Miyajima Sakura and Hayato walked out of the classroom door one after the other.
Then Kurashiki Reina and Kushiro Arisa also followed them out.
Compared to the calm faces of the first two, the latter two's expressions were clearly a bit unsightly, livid with anger.
"...What are you looking at!?"
When many people's gazes slid from Miyajima Sakura to Kurashiki Reina, Kushiro Arisa shrieked in a fit of pique, "—Get out!"
Kurashiki Reina, however, did not lose her composure; she simply watched Hayato's retreating figure quietly, then bit her silver teeth.
There was an unexpected sense of defeat, as if she had lost to him—or rather, lost to… Miyajima Sakura.
But this emotion felt very strange.
After all, she had once disdainfully rejected Hayato back then, and even now, she didn't think he was worthy of her. If anything, it was Miyajima Sakura's taste that was terrible. Yet, watching the scene where Hayato completely ignored her after walking side by side with Miyajima Sakura, Kurashiki Reina felt a little mortified.
"I have no interest in you now"—Kurashiki Reina realized that Hayato must have spoken those words from the bottom of his heart.
"Tsk." She clicked her tongue, rubbed the ends of her light-golden hair, and glared fiercely at Hayato's back. Just as she was about to leave with Kushiro Arisa—
"Li-Little Hayato-kun."
Another sweet voice called out that annoying name. Kurashiki Reina looked up, glanced over disinterestedly, and then her cherry lips parted in surprise.
She saw a sporty girl with a ponytail facing Hayato, who was walking with Miyajima Sakura, looking somewhat at a loss.
"Oh, Shigen Ryouka? Are you looking for Matsubara? He seems to have left already," Hayato said.
"Shigen Ryouka, we meet again," Miyajima Sakura also greeted her.
"...Is that Siyuan Ryouka?" Kushiro Arisa was stunned.
The captain of the Karate Club, known as the "Idol of the Karate Club," a girl with considerable fame at Baiqiu High School, a being far higher than her in the food chain, was now addressing Hayato in a tone that was… somewhat timid?
"How did Hayato suddenly know so many people!?" Kushiro Arisa exclaimed. He had clearly been a gloomy, unobservant guy before, yet now he was on familiar terms with several of the school's most famous girls?
"No…" Ryouka first denied, then nodded. "I see, Ayumu… went back."
"Yes, he left as soon as school was out—he's very quick," Hayato replied. "Didn't he tell you? You should talk to him properly next time."
"…Okay." Ryouka nodded, then glanced at Miyajima Sakura.
Senior Miyajima is still so beautiful, she thought.
Actually, she wasn't here to find Matsubara Ayumu at all. Of course, Ryouka knew that her childhood friend had already gone home earlier.
She was on her way to Karate Club practice, and passing by F Class, she thought of greeting Hayato. She hadn't expected to see so many people gathered here, nor had she expected Hayato to be with… Miyajima Sakura.
Well, maybe it wasn't so unexpected—after all, Hayato was already a member of the Kendo Club, and she had personally witnessed him and Senior Miyajima together on Sunday…
But.
Gathering her courage, Ryouka still took a step forward. "Um, after club activities… can we walk home together?"
She completely ignored Miyajima Sakura when asking, only carefully gauging the senior's expression afterwards. And then, she somewhat regretted it… Oh no, what if Senior Miyajima got angry? And it wasn't even confirmed whether these two were in a relationship…
Was it too abrupt?
But Miyajima Sakura showed no signs of annoyance; she remained calm. Ryouka breathed a sigh of relief. As expected of Senior Miyajima, she never acts impolitely, no matter the situation.
…Or was it that, in Miyajima's eyes, Ryouka posed no threat at all?
Thinking that, Ryouka couldn't help but compare herself to Miyajima Sakura.
In terms of looks, figure, demeanor—she couldn't match her at all…
"Ah, sorry, I have something else…" Hayato said halfway through.
Realizing she had been rejected, Ryouka immediately bowed. "So-Sorry! I was rude! Please don't mind it!"
As expected, she had been too overconfident, actually trying to compete with Senior Miyajima…
With that, Ryouka, too ashamed to stay, quickly pushed through the crowd and left.
Hayato frowned slightly, sensing that something was off. "What's wrong with her?"
"I don't understand." Miyajima Sakura tilted her head slightly in confusion. She didn't think much of it, instead smiling sweetly. "Then, Hayato-kun, shall we go to the Kendo Club together?"
"Ah, sorry, I have something else." Hayato rejected her as well.
"I see." Miyajima Sakura was a little disappointed, but not too surprised.
They had already agreed before that Hayato "didn't have to attend club activities every day." She had only come to fetch him today because she had forgotten to confirm. Although it wasn't the answer she had hoped for, it was still an answer. Miyajima Sakura nodded. "Understood, then I await your esteemed presence… There's a stretch of road to the Kendo Club that overlaps. May I walk with you?"
"…That's fine." Hayato nodded. Picking up his school bag, he began to chat as he walked. "Actually, I was planning to go to the Kendo Club today, but something unexpected came up—at the bookstore…"
"I see… Mm, indeed…" Miyajima Sakura listened quietly, responding now and then.
The two ignored the scorching gazes of the crowd, walking out side by side as if no one else existed.
Kurashiki Reina and Kushiro Arisa exchanged glances, disbelief filling their eyes.
Since when did Hayato become so popular!?
The onlookers couldn't help voicing their thoughts.
"Holy crap, he rejected them!?""And two at once!?""I thought Shigen Ryouka would end up the loser here, but both of them struck out!""No, there won't be a third, right?""Who knows?""Listening to you wasted ten seconds.""Entirely possible. The third girl's probably lurking already.""Damn it, has he been possessed by some kind of gigachad spirit? He's nothing like before!""Don't be superstitious, believe in science! Maybe he just got some dating manual. We should ask him for tips next time…"
At the end of the corridor, Nanao Akane hid behind the wall, clutching the jacket Hayato had lent her earlier.
I-I can't get a word in at all! Nanao Akane shivered. She wanted to return the jacket… but who knew there'd be so many people here? To avoid misunderstandings, she decided to wait until Hayato-kun left alone before giving it back.
But what's going on with him walking with Senior Miyajima… Huh? They know each other?
And Ryouka—she must've come for Matsubara…
And Kurashiki—what is she doing here!?
Too far away to catch the details, Nanao Akane could only fill in the gaps with her own imagination.
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