17 Pool day!

As the game progressed, Yuto face showed that he marveled at Arisu's skill, her moves precise and calculated. He found himself on the defensive, struggling to keep up with her relentless strategy.

"Your moves are quite impressive, lolli-chan," Yuto remarked, his admiration evident despite the playful banter.

Arisu smiled, her eyes sparkling with amusement. "Thank you, Rodent-kun. But I must say, you're holding your own quite well considering."

Yuto grinned, feeling a sense of satisfaction at her acknowledgment.

As the match reached its climax, Yuto found himself in a precarious position. Arisu's pieces closed in on his king, their impending threat impossible to ignore.

With a resigned sigh, Yuto extended his hand in defeat. "Checkmate," he conceded, a hint of admiration in his voice.

Arisu smiled victoriously, her eyes twinkling with triumph. "Well played, Rodent-kun. You certainly put up a good fight."

Yuto chuckled, feeling a sense of pride despite his loss. "It was an honor to play against you, lolli-chan. Perhaps I'll have to challenge you again sometime."

Arisu's smile widened, a glimmer of excitement in her eyes. "I would like that very much, Rodent-kun. Until next time."

Yuto made his way out of the library.

"Does that monster really play chess as a hobby? You two were in a plane of your own," Hashimoto remarked, his tone a mixture of admiration and disbelief.

Arisu nodded in agreement, her expression thoughtful. "Indeed, even I had to let loose a little. Regardless, it was quite enjoyable."

While Arisu and Hashimoto exchanged their thoughts on the match, Yuto found himself lost in his own reflections. "Holding back is so hard! I could have checkmated her in 15 moves!" he mused silently, frustration tingeing his thoughts. "And acting like you're struggling is a whole new level of difficulty! Maybe I should ask Kushida for some acting tips."

_________________________

"~I am going to the pool with Suzune! Kyaaaaa~" Yuto was singing while walking towards a group of people: Ayanokoji, Kushida, Sakura and ~Ho-ri-ki-ta~. 

Horikita just so happen to here the disgusting lyrics of what Yuto was singing and Yuto's melodious singing abruptly halted as he approached the group, his cheerful tune replaced by a surprised yelp as Horikita delivered a swift bonk to his head.

Rubbing the sore spot, Yuto turned to Ayanokoji with exaggerated tears in his eyes.

"Kiyo-chan, why am I in love with such a violent woman..." he lamented dramatically, seeking solace from his friend.

Ayanokoji's response was characteristically cold and indifferent. "I don't know," he replied curtly, his gaze unwavering.

As Ike, Yamauchi, and Sudo joined the group, claiming they had overslept, Yuto paid little attention, his mind preoccupied with thoughts of spending the day with his beloved Suzune at the pool.

The group set off towards the pool, their spirits high despite the scorching summer sun. Along the way, they crossed paths with Ichinose and several other Class B students also headed to the pool.

__________________________________

As Ichinose's cheerful declaration echoed through the pool area, the girls excitedly showcased their swimsuits, drawing attention to their figures. Horikita couldn't help but glance at the other girls' chests before looking down at her own.

Seeing her discomfort, Yuto approached her with reassurance in his voice. "Suzune-chan, it's fine! I love you for who you are. No need to be jeal—" His words were abruptly cut off by a swift punch to his head from Horikita.

"Horikita-san! There's no need to be so violent!" Ichinose intervened, rushing to support Yuto as he staggered from the blow.

Ayanokoji joined in, his expression deadpan as he remarked, "Oh no... he might have internal bleeding..." His comment elicited chuckles from the girls, adding to the chaotic scene.

Meanwhile, Ike and Sudo watched on, their frustration palpable.

"That bastard Kazuki! He's surrounded by girls!" Ike cried out, his voice filled with indignation.

Sudo, on the other hand, simmered with jealousy, his gaze fixed on Yuto. "That bastard is so open about liking Horikita! He's a formidable opponent," he muttered under his breath, begrudgingly acknowledging Yuto's boldness.

As Yamauchi's absence went unnoticed amidst the lively atmosphere, Yuto found himself the center of attention, his antics entertaining the girls to no end. Their pleas for him to change into his summer clothes were met with eventual compliance, and when he emerged, he certainly didn't disappoint.

Sporting a pair of black swimming trunks and an open-button shirt adorned with palm trees, Yuto's appearance elicited admiration from the girls.

"What's with that 6-pack? No, 8-pack!" one of them exclaimed, eyes wide with admiration.

"He might be the first cute and hot boy I've seen," another chimed in, her gaze lingering appreciatively on Yuto's physique.

Even Kushida, who had been avoiding Yuto since the earlier incident, couldn't help but openly admire his appearance. Horikita, too, seemed to be slightly affected by his presence, though she maintained her usual composure.

Breaking the ice as always, Ichinose complimented Yuto with a warm smile. "You look great, Kazuki-kun."

Yuto grinned in response, his confidence unwavering. "Thanks! You look quite good yourself, Ichinose-chan," he replied casually, earning a blush from the girl.

Meanwhile, Sudo attempted to draw attention to his own physique, but his efforts were largely ignored as the focus remained on Yuto.

"Let's all play volleyball!" Ike shrieked to try and divert the attention of the throng from Yuto, who agreed as he to was getting uncomfortable. Kushida finally asked, "Did anyone see Yamauchi-kun?" 

"He must have gone to use the bathroom or something.." Ike replied.

_________________________

Yuto excused himself and made his way towards the bathrooms.

Upon entering, he stumbled upon an unexpected scene. Sudo appeared to be guarding something, his demeanor tense as he interacted with a guy sporting distinctive megenata hair. Yuto's greeting elicited a startled reaction from Sudo, who attempted to mask his unease with forced cheerfulness.

However, Yuto wasn't fooled. He sensed that Sudo was hiding something, his suspicions confirmed when he heard a familiar voice to his right. Turning, he was met with the sight of Arisu, her presence sending a jolt of surprise through him.

"Oh, if it isn't Rodent-kun," Arisu remarked, her tone dripping with amusement. "I must admit, you look quite good in that dress. Fufufu..."

Yuto's shock was evident as he replied with a hint of sarcasm, "Why, thank you! You look quite sleek yourself, lolli-chan."

The unexpected exchange left everyone from Arisu's cohort, except Hashimoto, visibly taken aback. Yuto's casual use of the term "lolli" to address Arisu was met with surprise and disbelief. 

"Hey brat. Who are you?!" the megentata haired boy from the parallel direction asked Yuto in a smug tone.

Instead of answering, Yuto turned to Arisu with a confused deadpan expression, pointing at Ryuuen and posing his own question.

"Who the hell is this wannabe cool lookin' guy?" he asked, genuinely curious.

Arisu couldn't contain her amusement, chuckling softly as she watched the exchange unfold. Her cohort joined in, their laughter echoing through the corridor at Yuto's audacious remark.

Unfazed by Yuto's lack of recognition, Ryuuen introduced himself confidently. "Kakeru Ryuuen," he declared, his tone oozing with self-assurance.

Yuto's eyes widened slightly as he realized the identity of the individual before him – the notorious leader of Class C. 

"The Rodent's name is Kazuki Yuto," Arisu informed Ryuuen, her tone tinged with amusement.

Ryuuen's expression shifted, a flicker of recognition crossing his features as he recalled Yuto's association with Horikita. His demeanor hardened as he regarded Yuto with a mixture of disdain and curiosity.

"Oh... you're Horikita's dog, I see," Ryuuen remarked casually, his tone carrying a hint of contempt. "Well, you've managed to piss me off, so I shall do Horikita a favor and discipline you."

With a dismissive shrug, Ryuuen commanded his imposing bodyguard, Albert, to step forward. However, instead of cowering in fear, Yuto met the challenge with a smirk, his confidence unwavering.

"Dogs can bite, you know," he retorted, his tone filled with defiance.