Simp Sasaki

After Sasaki left, Kouyou, who had been watching their interaction from afar, bounced over to Shinomiya and teasingly winked:

"You say you two are just friends, but I've never seen you smile this happily even when you went out with Yamano-kun."

Restraining the smile on her face, the latter didn't think there was anything wrong with chatting and laughing with Sasaki, who had met her mother and other elders.

After all, they had neither stayed alone in a room together, nor had any intimate contact, nor discussed anything ambiguous.

Their relationship could be described as a very normal friendship.

Feeling justified, she rolled her eyes at her friend's teasing:

"How could I laugh when we suddenly run into a third wheel while hanging out?

Especially when Kouyou is so thin-skinned, and you keep teasing him like that."

"Excuses~"

Sniffing, having discerned that Natsuha hadn't separated from Yamano yet, Kouyou stopped pushing the CP and instead pulled her into the changing room, talking about some girls' topics.

Sasaki did not have to wait long outside the clubroom.

He had just taken out his phone and started chatting with Ayumi when he heard familiar footsteps behind him.

Among the numerous chaotic steps, there was one particularly light and unhurried one.

Hearing it, the boy put away his phone, turned around, and looked through the crowd.

Since it was the end of the Aikido club activities, many people were leaving.

But some people are naturally like shining gems among the gravel, pearls in a sea of grey.

Even though Natsuha Shinomiya's height was on the lower end in the Aikido club, he spotted her immediately.

Unlike her spirited look in the Aikido uniform, the girl in her school uniform exuded youthful vitality unique to a young girl.

Her light purple hair, no longer bound by a hair tie, flowed naturally down her back.

Apart from a small hairpin with hydrangea petals clipped in her bangs, her silky hair had no other adornments.

Under her neatly trimmed bangs was a pair of bewitching red eyes.

Her gaze, bright and lively, exuded an extraordinary charm that young boys could hardly ignore.

Despite her amorous eyes, her delicate, pale face was small and sharp, giving her a particularly serious and dignified look when she didn't smile.

Although she appeared unapproachable, her slender figure under the school uniform was mature enough to leave other girls her age envious, adding a bit of charming cuteness to her otherwise stern demeanor.

The pleated red checkered skirt she wore, paired with knee-high black nylon socks, revealed a stretch of dazzlingly fair and well-proportioned thighs.

While not as full and soft as Tsukimi's, they were toned and firm from exercise, a fact evident from the graceful lines of her legs as she walked.

Noticing Sasaki's gaze, Natsuha quickened her pace and walked up to him, slinging her bag over her shoulder.

"Sorry to keep you waiting."

"Well, I don't accept your apology."

As he spoke, Sasaki glanced down at her shiny knee-high socks encasing her fair calves and then looked up to meet her surprised eyes, correcting her mistake earnestly.

"Apologizing requires wearing black stockings. Your apology lacks sincerity."

"Black stockings..."

Instinctively, she wanted to look down at her socks but realized she couldn't see her feet without bending over.

Realizing she was being teased, Natsuha Shinomiya glared at the boy with a mixture of shame and annoyance, his serious face only making her more flustered.

"Sasaki-kun, you're too bad..."

After speaking, she turned her blushing face away, striding quickly with her long legs, clearly not wanting to speak further with the guy who had just teased her.

However, because they were already friends and her initial impression of Sasaki was not that of a frivolous person, her expression was more embarrassed than annoyed when she scolded him.

The slight annoyance came not from Sasaki's sudden comment, but from him saying it in a public place.

There were so many people at the entrance.

Sasaki, as an outsider to the Aikido club, might not care about his image, but she, as a well-known member, certainly did.

Fortunately, the pathway was wide enough, and their conversation, amidst the bustling noise, was like a small splash in a quiet river, unnoticed by others.

Otherwise, she might have been furious enough to strangle Sasaki.

Sasaki, understanding why Natsuha was annoyed, did not feel she was genuinely upset by her mild scolding.

Pursuing a girl requires three traits: boldness, attentiveness, and thick skin.

Among these, having thick skin is paramount, as it prevents many unnecessary awkward moments.

As long as there is no awkward atmosphere, the two can quickly establish a friendship, and as friends, one can say daring yet appropriate things.

Combined with occasional small touches and interactions arising from careful care, any decently attractive person can pursue a girl.

After all, before entering university, many pretty girls' boyfriends aren't particularly handsome or wealthy.

They simply dare to be playful and can make the girls happy.

So, instead of hesitating and wondering where you went wrong, it's better to be proactive.

Being proactive may not guarantee results, but being passive certainly won't.

Sasaki didn't wait for Natsuha's embarrassment to fade before apologizing.

Instead, he quickly caught up with her, talking about how she looked great in her current outfit but might look even better in others.

And his flattery and coaxing soon brought a smile to the girl's face, seeing which he suggested, "If you're upset, how about I buy you a crepe? I know a good place..."

Though Natsuha responded minimally due to Sasaki's earlier teasing, she wasn't genuinely angry.

Her rosy cheeks didn't show impatience, and while she didn't verbally agree to his invitations, she didn't refuse either.

Instead, she slowed her pace, following Sasaki with a "lead the way" demeanor.

Although Sasaki looked a little attentive, he seemed a bit of a bootlicker in the eyes of passers-by.

'After all, the girl didn't respond to you much, so what are you doing but being a bootlicker?'

However judging someone as a bootlicker or not is not for bystanders to decide.

Regardless, Sasaki would eventually become a "licking" dog.

However, how, when, and where he licked was not up for those who wished to lick but couldn't to judge.

.

.

.

**Baseball Field.**

"That's it for today! Dismissed!" announced the baseball coach, ending the day's practice.

And as he did so, most of the team members, panting heavily, collapsed to the ground.

The scattered baseballs and bats were left for Nanao Akane, responsible for the team's logistics, to clean up.

Although the team rules forbade dating among baseball members, Akane was the only girl in the team, and her well-proportioned figure drew everyone's attention.

Consequently, some boys, disregarding the rules, sought to converse and get closer to her.

However, because she was the only girl in the baseball club..

So if a boy wants to talk to her or get close to her, he or she won't do anything rude or disrespectful.

After politely declining yet another offer of help, the girl wiped the light sweat from her forehead, listening to the laughter nearby.

She turned to see a group of boys in white baseball uniforms, fanning themselves with their caps, laughing at the boy who had offered his help.

Ignoring their increasing volume, Akane was about to continue her task when she noticed a familiar figure passing by outside the fence.

Clad in the school's black uniform, the tall, lean figure's brown hair caught the fading twilight, giving it a golden hue.

His smile was as gentle and bright as the twilight itself.

Though the distance made it impossible to hear his conversation, Akane could tell he was enjoying his chat with the purple-haired girl beside him. 'Are they a couple?' she wondered.

Before she could dismiss the thought and get back to work, she noticed him turn and smile at her.

Out of courtesy and a bit of

fondness, she returned his smile.

Although there was no further interaction between them—one moving away, the other bending to pick up balls—the baseball boys who had been watching Akane were struck by this scene.

Seeing their gem, still unattainable, smile brightly at an outsider was something they couldn't accept.

Yet, what could they do?

They were just ordinary classmates with Nanao Akane.

They didn't even have the right to ask what her relationship was with that boy.

So, apart from feeling sad and wailing internally, there was nothing they could do.

But they were just them.

As Akane's prospective boyfriend, Katase Shouya also witnessed the scene and felt inclined to ask.

However, thinking he had already inquired earlier, asking again might make him seem immature and distrustful of his soon-to-be girlfriend.

Watching Akane's delicate and graceful figure, Shouya, not wanting to leave a bad impression by appearing paranoid, decided to push the matter aside.

It was just a polite smile; no words were exchanged.

He convinced himself he was overreacting.

Moreover, Akane had promised she wouldn't meet that boy again.

So, it's fine, he thought, comforting himself.

With this reassurance, Shoya's previously furrowed brows and serious face brightened with a sunny smile once more.

The senior member sitting beside him was also smiling happily.

...

At the school gate, walking beside Sasaki, Natsuha noticed his head turning and, curious, asked softly:

"Do you know someone from the baseball club?"

"Not really," Sasaki replied truthfully upon hearing her question. "When I came here earlier, I passed by the baseball field and got hit by a ball that flew out. Then I talked briefly with the girl who came out to retrieve it."

"Ah?"

Not focusing on the trivial detail of Sasaki knowing another girl, Natsuha furrowed her brows and looked him up and down with concern upon hearing he got hit by a baseball.

"Are you hurt? Shouldn't you go to the infirmary?"

"I'm not hurt. The ball wasn't that powerful when it hit me; it was very light."

"That's good."

She sighed in relief but, feeling dissatisfied with the baseball club's negligence that nearly caused her friend an injury, Natsuha muttered discontentedly:

"They should be more careful..."

"How does their coach train them? Such a high fence, and they can still hit the ball out. They should really tell the school and give them a proper warning."

Hearing her stand up for him, Sasaki smiled and waved his hand dismissively.

"Sports are like that; bumps and scrapes are inevitable. I wasn't hurt, so there's no need to make a big deal out of it."

Glancing at the boy, who seemed to have brushed off the incident with a cheerful smile, Natsuha, seeing a certain someone's shadow in him, softened her discontented expression and mumbled softly.

"You are really kind."

"Kind? If I had made a fuss about it then, I would have missed the time to pick up Natsuha."

Sasaki started to bluff skillfully.

"I wasn't hurt, and even if I made a fuss, what would I gain? Maybe just an apology from some guy."

"Compared to making Natsuha think I broke my promise, this matter is too trivial."

"Uh..."