Welcome back Tristin Cote-Slayer. A total f 8 bonus chapterws this week. Sheesh...Y'all ain't letting me rest ...
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"Just now I heard you talking about someone from the baseball club. Does he come here often?"
Nozomi, with his usual shameless bravado, wrapped an arm tightly around Sanshokuin Sumireko's delicate waist. On the other side, Pansy-nee—Nichiji Sumire—refused to be outdone, firmly clinging onto him as well. The scene looked like something straight out of a rom-com anime, with the lucky protagonist caught in a sweet yet absurd triangle.
Sanshokuin Sumireko nodded nonchalantly, her tone calm and composed.
"Yeah. He drops by a lot."
Nozomi feigned confusion, brows rising in mock innocence. "Eh? I didn't even notice. There are too many boys around who glare at me with envious eyes. Can't possibly keep track of every admirer-turned-hater."
He gave Sumireko a soft smile, eyes twinkling with mischief. "Besides, when I'm with you, Sumireko, I only have eyes for you."
Sumireko rolled her eyes, cheeks slightly pink. Typical Nozomi—his silver tongue was sharper than any cursed sword.
"Oh please, don't forget I'm still here," Nichiji Sumire huffed dramatically, puffing out her cheeks as she gave his side a sharp pinch.
Nozomi let out a playful yelp, catching her slender hand mid-pinch. He grinned at her, then laced his fingers with hers.
"How could I ever forget you, Pansy-nee? You've officially joined Sobu High, haven't you? Please take care of me from now on."
Nichiji Sumire's expression softened as her lips curled into a smile like blooming cherry blossoms. "Okay, okay. Let's get along, you philandering classmate."
Nozomi only chuckled. He never minded her teasing.
After a lazy, cozy hour in the library with the twin Sumires, Nozomi found himself resting his head once again on Nichiji Sumire's lap, like a pampered cat lounging between two queens.
As for Oga Taiyo, the baseball club guy who occasionally wandered into the library under the pretense of reading but always ended up glancing at the girls—Nozomi couldn't care less.
Let the guy stew in his jealousy.
He'd given both Sumireko and Nichiji Sumire magic cards, after all—another gift from Frieren. Whether it was hidden protection or emergency teleportation, the girls were safe.
And beyond that...
If danger really came knocking, the system would definitely throw him a quest. That's how this anime-like reality worked.
Double insurance. Just like a good shounen protagonist planning for the next arc.
Time passed unknowingly, the warmth of the afternoon sun pouring in through the library windows.
---
Meanwhile, at Suimei;
Nanami Aoyama stepped quietly into the art room, her eyes immediately catching sight of Shiina Mashiro.
There she was.
A slender silhouette of ethereal grace, sunlight tracing highlights into her platinum-blonde hair as she painted in silence. Clad in her school uniform, the picture of serenity, her white knee-high socks peeking under her skirt—the same ones Nozomi had carefully picked out for her this morning.
Shiina was completely immersed in her canvas.
Even as class ended, she remained, brush dancing across the paper, every stroke like a soft whisper only she could hear.
Some students lingered briefly, admiring her divine aura, but they always left with a tinge of defeat in their eyes.
Because no matter how much they tried, they couldn't match her.
Shiina Mashiro was already a world-renowned artist, her brush speaking truths others hadn't even begun to understand.
Nanami stood by the door, her heart feeling oddly tight.
She hadn't really paid attention before… but was Mashiro always this alone?
Nozomi's words echoed in her mind. His gentle request:
"Please take care of Mashiro."
That guy… he must've noticed. He always noticed things like this.
Nanami let out a quiet sigh and entered the room. As she approached, Mashiro finally turned around, her expression as blank as ever, yet her actions filled with trust.
"Mashiro, are you done painting? It's time to head home."
"Okay. I'm done."
She nodded, setting her tools down with care before extending her soft, delicate hand.
Nanami felt a blush rise to her cheeks but still took her hand gently.
Mashiro leaned slightly on her as they left the art room together.
…It really felt like she was walking a lost child home.
Nanami's heart trembled with a strange mix of fondness and confusion.
Meanwhile—
Nozomi received a message on his phone.
From Kusami Runa.
"Meet me at the park near the station."
His face twitched.
That park… wasn't it the same place where he went on that totally accidental, somewhat romantic, definitely-not-a-date rendezvous with Sakurahara Momo?
As his mind unhelpfully replayed the scene, Kusami's image popped into his brain.
That soft, innocent face.
Those round, slightly bouncy assets.
Ahem. Right.
No matter how he tried to deny it, those were the traits that had left the deepest impression on him — a pure-hearted girl with a disarmingly gentle allure. He couldn't help but respond to her invitation. After all, when a beautiful girl calls, what else is a guy supposed to do?
He arrived at the park quickly, the same one where he once had a rendezvous with Sakurahara Momo. Nostalgia mixed awkwardly with anticipation as he sat down on a bench, waiting.
Suddenly—
A group of girls passed by, their lively chatter filling the air, until their footsteps halted. They turned and stared directly at Nozomi.
There were three of them.
Each one had dyed hair — one a sharp crimson, another a striking violet, and the last a playful blonde. Their makeup was thick but not sloppy, giving them a flashy, rebellious aura. Their uniforms were provocatively altered: buttons undone, skirts hiked slightly too high, jackets tied around their waists or sleeves casually rolled up to flaunt smooth, fair wrists.
They were unmistakably delinquents—gyaru-style girls, full of boldness and sparkle.
Nozomi returned their stares with a calm, laid-back smile. He wasn't the type to be easily flustered, especially not by a group of flashy girls playing tough.
"What's up, ladies? Something on my face?" he asked, voice relaxed, a playful glint in his eyes.
The tallest of the trio, the one with violet hair, tilted her head and smirked. "Hey, handsome. We need a favor. Can we count on you?"
Nozomi blinked. "What kind of favor?"
"Nothing sketchy, promise," she said with a laugh. "Just pretend to be my friend's boyfriend for a bit."
That made Nozomi raise an eyebrow. "I'm sorry, but... we don't even know each other. Aren't you worried I might take advantage of the situation?"
The blonde girl giggled. "If it's you, I think my friend wouldn't mind being taken advantage of."
"Unfortunately, I must respectfully decline," Nozomi replied with mock formality, giving a small bow from his seated position. "As you can see, I'm waiting for someone — a girl, in fact. I'm not the type to double-book."
The crimson-haired girl folded her arms with a pout. "You haven't even met my friend yet! Isn't that a bit cold?"
Nozomi shrugged. "Even if you're all stunning, I don't go around playing fake boyfriend for strangers. If this is some setup to frame me or pull a prank, what happens if things go south? Who's going to have my back then?"
"Jeez, you really are no fun," the blonde muttered, puffing her cheeks in annoyance.
Before tensions rose further, one of the girls pulled the pouting leader aside. They whispered among themselves for a moment, then returned to Nozomi, noticeably more serious.
"Okay, we get it. But just hear us out. We're not trying to trick you or anything," the violet-haired girl began, more earnestly this time. "We're all from Nishikizuta High. Our uniforms are legit."
She motioned to the slightly altered school outfits, which upon closer inspection still bore the emblem of their school.
"One of our friends — a really sweet girl — has been getting harassed by some creeper lately. He even told her to meet him here today. We're super worried, so we thought if she had a boyfriend with her, he'd back off."
Hearing that, Nozomi leaned back and let out a breath. "So you chose me 'cause I look reliable? You sure I'm not just some guy you're using as a meat shield?"
The trio exchanged sheepish glances.
"W-Well... maybe a little of that," the crimson-haired girl admitted, scratching her cheek awkwardly.
Nozomi chuckled, shaking his head. "You girls really are something else."