Compared to Advanced Nurturing, Aoba was paradise.
No manipulation. No bullying. Just a peaceful atmosphere.
Since entering Aoba, Takashi had never been bullied or looked down upon.
The only time he was even slightly excluded was by the baseball club—and even then, no one really targeted him.
Even Anai Tatsuya, whose only shot at a first-string spot Takashi had taken away, bore him no grudge.
He had even hoped Takashi could lead the team further.
When Takashi dislocated his arm, Tatsuya stepped up to carry his bags.
And this had nothing to do with knowing people like Narii or Hitomi. That was just the school's overall atmosphere.
In Takashi's view, this was how a school should be.
"If I graduate from your school, what do I get?"
"A job?"
"Sorry. Whatever Advanced Nurturing can offer, Shuchiin and Aoba can offer too—and more."
By studying at Shuchiin or Aoba, he could meet influential people. But if he went to Advanced Nurturing? He'd just be stuck playing mind games all day.
"And besides, what I want, your school can't give me."
"What do you want?" Arisu asked.
"I want connections. Status. Resources. Can Advanced Nurturing give me that?"
"I want a recommendation letter for direct admission to the University of Tokyo. Can Advanced Nurturing High give me that?"
"You can't."
He had said it before—the gap between Advanced Nurturing and schools like Aoba and Shuchiin was like the gap between an average 985 university and Tsinghua or Peking University.
Could your average 985 student punch a Beihang University counselor? No.
To put it bluntly, the platform of Advanced Nurturing High couldn't carry the weight of Takashi's ambition.
"If that's the case, why should I join you?"
"Just because you're strong?"
"Do you know how many top baseball schools I've personally defeated?"
"I don't need strong teammates—because I am the strongest."
Just like how Real Madrid's "Black Pearl" taught us—most expensive doesn't always mean best.
It still needs to fit.
"Rather than joining the strong, I prefer to beat you myself."
"In the game the day after tomorrow, I'll defeat you."
Arisu chuckled, "Kitahara-kun, I admit you're strong."
"But that was the healthy you."
"Can the current you still pitch like you did at your peak?"
She admitted—they had all underestimated Aoba in the last match.
Everyone thought Aoba would lose for sure.
And yet, Aoba proved them wrong and won in the end.
But what did that mean?
Arisu didn't believe Takashi could keep pitching like that.
"The ending of Kinnou High's story is going to be your ending too."
"No right hand? I still have my left."
Takashi raised his left hand.
"To deal with you, my left hand is enough."
Even someone as composed as Arisu felt a flicker of anger at this moment. "Fine. I'll be watching."
"Watch carefully. I'll lead Aoba to the top—wait, crap!"
Takashi suddenly dove under the table, like something had startled him.
Yukino, Arisu, and Honami instinctively pressed down their skirts and closed their legs together, mentally shouting in unison: Hentai!
"Kitahara-kun, what's wrong?"
Kotonoha blushed slightly, but she didn't believe Takashi was that kind of guy. She bent down and looked under the table where he was hiding, asking gently.
Takashi opened his mouth to reply but didn't get the chance.
A hand suddenly rested on Yukino's shoulder.
"Yukino, why are you here?"
"M-Mother!"
Yukino's relaxed expression instantly stiffened, and so did her shoulders.
She turned around and saw not only her mother standing behind her in a kimono, but also another lady dressed the same.
"Aunt Sayuri, why are you here?!"
Her mother covered her mouth with a smile. "Sayuri-san has been feeling down lately, so I brought her here to unwind and cheer up."
Sayuri looked even more worried, as if something had just crossed her mind.
"By the way, what are you doing here?"
"I was with K-Kit—ah!"
Feeling a hand slide over her calf, Yukino let out a sudden yelp.
"What is it?" her mother asked, confused.
"Nothing."
Without a trace, Yukino gently kicked Takashi under the table to tell him to let go.
"I'm just hanging out with friends."
Seeing that Yukino didn't expose him, Takashi let out a breath of relief.
"My, how rare."
Yukino's mother pressed her hand to her mouth in surprise, clearly shocked to hear her daughter had friends.
Then her gaze swept across Kotonoha, Arisu, and Honami, finally landing on Hoshino Ai.
She recognized this girl.
That woman—the one seducing Takashi.
Why would Yukino be with her?
Mrs. Yukinoshita furrowed her brows slightly but still gave a polite smile. "Hello, everyone. I'm Yukino's mother."
"Aunt Yukinoshita, Aunt Sayuri, hello. I'm Kotonoha, daughter of Katsura Manami."
Kotonoha clearly recognized both women and stood up first to greet them.
"You're Manami's daughter?"
Mrs. Yukinoshita looked at her with surprise.
"Yes."
"This really is a small world."
Mrs. Yukinoshita took her hand and said warmly, "The last time I saw you, you were so small. I can't believe how much you've grown."
Kotonoha gave a shy smile.
"Are you dating anyone now?"
"No, but there is someone I like."
"He must be an excellent young man, right?"
"Yes. He's a very outstanding person."
As she spoke of Takashi, her crescent-shaped eyes shimmered with happiness.
Sayuri couldn't help but think of how Eriri once looked just as sweet while smiling beside Takashi.
Back then… she had that same joyful expression.
Now… sigh.
"No matter how much you like him, don't agree to anything easily. Be sure to evaluate his character carefully—avoid ending up with a scumbag."
Sayuri gave this advice as an elder.
Is she talking about me? Takashi thought miserably under the table.
"Eh? Okay," Kotonoha nodded, not quite understanding why Sayuri said that.
"Well then, since you're all gathered here, we won't interrupt your dinner."
Sayuri had originally just wanted a place to confide in her close friend.
But with the younger ones around, she didn't want to bring up her daughter's troubles, so she planned to take Mrs. Yukinoshita elsewhere.
Just as she was about to leave, she suddenly felt something rubbing against her leg.
Looking down, she saw a little white cat.
Quite cute.
She bent down to pick it up—and just as she looked up, she saw Takashi's awkward face as he raised his hand.
"Hi, Mom!"
Sayuri's gaze instantly turned ice-cold.
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Lmaoo that was quite funny
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