Sakayanagi Arisu

The next day, Teacher Chabashira announced to the class that the Sudo Incident had ended with Class C withdrawing its complaint.

The students in Class D cheered at the news that their Class Points wouldn't be deducted, and the excitement continued until school let out.

Qiuyue watched the students head off in pairs and groups. With no one beside him, he suddenly recalled a quote from the Great Teacher.

"A solitary soul has no need for bonds."

"Oh my... What an interesting thing to say. It seems your grades in Japanese must be quite good, Classmate Qiuyue."

Qiuyue glanced back. Since he stood well over 1.8 meters tall, from his vantage point he saw only a tall, purple-haired girl and a blonde boy who looked extremely frivolous.

Qiuyue: (Who are they? Purple hair and blonde hair? Could they be Kamuro and Hashimoto? How do they know my name? Did they investigate me?)

Hearing a girl's voice, Qiuyue turned to the purple-haired girl and asked,

"Do we know each other?"

The purple-haired girl didn't answer. Instead, she turned her head and covered her mouth as she giggled, while the blonde boy awkwardly scratched his cheek, leaving Qiuyue utterly confused.

"Classmate Qiuyue, you can bend down a little."

Qiuyue lowered his head.

Qiuyue: (Oh... It's Sakayanagi...)

Qiuyue looked at Sakayanagi Arisu. She was still smiling, but even a child could tell she was angry.

"Sorry, sorry. I didn't see you. So, what did you want with me?"

"Classmate Qiuyue, let's talk somewhere else."

Sakayanagi Arisu looked at Qiuyue meaningfully, then turned and gestured for him to follow.

"Don't you introduce yourselves before asking to talk? Besides, I don't remember knowing any of you."

Sakayanagi Arisu took a practiced step back with one foot and bent her knees slightly, naturally shifting her weight onto her back leg. She lightly lifted one side of her skirt with one hand.

It was a simple gesture, yet it revealed her confidence in her poise and grace. As she moved, a distinctive charm seemed to radiate from her.

"How rude of me, Classmate Qiuyue. Allow me to introduce myself. It's nice to meet you. My name is Sakayanagi Arisu, and I'm a student in Class 1-A. Pleased to meet you."

Then Sakayanagi Arisu looked at the purple-haired girl and blonde boy behind her.

"Nice to meet you. I'm Hashimoto Masayoshi, also from Class 1-A. Pleased to meet you."

The blonde boy's introduction was just as frivolous as his appearance. He really was a typical blonde playboy.

"Kamuro Masumi. Class 1-A."

After giving her name and class, the purple-haired girl folded her arms and turned her head to the side, looking down on everyone.

Qiuyue: (...What a pain...)

"I won't introduce myself. You've already called me by name. So, what do you want?"

Sakayanagi Arisu leaned on her cane and chuckled.

"Classmate Qiuyue, there's no need to rush. Let's talk somewhere else first. This isn't a very suitable place for a conversation."

Qiuyue looked around. It was the after-school rush, and students were streaming out of the school gates.

The four of them standing there—Qiuyue and Sakayanagi's group—could hardly be called inconspicuous. People were already beginning to notice them.

Qiuyue: (...Seriously... Of all the people who could've seen this, it had to be these three idiots. I must have the worst luck in the world. Tomorrow's going to be rough... Sigh... What a mess...)

"All right, Classmate Sakayanagi. Let's go somewhere else to talk."

Qiuyue followed Sakayanagi Arisu to the library.

Qiuyue: (Why... Why did it have to be the library? ...I hope Shiina isn't there today.)

"This will do. Please sit, Classmate Qiuyue."

Sakayanagi Arisu gestured for Qiuyue to take the seat opposite her. She simply smiled at him, seeming to wait for him to sit first.

Qiuyue didn't sit down right away. Instead, he asked,

"Why did you choose the library for our conversation?"

"Because it's quiet and there aren't many people here. Don't you think it's a good place to talk, Classmate Qiuyue?

If you don't like it here, we can go somewhere else. Where would you like to go, Classmate Qiuyue?"

"Quiet is good, but it also makes it easy for someone to eavesdrop, doesn't it? As for going somewhere else, I think a dorm room would be an excellent choice."

"Oh... Should I take that to mean you're interested in what my room looks like, Classmate Qiuyue?"

Qiuyue: (...Damn old geezer, you exposed me, did you? Well, don't blame me for teasing your daughter.)

"If Classmate Sakayanagi wants to take it that way, she wouldn't be wrong. As a healthy, single teenage boy, it's only natural that I'd be curious about the room of a top-tier, petite, silver-haired beauty like you.

I wonder if Classmate Sakayanagi might indulge me in this little wish of mine.

Even if she won't grant my small wish, that's all right, because your image is already etched deep in my mind.

Perhaps tonight I'll imagine Classmate Sakayanagi inviting me to her room for a heart-to-heart, and then our relationship growing even closer.

Just thinking about it gets me excited. I bet your room smells lovely, filled with a young girl's charm, and your bed must be so soft..."

As Qiuyue spoke, he circled his hands around his upper body, putting on an expression as if he were imagining it all.

"That's enough, you hopeless pervert."

Unable to stand Qiuyue's antics, Kamuro Masumi interrupted him.

Qiuyue looked over at Kamuro Masumi. Her face was full of disgust, and she looked at him as though he were something filthy. It seemed she was about to throw up her lunch at any moment.

Hashimoto Masayoshi, standing beside her, stared at Qiuyue with the look of someone watching a brave warrior.

Qiuyue: (Right, right, that's it. If you can't stand it, just leave. Blame that old geezer for breaking his promise. He said he wouldn't expose me, then turned around and told his daughter.)

(It's not like I want to act this way, but Sakayanagi really is cute and petite. As the saying goes, lolis have three great qualities: sweet voices, soft bodies, and they're easy to knock down.)

(Little Sakayanagi has all three. Even after living two lifetimes, I've never seen a loli who fits the bill so perfectly. And she'll be legal in just two years. I have to admit, it's hard not to get a little excited.)

Qiuyue pointed at Kamuro Masumi, then wagged his finger.

"You there, what was your name again? Oh, right, Miss Kamuro. You just don't understand.

Being a lolicon isn't a perversion; it's a way of life. Men are boys until the day they die. Understand, Miss Kamuro?"

Qiuyue: (I probably didn't go too far, right? Calling Kamuro 'Miss Kamuro'... Amitabha...)

(Note: You can search online for 'cherry blossom shrine maiden,' for example, Sayu.)

Kamuro Masumi was furious. She charged forward, ready to give Qiuyue a piece of her mind. Not a verbal lecture, but a practical one involving her fists.

Seeing this, Hashimoto Masayoshi hurried over and grabbed Kamuro Masumi.

Qiuyue: (If she really comes after me, I'm bolting. I won't even look back.)

Qiuyue immediately pressed his palms together and gave her a kindly smile, adding fuel to the fire as he spoke.

"Good woman, don't be rash. Impulsiveness is the devil. Put down your butcher's knife and attain enlightenment.

Remember, doing something wrong isn't terrible. What matters most is recognizing your mistakes and correcting them. That is the greatest virtue."

After Hashimoto Masayoshi stopped her, Kamuro Masumi had only just calmed down when Qiuyue's tirade sent her into a fresh rage. She prepared to charge him again and settle things with her fists.

"All right, all right, you ****! Don't run, you little ****..."

"Classmate Qiuyue, please say a little less. I'm begging you."

That's right—Hashimoto Masayoshi had once again stepped in to hold Kamuro Masumi back from Qiuyue, though he was barely managing it. At that moment, he was cursing Qiuyue in his head.

Hashimoto Masayoshi: (You really have a poisonous tongue. Please, just say a little less, you old scoundrel. You're the one doing the insulting, but I'm the one suffering for it. I'm so done with you.)

"Let's put an end to this farce, Classmate Qiuyue. I have to say, you're certainly skilled at getting under people's skin.

But you won't be able to use this trick to anger me and end our conversation. Please sit down, Classmate Qiuyue. Let's talk for a little while."

Sakayanagi Arisu tapped her cane against the floor, bringing the farce to an end. Without a trace of concern, she invited Qiuyue to sit.