Chapter 77: Indirect

Although Yumiko's grades were not exceptional, they were still among the top in her grade.

As for Ryuji… well, let's just say, academically, he wasn't known for being top-tier!

"Yumiko, are you planning to use this opportunity to do something to Ryuji-kun?" Yui teased, her eyes gleaming with mischief, while Hina stifled a chuckle, clearly amused by the thought.

The teasing from her friends made Yumiko blush a little, feeling both embarrassed and a bit flustered.

"No way!" she replied, slightly defensive, though her voice betrayed some anxiety. Deep down, she wasn't trying to plot against Ryuji. It was just that she felt like they hadn't had many opportunities to get close. This bet seemed like the perfect chance to develop something more.

She glanced awkwardly at Ryuji, as if worried he might reject her idea altogether.

Seeing Yumiko like this made Ryuji smile in amusement. He was far from oblivious to her nervousness, but he enjoyed playing along.

"Alright," he said, leaning forward, "but what if I win?"

Yumiko's face lit up with excitement. She wasn't really concerned about winning or losing. What mattered most was that Ryuji accepted the bet. She didn't want him to back out, so she blurted out, "If you win, you can do anything you want to me!"

"Well, that's a tempting offer," Ryuji replied with a teasing smirk. "I agree."

Yumiko's face flushed even more, but inside, she felt triumphant. She had secured Ryuji's promise, and now she couldn't help but start daydreaming about what she would ask him to do if she won.

"Maybe a nice dinner?" she mused, before dismissing it. "No, no, that's too boring… maybe a date? Hmm, that could work."

But then, a more daring thought crossed her mind. Her face turned bright red, and she quickly shook her head to clear the idea.

"What's up with Yumiko?" Yui asked, clearly confused by her friend's sudden change in expression.

"Maybe she's just really happy," Hina replied casually, though she had a sneaking suspicion that Yumiko's mind was wandering somewhere interesting.

Meanwhile, Ryuji, still calm and collected, looked unfazed. Hina, watching him, thought, Can Yumiko really win this bet?

---

With the arrival of the teacher, the classroom quieted down, and the exams commenced. During the lunch break, as was now his routine, Ryuji headed to the Service Club.

"Are Rikka and Sanae not here again?" Ryuji asked as he stepped into the quiet room, noting the absence of the usually boisterous duo.

Yukino, who was sipping her tea, calmly placed her cup down before answering, "Their club got a new member, so they've been preoccupied."

"Ah, makes sense." Ryuji nodded knowingly. "Another Chuunibyou, huh?"

"Most likely," Yukino replied, a slight smile tugging at her lips.

Ryuji, noticing her smile, walked over and casually picked up her teacup, taking a sip.

"That was…" Yukino started, momentarily stunned, but it was already too late he had already taken a drink from her cup.

"It's good!" Ryuji said with a satisfied nod, setting the cup back down.

For a brief moment, the room fell into a tense silence. Yukino stared at the teacup, then poured herself another cup of tea, trying to remain calm.

Outwardly, she seemed composed, but if anyone looked closely, they'd see her ears turning slightly red. She wasn't used to such direct actions, and though it flustered her, it wasn't necessarily unpleasant.

"Do you dislike it?" Ryuji asked, tilting his head with a playful grin.

"No… I just…" Yukino stammered, feeling flustered.

Before she could finish, Ryuji interrupted, "If you don't dislike it, then you must like it. So, let's skip the indirect part and go for a real kiss next time."

"Eh?!" Yukino's eyes widened in shock.

Ryuji leaned closer as if he was about to kiss her, and Yukino's mind raced. Should she refuse? But even as she thought about it, her hands balled into fists, and she closed her eyes in anticipation.

Just then, the door swung open.

"We're here!" Miko and Hana entered the club, full of energy as usual.

But upon noticing Yukino's unusually flushed face, Hana tilted her head curiously. "Yukino, your face is so red! Are you okay?"

"Yeah, it's really red. Are you feeling sick?" Miko added, her brow furrowed with concern.

Ryuji, standing a few feet away from Yukino, couldn't help but smirk.

"No, it's nothing," Yukino quickly responded, her face still hot as she tried to compose herself. She turned to the window and hastily opened it, letting in a cool breeze. As the air rushed in, she finally started to calm down.

Returning to her seat, she shot a quick glare at Ryuji, who was still smiling at her.

This is all his fault, she thought, annoyed. Yet, deep down, she couldn't deny the flutter of excitement she had felt.

---

As they sat down to eat lunch together, Miko asked, "How was your exam, Ryuji-kun?"

Before Ryuji could answer, Yukino chuckled softly, drawing attention to herself. "Wouldn't it be ironic if the famous sorcerer was also a poor student? From what I remember, someone ranked at the bottom of the entrance exam."

Yukino glanced at Ryuji with a teasing smile, clearly enjoying the moment.

Ryuji wasn't offended. Instead, he raised an eyebrow and grinned. "How about a bet, then?"

"Oh? What do you want to bet on?" Yukino asked, still confident in her academic abilities. After all, she had ranked first in the entrance exam. She wasn't one to back down from a challenge.

"If my scores are higher than yours, you'll have to agree to one condition of mine," Ryuji proposed, his tone mischievous. His eyes glinted playfully as they subtly drifted downward, hinting at something more.

Yukino blushed slightly, recalling the earlier near-kiss. Still, her pride refused to back down.

"And if I win?" she countered.

Ryuji shrugged nonchalantly. "You can make your own condition."

Yukino's competitive spirit flared. She was determined to beat him now. "Alright, deal!"

Ryuji grinned, clearly enjoying the game.

Miko, watching the exchange, shook her head slightly, knowing that Yukino didn't stand a chance. As Ryuji's girlfriend, she was well aware of his hidden capabilities. Despite Ryuji's carefree attitude in class, he had an exceptional memory. He could glance at textbooks and instantly absorb all the information. Yukino, impressive as she was, had no idea what she was up against.

Still, Miko remained silent, deciding to let things play out on their own.

---

Just when it seemed the lunch break would end uneventfully, a sudden cry for help echoed through the hall.

"Help! Help!"

The door to the service club burst open, and in came Kawasaki Saki, the girl Ryuji had helped the night before. She slammed the door shut behind her, leaning against it as she panted heavily, clearly out of breath and shaken.

Everyone in the room turned toward her, their faces filled with confusion and concern.

"What's going on?" Miko asked, her eyes wide with surprise.

Ryuji, on the other hand, was more curious than concerned. He leaned back in his chair and observed Kawasaki with a calm, interested look. "Saki, what happened?"

Saki, still catching her breath, glanced around at the group of girls in the room. Upon realizing there were others present especially several beautiful girls her expression shifted to one of discomfort. Still, she straightened up and spoke, her voice quivering slightly, "I… I'm here to see you."

Her gaze fixed on Ryuji, and it became clear that she wasn't there for anyone else.

Miko blinked, then smiled warmly. "Hello, my name is Yotsuya Miko, and I'm Ryuji-kun's girlfriend."

"G-Girlfriend?" Saki stammered, clearly not expecting that introduction.

Before she could process the shock, another voice chimed in.

"And I'm Yurikawa Hana, Ryuji-kun's girlfriend too!" Hana said cheerfully, raising her hand with a bright smile.

Saki froze, her mind struggling to catch up with the information. She stared blankly at the two girls, her eyes then drifting to Yukino, the last one who hadn't spoken yet.

Yukino sighed, clearly sensing what saki was thinking. "I'm Yukinoshita Yukino," she said, slightly flustered. "And no, I'm not his girlfriend."

Saki looked between the girls and Ryuji, her confusion deepening. "What… what is going on here?"

Ryuji grinned, leaning forward slightly. "It's a long story."

Trying to shake off her confusion, saki focused on the reason she had come in the first place. "I… I didn't know where else to go," she said, her voice still shaky. "I… I ran into something again, like last night."

At this, Ryuji's playful expression faded, replaced by a more serious look. "You encountered another monster?"

Saki nodded quickly, her hands trembling slightly. "Yes! Just like last night, but this time it was even scarier… I didn't know what to do, so I came here."

Ryuji raised an eyebrow, intrigued. He had saved her from a cursed spirit the previous night, but he hadn't sensed anything lingering around her afterward. "Are you sure you encountered a monster?" he asked, his tone calm but serious. "You don't have any residual aura on you. I can't sense anything strange."

Saki's face fell. "You… you don't believe me?"

Her voice wavered with a mix of fear and frustration, as though she had desperately wanted Ryuji to take her seriously. She had come to him because she thought he understood what she was going through.

Ryuji quickly raised a hand in a placating gesture. "I'm not saying I don't believe you," he said, his tone softer. "I just don't sense anything abnormal right now. Maybe it's something different from last time."

Miko, who had been quietly watching, stepped forward. "Do you want to sit down, Saki-san? You seem shaken. Let's talk about it calmly."

Saki nodded gratefully and took a seat.

Ryuji frowned thoughtfully. "It's strange that I can't sense anything from you," he said. "If it was a powerful spirit, there would be some kind of trace left behind."

Saki looked even more distressed now, her voice small and uncertain. "So… you don't think it was real?"

Ryuji shook his head. "No, that's not it. But it's possible that whatever you encountered wasn't a cursed spirit. It could be something else."