Chapter 145 – Generous senior

I'm back!

***

Fuka Kiryuin did not conceal any details, openly repeating Nagumo's event to Kiriyama, making him quite troubled. However, knowing Fuka's personality well, Kiriyama didn't bother asking her to "hold back her words." Instead, he turned to Yukio: "This person is complicated, exactly the type who thrives on chaos. Yukio, you'd better keep your distance from her too."

"Wow, that's quite a sharp comment," Fuka retorted nonchalantly, occasionally flexing her leg elegantly: "Kiriyama, you seem to be regressing with age."

Kiriyama's face tensed in frustration: "Kiryuin, if you're unhappy with me, feel free to lead the class yourself. I'd gladly step down for you to make the decisions! I believe everyone would agree!"

"If you had shown some concern for our class initially, we wouldn't have been surpassed by Nagumo!"

Yukio slightly raised his eyebrows, intrigued by Kiriyama's revelations. It seemed Fuka Kiryuin was also from the second-year Class B, recognized for her exceptional abilities. And if she had led the class, they might still be in Class A, not relegated to Class B.

Yet, it appeared she had little concern for class standings or the resources that graduating from Class A could offer, choosing to live quite independently.

To Yukio, Fuka Kiryuin seemed similar to Koenji from the first year: both were exceptionally skilled individuals who preferred to forge their own paths.

While Yukio was lost in thought, Fuka, with a hint of apathy, replied to Kiriyama: "Not interested. I'm just pointing out that you've changed too much from your first year, you're a boring bottom-feeder now."

"What did you say?!" Kiriyama clenched his fists tightly, crinkling the packaging of the bandages he held, upset at being called opportunist by a classmate.

"Isn't it the truth?" Fuka's piercing crimson eyes seemed to cut right through Kiriyama, her demeanor exuding an undeniable force. Her presence suggested that no one could deceive her: "By choosing to cooperate with Nagumo for short-term benefits, you've only helped to inflate his power."

"After seeing the junior's growing influence, wanting to switch sides to him, isn't that just being a weathercock? Swinging whichever way the wind blows?"

'Nicely said. The more you speak, the more impressed I am,' Yukio thought as he watched, filled with contemplation. This time, Kiriyama truly seemed to be playing the villain.

Being a person of Horikita Manabu's faction, he should have been supporting Yukio against Nagumo. That was the core purpose of Horikita Manabu's current strategy.

But what happened? Kiriyama went straight to assisting Nagumo, working against Yukio's class. Then, as soon as Yukio approached him, he quickly changed his tune, claiming he wouldn't trouble Yukio's class anymore, even going as far as to cooperate against Nagumo again.

After all this back and forth, he ended up pleasing neither side and gained nothing for himself. Yukio couldn't understand why Horikita Manabu valued such a person enough to promote him into the student council.

Intimidated by Fuka's presence, Kiriyama stubbornly denied: "That, that was all for the class!"

Fuka scoffed with a sneering smile, full of unspoken mockery, conveyed entirely through her expression: "Let's just leave it at that, then."

With that, she ceased paying any attention to Kiriyama and turned her focus to Yukio, who she found most interesting. Adjusting from her casual lounge to a more proper sitting posture.

She even went so far as to gently pat her thigh through her black silk stockings.

Under the restraints of the stockings, her well-proportioned legs were perfectly outlined, not a ripple to be seen: "Junior, why don't you come sit by your senior?"

Kiriyama, with a cold expression, no longer wished to engage with Fuka, whom he considered a "madwoman," and turned to leave.

Ishizaki, grinning knowingly, led Albert away, giving Yukio a significant wink before departing.

The naive look in his eyes was especially bright this time, seemingly conveying, "Don't worry, Yukio-san, I won't tell Shiina-san about this!"

In a blink, only Yukio and Fuka were left. Yukio, of course, didn't hold back: "Since the senior has invited me so sincerely, I'd be rude to decline."

With that, he confidently stepped forward, accepting the invitation without hesitation, sitting on the long legs covered in black silk. Truth be told, it was quite comfortable, almost like being transported back to the age of nobility, sitting on those warm, cushioned benches.

Fuka Kiryuin, with a flicker of amusement and slight incredulity in her eyes, lightly patted Yukio's back, indicating his jest was taken a bit too literally for her playful invite. "Get up, you're a bit heavy," she laughed, "to think you'd actually take up the offer to sit."

Yukio moved to an empty spot on the bench beside her, relaxing comfortably before thanking her for the hospitality.

Fuka, eyes narrowing with keen interest, studied Yukio closely, her gaze filled with undeniable curiosity. "You know, despite only being here for a term, you've turned this school upside down. I'm finding myself more and more intrigued by you," she admitted. "It's the first time I've felt somewhat outdone in causing a stir."

Listening to Fuka, Yukio couldn't help but categorize her as the type to thrive in chaos, her formidable presence blending a mix of righteousness and mischief. "Thanks for the compliment, but I'm afraid I don't have a suitable thank-you gift to offer you," Yukio responded with a wry smile.

Fuka played with her long platinum hair nonchalantly, twirling it around her finger. "No need for gifts. I just wish for you to make this school a tad more interesting. After a year here, my initial excitement has waned. It's not as fascinating as I thought."

Such an assessment of Advanced Nurturing High School might leave the administration bemused, considering the elaborate schemes they've implemented, all deemed 'boring' by Fuka.

Leaning back, Yukio caught a whiff of Fuka's subtle perfume, a refreshing scent that matched her enigmatic persona. "Shouldn't you appreciate Nagumo's push for a survival-of-the-fittest environment? Wouldn't a harsher competition entertain you more?"

Fuka glanced at Yukio before standing up, her interest evidently piqued. "An overemphasis on ruthlessness misses the point of our school. It's about balance, not extremities."

"I'm curious to see how you'll change this school."

***

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