A Stroll

The two strolled along the tree-lined path on campus, sunlight filtering through the leaves to cast dappled shadows, the air filled with a faint floral scent that felt exceptionally tranquil.

The branches and leaves swayed gently in the breeze, and the occasional crisp chirping of birds seemed to provide an accompaniment to this moment in time.

Onizuka reached out his hand, gently supporting Sakayanagi Arisu by his side.

"Classmate Sakayanagi, may I ask where you are headed?"

"Oh my, why have you stopped calling me senior?" The girl turned her head, a faint smile on her face, her short silver hair shimmering in the sunlight.

"If you don't like it, I can change it back," Onizuka said with a shrug.

Sakayanagi paused slightly, as if pondering something.

"That won't be necessary, suit yourself. By the way, just take me to the classroom, Class 1-A. I forgot to pick up a few things," she said softly.

"Class 1-A?"

Onizuka recalled the details from just a moment ago; it did feel a bit off. So, that man's hesitation was because he wanted to say that he was the actual club president.

He had thought the man was just being stubborn.

But then again, being confronted by a lower-grade girl and crushed to such an extent, he likely had no face left to admit he was the president.

Onizuka looked down at the girl beside him. Her personality was truly wicked; she could toy with someone she had just met to such a degree.

Utterly vicious!

He decided to ignore her! He had originally thought that since he rarely encountered a girl with such talent, he would just lend a hand, but he knew he shouldn't have done a good deed!

Seeming to sense that Onizuka was a bit angry, Sakayanagi Arisu looked straight ahead and spoke in a calm voice.

"My leg."

"What?"

"Don't play dumb. You looked, didn't you?"

There was no refuting that.

Now he had every reason to be mercilessly lashed on a moral level.

He had thought he was quick enough to hide it, but he hadn't expected her to be so sharp.

"Forget it, we're even."

He really should have known that one ought to do more good deeds!

"Uh, thanks for the treat?"

???

Sakayanagi turned her head, her face, looking both confused and slightly indignant, appearing in Onizuka's field of vision.

Onizuka immediately shifted his gaze to the tree beside the path. What a tree that was!

He then felt a sharp pain in his waist. Despite this, Onizuka did not turn back; he chose to endure it.

He knew perfectly well what was happening. Sometimes, silence and endurance are the best ways to solve a problem.

Five or six seconds later, the stinging sensation in his waist gradually faded. Onizuka heard Sakayanagi let out a soft hum.

He knew that this matter was now behind them.

"Classmate Sakayanagi, the Chess Club lost quite a few points to you, didn't they?" Onizuka broke the silence first, asking the question.

"Hmm... actually, it wasn't just the Chess Club. I've already swept through all the indoor clubs, Classmate Onizuka~"

"It seems I arrived late. But do you trust me that much, Classmate Sakayanagi? This sort of thing is supposed to be kept secret, right?" He looked at the girl beside him, puzzled.

"As far as Classmate Onizuka is concerned, this kind of thing isn't a secret at all if you just inquire a little."

"That's not necessarily true, otherwise I wouldn't have been a step behind you."

Sakayanagi's eyes narrowed into thin lines, her gaze like a sharp blade piercing straight toward Onizuka's face.

Her voice carried a hint of playfulness: "Oh my, Classmate Onizuka is truly dishonest. Aside from these indoor clubs that don't require physical exertion, you've already pocketed all the others, haven't you?"

Onizuka looked at Sakayanagi in confusion.

"Hm? How did you know?"

Sakayanagi smiled lightly, her expression carrying a trace of smugness.

"The recent rumors about Classmate Onizuka have been a hot topic at school, though they are only circulating among the second and third years."

Onizuka's shoulders slumped slightly, and he spread his hands helplessly, signaling his surrender.

"Fine, since that's the case, there's no need for me to go elsewhere and waste my effort. I never intended to keep it up for long anyway; lasting until now is already quite good."

A flash of appreciation crossed Sakayanagi's eyes. She continued: "I imagine Classmate Onizuka has a deep understanding of the school's S System."

"S System? What is that?"

The two looked at each other and smiled.

Little fox.

Big liar.

Time passed quickly, and Onizuka escorted Sakayanagi Arisu to the entrance of her classroom.

"How about it? Would you like to come in for a tour and see if there's any difference between Class A and Class D?"

Onizuka refused Sakayanagi Arisu's invitation without hesitation: "I'll pass. I'll enter Class A on my own merits in the future."

"Oh my, Classmate Onizuka is certainly confident." Sakayanagi Arisu covered her mouth slightly and chuckled.

"Of course." A faint smile appeared on Onizuka's face, "Do you need me to wait for you?"

Sakayanagi Arisu waved her hand gently, her voice carrying a hint of ease: "Classmate Onizuka, you wouldn't happen to be free just because of me, would you? Unfortunately, that won't be necessary; someone will be here to pick me up shortly."

Onizuka nodded, "In that case, goodbye then, Classmate Sakayanagi."

"Goodbye, Classmate Onizuka."

After dropping Sakayanagi Arisu off at her classroom, Onizuka turned around, his mind filled with thoughts as he slowly walked toward the dormitory.

Sakayanagi Arisu, Class 1-A, 1.5 meters tall, athletic ability near zero, super-high IQ, possessing excellent logical thinking and deductive reasoning skills.

Moreover, the Chairman of this academy also shares the surname Sakayanagi.

Obtaining this information was not easy; it cost him quite a bit of effort and points, especially with the strict requirement for confidentiality.

Just as Sakayanagi had said, for him, finding out these things wasn't particularly difficult, especially knowing where she would appear today and orchestrating an encounter.

Returning to his dorm, Onizuka lazily stretched, gently pushed open the Gate of Opening, walked over to the trash can in the room, and tossed the book from his bag inside.

It was the very book he had spent the entire day reading—Chess for Beginners.

The edges of the pages were slightly yellowed, documenting countless basic chess matches and strategies, yet for him, there was clearly no need to continue leafing through it at this point.