Damn Long Aotian, Not Saying Anything About Cooperation!

As for Long Aotian, he was currently attending a Swimming class.

He sat on the ground watching the girls' race ahead; according to the Swimming instructor, the winner would receive 5,000 points.

"Long, the boys' race is coming up soon. Aren't you going to participate?"

A voice drifted over.

He looked over to see Sakayanagi Arisu approaching with her cane.

"I'm not very good at Swimming. Sakayanagi Arisu, why are you interested in coming over here?"

Sakayanagi Arisu smiled. "You looked a bit lonely."

"Lonely?" Long Aotian spread his hands, speechless. "I'm too embarrassed to even say it for you guys. There's the Katsuragi Kohei faction and your Sakayanagi Arisu faction. Just because I'm neutral, none of you want to play with me."

"Pfft." A laugh rang out, and a figure slowly walked up beside Sakayanagi Arisu.

Long Aotian glanced at Kamuro Masumi. "You have the nerve to laugh? At least I'm free. You're not much better off yourself."

"You!" Kamuro Masumi's smile vanished as she pointed at Long Aotian.

"Alright, I'm done playing with you kids. I'm off to the race."

Long Aotian slowly stood up, glanced at Sakayanagi Arisu, and headed toward the competition area.

Sakayanagi Arisu wasn't the type to be idle; she likely had something she wanted to discuss with him.

Long Aotian stood in the competition zone, with Katsuragi Kohei to his left and Hashimoto Masayoshi to his right.

"Long, are you really not interested in joining us?"

Katsuragi Kohei asked from the side in his mature, steady voice.

"Not interested."

Long Aotian didn't know why, but ever since Sakayanagi Arisu failed to recruit him, Katsuragi Kohei seemed to have taken an interest in him as well.

Upon hearing their exchange, Hashimoto Masayoshi scoffed, "I'm telling you, Katsuragi Kohei, the guy likes being neutral. Don't go forcing people."

Just then, Totsuka Yahiko walked over to Katsuragi Kohei's left and glared at Hashimoto Masayoshi. "Who's forcing anyone? Besides, your Sakayanagi Arisu faction hasn't exactly been shy about recruiting people either."

Suddenly, a crisp, loud whistle blew.

"Get back to your positions! What are you doing over there?" the Swimming instructor pointed at the four of them.

Long Aotian sighed. These two factions were truly like fire and water; in the future plot, the Sakayanagi Arisu faction would certainly stab Katsuragi Kohei in the back more than once.

"Hurry back to your spots! Everyone is waiting for you!"

The Swimming instructor was growing impatient and urged them on.

Once the four of them returned to their marks, the Swimming instructor took a deep breath, and a crisp, loud whistle blew once more.

Immediately, the competitors on the tracks shot off like arrows from a bow. Almost the moment the whistle fell, they kicked off the starting blocks, their bodies carving graceful arcs through the air before slamming into the water, sending up sheets of white spray.

Swim, swim.

After a round of back-and-forth, he grabbed the edge of the pool and pulled his head out. Long Aotian looked at the people behind him. Why are they so slow? Am I too much of a monster, or is your physical fitness just that poor?

Next, Hashimoto Masayoshi surfaced, followed by Katsuragi Kohei, Totsuka Yahiko, and the others. Since it wasn't first place, the remaining rankings held no meaning.

The race ended. Long Aotian wiped himself off and walked back to his previous spot. He could see that Sakayanagi Arisu was still sitting on the bench.

Watching Long Aotian approach, Sakayanagi Arisu looked puzzled. "So this is what you meant by not being very good at Swimming?"

"That's right, not very good."

Long Aotian sat down and continued to admire the girls' side; mainly, the view was great here, otherwise, he wouldn't have come back.

"Alright, just say what you came here for."

"Long, you really are clever." Sakayanagi Arisu swung her legs, wearing a smile. "Long Aotian, you appeared in most of the clubs on the first day of school, won a large amount of points through your own strength, and then spent the last half-month getting quite close to a certain girl in Class D, even frequently visiting her dormitory. You aren't planning on using your points to get that girl into Class A, are you? Or is that girl your eyes and ears in Class D?"

"Impressive." Long Aotian clapped his hands. "Indeed, I do have such a plan. But you're quite idle yourself, coming to investigate me."

Long Aotian wasn't surprised by the rest; after all, it could be found out by hiring someone to investigate. The main thing was the detail about him entering Sakura Airi's dorm—hidden cameras? Or did she have eyes everywhere? Truly formidable.

"When I'm interested in something, I naturally get to the bottom of it." The young girl continued swinging her feet. "Later, I discovered that you're quite an interesting person. Strong and clever—you're a genius just like me. I think Class A should be ruled by the two of us."

"Not interested."

"Not interested? Then why did you come to this school if not for Class A?"

For Long Aotian, he really wasn't interested in Class A or not. After all, he only came because the system issued a mission; otherwise, with his successful career outside, who would be bored enough to come here? If he had to say, he was here to experience campus life and maybe fall in love along the way.

"That's true..." He thought for a moment, then turned to look at Sakayanagi Arisu. "Are you interested in a collaboration?"

"A collaboration?"

After school.

Long Aotian arrived at the dessert shop and picked out an exquisite strawberry cake; this was Sakura Airi's favorite.

Carrying the cake, Long Aotian walked toward Sakura Airi's dormitory. He arrived at the door shortly after and knocked gently.

Sakura Airi opened the door and saw Long Aotian, her face flushing slightly. "Aotian, why are you here?"

"Of course I brought you your favorite strawberry cake." Long Aotian lifted the cake in his hand and walked into the room with a smile.

He placed the cake on the table, sliced it, and handed a fork to Sakura.

Take a bite of the cake~

I have to say, this cake is actually quite delicious, though it's easy to gain weight if you eat too much.

"Hm?"

He watched as Sakura speared a small piece of cake and held it out to Long Aotian's lips.

"Have a bite."

"Oh, oh, sure."

He took a bite, savoring the taste as he chewed slowly; it really does taste better when someone else feeds you.

He picked up his own fork, speared a small piece, and fed it to Sakura: "How did that test paper go for your class?"

"Mmm~" Taking a bite, Sakura's face beamed with a smile of satisfaction and happiness.

"?" He clenched his fist and tapped Sakura's head lightly, puzzled: "What are you thinking about? How did that test paper go for your class?"

"Ow," she said, rubbing her head: "It's nothing. The test papers were handed out later, and they told us to memorize the answers."

"Also, Kushida Kikyo invited those three people to a study session again recently. Should I still go?"

"?" Long Aotian was a bit confused. If you already have the answers, why are you still holding study sessions? He picked up his fork and fed her another bite: "No need. I'll tutor you later. And didn't you say you have the answers? Why are you still holding study sessions?"

"I don't know how it happened, but Kushida Kikyo said it was to ensure we pass, so she proposed a study session to help each other out."

Sakura took a bite of the cake and said contentedly.

He held out the cake in his hand: "And then? Did Kushida Kikyo succeed in her invitation?"

Sakura looked at the cake held out before her, picked up her fork to feed him, and shook her head: "It didn't work. They said since they already have the answers, why bother with a study session? It's a guaranteed pass."

Classic, just classic. And what the hell is a "guaranteed pass"? The last person who said that is pretty much done for.

As for the person who proposed this, it looks like it was Kushida Kikyo, but behind the scenes, it was likely pushed by Ayanokoji.

Whatever, forget it. As long as the plot doesn't change, it's fine.

"Do you have any plans for the near future?" Long Aotian asked, glancing at the cake that was almost finished.

"Taking photos!"

Sakura thought about how she hadn't really gone out to take photos lately. She looked at Long Aotian, her two bright, sparkling eyes blinking: "Want to go together?"

"Sure, sure, sure."

He used his hands to shield himself from the sparkling gaze beaming at him.

There's nothing to do for now anyway, and the plot events are still a while off, so I might as well hang out with Sakura for a bit.

Feeling as though Sakura's gaze hadn't shifted, he lowered his hands and looked over, their eyes meeting.

"What's wrong?"

Long Aotian blinked his eyes and asked in confusion.

Sakura looked away, slowly leaned in toward Long Aotian, and smiled: "You know."