During the long-distance run in P.E. class, the tree grabbed Saiki with an excited face and laughed, "Hahaha, I finally caught you, Saiki! Come on, let's treat this long run as a match between us this time."
Saiki looked at the tree speechlessly. [Yare yare, what are you even talking about? We're in the same group.] ┐(´-｀)┌
The tree looked completely baffled. "Huh——really?" ʕ(ⓛ–ⓛ)ʔ
...
"Go for it, Saiki! Faster, you're capable of way more than this! Keep going, Saiki!"
The tree stood to the side holding a stopwatch, cheering loudly.
(Seriously, shut up already. Even I'm starting to feel embarrassed now.)
(I should at least break a proper sweat.) After that, Saiki used his superpower to control his sweating.
He looked like he was about to be drenched in sweat.
After finishing the run, Saiki waved at Shiraishi Junta, who was approaching the finish line and about to complete it. He saw Minamoto-kun frantically looking around while checking the timer and shouted loudly, "Minamoto-kun, I'm about to reach the finish line."
(Shiraishi, you really have it rough.)
...
After Shiraishi Junta finished running, he leaned against the wall as he walked over to Saiki.
"Saiki-kun, long-distance running is so exhausting. When everyone runs together, the people I'm supposed to pair with can never find me. Every time I'm almost at the finish line, I have to shout really loud to remind them. Honestly, it's really tough."
Shiraishi lowered his head. "I'm not in any sports club. They already have low stamina to begin with, so every time I get hit with a double blow to both body and mind. If I don't take the initiative, they won't even time me."
Saiki patted Shiraishi on the shoulder and handed him a wet wipe. [Yare yare, good work, Shiraishi.]
Shiraishi took the wet wipe Saiki handed him. His eyes unconsciously grew moist.
Then he held the wet wipe, bit his lip ꈨຶꎁꈨຶ "Wuuu, Saiki-kun, you're the best after all."
(What are you doing? Don't bite the wet wipe, hey.)
"It's Saiki-kun and Shiraishi-kun."
Saiki and Shiraishi looked toward the source of the voice. It was Kubo Nagisa, now in her gym uniform version.
Kubo Nagisa raised her hand in greeting. "Good work. Have you boys finished running too?"
Kubo Nagisa looked at Shiraishi Junta, who was using the Saiki-brand wet wipe to wipe his sweat, and at Saiki, who had a few drops of sweat on his face. "Saiki-kun, your face."
[Oh?]
"Saiki, can you give me a wet wipe? I want to wipe off too."
Saiki thought for a moment and handed one over. [Here.]
Kubo Nagisa accepted it with both hands and said with an adorable expression, "Thank you. I'll treasure it."
Saiki: …
[Who said I was giving it to you? I haven't even used it yet.]
"Right, wait for me a second." Kubo Nagisa turned and walked away.
[Seriously.]
Shiraishi Junta pondered beside him, "I didn't expect Kubo-san to look so different with her hair in a ponytail and wearing gym clothes."
Saiki turned to look at Shiraishi. [Is the change really that big?]
Shiraishi Junta: "Yeah, it is!"
In Shiraishi Junta's imagination, a mini version of Kubo Nagisa appeared wearing her usual school uniform, with "Attack Power: 80" displayed below. Then a mini version of Kubo Nagisa with her hair in a ponytail and wearing gym clothes ran out, with "Attack Power: 120" displayed. [Her destructive power is incredible. Even if I changed my hairstyle, I probably…]
A mini version of Shiraishi Junta appeared, labeled "Passerby A" below. Then a second one with middle-parted hair appeared, labeled "Passerby B."
Shiraishi Junta looked at Saiki. [But if it's Saiki-kun, it should be…] In the scene, a mini version of Saiki in school uniform appeared, with "Attack Power: 80" written below.
Then another Saiki appeared in a completely different art style, wearing a Japanese battle kimono, holding a sword, with a fierce look in his eyes and messy hair, exuding a wild vibe, with "Attack Power: 200" displayed below.
[Kubo-san and Saiki-kun are both so amazing.]
(Wait a second. It was fine up to the front, but why does the art style change completely when it gets to me?)
Saiki looked at Shiraishi speechlessly.
(This kid's imagination is pretty wild too.)
Suddenly, Kubo Nagisa appeared in front of Saiki holding a wet wipe, leaned in close, and wiped Saiki's face. "Let me help you, Saiki."
Saiki instinctively took a step back when he saw Kubo Nagisa getting so close.
Kubo Nagisa: Is that half-step retreat serious?
[What are you doing, Kubo-san?]
Saiki looked at the Kubo Nagisa right in front of him. (This girl is way too bold.)
"Your reaction is really funny."
Kubo Nagisa smiled and handed Saiki her just-opened wet wipe. "Here, take this as an exchange."
[No need.]
"Just take it. See you later." Kubo Nagisa stuffed the wet wipe into Saiki's hand, waved, and left.
Saiki watched Kubo Nagisa leave, silently put the wet wipe back in his pocket, turned around, and walked away.
[Let's go, Shiraishi.]
"Oh, okay." Shiraishi quickly caught up, and the two soon left.
It seemed no one noticed a certain pink-haired figure hiding in the corner, radiating thick black aura, biting down on a wet wipe and muttering under her breath, "But I was here first… I was clearly here first…"
An extremely heavy white studies atmosphere.
On the other side, Kubo Nagisa, now changed out of her gym clothes, looked at the wet wipe in front of her with the corners of her mouth slightly raised.
"Ah, why are you grinning like that?"
"Did something good happen?"
Kudo Hazuki and Taira Tamao walked over and asked.
Kubo Nagisa froze for a second. "Nothing really."
Kudo Hazuki: "It's not nice to hide things from us, you know."
Kubo Nagisa smiled. "Really, it's nothing."
"Kubo, lend me one to wipe with." Taira Tamao reached for the already-opened wet wipe beside her.
The next second, Kubo Nagisa calmly pulled it away.
"Eh Ծ ̮ Ծ"
Taira Tamao missed, looked at Kubo Nagisa, and reached again.
"Hyah!"
"Hyah!"
"Hehehe." All of them were dodged by Kubo Nagisa.
Kubo Nagisa turned her head, holding the wet wipe. "Not today."
Taira Tamao puffed up like an angry cat. "Eh? Usually you always let me use them!"
Kudo Hazuki seemed to see through everything and showed a teasing expression. "This wet wipe is different from the usual ones. This must be why you're in such a good mood today."
Kubo Nagisa turned her head away, showing a face that had been seen through but was still stubbornly denying it ¦•ˇ₃ˇ•｡) "What are you talking about?"
Kudo Hazuki: So easy to read.
Taira Tamao: "Stingy!" ヽ(*.＞Д＜)o゜
...
Saiki and Shiraishi walked into the classroom and saw Izumi Yuu, who had just returned, and greeted him. [Izumi, you finished your test too?]
Izumi Yuu turned around and walked over to Saiki. "Oh, yeah. Saiki-kun, Shiraishi-kun, and… Shi… Shikimori-san."
"Shikimori-san?"
Shiraishi turned to look.
"Ah, Saiki, hey there, hahaha!! Hahahaha!!!"
Right now Shikimori had a dark face, looked deeply distressed, was radiating black aura, and her smile was a little scary.
Saiki glanced over, instinctively took two steps back, and moved next to Izumi Yuu.
Shikimori: …
Saiki [You okay?]
Shikimori turned her head and pouted. "I'm fine."
[Yay, Saiki is still worried about me.]
Saiki: ...