Draw Results

With the bell signaling the end of the first afternoon class, the competition in the swimming pool came to a close, with winners and losers decided.

The girls' championship was won without any suspense by Chisato Nishikigi.

Bursting with energy and blessed with outstanding athleticism, she was like a fish in water, easily defeating the other participating girls and claiming the five-thousand-point reward, hopping excitedly by the poolside.

The boys' final unfolded between Mazumi Mami and Katsuragi Kohei.

Although Mazumi Mami had originally planned to hold back a little, "letting" Katsuragi Kohei take the victory to maintain his persona, Katsuragi Kohei clearly had his own considerations.

In the final, he didn't go all out; instead, he deliberately controlled his pace, ultimately falling behind Mazumi Mami by a narrow margin.

"Congratulations, Mazumi. Well deserved."

After getting out of the pool, Katsuragi Kohei proactively extended his hand to Mazumi Mami, his tone sincere.

Mazumi Mami instantly understood the other's intent—just as Katsuragi Kohei had said before, he wanted Mazumi Mami to become the class representative.

Thus, the necessary "halo" and "victory" were part of shaping a leader's image.

In the eyes of their classmates, a leader who could also take first place in sports was undoubtedly more convincing and appealing.

So, Mazumi Mami accepted the outcome calmly, shaking Katsuragi Kohei's hand in acknowledgment. "You flatter me, Katsuragi. You swam excellently as well."

The two exchanged a smile, their unspoken understanding clear.

Mazumi Mami thus also received the five-thousand-point reward for the boys.

During the lunch break, the enticing aroma of home-cooked food wafted through Room 601, Mazumi Mami's dorm.

Ever since they discovered the fully equipped small kitchen in the dorm, they had decided to cook for themselves, ensuring both taste and nutrition while adding a touch of privacy and warmth.

At that moment, Runa Inoue and Chisato Nishikigi were busy in the kitchen, the clatter of spatulas and the sizzle of food blending into a reassuring background sound.

In the living room, Mazumi Mami and Walnut sat facing each other, with several small dishes already prepared on the table.

Walnut took a light sip of her juice, looking at Mazumi Mami with a hint of teasing in her tone.

"That bald guy... Katsuragi Kohei, he's got some good eyes and 'ambition,' huh. He saw right away that you're no ordinary, young master, and instead of competing, he willingly 'handed' you the victory."

Walnut said.

Mazumi Mami smiled, picking up a piece of cold cucumber salad with his chopsticks. "I'd say his observation and judgment are indeed sharp, and he knows how to read the situation and prioritize the bigger picture. If others in the class with their own ideas can be as sensible as him, willing to cooperate rather than oppose, then we can speed up unifying Class A quite a bit."

"Haste makes waste, young master."

Chisato Nishikigi emerged from the kitchen carrying a plate of glossy, stir-fried beef, setting it lightly on the table, her eyes curving into crescents.

"We're already doing amazing! On the second day of school, you've basically become the backbone of the class, and you've even dealt with a potential rival like Katsuragi. We're ahead of schedule!"

Chisato Nishikigi said.

"Chisato's right."

Runa Inoue also walked out with a large plate of fragrant mixed fried rice, a faint, barely noticeable softness in her violet eyes.

"Besides, today's swimming class was a good opportunity. We had great chats with quite a few girls in the class and exchanged contact info. We've basically started to integrate into the girls' circle. That'll help us keep up with class dynamics and solidify support going forward."

Runa Inoue said.

"That's good news."

Mazumi Mami took the fried rice and began serving it into four empty bowls. "But rather than 'infiltrating,' I'd say we're already part of this group. Just build connections naturally."

"In short, everything's moving in the right direction."

Walnut summarized, picking up her chopsticks as well.

"There's still soup and vegetables in the kitchen. Everyone used up a lot of energy swimming, so we need to eat more to replenish."

Chisato Nishikigi turned and headed back into the kitchen.

"Yeah, young master, you should eat plenty too."

Runa Inoue looked at Mazumi Mami with concern.

"Alright, everyone, eat up."

Mazumi Mami nodded, handing the filled bowls to each person.

But just as he picked up his chopsticks to start eating, he noticed that the three girls hadn't moved theirs. Instead, they were all staring at him, their eyes seeming to hide something, their cheeks faintly flushed.

"What's wrong?"

Mazumi Mami asked, puzzled. "Is the food not to your taste? Or do I have something on my face?"

"Ahem..."

Walnut cleared her throat, her blue eyes darting away as her fingers unconsciously twirled a strand of hair. "Young master, about that thing we agreed on... you haven't... forgotten, have you?"

"Yeah, yeah!"

Chisato Nishikigi jumped in immediately, her blush deepening, but she tried to look justified. "I even specially prepared ingredients said to boost vitality and restore energy! Didn't you notice our 'thoughtful intentions' at all, young master?"

Runa Inoue lowered her head slightly, her ears turning red, but her voice remained clear and earnest. "Young master, we need to do the drawing. To decide... decide who goes first... to serve you in bed..."

The last two words were as faint as a mosquito's buzz, but in the quiet living room, they were still clearly audible.

The air seemed to freeze instantly, thick with a heat mingling shyness, anticipation, and tension.

Mazumi Mami's hand holding the chopsticks froze midair, and a rare hint of embarrassment surfaced on his face.

He cleared his throat. "Ahem... I thought I could bluff my way through for a bit. And what's with all that 'nourishing' stuff you prepared? Let me state upfront—my constitution isn't like an ordinary person's. You all..."

He paused, finding it hard to say. "You all might not... be able to handle it."

Those words made the three girls' faces even redder.

Walnut muttered softly, "Th-this is all experience passed down from the palace matrons... We just prepared according to their guidance..."

"An esper's physique and recovery really can't be judged by common standards..."

Mazumi Mami tried to explain, but seeing the girls' shy yet determined eyes, he knew there was no avoiding this.

"Ah, anyway, young master, let's start with the lottery first!"

Chisato Nishikigi clasped her hands together in a pleading gesture, trying to break the awkwardness with liveliness. "If we keep talking, I'll be so embarrassed I'll crawl under the table!"

"...Fine."

Mazumi Mami sighed and set down his chopsticks. "Then let's draw lots to decide the order. But as for the specific time... I think it's better to wait until the weekend or a longer holiday. After all..."

He rubbed his nose, his voice dropping. "You all... might need time to recover."

"Th-that's true..."

Runa Inoue murmured in agreement, imagining the possible "consequences," and her face grew even hotter.

"Then I'll send the lottery program to our internal group chat—absolutely random, fair and square."

Mazumi Mami took out his phone and quickly tapped a few times.

"Mm..."

The three girls also pulled out their phones, staring at the screens nervously.

Soon, the lottery results displayed on each of their phones:

First: Chisato Nishikigi

Second: Runa Inoue

Third: Walnut

The living room fell into a brief silence. The three girls stared at the results on their screens, momentarily stunned.

Even though they had acted quite proactive before, even cheering each other on, seeing their order clearly set in stone—especially Chisato Nishikigi seeing herself first—the mix of overwhelming shyness, faint anticipation, and bewilderment still left them speechless. They just stared at their phones, cheeks red enough to drip blood.

Mazumi Mami watched their reactions, then glanced at his own screen, unsure what to say.

The room was filled with an extremely awkward, ambiguous silence, broken only by the faint bubbling of the soup pot from the kitchen.

Just as the atmosphere reached its peak of tension, the dormitory's broadcast system suddenly played a melodious prelude, followed by a clear female voice:

[Announcement, announcement. Starting at 5:00 PM today, the new semester club recruitment briefing will be held at the First Gymnasium. First-year students interested in various club activities, please gather at the First Gymnasium on time. I repeat...]

The broadcast broke the stagnant air, giving the four a perfect excuse to shift their attention.

"L-let's eat first!"

Mazumi Mami spoke up first, trying to make his voice sound natural. "The food's getting cold. As for other things... we can talk after eating, or later."

"Mm... r-right."

Chisato Nishikigi snapped back to reality and quickly picked up her chopsticks, but her gaze was still unfocused, unable to meet Mazumi Mami's eyes—after all, she was first.

"Yeah, let's eat first, replenish our energy."

Runa Inoue also lowered her head, focusing intently on the rice in her bowl as if it were the most fascinating thing in the world.

"Ahem... eat, eat."

Walnut tried to mask her inner turmoil with a calm exterior, but her reddened ears gave her away.

The four began eating in silence, the sounds of chewing and the soft clink of utensils replacing their earlier conversation.

Yet the lingering ambiguity and unspoken agreement in the air, along with the just-revealed lottery results, hung like invisible threads around everyone's hearts, making the dinner atmosphere exceptionally delicate and indescribable.

The club briefing notice might bring new busyness and choices, but certain more private "topics" concerning the progress of their relationships had already been quietly placed on the table, no longer easy to avoid.