With Class A's level of self-discipline, they could still get pretty good scores even without knowing about the special exam. But if the other classes found out, they'd definitely close the gap.
"And besides, you two have a stake in this information too. I can't decide on my own."
"I... You don't have to worry about my share, Mikage-san." Yamamura Miki, who had been sipping her soup, quickly raised her head like a startled squirrel. "I'm just glad I can help you."
"Do whatever you want with that stuff. I don't care about it." Morishita Ran carefully fished a noodle out of the red broth. The tip of her pink tongue touched it, then immediately drew back. Her little face scrunched up, but she tried again, unwilling to give up. "The problem is, someone has to keep an eye on the class and stop them from acting recklessly like you did last time, right?"
"True. First of all, he needs to be capable, or he won't be able to keep the class in line," Mikage Touji said.
"Second, he should be responsible and able to lead Class A in a fight," Morishita Ran added.
"Preferably someone who's willing to work tirelessly and happily do all the dirty work for the class."
"The question is, where do we find someone like that?"
"Exactly. I'd like to meet someone like that too."
"..."
They both stopped at the same time and looked at each other.
"Katsuragi Kōhei!" they said in unison.
Mashima Tomoya put down his chopsticks, straightened his suit, and left, satisfied.
In the end, Morishita Ran finished her first ramen-shop experience with the impressive score of five and a half noodles. Of course, she didn't pay either; Mashima Tomoya had covered all three of their meals when he left.
"So this is the Morishita Family's challenge? Amazing. I've seen something incredible."
Mikage Touji laughed as they walked down the street.
"This was a tactical adjustment. I've already conquered it, actually."
Morishita Ran retorted with a straight face, but her red lips and the beads of sweat constantly appearing on her forehead had already given her away.
Yamamura lowered her head and covered her mouth as she giggled.
"Hey, Morishita, this isn't the way back to the dorms, is it?" Morishita Ran had taken them off course again.
"That's right. I've decided to make up for the dinner I didn't finish by going to the supermarket."
"Then I'll head back first."
"In this pitch-black, deserted Advanced Nurturing school, you're going to abandon two girls and run off by yourself? You heartless jerk!"
"You're the heartless one, Morishita Ran, with your seat stealing!"
"You're the one who stole the seat!"
"You..."
"You!"
Their spicy defeat and secret alliance melted into the damp late-spring breeze of Tokyo and blew far away.
Love at First Sight?
On the fourth day of school, Mikage Touji rested his chin in his hand and stared blankly at the Japanese history teacher at the front of the classroom.
Chabashira Sae had a lovely face and an icy aura. The proper office-lady outfit she wore somehow looked rather alluring on her.
But Mikage wasn't interested in that type, and he was even less interested in the Japanese history she taught.
One class had put him under far more of a hypnotic spell than any other.
"Haah~"
Mikage Touji yawned and went back to daydreaming.
Morishita Ran hadn't played any more pranks in class over the past two days. Maybe the special exam on the school's rules had put a stop to them. Right now, she was probably just as bored as he was.
Bored out of his mind, Mikage shifted his eyes and let his gaze wander...
Hashimoto Masayoshi. He looked like a delinquent, but he was surprisingly serious about his studies, and his abilities in every area were excellent. It'd be even better if he'd stop trying to squeeze up next to him, though. Come to think of it, the guy had added him as a friend on the very first day of school, then kept sending messages to his phone, asking if there was anything Mikage needed him for. He really was a little too enthusiastic.
Katsuragi-san was a pretty good guy: responsible, capable, and steady. He handled most of the class's affairs now, and Mikage had heard he'd decided to run for the Student Council. He wished him luck.
Shiraishi—
Mikage Touji's gaze stopped. He thought he felt someone's eyes dart away from him.
Was it his imagination...?
Mikage looked away, propped up his textbook, and pretended to stare at the small print.
It wasn't his imagination!
So you were spying on me, JoJo!
He quickly turned his head, wearing the triumphant grin of a villain whose plan had just worked, and locked onto his target.
A pair of bright eyes met his. The owner of those eyes didn't panic at being caught. Instead, she openly looked back at Mikage, her clear, lake-like eyes rippling with a smile.
Stare—
The situation left Mikage at a loss. He immediately returned her gaze, looking right back at the owner of those eyes.
But she didn't react at all. She continued to stare straight at Mikage's face.
A few minutes later, Mikage couldn't hold out any longer and raised the white flag.
His opponent refused to surrender and continued her big-eyed assault.
Before long, class ended, and Mikage finally couldn't take it anymore.
"Um... Shiraishi-san, is there something on my face?"
Shiraishi Asuka smiled sweetly. "Hehe~ No..."
"Then why have you been staring at me this whole time?"
"Because you're so handsome, Mikage-san."
"Thanks."
"Mm..."
Seeing that Mikage Touji clearly didn't believe her, Shiraishi Asuka brought a finger to her cheek and tilted her head as she thought it over. Then she smiled. "Maybe I fell in love with you at first sight."
"Do you think I believe that?" Mikage Touji gave a flat, dry laugh.
"I'm serious." Mikage Touji's reflection was mirrored in Shiraishi Asuka's eyes. Her voice was as light as a feather. "Mikage-kun, you really remind me of someone I used to know..."
"Is that so? There's someone who looks a lot like me..."
Mikage Touji straightened his back with a solemn air, raised a hand to his chin, furrowed his brows, and pressed his lips into a thin line.
"Does that mean he could threaten my looks?"
"..."
Shiraishi Asuka's gentle expression froze. A few seconds later, she burst out laughing.
"Hehe~"
She curled her index finger and wiped away the tears at the corner of her eye. "As expected, Mikage-san still isn't like him."
"So am I like him or not?"
Mikage Touji looked dissatisfied and pressed her for an answer. "You should know I'm known as a man who can live off his looks. The sudden appearance of someone like that is giving me a serious sense of crisis."
"I don't know." Shiraishi Asuka stood up, smoothed her hair, and slung her bag over her shoulder. "I haven't seen him in a long time, either." She headed for the door. "Let's leave it at that. I have something to do, so I'll be going, Mikage-kun. See you tomorrow."
"See you tomorrow."
After waving goodbye to Mikage Touji, Shiraishi Asuka left the classroom.
Watching Shiraishi Asuka walk away, Mikage Touji immediately turned around. "Morishita, is there something on my face?"
After carefully looking him over, Morishita Ran nodded. "There's a lovable Morishita-sama."
Once he'd confirmed there was nothing on his face, Mikage Touji got a little excited.
"Could it be that someone really likes me?"
"Impossible. Give up. It's not realistic." Morishita Ran delivered the triple combo in a matter-of-fact tone.
"No one could possibly like Mikage Touji, who's chuunibyou, lives in a fantasy world, nitpicks over everything, and likes to bully girls."
Her merciless words crashed down on Mikage Touji like a boulder, leaving him on his knees.
Morishita Ran... How could a mouth with a body temperature of thirty-seven degrees say something so cold?
"You'd better be careful. Shiraishi Asuka might be our class's 'Madonna.'" Morishita Ran walked over and crouched down, curiously poking Mikage Touji's cheek as he sat frozen in place.
"Do you have any evidence?"
"Intuition!" Morishita Ran thrust out her chest and declared confidently. Seeing that Mikage Touji didn't believe her, she added, "A woman's intuition is really accurate."
"Heh..."
Another woman had said the same thing last time. As a result, he'd lost a thousand points buying her a strawberry cake.
After hanging around in the classroom for a while longer, the sun had started to sink below the horizon.
"It should be about time." Mikage Touji took out his phone, glanced at the screen, stood up, and rolled his shoulders. "Time to take care of business."
He'd arranged to meet Katsuragi Kōhei on the rooftop. He should be arriving any moment.
"Want to come with me?"
"I'll have to decline. I'm not interested in things that are already certain." Morishita Ran's tone was decisive. "I judge that Katsuragi Kōhei is capable of holding the class together."
"Even though you helped make the plan." Mikage Touji wasn't surprised. "Then are you going to eat, or go somewhere else to dig up your treasure?"
"I can't tell you something like—"
Morishita Ran widened her eyes, covered her chest with both hands, and took two steps back, pretending to be bashful. "You're actually prying into Morishita-sama's secrets? Could it be that you have improper designs on me? After failing with Shiraishi Asuka, have you turned your attention to me instead?"
"Impossible. Don't need to. Not interested." Mikage Touji used her own words against her.
"You were so easy to fool just a moment ago. How come you've come to your senses now?" Morishita Ran complained indignantly.
"What do you think?" Mikage Touji narrowed his eyes.
After all the back-and-forth they'd had, she really thought she could pull that ghost-story routine on him?
"I'm leaving."
With her scheme foiled, Morishita Ran didn't stick around to fight. She left the classroom with light steps.
"I'm curious about Yamamura Miki's presence. I'm developing a way to use her."
So she'd still gone and said it.
Mikage Touji's lips curved up.
Katsuragi: Crap, I've Been Set Up by Capital!
Unlike the rooftops at other schools, the roof of the Kouiku school building was open to students during the day, since it had cameras that overlooked the entire campus.
But hardly any students came here. The freshmen were enjoying their dreamlike school life, while the older students had no reason to make a special trip here to eat, given the school's wealth of facilities.
By the time Mikage Touji arrived, Katsuragi Kōhei was already waiting. His sturdy build, cast in the sunlight, gave the impression that he stood firm against the whole world.
"Yo, Katsuragi-san. Sorry to keep you waiting." Mikage Touji walked over to Katsuragi Kōhei as he took out his phone.
"No, I just got here. You're right on time, Mikage-san."
Mikage Touji found a comfortable spot and leaned halfway against the railing. He unlocked his phone, opened his notes, and handed it to Katsuragi Kōhei.
It contained the information he'd deduced himself. He hadn't included the information Morishita Ran and Yamamura Miki had uncovered, or some of the scattered details.
"These are some of the truths behind the school rules. Take a look first." He'd already checked the information with an upperclassman to make sure it was accurate.
"Understood."
Katsuragi Kōhei nodded gravely and took the phone to read. As time went on, his expression grew more and more somber. The content wasn't long, but every item was packed with meaning.
Mikage Touji turned away and looked out at the distant scenery.
Morishita Ran was pushing Yamamura Miki out of the school building. They seemed to be heading toward the secluded path behind it. Who knew what new activity she'd come up with this time?
The boys' group led by Satonaka and Shijo had finished eating. With their arms slung over one another's shoulders, they walked in a line toward him.
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