Atsuomi: Oh, My Fasting

"But you really are surprising. Sleeping through the entire class is exactly what a useless, failing student would do."

After being insulted, Kamigami Haruo showed no anger. He simply took a huge bite of his sandwich, clasped his hands around his head, and shook it as he spoke.

"No, no. Those words just look like gibberish to me. If I stare at them too long, I'll start convulsing and foaming at the mouth. I don't want to get sent to the infirmary."

"And without my reminder, you wouldn't even have had time to review."

After putting on that act, Kamigami Haruo did not forget to mock her.

"Are you trying to shift the blame? As I recall, you occupied time that I was originally supposed to use for studying. Besides, I have complete confidence in my own grades. Reviewing is merely to strive for perfection."

However, Horikita Suzune did not take the bait and stated the facts directly.

"But thank you anyway."

Perhaps that thanks was for reminding her to review, or perhaps it was for making this period of her life feel more fulfilling.

"Mm."

After giving the response he was supposed to give, he ignored Horikita Suzune's speechless look and swiped one of the sandwiches she had bought.

"By the way, after watching what happened last night, didn't you have any thoughts about it?"

After a while, once lunch was finished, the idle Kamigami Haruo asked with some curiosity.

"Nothing in particular. I don't care much either. But now that I know her friendliness had some kind of purpose, it seems I can interact with her without any reservations from now on."

"But you were pretty angry last night, weren't you, Mr. Host?"

Kamigami Haruo clicked his tongue upon hearing that. Not because he was angry, but because different people gave different meanings to the same words.

When Kushida Kikyo called him a host, she probably meant that he was as filthy as those hosts at nightlife clubs, willing to do anything for results, even offering up his ass.

But Horikita Suzune might have meant that, like a host, he knew how to please people and had high emotional intelligence.

Of course, she might have meant the same thing as Kushida Kikyo. But he believed he had never wronged Kushida Kikyo, so saying that was nothing but slandering his character.

Still, it did not matter when Horikita Suzune said it. She had a sharp tongue, and he was already used to it. Besides, even if there was such a meaning, it was just friends teasing each other.

Come to think of it, Ayanokōji's dad, Ayanokōji Atsuomi, used to be a host, right?

Even if he stopped being one afterward, when he met politicians with unusual preferences, would he dress himself up meticulously and give himself a cherry blossom bath to win them over...

Hard to say, hard to say. It might actually be possible. After all, he would do anything for his ambitions.

The father and son might have some congenital genetic defect, lacking the thing called emotion. They could sacrifice anything for victory.

Back to the original topic.

"In that case, I'll toy with her feelings like a host and squeeze every bit of value out of her."

Kamigami Haruo waved a hand grandly and said something jaw-dropping.

"...Allow me to correct what I said earlier. You disgusting, useless, social-trash, scum-of-a-human-being. You are even worse than I thought."

Horikita Suzune was silent for a while before finally spitting out those words.

"Haha... I was just joking."

"But luckily, you dragged me away last night. Doing that might have felt good for a while, but it would have been troublesome if she latched onto me. I could use some unconventional methods, but there's no need. You, on the other hand, have a problem now~"

With a teasing look, he watched the beautiful girl before him, who was holding a water bottle after lunch and preparing to take a drink.

"Indeed... Adding you to the list of problems, it really is quite a big problem."

Horikita Suzune sighed, screwed the cap back onto her bottle, wiped her mouth with a handkerchief, and spoke with obvious disdain.

"Keep sighing about it. You'll have plenty to worry about later."

As more and more people returned to the classroom, Kamigami Haruo could not keep sitting in someone else's seat. After chatting a little longer, he stood up and returned to his desk.

Palette Cafe.

Before the lazy Kamigami Haruo had even entered the cafe, he spotted that conspicuous head of strawberry-blonde hair from a distance.

Seeing a seat that had just opened up, he quickly stepped forward, placed his handbag on it to claim it, then walked behind her, put a hand on her shoulder, and greeted her.

"Yo."

"Ah, ah! Haruo-kun, what a coincidence."

"Don't hesitate. Pick this one."

Kamigami Haruo pointed at an item on the menu and spoke to Ichinose.

"This looks good too. I'll have this one! One butter pancake and an orange juice, please."

"One of the same pancakes for me, and a strawberry parfait."

He planned to start with dessert to whet his appetite, then head to Room 1201 to mooch dinner.

Mm, life was pretty fulfilling.

After Kamigami Haruo paid, the two walked over to their table and sat down. Only then did he tell Ichinose to transfer him the money later.

"My, my, thank you so much today. If you hadn't reminded me, I really wouldn't have known there was a quiz~"

"It's nothing. There were only a few hours left anyway. How much could your Class B even review?"

Kamigami Haruo waved a hand. Given her personality, she had definitely informed the entire class. There were barely any questions on the quiz to begin with, and only a few could be answered.

No matter how much they studied, without an exam scope, those who knew the material would know it, and those who did not would not.

"If you want to thank me, buy me some meat on Thursday. Consider it the last celebration of the month."

Kamigami Haruo had not intended to accept her goodwill, but when he remembered the difficult life starting next month, he suddenly changed his mind.

When the time came, he would not be able to do whatever he wanted in class. He would not even be able to sleep, or else he could wait to be blamed by the entire class.

No matter what, humans were social animals. He merely did things his own way; he could not stand being alone.

"No problem, leave it to me!"

Ichinose clenched her fist, looking as though he could rest assured if he left it to her.

"Just don't fall asleep halfway through like yesterday, pfft, hahaha."

As he spoke, Kamigami Haruo could not hold back and burst out laughing.

"You're so mean. After drinking it, I felt all floaty, and it didn't even taste good. Don't think you can trick me into drinking it again next time."

The girl's pout was like the blush of youth. Ripples spread across the long-still lake, and even Kamigami Haruo was dazed for a moment. Even the girl herself blushed beneath his gaze.

That state lasted only briefly, because—

The food was ready and needed to be collected from the counter.

After setting down the tray and cups, the two continued, the atmosphere still tinged with the lingering tenderness from before.

"There's something stuck between your teeth."

Kamigami Haruo was just talking nonsense, and even pointed at her mouth while he was at it.

"Eh!? Really? Where, where? Let me see."

Ichinose immediately lowered her head, opened her mouth, and took out a mirror to inspect her teeth.

"No! You dummy!"

As though suddenly remembering something, Ichinose abruptly raised her head, only to bang it against the edge of the table.

"Idiot."

Kamigami Haruo's exceptionally foul mouth earned him exceptional enjoyment. He scooped up a spoonful, put it in his mouth, and savored it.

"I didn't even open my mouth. How did you know there was something in my teeth?"

The angry girl rubbed her head before questioning Kamigami Haruo.

"That's why I said you're an idiot, dummy."