Classroom of the Elite, Keima Katsuragi's Love Brain Battle

Although it was called a study session, half the time was spent chatting.

The nervous tension in Airi Sakura's heart eased significantly.

"Let's wrap it up for today. Since tomorrow and the day after are the weekend, we won't be holding any study sessions."

With the time drawing near, Keima Katsuragi prepared to leave.

Beside him, Airi Sakura instantly became serious again.

After the study session ends, I'll find Keima Katsuragi alone and give him the gift!

Having just spoken the name Haruka Hasebe out loud, Airi Sakura even felt that she had grown a little.

Perhaps she should use this surge of courage to go and deliver the gift.

But, but... but!

What should she call him?

Does she really, really, really have to use the name Keima?

At the mere thought of it, Airi Sakura's cheeks flushed bright red again, and her body trembled slightly.

I must, I absolutely must speak up!

Just as Airi Sakura was still trying to tame her own brain, Hiyori Shiina walked up to Keima Katsuragi's side:

"Keima, do you have any plans for later?"

Hiyori Shiina's voice seemed a bit nervous as well; compared to her usual leisurely pace, she spoke a little faster this time.

"What's wrong?"

"I tried it today. The game you recommended to me yesterday is truly wonderful! This is my first time coming into contact with this medium... it gave me an experience beyond reading books!"

Once the topic turned to something she cared about, Hiyori Shiina's expression became exceptionally earnest.

Today was her first time trying a game, and she had gained a very special feeling from it.

Hiyori Shiina couldn't wait to share it with Keima Katsuragi.

It was just like when she read an interesting novel and wanted to discuss it with a fellow reader.

In this school, Hiyori Shiina didn't have any fellow readers.

But if it were games, it would be different.

Discussing the plot and sharing insights—Hiyori Shiina loved things like that.

"Would you like to go to the school cafe later and have a cup of coffee together? I have some questions about the game I'd like to ask you."

"Hmm..."

Hearing Hiyori Shiina's words, a silent cry of despair welled up from the depths of Airi Sakura's throat.

"Sorry, Hiyori."

At that moment, Keima Katsuragi pushed up his glasses.

"I have other plans for this evening."

Volume One: Chapter Fifty-Nine: Airi Sakura, Making Up Her Mind

"I have some things to take care of tonight, so how about we schedule it for tomorrow at noon?"

Keima Katsuragi said to Hiyori Shiina with a smile.

"Yes, that's fine."

Hiyori Shiina also nodded with a smile.

Although it wasn't for tonight, she still felt very happy inside after receiving Keima Katsuragi's agreement.

"I'm heading out!"

Keima Katsuragi waved to the others and then, with quick strides, left the library.

"Huh? What is God in such a hurry to do?"

Haruka Hasebe had already decided to use this as a nickname for Keima Katsuragi.

It was the most unique nickname she had ever encountered.

As she spoke, she even made a prayer gesture toward Keima Katsuragi's retreating back.

"Big Brother is definitely going to play games later! Honestly! Whatever, it's getting late, let's go eat!"

Elsie looked at Hiyori Shiina and Airi Sakura and said.

"Sorry, I'd like to read for a little longer, you guys go ahead."

Hiyori Shiina said.

Since the start of the school year, she had never been to the cafeteria.

On one hand, Hiyori Shiina wasn't good at socializing, and she had never participated in gatherings where everyone ate together because she didn't know how to interact with other students.

On the other hand, Hiyori Shiina also felt the cafeteria was too noisy and not suitable for reading, so she basically chose to buy some bread or cake at the supermarket to take back and eat.

"Um, um... I, I... I'm not really hungry... You guys, you guys don't have to wait for me..."

Airi Sakura clutched her school bag tightly and said in a small voice.

"Okay then."

After saying goodbye to Haruka Hasebe, Elsie left the library first.

A while later, as the sky began to darken, Airi Sakura finally walked out of the library.

"I... still... can't do it..."

Airi Sakura kept her head down, her face devoid of a smile, her heart filled with disappointment in herself.

She couldn't even manage to give Keima Katsuragi a gift.

Hiyori Shiina also seemed to be the type who wasn't good at socializing, yet she was able to take the initiative to invite Keima Katsuragi...

Comparing the two, she really was useless.

This gift... she would probably never be able to give it away for the rest of her life...

She leaned against the wall, her face full of dejection.

"Airi."

Just then, that familiar voice rang out in Airi Sakura's ears.

Airi Sakura froze for a moment, then widened her eyes and looked toward the source of the sound.

Keima Katsuragi was standing right beside her.

"Katsuragi, Katsuragi-kun?!"

Airi Sakura had never expected Keima Katsuragi to be standing right next to her at this very moment.

She quickly realized that the way she addressed him might be a bit off.

Haruka Hasebe had said earlier that friends should at least call each other by their first names.

He seemed to have just called me... Airi, didn't he...

Does that mean I should call him by his first name now too?

"Kei, Kei, Kei..."

The words reached Airi Sakura's lips, but dissipated like the wind.

"It's fine. Haruka isn't here anyway, so it doesn't matter how you want to address me, Airi."

Keima Katsuragi said slowly.

Keima Katsuragi's words sounded incredibly gentle to Airi Sakura's ears. Her cheeks were already bright red, but she still kept her head down and said in a small voice, "But, but Haruka-san, Haruka-san was right, friends should, should call each other by their first names..."

As she spoke, she looked up slightly, tentatively glancing at Keima Katsuragi.

This was the first time Airi Sakura had proactively called someone her friend.

The words gathered on Airi Sakura's lips once more. Her jaw trembled, her heart rate spiked, and her hands clutched her skirt in a flustered manner.

She raised her head, her gaze landing on Keima Katsuragi's face, but the next second she shyly shifted her eyes away.

At least... at least I must say his name.

"If you don't like it, I can go back to Sakura..."

"No, no need! Kei, Kei, Kei, Keima-kun!"

Airi Sakura gathered all the courage in her entire body and finally called out Keima Katsuragi's name.

After saying those words, Airi Sakura let out a long sigh of relief.

I did it, I actually did it!

Airi Sakura felt as if she had grown just a little bit more.

"Keima-kun... come to think of it, didn't you say you had something to do and had to go back early?"

"I just wanted Hiyori to head back first. I felt like you seemed a bit distracted today, so I thought I'd wait until everyone else left to ask you about it in private."

Keima Katsuragi looked at Airi Sakura and asked, "If you have any troubles or anything like that, you can tell me if you're comfortable with it."

Keima Katsuragi possessed incredibly keen observation skills; he had noticed Airi Sakura's unusual behavior that morning.

And as the study session neared its end, Airi Sakura's behavior became even more obvious.

So, he decided to seek out Airi Sakura alone tonight.

"I... Keima-kun..."

A flash of surprise crossed Airi Sakura's eyes. She hadn't expected Keima Katsuragi to have noticed her unusual behavior.

Only Keima Katsuragi could so keenly perceive the changes in her mood.

Keima-kun... did he turn down Hiyori-san because he was worried about me...

Keima Katsuragi, were you waiting for me just now...

For some reason, even though this was a somewhat awkward situation for her, a hint of happiness began to bloom in Airi Sakura's heart at this moment.

This was the first time Airi Sakura had ever experienced the feeling of being cared for by someone.

Ever since she was little, Airi Sakura had always been an invisible person in class; no one would ever notice her.

Airi Sakura had never wanted to be noticed, either.

But Keima Katsuragi was different.

"If it's difficult to say out loud, that's fine too. You can send me a message on your terminal. As long as you need help, please don't hesitate to come to me."

Keima Katsuragi said to Airi Sakura with great sincerity.

"I..."

Airi Sakura realized that she absolutely could not let this opportunity slip away.

If she didn't give him the gift today, she would never have another chance to give it to him again!

"Keima-kun!"

Airi Sakura suddenly called out Keima Katsuragi's name again, her voice several decibels louder than before.

"Hm?"

"I, I... I prepared a gift for you!"

Although she was stuttering a bit, Airi Sakura still managed to express her meaning completely, and at the same time, she took that game cartridge box out of her school bag.

Seeing Keima Katsuragi take the game cartridge, Airi Sakura added in a small voice:

"Be, because last time Keima-kun accompanied me to buy a camera, so I, I..."

"This is Goodbye Youth Love Story 2, isn't it."

Keima Katsuragi said, his eyes fixed intently on the cover of the packaging box.