Only Hope Etsuka Doesn't Mind

The next day.

Inside Class B, most people were packing their books in disbelief, the reason being that summer vacation had actually arrived.

Nakanishi Jiro was grinning so wide he looked like a sunflower; he shook his head repeatedly while packing his books.

"Oh my, I actually wanted to study hard, but it's a pity I won't have the chance now."

"Tch~" Moriyama Sei rolled his eyes upon hearing Nakanishi Jiro's smug tone and said with disdain, "Stop putting on an act."

Nakanishi Jiro was immediately displeased. He put his hands on his hips and said, "Hey, hey, hey, I'm talking to you, Moriyama Sei, why do you have to pull that face every time I speak?"

Moriyama Sei stopped what he was doing, looked at Nakanishi Jiro, and simply said, "So what?"

"Waaah!" That one sentence completely broke Nakanishi Jiro's composure, making him so angry he couldn't help but stomp his feet.

In the back row, Himeno Yuki had a lollipop in her mouth and wired earphones in her ears, showing no intention of packing up.

Horikita Etsuka rested his chin on his hand and teased:

"Yo, Yuki, why aren't you packing your things?"

Himeno Yuki lifted her fair chin while sucking on her lollipop: "You haven't packed yours either, have you?"

Etsuka waved his hand:

"Pfft, what's there to pack? It's not like we aren't coming back next semester. It'll just get a little dusty, no big deal."

Himeno Yuki took out one earphone and asked curiously:

"Aren't you afraid your books will be gone when you come back after the summer break?"

Horikita Etsuka tapped his temple: "If they're gone, they're gone. I've already memorized everything."

"Oh~" Himeno Yuki nodded thoughtfully and shoved all the books on her desk into her desk compartment: "Then I won't take mine back either."

"Did you memorize everything too?"

"No."

"Then what will you do when you come back next semester and your books are gone?"

Himeno Yuki blinked at Etsuka: "You don't need them anyway, can't you just give them to me then?"

Etsuka subconsciously touched the books in his desk compartment:

"Yuki, that's not very nice of you, actually plotting to take my books."

"Here, have a candy." Himeno Yuki extended her fair palm, which held a lemon-flavored candy.

"Don't!" Etsuka immediately covered his eyes with his hand and turned his head away: "What are you doing? Trying to bribe me! Let me tell you, it is impossible for me to abandon the books that have been with me for the whole semester."

"Then I'll add a lollipop." Saying this, Himeno Yuki placed a lemon-flavored lollipop in her palm as well.

Etsuka opened a gap between his fingers, took a peek, and then quickly reached out to grab them, muttering under his breath:

"Honestly, what kind of official could withstand a test like this?"

Looking at Etsuka before her, Himeno Yuki smiled subconsciously. She basically had no friends at this school, and Horikita Etsuka was her deskmate and her only friend.

Hamaguchi Tetsuya was sighing while packing his books.

He listened to the conversation behind him, feeling as though his ears were growing calluses from all the sweetness, and he felt like someone had forcibly shoved a mouthful of dog food down his throat. This feeling was very uncomfortable for someone like him who only cared about studying.

At this moment, Amikura Mako walked over holding her Student Terminal.

"Etsuka, look at what these people are doing."

"Doing what?" Etsuka asked, looking up.

"It's this anonymous chat system." As she spoke, Amikura Mako displayed the screen and held it in front of Horikita Etsuka.

User 429: "What! Sudo! Is it Sudo! He's the one who leaked the Secret Key!"

User 260: "Hey! You guy, can you stop slandering people? Where are you?! If you have the guts, say it to my face!"

User 439: "Heh, foolish mortals..."

User 160: "Is it fun for you guys in Class C and D, spreading rumors here every day?"

User 177: "Did something happen? Can someone explain?"

User 91: "Sudo! You bastard!"

User 260: "Asshole, who the hell are you? Step out yourself, don't force me to take action!"

User 249: "By the way... Sudo, did you really leak the Secret Key?"

User 260: "Asshole! Asshole! I already said I didn't!"

Watching the messages scroll by, Etsuka was speechless. It really was an anonymous stage—if you've got the drama, you bring it, right?

"Etsuka, what about these comments? Will it have any impact on us?" Amikura Mako retracted the Student Terminal, her expression worried.

"Pfft, it's fine, just ignore it." Etsuka waved his hand: "Also, be careful of people from Class A lately. If anyone approaches you, just assume they're gathering intelligence."

"Mm-hmm." Amikura Mako nodded with a troubled expression, but then her face turned shy, and she began to fidget.

"Um... Etsuka, do you have any plans tomorrow?"

When she asked this question, Himeno Yuki looked up slightly, then lowered her head to return to her book.

Etsuka's expression immediately turned somewhat serious: "Tomorrow? Since it's the first day of summer vacation, I've decided to really indulge myself."

"Eh? Really indulge yourself?" Amikura Mako was a bit surprised, then, as if she had thought of something, her cheeks immediately turned burning hot, and she couldn't help but lower her head.

Even Hamaguchi Tetsuya, who had been busy packing his things, stopped what he was doing; he pricked up his ears and listened quietly.

"No, Mako, why are you blushing like a teapot?" Etsuka said: "Haven't you noticed that I basically never play video games?"

"Eh? Play video games?" Amikura immediately snapped back to reality.

"Hm? What else would it be?" Etsuka raised an eyebrow in surprise, as if he had realized something: "What did you think I was talking about, Mako?"

"Uh..." Amikura turned her head away, awkwardly scratching her cheek with her index finger: "I thought you meant going to karaoke or something, Etsuka."

This clumsy disguise was seen through by Etsuka at a glance.

However, he didn't say anything; after all, who could ever guess a young girl's thoughts? In any case, he couldn't.

But then, Amikura's eyes lit up, and she placed both hands on Etsuka's desk, saying happily:

"Etsuka, can I play video games with you? It's been a long time since I've played, too."

"Eh?" Etsuka was stunned, then he scanned Amikura Mako with a look of doubt: "Do you even know how to play video games, Mako?"

"Hmm... about that." Amikura touched her fair chin as if she were thinking: "That part is actually a little bit difficult."

"But!" With a slap, her small hand hit the desk.

In an instant, the gazes of everyone around them converged.

Amikura didn't move; her expression remained unchanged, but her gradually reddening cheeks had already betrayed her.

She pinched her index finger and thumb together, leaving a tiny, tiny gap, and whispered as if she were sharing a secret:

"I... I only know a little bit, I just hope you won't mind, Etsuka."

I intend to use the next ten or twenty chapters for slice-of-life descriptions to flesh out some emotional issues.

As for the results of the special exam, according to the timeline, it is only around Wednesday or Thursday, so it is still early.

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