The afternoon sun shines into the room through the windows of Class D classroom, casting spots of light and shadow on the floor.
Although the interaction between Karuizawa Kei, Matsushita Chiaki, and Mori Nene at the door of the classroom only lasted a few minutes, it was enough to set off a subtle but real ripple in Class D's interpersonal network, which was like a small jungle.
After Karuizawa Kei's figure disappeared around the corner of the corridor, whispers could be heard from several "strongholds" in the classroom.
In the area near the window, several girls with Karuizawa Kei as the core were sitting together. Their eyes were still in the direction where Karuizawa Kei was leaving, and the expressions on their faces were a bit envious and curious.
This group of girls forms a social circle of its own in Class D - most of them are followers attracted by Karuizawa Kei's image of a confident and free hot girl. On weekdays, Karuizawa Kei is the leader, and they live a prosperous life under her protection.
"Have you seen? Hui's expression just now--"
A girl with a low ponytail said in a low voice, with a certainty in her tone of "I've guessed it a long time ago."
"That expression is definitely, absolutely, definitely the expression of having a boyfriend! I live with my cousin, and every time she comes back from a date with her boyfriend, she has the same expression - the corners of her mouth can't be pressed down, and her eyes are full of light."
"Really? I think so too!"
A short-haired girl next to her nodded repeatedly, her eyes shining with excitement.
"Her changes in the past few days have been really obvious. Although she was very lively before, she always felt like... how should I describe it? She seemed to be deliberately maintaining her image?"
"But it's been completely different recently. I feel like my whole body has become very relaxed, and I feel very natural when I laugh. It's like a big stone has finally fallen to the ground in my heart."
"She's so amazing..."
Another girl wearing a star hairpin held her chin in her hands, her tone full of envy, "It's only been about a month since school started, right? I've already got a boyfriend... I'm so envious. I wish I had this ability too."
"Don't think about it--"
The girl with a low ponytail smiled and poked her forehead, "You are not as cute as Hui. She exudes the aura of 'I am the most charming' from the inside out. Ordinary people like us can't imitate it."
"Even if it's not that cute... it's okay if you think about it..."
The girl with the star hairpin rubbed the poked forehead and muttered, "It's great... I also want to experience youth... find a handsome boyfriend, go shopping together, eat together, go on dates at the amusement park together..."
"Aren't you already dreaming?"
Several girls laughed together. The laughter was not too loud amidst the noise in the classroom, but it carried a bright and lively tone unique to young girls.
Kiyotaka Ayanokouji was sitting in the second to last row by the window. His eyes seemed to be scanning the classroom aimlessly, but in fact he was observing everything around him calmly.
He had a panoramic view of the conversation of the group of girls, and a comment emerged silently in his mind. "As expected of Empress in the class - this dominance can not only be obtained by appearance."
His impression of Karuizawa Kei is a rather subtle state.
Objectively speaking, she is not unlovable.
On the contrary, her appearance is definitely superior among her peers - her long blond hair that is carefully taken care of, her exquisite facial features that are somewhat assertive and confident, plus her well-managed figure all year round. No matter from which angle you look at her, she is the kind of girl who attracts attention wherever she goes.
But the problem is - she exudes a temperament that seems to put off those who have little experience in love.
To put it simply, she belongs to the kind of hot girl who is very active.
There is a calm sense of "I am very experienced" and "I understand very well" in his words and deeds. This kind of aura is often not attractive to boys who are just beginning to have a romantic interest, but is a kind of pressure.
For someone like Kiyotaka Ayanokouji who is used to hiding in the shadows of the crowd, such a person is really too dazzling.
He instinctively felt that if he got too close, it would be detrimental to him - that light would not only illuminate him, but also expose everything he had hidden in the shadows to the public eye.
"Of course, more importantly..."
He added silently in his mind, "A girl like her must have had a lot of handsome guys like Yosuke Hirata when she was in junior high school. She must have rich emotional experience and superb social skills. If you approach her rashly, she may be listed as someone who needs to be vigilant, which is not worth the gain."
He came to the conclusion. "It's better to keep it as it is now - don't let her notice it, just be my transparent Akito safely."
But the two live treasures around him obviously don't know how to write the words "keep a low profile".
"Tch-what are you pretending to be?"
Hiro Ikechi's voice came from diagonally in front. Although the volume was deliberately lowered, it was still a bit harsh in Kiyotaka Ayanokouji's ears. "I think she has been a second-hand goods for a long time. I really don't know what those girls like her. Everyone - should like Kushida!"
"I'm talking about you--"
Haruki Yamauchi followed up with an exaggerated tone, as if he was greatly offended, "Don't compare a second-hand dirty hottie like Kei Karuizawa with the cute angel Kushida, okay? No matter who chooses, they will choose Kushida!"
The two of them were almost spitting into each other's ears, and they debated such boring topics as "whose dream lover is more pure" and "who is more worthy of liking".
Kiyotaka Ayanokouji was listening on the sidelines, and felt waves of speechlessness welling up in his heart - not because there was anything special about their views, but because their expressions when they said these words were really disgusting.
What's even worse is that they didn't seem to notice at all that just two or three meters away from them, the girls who were chatting and laughing just now were all casting unfriendly eyes on them.
Kiyotaka Ayanokouji sighed silently in his heart, but on the surface he moved half of his body to the side calmly, putting a little distance between himself and these two living treasures.
There's nothing wrong with him wanting to pretend to be a normal person - but he doesn't want to be mistaken for being with these two perverts.
However, the "talking" between these two living treasures was not over yet, and a third person who added fuel to the fire joined the battlefield.
"But, Chi--"
Ken Sudō did not know when to break away from the discussion of Basketball Club, walked over abruptly, and said casually in a tone that did not understand the atmosphere at all, "There is no guarantee that such a cute Kushida is a virgin--"
This sentence is like a match thrown into a powder keg.
"Well - that's - that - although it is true - but - it's not right, it's not right! Kushida can't be a second-hand product! Absolutely impossible!"
Haruki Yamauchi's face turned red and he couldn't find a strong rebuttal for a while.
"That's a long way to go Sudo!"
Hiro Ikechi also turned around angrily, "Didn't you join the basketball club? Why don't you go to practice soon? Don't talk nonsense to us here, let alone slander Kushida!"
"That's right!"
Haruki Yamauchi regained his momentum and echoed, "You guy who only thinks about sports, get out of here quickly! Don't tarnish the pure Kushida in our hearts here!"
"Huh? Why do you only think about sports?"
Ken Sudō's face turned ugly after being scolded by the two, "I'm just telling the truth. You don't need to be so excited, right? Besides - Kushida doesn't have a special relationship with you, right? Are you a little too pretentious?"
"Who said it doesn't matter!"
Hiro Ikechi's voice rose a little higher, "She said hello to me today! She said hello to me! This means she is interested in me! What do you know, an idiot who only knows how to play ball all day long?"
"That's right!"
Haruki Yamauchi helped, but then changed the subject, "Wait a minute - you said she only said hello to you? She clearly smiled at me this morning! Don't try to monopolize her!"
"Ha--don't think I didn't notice--you were secretly peeking at Horikita during class, right?"
Hiro Ikechi sneered and said in a tone of "I finally caught you", "You like the quiet type Horikita, right?"
"What?! That's it!"
Haruki Yamauchi immediately showed an expression of realization and turned to glare at Ken Sudō, "It turns out that your own relationship is not going well, so you came to interfere with us! You are so despicable, Sudo!"
"I said no--! Get out of my way! I'm going to practice--!"
Ken Sudō's face has completely darkened. He is obviously not a person who is good at using words to argue.
In a fit of embarrassment, he suddenly stretched out his hand and pushed Hiro Ikechi and Haruki Yamauchi who were blocking him in front of him.
The two of them were caught off guard, staggering backwards and hitting the desk behind them hard, making a loud and ear-piercing noise - the stationery on the desk fell to the floor, and the water glass tipped over, making a clanking sound, which was particularly abrupt in the otherwise peaceful classroom in the afternoon.
"Ha--! You must have been right!"
Hiro Ikechi covered his waist that was hurt by the impact, but still shouted stubbornly, "You are slandering us when you don't get what you want! You are so abominable!"
"That's right! We must protect the best Kushida!"
Haruki Yamauchi also got up from the ground, and regardless of his embarrassed appearance, he followed up with a stabbing blow.
Kiyotaka Ayanokouji stood not far away, watching this scene silently, expressionless.
But he had already started a round of crazy complaining mode in his heart.
"Haven't you noticed that the girls around you are looking at you like you are looking at non-recyclable garbage? Even Kikyou Kushida, who you are thinking about most, has a troubled expression? Did you really not notice, or are you pretending not to notice?"
He stood there in silence for a moment, and finally decided to leave this place first.
If someone saw him standing with these two living treasures and misunderstood that he was in the same group with them, then even jumping into the Yellow River would not be able to clean it up.
He stepped forward and walked calmly in the opposite direction to Hiro Ikechi. His pace was steady and his expression was indifferent, as if the farce just now had nothing to do with him.
The afternoon sun was still shining warmly on the corridor, but in Class D's classroom, the tiny ripples caused by Karuizawa Kei seemed to be spreading quietly in a way that was beyond everyone's expectations.