Totzuka Yahiko

The classmate beside him nudged Totzuka Yahiko with an elbow.

"Totzuka, a cute girl is looking for you."

Manabe Shiho stood at the door, fidgeting.

Totzuka rose to his feet, his face turning red.

He hadn't expected spring to come for him, Totzuka Yahiko, and the girl was cute, too.

He hurried out of the room, putting on an honest, guileless expression.

"Miss, what can I do for you?"

Manabe Shiho said shyly, her face flushed.

"There's something I need to talk to you about. Could you come outside with me?"

Manabe Shiho glanced at everyone around them and deliberately spoke in a coy, sweet voice.

"There are too many people here. I'm embarrassed."

Totzuka Yahiko's cheeks turned an unnatural shade of red, and two streams of hot air puffed from his nostrils.

"Sure! No problem!"

Totzuka Yahiko strode out of the room.

The male students all looked on enviously.

But once they found out what had happened, they wouldn't be envious at all. They'd actually find it rather funny.

Manabe Shiho lured him into that same familiar little alley.

The same familiar recipe, the same familiar routine.

Albert skillfully hoisted him up.

Ryuen Kakeru smoothly took his hand again and pressed it against Manabe's other spare jacket.

That settled it. Both of Manabe Shiho's spare jackets were unusable now.

Ryuen Kakeru promised to buy Manabe two new outfits afterward before she finally let it go.

Meanwhile, Akasaka Ryunosuke was at home watching the memory card's contents, and couldn't help laughing out loud.

"Hahahahaha! Who would've thought? Ryuen Kakeru, you'd stoop to using such underhanded tricks. I never would've guessed."

Akasaka slapped the table, laughing so hard his stomach hurt.

But he had no intention of stopping this. He already couldn't stand Yamauchi, so this was a good chance to teach him a lesson.

What he hadn't expected, though—

After Sudo dropped out, he'd changed so much.

He'd gone from picking fights to using a honey trap.

This was really... the future was becoming harder and harder to predict.

Oh, well. He'd go buy something to eat. He was hungry.

Akasaka got up, ready to head out and buy some food.

Meanwhile, Totzuka Yahiko lay sprawled on the ground after they let him go, sobbing in pain.

He hadn't been beaten up. His fragile heart had been shattered...

"You're all despicable! You tricked me with a honey trap!"

Manabe only scoffed in disdain.

"If you fell for such a simple trick, you're no decent guy yourself."

"Manabe-chan!"

"Don't call me that! It's disgusting!"

Manabe planted a foot on Totzuka Yahiko's face and ground it in.

Ryuen Kakeru gave a disdainful snort.

"Quit messing around, Manabe. Next, go seduce Akasaka Ryunosuke from Class D. That's what our informant requested."

Manabe reluctantly lifted her foot.

"Why does it have to be me again? Can't Ibuki go?"

"Besides, it's always me. Won't people get suspicious?"

Ryuen Kakeru thought it over seriously.

"You've got a point. If you're always the one doing it, people really could get suspicious. Then let's have Ibuki go."

"Huh?"

Ibuki Mio pointed at herself.

"You want me to seduce a guy? I'd rather go pick a fight."

"Are you going or not?" Ryuen asked impatiently.

"No!"

Ibuki folded her arms across her chest, making her stance clear.

Ryuen was just about to force Ibuki to go when Shiina stopped him.

"Let me go."

Everyone froze at once and looked at Shiina in confusion.

An unnatural blush spread across Shiina's face as she insisted, pretending to be resolute.

"I'll be careful not to go too far. You don't need to worry."

Only then did everyone let the matter drop.

Ryuen came over and patted her on the shoulder, putting on a reassuring tone.

"Don't push yourself, Shiina."

"You're our strategist. If things don't feel right, just give up. Don't force yourself to do anything you don't want to."

Shiina held the books Akasaka had given her tightly against her chest.

"I understand."

Manabe pursed her lips in discontent.

"What a double standard. You've never been this gentle with me."

Manabe kicked the trash can beside her again in irritation. Everyone was used to it by now.

Shiina took on the responsibility and risked herself, heading to a place Akasaka often passed through to wait for him.

Meanwhile, Akasaka had just come out of the supermarket, carrying two plastic bags that were clearly full of groceries.

He was just about to head back to the dorm when he spotted Shiina, who had been waiting on a nearby bench for quite some time.

Clutching the book Akasaka had given her, Shiina greeted him with a bright smile.

"Good day, Akasaka."

I picked up my plastic bags and walked over.

"Good day, Shiina. What are you doing here?"

Shiina patted the bench beside her. "Won't you sit down and chat with me?"

"Sure, if I'm not imposing..." Akasaka sat down beside Shiina.

Shiina's eyes lit up as she held out the book.

"I've finished the first and second volumes of 5 Centimeters Per Second, the one you lent me. When are you releasing the final volume?"

That was Shiina's real reason for coming.

As a seasoned bookworm, how could she bear to be left hanging at such a crucial moment?

That was why she'd eagerly volunteered: she wanted to ask Akasaka for the final volume.

The two of them had already become friends through their love of books.

Akasaka had Shiina check whether his writing was up to standard.

Once it passed, he'd submit it through Shiina's connections.

After all, her father had a stake in a publishing house. He might as well make use of that connection.

Shiina was more than happy with the arrangement, too.

After all, it meant she could read the book ahead of everyone else.

The two of them hit it off immediately, becoming friends and collaborators.

Shiina would check the quality of the book, then pass it along to her father's publishing house to be signed and submitted.

Through Shiina, Akasaka could earn some extra income on the side. It was a win-win, benefiting them both.

Shiina got to satisfy her craving for books.

Akasaka got to earn some extra money.

Ryuen Kakeru and the others were hiding nearby, watching. The more they watched, the more something seemed off.

Seeing how happy Shiina looked, they realized something was wrong. She wasn't faking it.

Ibuki Mio asked suspiciously, "Why does Shiina seem so happy?"

"Could that guy be someone she's got a history with?"

Everyone fell silent, having noticed it too.

Shiina was clearly close to that guy. Otherwise, she wouldn't be chatting and laughing with him like that.

Ryuen Kakeru was grinding his back teeth so hard they were practically about to shatter.

He'd never seen Shiina this happy around him.

Who the hell was that guy?

Shiina was chatting merrily with him, having completely forgotten the plan Ryuen Kakeru had given her.

Ryuen Kakeru stroked his chin and thought to himself: Looks like I'll have to change the plan...