"Is something wrong?" Shirakawa Natsu looked up at Uesugi Shika, who towered over 1.8 meters, beaming with his signature sunny smile. He was easily one of the most popular boys on campus.
While Natsu studied him, Uesugi Shika grinned and asked, "Excuse me… are you two dating?"
Shirakawa Natsu didn't respond immediately, instead giving him a curious glance.
"We're just good friends~" Nao Jingomiya chimed in with a playful smile, nudging Natsu lightly with her elbow, her expression teasing.
Uesugi Shika scratched the back of his head, hesitated for a moment, then straightened up as if making a firm decision. "Student Jingomiya, I've been noticing you since we met… would you go out with me?"
A collective gasp—and then a chorus of boos—erupted around them.
Jingomiya Nao was undeniably beautiful, but her reputation wasn't spotless. Uesugi Shika, meanwhile, was the most popular boy in the class. The sudden confession completely caught everyone off guard.
Shirakawa Natsu's mouth twitched at the display of bluntness. This young man really didn't beat around the bush. He cast a sidelong glance at Nao Jingomiya. They hadn't been friends long, and he knew she could easily attract attention from anyone.
"Sorry, Shika, you're not my type~" Nao Jingomiya said, smiling as she refused him outright.
Natsu blinked in surprise. In Dongda, even rejections were usually phrased with tact. Rarely did someone turn someone down so directly without leaving any wiggle room.
Shika's face stiffened, clearly unsure of what to say next.
Nao Jingomiya grabbed Shirakawa Natsu's arm and squealed, "Yakitori~ Yakitori, let's go outside!"
Natsu, unable to resist, was dragged along. Other students, seeing the confession fizzle out so quickly, shrugged and wandered off. College was full of moments like this; they hardly caused a stir.
Meanwhile, Uesugi Shika's closest friend, a yellow-haired guy, rushed over, panicked. "He actually got rejected! What do we do now? Today's the deadline! If we don't get girls to the Bamboo Union College club tonight, we're done for! Should we call the cops?"
"No," Shika replied calmly. "If those gangsters find out we're meddling, the school will expel all of us. We can't risk it."
"Then what do we do?" Huang Mao asked anxiously.
Shika frowned, thinking. "I'll call her for help. She tricked me before, but she's good at handling these situations. She can get the Bamboo Union to deal with it."
"That's illegal," Huang Mao hesitated.
"Then go and tell them no one's available?" Shika clapped a hand on Huang Mao's shoulder. "Don't want to?"
Huang Mao swallowed nervously. Thinking of Nao Jingomiya's long, straight legs and her confident smile, he nodded emphatically.
Meanwhile, Shirakawa Natsu and Nao Jingomiya exited the school gate and spotted Kimura Momo standing there, smiling politely.
"Classmate Natsu, want a ride in my car?" Kimura Momo asked.
"No, my friend's picking me up," Natsu said. "Ms. Momo, you can wait over there."
"Ding ding ding," Jingomiya Nao's phone rang mid-conversation. She answered brightly. "Hello~ Hello~"
"It's Uesugi-san. I understand," she said quickly, then hung up and waved at Natsu. "You guys go ahead! I'll be there soon~"
Before Natsu could respond, she bounded into the crowd and vanished.
"Eh…" Natsu started to speak but froze, realizing she had disappeared so quickly after answering Uesugi Shika. He worried silently—would that heartless, beautiful girl get herself into trouble?
Kimura Momo smiled. "We'll meet later, Natsu." She walked to her car, an unassuming domestic model.
Natsu waited a moment before a Hummer roared up, its presence impossible to ignore.
"Something on your mind?" Yazhikui asked from the driver's seat, noticing his serious expression as he fastened his seatbelt.
"It's nothing. I was overthinking," Natsu replied. He knew that someone rejected wouldn't immediately call for help. Likely, Shika just wanted to persist a bit.
He pulled out his phone. No new messages. Sighing, he put it away, reasoning that panicking now would be overreacting.
The Hummer arrived at a traditional Japanese-style barbecue restaurant. Small private rooms with sliding doors awaited, each seating six.
Inside, Kimura Momo was already seated, various skewers of grilled meat before her.
"Sorry, it smelled too good—I couldn't help but start," she said with a smile.
Natsu looked at the table and saw several skewers already devoured. Even Kimura Momo, always so refined, indulged in food like this. He picked up a skewer of roasted chicken thighs and took a bite—the meat was tender, smoky, flavorful. Not extraordinary, but satisfying.
"You don't drink, do you?" Kimura Momo asked, pouring sake into Yazhikui's glass.
Yazhikui drank it down without hesitation. Natsu watched Kimura Momo's enthusiasm—she seemed fully invested in enjoying the food. After some time, Yazhikui leaned back, apparently overwhelmed, and slumped unconscious.
Natsu shook his head at people overestimating themselves. He returned to the skewers, eating quietly. The private room fell into a calm rhythm.
After half an hour, Nao Jingomiya still hadn't arrived, uncharacteristically late.
"Excuse me, Ms. Momo," Natsu asked, "do you know Nao Jingomiya's number? I want to see where she is."
"Yes," Kimura Momo smiled, handing over her phone.
Natsu dialed. The line rang. No answer. He tried again, the tension in his chest rising with each unanswered call.
Finally, the line connected. "Hello, hello~ Who's this~?" Nao Jingomiya's cheerful voice rang through.
Natsu exhaled in relief. "It's me. We're almost done eating. Don't be late."
"Ah, don't~" Nao pleaded. "I got held up, but I'll be there soon! I haven't had barbecue in forever!"
Natsu put the phone down, letting her chatter go, then picked it up again once it quieted. "Come quickly. We'll wait."
"Yes, boss!" she called back before hanging up.
Natsu returned Kimura Momo's phone. "Do you two get along well?"
"Yes," she nodded with a smile. "She's… quite interesting."
"Indeed," Natsu agreed, thinking of Nao Jingomiya's endless energy. Rarely did he find himself in agreement with Kimura Momo.
The private room grew quiet again, but occasionally Kimura Momo glanced at him with a strange, almost predatory look, making him uncomfortable.
Soon, hurried footsteps sounded outside. Before anyone could speak, a familiar voice called: "Natsu, I'm here~!"
Nao Jingomiya bounced into the room, immediately grabbing two skewers and stuffing them into her mouth. "I'll order some more~"
With her arrival, the private room instantly came alive.
"I really envy you two," she said between bites, eyes shining. "Why aren't you dating? It's so romantic!"
"She's been popular with girls since childhood," Natsu replied, shrugging. "People often ask me to deliver love letters. I just comfort the girls so they don't feel rejected—I'm basically the 'unwanted' type."
"No~" Nao Jingomiya smiled, pointing at him. "I really like you, Natsu."