Megumi Kato’s Contact Information

On the podium, Shizuka Hiratsuka was giving a Japanese language lecture, and most of the students below were listening intently.

One reason was that exams were approaching, and even some of the procrastinators were making a final push.

Another reason was that Hiratsuka, a teacher who genuinely cared about her students, also enforced her "iron rule," earning both respect and fear from many students who dared not drift off.

As an ordinary student, Shin was also paying his usual close attention to the lecture.

However, midway through the class, Megumi Kato, who was seated in front of him, suddenly turned around, placed a small note on Shin's desk, and then naturally turned back.

Shin: "?"

For a moment, Shin didn't register it—was Megumi passing him a note in class?

Passing notes was fairly common among students, but Megumi… Her action was rather conspicuous.

She turned her entire body to place the note—unless the teacher was blind, she'd easily see it, right?

Instinctively, Shin glanced at Hiratsuka on the podium, who seemed to sense his movement and gave him a look.

From Hiratsuka's brief gaze, Shin could tell her message—don't get distracted; pay attention to class.

Alright, since Hiratsuka hadn't noticed, Shin couldn't rat Megumi out. Using his ability to sense "Ki" he subtly opened the note while tracking Hiratsuka's movements.

With his current sensory abilities, he could detect every movement Hiratsuka made through her "Ki" allowing him to perfectly avoid her gaze.

The note from Megumi Kato didn't contain anything complicated; it simply had her contact information on it.

It was obvious that she had overheard Shin's conversation with Akagi before class and learned that he and Yukino Yukinoshita had already exchanged contacts.

For whatever reason, she also wanted to add him as a contact—after all, Shin was the only one who consistently noticed her presence. It was only natural that she wanted to talk with him more.

Not overthinking it, Shin took out his phone and added Megumi's contact under the desk.

To Shin's surprise, Megumi immediately accepted the request and even sent a smile emoji in return.

Shin looked at her back in front of him—she was sitting perfectly straight. Had he not seen her message, he would never have guessed she was secretly using her phone in class.

Megumi… You're breaking the rules, playing with your phone in class.

Finding it amusing, Shin also evaded Hiratsuka's gaze and replied to Megumi.

"Focus on the class!"

"But Shin, aren't you secretly using your phone too?"

"My grades are better than yours, though."

Indeed, while Shin aimed for a quiet, unassuming life, his academic performance was still above average in his year.

Compared to Megumi, who was generally mid-level, he was indeed doing slightly better—though just a bit.

"Using grades to bully me, huh?"

Maybe because of the texting app, Shin could somehow sense a slight teasing tone in her words.

Then again, it made sense; Megumi's usual tone was always calm, making it hard to gauge her emotions.

If she'd spoken the same words aloud, the teasing feeling probably wouldn't have come through.

—Of course, it could just be Shin's imagination. He didn't want to fall victim to the three great illusions of life.

"You can just call me Megumi."

Shortly after, Megumi sent another message, one that carried a bit more weight.

Shin knew why she said this—she had overheard Akagi casually calling Shion Tamiya by her first name.

But to let him call her by her first name… Did Megumi already see him as a close friend?

"Then you should drop the 'Ran-kun' too."

Shin certainly didn't mind becoming closer friends with Megumi, but her formal way of addressing him was a bit distant.

"So… Shinnu Chan?"

"…Megumi, maybe you should consider keeping a little distance."

Shin felt somewhat helpless. Ever since Megumi realized she could interact normally with him, it was like her sense of personal space had vanished.

While it wasn't bad to get closer to a pretty girl, he was slightly worried that her lack of boundaries might get her into trouble one day.

"Don't worry. Besides Shin Chan, nobody else even notices me."

Megumi's response had a subtle sadness—though she was likely used to being ignored, these words still evoked a hint of pity.

Shin wasn't overly concerned with how others viewed him, but when he thought of Megumi's usual situation, he couldn't help but feel a chill.

"Alright, I understand. I'll talk with you more from now on."

Shin figured Megumi must feel a bit lonely and wanted to get closer to him as someone who could notice her.

But Shin didn't mind; after all, how many people would love the chance to get closer to a pretty girl?

"That would be great. (#smile)"

He didn't know if it was his imagination, but Shin felt Megumi seemed livelier over text than in real life.

And so, without anyone else noticing, the two quietly established a connection.

Later, they continued chatting on LINE, discussing daily life, family backgrounds, and getting to know each other better.

Class time quickly passed, and until the end, Hiratsuka didn't notice that Megumi and Shin had been texting under her nose the whole period.

Shin, relying on his "Ki" sense, could always stow his phone away just before Hiratsuka glanced over, pretending to pay attention.

Megumi, on the other hand, kept her head down, eyes glued to her phone under the desk, but Hiratsuka never noticed her.

…In some ways, Megumi's low presence had practically reached the level of a superpower.

To be continued…

It is a new story guys so please donate your power stones, I wish that the fic reaches to a maximum number of audience.