Time flew by, quickly arriving at the second Friday of May.
When Shikime Natsu arrived at the classroom, he noticed the empty seat beside him. His cute deskmate was a little late today. Usually, Kamuro Masumi arrived earlier than he did. But today was extremely rare. Even when the class bell rang, his deskmate still hadn't appeared.
"Hmm?"
Shikime Natsu raised his eyebrows, looking at the empty seat, a trace of doubt flashing through his eyes. Could she be sick? As for being late... that possibility was eliminated from his mind in less than 0.1 seconds. With Kamuro Masumi's competitive and somewhat awkward personality, she would absolutely never allow herself to be the one dragging the class down. Especially after knowing that Class Points were directly linked to student attendance, she would be even less willing to become a burden to the class.
Therefore, the only explanation was—she was sick.
However, Shikime Natsu recalled that when he was tutoring her in his dorm last night, that fellow looked quite normal. Did she suddenly fall ill in the few hours after going back? Was it because she worked too hard?
Shikime Natsu thought about how, even after he had imparted knowledge with 100% mastery, Kamuro Masumi continued to review her lessons quite diligently, determined to defeat Sakayanagi Arisu. Thinking of this, Shikime Natsu decided to visit her after school.
Class A's first period in the morning happened to be the homeroom teacher Mashima Tomoya's English class. Mashima Tomoya walked into the classroom, looked around, and his gaze lingered on Kamuro Masumi's empty seat for a moment before he spoke calmly.
"Before class starts, let me explain. Kamuro-san has taken a leave of absence today due to feeling unwell," Mashima announced. "Everyone need not worry. Although this school implements a supremacy of ability system, it still has a human touch. As long as it is not an unexcused absence or deliberate truancy, normal sick leave is permitted, and Class Points will not be deducted."
"Of course," he paused, adding, "If the number of sick leave days exceeds a certain limit, or the frequency is too high, it will also have a negative impact on the class evaluation. So, everyone should pay attention to their health management usually. Class begins now."
After school in the afternoon.
Shikime Natsu was just about to pack his things and leave when two figures blocked the front of his desk. One was Yamamura Miki, and the other was Morishita Ai.
"Umm... Shikime-san," Yamamura Miki spoke first, her voice as thin as a mosquito's buzz. "Are you planning to go visit Kamuro-san?"
"Mn, I have that intention." Shikime Natsu nodded without hiding anything.
Receiving an affirmative answer, Yamamura Miki heaved a sigh of relief, then mustered up her courage to speak. "Then... Morishita-san and I would like to go together, is that okay?"
"Together?"
Shikime Natsu glanced at Morishita Ai beside her with some surprise. He could understand Yamamura Miki wanting to go; after all, these two could be considered on speaking terms in class. But Morishita Ai... Did she also have a friendship with Kamuro Masumi? This was a blind spot in Shikime Natsu's knowledge.
"Shikime Natsu." Morishita Ai stood with her hands on her hips, looking at him solemnly. "We are following along mainly to prevent you from entering the girls' dormitory alone and getting caught as a pervert or a panty thief. If, by any chance, you can't control yourself, Shikime Natsu, and do strange things to Kamuro Masumi while she is sick and weak... wouldn't Kamuro Masumi be too pitiful?"
This guy, she really dared to say anything as always.
"Then I really thank you for your supervision," he smiled, not refusing. "Let's go together then."
At this time, seeing the situation, other classmates also came over one after another.
"Shikime-san, then please pass on our greetings."
"Wishing Kamuro-san a speedy recovery."
Shikime Natsu nodded, agreeing to them one by one. As the leader of Class A, it was his duty to represent the whole class to console a sick classmate. Of course, even setting aside this identity, based solely on his current relationship with Kamuro Masumi, he had to go visit her.
Since it was a visit to the sick, going empty-handed was obviously not appropriate. He planned to bring some fruit. It just so happened that his dormitory was always stocked with various fresh fruits, thanks to his ability to generate 10kg of food out of thin air every day; there was absolutely no worry about running out of stock.
"Shikime-san, is there anything you need me to help prepare?" Yamamura Miki asked enthusiastically.
"No need, I've got it all ready." Shikime Natsu waved his hand. "Whether it's the consolation gift or the class notes missed today."
Speaking of class notes, Shikime Natsu actually didn't have the habit of taking notes. After all, for him, possessing a photographic memory meant he could remember everything after hearing it once in class. Using a pen to record those things was purely a waste of time; he wasn't someone who liked to look for trouble.
However... well... since his cute deskmate was sick, as a responsible tutor, he naturally had the obligation to help her make up for the missed lessons. Although he had actually already led Kamuro Masumi to preview today's course content, and with her level of mastery, there shouldn't be any big problems, giving her a detailed set of notes would make her feel much more at ease, even if just for review.
After all, ever since making that bet with Sakayanagi Arisu, Kamuro Masumi had been working very hard. Now, even if it was content she already understood, she would seriously write it down. This effort, Shikime Natsu saw it in his eyes, so naturally, he had to give corresponding support.
Just as the three were about to set off, an elegant figure slowly walked over. Sakayanagi Arisu, leaning on her cane and wearing her signature faint smile, stopped in front of Shikime Natsu.
"Ara, it seems you are going to visit the sick," she said softly, her violet eyes twinkling with meaningful light. "Then I'll trouble Shikime-san to bring a consolation to Kamuro-san for me as well. Please tell her, I am very much looking forward to this midterm exam. Even if she falls ill a few days before the exam, I won't go easy on her because of it. After all... the world of winning and losing is very cruel, isn't it?"
Although these words were spoken in a gentle tone, the arrogance and confidence within were palpable. It was as if, in her view, whether Kamuro Masumi was sick or not would not affect the final result at all; victory was already in her bag.
Shikime Natsu looked at this confident Sakayanagi Arisu and just chuckled, nodding his head. Sakayanagi Arisu could only be happy for these few days. Once a few days passed, she wouldn't be able to smile anymore. Shikime Natsu had placed this week's 'Observer' on Sakayanagi Arisu to prevent this little princess from doing things like looking at past exam questions. Fortunately, Sakayanagi Arisu still had her own pride and did not choose to rely on past exam questions.
After Sakayanagi Arisu turned and left, Morishita Ai, who had been silent all this time, suddenly tilted her head and complained while looking at her back. "What a weirdo."
"..."
Hearing this sentence, Shikime Natsu couldn't help but look at Morishita Ai with an extremely subtle expression. Within Class A, Morishita Ai was the only one who shouldn't be saying such things, right?
Feeling Shikime Natsu's gaze filled with deep meaning, Morishita Ai puffed up her cheeks in dissatisfaction. "Shikime Natsu, your gaze is really rude, yeah. Are you thinking in your heart... that Morishita Ai is the weirdo?"
Shikime Natsu didn't answer directly, but that look already explained everything.
Leaving the teaching building, the three walked towards the direction of the girls' dormitory. After walking for a while, Shikime Natsu suddenly stopped in his tracks. He turned his head and looked at the two behind him.
"Umm... what is Masumi's dorm number?"
"?"
Hearing this sudden question, both Yamamura Miki and Morishita Ai were stunned. The two looked at each other, then looked at Shikime Natsu in unison, their eyes filled with disbelief.
"Shikime Natsu." Morishita Ai's eyes widened, as if looking at some alien creature. "You and Kamuro Masumi are inseparable every day, attending class together, eating together, and even tutoring together after school... Could it be that you haven't secretly visited her dorm?"
Although Yamamura Miki didn't say anything, the expression on her face meant roughly the same thing.
Shikime Natsu was somewhat helpless. Since knowing Kamuro Masumi, it was basically Kamuro Masumi running to his room. As for Kamuro Masumi's room... he really hadn't been there. Thinking about it carefully, the girls' dorms he had been to could be counted on one hand. Apart from going to help Horikita Suzune learn how to make friends and mooching a meal there, and carrying the injured Asahina Nazuna back to her dorm last time, he basically hadn't been to any girl's dorm.
"I truly don't know." Shikime Natsu said honestly, then took out his phone. "I'll ask her."
He sent a message to Kamuro Masumi.
[Masumi, what is your dorm number? I want to come visit you.]
After sending it, the three stood by the roadside waiting for a reply. About two or three minutes later, the phone vibrated. The screen displayed "Read," and immediately after, a short reply popped up.
[XXXX]
Shikime Natsu announced the dorm number, then put away his phone. Then, as if remembering something, his gaze fell on the two girls again.
"What about Yamamura-san and Morishita-san's dorm numbers?"
As the leader of Class A, grasping the basic information of class members was also very necessary. Dorm numbers sounded unimportant, but at certain times, they were also very crucial.
"Umm... mine is XXXX." Yamamura Miki answered honestly.
"I've remembered it." Shikime Natsu nodded and memorized the number. Then, he looked at the last one. "What about Morishita-san?"
Facing Shikime Natsu's inquiry, Morishita Ai didn't answer as readily as Yamamura Miki. Instead, she took half a step back, hugged her chest with both hands, and looked at Shikime Natsu with small eyes filled with vigilance.
"Shikime Natsu..." She narrowed her eyes, her tone serious. "After knowing my dorm number, are you planning to do something bad? For example... taking advantage of the dead of night to secretly sneak into Morishita Ai's dorm, and while I'm sleeping, do this and that excessive thing to me?"
"..."
Shikime Natsu sighed helplessly. "Although Morishita-san is a girl, I suggest Morishita-san watch less of that kind of stuff."
"I don't watch it! I am a girl with a very clean heart!" Morishita Ai retorted.
"If you don't want to say it, then forget it. It's not like I absolutely have to know anyway," Shikime Natsu said. "It's just that... if you get sick in the future, I won't go visit you. You can just stay in the dorm all alone and miserable. Don't come crying that no one pays attention to you then."
"?!"
Hearing this, Morishita Ai immediately became unhappy. "Shikime Natsu, don't you understand what 'push and pull' is?"
Morishita Ai pointed at Shikime Natsu, criticizing him righteously. "At a time like this, you should show a strong desire like 'I really want to know Morishita Ai's dorm number,' and even beg bitterly. Then I would show a look of 'I really can't help you,' and tell you reluctantly. This is a girl's reserve. You actually gave up directly? Too insincere!"
"..."
Yamamura Miki at the side listened with a dumbstruck expression. So... one has to show reserve at a time like this? Then me saying it directly without even thinking just now... wasn't that too unreserved? Did it make me seem very easy?
Yamamura Miki fell into deep self-doubt.
Shikime Natsu directly ignored Morishita Ai's protest and looked at her with a scrutinizing gaze. "Compared to that... Morishita, do you sincerely want to visit Kamuro? And not harboring some ulterior motive? Like wanting to cause trouble?"
"How is that possible!" Morishita Ai immediately retorted, her face full of righteousness. "Morishita Ai is a girl with a quite clean and pure heart! I'm not like you, Shikime Natsu, whose brain is full of ulterior motives! We are classmates, isn't it only right to care for each other?"
"Is that so?" Shikime Natsu raised his eyebrows.
He was already used to Morishita Ai's way of speaking, putting labels on him at any time. But he was indeed very curious why Morishita Ai would be interested in Kamuro Masumi. In his impression, these two didn't have much interaction in class. After all, Kamuro Masumi was by his side most of the time, and occasionally stayed with Yamamura Miki. If it was just Yamamura Miki coming to visit Kamuro Masumi, or Yamamura Miki going to visit Morishita Ai, there wouldn't be any problem.
But... it just had to be Morishita Ai following along to visit Kamuro Masumi. It was truly strange. Mn, Shikime Natsu had just seen it; Morishita Ai definitely had ulterior motives, but as for what exactly those thoughts were, he didn't know yet.
Soon, the three arrived downstairs at the dormitory and were preparing to enter the elevator. Morishita Ai suddenly leaned close to him, lowered her voice, and quickly said a string of numbers.
"XXXX."
After speaking, the expression on her face became quite flat again. "If Shikime Natsu gets bored one day and plans to invite me to watch ants moving house together... you can come to this dorm number to find me."
"..."
Shikime Natsu looked at her and smiled helplessly. This guy... in the end, she still said it.
"Also..." Morishita Ai suddenly added another sentence. "Although saying it doesn't matter, but... if Shikime Natsu really secretly made a copy of my dorm key and then sneaked in at midnight... I will kick you out without mercy."
Shikime Natsu chuckled and shook his head. If he really planned to do it, hmph hmph, mere Morishita Ai wanted to stop him? She was underestimating him too much.
Shikime Natsu pressed the button for his own floor to go back and get the fruit.
____
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