The Promise for Tomorrow

He had no idea whether Ken Sudō had actually taken Makoto's words to heart.

In any case, Honami was already nestled in Makoto's arms, looking blissfully starry-eyed.

Makoto just now was so cool~

She couldn't imagine what she might have become without him.

The golden-pink angel thought to herself.

After Ken Sudō drew everyone's attention back, the shock Ryuen Kakeru had brought with him faded completely, and the dinner carried on as usual until it ended.

As they were leaving, Makoto said, "If students from Class C harass you verbally, you can use your phone's recording function to document it."

"How would that help?"

Kushida Kikyo asked curiously. Makoto seemed like an encyclopedia; he could provide a good answer to most questions.

"One recording might not prove much, but if we collect enough of them, the school will probably take notice."

Kushida Kikyo was exceptionally perceptive when it came to people, but Makoto got the feeling she wasn't all that smart. Maybe she'd put all her points into the other area.

"Just like I'd expect from Makoto!"

Kanji Ike and Yamauchi Haruki were green with envy.

When would they ever get to the point where they could call Kushida Kikyo by her first name, too?

On the way back to the dorms, Makoto noticed a flash of blue-green in the distance.

Who else could it be but Ibuki Mio, who had popped up earlier?

"I thought you'd come out and invite me in for dinner. I've been waiting here for ages, and this is how you repay me?"

Ibuki Mio's gaze was ice-cold, as if she'd spent ten years slaughtering fish at a supermarket.

"Most people would leave on their own once they realized the other person wasn't going to invite them in, right? So, what do you want?"

Ibuki Mio glanced at Honami beside Makoto before speaking.

"Do you really intend to coexist peacefully with us?"

"Would you prefer to get beaten into submission and then kneel on the ground, begging for handouts?"

Makoto looked at her strangely.

"You! You say that like you're guaranteed to win!"

Unlike Ken Sudō, Ibuki Mio could keep her temper under control to some extent, especially with cameras all around them.

"Honestly, I am. Want me to prove it to Class C?"

Makoto didn't mind giving Ibuki Mio and the others a little taste of the future.

"Forget it. You'd better hold on to whatever dignity you have left."

Ibuki Mio tactically retreated. She took the threat this man posed seriously.

"In that case, set up a meeting with your class's dictator for me tomorrow. The guy called Ryuen today."

"How did you figure out he's the dictator of our class?"

Ibuki Mio looked genuinely curious.

"Look at how he went out with a bunch of lackeys in tow. It's not hard to imagine the sort of tactics he uses in class."

Makoto had stopped showing off. He didn't feel anything for Ibuki Mio.

There was no need to keep making her curious.

At the thought of Ryuen Kakeru's arrogant attitude, Ibuki Mio couldn't help rubbing her forehead and sighing.

"Yeah, that's about right."

"By the way, I'm Miyano Makoto. What's your name?"

Makoto considered names a major weakness. They were far too easy to let slip, so he'd better ask hers first.

"Ibuki Mio."

"That's a nice name."

Makoto tossed out the compliment. Compliments were free, after all.

"Let's add each other as friends. Otherwise, how am I supposed to contact you tomorrow?"

Ibuki Mio looked reluctant, but her hand had already opened the friend code on her phone.

"Fine."

The two exchanged contact information, and the gender ratio among the contacts in Makoto's phone plunged into extreme imbalance once again.

If only he'd had this sort of happy problem in his previous life.

He thought without a hint of nostalgia.

Life here was so pleasant, he'd forgotten all about home.

"Since we still have time, hurry up and go eat."

"None of your business!"

Ibuki Mio rolled her eyes at Makoto, then left on her own.

"What are you planning to do by meeting Ryuen?"

"Try to negotiate with him. Though I suspect it'll probably end in failure."

Makoto put an arm around Honami and headed for the dorms.

With midterms approaching, most students had voluntarily stopped their evening activities and were using that time to study instead.

So Honami would be heading straight back to the dorms tonight, too. Maybe there'd be a special study session in her room.

Makoto had no information about that, so he knew nothing of the kind.

Boys weren't allowed in the girls' dormitory after eight.

It was blatant double standards, and Makoto still silently looked down on it.

"Then why are you meeting him, Makoto?"

"It'll plant a seed in his mind. Maybe it'll come in handy later."

"Mm, just like I'd expect from Makoto!"

Honami never held back when praising him. She could never get tired of complimenting him.

Back in the quiet, empty Room 301, Makoto found that Kei had been planning to come over for tutoring. But he and Honami both agreed that she'd already had enough tutoring during the day lately. She needed to spend the evening absorbing what she'd learned instead of cramming even more.

Kei had no choice but to give up.

Makoto checked his phone for anything worth noting, and this time he actually found something.

It was a message from the swimming coach.

In short, there'd be a competition off campus after midterms. The coach had already signed Makoto up and hoped he'd perform well and bring honor to the school.

Seeing the message reminded Makoto of something the original story seemed to have forgotten.

Club activities could also affect a class.

More specifically, students who performed well might be rewarded with points by the school.

Though those were probably only individual points, not Class Points.

It was hardly a crucial piece of information.

The original story had used it as a reason to save Ken Sudō.

Looking at the message, Makoto figured he'd go practice tomorrow.

If it was for something like this, the school couldn't really complain if he took a day off.

Besides, Hoshinomiya-sensei was on his side.

As the school nurse, she had the astonishing power to write sick notes.

If she said you were sick, then you were sick. You were guaranteed to get the day off.

What? You say you're sick, then swim around the pool full of energy?

So what? I like swimming when I'm sick.

Nothing wrong with that~

Makoto let his thoughts wander wherever they pleased. It was also a great way to exercise his mind and keep his thinking from growing rigid.

He'd take a quick look at the school's official forum, then head downstairs to buy some warm milk and go to bed.

Two hours later, Makoto drifted off to sleep.

The above was pure nonsense from the author. I have no idea whether it actually works, either.