Kobayashi Ayaka entered the Kendo Club's training room, yawning.
Boring.
She thought to herself.
"Yo, Ayaka, rare sight, you're here again." Kato Takeshi raised his hand to greet her.
As fellow senior members of the Kendo Club, Kobayashi Ayaka and Kato Takeshi were actually quite familiar with each other.
Three years of getting along had given Kato Takeshi a fairly comprehensive understanding of Kobayashi Ayaka.
Although Kobayashi Ayaka was the Vice Minister of the Kendo Club, practically the "number two person" in the department, and possessed considerable sword skills, she was far from as diligent as Minister Gongdao, and could even be described as "slacking off," often skipping three or four out of five club activities.
Recently, however, she had been surprisingly diligent... or rather, it couldn't be called "diligent," as even when she was in the department, she had a "not interested" demeanor, which hardly qualified as "diligent." For example, today, although she reported on time, she looked listless, with "I don't want to come" written all over her face...
In fact, Kobayashi Ayaka really didn't want to come. In the past, at this time, she would definitely be attending a mixer, working hard for her future romantic prospects.
But now, she had lost this worldly desire.
One could only say that there was no comparison, no harm—after seeing a certain junior, those so-called "Japan's high-quality men" seemed as ridiculous as monkeys in her eyes.
"You seem very low on energy," Kato Takeshi said.
Kobayashi Ayaka forced a smile, "Seeing your face, I can't possibly be energetic... Ah, Sakura isn't here? I kind of want to leave early."
"Hmm, Minister Gongdao went to a committee activity; she'll be here in a bit."
Hearing Kato Takeshi's words, Kobayashi Ayaka's eyes drooped even more lifelessly.
"You should put in a little effort." As a "senior" of the Kendo Club, Kato Takeshi occasionally criticized Kobayashi Ayaka, who was in the same grade: "Set a good example as Vice Minister—"
"Human belief and strength should come from within, not from some role model. Besides, when have I ever managed things?" Kobayashi Ayaka said, yawning, tears welling up in her eyes.
Even though she was a beautiful girl no less than Miyajima Sakura, Kobayashi Ayaka at this moment appeared utterly dejected; forget "beauty," she was even on the verge of losing her "girly" characteristics, looking like an old man.
"I'm going to lie down in the corner for a bit; call me when Sakura gets here..." she said.
Before she finished speaking,
"Yo, Kobayashi." Kato Takeshi greeted someone.
"Senior Katō."
And behind Kobayashi Ayaka, a familiar voice sounded.
"...What's wrong?"
Hayato looked at Kato Takeshi strangely... because he was grinning and staring ahead, where a girl was standing.
"...Ayaka-senpai?" Hayato called out again.
"Hmm."
Kobayashi Ayaka turned her head coldly, sweeping her sharp gaze over the young man behind her: "You still remember to report?"
Damn.
Shrinking her nostrils, which had been stretched wide to the point of being ungraceful, back to an elegant shape in an instant—Kato Takeshi could understand that.
Closing her mouth, which had been wide open almost to her molars, in a short time, and swallowing her yawn—Kato Takeshi could also understand that.
But how did Ayaka manage to make the sleepy tears in her eyes completely dry up in an instant, and make her originally lazy, frizzy ahoge neatly cling to her scalp, and then, when she turned around, retract all her dejection and calmly ask a question!?
Kato Takeshi couldn't understand.
Women are truly terrifying.
"Haha." Hayato rubbed the back of his head, "Actually, I've been quite diligent."
"Heh, last week, you were absent on Monday, Wednesday, Thursday, and Friday," Kobayashi Ayaka said.
"Even for morning practice, you only came twice. Can that be called 'diligent'? All the new members' absences combined aren't as many as yours!"
"...Ayaka-senpai, you remember so clearly." Hayato was a little surprised.
"Cough, cough... That's the Vice Minister's duty," Kobayashi Ayaka said, hands on her slender waist.
She said she never managed things.
Kato Takeshi gave Kobayashi Ayaka a resentful look.
Then he was glared at by her beautiful eyes.
Kato Takeshi quickly looked at his nose, then his mouth, then his heart, not saying a word.
"I'm going to punish you," Kobayashi Ayaka said.
"I had an agreement with Senior Miyajima before—" Hayato said, commonly known as "one department, two rules," meaning the Kendo Club had its rules, and Hayato had his rules.
But,
"Don't use your agreement with the Minister to act tough with me, the Vice Minister." Kobayashi Ayaka's standing height was quite impressive, and coupled with that sharp aura, she had the gravitas of a superior.
"Since the Minister isn't here now, you have to listen to me.
I'll punish you... hmm, you'll spar with me today.
I see you haven't practiced kendo for a few days, your skills are probably rusty.
Helping club members grow is also my duty as Vice Minister."
She said, "Human belief and strength come from..." Forget it, a woman's mouth, a lying ghost.
Kato Takeshi thought to himself.
Hayato and Kobayashi Ayaka looked at each other; with their eyes meeting, Kobayashi Ayaka felt a little guilty and dry-mouthed: "W-what?"
...Did he discover my true intention? Is this brat that smart? Then hurry up and accept it!
Ayaka thought to herself.
Hayato smiled rather dotingly and said softly:
"Then I'll leave?"
"You wouldn't dare! If you go out, don't ever come back again—" Kobayashi Ayaka said, her eyes wide.
"Sparring" isn't just talking and chatting, plus light physical contact, body collision, right? Can't you just keep me company? Ayaka thought to herself.
Hayato didn't actually leave; he had serious business to do here.
"Ayaka-senpai, I want to ask you something," Hayato said.
Loved it. Ayaka thought to herself.
"Heh, not active in the club, but plenty of things to do," Ayaka said.
She crossed her arms, unwilling, but still willing to listen.
"Do you remember a girl named Sawamura Airiri from before?" Hayato asked.
Who?
Kobayashi Ayaka thought about it, but had no impression of her at all.
"Another girl's matter?" Kobayashi Ayaka scoffed, "Can't you learn from Kato? Look how clean-living he is."
Kato Takeshi, who was cued, looked solemn, then burst into tears.
Don't even mention it, you motherfucker, I'm forced.
Hayato smiled, and Kobayashi Ayaka asked impatiently:
"What about that Sawamura?"
"I can't reach her anymore," Hayato said softly, "She's been out of contact since yesterday; she doesn't reply to texts and doesn't answer calls.
I'm afraid something happened to her."
Kato Takeshi chuckled.
He patted Hayato's shoulder and said, "Kobayashi, this is common, I have experience, old man..."
"You have no experience at all," Kobayashi Ayaka interrupted Kato Takeshi's comfort: "Go look in a mirror."
"Your experience can be applied to this guy? If a girl ignores you, it just means her cerebellum is developing normally." Ayaka thought to herself.
Kato Takeshi: QAQ
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