Just Want to Be a Slacker

But who would actually do that?

"Since you think I'm a beautiful girl, why haven't you looked me in the face since you entered the room?"

Why haven't I looked at you? Do you really need me to spell it out?

Hearing this, Kamio Tatsuya decided he wasn't going to hold back anymore. He lifted his head and stared straight at Kamuro Masumi.

But his gaze was like it had auto-aim locked on, instantly landing on the absolute territory between her skirt and knee-high socks.

As if something there was drawing him in.

Shinji!

At this moment, I feel like I finally understand a little what kind of situation led you to say those words.

But I still have to criticize you.

One year isn't enough—three years is the starting point, you bastard!

And noticing Kamio Tatsuya's stare, Kamuro Masumi felt uncomfortable. She stood up directly, and Kamio Tatsuya's gaze followed her movement.

Seeing Kamio Tatsuya's actions, Kamuro Masumi just wanted to lift her leg and stomp it right on his face.

Chapter 21: One by one, what are you all doing?

Kamio Tatsuya lived by one principle.

If he said he wouldn't look, he wouldn't look.

If he was going to look, he'd look openly and boldly.

Sneaking glances only makes a girl think you're creepy.

Not everyone has eyes that appreciate beauty, and Kamio Tatsuya considered his own taste pretty good.

So, after Kamuro Masumi said what she did, Kamio Tatsuya started sizing her up without any shame.

As the saying goes, when the flowers are in full bloom, if I don't go admire them, it'd be me being insensitive to romance.

"You really don't hold back, do you?"

"Didn't you tell me to look?"

Kamio Tatsuya shifted his gaze upward, landing on her face.

"I'm going back."

Kamuro Masumi picked up her school bag from the bed.

"Take your time, no need to see you out."

Kamio Tatsuya withdrew his gaze, picked up his teacup again, blew on the steam, and took a satisfying sip.

This guy!

He's really infuriating!

Not long after Kamuro left, a knock came at Kamio Tatsuya's door again.

Can't this end? Didn't she leave?

But when he opened the door, it wasn't Kamuro Masumi outside—it was his classmate, Horikita Suzune.

"What are you doing here?"

Unexpected guests kept coming one after another. Whether it was Kamuro Masumi or Horikita Suzune, Kamio Tatsuya hadn't anticipated either of them showing up.

He'd originally thought the first person to come find him would be Hirata Yosuke.

Because that guy's personality was just like that—easy to read. He wouldn't give up on any classmate, so he'd definitely come to comfort Kamio Tatsuya, who was being punished.

Especially since this whole thing wasn't entirely Kamio Tatsuya's fault.

In just one week, Kamio Tatsuya had already figured that out.

"Are you planning to make me stand here and talk to you?"

Why does everyone say the same thing? Seriously.

Kamio Tatsuya had no choice but to step aside.

After entering the room, Horikita Suzune noticed the two cups of tea on the table.

"Did someone else come by?"

"Yeah, a friend."

Kamio Tatsuya picked up the cup Kamuro Masumi had used, poured its contents into the sink, rinsed it, and poured a cup for Horikita Suzune.

But it seemed the tea leaves had steeped a bit too long in the pot, so the color was darker.

The taste would probably be more bitter too.

Though Horikita Suzune probably wouldn't care about that.

"By the way, what are you here for?"

Unlike Kamuro Masumi, Horikita Suzune didn't sit on the bed. Instead, she sat down at the small table.

Exactly. That's what a normal person would do.

Kamuro Masumi really has no sense of boundaries.

"Over this time, I've thought a lot."

Kamio Tatsuya poured water into the teapot while listening to Horikita Suzune's words.

"According to you, Class A is the school's elite, while Class D is all defective goods."

"That's right, I did say that."

Kamio Tatsuya sat down, pouring himself some tea. After adding water, the color of the tea had lightened considerably, and the flavor was probably just right.

"So you admit you're defective too?"

"That's right." Kamio Tatsuya admitted it easily. "What's so hard about admitting that? No one is perfect. As long as you're human, you have flaws. If someone really were flawless..."

He paused, letting out two cold chuckles. "Then I'd have to wonder if they're even human."

He never thought of himself as perfect. Even after being reborn, he didn't consider himself flawless.

"Don't you feel any resentment?"

"Why would I? My own excellence isn't determined by what others say." Kamio Tatsuya gave Horikita Suzune a strange look.

This girl seemed a bit obsessed.

After all, no matter how impressive someone is, there will always be people who refuse to acknowledge them. Why care so much about others' opinions?

"Is that all you came to talk about?"

"More or less." Horikita Suzune sighed.

This guy—she was getting harder and harder to understand. Coming all the way to his room just to spout this nonsense? Why bother? It was cutting into his gaming time.

Horikita Suzune sat there in silence for a moment, then drained the tea in front of her in one go.

"Thanks for the hospitality. I'll be going now."

"Take your time, no need to see me out."

Horikita Suzune picked up her bag from the floor and left Kamio Tatsuya's room.

But not long after, the door to his room rang again.

What the hell, is there no end to this?

Kamio Tatsuya had just turned on his game console, and his mood was genuinely irritated.

He opened the door with a dark expression and saw the third visitor of the day.

And it was someone who made him even more puzzled.

Kushida Kikyo—the girl who claimed she wanted to be friends with everyone in the class—was standing outside Kamio Tatsuya's room.

Hey, hey, hey. Does Yamauchi Haruki know you're visiting me?

He's been shouting that he won't date anyone unless they're on the level of you or Hasebe.

Isn't that basically a direct confession that he likes you?

And now you're showing up outside my room. If Yamauchi Haruki found out about this, his expression would be quite the sight.

"Um, Kamio-kun, I'm so sorry. Did I interrupt you?"

Why apologize right off the bat?

Did you do something worth apologizing for?

Oh, I see—it's because my expression is sour. Fine, I'll forgive you.

"It's nothing. I'm just not used to being visited by so many people in a row." Kamio Tatsuya offered a brief explanation. "Anyway, Kushida-san, is there something you need?"

To be honest, no matter how harmless Kushida Kikyo looked, Kamio Tatsuya wasn't too keen on interacting with her.

After all, he just wanted to get through these three years peacefully. There was no need to have too deep an exchange with someone of unclear intentions.

"I was originally worried that you might be in a bad mood after being punished, but it seems I was worrying for nothing."

You don't look worried at all.

"Kamio-kun, won't you invite me in to sit for a bit?"

I feel like I've heard that line somewhere before.

A few minutes later, Kamio Tatsuya poured Kushida Kikyo a cup of tea as well. Of course, it wasn't freshly brewed—just the same pot from earlier, topped up with water.

"Actually, I came about Horikita-san."

Horikita?

Horikita Suzune?

What does she have to do with me?

Kamio Tatsuya was a bit speechless. Did she not realize she was causing trouble?

But saying that outright would definitely make him disliked, so he went along with her lead and replied, "What about Horikita?"

"Horikita's always alone, and the girls are starting to have some opinions about it."

How the hell is that any of their business?

Kamio Tatsuya was honestly fed up. What, her being alone offends you people?

The dorms at this school were single rooms—not shared—so there was no conflict over living arrangements. If she wanted to do her own thing, that was her freedom.

Who gave you ugly bastards the right to meddle?

Chapter 22: So You're Saying It's Not Your Fault

Even if he didn't understand Kushida Kikyo's angle, there were plenty of people who marched to their own beat. Horikita Suzune wasn't the first Kamio Tatsuya had seen.

So he didn't see anything particularly wrong with Horikita's current approach. Choosing solitude was her own business.

"It's her freedom, and she hasn't caused any trouble for others, has she?"

"Of course I understand. But a lot of people are worried about her too."

Kushida Kikyo's face was full of concern—hard to tell if it was real or fake.

But real or fake, she was impressive in her own way.

"I'm not close with her. You've got the wrong person asking for help." Kamio Tatsuya refused outright. "Even if I'm her deskmate, I barely talk to her in class. Her other deskmate, Ayanokoji, chats with her all the time. Plus, I've been suspended for a week—I doubt I can help you much."

I don't want to get dragged into this kind of trouble, so Ayanokoji, it's all yours. We're even.

"But I just saw Horikita come here."

MD, you were stalking her!?

That's not a good habit!

"Oh, that's because I asked her to explain the lecture highlights for me. I'm out for a week, and she looks like a top student with high Academic Ability."