Nanao Akane emerged from the sports shed just as class was winding down.
Yotsumoto Ryoka scanned the field, spotting her and waving eagerly. "Akane! You okay?"
Akane seemed a bit stiff, but Ryoka wasn't sure if it was her imagination.
Akane shook her head.
"Why'd it take so long?" Ryoka asked. "And where's Higashi-sensei?"
Higashi was gone.
Akane figured he'd stormed off in a huff, too embarrassed to continue teaching.
The class was in free activity mode now.
"He gave me some baseball club stuff to handle, then said he had urgent business… I don't know the details," Akane lied.
She wasn't about to spill such dark secrets to Ryoka.
Ryoka, pure as ever, nodded without a second thought.
"Oh, Ryoka," Akane said, remembering. "Matsubara… he's in Class F, right?"
"Yup."
Ryoka blinked, surprised.
She and Matsubara Ayumu were childhood friends.
She and Akane were close too.
But the two didn't know each other well, and Akane had never asked about Ayumu before.
"…Haha, relax, Ryoka," Akane said with a playful grin. "I'm not stealing your Matsubara. I just want to ask about a guy… he's in Class F."
Ayumu and I aren't like that.
Normally, Ryoka would've clarified. But when Akane mentioned a Class F boy, an image of a pale-faced boy flashed in her mind.
"Who…?" Ryoka asked.
Akane and Kobayashi shouldn't know each other. No way she's asking about him…
"Anji… Seiji, yeah, that's the name."
Relief washed over Ryoka as Akane said it. Why did she feel… unburdened?
Weird. Why the rush of relief?
"Anji… I don't think Ayumu's mentioned him much," Ryoka said, smiling softly. "But don't worry, I'll ask."
"Great!"
Akane clasped her hands in front of her face, beaming. "Counting on you!"
"What happened, though? With this Anji Seiji?" Ryoka asked.
"Oh… just need to thank him for something," Akane said, smiling.
…
"A-Ah—Achoo!"
During break, Anji Seiji sneezed, perched on Satoru's desk, rubbing his nose. "Man, who's talking about me behind my back? Did my new look catch some beauty's eye? Heh… If it's two, do I go for the petite cutie or the tall, busty one…?"
He sank into a lecherous daydream, a sleazy grin spreading.
Satoru spun his pen, ignoring his friend's delusions.
Higashi's punch had been a beast. If it'd landed, Satoru would've been out cold for at least ten seconds. Too close. NTR types were always maxed-out muscleheads, built like orcs. Matching them with raw strength was a tall order.
Going solo to save Akane had been reckless.
It was a snap decision, no time to think… He'd need to prep better next time.
Blame his pathetic system. Two combat skills: Swordsmanship Mastery EX and Illusion Breaker. The first needed a sword; the second countered supernatural powers or magic. Neither was great for a straight-up brawl.
Swordsmanship EX packed a punch, though. With a blade in hand, flattening Higashi's gorilla ass wouldn't be an issue.
For now, a sword was his best bet for safety.
But in this day and age, samurai were relics. Parading around with a katana? He'd look like a nutcase.
"…Wait." Satoru's eyes lit up.
There was a perfect excuse!
"Hey, Kobayashi, what're you scheming?" Anji babbled on. "Listen, don't dream a new hairstyle'll land you a girlfriend! You're decent-looking, sure, but compared to the great Anji Seiji, you're lightyears behind!"
"Excuse me."
Anji, now lounging with his legs crossed on Satoru's desk, was mid-rant about his earth-shattering handsomeness when a graceful figure appeared at Class F's door.
His eyes snapped to her.
She was stunning—curves perfect, face pure yet alluring. Her side ponytail, dubbed "Princess Hime," gave her a refined, docile air, but the red ribbon tying it added a hint of seduction.
She politely addressed a male classmate entering the room.
The guy trembled before her—she was that famous at Shirao High.
He knew her. Anji knew her. Satoru, of course, knew her too.
"M-Miyajima-senpai!" the classmate croaked, voice parched. "What can I do for you?!"
Sakura smiled softly. "Could you help me find—"
She was looking for someone but stopped mid-sentence, her gaze catching the back row by the window.
"No need, thank you." She nodded politely, her eyes locking onto her target.
"Holy—!" Anji grabbed Satoru's collar, shaking him. "Kobayashi! I owe you, man! A new look does bring the ladies! This isn't just a peach blossom—it's a Momotaro-level jackpot!"
"Let go." Satoru swatted Anji's hand away, deadpan. "School uniforms are pricey. Mess it up, and I can't afford a second one."
Sighing, he stood.
Sakura's purple eyes sparkled with visible amusement.
"Kobayashi-kun, I came for you," she said.
"You found my class fast," Satoru said, stepping to her side. "…Somewhere private?"
Sakura was too popular.
A crowd of fanboys and fangirls was already gathering at the door. She was used to it, but Satoru wasn't keen on being a zoo exhibit.
"Mm."
Sakura followed half a step behind, matching his pace gracefully.
"…I…!!"
Anji stretched out a hand, as if grasping for something lost.
Neither Satoru nor Sakura looked back.
"—No!!"
Anji let out a wail of despair.
In the warm air, he swore he saw snowflakes drifting, a bleak wind howling, the world cloaked in desolation.
…
…