"Mahiru-chan, have you and Izumi-kun known each other for a long time?"
"You actually broke the three-legged race record in one go, you guys have super great chemistry."
"Hey, hey, are you guys secretly dating?"
"..."
After leaving the track and returning to the team, many girls grinningly gathered around Mahiru to gossip and chat.
In comparison, Sora's ears were much quieter. Only a few boys he was familiar with came over to chat casually; the rest of the boys were full of envy, jealousy, and hatred.
Fortunately, the next race started soon, and everyone quickly turned their attention to the other competitors.
Having just returned victorious, Sora didn't need to compete again right away. As he was drinking water and resting, he suddenly felt someone gently poking his waist.
Poke poke poke—
The poking force was gentle and familiar.
Sora turned his head and saw Kuroneko had slipped behind him at some point.
"What's wrong, Ruri?"
"Um..."
Gokou Ruri averted her small face, the tips of her ears crimson:
"My Eyes of the Dark Night saw the future. The Earth suddenly turned into a freezing hell. Pervert Sora fainted because he didn't replenish his fluids in time..."
"I don't understand, I completely don't understand."
Sora was completely baffled.
Out of nowhere, suddenly talking about a freezing hell, it made absolutely no sense.
"Here."
Gokou Ruri reached out her small hand. In her palm rested a carton of milk. Her pretty face flushed crimson, she shyly averted her gaze:
"As long as you have this carton of milk, Pervert Sora will be able to survive."
Looking at the drink in Kuroneko's hand, Sora finally understood the girl's intentions, his gaze softening:
"Lord Ruri specifically came over to bring me milk?"
"Of course not."
Gokou Ruri averted her pretty face. Even the tips of her ears were dyed red, yet she remained tsundere, refusing to admit it:
"It is the guidance of destiny!"
Sora took the milk with both hands and said solemnly:
"I am deeply grateful. Such an important item, I will store it properly and pass it down as a family heirloom."
"Idiot Sora, hurry up and drink it!"
Gokou Ruri's small face turned even redder, unable to resist secretly stepping on Sora's foot:
"It'll be a waste if it passes its expiration date."
"I'm sorry, I really still want to keep it as a collectible."
"Not allowed to collect it!"
"..."
Gokou Ruri ultimately had thin skin. Sensing the subtle, faint gazes from people around them, she quickly fled in embarrassment.
In the blink of an eye, it was lunchtime.
The morning competitions concluded successfully.
The sports field was still lively and noisy. Many people sat directly on the field, eating bento boxes with their parents and friends.
Sora had prepared a bento for himself after waking up in the morning. However, just as he sat down, a blonde loli walked over.
"Sora, let's eat together?"
Yamada Elf's voice was crisp as she sat down on her knees beside Sora, completely unbothered by the stares of others.
Sora helplessly pressed his fingers against his brow.
It seems that besides tutoring her in her studies, I also need to teach Elf how to read the room.
With so many people secretly staring, even the most delicious food would ruin one's appetite!
"Sora, I'm here."
Anna walked over with a brisk step, holding her bento with both hands.
Noticing the gossiping gazes of the surrounding classmates, Anna's pretty face flushed slightly, forcibly suppressing the urge to flee in embarrassment.
Steady!
I can't run!
I'm Sora's childhood friend, what does it matter if we eat together?
If Elf can do it, of course I can too!
I won't lose to the thieving cat Elf!
Not far away.
Seeing the two girls sitting on either side of Sora, Shiina Mahiru gently pursed her beautiful lips. A look of hesitation appeared on her pretty face, and ultimately she didn't step forward.
If I walk over now, it will definitely cause trouble for Sora-kun, right?
Then he won't even be able to eat his bento in peace...
Although Mahiru and Kuroneko didn't come over, Sora could still clearly feel the resentful gazes from the surrounding boys.
"Thank you for the meal."
Ignoring the surging resentment around him, Sora quietly ate his bento.
"Anna." Yamada Elf's eyes sparkled. "That little sausage looks so pretty."
"Here."
Anna hesitated for a second, then picked up the small sausage and offered it over.
For 'Inmate Eight', sharing delicious food was the highest level of treatment among friends.
"Hey, hey, try my fried shrimp."山田妖精 returned the favor, picking up a fried shrimp for Anna, and then immediately picked up another one for Sora. "This fried shrimp is a reward for Sora."
"I am truly deeply grateful."
The corner of Sora's mouth twitched slightly. With a crunch, he bit into the fried shrimp:
"Next time you reward me with something, please absolutely do not do it in broad daylight."
"Eh?"
Elf tilted her head in confusion:
"Why?"
"I'm worried someone will put a curse on me."
"..."
The surrounding resentment grew even more surging, almost drowning Sora.
Finishing his bento quickly, Sora stood up swiftly and headed towards the classroom building:
"I'm going to the restroom."
While the sports field was lively and noisy, the classroom building was exceptionally quiet and deserted.
Sora entered the classroom building. As he reached the landing of the stairs, a red-haired girl ran out in a panic, bumping right into him.
"S-Sorry..."
The red-haired girl who accidentally bumped into someone bowed frantically in apology.
Sora looked down. Although he couldn't see her face, her hairstyle and hair color were quite familiar:
"Is that Komari-san?"
"Eh?"
Hearing this, Komari Chika looked up. Seeing that the boy she bumped into was Sora, an expression of relief instantly appeared on her face. But then her small face quickly flushed red, and she hurriedly averted her gaze:
"Umm... umm... I have something to do..."
Komari Chika's eyes were full of shame, and she turned, intending to slip away.
But after taking two steps, a look of hesitation suddenly appeared on Komari Chika's face. She paused for two seconds, then turned and walked back.
"Izumi-kun..."
"What's wrong?"
"U-Umm..."
Komari Chika stammered, not daring to lift her head to look at him. Her voice was like a buzzing mosquito:
"It's just..."
Sora truly couldn't hear her clearly, so he had to bend down and lean closer.
However, just as he moved, Komari Chika scrambled backward in a panic, like a little bunny startled by a big bad wolf.
"How about you just send a message on your phone instead?"
Sora looked over speechlessly.
"Mhm, mhm."
Komari Chika nodded hurriedly. She quickly took her phone out of her pocket and sent Sora a message.
"I just finished eating my bento. When I came out of the restroom, I saw a middle-aged uncle secretly sneaking upstairs. He looked a bit... a bit sneaky and suspicious..."
"A sneaky, suspicious middle-aged uncle?"
Reading the message, Sora raised an eyebrow slightly.
During the Sports Festival, people from outside the school could come in to visit, so it wasn't strange for Komari to encounter a middle-aged uncle. But even if the man needed to use the restroom, he should have chosen the first floor. There was no need to go upstairs.
While he was pondering, the message on his phone was suddenly unsent.
"Hmm?"
Sora looked up at the short-haired girl in front of him.
"..."
Komari Chika remained silent. Instead, she swiftly sent another message:
"Sorry, I sent the wrong message just now..."
What do you mean, 'sent the wrong message'?
Are you playing a prank on someone?
The next second.
A new message popped up.
"Just now I saw a middle-aged uncle sneaking upstairs..."
"What does it mean to delete the first half of the sentence?"
The corner of Sora's mouth twitched slightly, and he quickly realized:
"If Komari-san hadn't unsent the message, I wouldn't have even noticed... Did you eat your bento in the restroom?"