"Huh? Y-you, what are you talking about?!"
Kamuro Masumi's cool, composed face suddenly flushed, and her voice rose without her meaning it to.
She sounded flustered as she protested, her haughty composure from moments ago completely crumbling.
Gentle? A good girl?
Kamuro Masumi had never imagined those words being used to describe her, much less that anyone would describe her that way.
And that person was none other than Chihaya Rei, standing right in front of her.
Chihaya Rei knew what she was really like. How could she possibly be a good girl?
She was a thief who'd stolen something from a supermarket on the very first day of school. "Gentle" didn't describe her at all.
Kamuro Masumi knew herself well enough, but she couldn't help feeling secretly pleased.
No, Chihaya Rei was definitely teasing her.
Kamuro Masumi abruptly shook her head. She couldn't fall for it.
She wasn't some lovesick fool. How could one casual remark from him possibly make her heart waver?
Chihaya Rei watched Kamuro Masumi's face turn red, then pale, and couldn't help finding it amusing.
What was she imagining?
"That's not nonsense."
He wagged a finger in denial.
"It is nonsense."
Kamuro Masumi's face grew even redder. She glared at Chihaya Rei, then snapped, "Be quiet. And take out your phone."
"Kamuro, don't tell me you're already embarrassed. You really can't take a compliment."
Chihaya Rei's lips curled upward. His sharp gaze saw right through her embarrassment.
"Embarrassed? Heh... As if."
Kamuro Masumi's heart gave a little jolt, but she feigned composure and gave a cold laugh, insisting there was no way she was embarrassed.
"I'll give you points. Do you want them or not?"
Kamuro Masumi spoke again, partly to change the subject.
"..."
Chihaya Rei suddenly felt as if Kamuro Masumi were offering to keep him.
He suppressed his smile and decided to stop teasing her for now.
"Although I appreciate you coming all this way to give me points, Kamuro, I'm not short on points."
Kamuro Masumi pursed her lips, looking unconvinced.
"See for yourself."
Chihaya Rei could tell she wouldn't believe him otherwise.
So he promptly took out his phone and showed her the personal points screen. He had just over 40,000 points left.
If he was careful, that would be enough for a month. And his anonymous account still had 2.65 million personal points.
There was no way he could spend it all. He couldn't spend it all even if he tried.
Kamuro Masumi looked surprised. "You really do have some?"
"Do you think I'm the type to spend points recklessly?"
Chihaya Rei sighed.
Kamuro Masumi turned her expressionless face away.
Since Chihaya Rei still had points, her efforts seemed a little unnecessary.
Still, she was relieved he had points.
No, relieved about what?
He should've been broke, so he'd accept her help and she could repay her debt to him. Then she wouldn't have to keep feeling so awkward.
Kamuro Masumi was torn inside.
Then Chihaya Rei said he was going to the cafeteria for dinner, and politely asked if she wanted to come along.
To his surprise, Kamuro Masumi nodded.
Chihaya Rei looked at her in surprise, but he'd already asked. He couldn't exactly say, "I was just being polite. You can go back, Kamuro."
If he did, she'd probably punish him by kicking him with her little leather shoe.
Well, nothing for it now. They might as well eat first.
He could get kicked by that little leather shoe another day.
When they ordered, Kamuro Masumi insisted on paying for him.
Chihaya Rei didn't refuse over something so minor.
He had a feeling that if he didn't let Kamuro Masumi do something for him, she might follow him back to his dorm tonight.
The two sat opposite each other and enjoyed dinner.
The scene was perfectly harmonious.
Then a warm, polite voice reached them.
"Excuse me, Kamuro from Class A and Chihaya from Class D. Hello! Would it be all right if we sat beside you?"
Huh?
Chihaya Rei and Kamuro Masumi looked up at the speaker at the same time.
Kamuro Masumi seemed surprised, probably because the girl had called her by name.
Chihaya Rei had already guessed who it was as soon as he heard that distinctive voice.
The leader of Class B, Ichinose Honami.
She wore a polite smile and waited patiently for Chihaya Rei and Kamuro Masumi to answer.
"Of course."
Chihaya Rei didn't keep her waiting and replied politely at once.
Kamuro Masumi looked the other girl over in silence, then nodded and said, "Mm."
After all, students could sit wherever they liked in the cafeteria. Ichinose Honami was just exceptionally polite, asking first because she didn't want to disturb anyone.
Kushida Kikyo from his class was a fake angel, but Ichinose Honami was undoubtedly a real one.
Though she might be sweet on the outside and dark underneath.
Standing beside Ichinose was a petite girl with short, pale-yellow hair.
She looked rather timid as she stood at Ichinose's side. Given the difference in their builds, she looked just like a fledgling nestled beside its mother.
"Thank you."
Ichinose Honami thanked them softly.
Then she took the seat beside Chihaya Rei, leaving Shiranami Chihiro with no choice but to sit beside Kamuro Masumi.
After setting down her tray, Ichinose looked at them with bright eyes.
"Hehe, sorry, Chihaya and Kamuro. I haven't introduced myself yet. I'm Ichinose Honami from Class B."
"Just call me Honami. I hope we can be friends."
Ichinose spoke in a nimble voice that sounded both friendly and lively.
Unlike Kushida Kikyo's somewhat sugary tone, Ichinose Honami sounded completely sincere.
But to Chihaya Rei, it sounded as though she might suddenly call out, "Yahallo, Hikki!" and send the conversation into a completely different series.
As for how she knew his and Kamuro's names, that wasn't surprising.
After all, Ichinose was known as a sociable, helpful angel. She probably knew nearly every student in their year by name.
After introducing herself, Ichinose Honami raised a hand and gestured lightly toward her companion.
"This is Shiranami Chihiro from our class. She's a little shy, but she's actually very sweet."
Shiranami Chihiro's cheeks inexplicably reddened. She quietly played along and said, "Hello."
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