7:30 AM.
There was still one hour before classes started.
At Advanced Nurturing High School, classes began at 8:30.
Almost all schools started between 8:30 and 9:00, some even at 9:30. However, classes usually ended between 3:00 and 3:30 PM.
The remaining two hours after that were usually used for club activities, or for Student Council members, they would only finish around 5:30 to 6:00 PM.
Currently Megumi was inside the room, making breakfast for Ryunosuke.
Ryunosuke sat at the table while propping his chin with his hand, feeling a bit helpless.
"Actually you don't need to do this, I can eat outside... the outdoor cafeteria is free."
Megumi poked her small head out from the kitchen, speaking in her characteristic flat tone.
"Not allowed. Ryunosuke-kun usually if not eating instant noodles, definitely goes to the free counter. Your body won't hold up if you keep eating like that."
"From now on, every morning I'll come to help you make breakfast, so don't be shy~"
Megumi's lips curved into a sweet smile. After all, the two of them could already be said to have made their relationship official. Moreover, Ai's problem she had cleverly resolved yesterday; there would be nothing else blocking her from being with Ryunosuke.
Megumi hummed softly while cooking beef radish stew and sandwiches.
"Haaah..." Ryunosuke sighed. Since the other party had already said that, he wouldn't protest anymore.
Not long after, breakfast was ready.
Megumi brought a ceramic pot containing beef radish stew to the center of the table. The sandwich contained ham, tomatoes, onions, lettuce, plus one rolled egg (tamagoyaki).
She said at breakfast one shouldn't eat too much, one portion was enough, because if too full that wasn't good for health.
(She's really like a good wife... You entered your role too quickly, right? Kato...)
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After eating together, they locked the door and went to school together.
Today was the 30th, the last day of the student expulsion exam.
Ryunosuke had lent 4 million personal points to Class B, and lent 200 thousand points to Hiyori. As for his own class, because of the strong suppression he did two days ago, they managed to collect almost all points, but there was still a 10 million hole he had to cover himself.
This meant Ryunosuke lost about 16 million points...
On the other hand, the school had basically reclaimed all 80 million personal points that were lost during the ship exam the other day. Because one class was charged 20 million, and four classes totaled exactly 80 million.
Actually, Ryunosuke still profited because he still had 50 million personal points remaining. And he needed to arrange strategy early; this point expenditure was a mandatory investment.
Although the school successfully reclaimed 80 million points, most of those points were their own class savings over the last half year, not his. So Ryunosuke didn't lose, actually profited a bit because he managed to take over the point void resulting from the four classes' savings over this half year.
Since he outsmarted the school in the ship exam to get big points, Ryunosuke already knew the school would use this trick.
The school wasn't stupid; if they could give 80 million, they had ways to take it back.
Sure enough, just one month after the ship exam ended, those points were already asked back.
Ryunosuke and Megumi arrived at class.
As soon as they saw Ryunosuke come, their classmates immediately tensed up. Those who were chatting casually immediately fell silent, and their backs straightened.
Clearly, his last move was very effective. This class could be said to be forcibly united, although that unity was built on the foundation of physical strength.
Ryunosuke sat in his seat feeling somewhat lazy.
There was no other choice, it was very difficult to unite these bastards. He didn't have much time left because he had to prepare energy for the Student Council President election, where was there time to play around with them slowly?
Coincidentally with Airi's expulsion problem, he could forcibly unite them to avoid chaos in the future. Even the "Lucky Trio"—Yamauchi, Ike, and Shimamura—didn't dare speak out because they feared Ryunosuke's strength.
In short, they were just a bunch of losers who were only brave to weak people; Ryunosuke had long wanted to teach them a lesson, and this moment was perfect to make them obedient.
Just look at others only having minor injuries, while those three got "special treatment" until now still wrapped in bandages.
On the other side, Airi was facing difficulties. She and Haruka hadn't spoken at all since the last vote.
Haruka kept avoiding Airi; she felt very guilty for having voted "agree" to expel Airi, even though it was on Airi's own orders. She still couldn't forgive herself.
After class ended, Airi intended to stand up to talk to her. However, Haruka without a single word grabbed her bag and chose to flee.
Airi's hand that was about to call her stopped in midair.
The person she was looking for had already disappeared, making her gaze dim with sadness. Ryunosuke, seeing her difficulty, immediately approached her.
"Leave it to me."
After saying that, Ryunosuke immediately chased after the fleeing Haruka. Airi, seeing him chase her friend, felt relieved.
"Just leave it to Akasaka-kun, he'll definitely have a way out..."
Although the two of them weren't officially dating yet, Ryunosuke didn't reject Airi's confession of love. He just postponed the time until after graduation, stating that while at school he didn't want to consider it yet, but didn't give a rejection.
For Airi, that was already enough. As long as Ryunosuke didn't reject her, she still had a chance.
Ryunosuke's reason for doing that was actually simple. He was afraid of getting Nice Boat-ed (murdered by jealous girlfriend)...
He wasn't a clueless fool; he was aware there were at least three women who had feelings for him. Because now he was already dating Ai, he could only use this method to postpone everything until after graduation.
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On the other side, Megumi looked at Airi with a flat gaze, but she wasn't in a hurry.
Seeing Airi's condition now, at least her progress wasn't as fast as hers, so what was there to worry about?
What she was thinking now was: (what delicious breakfast should I make for Ryunosuke-kun tomorrow morning?)
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Ryunosuke who chased outside finally found Haruka near a vending machine.
Haruka was crouching in the corner, burying her head in her knees without sound.
Ryunosuke bought two cans of drinks then approached her.
"May I sit here?"
Haruka didn't answer, just shifted her body a bit to make empty space. Ryunosuke sat beside her without saying anything, then offered one bottle of peach-flavored drink.
"Want to drink?"
Haruka received it with both hands and thanked quietly, but didn't drink it. Seeing that, Ryunosuke didn't say much and started drinking his own.
A long time later... Haruka finally spoke up.
"Sakura she... has she confessed her love to you yet?"
"Cough! Cough!"
Ryunosuke choked and hurriedly wiped the water from his mouth.
"How did you know?!"
Haruka sighed. "I'm not stupid... I can notice the change in Sakura."
"She... became a bit different. She's far more confident than before."