Fifty: Locked Mirror, I Miss You!

Students were always full of energy and excitement at the start of a new school year, like the opening of a fresh story about youth.

Class D, on the other hand, had the opposite atmosphere after the new term began. It was a little gloomy.

Koenji looked at the empty seat behind him and couldn't help sighing.

"Well, well! I never expected that, after this Special Exam, that beautiful Nagami boy would go to Class B. Now I'm the only beautiful person left. How lonely."

Koenji still took out his nail file and carefully smoothed the edges of his nails until they looked neat and polished.

"Quit making snide remarks, Koenji. Don't try to make yourself look good by bringing up Nagami."

Sudo said.

"What's the matter, red-haired gorilla? Do you miss Nagami too? I didn't realize you two were so close."

"Anyone would be sad to lose a classmate."

For once, Sudo didn't snap back. He answered like a normal person. He and Nagami had clashed plenty of times, but there was no denying that Nagami had made a significant contribution to the class.

Even if Sudo had been deeply frustrated and unwilling to admit it, he had gradually come to recognize him.

Ever since Nagami transferred to Class B, the mood in Class D had changed. They were no longer as united as they had been during the Sports Festival, and everything seemed to have returned to square one.

It was especially noticeable whenever their subject teachers called the roll. Nagami's grades had been decent, so his name was called often.

Every time the class gathered to discuss things, Hirata's expression grew a little gloomier.

"Ugh, this time it was my fault. I couldn't protect my classmates."

Hirata muttered that from time to time.

"It wasn't your fault, Hirata. It was all because Class C was so underhanded this time."

Wang Meili comforted him. After Hirata and Karuizawa seemed to have broken up amicably, she had grown close to him.

Kushida and Mori Nene also seemed to have become a little closer, perhaps for the same reason.

"I'm sorry, Nagami. I didn't do anything to help," Mori Nene thought.

News of Nagami's transfer to Class B quickly spread throughout the year, sparking all kinds of discussion.

Some even thought it was all part of Nagami's ploy: he had deliberately put himself through hardship for the sake of Ichinose in Class B, hoping to make the kindhearted beauty feel sorry for him. Then he would transfer to Class B and get Ichinose under his thumb.

If Nagami had heard that, he would've been sure the guy was a spy sent by Miyabi Nagumo.

"Hey, Ayanokoji. Was this really Class C's doing?"

Horikita looked at Ayanokoji, apparently trying to read the answer from his subtle facial expressions.

He was the only one in class whose expression remained unchanged. It was possible that his facial muscles were simply stiff and couldn't show emotion.

"Horikita, weren't you on my side during the Special Exam? Or have you changed your mind again?"

Ayanokoji asked in return.

"There was no other choice in that situation. Was I supposed to just watch you split Class D into two factions?"

"We'd finally made it this far, only to have all our efforts go to waste at once."

Horikita slammed her fist on the desk, biting her lip as frustration filled her eyes.

Once again, she had failed to accomplish anything. They had been so close to becoming a truly united class that worked together to improve.

"His departure hit us hard, and everyone's morale has fallen again. What are we supposed to do now?"

Horikita clenched her fist.

"Not entirely."

Ayanokoji watched her quietly, then spoke in an even voice.

"What do you mean?"

"Just wait and see."

Ayanokoji became an enigma, offering Horikita Suzune a cryptic reassurance.

While many in Class D were shedding tears, Nagami was sitting there with his legs crossed, playing on his phone.

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He showed no sign of unease at being in an unfamiliar class, and made no effort to put on an act or make a good impression.

Most of the people around him were acquaintances. Students in the same year often ran into one another outside class.

For instance, Nagami could recognize sweet-faced classmates like Himeno Yuki and Kobashi Yume.

"You're fitting in so naturally, Kagami. I was worried you wouldn't be able to adjust to the class."

Ichinose said.

"How could I not? With so many great classmates around, I'm sure everyone will accept me soon."

"You're complimenting us, but what does that have to do with your being accepted?"

Himeno Yuki asked from among the crowd, seeming completely at odds with all the commotion around her.

Quite a few of the boys in class couldn't help looking at her lovely face.

Her long, silver-white hair was as pure as frost and snow in winter. It fell smoothly to her waist, glinting faintly in the sunlight.

A few strands by her temples fluttered in the breeze, softening her cool demeanor.

"Great minds think alike."

Nagami admired Himeno's cold expression. She would've been perfect without those dead-fish eyes. He imagined her holding a whip and scolding someone.

"What a smooth talker."

Himeno Yuki spoke with a faint chill in her voice. She'd heard something in Nagami's answer that she didn't like, so she pushed through the crowd and left.

"Nagami, how did you run so fast at the Sports Festival? Could you teach me?"

The boys gathered around him, their eyes shining with curiosity and anticipation.

"It's pretty simple. Just go running every morning to build up your leg strength, and adjust your breathing while you run."

"Besides, I was only thinking about winning glory for the class, so I managed to outperform myself."

The students around him nodded repeatedly, saying that Nagami's performance at the Sports Festival had been incredible and was worth learning from.

"With Nagami here, Class B is invincible now!"

"Class A's got nothing on us!"

Someone chimed in, and everyone's spirits immediately soared, as if Class A were just a patch of roadside grass they could crush underfoot.

"Nagami, are you interested in badminton? We're putting together a game today."

Shibata Hayate said.

"Sorry. After school, I have to go work at the Student Council with Honami."

"Doki!"

Shiranami Chihiro made an anxious noise when she heard him from the front row.

In the Student Council Room, Miyabi Nagumo's expression darkened even further as he watched Nagami walking alongside Ichinose.

"You're quite capable, Nagami. I heard about what you did. You actually convinced Class B to spend four million points to let you transfer. Impressive."

"You already got along well with your classmates in Class B. Now your relationships with them will be even closer."

Nagumo said it with a touch of sarcasm. If anyone was unhappy about Nagami transferring to Class B, it was him—besides Shiranami Chihiro from Class B and the students of Class D.

"Ah, ah, who doesn't like spending time with beautiful girls? I came to Class B for my little angel."

Was that a confession? Even Miyabi Nagumo, Tokyo's number one romantic, wasn't so casual about expressing his feelings so bluntly.

First, you had to read the mood. Then you used a few sweet words to win the girl over. Finally, you presented her with a unique gift for the finishing blow.

"Kagami, quit joking around!"

That sounded like an old married couple. They weren't dating, right? They weren't dating!

Nagumo prayed silently.