Setsuna Ogiso smiled contentedly before adding another comment.
"Kazusa."
"What?"
"Nothing, I just wanted to call your name."
"You're really bored. Rather than wasting time like that, you should practice coordinating the lyrics and music more, Ogi... Setsu... Setsuna."
Hearing this, Ye Xing slowly entered the practice room and chuckled lightly.
"Am I interrupting you two?"
One could only say, as expected of Sobu High School's strongest songstress, the great Setsuna Ogiso, who easily accomplished what others couldn't.
Don't underestimate the significance of using given names.
Even within the Supernatural Society, where Yukino Yukinoshita and Yui Yuigahama were relatively familiar with Kazusa Touma, Kazusa only occasionally called them by their given names. Most of the time, she stiffly addressed them as Yukinoshita-san and Yuigahama-san.
More importantly, the words Kazusa Touma had just spoken - asking not to be called Touma-san but to use Kazusa instead - she had only ever said to one person in her life.
That was Ye Xing. There had been no second person until now.
To make Kazusa Touma soften her attitude to this extent in such a short time since meeting...
Setsuna Ogiso, a true powerhouse.
"Ye Xing-san."
Seeing Ye Xing enter through the door, Setsuna Ogiso waved the musical score in her hand and spoke cheerfully.
"I'm practising with Kazusa. Why don't you join us? Without the guitar accompaniment, it always feels like something's missing."
"Sure."
Ye Xing nodded and looked toward Kazusa Touma, speaking softly.
"You did quite well, Kazusa."
Upon hearing these words of approval, a faint smile involuntarily appeared at the corner of Kazusa Touma's mouth, but she immediately raised her hand to physically press down the upturned corners and said calmly:
"As the band leader, this is my responsibility. Since we're performing, we must give our all. Even if we fail, we shouldn't have any regrets."
"We won't fail!"
Setsuna Ogiso said with great seriousness.
"As long as we work hard, we're bound to succeed!"
Kazusa Touma nodded noncommittally.
"Well then, that depends on how quickly you can synchronise with us."
"Then let's start making the most of our time right now!"
Just at that moment, Shizuka Hiratsuka carefully pulled open the door to the practice room and poked her head in to ask:
"Um... Ye Xing, are you free now? I need to talk to you about something."
"What is it?"
Seeing that there were only Setsuna Ogiso, Ye Xing, and Kazusa Touma in the practice room, Shizuka Hiratsuka saw no need for discretion and spoke directly:
"The date for the exchange has been set - tomorrow morning. Just the two of us. I'll pick you up by car in the morning, and we'll go to Toyogasaki High School together."
At this point, Shizuka Hiratsuka paused, a faint blush appearing on her cheeks as she said quietly:
"So... your home address... could you send it to me?"
Shizuka Hiratsuka's request was quite reasonable.
Rather than meeting at Sobu High School and then driving through morning rush hour traffic to Toyogasaki High School over ten kilometres away, it made more sense to drive directly to Ye Xing's home and then proceed straight to Toyogasaki High School to begin the day's exchange activities.
However...
If it were any other student, Shizuka Hiratsuka wouldn't have thought there was anything wrong with her request.
But with Ye Xing...
The key was that Shizuka Hiratsuka knew very well that her motivation for asking for his home address... wasn't exactly pure.
It was essentially using official business as a pretext to satisfy her personal interests.
"Oh, that's all? I've sent it to you."
Hearing the notification tone from her phone, Shizuka Hiratsuka felt a moment of joy, but then something struck her as odd.
Ye Xing had merely taken out his phone without any typing motions - he'd just pressed a few buttons casually and sent his home address as a message?
Could it be...
He had set his home address as one of those frequently used phrases that could be sent with just a click?
Just how many girls...
Had been to this guy's home!?
To the extent that he couldn't even be bothered to type it out!?
Shizuka Hiratsuka's chest heaved as she kept her thoughts from showing on her face, merely changing the subject:
"There's one more thing. It's not just our Sobu High School sending you and me as representatives to visit Toyogasaki High School - they'll also be sending outstanding students and teachers to our Sobu High School for a day-long experience. Regarding who should receive them..."
Shizuka Hiratsuka sighed with a complicated expression.
"Although there are many excellent students at our Sobu High School, the very best ones are all members of your club. Since Toyogasaki High School is coming from afar, whether out of courtesy or to maintain our reputation, we need to send our very best students to welcome them."
Ye Xing gave a slight nod and smiled.
"Go on, who do you want to find?"
Hearing this question, Shizuka Hiratsuka hesitated for a moment.
It was true that most members of the Supernatural Society possessed outstanding talents.
However, it seemed that the more outstanding a member appeared to outsiders, the more pronounced their personality flaws tended to be.
For example, take Kazusa Touma, who was currently in the music room. When it came to talent, her piano talent, which was world-class and even seemed to surpass her mother, Youko Touma's, made it irrelevant that she turned in blank exam papers every time.
Kazusa Touma's talent had long surpassed that of ordinary high school students... no, ordinary people in general. She was truly a one-in-ten-thousand genius.
But her personality flaws matched her exceptional talent, perhaps even surpassing them.
If they asked Kazusa Touma to serve as an exemplary student representative, never mind whether she would agree - even if she did go, wouldn't she end up fighting with the representative from Toyogasaki High School?
Absolutely not. Kazusa Touma was out of the question.
Rio Futaba was socially anxious, so she was eliminated, too.
Yui Yuigahama, Marin Kitagawa, Hina Amano... their outgoing, cheerful personalities would be quite suitable for student representatives... but the problem was that calling these three top students at Sobu High School would be quite a stretch...
The same went for Hina Amano.
Saki Kawasaki?
Her grades could be considered excellent, but with her delinquent aura and her cold expression toward outsiders, people would think they hadn't come to Sobu High School, but a female version of Crows Zero!
Hana Yurikawa... hmm... her personality was fine, her grades were fine, but she was just too... large. Better not.
Moreover, there was another problem.
For this exchange event, neither she, as the homeroom teacher, nor Ye Xing, as the Captain of the Supernatural Society, would be present.
With Ye Xing - the core figure - absent, looking around the entire Sobu High School, who could possibly control this group of problem students?
After much thought, Shizuka Hiratsuka could only come up with one barely feasible solution.
"How is... the relationship between Mai Sakurajima and Yukino Yukinoshita?"
Ye Xing replied indifferently.
"It's alright. Not particularly close, but since they're in the same club, calling them friends wouldn't be inappropriate."
"Then... could we have Mai Sakurajima and Yukino Yukinoshita serve as our school's student representatives together? Mai Sakurajima is the most famous student at our Sobu High School, representing our serious attitude toward Toyogasaki High School."
"And Yukino Yukinoshita is ranked second in our first year. I heard the representative Toyogasaki sent this time is also a first-year student. Being the same year, they might have topics to discuss."
"Although Yukinoshita isn't good at handling such situations, with Mai Sakurajima by her side, there shouldn't be any problems."
"What do you think?"
Ye Xing nodded and smiled.
"I think it's OK."
Then, without waiting for Hiratsuka's response, he abruptly changed the subject.
"But my opinion doesn't matter. This is their decision - you'll need to ask for their opinions. Though I think they'll agree."
After nodding in acknowledgement, Shizuka Hiratsuka left the music room.
Inside the music room, the accompaniment of White Album began to play, along with Setsuna Ogiso's singing voice, which, though slightly immature, was exceptionally pleasant to the ear.
...
Early next morning, outside Ye Xing's home.
"That kid... why isn't he out yet..."
Shizuka Hiratsuka leaned against the car window, holding a slender cigarette between her fingers, and couldn't help taking a deep drag to ease her inexplicably nervous mood.
Several minutes later, she finally saw Ye Xing, in black casual wear, push open the door and step out of the residence before her.
"Good morning, Shizuka-chan."
Watching Ye Xing casually take the passenger seat, Shizuka Hiratsuka frowned slightly.
"Why aren't you wearing your school uniform?"
"What's the need for that?"
Ye Xing waved his hand dismissively, looking completely unconcerned.
"Wearing Sobu High School's uniform while going to inspect another school? That would be far too strange."
Shizuka Hiratsuka thought this was indeed reasonable. Although Toyogasaki High School also had standard uniforms, compared to the distinctive Sobu High uniform everyone would recognise, Ye Xing, in casual wear, would attract less attention...
As she thought this, Shizuka Hiratsuka glanced at Ye Xing's profile and sighed quietly.
With his appearance, not attracting attention was absolutely impossible.
"Let's get going then."
Without saying more, Shizuka Hiratsuka drove off down the road.
...
Half an hour later, at Sobu High School's entrance.
"So this is the place..."
Having arrived with several other student representatives and teachers from Toyogasaki High School, Eriri stepped off the coach and looked toward Sobu High's gate, her eyes unconsciously glimmering with anticipation.
"Sobu High..."
If she came here, would she be able to meet that boy who had saved her from the thugs that day?
Eriri didn't know his name, but his height of 180cm, which was outstanding among peers, his appearance, and his personality that always made people laugh despite facing armed criminals with abstract remarks - he should be easy enough to find.
"Welcome to all from Toyogasaki High School."
Mafuyu Kirisu stood at the entrance of Sobu High, giving a slight nod to the visiting group from Toyogasaki High School.
Beside her stood Mai Sakurajima and Yukino Yukinoshita.
"Is that Mai Sakurajima?"
"No wonder she's a former nationally famous child-star idol actress. She's really beautiful."
"She's pretty, but our Sawamura-kun isn't any worse."
"Exactly, as one of Toyogasaki High School's two great beauties and a mixed-race girl, how could she be undeserving of her reputation?"
Clearly, though they had just met, the student representatives from Toyogasaki High School were already unconsciously comparing Sobu High's most famous student, the former idol actress Mai Sakurajima, with their own Eriri.
In terms of appearance alone, the two were evenly matched.
However...
Standing beside Mai Sakurajima was Yukino Yukinoshita, whose appearance was equally outstanding.
At the first meeting, Toyogasaki High School lost in the beauty contest.
"Hello."
As the most important student representative of Toyogasaki High School this time, Eriri revealed a sweet smile and stepped forward to greet Yukino Yukinoshita and Mai Sakurajima beside Mafuyu Kirisu.
"I'm Eriri Spencer Sawamura, a first-year at Toyogasaki High School. Pleased to meet you."
Although Eriri was a hardcore otaku, she always maintained a flawless, beautiful girl image in front of outsiders, and this occasion was no exception.
However, what she didn't expect was that, facing her perfect disguise, Mai Sakurajima and Yukino Yukinoshita exchanged glances, both wearing completely indifferent expressions. In fact, Yukino Yukinoshita's face even showed undisguised disgust.
This completely threw Eriri off balance.
She thought to herself, 'This flawless image of mine always greatly increases favourability upon first meeting, regardless of age or gender, without exception. How could it actually provoke disgust this time?'
Eriri knew that some women really disliked good-looking girls, but those people were usually quite unattractive themselves, driven by jealousy.
Women like Mai Sakurajima and Yukino Yukinoshita, whose appearances were no less impressive than her own, were unlikely to show disgust towards her out of jealousy, right?
Eriri's attempt had truly backfired this time.
Just who was she facing?
That was Mai Sakurajima - a national-level idol actress who debuted in the entertainment industry when she was just learning to walk, honed her acting skills, and ultimately fought her way to the top.
Eriri's disguise might seem flawless, but how could it possibly deceive Mai Sakurajima?
As for Yukino Yukinoshita, though she lacked Mai Sakurajima's sharp eye, she still saw through Eriri's disguise.
Appraisal complete.
Fake.
Meeting these two sharp-eyed experts was truly terrible luck for the blonde failure.
Seeing the atmosphere growing awkward, the supervising teacher from Toyogasaki High School stepped forward, laughing awkwardly to smooth things over.
"Hehe, Sobu High School truly has an abundance of talented individuals. It's just a pity I couldn't meet student Ye Xing in person this time - I've heard so much about him."
"Not meeting him is no loss."
Yukino Yukinoshita glanced at the representatives from Toyogasaki High School and spoke indifferently.
"If he were responsible for welcoming you today instead of Mai-senpai and me, he'd just pull up a chair and sit at the school gate entrance, letting you find your own way in. He'd probably even play a suona piece as welcome music."
"Suona... that..."
The teacher, hearing this, didn't know how to respond and could only look toward Mafuyu Kirisu with an awkward smile.
"Your... your school's students... are certainly... versatile."
...
Meanwhile, at the gate of Toyogasaki High School.
Several teachers, including the year head and principal, stood waiting at the school gate early with student representatives.
Among the students, one girl stood out particularly - a black-haired, red-eyed beauty wearing a white hairband.
She was quite tall yet possessed voluptuous curves, her long legs encased in sheer black tights showing both elegant lines and appealing fullness. Her appearance was so striking that she seemed to draw all attention just by standing there.
"I say..."
The girl's eyes showed clear displeasure.
"How much longer must we wait?"
The principal wiped sweat from his forehead and offered an apologetic smile.
"Soon, definitely soon. Perhaps there's traffic congestion. My apologies, Kasumigaoka-san, for making you stand outside so long."
"I hope they arrive soon."
This black-haired, red-eyed beauty was none other than Utaha Kasumigaoka - the other half of Toyogasaki High School's famed pair of beauties alongside Eriri, currently in her second year.
Utaha Kasumigaoka wasn't just exceptionally attractive; her talents were first-rate, too. Since enrollment, she had maintained the top academic position in her year, an unchallenged record.
Moreover, she handled the drama club's scriptwriting, demonstrating remarkable literary talent.
Toyogasaki High School's administration had originally intended for Utaha Kasumigaoka to serve as a student representative for the exchange visit to Sobu High School.
Compared to Eriri, who had average grades but exceptional artistic talent, Utaha Kasumigaoka, being the conventional honour student, was clearly the more suitable candidate.
However...
Though Utaha Kasumigaoka appeared quiet and refined, she was actually outspoken, even possessing what could be called a sharp tongue.
And most importantly.
Utaha Kasumigaoka held a competitive attitude toward Sobu High School's legendary genius student.
This was understandable.
In Utaha Kasumigaoka's eyes, she had always been the genius occupying the top academic position. How much better could Sobu High's so-called genius, who had achieved first place in joint examinations and even outperformed Shuchi'in Academy's first-years, possibly be compared to herself?
What was there to exchange?
What was worth exchanging?
Who was truly superior remained to be seen.
Because of this attitude, the school administration dared not appoint Utaha Kasumigaoka as student representative. Since Eriri had a much better temperament and had volunteered proactively, they simply sent her instead.
Just then, the teachers and students waiting at the school gate suddenly heard a piercing sound approaching from a distance.
Everyone turned to see a scene so astonishing that they would never forget it for the rest of their lives.
A sleek red sports car had pulled up, its passenger window rolled down to reveal a mysterious musical instrument protruding from within—the source of that piercing, high-pitched sound.
Toot toot toot toot...