The weekend.
Tatsuya Sakuya was curled up in his blanket on the bed in Room 217, laughing so hard at Grand Blue on his tablet that he rolled around.
On the screen, Iori Kitahara poured 96-proof Water of Life vodka and blended Scotch whisky into a glass at a nine-to-one ratio.
After stirring them together with a mixing stick, the liquid turned amber like tea and looked remarkably similar to oolong tea. Everyone called it Flammable Oolong Tea.
The next second, Iori Kitahara pulled out a lighter and ignited the drink. Pale blue flames surged up, flickering throughout the room.
Can you really make this stuff in real life? Huh... maybe I should buy some and give it a try?
Tatsuya Sakuya was instantly intrigued. His mischievous streak flared up, and he threw off the blanket, got out of bed, changed clothes, and headed out of the dorm.
Keyaki Mall.
Advanced Nurturing University operated under a fully closed management system, and the mall carried an astonishing range of goods. There were cheap instant foods and expensive luxury counters alike, and even imported products were readily available.
Tatsuya Sakuya pushed a shopping cart through the dazzling array of stores.
"Hello, student. Is there anything you need help finding? We just received a fresh batch of Hokkaido-cut wagyu. The meat is tender and of excellent quality. Would you like to take a look?"
A uniformed sales clerk approached with a smile.
"Thank you, but I don't need any for now. Could you tell me where the chicken legs and alcohol section are?"
Tatsuya Sakuya politely declined the wagyu. Today, his goal was to make some Shaxian Snacks and try mixing Flammable Oolong Tea.
"Follow this main aisle straight toward the back of the supermarket, then turn right at the sign for the refrigerated fresh-food section."
"You'll find fresh chicken legs in the display cases. After buying them, walk back a short distance and turn left at the intersection. That whole area is the alcohol section. If you can't find it, feel free to ask one of the nearby staff members."
The sales clerk pointed toward the end of the aisle with one hand while patiently explaining.
First this, then that, then that.
Tatsuya Sakuya more or less understood. He pushed his cart straight toward the fresh-food section according to the clerk's directions.
He skillfully selected several large, plump chicken legs with bright coloring, then headed to the seasoning section.
He took a special braising spice packet containing star anise, cinnamon, bay leaves, and various other spices. Finally, he picked out several round farm eggs and grabbed a handful of fresh green bok choy.
It had been so many days since he arrived at school, and this was his first time cooking for himself.
Tatsuya Sakuya looked at the ingredients in his cart with considerable satisfaction.
Only after gathering all the ingredients for the main dish did he turn his cart and stroll toward the alcohol section.
Rows of refrigerated liquor cabinets lined the shelves, neatly displaying imported sake, fruit wine, and all sorts of other drinks.
Tatsuya Sakuya slowed down, his gaze sweeping across the shelves as he searched for the vodka and whisky needed for Flammable Oolong Tea.
96-proof Water of Life vodka... the alcohol content should definitely be enough to burn, but it's too strong to drink straight. I also need to make it seem drinkable.
He studied the ingredient labels with complete focus.
Just as he reached for a bottle of 96-proof vodka to put into his cart, something on the neighboring shelf of cheaper alcohol caught his eye.
A slender figure who looked somewhat familiar was standing there.
Isn't that Kamuro Masumi from Class 1-A?
Her long purple-black hair was tied into a side ponytail on the right, and her eyes carried a cold, detached look.
Tatsuya Sakuya immediately opened his phone's camera, aimed it at the girl in front of him, and began recording with sound.
She did not make a move right away. Without drawing attention, she scanned both sides of the aisle and confirmed that no one was nearby.
Then she looked up at the ceiling, hid in a surveillance blind spot, and precisely slipped a canned beer into her uniform pocket. After that, she casually picked up something else, paid for it normally, and walked out of Keyaki Mall.
The whole process was smooth and seamless, and his phone captured every detail.
Seriously, girl? You've got guts, pulling a shoplifting stunt in broad daylight at a supermarket.
Tatsuya Sakuya had witnessed the entire process. He was a man who knew everything.
This was quite the opportunity. Should he follow her, or should he follow her?
Tatsuya Sakuya chose to follow her.
After paying, Sakuya carried his shopping bags and followed behind Kamuro Masumi at an unhurried pace.
Until they reached a corner.
"Hey, you stalking creep. You've been following me ever since we left the supermarket. You've followed me all this way, so what exactly do you want? Don't tell me you have a crush on me?"
Kamuro Masumi leaned against the wall by the corner. She had already noticed that Tatsuya Sakuya was following her.
"Nice to meet you. I'm Tatsuya Sakuya from Class 1-D."
Tatsuya Sakuya spoke.
"So that's how it is? Following a beautiful girl for no reason is extremely rude, so I refuse."
Kamuro Masumi became convinced that the boy in front of her was really just trying to hit on her.
"Beautiful girl, why did you steal something? You clearly have enough points to spend, don't you?"
Tatsuya Sakuya got straight to the point and put Kamuro Masumi's theft out in the open.
"You didn't pay for the beer in your pocket."
???
What the hell? There was obviously no one around.
How did this guy know?
"What nonsense are you talking about? The people chasing after me line up all the way to France. If you want to pursue me, at least come up with a better line. If you don't have proof, I'll sue you for defamation!!"
Kamuro Masumi's brain short-circuited, and she tried to muddle through it with nonsense.
"You can take the beer out of your pocket."
"No way! Why should I do whatever you tell me to do?"
Faced with Kamuro Masumi's attempt to muddy the waters, Tatsuya Sakuya decided to pull out his phone and wave the screen at her.
He pressed play.
On the screen was the entire process of her taking the beer from the alcohol counter. The time, place, and person were all crystal clear.
"Beautiful girl, you don't want other people finding out about your theft, do you? You don't want things to take a turn for the worse, do you? And you don't want to get expelled, do you?"
Tatsuya Sakuya unleashed a triple barrage of intimidation.
Kamuro Masumi lost her former arrogance. Her face went pale, and for a moment, she had no idea what to do.
She remembered similar scenes that often appeared in Sakura Nation adult films, where the heroine was threatened and then forced to do all sorts of excessive things.
"Filthy, disgusting, vile, perverted, sleazy, creepy loser—I'll fight you!"
She was almost in tears.
"Hey, hey, hey, don't cry."
Seeing that things were going wrong, Tatsuya Sakuya immediately softened his attitude.
"Can't we talk this out properly?"
"I've seen the things you just said in porn. You want to do weird things to me."
"I can delete the video, but first, you have to do me a favor."
"What favor?"
Hearing that there was still room to salvage things, Kamuro Masumi steadied her emotions.
"First, you need to help me carry these things back to the dorm."
Tatsuya Sakuya placed the whisky, vodka, and ingredients he had bought into her hands.
"Hold them properly for me."
Kamuro Masumi had no choice but to obediently accept the items.
During the few-minute walk back to the dorm building, she imagined no fewer than ten terrible possible developments.
Threats, extortion for points, or some indescribable transaction...
Her right hand remained inside her coat pocket the entire time.
If this Class 1-D guy dared make any inappropriate move, she would not hesitate to smash the cold beer can in her hand into him and fight him.
Before you continue