As they spoke, Kamuro Masumi's voice kept rising.
The students around them began to notice what was happening.
"Of course I am. You've never been good at studying, and now you have something on your mind too. I'm worried about you!
Surely you understand the general rules of this school, right? We've discussed this issue in class for a long time.
If this is a school where only the strong survive, then those who fall behind are highly likely to be expelled. We still don't know exactly what criteria they'll use to judge us.
But as students, our grades are one of the most important factors. There's no question about that.
I don't suppose you'd want to be expelled just for failing your exams, would you, Kamuro-san?"
Hearing the barely veiled threat, Kamuro fell silent.
That's right! For the past few days, I've been thinking about nothing but that bastard with the blindfold! Studying was never my strong suit, and now I can't even focus in class. It's all his fault!
Seeing that Kamuro had nothing to say, Sakayanagi Arisu realized she'd nearly succeeded and went straight to the offer.
"It seems you understand your situation, Kamuro-san. Why not tell me what's on your mind? I can't promise I'll be able to help with that.
"But when it comes to studying, I can tutor you one-on-one. You know how capable I am in that regard, don't you?"
She hadn't said it outright, but with so many classmates watching, the moment she agreed, she'd become part of the "Sakayanagi Faction," wouldn't she?
"I don't need your help. I can handle this myself. I don't like you, and I hate that bald guy even more, so there's no way I'm joining either of your factions.
"I don't slack off or mess around in class, so I'm not causing any trouble for the class. Stop bothering me!"
With that, she walked straight out of the classroom.
The students in Class A were all stunned by what they'd just witnessed.
Kamuro Masumi had always been a loner, and now she'd offended both major factions at once. She was likely to be ostracized by the class from now on!
Watching Kamuro Masumi walk away, Sakayanagi Arisu couldn't help but sigh inwardly.
She's got a lot of character, but this won't do. What she's doing now is no different from leaving Class A. Without the strength to stand on her own, anyone who can't unite with others is bound to be discarded.
As she walked through the school building, Kamuro Masumi thought back on what she'd just done and began to regret it.
They'd only been avoiding each other before, but now they were practically enemies. She didn't have the ability to take on two factions at once—not even one.
It's all that guy's fault! If it weren't for him, I wouldn't have gotten so angry. Then I wouldn't have lost my temper and rejected Sakayanagi in front of everyone!
She kept cursing Gojo Satoru in her mind, blaming him for everything that had happened to her.
Before she knew it, she'd left the school building. She'd barely gone a few steps when she spotted the person she'd been "thinking about day and night"—Gojo Satoru!
*You bastard!!
You said something so suggestive to me, then turned my school life into a complete mess.
And now you've just left me behind to hit on pretty girls!*
That was right. Seeing the four of them standing there in awkward silence, Kamuro Masumi immediately jumped to that conclusion.
After all, in her mind, no girl would ever approach that bastard with the blindfold.
A perfect plan came to her. She'd make those girls leave in disgust!
Faced with a scene that looked like she'd caught someone cheating, the Gal Trio, already mortified, felt even more awkward.
Ah! Gojo-kun actually has a girlfriend!
Sato Maya thought, looking utterly disbelieving.
"This situation seems kind of complicated. Should we sneak off first?!"
Karuizawa Kei said nervously, glancing at Kamuro Masumi's furious expression.
Hearing that, Matsushita Chiaki didn't know what to say. She could only scream inwardly:
Girl! This situation hasn't been normal from the start! Let's just kill ourselves already! Right now!!
"I-I'm sure it's fine, right? Maybe that girl just misunderstood!"
Matsushita Chiaki reassured the other two. They'd only come over to help her, and if she didn't say something soon, it might damage their friendship.
Seeing that all four of them had been stunned into silence, Kamuro Masumi ran straight over to Gojo Satoru, grabbed his arm, and shouted angrily,
"Am I not enough for you? Didn't you say you only loved me?"
Only then did Gojo Satoru snap out of his daze. Though he didn't understand why Kamuro Masumi was doing this, he played along.
Gojo Satoru pulled his arm free, then wrapped both arms around Kamuro Masumi and said gently,
"I'm so sorry for making you angry."
Kamuro Masumi's mind went completely blank in his arms.
Huh?! What's going on?! Wasn't the script supposed to be that those three girls slap him and storm off in anger? Then the bastard with the blindfold gets mad?!
"Um, you've got the wrong idea! We only came to invite Gojo-kun to hang out this weekend. He turned us down. He absolutely wasn't cheating on you!"
Not wanting to be seen as the bad guy, Sato Maya explained to Kamuro Masumi, who was still in Gojo Satoru's arms.
Hearing that, Kamuro Masumi didn't know how to respond. She'd even forgotten to pull away. All she wanted now was to find a hole to crawl into!
"It's fine, it's fine. I'll just comfort my girlfriend. You girls can go."
Gojo Satoru held Kamuro Masumi with one arm and waved the other at them with a smile.
"See you!"
At the prospect of finally being able to leave, Matsushita Chiaki quickly grabbed the other two by the hands and ran off, not giving them a chance to react. She was afraid they'd say something even more outrageous.
Once they'd gone, Kamuro Masumi finally wriggled out of Gojo Satoru's arms and said furiously,
"Who said you could hug me?!"
Gojo Satoru only smiled faintly and said,
"I didn't cheat on you, Your Highness."
He put heavy emphasis on the word "cheat."
"Who's your girlfriend?!"
Hearing his teasing, Kamuro Masumi's face flushed red. She retorted, then hurried away.
Gojo Satoru followed after her, asking cheerfully,
"Why'd you come looking for me all of a sudden? Did you miss me?"
"Of course not! I just happened to be passing by!
"I thought you were hitting on them, so I decided to come over and ruin it!"
As soon as she finished, she continued,
"And how could I possibly miss you?! Someone like you already has my contact information and a video you could use to threaten me, but you never message me. I was just worried you might suddenly report me!
"That's right! That's all!"
Watching Kamuro rush to explain herself, Gojo Satoru found it amusing and continued to tease her.
"Oh? Really? I'm so hurt!"
"Hmph! Good. You should be!"
"By the way, why haven't you messaged me?"
Though he'd answered her with a teasing tone, Kamuro had cleared things up, so she decided to take the opportunity and ask.
When she didn't hear a response behind her—and the sound of footsteps had stopped too—Kamuro stopped and looked back.
Gojo Satoru stood there, dazed and motionless. The smile he usually wore had vanished, and his expression had turned grave.
I have no value!
Remembering his previous life, when he'd spent years bedridden with a serious illness, Gojo Satoru thought coldly.
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