Well...
It's not like it's impossible...
Katou Megumi knew this handsome smiling boy wouldn't actually change his mind just because of her refusal.
So why bother making things difficult for herself?
Remembering Nanaya's previous unrestrained behavior and the feeling of having her lips plundered,
Katou Megumi nodded slightly, preparing to agree.
"I..."
"Nanaya-kun, I never expected you to come to my class!~"
"This must be fate ordained by heaven!"
Megumi's words were interrupted by Aki Tomoya who came running up to Nanaya.
Megumi could hear Nanaya click his tongue in obvious displeasure.
Though she knew his invitation was nothing more than an excuse to take advantage of her when they were alone together.
What happened once would happen again - by now it had already happened three or four times.
Unable to stop Nanaya's actions, and not knowing how to prevent them,
Little Megumi's thoughts had already begun to subtly change.
So even though she knew her thinking might be problematic, still...
Katou Megumi found Nanaya somewhat... cute at this moment?
"Nanaya-kun, please join the game development club I created! I beg you!"
Aki Tomoya bowed deeply before Nanaya again.
The scene attracted the attention of surrounding students, who began whispering.
Aki Tomoya was someone who openly proclaimed his otaku nature.
While he might see this as honesty and love for otaku culture, to outsiders he was just a creep!
Even students who shared his interests wouldn't get too close to Aki Tomoya.
That's just how things were.
And now this person was harassing the new transfer student?
He'd be a bad influence on Nanaya-kun!
"Hey, what are you doing here? Class is about to start, get back to your seat!"
"That's right, how dare you harass the new student!"
Seeing Nanaya's slightly furrowed brows, the girls quickly came over to push Aki Tomoya aside, hoping to make a good impression.
Aki Tomoya didn't seem particularly bothered, as if already accustomed to such treatment.
Nanaya's opinion of Aki Tomoya dropped even lower, but the boy still had his uses.
In fact, he could be very useful!
"..."
Watching Aki Tomoya's retreating figure, Nanaya had already decided how to exploit him to his last drop of value.
"Ding ling ling~"
Class began.
With Aki Tomoya's interruption, Nanaya no longer had time to have Megumi show him around the school.
To familiarize him with the locations of places like the unused storage rooms, PE equipment room, nurse's office - the school facilities that interested Nanaya.
Once class started, Nanaya naturally used the same excuse to have Megumi place her textbook between their desks, then just as naturally took Megumi's small hand to play with again.
With Megumi's tacit consent, Nanaya didn't make things too difficult for her.
In truth, Nanaya wanted to use the "boiling frog slowly" strategy to make Megumi accustomed to his presence, his touch, his scent.
Until she was completely molded to his shape.
The morning passed in a flash.
And just as Nanaya predicted, Megumi was indeed growing somewhat accustomed to his presence and caresses.
But this level of contact wasn't enough - he needed Megumi to actively approach him, to obey his words. Only then would it be time to reel her in fully!
Private Toyozaki Academy didn't have many rules regarding lunch.
With no cafeteria available,
Students could bring their own lunchboxes, though the food would be cold by noon.
They could buy bread from the school store, though that wasn't very filling.
The final option was going off-campus to eat at nearby restaurants.
But leaving campus wasted a lot of time, making it the least popular choice for students who valued their midday break.
Nanaya had no intention of starving himself now that he had money.
"Come, we're eating out."
Not giving Megumi a chance to refuse, Nanaya took her hand and headed off-campus.
"Order whatever you want."
After selecting his own dishes, Nanaya said this to Megumi.
"I'm fine with nothing extra."
Having gradually learned how to interact with Nanaya, and knowing he disliked being refused, plus seeing how much Nanaya had already ordered, Megumi declined after checking the menu.
"Mmm."
Nanaya didn't press further.
While waiting for their food, Nanaya took Megumi's hand again to play with.
"Y-you shouldn't do this..."
Now that they weren't in class, Megumi could voice her refusal more clearly.
Though her nature made even refusals sound soft-spoken and flat.
"Megumi, what's this school's reputation in the outside world?"
Ignoring her words, Nanaya asked this seemingly unrelated question.
After trying and failing to pull her hand back a couple times, Megumi could only let it be.
"Toyozaki Private Academy is one of the best middle schools."
Megumi didn't know why Nanaya was asking but answered honestly.
"Then getting into this school must have required great effort from you?"
"And your parents must be very proud of you?"
Nanaya pressed further.
Hearing this, Megumi suddenly felt a sense of foreboding.
"I actually donated some money to Toyozaki recently, so I'm now a school shareholder."
"My reason for posing as a student is simple - to observe students' learning and living conditions, and to counsel those who might damage the school's reputation to withdraw."
Megumi's face paled at Nanaya's words, her small hand trembling slightly.
Though Nanaya wasn't looking at her expression, he could feel her state through that tremor.
"Do you think this approach of mine is correct?"
Nanaya pinched Megumi's slender fingers playfully, then spread his palm to compare sizes with hers.
Then he forcibly interlaced their fingers together in a tight clasp.
"I-it must be..."
How could Megumi not understand the implications behind Nanaya's words?
Though she desperately wanted to tell someone and seek help, who could she turn to?
Her parents?
No, she couldn't trouble them with more worries.
Report it?
But Nanaya hadn't done anything that would leave evidence.
Everything could be seen as normal conversation - at most showing off to outsiders.
She was like a caged bird in Nanaya's hands, unable to escape his grasp!
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