The hairs on her back almost stood on end.
She looked at Hayato in disbelief. Is there something wrong with this guy? Why won't he give it to Sakura?
"Hmm... turn on the infrared, right...?"
Hayato took out his phone and even spun it around in his hand as if to show off.
The way of exchanging contact information in Japan is very different from that in Hokkaido. In Hokkaido, it's 'scan my QR code,' but in Japan, they prefer to use 'infrared exchange technology.' What is transmitted is not just the phone number, but also things like email addresses, basically a business card.
Akane had taught him before, so Hayato was already very skilled at it.
After a simple operation, Hayato looked at Ayaka with a 'Didn't expect it, I returned to modern society' showing off attitude: "Ayaka-senpai... where's your phone?"
Ayaka was still dazed, and only after hearing the question did she slowly pull out her flip phone from her skirt pocket.
The two of them shot each other—with 'infrared.'
And then they officially exchanged contact information.
"Don't overthink it; knowing the contact information of various people is my duty as the Kendo Club's Vice Minister," Ayaka said.
Eh? Oh, was it that easy? He just got this guy's phone number and email address? Wait, wait... I thought he was quite aloof, so why was it so easy? Could it be that in this guy's heart, my relationship with him is already closer than his relationship with Sakura? Heh, heh heh... I'm pretty, pretty amazing. Ayaka thought to herself, then gulped down some saliva with a slurp and straightened her posture.
"Don't overthink it, okay?" she repeated.
But she wasn't saying it to Hayato, but to Sakura, who was watching them.
The latter was already staring at them with an almost hollow gaze; her originally sparkling purple eyes now had no ripples at all. For some reason, Ayaka even had the... illusion that she was about to be killed.
"How come I don't have Ayaka-senpai's contact information?" A freshman quietly asked the senior in front of him: "Does that mean Ayaka-senpai doesn't consider me a member of the Kendo Club?"
"Think on the bright side," the senior said kindly, "Ayaka-senpai probably doesn't even consider you a human."
Freshman: ...
You're nothing. I've been in the club for over a year, and the only contact method I've gotten is from Takeshi-senpai! The senior thought with resentment, it's really infuriating to compare oneself to others...
"...Sakura?" Ayaka's neck prickled, and she called out fearfully.
Sakura pretended not to hear, her delicate lips moved upwards, but it was a forced smile.
Ayaka felt as if a sword was pressed against her neck.
And it was a real sword.
It's not Sakura, it's this brat who won't give you his phone number, why are you staring at me like that... Ayaka thought to herself.
She looked at Sakura, then at Hayato.
She wondered if she should plead for Sakura... But when did Sakura, the famous 'Highland Flower' of Shirakawa High School, become so weak? Does she need her best friend to intercede just to get a phone number? If this were in the past, Ayaka wouldn't even dare to imagine it.
"What are you two talking about?"
Sakura came over with a sweet smile.
She was asking the obvious. Ayaka didn't say a single word, only dared to tightly clutch her phone. She regretted it now; she should have known better than to entice Hayato...
Ayaka felt strange, why did her mood feel like a mistress caught red-handed? And the original wife was her best friend.
She was sweating profusely.
"Oh, I'm exchanging phone numbers with Ayaka-senpai," Hayato said.
He said it! This brat said it!
Ayaka's beautiful eyes widened, and he was so calm... Is this kid not human, or is he deliberately trying to anger Sakura? Did they have some kind of conflict? It shouldn't be.
"Is that so?" Sakura smiled sweetly, she looked at Ayaka: "That's great, Ayaka."
Ayaka's legs trembled, and she said faintly: "...Mm, it's just the Vice Minister's duty."
It's over, I almost wanted to kneel. Ayaka thought to herself.
"Heh, heh heh heh..." Sakura covered her lips and laughed.
Ayaka's lips also trembled. She and Sakura were close friends, so she naturally knew the other's personality... Although the laugh was sweet, 'cold laugh'... this was definitely a cold laugh.
Ayaka's heart was like a black ball of yarn, and it was the kind soaked in ice water... full of chaos and coldness. She was already at her wit's end, helpless... If Sakura questioned her again later, she would definitely be unable to answer.
After all, why, Hayato! Although I, your Ayaka-senpai, am indeed a peerless beauty, I don't have any advantage over Sakura, do I? Why do you like my type... Is it really just that some people like to eat Japanese food, and some people like to eat Western pastries... Heh heh, and the one who likes Western pastries is such a handsome guy, heh heh... Cough, cough, no, now is not the time to secretly celebrate...
I won't be... killed by Sakura, will I?
Oh, heavens! Please save me, if you send someone to save me now, no matter if they are handsome or ugly, tall or short, male or female... your humble servant Ayaka will consider marrying him/her!!
Ayaka thought to herself, she prayed to the heavens.
Then, the hero sent by heaven spoke. He only used one sentence to resolve this crisis.
"Sakura-senpai, should we also exchange phone numbers?" Hayato asked.
Ayaka looked at Hayato in disbelief... Huh? So he could give it? Why only now?
Sakura blinked even more, her soft, cherry-colored lips slightly parted, as if she had heard something unbelievable, and then her beautiful but cold smile suddenly melted, turning into a clear brightness like spring water.
"Only the Vice Minister needs it, does the Minister not need it?" Hayato asked.
Sakura quickly snapped out of her daze, she shook her head vigorously: "No, I need it too."
She quickly tried to feel for her pocket, but realized she had already changed into her Kendo uniform, and her phone was in the changing room.
"Later, no rush," Hayato said.
But Sakura had already turned and jogged towards the changing room.
The usually dignified Minister's back now appeared a little clumsy.
"How come I still don't have Sakura-senpai's contact information? Does she not consider me a human either?" The junior asked the senior in front of him again.
"... ... ... ..." The senior thought to himself, how would I know? Even Takeshi doesn't have the Minister's contact information, right!?
The senior looked towards Takeshi, and Takeshi-san indeed had two tear-like streams of humiliation running down his face...
This is not just about getting contact information. The senior thought to himself, it feels like the Minister is receiving a blessing. But thinking about how the Minister had asked Hayato-kun for his phone number before and was rejected, her current state is understandable...
Ah, it's good to be handsome.
Not only handsome, but also good at sword fighting, and tough.
Let alone a woman like the Minister being unable to resist temptation, even a man like me, why wouldn't I... Sigh!!
The senior sighed heavily.