Chapter 22 : Winter Coming

Sudo: "Argh, damn it! What's up with those guys?"

Sudo, who had just arrived at school, advances towards Horikita's seat expressing frustration. I really like this guy... It's like an owner and a pet.

Sudo: "The C-Class bunch, or rather Ryuen, has been picking fights since morning. Seriously pissed me off."

Horikita: "You didn't use abusive language or resort to violence, did you?"

Sudo glares lightly at Horikita and bows his head.

Yeah, thanks for the training.

Sudo: "I didn't do anything. Just ignored them completely. They're like monkeys, idiots, constantly trying to pick fights."

Sudo vents his anger by pounding his fist into his palm. Is this an extension of the confrontation with Akihito yesterday?

Sudo: "He seems to have been tailing Akihito... and also Miyake."

Horikita:: "Miyake too? He's been quite active lately."

Sudo: "What's his aim? Planning to cause an incident like the time he set me up?"

Horikita: "We can't say for sure now. But we should think about countermeasures. Absolutely avoid getting physical, okay?"

Sudo: "I get it. I won't break our promise. Even if I get punched, I'll stay calm."

He's on a different level compared to the old Sudo. Perhaps Horikita's discipline is working?

After school, a chat notification rings from the group.

["If you can come to Keyaki Mall, come, to the usual spot."]

Since Ayanokoji, who was nearby, also received the message, i tries to invite him.

Horikita: "Your face is grinning and it's creepy."

Ayanokoji: "Who?"

Horikita: "You, there's no need to say it; you should be aware of yourself. You seem to have really blended in. And also, Horagasaki-kun, or were you always this integrated?"

Jin: "Are you sad because Kiyotaka left the loner group? Oh, I see."

Mocking Horikita with a grin, Ayakoji's arm is scratched with nails. Wait, didn't this happen the other day?

Jin: "Li-lie, it hurts, hurts, hurts, I was just kidding! It hurts, really!"

Ayanokoji looks at me with pitiful eyes.

Help me out here.

.....

Soon, they reach Keyaki Mall, and everyone is gathered.

Haruka: "um, Aki's club activity?"

Akito: "I'm skipping today."

Keisei: "It seems like the C-Class guys showed up again."

It seems they are lenient about taking breaks; if they don't feel like it, they skip. Honestly...

Akito: "Are you okay, Keisei?"

Concerned about Keisei, Aki shows a contemplative gesture.

Keisei: "So far, nothing directly. But I've been seeing C-Class students on the way home more often."

Jin: "Isn't he being followed!"

Keisei: "Maybe..."

I can't help but interject. However, the girls haven't experienced anything, especially the boys who are cautious, and someone is even following me.

Jin: "Keisei might not notice, but maybe someone is keeping an eye on him."

Haruka: "Stalker? Gross."

Hasebe murmurs while hugging herself with her hands. Of course, it's a problem if boys are targeting girls. Ryuen might be manipulating girls.

 "By the way, is it possible that there's a strategist in D-Class? Koenji's personality is like that, but he's smart and physically strong, isn't it possible?"

 "I don't think so... Would Koenji act for the sake of the class?"

"But, what if it's a fake image?"

"Creating a character with a wild personality?"

"The true form is a calm and clever strategist... Is it possible?"

"No, no, no, no, no."

Everyone shakes their heads unanimously. It seems genuine, considering the long association.

"But somehow, I think there is a strategist in our class."

"Why do you think so, Keisei?"

Questioning Keisei's doubts, Aki throws a question.

"Just a feeling. Maybe because D-Class has been making such progress lately."

"But, how can Ryuen be so sure that it's not Horikita-san?"

For something unknown, there's a momentary pause in the conversation.

"Could it be Hirata-kun?"

"You said that Hirata was actually giving you instructions behind the scenes?"

"I don't see him as someone who would do something like that, but I can't say that it won't happen."

"Isn't it possible for Jinjin too? He gives off an aura of lack of motivation, but wouldn't he be great if he got serious?"

For some reason, the story came to me. However, I don't have much to do with Horikita; in fact, he did make some moves on the deserted island, but I left the rest to Ayanokoji, and I can't say that Ayanokoji is the culprit here.

"Why would he do that? Even if he has a mysterious aura, considering his proximity to Horikita-san, it's not strange to be suspected due to the circumstances."

"Do you think I'll act for the class?"

"""""no"""""

Even if you don't say it that clearly...

Then Aki suddenly recalls something as if he remembered.

"By the way, Jin, during the cruise ship exam."

Seriously this guy?

"Oh, what is it?"

"What's going on, Aki? Did Jin do something?"

Well, it's okay to talk about it here. Aki looks at me, and with eye contact, I give him permission to speak.

"I was in the same Snake group as Jin, but after Koenji's Monkey group, the exam ended, right?"

Happy that Aki and Hasebe remembered that, they nod and concentrate.

"It was Jin who finished the Snake group's exam."

Since I can't lie about this, I nod.

"Well, it was surprisingly easy to figure out."

Even Aki, who is usually expressionless, seems somewhat surprised. Well, that's true.

"Jin, why did you do that?"

Keisei looks at me with suspicion. I've never done anything for the sake of the class until now, so I decided to honestly explain.

"I just wanted to enjoy the cruise ship... Is that not okay?"

Saying that, everyone sighs. Did I say something bad?

"Well, Jinjin is the type who's okay as long as he's fine."

Haruka says with an expression of amazement, hugging herself. However, since I'm not a strategist, I also make that clear.

"Well, I'm not a strategist. I don't know what happened during the deserted island or the sports festival, so I was curious."

Saying that, everyone starts pondering. Then Sakura timidly joins the conversation.

"Hey, Jinjin."

"Yeah?"

"Can I ask you something without you getting mad? ...Is it possible that the strategist is not actually you, but people just got confused and marked you?"

"Too bad, but I'm on the receiving end of advice from Horikita. So, it's not me."

"Well, Kiyopon has a mysterious element, considering his proximity to Horikita-san. Given the circumstances, it's not surprising to be suspected."

Everyone seems to think that Keisei was misunderstood. It's understandable; poor Kiyopon.

...…

The next day after school, as I'm preparing to leave the classroom, I realize that the deadline for borrowing books is today. I immediately need to return the books to the library. As I pick up two novels from my locker, something happens.

"Ayanokoji, follow me. We need to talk."

Kiyotaka is being taken away by Chabashira-sensei. Well, that can be left aside. I head towards the library.

Upon reaching the library and approaching the book return slot, I find a girl with silver hair tinged with aqua.

"Oh, is that you, Horagasaki-kun?"

"Oh, Shina."

Seems like she's engrossed in reading a mystery novel she likes. Super cute. Let me say it again; super cute.

"After school in the library is nice because it's quiet and you can enjoy reading books in peace."

Shina explains the merits of the library and after-school time with a smile. This atmosphere, having such a fragile girl in the library after school, is the best situation.

"Hey, what book are you reading?"

I ask because I don't usually know what she reads. I peer into Shina's face, and she blushes, turning her face away.

"Um, it's a bit close..."

(Horagasaki-kun has a beautiful face... There's an elegant atmosphere that doesn't feel like a classmate.)

Maybe I got too close; she seems displeased. Well, it's my bad.

"Sorry, did that bother you?"

I look at her, and she turns her face away again with a pout. Yeah, she's quite upset.

"Well, um... I'm not mad, but being too close is bad for my heart..."

Sorry, I won't get closer. I won't enter within a 50m radius. Eh, won't I run out of places to stand?

"Uh, sorry about that."

"Why is Shina apologizing?"

"Well, I thought you might be upset..."

"No way. It's sad if you turn away, but... right?"

Saying that, I peer into Shina's face again, and she turns her face in the opposite direction skillfully. What is this? It's interesting.

"Um... to be honest, Horagasaki-kun is very cool."

"Huh? Oh, um, thanks..."

Embarrassed by the sudden compliment, I'm sure my face is quite red now.

"So, when you look at me with such a beautiful face, it's hard for me to reciprocate..."

"Oh, sorry about that."

I look at her again, and she skillfully turns her face away. What's interesting is that.

"Well, Shina, until when are you here?"

"I'll finish at a good stopping point and then leave. If you don't mind, would you like to go home together?"

"...Sure, but can I go to the restroom first?"

"Yes."

Shina replies with a smile. Seriously, so cute.

As I say that and look at her, I again catch a glimpse of a man in his mid-40s with dark brown hair and a slicked-back all-back hairstyle. We pass each other slightly, and after a while, I feel his gaze. But I want to believe it's just my imagination.

(Never thought there'd be someone like this even here. But, Kiyotaka, I'm confident that there's no one more talented than you.)

...

When I stepped out into the entrance, Shiina was waiting for me.

The dormitories for boys and girls diverged here, and since Shiina's direction was different, we had to part ways here.

"If you have time, please come to my room."

"Okay, I'll come visit when I have time."

"Sure."

Shiina answered with a beaming smile. She's so cute.

I couldn't investigate much about Class C, which left me feeling unsatisfied, but I thought I would see her again as I walked down the tree-lined path. Looking up at the sky, I saw that it was getting dusk, and the white smoke rose above my head and disappeared faintly.

"...It's cold."

When I breathed out from my mouth and nose, white breath came out interestingly, and when I inhaled, my face became cold.

The temperature difference is too extreme, it's troubling.

As I continued walking down the tree-lined path, a female student with orange, straight, long hair and a flower-shaped hairpin passed by me, looking cold as she talked on the phone.

"We really started to hang out less since becoming the student council president, huh, Miyabi?"

I heard a name I recognized and continued walking.

"Haha, just kidding. It's not like I'm angry or anything, but next time, I'll treat you to something, okay? Be prepared."

Yeah, her thighs are sexy. She looks cold, but sexy.

She really understands high school boys well.

"The student council? Sorry, I'll pass. I'm not interested in that. And why are you confessing to me? You know that you're getting involved with everyone, right!"

Nagumo-senpai is dangerous...

I didn't intend to eavesdrop, but I can't help but hear things that I shouldn't.

"Huh? You've got an interesting junior, huh? Oh, you were talking about that the other day. I haven't talked to that kid yet, but I'm curious. Huh? Are you jealous? Well, if I win against Horikita-senpai, I'll consider it. Yeah, see you later."

After ending the call, she let out a white breath.

"Miyabi is getting carried away. But it's rare for him to be concerned about a junior like that. Well, if that kid is as strong as I hear, maybe he can beat Miyabi... I wonder."

She went from talking happily to suddenly toning down. Scary... I'm glad I didn't get close to her. Well, she probably hasn't noticed my existence anyway.

"Uwaah!"

"Black...!"

An accident occurred, an accident occurred.

The person who seemed to be a senior stumbled on the road leading to the dormitory and fell over dramatically. Since I could see inside her skirt, I inadvertently muttered, and it seemed like my voice was heard as she looked around and headed towards me. Hey, stop, don't come here, seriously!

"Hey, you're a first-year, right? ...And you look cool."

I'm glad to be told that, but I don't really want to get involved with this person.

"...No, I'm Hatanaka, a first-year from Class C."

"Lies are not good~. You have the school emblem, don't you?"

"Tsk."

"You clicked your tongue!? You're a mischievous one, aren't you, junior? Can you tell me your name?"

It seems like my plan to escape has failed.

This senior is definitely a second-year student, right? She seems to be a bit of a plaything for Nagumo-senpai. She must be having a lot of fun... Even though I haven't done anything wrong, it's impossible to avoid hearing what she's saying.

"I'm Jin Horagasaki from 1-D..."

My senior seemed to say "ha" when he heard my name, and he smiled and grabbed my shoulder.

"Are you the junior that Miyabi was talking about? I'm Nazuna Asahina, a 2nd year class A student. Anyway, you're quite rude to your seniors, aren't you?"

The senior seemed a little angry and complained as his eyes became more intense. Ah, I like that face.

"Um...yes, sorry."

"Yeah, yeah, I like honest guy. By the way, are you good friends with Miyabi?"

Asahina-senpai elbows me in the side.

"Ah, it's a little higher."

"You're not giving me a massage!? You should really respect your seniors...Horagasaki-kun, maybe you've had your hands on a lot of girls, right?"

"...not really"

Let's leave it alone as to why it turned out. But I know that I'm surprisingly good friends with Nagumo-senpai, well, I guess I heard about it from him.

"Oh, hey hey! How about we go eat together? There's something I want to ask you."

She's used to dealing with guys. But I won't go. 

I have something to do now, which is to binge-watch "Shokugeki no Soma" Season 5. I haven't watched it since Soma took the first seat... So I'll firmly decline.

"I see, my junior-kun saw my panties and then abandoned me..."

That's the way you say it. Leaving it like this will only make me feel worse, so I bluntly brush my hair and agree.

"Oh, wow, I understand, so let's go, okay?"

When i said that, she gave me a grin that seemed to indicate that the mission was a success, and reluctantly decided to follow Asahina-senpai.

"Do you want to eat something? It's my treat."

"Eh...I can't really ask a woman to pay for it."

"Oyo? Even though it's a joke, it's solid inside."

"Well, that's my first impression, and if it gets any worse, I'll say school life is going to be dangerous..."

"Ahahaha, it sure looks bad."

After all, I don't know what it is, it's bad for the public safety, it's bad for the environment, it's boring, it's sharp, it's scary, do I have the worst impression of it?

"I see, then I'll stop going out to eat."

seriously? Okay, so now we're disbanding...

"Let's go to your room and get some food!"

Apparently not. Well, it can't be helped now that we've come this far, but I wonder if there were any ingredients...Ah, but there was something left over. Shall I bring you?

"Alright. Shall we go then?"

"....huh?"

"What?"

Asahina-senpai says with a devilish smile that she wonders why there is hesitation here.

"Oh... are you trying to seduce me, by any chance?"

"What are you talking about, you?"

"Huh, me!?"

Oops, I messed up. It seems I got carried away with Senpai unintentionally. Asahina-senpai pats my shoulder warmly, saying, "Don't call me 'you,' I'm still your senpai," and she does so while smiling playfully. Cute, huh?

"Anyway, you're coming, right?"

Saying that, I peer into Asahina-senpai's face, and she blushes and nods, saying, "Yeah."

=================================

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