The next morning, at eight o'clock.
When Akane Nanao arrived at school, she didn't head to the baseball club. In the past, she always looked forward to seeing Katase Shoya there, but now, because of that unpleasant man, she didn't even feel like participating in club activities.
"Akane."
Katase Shoya waved when he saw her near the shoe cabinets. He had been waiting in the lobby for quite some time. "I was just looking for you. Coach Tougou said you probably wouldn't be coming to club activities today, and it turns out he was right, so I waited here."
"Shoya-kun."
Akane Nanao was genuinely happy to see him, though she disliked hearing Tougou's name. "I've been pretty busy lately and haven't had much time for club activities. Sorry, Shoya-kun."
"It's fine. If something comes up, it can't be helped. I'll talk to Coach Tougou."
"Please don't mention that man anymore, Shoya-kun. Did you need something from me?"
"Ah… Akane, do you have time for lunch? I was hoping we could eat together—just the two of us."
Seeing his hesitant invitation, Akane Nanao smiled softly. "Sure, no problem."
This is the first time Shoya has invited me.
As Katase Shoya headed toward the club, Akane Nanao climbed the stairs while humming quietly, her mood clearly improving. Suddenly, she noticed a familiar figure ahead and froze for a moment. She quickly walked over and greeted him.
"Good morning, Kazuma."
"…"
Only then did Akane Nanao realize that Kazuma was completely ignoring her. His gaze was fixed on a tall girl approaching from the opposite direction. It wasn't just him—many students in the corridor were staring at her as well.
"That's Tosaka-senpai, a second-year student."
"Just like the rumors say, she's incredibly beautiful. And I heard she comes from a very wealthy family."
Amid the admiring voices, a few girls whispered with thinly veiled malice, "So what if she's pretty? Didn't the Tosaka family run into trouble recently? I bet she'll be just like an ordinary person soon."
Tosaka Fuyuka appeared not to hear any of it. Her beautiful features, outstanding appearance, and graceful figure, paired with her refined bearing, made her stand out effortlessly. Yet her beautiful face remained faintly indifferent.
Her expression suggested complete detachment from the world around her.
"That's Tosaka Fuyuka," Akane Nanao explained softly. "A second-year student. She's beautiful, elegant, excellent academically, athletic, and from a distinguished family. She's practically perfect. No wonder she's so popular. Kazuma-kun, you've been staring this whole time."
Kazuma: "???"
"I was drawn to her wish list," Kazuma muttered inwardly. "I clearly saw an exclamation mark just now—how did it disappear so suddenly?" He frowned, utterly confused.
What's going on here?
"Stop looking," Akane Nanao said with a small smile. "Someone as perfect as her lives in a completely different world from us, Kazuma-kun."
Kazuma: "…"
The senior student at the center of everyone's attention ignored the surrounding chatter. She walked past Kazuma calmly, a faint breeze following in her wake, before disappearing down the corridor. Kazuma watched her retreating figure and silently remembered her name.
In Class B of the first year, Kazuma's seat was in the last row by the window. He wasn't sure if this counted as the so-called "protagonist's seat," but when he glanced at the overweight student sitting in front of him, his eyelid twitched and he quickly looked away.
"Good morning, Kazuma-kun."
Kazuma had barely sat down when the greeting interrupted his plan to sleep. He hadn't rested well the previous night. Looking up, he saw Kanna Hiiragi smiling at him, making the corner of his mouth twitch.
This troublesome woman…
Her seat was also by the window, but in the first row. Normally, Kanna Hiiragi entered through the front door, but today she deliberately came in from the back, passing by Kazuma's seat. Kazuma didn't notice this detail, but the male student in front of him did.
Tazaki glanced at the gentle, smiling girl in surprise, then turned to Kazuma behind him. He couldn't understand why the popular Kanna Hiiragi would greet someone so unremarkable with such familiarity.
Damn it… I'm so jealous.
Several other students shared his reaction. Kazuma noticed the curious gazes directed at him and frowned. He hated being the center of attention. "What is it?"
"Can't I say good morning if nothing's wrong?" Kanna Hiiragi replied sweetly. "We're friends now, aren't we?"
In truth, even she didn't understand why she had deliberately taken this route. Since last night, her thoughts had been in turmoil. The memory of Kazuma's sudden appearance—his expression, his presence—lingered vividly in her mind.
Those thoughts made her unusually sensitive whenever she saw him, and she found it increasingly difficult to behave normally around him.
Kazuma discovering her secret yesterday had only accelerated her emotional confusion, causing her feelings to spiral even faster.
Without saying much, she took a deep breath, her cheeks flushed, and quickly returned to her seat. She put down her backpack, put her legs together, and then stared blankly at her desk. When her classmates greeted her, Kanna Hiiragi just gave them a perfunctory response.
Oh no, could it be because I was fantasizing about Kazuma-kun all night that I kept thinking about him every time I saw him today? He probably didn't notice, right?
Thinking about it carefully, I realized it wasn't a big deal. Anyway, he already knew what he should know and what he shouldn't know. There were no secrets left in front of him. He had even seen my body naked, so what was there to be embarrassed about?
After all, this is the only topic she can discuss with him right now.
If it's Kazuma, it should be okay, right?
Throughout the morning, Kanna Hiiragi couldn't concentrate on the lesson, her mind wandering to lewd thoughts. During breaks, she pretended to chat with her friends, but she would always secretly glance at Kazuma.
The last period in the morning is an outdoor physical education class.
Instead of changing into her gym clothes in the locker room, Kanna Hiiragi made up her mind and quietly came to Kazuma's side, poking his shoulder.
"Kazuma kun, um, could you come with me for a moment?"
"???"
"I need your help with something..."
Kanna Hiiragi pretended to be calm, and anyone who didn't know better would really think she had something important to discuss with him. But Kazuma glanced at the wish list.
[Wishlist (Kanna Hiiragi): I want to do this, if only with Kazuma-kun]
Kanna Hiiragi, you're not serious, are you?
We've only known each other for a day!
This is only my second day in this new world!