"I can't swim."
Xia Mu looked regretful. "Otherwise, I'd have gone in. Even if I had to share a pool with a bunch of girls, that'd be pretty nice, wouldn't it?"
Ayanokoji glanced sideways at Xia Mu. "Is that so?"
His expression was calm, betraying not the slightest hint of emotion.
But Xia Mu, who had studied psychology extensively, could see flickers of lust in his eyes.
He couldn't help covering his backside and moving farther away.
Ayanokoji Kiyotaka merely watched Xia Mu's movements impassively.
Why was he hiding himself?
Was it the same reason as me, or was he plotting something?
Based on his observations over the past few days, he had discovered that Xia Mu was exceptional at both sports and studying.
And he was almost always calm, no matter the time or place.
He was a lot like the people who had competed against him in the White Room.
But unlike them, Xia Mu had something he had always pursued: emotions.
The school swimming pool.
"Click."
Xia Mu pressed the shutter button, then handed the camera to Sakura. "Take a look."
Sakura took it and looked at the photo. Excitement immediately flushed her little face.
There she was, glowing in the reflection of the setting sun on the water, her beauty on full display.
"Mm, it's great!"
Sakura nodded firmly, then put on her glasses and loose school uniform, hiding her good looks.
"All right, I'm going to get dinner."
Xia Mu waved goodbye. Sakura Airi's Correction was progressing steadily, and she was much easier to deal with than Kushida.
He was sure he'd finish her Correction before long.
Just as he was about to turn away, he noticed Sakura pursing her lips slightly, as though she wanted to say something to him.
"Is there something else?" he asked.
He wanted to avoid Sakura asking him to wait again.
"Mm..."
Sakura nodded, but seemed to change her mind. Blushing, she quickly shook her head. "N-no..."
Under Xia Mu's puzzled gaze, she waved her phone and hurried away with her head down.
Ding.
A short while later, Xia Mu's phone chimed with a notification.
He picked it up and saw an email from Sakura.
[Classmate Xia Mu, could you come to my room tonight? I want to take some photos. Please!]
After thinking it over for a moment, Xia Mu replied, "Sure."
[Really? That's great, thank you!]
[My room number is 502. See you tonight.]
He put his phone away and dragged his ravenous body toward the cafeteria.
If nothing else, ever since he'd started practicing Wing Chun and Boxing, his appetite had been growing by the day.
He had to eat a Super Deluxe Meal every time to fill up, which made it impossible to save points.
"Haah." He sighed softly.
He'd have to find a way to earn points. It would also give him a safety net in case someone targeted the fatty or him and got them expelled.
That was basically impossible, but it was better to be prepared.
As soon as he stepped into the cafeteria, a figure leaning against the wall with her arms crossed walked over and blocked his path.
Her expression was stern, her brows drawn together.
She was definitely going to ask him for some kind of favor.
Thinking this, Xia Mu moved a little to the right.
She shifted to the right as well.
Xia Mu moved left, and she moved left. Xia Mu stepped forward, and she stepped back.
Unable to take it anymore, Xia Mu raised a finger and rapped the person in front of him sharply on the head.
It made a surprisingly crisp sound.
"What are you doing?" Horikita Suzune winced in pain and clutched her throbbing head, her face contorted in agony.
She was completely stunned. She'd never imagined Xia Mu would dare to rap her on the head.
Her brother had never flicked her forehead or knocked her on the head, not once in her entire life.
"I should be asking you that." Xia Mu shot Suzune a glare and walked past her. "My Deluxe Meal's about to sell out, and you're standing right in front of me. Do you have a death wish?"
"?" Horikita Suzune.
"Wait, I'll treat you." She hurried after Xia Mu and said solemnly.
Getting hit and still having to treat him. Honestly...
"Forget it." Xia Mu chose his meal and took out his phone to pay, but Suzune, who had been waiting for the chance, swiped her phone and paid first.
"I'm not paying you back," Xia Mu said with a frown. "You paid on your own."
With that, he picked up his tray and quickly turned away.
Horikita Suzune definitely had some problem she wanted his help with.
"Wait." Horikita Suzune realized Xia Mu had no intention of getting involved with her and hurried after him. Then, whether he was listening or not, she went on, "I need you to do me a favor."
"No time, no interest, and no hands or feet."
"You ate my Deluxe Meal."
"What do you mean, yours? It's mine now."
"I paid for it!"
"And it's still mine."
"Tsk, you really have some nerve."
"Yep, you got that right. Now that you know, get lost and stop bothering me while I eat."
"You, you..."
Horikita Suzune gripped her phone tightly, wishing she could punch Xia Mu as he wolfed down his food.
Was the bowl of rice in front of him really more important than her?
It wasn't as if she hadn't gotten plenty of love letters over the years.
"Hirata's holding a study group. I need you to invite Sudo, Ken, and the other two to join."
"I don't know what you did, but those three are usually afraid of you. I think you can get them to come. No matter how much I try, I can't persuade them."
Horikita Suzune stated her request as briefly as possible, afraid that if she took too long, Xia Mu would finish eating and leave.
Xia Mu didn't answer. He just kept eating.
Seeing this, she sighed softly. "I'll cover your Deluxe Meals for a week."
"No. At least a month!" Xia Mu's eyes lit up, and he immediately perked up, raising one finger.
"Deal!" Suzune agreed without hesitation.
"Damn, I should've asked for more. She tricked me," Xia Mu grumbled inwardly.
Still...
He swallowed a potato ball and looked Suzune up and down. Given her personality, she'd probably need his help plenty of times in the future.
Maybe he could squeeze more points out of her then.
"Ugh..."
Under Xia Mu's wolfish stare, Horikita folded her arms over her chest, suddenly feeling a chill. "Stop looking at me with those disgusting eyes."
"The door's over there. If you don't like it, you can leave." Xia Mu didn't hold back.
"You really don't mince words, do you?" Suzune's two tied-up locks of hair swayed slightly.
"Isn't that how you usually talk?"
"Rules for thee, but not for me?"
Xia Mu didn't back down. After eating his fill, he carried his tray to the return area. Seeing Horikita Suzune still following him, he held out his hands. "Stop following me. I'll do what I promised."
"I hope you keep your word, too."
In just that short time, the people around them had started turning their attention toward him.
He didn't like being put in the spotlight and drawing everyone's eyes.
With that, he got up and left the cafeteria.
Horikita Suzune stayed where she was, raising an eyebrow.
That guy was really strange.
Before you continue