Swimming class.
Tsukishima got in the water and swam a couple of laps as usual, trying to evolve his dog paddle into a breaststroke. Unfortunately, dog paddling still stubbornly occupied his skill slot.
"Tsukishima, you need to relax. Don't tense up."
The gym teacher stood beside him, trying to correct his form. But every time Tsukishima managed to change it a little, somehow he wound up back in the welcoming embrace of the dog paddle.
The gym teacher was frustrated. Tsukishima was frustrated too.
"Hahaha, Tsukishima boy, your form really isn't beautiful!""
Handsome Guy Rokusuke Koenji swam past him, managing to talk as he went.
Tsukishima sighed. "So, sensei, why do I always go back to dog paddling? Is it because I haven't practiced enough?"
The gym teacher rubbed his chin. "Maybe you've gotten too used to dog paddling. It's like how some people walk just fine normally, but start swinging the same arm and leg forward together when there's a crowd."
"When you realize you're practicing swimming, you instinctively start dog paddling. Maybe you could change your mindset—from practicing swimming to playing in the water and relaxing?"
Tsukishima didn't think that was a very good idea, but he didn't have any better ones himself, so he started splashing around in the water.
He was still quite interested in swimming.
Not only could swimming help with the back problems caused by sitting too long, but who knew? Maybe he'd end up working as a swimming instructor someday.
While he was focused on splashing around in the water,
Hirata Yosuke came over, a gentle smile on his face. "Tsukishima."
Tsukishima stopped. "Did you need something, Hirata?"
Hirata sat on the edge of the pool. "Well, Chabashira-sensei said anyone who fails next month's midterm exams will be expelled, so I'm planning to get everyone together for a study session."
"Your last quiz results were really good, Tsukishima, so I was hoping you'd join us."
Tsukishima climbed out of the pool and asked, "Who's confirmed for the study session so far?"
"Yamauchi, Ike, Sudo, Yukimura..."
"The Yamauchi trio, huh... I think I'll pass. I have to go to the Manga Club after school to learn how to draw manga, so I probably won't have much time."
Tsukishima paused. "Maybe you could ask Horikita and Ayanokoji. Horikita's a little cold, but she gets great grades."
"Ayanokoji should be good at studying too. He got exactly 50 in every subject on both the entrance exam and the last quiz. He's definitely a Score-Control Master."
Hirata looked a little disappointed, but still nodded. "If you don't have time, then never mind."
He thought for a moment. "About Yamauchi and Ike asking you to lend them points before—I'll have them apologize to you. But if you have any points to spare, you could also help out your classmates a little."
"After all, we'll be in the same class for a long time, so it's important to get along."
Tsukishima naturally agreed with a chuckle. "Of course. I just bought some manga equipment recently, so I don't have much spare cash."
In reality, he still had over 1.35 million.
But lend points to the big shots of Class D? As if.
Especially when the ones asking were the Yamauchi trio.
Hirata left to bother Horikita and Ayanokoji.
Tsukishima leaned against the side of the pool, watched Hirata walk away, and shook his head.
Poor Hirata Superman. He had no idea what he was about to face.
A pack of beasts lay ahead!
He got back in the water and resumed his battle with the dog paddle.
After two laps, he rested against the pool's edge and spotted Kushida coming from the changing-room side out of the corner of his eye.
A swimsuit.
As always... well.
She really did live up to her title as the sect's Saintess.
Kushida walked over to the pool, glanced around, then fixed her gaze right on Tsukishima.
She came over with a smile and started flirting. "Tsukishima, your swimming style is still so cute~"
Tsukishima glanced at her. "Are you here to gather more evidence? Leaving my mark on the Saintess in front of everyone, huh? Tsk, tsk. I'm getting a little excited just thinking about it!"
Kushida's smile didn't change, but she discreetly leaned back a little.
"You really do like to joke around, Tsukishima~"
"I'm not joking. But never mind, even the Saintess has to fall from grace one step at a time. You should go satisfy your followers. Lord Yamauchi will surely commit your figure to memory as a side dish, then let out a reverent 'Ooh!'"
A crack appeared in Kushida's smile.
Yamauchi showed up, his eyes sweeping over the girls like searchlights before finally settling on Kushida.
His eyes lit up. He strode over with the agility of an ape.
"Kushida, so you're here!"
Wherever Yamauchi went, his bonded spirit pet Ike Kanji was sure to be there too.
"Kushida, I grew up near the water. I can even catch fish with my bare hands. Let me teach you how to swim!"
His gaze swept over her, as if he wanted to pierce her thick front armor.
Remembering what Tsukishima had said, she felt a shiver of disgust.
She forced a determined smile. "I can swim already~ And I'm teaching Tsukishima right now... Huh~ Tsukishima??"
Tsukishima had already slipped underwater and escaped by the time Yamauchi and Ike started heading their way.
"Tsukishima boy, your dive just now was beautiful. Looks like you're beginning to master the secret of beauty!"
Takara Temple had somehow gotten himself a beach chair, with a small table beside it and a drink on the table.
Tsukishima said, "Maybe the secret of beauty is staying graceful under pressure."
Takara Temple laughed. "Tsukishima boy, that conclusion of yours is certainly interesting!"
Kushida swam over with a smile, covered her mouth, and exclaimed in surprise, "Takara Temple, do they provide all this stuff during swimming class? That's amazing~"
Takara Temple glanced at her, then leaned back and slurped his drink. "Tsukishima boy, it seems your training in beauty still has a long way to go."
Tsukishima rolled his eyes and led Kushida away from Handsome Guy Takara Temple.
"How did you get rid of those two ape-men? Their gazes are practically burning holes through me."
Kushida tilted her head cutely, her voice quiet. "I told those two damn perverts that I was going to teach you how to swim, and that I wanted some privacy with you."
Tsukishima nodded. "So I'm your shield? The holy Saintess is planning to descend into the mortal world? Isn't that a little inappropriate?"
Kushida took his arm, looking a little bashful. "You were the one who pursued me, you stingy pervert. Poor Tsukishima had no friends, and Kushida was the only person in class he could talk to."
"So he fell in love with Kushida and started pursuing her. Kushida didn't want poor Tsukishima to get hurt, so she had to spend some time with him while looking for another solution—and planned to introduce him to some friends."
"How's that story?"
Tsukishima teased, "But once Tsukishima makes other friends, won't Saint Kushida end up captured by Yamauchi using the same trick? She'll probably get a wave of confessions, right? After all, she's the kindhearted Saintess."
"She might even end up as a shared girlfriend."
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