You Actually Sent Him on Errands

"Satsu."

"Oh, it's Kikyo. What's up?"

Kikyo's sweet voice called out to him, and Satsu turned around with a smile. But he could already guess why she was looking for him.

It was about the study group!

"Actually, it's about the study group." Kikyo nervously twisted the hem of her skirt as she spoke.

"I heard from our classmates that you aren't going to join the study group this time?"

When Satsu nodded, confirming it, Kikyo suddenly grew agitated. She leaned forward sharply, closing the distance between them.

"Why not? You get such good grades, Satsu. You'd definitely be able to help everyone."

"You're kidding, right? I copied Suzune's answers. Of course I got good grades." (Kato Satsu)

"Please, Satsu, you know how it is. If you fail the midterms, you'll be expelled."

"We're all classmates. I just can't bear to see anyone get expelled."

As Kikyo spoke, she reached out and tugged at Satsu's sleeve.

She was so subtle about it, using only two fingers to pinch his sleeve. At the same time, she gazed at him with big, dewy eyes. With her cute looks and amazing figure, she could probably get any guy with even the slightest weakness to agree to any request she made.

"Come on, say yes already! This is all that damn Kokoro Inogashira's fault. If she likes him, she should just say so, instead of using the study group as an excuse to get close to him." (Kikyo Kushida)

"What's even worse is that when she found out Satsu wasn't joining, she was too scared to invite him herself and asked me to do it. What do I owe you?" (Kikyo Kushida)

Satsu rested a hand on his chin and thought for a moment before replying slowly, "All right. If it's a favor for you, Kikyo."

"But I can't come help out at the study group every day. Is that okay?"

"Of course. It's great that you can come at all."

Watching Kikyo leave, Satsu couldn't help but feel a headache coming on. He'd already resolved to reach Class A on his own, but when Kikyo asked him, he'd somehow agreed without thinking.

She seemed to have a special charm that made refusing her feel like a crime. Even knowing what Kikyo was really like, he still couldn't shake that sense of guilt.

At the corner, Satsu ran straight into Suzune and Ayanokoji, who had just returned from the teachers' office.

"Satsu, we were looking for you."

When Ayanokoji spotted Satsu, he looked like he'd found a lifeline. He hurried over and pushed Satsu toward Suzune.

"Horikita needs more people if she wants to make it to Class A. You two would make the perfect team."

"With Satsu there, Horikita shouldn't keep insisting that I help her." (Ayanokoji Kiyotaka)

Watching Ayanokoji's obvious reluctance, Reine gave him a helpless look, then sized Satsu up.

"Think about joining Ayanokoji and me. As long as you do what I say, we're sure to make it to Class A."

"Yeah, yeah. As long as you join—"

"Wait, what does this have to do with me?"

Ayanokoji was utterly speechless. He'd already found someone for Horikita, yet she still hadn't given up on forcibly recruiting him.

"Don't think you can escape, Ayanokoji. Kato's information network is useful, and you're the best person to run errands."

"Maybe you two should ask the person in question first?" Satsu suddenly interrupted them.

"What information network? I don't have one!" (Kato Satsu)

"And you actually sent Ayanokoji on errands?" (Kato Satsu)