"Huh? Why is everyone here?"
When the elevator doors opened, a slightly surprised voice reached everyone's ears.
Everyone looked in the direction of the voice.
The next second, they saw.
"Are you guys planning to go out too?"
With a cheerful laugh, Ichinose Honami appeared with two girls.
The two girls were Shiranami Chihiro, who maintained a subtle distance from Ichinose Honami, and Amikura Mako, who often hung out with Ichinose Honami and had a lively personality.
"Honami?"
Kushida Kikyou was also somewhat surprised, seemingly not expecting to see Ichinose Honami here.
"You?"
Horikita Suzune was also distracted, looking at Ichinose Honami, completely ignoring the expressions of Ike Kanji, Yamauchi Haruki, and Sudou Ken, who sighed in relief as if they had been saved.
"I-Ichinose-san..."
Sakura Airi's eyes became complicated when she saw Ichinose Honami.
After all, this person in front of her was Nanaya Hori's rumored girlfriend.
Even Kushida Kikyou seemed to think of something, smiling slyly.
"Could it be that you were also invited here by Nanaya-kun, Honami?"
At this, not only Ichinose Honami but all the girls from Class B froze.
"Nanaya-kun?"
Ichinose Honami tilted her head and was about to speak when Shiranami Chihiro interrupted.
"That's not it at all!" Shiranami Chihiro said sharply, "Ichinose-san is going to the pool with us. We all agreed to go together. It has nothing to do with Nanaya!"
Shiranami Chihiro emphasized this point.
"R-Really?"
Kushida Kikyou showed a slightly forced smile as if she had been startled.
Only Ayanokouji Kiyotaka noticed something important.
"Are you guys also going to the pool?"
Ayanokouji Kiyotaka asked without any emotion.
And it was Amikura Mako who answered him.
"Because it was too crowded the past few days, we all decided to go together on the last day. Kanzaki-kun and the others are also going, but they went to buy something first. We are the advance party."
It seemed Ichinose Honami wasn't invited by Nanaya Hori but had agreed with her classmates to go to the pool, coincidentally the same destination.
This made Ike Kanji, Yamauchi Haruki, and Sudou Ken somewhat moved.
"Three more cute girls...!"
"Great!"
"Sorry, Nanaya, but I can't help it...!"
The three of them whispered among themselves suspiciously, making Sakura Airi involuntarily distance herself, while Ayanokouji Kiyotaka turned away, pretending not to know them.
At this time, Ichinose Honami seemed to understand the situation.
"So everyone was invited by Nanaya-kun? It's a coincidence that we're all going to the pool!"
Ichinose Honami showed joy at having more companions.
But Shiranami Chihiro seized the opportunity.
"Even though he already have Ichinose-san, inviting other girls to the pool secretly is definitely being a playboy!"
Shiranami Chihiro slandered Nanaya Hori, making him look bad even when he wasn't there.
But her two classmates were used to this.
"Really, every time she gets a chance, she badmouths Nanaya-kun."
Amikura Mako joked.
"Ahaha..."
Ichinose Honami smiled helplessly, indicating she was used to it.
Seeing that Ichinose Honami didn't care about the fact that Nanaya Hori invited so many girls to the pool, Horikita Suzune stared at this girl and suddenly asked.
"Why do you like that guy?"
Horikita Suzune asked abruptly.
"Um?" Ichinose Honami blinked, looking confused for a moment. Then, hesitantly, she asked, "Are you talking about Nanaya-kun?"
"Who else?" Horikita Suzune said matter-of-factly, "I don't understand why you like him, so I want to ask. You don't mind answering, right?"
"I... I see..." Ichinose Honami scratched her cheek awkwardly, looking troubled as if she didn't know how to explain.
"Hmph." Shiranami Chihiro snorted but still watched Ichinose Honami intently, clearly more interested than she let on.
"I'm curious too. Could you tell us?" Kushida Kikyou asked, showing the typical curiosity of girls.
"...." Sakura Airi, who had been tense, suddenly forgot her shyness and edged closer, listening intently.
In contrast, Amikura Mako couldn't wait to say.
"Isn't Nanaya-kun great? Smart, athletic, good-looking, and a hot topic at school. Everyone says he can match the current student council president. Honami has great taste!"
This was basically everyone's impression of Nanaya Hori.
Leading the lowest-ranked Class D to win the uninhabited island special exam and topping the luxury cruise special exam, earning over seventy million personal points, had significantly boosted Nanaya Hori's reputation, hinting at him being seen as the first among first-year students.
Perhaps others didn't know, but the girls were well aware that after the summer vacation, Nanaya Hori's ranking on the handsome chart skyrocketed, firmly holding the top spot.
Clearly, the two special exams on the uninhabited island and the luxury cruise made everyone see Nanaya Hori's skills, witnessing his dominance, creating many fangirls, and boosting his ranking.
Thus, Horikita Suzune's question seemed pointless.
After all, there were too many reasons to like such a guy.
However, hearing "he can match the current student council president," Horikita Suzune reacted.
"Indeed, that guy's abilities are high, and I don't deny it. But saying he can match the student council president is an exaggeration."
Horikita Suzune spoke without hesitation.
"High abilities are one thing, but mental and psychological aspects are also important. Even if that guy's abilities are high, he lacks ambition, isn't competitive for the class, never gives his all, and is lazy. Compared to the student council president, who manages the whole student council, leads the best students, and seriously completes all work and studies, there's a big gap."
This was clearly Horikita Suzune's bias.
But what she said wasn't without reason.
Nanaya Hori's high abilities were undeniable, as experienced by others.
But in terms of drive, Nanaya Hori couldn't compare to Horikita Manabu.
However...
"I don't think Nanaya-kun is like that."
The embarrassment on Ichinose Honami's face disappeared, replaced by a beautiful smile.