Just as he had anticipated.
The conflict that occurred in the Second Small Gymnasium, along with the subsequent disciplinary decision, indeed caused quite a stir.
The uproar lasted an entire week. Most students from the First Course looked at Mahiro with disdain, secretly labeling him as "the traitor of the First Course."
Especially those from the Kendo Club—they practically itched to challenge him on the spot.
But remembering Kirihara Takeaki's fate, they obediently chose to remain silent.
And so, the club recruitment week came to an end.
No matter how turbulent the waves had been, they eventually settled.
One week after recruitment week concluded, at noon, he received an invitation from Mibu Sayaka.
"Mibu-senpai, even though you invited me here, there was no need to wait outside the door, was there?"
As soon as he arrived at the café, he spotted Sayaka standing at the entrance, her distinctive ponytail swaying gently in the breeze, mingling with the fluttering cherry blossoms.
Though she wasn't wearing the white kendo uniform he usually saw her in, her school attire gave off a completely different charm.
"I thought Yotsuba-kun might not find me otherwise. Since I was the one who invited you, it wouldn't sit right with me if you had to waste time searching."
It was the kind of considerate gesture you'd expect from a girl—or rather, from a senpai. And the warm smile she directed at Mahiro was practically irresistible for a boy his age.
No wonder she was called the Kendo Belle.
Despite it being lunchtime, the café wasn't crowded. He and Sayaka chose a seat by the window.
"What would you like to eat, Yotsuba-kun? My treat."
"Really? Then I won't hold back."
Mahiro unhesitatingly ordered a steak set meal and a cup of coffee, while Sayaka opted for yakisoba and a glass of juice.
To be honest, the food here wasn't particularly good—just passable.
After all, unlike the student cafeteria, the café's dishes were mostly prepared by automated dispensers, akin to instant fast food. There wasn't much to expect.
'I should start bringing my own lunch in a few days.'
He thought this even as he continued cutting into his steak without pause.
As lunch neared its end, Sayaka, having finished her yakisoba, focused on sipping the bright red juice through her straw.
After downing two-thirds of it in one go, she seemed about to say something and lifted her head—only to meet Mahiro's gaze.
At first, she seemed a little dazed, but gradually, her cheeks flushed, as if the dye from the juice had spread to her face.
"Mibu-senpai really likes flavored juice drinks, huh?"
"W-well… what's wrong with liking sweets?! So what if I'm childish?!"
She pouted, as if embarrassed.
"It's not about being childish. It's normal for girls to like sweets. I just meant that if you like it so much, I could treat you to another glass. No need to rush."
Faced with Sayaka's sulky demeanor, Mahiro spoke in a soothing tone, as if comforting a child.
"N-no, thank you…"
"One is enough…"
Perhaps it was his phrasing, but Sayaka shrank back like an ostrich, nearly burying her face in her chest.
But then, as if steeling herself, she spoke again.
"Um… please allow me to recompose myself…"
She suddenly spoke up.
Then she straightened her posture.
It was as if she had let out a sigh of relief. Though she didn't place a hand over her chest, the gesture was still evident.
Compared to the Mibu-senpai I saw last week, Sayaka seemed even cuter now.
"Now, please allow me to properly express my gratitude for what happened before."
Sayaka placed both hands on her neatly folded knees, straightened her posture, and bowed formally.
Ah, she's back to being the kendo senpai again.
"There's no need to be so formal, Mibu-senpai. After all, you're someone I know—I couldn't just stand by and watch you get hurt."
"No, it's not just about you stopping Kirihara-kun that time."
Sayaka shook her head, refuting his words.
"After all, I engaged in that unsanctioned duel with Kirihara-kun. Under normal disciplinary committee procedures, our kendo club should have been penalized as well..."
"But I know that Yotsuba-kun clashed quite fiercely with the Student Council President and the Disciplinary Committee Head over this matter, which ultimately led to Kirihara-kun and the Kendo Club apologizing to us."
"So, truly—thank you, Yotsuba-kun!"
Sayaka bowed deeply.
Not only that, if not for that time before the club recruitment week when he had snapped her out of her daze and eased the confusion in her heart, she might not have won the duel against Kirihara so easily.
"Please raise your head, senpai."
His voice carried a certain magnetism, making Sayaka unconsciously straighten up and meet his gaze.
"Mibu-senpai, I didn't do this for your kendo club. I just wanted a fair environment—even if it's only superficially fair—rather than one that hides behind the pretense of fairness."
"If the kendo club had truly been in the wrong this time, I wouldn't have opposed Watanabe-senpai's judgment either."
"Well, that may be true..."
Sayaka muttered awkwardly, her voice tinged with a hint of dissatisfaction. "But if it had been left to the disciplinary committee, we would've been the ones at a disadvantage this time..."
"Our kendo club has faced similar situations before, but every time, we were reported without any regard for the truth. Those disciplinary committee members just want to boost their own records."
It seemed Mibu-senpai held quite a grudge against the disciplinary committee.
But speaking of the disciplinary committee...
"By the way, senpai, did you know? I actually received an invitation from the disciplinary committee too."
"Eh... Eh?! S-sorry, I didn't mean it like that... Really!"
It seemed the senpai had misunderstood something, as she suddenly grew flustered and began explaining in a hurry.
"What I meant was, Yotsuba-kun is different from those people—no, even from all those First Course students. That's why we were spared punishment. Um, I'm not trying to badmouth the disciplinary committee... Well, okay, I do dislike them, but... Wait, huh?"
Sayaka's words became increasingly disjointed, devolving into incoherent fragments as her voice grew softer and softer, until she was merely mouthing words without sound.
Eventually, she noticed the faint amusement in her junior's eyes and shyly lowered her head.
"...Hey, Yotsuba-kun, do you enjoy teasing people...?"
"No way," Mahiro waved his hand with a smile. "I just thought senpai suddenly looked really cute, so I wanted to tease you a bit. My apologies."
"But speaking of which, Mibu-senpai, you didn't just want to thank me this time, did you? Is there something else?"
If it were just to express gratitude, she could have done so in the school cafeteria instead of choosing this quiet café.
Clearly, she had something to discuss.
'C-cute... what's with that...'
Sayaka muttered under her breath before quickly suppressing her embarrassment.
Perhaps her desire to achieve her goal overcame her emotions, as she finally got to the main point.
"...I'll just come right out and say it."
"That... Yotsuba-kun, are you and Saegusa-senpai dating?"
----------
For advance chapters join my Patreon.
[email protected]/Aarvan