After Sunday came Monday, the day most students dislike. The students of Sobu High School were already going through their usual morning routines, putting on their Sobu High uniforms and heading to school on foot or by bicycle, alone or in groups with friends and close companions.
Tetsuya, who had gone on dates with two girls on two different days over the weekend, was also on his way to school. His good mood wasn't only because of his dates with Utaha and Marin, the latter of whom he had already won over, but also because his strength had grown even greater.
However, Tetsuya still hadn't had the chance to use that power in a real fight. For now, his main focus was school.
As usual, Tetsuya drew attention from girls and even married women who were out shopping for household necessities. He was already used to this and simply walked toward Sobu High as always, ignoring all the attention he received.
When Tetsuya entered his classroom, someone immediately approached him. It was a blonde girl with a gyaru-like appearance.
Marin Kitagawa.
"Tetsuya-kun! Ohayou!"
"Morning, Marin."
Marin hugged Tetsuya's arm and smiled brightly, her eyes sparkling with playfulness and affection. This was noticed by Megumi, who was totally not being overlooked, ahem!. As she stared at the two of them with a questioning expression.
Tetsuya noticed Megumi's gaze directed at him and Marin and had to praise her for being so perceptive.
"Marin, Megumi's watching you."
Marin finally realized it. Not just Megumi—the entire class! Even though some students hadn't arrived yet, Marin felt her cheeks burn with embarrassment. A deep blush instantly spread to her ears and even down her neck.
She quickly released Tetsuya's arm, crouched down, covered her flushed face, and let out a faint "kyaa~".
Tetsuya smiled at Megumi and said, "Good morning, Megumi."
"Good morning, Tetsuya-kun," Megumi replied. Ignoring Marin's reaction, she hesitated slightly before asking, "You two seem much closer lately. Did something happen?"
"No! Nothing happened!" Marin turned even redder, looking like a boiled shrimp. But her denial only made things more suspicious.
Tetsuya didn't panic or feel embarrassed. Calmly, he made up an excuse. "Last Saturday, Marin invited me to a cosplay event, and I accompanied her to do cosplay. Maybe that's why?"
Marin suddenly looked enlightened. She nodded vigorously, secretly praising Tetsuya's quick thinking. "That's right! That's right! We got closer because of that, we did a lot of things together!"
"…A lot of things?" Megumi's face was hidden by her hair.
Even the rest of the class fell silent, stunned.
Tetsuya froze, his lips twitching.
"!!!" Marin immediately realized what she had said and hurriedly explained, "I mean private conversations! Like hobbies and stuff! Not that kind of thing!"
Only then did Megumi and the others calm down a little. Some girls who had been looking at Marin with envy earlier now softened their expressions, ready to chat with her another time.
Megumi seemed like she wanted to say something more, but just then, the class bell rang.
"All right, Kato-san. Look, the bell rang! Let's get back to our seats!" Still embarrassed, Marin quickly dragged Megumi back to her seat.
Tetsuya smiled faintly as he watched Marin flee and Megumi stare at her blankly, clearly thinking about something else.
Time passed, and the first class ended.
The middle-aged teacher gave a few more instructions before leaving the classroom. Groups of boys rushed toward the school cafeteria, while several groups of girls left with their lunch boxes.
Yotsuya Miko was pulled along by her energetic best friend, Yurikawa Hana, who wanted her to come buy some new bread at the cafeteria.
"Miko, Miko! Let's go to the cafeteria! I heard they've got a new meat-filled bread!"
Miko, who was the complete opposite of Hana, looked drained and listless. Helplessly, she replied, "What's the difference? Isn't it all meat anyway?" as she glanced backward, specifically toward Tetsuya's seat.
"Of course it's different!" Hana puffed out her cheeks in a pout and noticed Miko looking like she was searching for someone. "Miko, who are you looking for?"
"I…" Miko looked toward the door behind her and saw Tetsuya about to leave with Marin and Megumi. She immediately rushed over to him.
"Huh? Miko?!" Hana was startled and hurried after her.
Meanwhile, Tetsuya, Marin, and Megumi were about to eat together as usual. However, when Tetsuya noticed Miko and Hana approaching, the three of them stopped walking.
"Yotsuya-san? What's wrong?" Marin spoke first.
Miko didn't answer Marin and instead looked at Tetsuya. "H-Hiratsuji-san… have you, have you already become able to help me?"
"Eh? Help? Miko, help with what?" Hana asked curiously, looking at Miko, who was staring at Tetsuya with serious, hopeful eyes.
Tetsuya paused for a moment. He wondered whether he could remove Miko's Spirit Sight and stop her from seeing evil spirits.
Could he use Electrokinesis to modify her eyes? But was it a direct mutation of her eyes, or was it a supernatural ability that couldn't be removed so easily? Tetsuya still didn't know.
What about "destroying" her Spirit Sight using Mugen Saika? That seemed more plausible, and something he trusted more, than interfering with her eyes using Electrokinesis.
He could try.
So Tetsuya said, "I'm not completely sure, but… I joined a club called the Service Club that helps students deal with their problems. Yotsuya, you can come to the club and request help, and I'll try to help you."
Miko looked like she had discovered a mountain of gold. Her usually tired, sleep-deprived expression brightened instantly. She nodded firmly and said, "Yes! I'll definitely come!"
Tetsuya smiled and left with Marin and Megumi.
Meanwhile, Miko and Hana remained behind. Miko felt full of hope that Tetsuya could help her. She was already exhausted, and she was determined to visit the Service Club later.
…Why was the club's name so… awkward?
"Miko?" Hana called out, snapping her back to reality.
"What is it, Hana-chan?"
"Um, what were you talking about with Tetsuya-kun? What kind of help do you need from him? I can help you too!" Hana puffed out her ample chest proudly.
Miko looked at that chest with a pained expression and said, "No. You can't help me, Hana-chan. Right now, only Hiratsuji-san can."
"Eh~? Why?!" Hana pouted. "Aren't I your friend? I want to help you too, Miko!"
Miko was touched by Hana's words, but she knew Hana couldn't help her solve the problem of seeing evil spirits.
"Don't you want to try the new meat bread at the cafeteria, Hana-chan? Let's go buy it," Miko said, trying to change the subject.
Hana was immediately distracted. Just hearing about meat bread made her practically drool, stars lighting up in her eyes. "All right! Let's go, Miko!"