Chapter 63

Urged on by Tohka, Shido finally started putting the cookies in his mouth.

In that brief moment, envious glances began to emanate from all around.

Upon closer inspection, she realized it was a male classmate looking at her with the same expression one would give someone who's "popular with the crowd."

But isn't this situation quite to be expected?

The mere fact that they received handmade cookies from a girl is enough to make these guys jealous.

Not to mention that the person who gave Shido the cookies was Tohka Yatogami, whose ranking had been steadily rising in the "most desirable girl to date" list ever since she Transfer!

Then--

Just then, something that looked like a silver bullet flew straight past Shido's eyes.

Judging from the direction it came from, that thing was launched from the direction of the corridor.

With lightning speed, it shattered the cookie that was about to be fed to Shido, and then flew directly backward.

"What!?" ×2

Shido and Tohka exclaimed in surprise.

(Hmm? What is this?)

Although sealed away, the elf's original powerful physical abilities still remain.

After capturing the object's trajectory, Lingmeng reached out her right hand and grabbed it.

Then I examined the thing in my hand more closely.

It was a silver fork. The design looked very simple; if Lingmeng wasn't mistaken, it should be equipment from a cooking class.

Well, there's no need to guess, because this fork is clearly the same one that Lingmeng used in the cooking class.

"Hiss--" ×N

When the students in the class saw that this new student was able to catch the high-speed flying fork with his bare hands, they all gasped in surprise.

This new classmate seems like someone you shouldn't mess with.

If Lingmeng knew what her classmate was thinking, she would definitely shrug smugly and say something in a cocky manner.

"I can catch bullets, let alone forks!"

Well, even if Lingmeng actually said something so unrealistic, no one would believe her, right?

After all, Lingmeng is just an ordinary, pretty high school girl no matter how you look at her; catching a bullet with her bare hands is just too much.

However, Lingmeng wasn't exaggerating. As a spirit, even when sealed, catching bullets wouldn't be difficult for her.

Oh well, let's put those self-aggrandizing words aside for now.

At this moment, Tohka and Shido were looking in surprise in the direction from which the fork had flown.

As if mimicking their movements, Lingmeng also looked in that direction.

"Who... who is it! Don't they know it's dangerous to litter?"

Tohka said somewhat angrily because the biscuit she was giving Shido was smashed by a fork that was suddenly thrown at her.

Then, after saying that, she froze when she turned her gaze to that person's face.

Because standing silently in front of the door by the corridor was a girl whose right hand was outstretched, as if she had just thrown something.

There's only one person in the entire Raizen High School who would make that kind of expression.

Without a doubt, that person was none other than the school's proudest super genius— Origami Tobiichi!

Who should we choose for Chapter Six?

(Wow~ As expected of an AST member, their aim is pretty accurate.)

Lingmeng exclaimed in admiration as a dart (fork) was thrown from afar and shattered the origami Origami in Shido's hand.

"Yuan... Tobiichi?"

Shido muttered something in surprise.

Tohka, however, pouted her lips in dissatisfaction, complaining like a pufferfish.

"Why are you suddenly doing this out of the blue? Don't you know it's dangerous?!"

Waving her fists, Tohka looked extremely angry.

But thinking about it, it makes sense—after all, Shido was about to eat the cookies he had worked so hard to make, and then Origami ruined it all, so it's normal for her to be so angry.

"Okay, okay, Tohka, don't be angry. Anyway, no one was hurt. Just bear with it and it will pass."

Lingmeng walked up to Tohka and offered this advice.

Upon hearing Lingmeng's words, Tohka lowered her head slightly, her expression looking somewhat gloomy.

"So... So Lingmeng, you're on Origami's side!? I thought you'd help me..."

Perhaps she was unhappy that Lingmeng spoke up for Origami, Tohka's expression didn't look very good.

To this, Lingmeng simply waved her hand calmly.

"How could that be? Of course I'm on Tohka's side. But if you two start arguing in the classroom, Shido will be in a lot of trouble."

"Um?"

Tohka glanced in Shido's direction, puzzled. Sure enough, Shido was looking quite troubled.

"I see..."

Tohka muttered something to herself, then snorted softly and said to Origami.

"Hmph! For Shido and Lingmeng's sake, I'll let it slide this time. Just don't get in my way, understand?"

"..."

Origami remained silent, only giving Lingmeng a cold, indifferent look.

"Shido, ignore her, just get another one--"

As soon as she finished speaking, Tohka's smile returned to normal, and she was about to ask Shido for another cookie.

"You're the one who's in the way."

With an icy tone, Origami, who had just been standing in the corridor, suddenly rushed over and interrupted Tohka.

"Wow--"

Because Origami suddenly pushed her aside, Tohka, who hadn't reacted yet, lost her balance and began to sway from side to side.

The cookie box she was holding slipped out of her hand.

Cookies flew out of the cookie box in her hand and began to scatter everywhere, while Tohka's body began to lean backward.

"Hey-- Tohka!"

Shido shouted.

Fortunately, Lingmeng ran over and grabbed Tohka, then caught all the scattered cookies in the box.

"Call--"

Seeing that Tohka was alright, Shido breathed a sigh of relief.

"Are you alright, Tohka?"

Lingmeng helped Tohka up and handed her the cookies.

"Um..."

Nodding somewhat bewildered, Tohka stood up and took the box. Then--

"Origami Tobiichi! What exactly do you want?!"

She stormed up to Origami and Tohka.

Origami responded with an indifferent expression.

"I won't let him eat your cookies."

"Why?" ×3

Shido, Lingmeng, Tohka all looked puzzled.

Origami's expression remained unchanged as she pointed to the box in Tohka's hand.

"Your hands weren't clean enough, and you didn't do it thoroughly enough. Furthermore, you choked on the floating flour while cooking, causing you to sneeze three times. That's really unhygienic."

"..."

This is a very logical explanation. If it's really as Origami says, then it is indeed somewhat unhygienic.

But--

If the person sneezing wasn't a burly man, but a stunningly beautiful young woman, then the topic would take a completely different turn.

As soon as Origami finished speaking, almost all the boys in the class turned their attention to the cookies in Tohka's hand.

Not only that, but even Lingmeng was watching them intently, as if mimicking their movements.

(Ugh, if I had known this would happen, I should have just agreed when Tohka offered me the food. Damn it! What a rip-off!)

Thinking this to herself, Lingmeng's expression at that moment was as if she had missed out on a fortune.

Completely oblivious to the gazes coming from the surroundings, Tohka's eyes widened as if she had been ambushed.

Then he clenched his fist tightly.

"Waaah... Shido really strong! I believe he'll be fine!"

"What you're saying clearly lacks logic—besides, you got the ingredient quantities wrong while cooking, so I don't think you followed the recipe correctly."

Tohka frowned.

"Why... why didn't you tell me!"

"I have no obligation to correct your mistakes. In short, only my cookies can satisfy his taste buds."

As she spoke, Origami produced a cookie tin from somewhere and opened it—

Inside were rows of cookies that looked like they were produced by a machine, a stark contrast to the Tohka.

"Here, eat."

With a blank expression, Origami placed the biscuit in front of Shido and said this.

"Ah... this..."

Looking at the cookies in front of him, Shido unconsciously broke out in a cold sweat on his forehead.

Although the cookie does look very tempting to eat, if I were to eat it in front of Tohka, she would probably throw a tantrum.

So, not knowing what to do Shido, Lingmeng with pleading eyes.

Shido instantly understood what Lingmeng was thinking. She had no intention of helping Shido and simply spoke in a joking tone.

What are you looking at me for? I don't have any cookies for you.

"..."

Realizing that Lingmeng wouldn't help him, Shido's face darkened.

"What?! I was here first! Get back to the back!"

Tohka was shocked to see Origami had also taken out cookies.

"It has nothing to do with the order. Shido would definitely prefer mine to yours."

"Hmph! How could anything made by an ice-cold woman like you possibly taste good!"

With lightning speed, Tohka took a cookie from the Origami box and ate it without Tohka thought.

Then--

Tohka, her cheeks flushed with cherry blossom pink, suddenly wore an expression of ecstasy; she looked absolutely delicious.

(Wow, it smells amazing!)