Megumi gave a faint smile, "No one ever notices me. Only Kazami-kun talks to me, so it's normal for Kasumigaoka-senpai not to have noticed."
Utaha nodded noncommittally, then turned her gaze to the calm Yusei beside her.
"Kouhai-kun really is just a Kouhai now. Having missed half a year of curriculum, technically you should still be a second-year, right?" (T/N: Kouhai means Junior.)
"It doesn't matter. I've already received invitation letters from several universities. Being a second-year or third-year is irrelevant."
Yusei felt somewhat indifferent about this. Never mind that his skills included [Genius] and [All-Rounder (Pseudo)], just the mental energy's enhancement from the Sharingan was enough to easily master this academic knowledge.
He just wasn't interested in it. If he really applied himself to studying, he wouldn't be worse than those so-called geniuses.
"Hmph. But I never realized you were so... affectionate, even promising to be desk mates."
As she spoke, Utaha subtly glanced at Megumi.
She had realized that Megumi was the girl who sat next to her at the Kendo Tournament.
Although she had short hair back then, her appearance had left some impression.
Precisely because of this... Utaha felt slightly annoyed. Presumably, back then, Yusei's targets weren't limited to just her, but also included this desk mate of his, right?
'Trying to pursue multiple routes simultaneously? Hmph!'
In response to Utaha's words, Yusei looked serious, "Don't mistake me for a playboy. Can't we all just be friends?"
He paused, hesitated for a moment, but finally decided to be frank, "Actually, I already have a girlfriend."
The steps of all three walking together faltered simultaneously, freezing completely.
Megumi stared blankly ahead without a word, and Utaha was also stunned.
She then looked at Yusei with disbelief, her expression strange.
"Kouhai... even if you're joking, you wouldn't make this kind of joke, right? I won't mock you for being single."
Yusei smiled wryly and spread his hands, "I have no reason to lie to you. I really do have a girlfriend..."
Just as Yusei was speaking, his phone suddenly rang.
He smiled apologetically and answered the call, only to find it was from Kaguya.
"Hello, what's up?"
There was a brief silence from Kaguya's end before she spoke, "This afternoon, Asuna and I will be transferring to your school."
The hand holding Yusei's phone twitched. He gave a dry laugh, "So sudden."
"Of course, it's to monitor whether you're doing anything unfaithful to Asuna," Kaguya's voice came through.
Yusei instinctively glanced at the two girls beside him. He replied guiltily, "How could that be? But why didn't Asuna mention this to me?"
Then, a familiar voice came from the other end of the phone... it was Asuna.
"Sorry, Yusei-kun. It's because Kaguya said if we both transfer to your school, I can take better care of you, so I..."
'That's not it, is it?... I clearly just heard Kaguya say 'monitor'...'
But of course, Yusei wouldn't say that. Regarding Asuna transferring, he was naturally overjoyed and nodded in agreement.
"That's fine. But I'm not a child, so I don't need you to take care of me, Asuna. Also, why is it so sudden? Why didn't you tell me earlier?"
On the other end of the phone, Asuna, who was with Kaguya, couldn't help but chuckle.
"You're one to talk. I bet you didn't bring a lunchbox, right? You're probably on your way to the cafeteria now, right? And you haven't even realized you didn't bring any money, have you?"
Kaguya, listening beside Asuna as she listed Yusei's faults one by one, couldn't help but show a trace of melancholy in her eyes.
But then she moved aside, took out a walkie-talkie, and said something into it.
At that moment, on a building near Toyogasaki High School, Hayasaka, dressed in rain gear like a special forces soldier, was holding binoculars and watching Yusei, Utaha, and Megumi walking under umbrellas on the campus.
Her tone was flat, "There are two people with him. Their identities aren't confirmed yet, but the information should be available within five minutes."
"Anything else?"
"Not for now."
''Not for now'... that meant there might be in the future, right?'
Kaguya hadn't originally planned to transfer to Yusei's school. But today, she 'happened' to learn about Yusei 'having girls on both arms' at school.
As Asuna's best friend, how could she stand by?
Naturally, she immediately contacted Asuna and suggested transferring to Yusei's school.
Actually, not seeing Yusei these past few days, Asuna had missed him terribly. Although Yui kept her company, the family of three was still missing one. Therefore, she agreed immediately.
Yusei broke out in a cold sweat. He was surprised that Asuna had him completely figured out. Having lived together for so long, she indeed knew him too well.
But the part at the end about him not bringing money was something he hadn't expected. He instinctively reached for his pocket.
Uh... indeed, it was empty.
Yusei felt helpless, 'Asuna understood me better than I understood myself.'
"Alright... Asuna, you got it all right. But how did you know I forgot to bring money?"
Asuna giggled from the other side: "When you go on dates with me, you never bother putting things in your pockets. So I guessed you still don't like carrying things in your clothes now, and you don't carry a wallet either."
Yusei was speechless. After all, the reason he didn't like carrying things on his person was because, in the game world, he had the system inventory.
But by sheer coincidence, Asuna had guessed correctly. In real life, he really didn't like carrying things on him either.
Because of his swordsmanship training, when using the Hiten Mitsurugi-ryu, his speed became extremely fast, causing things in his pockets to potentially fly out.
The crack on his phone now was from when he accidentally dropped it while practicing swordsmanship last time.
"Alright then, it's settled. Kaguya and I will transfer into your class this afternoon. You'll have to give us a proper tour of the campus then."
Asuna's gentle voice sounded again. After exchanging a few more affectionate words with Yusei, she hung up.