Dining

On the way to the cafeteria.

Sakayanagi maintained her usual elegance and composure, her steps light, though she occasionally glanced at Kitagawa beside her from the corner of her eye.

She noticed that every step he took was steady and measured, controlling the distance and pace perfectly.

He had clearly taken their differences in height and stamina into consideration.

"Does Kitagawa-kun usually take such care of other girls too?"

She tilted her head slightly, an almost imperceptible note of inquiry in her voice.

"No."

Sakayanagi raised an eyebrow, waiting for him to add something along the lines of because you're special.

"I'm just after your looks, that's all." His tone was casual, as though he were stating something perfectly obvious, and Sakayanagi couldn't help laughing.

Of course Sakayanagi knew she was cute.

She even happened to hit certain people's exact type.

But no one had ever said something like that to her face before.

She narrowed her eyes slightly, like a cat studying interesting prey, her voice unhurried. "Kitagawa-kun, being able to say something like that so shamelessly is truly... impressive."

Kitagawa Kai wore an innocent expression, that mischievous smile still hanging at the corner of his lips. "What's wrong with being honest?"

"On our first meeting, you carried me straight into the Class A classroom. That was quite bold."

"Isn't that romantic? A beautiful accident."

"Besides, we were in a bit of a hurry then."

Kitagawa Kai answered lightly, as if he hadn't been the one capable of picking someone up yesterday.

In the end, Sakayanagi Arisu merely looked away and softly uttered two words:

"...Cunning."

Second floor of the cafeteria.

Exquisite snack section.

Ordering counter.

"Insufficient balance."

A cold mechanical voice suddenly rang out.

Sakayanagi Arisu stared fixedly at the Terminal screen.

After losing the chess match earlier, her points had been transferred directly to Kitagawa Kai.

Now, she had nothing left.

The air froze for a moment.

Kitagawa was getting food at a more distant counter and wouldn't be back anytime soon.

Sakayanagi's little head spun quickly. Her gaze swept across the area before finally locking onto a somewhat familiar classmate—Kamuro Masumi, who looked utterly vacant.

Her eyes lit up, and she stepped forward with a hint of urgency. "Kamuro-san, could you... lend me a few points for the moment?"

"Huh?"

Kamuro Masumi looked as though she had not woken up yet, slowly tilting her head.

Her eyes were filled with huge question marks.

She had spent all night wriggling around in bed, unable to sleep. She looked even more muddled than usual, her reactions half a beat slower.

"Isn't this Sakayanagi Arisu? We haven't seen each other for one day, and you're already so pathe—uh, strapped for cash?"

Kamuro opened her mouth to mock her, but perhaps remembering Sakayanagi's status, she forcibly swallowed the word "pathetic" and replaced it with "strapped for cash."

Sakayanagi Arisu stiffened for a moment, but her good upbringing kept her from losing composure. Just as she was about to offer a brief explanation—

Kitagawa Kai walked over carrying his freshly collected tray, immediately spotting the white-haired girl's predicament.

With a soft beep.

He naturally used his own Terminal to pay the points for her.

Sakayanagi froze for a moment. Before she could speak, Kitagawa had already turned his head and met the eyes of Kamuro, who was still completely out of the loop.

The moment their gazes met, information rapidly passed between them in silence—

Kitagawa: (gesturing with his eyes) Why am I running into you again?

Kamuro: (narrowing her eyes) Bad luck! Bad luck! Bad luck!

Kamuro: (disgusted expression) Demons and monsters, go away!

Kamuro: (suddenly focusing, looking at Sakayanagi before glaring at him) Wait, why has Sakayanagi Arisu run out of points? You pervert, are you tricking beautiful girls again?

Kitagawa: (shrugging, gaze frank) I asked for them, and she gave them to me.

Kamuro: (Eyeing him suspiciously from head to toe) You insisted?

Kitagawa: (Shaking his head slightly in resignation)

You lost to me fair and square.

Kamuro: (Pouting, her face screaming "As if I'd believe that") You definitely used some kind of evil trick.

Kitagawa: (Raising a brow with an exaggerated expression) Is that really how you see me?

Kamuro: (Nodding emphatically, her gaze unwavering) What else? Pervert Kitagawa!

Kitagawa's mouth twitched. He merely mouthed back, "Kitty!!!"

Kamuro instantly bristled. Her entire face flushed scarlet with a whoosh, and she shot Kitagawa a vicious glare. Like a cat whose tail had been stepped on, she swiftly turned and fled, even her retreating figure radiating flustered embarrassment and irritation.

Sakayanagi watched their silent confrontation from the side the entire time. At first, she tilted her head slightly, her delicate brows knitting together.

Why did it feel like they were thinking about something improper?

Then, realizing what they had been communicating about, she said in a slightly teasing tone, "It seems something happened between Kitagawa-kun and Classmate Kamuro."

Kitagawa returned an innocent look and shrugged. "Nothing. Classmate Kamuro just has some... unique misunderstandings about me."

The two sat across from one another with their trays.

The beautiful girl picked up her silver fork and, with gentle, unhurried movements, cut the food on her plate into bite-sized pieces before delicately bringing them to her mouth.

Every movement was pleasing to the eye, displaying her aristocratic upbringing to the fullest.

Elegant. Truly elegant.

In contrast, Kitagawa picked up his chopsticks and began shoveling down rice in huge mouthfuls.

It couldn't be helped. Faced with such delicious, fragrant, and beautifully presented food, he simply couldn't suppress his appetite.

This was the college life he had always dreamed of.

Advanced Nurturing, we love you.

"Classmate Sakayanagi, do you eat chicken legs?" Kitagawa Kai asked, raising the glossy roasted chicken leg from his tray.

"No, thank you," Sakayanagi politely declined.

"Then great, I'll eat it."

As he spoke, Kitagawa Kai naturally extended his chopsticks and snatched the chicken leg from Sakayanagi's bowl, which she had barely touched.

"..."

What was wrong with this guy?

Was he determined to pick on me?

Now I can't even eat in peace!

Sakayanagi drew a deep breath, her chest rising and falling slightly.

For the first time, those beautiful eyes revealed irritation toward Kitagawa Kai.

She looked at the hot spring egg in Kitagawa's bowl, and a plan came to mind.

"Kitagawa-kun, do you eat eggs?"

"I happen to still be hungry. Thanks for your egg, you're so thoughtful."

Kitagawa Kai answered crisply, then, with lightning speed, precisely picked up the hot spring egg.

"Whoosh—"

Amid the soft clink of chopsticks against porcelain, the round, plump egg landed steadily on his tray.

Sakayanagi Arisu: "..."

She watched helplessly as Kitagawa Kai shoveled the egg into his mouth in just a few bites, then smacked his lips in satisfaction.

Sakayanagi Arisu fell completely silent.

This man's thick skin had already surpassed the boundaries of human comprehension.

Sakayanagi set down her knife and fork and gently wiped the corner of her mouth with a napkin. Her movements were no longer elegant. "Kitagawa-kun, what do you think of this school?"

Kitagawa Kai was busy dealing with the food on his plate. At her words, he raised his head, still chewing, and replied indistinctly:

"The scenery is beautiful, the climate is pleasant, and the buildings have style."

"Plus, the graduation rate and university advancement rate are both one hundred percent. Most importantly, there's no tuition fee at all. It's practically paradise."

"You know that's not what I'm asking."

The smile on Sakayanagi Arisu's face faded, and her voice finally carried a hint of temper.

"What does Classmate Sakayanagi want to know?" He swallowed the food in his mouth. "I'll come find you later."

In the end, Sakayanagi Arisu still did not learn what she wanted to know.

She left the cafeteria in hurried steps, her retreating figure radiating intense unwillingness to concede.