Suspicion

Okino Rinka, keenly aware of something, did not disturb the two, who were enjoying their conversation.

She just stood by the side, invisible, until the club activity ended.

And in the yoga club room, by the changing room,

The girl, who had dawdled until the end, looked at Chifuyu Tsukimi who had already closed the door and went out and then turned her head to face Otome who was waiting for her with a troubled expression:

"Sister Otome, why don't you go first? I just remembered that I have a few books that need to be reviewed that I forgot in the classroom."

"I'll wait…" Although Rinka would always go home with Okino Kazuki when she wasn't participating in club activities, the thing which she often did,

But as long as she does come, she would go home with her.

So, upon hearing Okino Rinka's words, Sakuragi Otome instinctively wanted to wait for her.

But out of curiosity, and eager to know whether Tsukimi Chifuyu really had anything to do with Brother Fuyumi, how could Rinka Okino let Sister Otome follow her.

She was just curious, and just wanted to find out something exciting, but she didn't want to ruin the relationship between the two.

Not to mention the deep relationship between the three of them; Brother Fuyumi had saved her from the brink of despair before and she couldn't be a white eyed wolf, harming the deep relationship she was so envious of.

She didn't want to do anything that could leave the slightest bit of dent in the relationship between them.

If Brother Fuyumi didn't have any relationship with that girl then it's well and good, and if he did have something, then she'll leave it to Brother Fuyumi to solve.

So, before Otome could finish speaking, she was already being pushed toward the door by Okino Rinka.

"Oh come on~ I'm not a child anymore, it's just a book, no need to wait."

"And I'm so hungry today, I want to go home and eat the meal you cooked."

"You~"

Although she was not a child, Rinka's coquettish look made Sakuragi Otome's heart soften.

So she didn't insist any further.

"Alright then, be careful on your way home."

"You too, Sister Otome."

Standing at the door of the dressing room, Okino Rinka waved to Sakuragi Otome who was walking away.

Then, after watching her completely disappear from view, she quickly returned to the changing room and after changing her clothes, rushed out of the club activity room.

From the second floor, watching only a blurred silhouette of Tsukimi Chifuyu,

Okino Rinka chuckled a bit and then hurried downstairs.

.

.

At the corner of the academic building, she crouched by the wall, looking at the girl standing tall and graceful not far from the entrance of the teaching building, and had to sigh.

Such a type was rare, and few boys would dislike her.

Her delicate, charming face.

Her plump, attractive, and very flexible body.

Plus her submissive nature of 'even if you bully me, I won't get angry'.

Even if it's Fuyumi-nii, it's normal for him to fall in love with her.

After realizing that Tsukimi Chifuyu did not go to the football club to find her boyfriend as she had claimed,

The girl felt a slight tilt in her internal balance.

When she finally saw a tall, handsome man with brown hair, coming out from the academic building and taking Tsukimi Chifuyu's hand,

Okino Rinka found that she was not too surprised.

Silently watching the two figures walking away while talking and laughing, the girl, who felt a bit unwilling to come back empty-handed, slowly pulled out her phone from her skirt pocket.

Click—

Looking at the photo, in the sunset, the handsome man and the beautiful woman walked hand in hand, smiling.

Okino Rinka felt the smile on Brother Fuyumi's face in the photo was strangely stiff.

Thinking that the photo was a bit odd, she raised her head and looked in the direction where the two of them were going, only to see Sasaki Fuyumi had already turned his head.

'Must be my imagination…'

Scratching her head, no longer paranoid, Okino Rinka swiped her finger and set the photo as encrypted.

......

.....

'Rinka, why would she harm me?'

Sasaki, extremely sensitive to gazes, noticed someone spying on him as soon as early as he exited the academic building.

Initially, he thought it would be that donkey-faced, blonde Masaru Oga, as he had done such a thing earlier in the morning.

However, to his surprise, it turned out to be Rinka.

He had always been good to Rinka.

She shouldn't be setting him up.

Reflecting on this, he couldn't recall any instances where he had offended her, which made him breathe a sigh of relief.

Then, as he thought of it, a new confusion arose in his mind.

Why would Rinka be here?

Was it intentional or an accident?

One must know that the buildings for the first and second years are not the same, and the school has more than one entrance.

So logically and emotionally, Rinka shouldn't be here.

Moreover,

From the look of it, it didn't seem like she was just passing by; rather, it looked like she was waiting for someone.

But there was no need to be so secretive if she was waiting for him.

Unless... she came with someone.

She came with that idiot Chifuyu.

She knows that idiot Chifuyu...

Oh, right, she and Otome are both in the yoga club.

Memories, like bookmarks in the pages of a book,

Previously unnoticed memories surfaced in his mind along with his doubts.

But the more he remembered, the more doubts he had.

According to the temperament of the idiot Chifuyu, it was very unlikely that she would take the initiative to make friends with others.

And although Rinka, with her outgoing nature, might indeed initiate conversations with others.

But if the two of them were really close, she shouldn't be hiding and watching from a corner.

And though Rinka is outgoing and lively, she is definitely not the type to be overly enthusiastic about someone she isn't close to.

Yet, there she was.

So... was she waiting for him?

Had she sensed something about his relationship with Chifuyu...

But she isn't too familiar with Chifuyu...

That means, she must have sensed something from someone else.

The one who could connect her to him... must be Otome?

With the temperament of the idiot Chifuyu, it was also unlikely that she would take the initiative to talk about this with others...

That means, it was Otome who brought it up first.

She noticed something...

Then Rinka thought of him...

Does that mean Otome knows about his affair with idiot Chifuyu?

With that thought, his heart tightened and Sasaki instinctively thought to call and test out Otome's intentions.

But as soon as his hand was inserted into his pocket, he suddenly woke up.

What am I panicking about?

Currently, he and that idiot Chifuyu were just friends who were a bit closer than usual.

No matter what Sasaki thought, at least in Chifuyu's heart, or if anyone else asked, she would surely say they were just friends.

So, even if Otome knew he was acquainted with that idiot Chifuyu, the answer she would get would still be "just friends, classmates."

However... if the two really did talk about him...

Then there was no need for Rinka to follow...

She wouldn't come all this way just because he had a female friend she was concerned about.

Unless... Otome suspected something and was noticed by Rinka.

But how could Otome suspect anything?

Sasaki never left any traces on his phone.

And he hadn't mentioned that idiot Chifuyu in front of Otome either.

What made her suspect anything?

Frowning in confusion, and with a headache from thinking too hard, Sasaki was about to rub his forehead when he suddenly sensed a delicate fragrance and felt soft hands near him.

.

.

Turning his head, he looked at Chifuyu, who was smoothing his brow.

"What's wrong? Did something happen?"

Looking up at the boy's furrowed brow, Chifuyu reached out her pale, delicate hand, gently smoothing his forehead as if she were handling a cracked treasure, with careful strokes.

And inhaling the faint cosmos-like scent that wafted from Chifuyu as she drew close, Sasaki's eyes suddenly sharpened.

He thought he had found the reason.

Girls have sensitive noses.

Whenever he hugged that idiot Chifuyu, her fragrance would inevitably cling to him.

So, Otome must have noticed it when he hugged her.

And the recent change in Otome's attitude... happened right after the day he hugged that idiot Chifuyu.

No wonder Otome took the initiative that night.

And how aggressively affectionate she was that night, trying to fight desperately even though she couldn't handle it, it turns out she was afraid that he would get seduced and taken away by others.

Now that he understood the sequence of events,

Sasaki's furrowed brow slowly relaxed.

And Chifuyu, thinking her efforts had worked, giggled foolishly.

Seeing her goofy expression, the bot ruffled her hair:

"I was just thinking about the upcoming exam. I've been arriving so late, my grades probably won't be great."

"Huh~ How were Fuyumi's grades before?"

Since Chifuyu sat behind him to his side, she didn't know that Sasaki slept as soon as class began.

And his seating position, due to his late arrivals, wasn't indicative of his grades.

So until now, she didn't really know how well Sasaki performed academically.

.

.

Well this is normal.

Boys rarely discuss grades when they meet, even less so between boys and girls.

Facing the idiot Chifuyu's question, Sasaki, who couldn't bear to say that he was at the bottom, just said vaguely.

"You'll see when the grades come out."

Though she would find out sooner or later.

But in front of a top student, admitting that he finished his English exam in just a couple of minutes was still somewhat concerning for Sasaki.

However, this wasn't the main reason he chose to remain silent.

Rather than saying it himself,

It would be better for Chifuyu to find out on her own.

When she sees his grades,

Even if Sasaki doesn't say anything, Chifuyu would likely offer to tutor him on her own initiative.

But... he definitely would definitely not accept it right away.

Instead of agreeing immediately,

Sasaki would rather have Serizawa tutor him,

And then let this idiot see his improvement.

Afterwards, she would surely compare him with Takagi.

One earnestly reviews and improves grades.

The other slacks off and shows no progress.

The disparity would then be obvious.

And then, even if she wanted to find relief for Takagi in her heart.

Then there must be something wrong with one of them.

With the fragile and sensitive temperament of the idiot Chifuyu,

She might end up blaming herself.

Well she would definitely blame herself.

When she feels down and doubts herself,

Sasaki would then take the initiative, asking her to help him study.

After his grades improve, making her realize it wasn't her fault, she would start to doubt Takagi.

At that point, even if she tries to find excuses, it wouldn't cover up the fact that Takagi doesn't care about her.

And when that time comes, it would be Sasaki's moment to strike.

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