You Know, I'm Not a Player

"For example, take Sudo. While his athletic ability is excellent, his personality must be quite a headache, right? Ah, you don't have to force yourself to share your opinion; these are just things I wanted to say."

Seeing Airi Sakura looking hesitant, Toru Hasegawa realized she probably felt it was wrong to speak ill of others behind their backs, so he quickly added.

"And then there's Horikita, who believes from the bottom of her heart that she doesn't need friends, while Ike has a habit of making comments that lack any sense of boundaries... though, in that regard, I suppose I'm not much different."

As he said this, a faint, wry smile appeared on Toru Hasegawa's face, but he continued:

"As for Yamauchi, I can pretty much guess that he's someone who excels at bragging."

"Of course, there are all sorts of other people, but this is as much as I've managed to figure out so far."

After listening, Airi Sakura couldn't help but ask, "Then what about me? How does... Toru-kun view me?"

"Hmm, even though I said all that, as long as everyone makes minor adjustments to their flaws, they should all be able to become better versions of themselves, right? In that regard, I think the same applies to you. If you could just find the courage, Airi-san, you would definitely become very popular."

Airi Sakura blushed, not expecting such high praise from him.

"I've said my piece. As for what you actually do, that's entirely up to you." Toru Hasegawa paused. "Do you want to go get dinner together?"

"...Okay."

Although they were having dinner together, Toru Hasegawa didn't feel the atmosphere of a date at all.

She kept her head buried and her face flushed the entire time, and her stiff movements while eating made him want to laugh, though he managed to hold it back.

This is just... too cute, isn't it? And she's so easy to read; he actually felt a bit guilty about it in his heart.

Why are teacher-student romances strictly prohibited?

Because there is a clear power imbalance between the two, and the current situation was somewhat similar to that.

However, it wasn't a power imbalance, but rather a massive disparity in perception.

Things that seem like the sky is falling when you're young often look like nothing when you look back on them as an adult.

Holding onto feelings he couldn't quite define himself, Toru Hasegawa spent a very unusual dinner time with Airi Sakura.

As it turned out, no sooner had Toru Hasegawa parted ways with Airi Sakura than Masumi Kamuro approached him.

"You really are heartless. When you couldn't make a move on me, you set your sights on a student from another class. Tsk, that 'scumbag' label really was spot on."

"You don't actually think feelings are that simple, do you?" Toru Hasegawa glanced at Masumi Kamuro. She had been following him from the start; her presence was far too obvious, and only Airi Sakura had failed to notice it due to other reasons.

Masumi Kamuro's expression faltered. Since she had never been in a relationship and didn't understand the nuances, she said helplessly, "Aren't you afraid of capsizing?"

"I've never thought about that problem. You should have already guessed a little bit yourself, right?"

"No way? Are you really going to become a player?"

"It's not impossible... but I'd probably get beaten to death, right?"

Toru Hasegawa's face darkened. A player? Was that even something that could be said out loud?

"But if you do that, won't what you're doing contradict the school's purpose?"

Masumi Kamuro thought about how Sakayanagi referred to him as a traitor.

Under what circumstances would someone be called a traitor?

It would be if this school was actually intended for the four classes to compete against one another. If things truly reached that point, Toru Hasegawa's position would become delicate.

"What does it matter? Dealing with the conflict between those two things is the challenge I've set for myself, even if the only thing I can think of right now is running away."

"Huh?" Masumi Kamuro was dumbfounded. "What are you rambling on about?"

"It doesn't matter, because this is what I wanted to tell you. And... it's only the first month; almost no students have truly figured out the situation yet, so this is the best time for me to take action."

Toru Hasegawa smiled slightly. He was different from Manabu Horikita.

The latter didn't want to directly intervene in his sister's growth, but he had no such fears.

"...Is it really okay to tell me this directly? You know my intentions aren't pure, right?" After a moment of silence, Masumi Kamuro finally couldn't help but ask.

Although they were currently both in Class A, their stances were somewhat different.

And that was something he had orchestrated himself.

"It's fine, because you are also one of my targets, Kamuro-san." Toru Hasegawa smiled faintly. "When school started, you were also all alone, weren't you? And you even did that thing."

"What is this strange feeling? Can I hit you?" Masumi Kamuro made a move to swing her fist.

"There are school surveillance cameras here; it would be troublesome if we were caught. If hitting me would really make you feel better, you can go to the dorms. That would be ideal."

"Doesn't that make my mood even stranger?" A surge of inexplicable anger rose within Masumi Kamuro, and she couldn't even identify what it was. "Also, I can return exactly what you just said to me right back at you."

All alone?

You're in the exact same situation, you know.

"Who knows." Toru Hasegawa suddenly thought of something and added, "Don't you dare try to probe into me~"

"..."

"What, was my impression not accurate?"

"If you're sick, go get treated." Masumi Kamuro glared at Toru Hasegawa and walked away.

[Toru Hasegawa: How about we go see a movie together tomorrow?]

[Airi Sakura: Is it with the person you were on the phone with this afternoon?]

[Toru Hasegawa: Yes, but if you're not comfortable with that, then forget it.]

[Airi Sakura: I'll come. What time will it be?]

[Toru Hasegawa: Let's meet at the entrance of the first-year dormitory at 1:00 PM, then we'll head out. That's the general plan.]

[Airi Sakura: Okay.]

[Toru Hasegawa: See you tomorrow, then.]

[Airi Sakura: Mm-hmm, see you tomorrow.]

Afterward, Toru Hasegawa turned around and sent a message to someone else.

[Toru Hasegawa: I'm going to see a movie with your brother tomorrow.]

After waiting for a short while, the person finally replied.

[Suzune Horikita: What does that have to do with me?]

[Toru Hasegawa: I was originally thinking of inviting you along, but looking at it now... I guess I'll pass.]

It was a very obvious provocation, especially in a text chat, but Toru Hasegawa knew that Suzune Horikita would definitely take the bait.

There was no helping it; the pull of her brother was just that immense.

[Suzune Horikita: I didn't say I was refusing; I was just asking for the reason.]

A little while later.

[Suzune Horikita: Since you're inviting me to go along, I suppose I have no choice.]

It sounded like a tsundere remark, but in reality, it was anything but.

There was only the arrogance, with none of the sweetness.

Even though she was just finding a way to save face, the feelings behind Suzune Horikita's words were entirely different.

[Toru Hasegawa: Got it. Tomorrow at 1:00 PM, meet at the entrance of the first-year dormitory.]

[Suzune Horikita: Understood.]

Having finished communicating with everyone, Toru Hasegawa drifted off into a peaceful sleep.