Saint

On this day, Yusuke arrived at school three minutes later than usual.

In the Japanese class, the teacher was slowly explaining Matsuo Basho's haiku.

"'Gather the summer rains, and the most turbulent rivers,' this sentence describes the scene of the rains in May, collecting in the rivers, rushing forward."

"Now let's discuss in groups." The teacher closed the book. "The people whose names I call will form a group of four. Do you all understand?"

"Understood."

The students answered in unison.

The class was divided into ten groups.

Whether it was luck or misfortune, Takei, Yamaguchi, and Yusuke were grouped together again, along with another girl.

Initially, everyone talked about the haiku briefly, but because of the presence of the mischievous duo, the discussion quickly veered off course.

"Hey, do you know Sawamura from Class F of the first year?"

Yamaguchi raised the topic first, and it received an immediate response.

"Ah! Are you talking about one of the two beautiful girls in our school—that Sawamura?"

Takei exclaimed.

"There's been a lot of talk about her lately. Even though she's a first-year student like us, she's already won an award at an art exhibition and has become the ace of the art club. It's amazing."

"That's right, that's her!" Yamaguchi nodded repeatedly. "Don't you think she's cute? I can't resist girls who wear knee socks."

"Haha, is that so, Yamaguchi?"

Takei tilted his head and asked.

"When you say that, do you like the knee socks themselves or Sawamura?"

Yamaguchi sighed, then patted Takei on the shoulder. "You don't understand at all, Takei."

"Huh?" Takei was puzzled. "Understand what?"

"Is that even a question?" Yamaguchi's eyes sparkled. "The appeal of knee socks is incredibly cute!"

"They highlight the smooth lines of the legs and they leave room for the imagination."

"They're not as revealing as socks, nor as plain as pantyhose. They can be paired with various outfits."

"Girls look more youthful, and older girls look sexier. They're the best!"

After Yamaguchi finished, Takei was still puzzled. "Is that so?"

Seeing this, Yamaguchi, feeling that his explanation failed, thought for a moment and said, "Takei, have you been to Akihabara?"

Takei nodded. "I've been there."

"Have you been to the maid cafe...?"

"I've been there."

"That's good." Yamaguchi nodded oddly, then said in a tempting tone, "The maids there dress like this. Don't you think they're cute?"

Imagining that picture for a moment...

"I see!"

Takei suddenly froze and said to Yamaguchi, "It's really cute!"

"You understand? Hehehe."

"I understand! Hehehe."

The two shared a knowing laugh.

"Anyway, as long as you understand!"

Yamaguchi nodded in satisfaction, then turned to look at Yusuke.

"Then Yusuke, you understand...why do you have to run so far!"

Yusuke had unknowingly moved more than a meter away from them and was sitting next to a girl.

"Yusuke friend's are really special."

"Huh?" Yusuke looked up blankly. "When you say friend's...?"

"Yamaguchi and Takei."

"...No," Yusuke shook his head. "I don't know them."

"Eh...is that so."

Megumi's gaze shifted slightly upward, and then she calmly spoke.

"But they are looking at you."

"No, maybe they're looking at you, Megumi."

"Eh...why would they?"

Her expression seemed a little confused. "Why?"

"Adolescent boys tend to stare at cute girls. It's just how they are."

Yusuke said lightly.

The girl looked over suspiciously. "Are you talking about me?"

"Um."

"Thanks... But it feels too sudden, it doesn't seem sincere."

"It's an illusion."

Yusuke looked away from the textbook. "Thanks for your notes."

"No need to be so polite."

Megumi said calmly. "Besides, Yusuke, you invited me to coffee last time."

Yusuke glanced at her involuntarily and said with emotion, "Megumi, you are really a good person."

Calm, rational, kind, and friendly—being around her made people feel at ease.

Megumi Kato was such a person.

"Hey, Megumi-san."

"Um?"

Yusuke thought about his words. "If you need help in the future, come to me. Don't hesitate."

"Well, alright."

The girl said in an unpretentious tone and nodded slightly at the same time.

"Don't ignore others!"

Yamaguchi rushed in front of the two.

"Ah, it's Yamaguchi-san who likes to interrupt others."

"Cough-cough!"

Yamaguchi, who received a 10,000-point crit, covered his chest with one hand and pointed at Megumi with the other, but looked at Yusuke and said with a trembling voice, "Y-Yusuke...who is this?"

"Megumi Kato," Yusuke said calmly. "Our classmate."

"Guh!"

Yamaguchi wiped the sweat off of his forehead. "Since when was she here—!?"

"When the teacher arranged the group discussion," Yusuke said lightly. "And your voice is too loud..."

"Was she here from the beginning?! Why don't I remember?!"

Yamaguchi whimpered, then looked at Megumi.

"Um...Megumi-san, how much did you hear...?"

"Ah...sorry, everything."

"Everything...?"

Repeating what Megumi said, Yamaguchi's eyes gradually lost their light.

Seeing this, Yusuke sighed and looked at him with pity, thinking silently.

'This person probably won't have any luck with girls for all three years of high school.'

The bell for the end of class rang at this time.

"Class dismissed."

The teacher announced and walked out of the classroom with the lesson plan in hand, glancing back with doubt before leaving.

There, Yamaguchi stood quietly, as if transformed into a statue.

"I'll go back now, Yusuke."

"Okay."

Yusuke watched the girl with short bobbed hair get up and walk towards her seat.

When passing by Yamaguchi, she stopped and thought for a moment before speaking.

"Yamaguchi-san?"

"...?"

Yamaguchi turned his head mechanically.

"I won't tell anyone about your love for stockings or maid cafe's..."

Saying that she looked back at Yusuke, then turned her gaze back. "So, Yamaguchi-san, don't worry. Just go back to your seat."

At that moment, Yamaguchi seemed to see the Holy Light of a saint.

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