This Is Pure Love, After All!

"What does Gojo-kun like, then?"

Hearing him say something so philosophical, Kanzaki Ryuji, sitting nearby, grew curious.

What did someone like him—handsome, top of the class, and freakishly athletic—strive for?

"Who are you, anyway?"

He recognized him, but figured he should pretend otherwise to avoid being misunderstood.

"I'm Kanzaki Ryuji from Class 1-B, same as Amikura. Nice to meet you."

But Gojo Satoru didn't follow the expected script. He simply smiled and waved.

"Sure thing."

Kanzaki Ryuji hadn't expected that reply, and for a moment he was at a loss for how to respond.

"If Xiao Mako has any questions, you can ask me! These problems look really easy."

Gojo ignored Kanzaki Ryuji and sat down beside Amikura Mako.

Unfortunately, the moment he sat down, she shooed him away.

"Satoru-kun, why don't you go look around? If you stay here, I'll get distracted!"

With the person she liked staring at her the whole time, she couldn't bring herself to study. Otherwise, she could've just asked her perfect-score boyfriend to tutor her. Why bother joining a study group?

"Am I being rejected?"

Gojo immediately stood up, bracing his left hand on the desk and clutching his chest with his right, looking utterly wronged.

The others were surprised, too. The boy who'd shone on the court was so lively in private, like a little kid who'd never grown up.

"Satoru-kun, behave yourself. And it's not just me.

Look at Yume-chan. Ever since you got here, she's been sneaking glances at you. That's because you're so noticeable."

Called out without warning, Kobashi Yume's face turned bright red. She flailed her hands about as if she wanted to say something, but couldn't get a word out.

Seeing that he'd disrupted the study session for Class B, Gojo decided he shouldn't stay any longer. Still, he put on a wounded expression and said,

"Alas!

In the end, my feelings were misplaced!"

Then he covered his face and pretended to cry as he left.

Amikura Mako could barely keep from laughing.

He'd grown up, yet somehow he'd become less mature than he was as a child. Was this what growing in the opposite direction looked like?

Meanwhile, Ichinose, quietly working on problems nearby, gripped her pen tighter and tighter, as if she might snap it at any moment.

I still can't reach it.

Shiina Hiyori stretched up onto her tiptoes as hard as she could, but still couldn't reach the book on the top shelf. Frustrated, she lowered her head in disappointment.

"Shiina-kun, are you trying to get this book?"

Hearing someone call her, Shiina Hiyori turned around.

There stood Gojo, holding the book she'd just tried and failed to reach, The Silence of the Lambs. He looked at her with a smile.

Rather than focus on how he'd helped her get the book, Shiina Hiyori was more interested in whether he shared her hobby.

"Mr. X, did you come here to read novels over the weekend, too? And a mystery novel, at that!"

Seeing her approach with such excitement, Gojo instinctively took half a step back. He hesitated for a moment, but then honestly explained,

"Not quite what you think. I did come to read, but I didn't make a special trip here just because it's the weekend.

I came to the study session with my girlfriend, but she thought I was distracting her."

As he spoke, he naturally tilted his head back at a forty-five-degree angle, gazing at the ceiling with an expression of utter heartbreak.

That must be the girl he called out to on the court.

"Even Mr. X gets rejected? I thought you'd be the kind of guy every girl liked."

At that, Gojo became even more dramatic than before.

He flopped to the floor in a mermaid pose, making a dainty gesture with his hand as he whined,

"Waaah~

It's because I'm so popular! Her friends couldn't help looking at me, and I ruined the whole study atmosphere."

Mr. X's personality really is...

They sat across from each other at a nearby table. Shiina really wanted to focus on her novel.

But her gaze kept drifting to the eyes peeking out from beneath his slipping sunglasses.

Just like in the photo. No, even better-looking than in the photo. Those eyes are one of a kind.

"Shiina-kun, if you keep looking at me like that, I'm going to get embarrassed."

He'd been quietly reading his novel, but the gaze from across the table was too intense to ignore.

Yet instead of blushing or denying it, she asked him, puzzled,

"If your eyes are so beautiful, Mr. X, why do you always wear something over them?"

"Because I'm so good-looking, I'm worried people will harass me. How's that for an answer?"

Shiina Hiyori was taken aback by his conceited reply.

She studied his smiling face, but couldn't think of a good reason to argue with him.

Still, she didn't want the conversation to end there, so she changed the subject.

"What made you choose to enroll at this school?

You're incredibly athletic, a top student, and handsome. I can't think of any reason Mr. X would need to come here.

You don't usually like going to class, so I doubt there's a particular university you want to attend.

As for work, I don't think you'd have much trouble finding a job with your abilities. Even going pro in basketball shouldn't be difficult for you.

So why enroll in a school where you can't contact the outside world for three years?"

Most of that was common knowledge, but Little Hiyori had still managed to put it all together. She really was observant.

She didn't just like reading mystery novels; her actions showed she was a fan, too.

"Most of the girls I like are at this school, so I decided to enroll. I figured I'd use these three years to win them all over. What do you think of that plan?"

He'd told her exactly what he really thought. No lies, no beating around the bush—he'd laid it all out.

His previous answer had only made Shiina pause.

This one left her completely stunned.

Shiina Hiyori stared at him in disbelief. How could anyone say something so unabashedly player-like with a straight face?

Unable to hold back, she voiced the thought that had been on her mind.

"Is that really something you should say out loud?

I'm a girl, too, and you're telling me your scheme right to my face.

You're such a scumbag!"

But his next words left her unable to argue.

"Why call it a scheme?

If you meet a girl you like, you pursue her. You don't hide the fact that you're already in a relationship.

If she accepts, you get together. If she doesn't, you don't force the issue.

When both people are in love and choose to be together, that's pure love!"

After hearing his explanation and seeing how sincere he looked, Shiina Hiyori really didn't know how to argue.

Wasn't he kind of right?

He hadn't lied to anyone or forced anyone. They'd only gotten together because the other person wanted to.

Could she really call him a "scumbag" in that situation?

Still, something felt off. She just couldn't put her finger on it.

Her head hurt! It felt like something was growing inside it!

"But..."

Before she could finish, he cut her off.

"Besides, I already have two girlfriends, and they both know about each other. They still get along just fine.

So in this situation, who have I let down? Who have I wronged?

No one's heartbroken, so I don't deserve to be called a scumbag, right?"

He already had two partners?!

If what he said was true, then she really couldn't find a way to argue with him.