High School Girl's Social Handbook" template.
He casually scrolled up through her past posts and indeed didn't see any traces of interaction with the opposite sex.
'First date... really or fake?'
Regardless of whether it was real or fake, her superficial efforts were flawless.
"Hey, Shimizu-kun!" Ike suddenly elbowed him. "Now that I think about it, you should thank the two of us! If we hadn't specifically mentioned you to Kushida-san on Monday..."
Akira raised an eyebrow. "You two set it up?"
"Yeah, actually, it was for ourselves too!" Ike started winking. "Kushida-san might hold another dating competition this month. If your date goes well... then we'll have a chance too, right?"
After saying that, Ike and Yamauchi exchanged a smile, revealing a knowing expression.
'Are these two guys... serious?'
Akira silently massaged his forehead, looking at the two idiots immersed in their fantasy, a sense of powerlessness welling up inside him.
They couldn't possibly actually think Kushida would give them a chance, could they?
Recalling last month's competition—Kushida had specifically sought him out privately, asking him to be the predetermined winner.
It was clear she didn't want anyone else to have an opportunity.
As far as he knew, these two hadn't even seriously campaigned for votes last month.
When Kushida was counting the votes, they actually counted Sudo as two votes...
'With that level of effort... even if Kushida held a dating competition, you two wouldn't become first place, would you?'
Akira's mouth twitched slightly. He truly couldn't understand the bizarre thought processes of these two.
However, he still maintained a polite smile. "Anyway, thank you for your kind intentions. It's certainly thanks to your help in setting us up that I was able to get a date with Kushida-san."
'In this day and age, there aren't many people willing to play matchmaker voluntarily... even if the motivation is truly speechless.'
Yamauchi's expression instantly became colorful, as if he'd been punched in the face. He instinctively clutched his chest, feeling his heart ache as if pricked by an invisible needle—no man would feel too good hearing that the girl he secretly liked was going on a date with someone else.
'This is a necessary sacrifice... a necessary sacrifice...'
'As long as Shimizu-kun's date goes well this time, it'll be my turn next!'
He repeatedly recited these self-comforting words in his mind, took several deep breaths, and only then barely managed to maintain a calm facade.
However, that stiff smile looked like a forced smile no matter how you looked at it.
Ike's reaction was even more direct.
His entire face crumpled into a knot.
"Ha, haha..." He let out two dry laughs and mechanically patted Akira's shoulder. "Bro, go for it..."
His voice clearly carried a hint of gritted teeth. This time, he genuinely couldn't stand to see his friend doing well.
'Damn it! Why him, Shimizu... But I can't help it! He won, after all.'
'But if even he can't handle it, Kushida-san will look down on me even more, won't she?'
Ike scratched his hair, his gaze wavering.
"Remember... remember to take a few more pictures!" He finally blurted out, then immediately regretted it.
This request sounded exactly like a desperate stalker.
Besides, Akira himself would be in the photos sent, which somehow made it even more pathetic!
"I won't send photos, but Kushida-san will probably post them on her social media, you can check there." Akira replied without hesitation.
He had no interest in sending photos to other men. It just felt too strange.
It was inappropriate in many ways.
"Uh... alright!" The two responded awkwardly and then left the scene.
...
"Oh, right!"
Akira suddenly remembered the information he received that morning and turned to look at Horikita, who was reading a book.
"Horikita-san, did you know Kushida-san before?"
"...I don't know her." Horikita's finger paused slightly on the page, then she shook her head.
"I see." Akira nodded thoughtfully.
Horikita's reaction was genuine, and she had no reason to lie, so it seemed she truly didn't know Kushida.
"Then where did you go to junior high?"
"xxxxx."
"Oh, I understand."
"So, you're going on a date with Kushida-san tonight?"
"Yes, we've arranged it."
"...What exactly is her motive?"
"Motive? Of course she has one, but it's irrelevant." Akira smiled and waved his hand. "After all, Kushida-san is very kind to me."
How could he not know what Kushida was planning?
It was just to silence the students who lost the competition last month over the bet.
But still! That didn't change the fact that on the surface, Kushida was very kind to him.
Sometimes, aren't bad women quite cute?