Suddenly, a voice like heavenly music cut in. "Nagumo, what are you doing to my adorable underclassman?"
The second-year, Kiryūin Fūka, came over to the seat beside Mikage Touji and sat down without hesitation.
Mikage Touji's eyes lit up. Senpai, I've always thought you were not only vain but ridiculously strong, too. But right now, you're really cute!
"Kiryūin," Miyabi Nagumo said with displeasure, "Mikage and I still have something to discuss. Sorry for the trouble, but could you come back later?"
Kiryūin casually swept her silver-white hair over her shoulder. It brushed the tip of Mikage Touji's nose, tickling him. It smelled of shampoo, and he almost sneezed.
"Since he's an underclassman who admires me, I can't let you have him. Besides..." Kiryūin Fūka clamped an arm around Mikage Touji's neck. "He's coming shopping with me."
That familiar strength... Just as unreasonable as ever...
Before Miyabi Nagumo could respond, Kiryūin dragged Mikage Touji toward the door.
It was exactly what Mikage Touji wanted. He pretended to struggle while actually hurrying to escape.
See you—
No! Never see you again!
Outside the restaurant, the two walked side by side.
"Senpai, I suddenly admire you so much."
"Hahaha, really? You think I'm cute, too?"
"Maybe a little, but why did we suddenly get onto the topic of being cute?"
"Because I'm cute to begin with. You'd better help me carry my things later."
"Huh? So you weren't rescuing me?"
"Of course not. I wanted another person to carry my bags. You could've gotten away from Nagumo on your own, couldn't you?"
"Now that you mention it, I guess so..."
Chapter 13: The Master of Sweet Talk—Kushida Kikyou
Keyaki Mall was in the busiest part of Kouiku. Most of the students' after-school spending took place there, and it had every kind of shopping and entertainment venue.
Dusk settled over the campus. The streetlights came on one after another, and the mall signs lit up in turn, bathing the roads in a riot of color.
The girls walked side by side, arms linked, handbags in hand and youthful smiles on their faces. The boys had no fixed way of shopping. Some slung their arms over each other's shoulders, some walked single file, and others went their own way—whatever felt comfortable. Their uniform collars and ties were loosened, their jackets off, and they laughed and joked along the way as if they'd left all their troubles behind.
But all that happiness belonged to everyone else. Mikage Touji had nothing to do with it, and he felt absolutely screwed!
People generally believed girls had less stamina than boys.
Mikage Touji proved that conclusion wrong—and spectacularly so!
"S-Senpai, c-could we take a break? Shopping like this is inhumane!"
By the time Kiryūin Fūka had tried on her fifth outfit, a desperate wail rose from the depths of Mikage Touji's spine. He could feel the lactic acid building up in his ankles, each wave of it bringing another stab of soreness.
This woman wasn't just ridiculously strong. Her stamina was incredible, too.
Mikage Touji followed behind like a frail old man on the verge of death, leaning shakily on a cane. Kiryūin Fūka, on the other hand, was full of energy, radiant and lively, her long legs in black stockings striding forward with vigor as she headed for the next shop.
The worst part was that she hadn't bought a single thing!
"Come on, underclassman," Kiryūin Fūka said, never stopping as she continued along with great enthusiasm. "Girls won't like you if you have no stamina."
"Your stamina's just too good, Senpai," Mikage Touji replied weakly. "Guys won't like girls who are too domineering, either."
"That's true..." Kiryūin Fūka nodded thoughtfully.
Mikage Touji's hopes rose. "Then let's call it a day—"
"But I don't have to worry about that at all."
Kiryūin Fūka had just won the match.
"Next shop!" Before she'd even finished speaking, she was already five meters ahead.
"..."
Now he understood why that groundhog on his phone was always screaming. He wanted to try it himself!
Watching Kiryūin Fūka get farther and farther away, Mikage Touji forced himself to stand and limped after her, each step heavy as if he were dragging invisible chains.
Enough was enough. He couldn't let this woman continue. At this rate, he was going to drop dead!
Inside the clothing store, Kiryūin Fūka slipped deftly into a sea of dazzling outfits.
Mustering the last of his strength, Mikage Touji focused his mind and scanned every item in the store in an instant. He weighed them like a series of combinations and picked the one he thought suited her best.
A white, fitted knit top, a high-waisted A-line skirt, and platform combat boots.
He took the clothes down and walked over to Kiryūin. "Senpai."
"Hm?" Kiryūin Fūka had been concentrating on the clothes in her hands. As soon as she turned around, Mikage Touji placed an outfit in them.
"This outfit suits you, Senpai," Mikage Touji said succinctly.
"Oh?"
Kiryūin Fūka smiled and looked him in the eye. "You think I'd look good in this?"
Mikage Touji nodded emphatically. "I think you'd look beautiful in it, Senpai."
"Really? You'd think I was cute?"
"Really." Mikage Touji was absolutely certain.
"Heh."
After a long pause, Kiryūin Fūka smiled. "You just earned a lot of points with your senpai."
Kiryūin dropped the other outfit she was holding and walked toward the fitting room with the clothes Mikage Touji had chosen. "All right. Since you picked them..."
It's over!
Mikage Touji shouted silently in his heart. The next second, he collapsed into a chair in the store.
The coolness of the chair seeped into his bones. Yet Mikage Touji felt a strange and utter sense of relief, and his eyelids grew heavier and heavier...
He was ascending to heaven!
"Um, are you all right?" A soft, sweet voice reached his ears, hesitant and careful, rousing Mikage Touji.
He opened his eyes, braced himself against the chair, and sat up. "I'm fine. I'm just a little tired."
The speaker was a sweet-looking girl with a brown bob that reached her shoulders and a headband in her hair. She was half-crouched beside Mikage Touji, concern on her lovely face.
Mikage Touji covered his eyes and leaned back against the chair, looking shaken. "Are you girls all this terrifying when you go shopping? You can spend two hours in Keyaki Mall!"
"Ahaha..." The girl scratched her cheek, looking a little embarrassed. "We don't usually shop for that long."
Just as I thought!
It's not me. Senpai's stamina is just too terrifying!
"Oh, right."
As if she'd just remembered something, the girl took a can of juice out of her bag and held it out to Mikage Touji with a sweet smile.
"Try this. It should help you feel a lot better."
Mikage Touji was quite touched. Now this was a normal person, unlike Senpai, who never took a break while shopping.
He took the juice and held out his hand. "I'm Mikage Touji, a first-year in Class 1-A. Nice to meet you."
"I'm Kushida Kikyou, a first-year in Class 1-D. Nice to meet you, Mikage."
Kushida Kikyou blinked her big eyes and shook Mikage Touji's hand. Her fingertips brushed his palm, leaving behind a faint fragrance.
Class D, huh...
Mikage Touji's eyes flickered. He hadn't forgotten what that blond upperclassman had told him today.
The school put students with strong abilities but some weakness into Class D. The older students had also called Class D defective.
"Then, Mikage, would you mind adding me as a friend? Because..." Kushida Kikyou held up her phone as if making a solemn vow. "I want to be friends with everyone at school."
"That's quite an ambitious goal."
Mikage Touji took out his phone, and they added each other.
"Right? But I'll do my best." Kushida Kikyou clenched her tiny fist.
"I'm sure you'll succeed, Kushida. You're so cute, kind, and considerate."
Mikage Touji smiled and nodded, giving her all the reassurance she could want.
They chatted a little longer. Then Kushida Kikyou's companion seemed to emerge from the restroom and waved over at them.
"Kushida, we're leaving!"
"Okay."
"Sorry, Mikage. Let's stop here for today." Kushida Kikyou pressed her palms together and bowed slightly, her impressive figure looking as though it might spill out at any moment. "Let's chat online tonight."
With that, she waved and ran over to her companion.
Watching Kushida Kikyou leave, Mikage Touji couldn't help rubbing his chin.
This girl...
A sweet-looking girl had struck up a conversation with him, checked on a stranger, kindly offered him a drink, added him as a friend, and even invited him to chat that night.
Another guy might already have been hooked.
Unfortunately for her, she'd run into Mikage Touji. After the blow Morishita Ran had dealt him, his resistance was absurdly high.
"Is she pretty?"
"She—"
The next second, Kiryūin Fūka had an arm around his neck.
"Not bad, underclassman. I was gone for just a moment, and you were already hitting on a girl."
"Cough, cough!" Mikage Touji patted Kiryūin Fūka's slender but powerful arm. "You're prettier than her, Senpai."
"Heh. Little boys who like to lie."
"It's true. I swear." Mikage Touji's face turned red from being strangled.
"More than that, I like your type better, Senpai."
"My type?" Kiryūin tightened her grip.
"Long legs..." Mikage Touji tried to come up with an answer.
"What else?" She didn't seem satisfied.
"A great figure..." Mikage Touji offered another answer.
"What else?" Wrong answer.
"Someone as cute as you, Senpai!" Mikage Touji had found the secret to clearing the level!
"I'll let you off this time." Kiryūin Fūka released him.
"Haah... haah..." Mikage Touji rubbed his neck and gasped for breath, asking with a hint of hope, "So, are we done for today?"
"No. Help me pick out another outfit." Kiryūin Fūka turned and headed off.
Her silver hair swept over her shoulder like satin in the moonlight. Her long legs, wrapped in black stockings, stretched out beneath her short skirt, and her platform boots clacked against the floor.
"Come on!" Mikage Touji hurried after her. "I really do think this outfit looks great on you, Senpai."
"Then pick out two more."
"Huh?! You can't do that!"
"Then... three?"
"Two. Two. Fine, you win."
"You're such a dishonest underclassman. You were staring at my legs for ages."
"Cough... Three outfits it is."
Chapter 14: Mikage Touji's Relaxing Daily Life
Early the next morning, the alarm-like chirping of brown-eared bulbuls rose from the woods beside the dormitory, waking the sleeping students.
Before you continue