Yamamoto Sae

Although Yamauchi's little interruption had happened, everyone still got along quite happily after he left.

After the gathering, Satsu, Ayanokoji, and Hasebe walked side by side on their way back to the dorms.

The streets were nearly empty. Streetlights quietly cast a warm glow, and the evening breeze brushed gently over the three of them. At that moment, the word "pleasant" fit perfectly.

Hasebe was in high spirits. She skipped ahead of them.

Soon, she clasped her hands behind her back and turned around, leaning forward slightly. Her long black hair hung down like a waterfall, and she wore a faint smile.

"Going to school here is fun, isn't it?"

"I really hope we can live like this forever, with money to spend and friends to keep us company."

Ayanokoji replied calmly, "At least for now, this school really is a paradise for students."

"Guaranteed advancement to college or employment, absolutely luxurious living conditions, and relaxed classroom rules."

Listening to the two of them, Satsu felt a pang of emotion. He knew that no points would be deposited a month from now.

Although neither of the two in front of him seemed to need his concern, Satsu still offered a kind reminder.

"It's best to spend your points carefully. You can't go wrong with making sure you always have money on hand."

"Aww, don't be such a downer," Hasebe complained softly.

Even Ayanokoji couldn't help speaking up after hearing that. "Satsu, you're hardly one to say that. You spent a lot of points on dinner tonight."

"Yeah, Satsu really splurged tonight," Hasebe chimed in.

"If spending eighty thousand points makes my friends happy, I think it's worth it."

As he spoke, Satsu couldn't help feeling relieved. It was a good thing no one had found out about the three hundred thousand points he'd gotten from the shop clerk.

Otherwise, spending eighty thousand really would've hurt. Thinking about it now, he still had over four hundred thousand points left after dinner, so things weren't bad.

Only after returning to his dorm and lying down in bed did Satsu start thinking about Arisu.

He had no idea how he'd offended her. Out of nowhere, she'd decided to make him drop out.

Satsu opened his phone and stared at Arisu's number, feeling inexplicably sad. He'd tried to subtly ask if there was anyone she disliked, but his mind-reading ability hadn't revealed anything.

Satsu felt a headache coming on, so he simply tossed his phone aside.

"Ugh! I'm not going to think about it anymore."

Over the next few days, to Satsu's surprise, he had an utterly ordinary school life.

The expulsion tactics he'd expected from Arisu never came. Whenever people approached him of their own accord, Satsu kept getting spooked for no reason.

He'd instinctively assume it was the start of some kind of scheme.

But after interacting with them, his mind-reading ability revealed no schemes.

Once he realized he was being overly paranoid, Satsu gradually relaxed. At least today, he didn't want to worry about all that.

Because today was the much-anticipated swimming lesson!

Though Satsu's right palm was ruined, that didn't stop him from loving swimming!

"For the sake of watching...!"

"No!"

"To swim! I'll overcome even the greatest hardship!"

Satsu clenched his good hand into a fist and cheered himself on fiercely in his mind. Suddenly, a large hand landed on his shoulder.

"What's up, Satsu? What are you thinking about?"

Seeing that it was Ayanokoji, Satsu replied quietly, "Nothing."

"Then let's hurry. Class is about to start."

At that moment, nearly all the girls from Class D were gathered around the pool. Their eyes were all fixed on the boys' changing room.

"Is it true? Kato isn't sitting this one out?"

"It has to be. I saw him go into the changing room myself."

The girls chattered among themselves, and every conversation was about Satsu.

Meanwhile, at the entrance to the boys' changing room, Ike and Yamauchi were hiding, afraid to go out.

"Hey, Ike! Do you know what this scene means?"

Yamauchi gripped Ike's shoulders and shook him excitedly as he spoke.

"Yeah! I know, Yamauchi! It's our chance to show off and win over countless girls!"

Seeing that Ike understood what he meant, Yamauchi let go of his shoulders and flexed his arms, showing off his scrawny muscles.

"Let's go! Move out!"

"Right!" Ike nodded solemnly.

The two turned around and walked out of the changing room into the light, like soldiers about to march onto a battlefield.

"Hey, girls! Sorry to keep you waiting."

As soon as he stepped outside, Ike spoke first. But instead of the enthusiastic response he'd expected, the whole place fell silent.

Seeing the awkward mood, Yamauchi spoke up too.

He bent his right arm and raised it, showing off his muscles like a bodybuilder, then slapped his bicep.

Before he could say anything, Karuizawa asked in confusion, "Yamauchi, is your arm itchy? Is that why you're slapping it?"

"No... I...!"

That one question left Yamauchi speechless. He stammered, about to explain, when the girls suddenly erupted into a commotion.

"Here he comes, here he comes!"

"Wow, that's just the right amount of muscle!"

Noticing the girls' gazes, Satsu looked over and greeted them with a smile.

"You're all here."

"Ah!"

That one casual remark from Satsu suddenly made one of the girls squeal.

Perhaps realizing how she'd reacted, the girl's face turned bright red, and she shyly hid behind her friend.

"That girl's name is Kokoro Inogashira, I think. She's always been shy." (Kato Satsu)

"Does your right hand have to stay bandaged during swimming class too, Satsu?" Kikyo asked, keenly noticing something unusual about his right hand.

"Oh, this!"

As he spoke, Satsu raised his right hand and looked at it. "My right hand was seriously injured. I'm afraid taking off the bandage would scare you."

"To tell the truth, my right palm is completely unusable right now."

Everyone was astonished to hear that. But soon, someone seemed to realize this was an opportunity and spoke up.

"Then swimming must be difficult for you now, Kato. I can help you learn to swim with one hand."

"I can assist you from the side."

"Really? Then I'll be grateful for everyone's help."

Faced with his classmates' kindness, Satsu had no reason to refuse.

"Stupid cripple, what are you so pleased about?" (Haruki Yamauchi)

"I'm so jealous!" (Kanji Ike)

Ayanokoji also realized he wasn't the center of attention here, so he quietly left and sat down beside Suzune.

"By comparison, someone else looks rather pitifully lonely."

In response to Suzune's teasing, Ayanokoji replied calmly, "Aren't you the same?"

But when he saw the warning look in Suzune's eyes, Ayanokoji quickly changed his tune. "All right, all right. I know you don't want to make friends."

"Actually, I'm not as lonely as you think. At least Satsu and I get along well enough," Ayanokoji said.

Meanwhile, in another school building, in Class 2-C—

A girl hurried over to Sae and said, "Sae, a first-year student is here to see you."

"Hm? Me?"

Sae walked to the entrance, puzzled. There, she saw the adorable-looking first-year student who had come to meet her.

"It's a pleasure to meet you, Yamamoto Sae."

"My name is Arisu Sakayanagi, from Class 1-A."