Unexpectedly, less than three minutes later...
A message arrived on Natsukawa's other account, his personal account.
It was from Ichinose Honami.
Huh? Could she really be smart enough to realize it was me?
Could it be that, apart from her classmates, I'm the only one who knows her social media account at this point?
Did she guess I was the mysterious person from that alone?
This is a little awkward, but I could probably talk my way out of it! Maybe one of her classmates gave her account details to someone else.
No, no! If she's figured it out, I won't make excuses. It's not like I'm short of those few points. After all, Honami is one of my key conquest targets, too, a top-tier candidate for my harem. It's only natural to show her a little care.
〔Hehe, Natsukawa, are you asleep?〕
〔Ichinose, did you need something? I just finished getting ready for bed. I'm still awake.〕
〔Sorry to bother you! But I just discovered some very interesting information.〕
Awkward. Looks like I'll have to come clean.
Clever little Honami.
〔Ichinose, I was wrong. I shouldn't have toyed with our friendship. Emoji: repenting.jpg〕
Just as Natsukawa sent his message, Ichinose's arrived at the same time.
Unexpectedly, what Ichinose sent was nothing like what Natsukawa had imagined.
〔Natsukawa, since you're also a first-year in my year, this information should be very useful to you, too! 1... (The information mentioned in Natsukawa's electronic contract.)〕
〔Huh? What were you wrong about? Oh, I know. Did you forget what we talked about that day and not ask me out for karaoke these past two days?〕
〔It's really fine. I've been pretty busy getting to know my classmates these past two days, too. We clearly agreed we'd go when we had time, so I should have been the one to invite you!〕
〔You don't need to apologize, Natsukawa. We were each other's first friends here! Then it's settled! Let's go sing karaoke this weekend! Hehe!〕
...So she was sharing information. Isn't this useful information for gaining an advantage?
Natsukawa: Ichinose, seriously, I'm crying.
〔Ichinose, thank you for the information. You must have paid a hefty price to get it, right? Emoji: puzzled.dip.〕
〔I really didn't pay much! Don't worry about it, Natsukawa!〕
Ah, this is unexpectedly touching! Especially since I know the truth.
〔All right! It's happily settled, then! You can't stand me up this weekend, Natsukawa!〕
〔I'll remember!〕
After chatting with Honami for a while and ending their conversation...
Before long, it was around eleven at night.
By then, most students had returned to their dorms to rest. Only a handful of students returning from outings were walking along the streets.
Natsukawa took the elevator downstairs again and headed near the second convenience store indicated by the system intelligence.
He began his plan for a "chance encounter"!
Soon, Natsukawa spotted a figure entering the convenience store and followed her inside.
Ding! Target detected: Kamuro Masumi Academic ability: A Physical ability: B Affability: C Intelligence: B Judgment: B
Long, wine-purple hair, a very short white pleated skirt, and long, slender legs-even the sight of her from behind alone could keep him entertained for a year.
In front of a row of shelves, Kamuro Masumi suddenly turned around. Natsukawa pretended to be looking down at his phone as he walked past her without giving her another glance.
Kamuro Masumi also pretended to be browsing normally and paid Natsukawa no attention.
Kamuro Masumi: Why is there another student here at this hour? There shouldn't be. I've scoped this place out so many times.
Still, it should be fine, right? He's just an ordinary guy who's only interested in his phone and doesn't pay attention to his surroundings!
Class is so boring, with those two factions fighting over leadership. Hehe, finding thrills my own way is much more interesting!
Natsukawa disappeared around the corner of the shelves, but in reality, he was keeping track of Kamuro Masumi's movements through skillful means.
Kamuro Masumi likewise kept casting wandering glances around. A moment later, she entered an aisle stocked with various drinks.
Kamuro Masumi began wandering aimlessly in front of the shelves, choosing products, while actually surveying her surroundings with furtive eyes.
Kamuro Masumi: There's nobody around, and there aren't any security cameras overhead, either. I'm starting to feel a little excited!
She waited a long time.
Seemingly satisfied that no one was around, Kamuro Masumi quickly slipped a bottle of beer into her schoolbag.
Kamuro Masumi: Done!
Well, as easy as ever!
Natsukawa recorded all of it on his phone.
In Sakurajima, secretly filming girls was a serious offense. Of course, if a crime was involved, that was another matter.
Besides, Natsukawa had filmed the scene as a keepsake. This was the wonderful beginning of their acquaintance, after all. He believed it would be very interesting to show it to her once he had won her over!
Having just committed a theft, Kamuro Masumi showed no change in expression. She casually bought a snack and left the convenience store.
Inside, Kamuro Masumi was extremely nervous and excited:
I got it out! Nobody noticed!
Kamuro Masumi strolled idly along a deserted, tree-shaded path. Only when she was about to return to the dorm building did Natsukawa call out to stop her.
Natsukawa stepped directly into Kamuro Masumi's path and asked:
"What were you doing in the convenience store just now?"
"Me?"
When Natsukawa nodded in confirmation, Kamuro looked visibly disgusted and asked in confusion:
"What do you want?"
"You did something in the convenience store just now, didn't you?"
Kamuro let out a heavy breath and said with even greater impatience:
"Huh? That's none of your business!"
"No, I'm just a little curious."
"Even if you're curious, I have no obligation to tell you. Move!"
Kamuro clearly had excellent composure, snapping directly at Natsukawa in front of her.
Quite an imposing attitude. Just what you'd expect from a Class A student.
Natsukawa spoke in a tone of feigned suspicion:
"I'm Natsukawa Tatsuya from Class 1-C. You were stealing just now, weren't you? How can you still act so justified?"
"Don't be ridiculous. What proof do you have? Without any, I could report you for slander!"
"You stole beer, right? I saw you!"
"Huh?"
Kamuro Masumi said disdainfully:
"If any random verbal claim counted as evidence, the police wouldn't have to work so hard."
Natsukawa took out his phone and showed her the video he had recorded.
Kamuro Masumi: Th-this... He really filmed me! And I thought he was an honest guy!
"What a creep, secretly filming girls! You're awful!"
Faced with reality, Kamuro Masumi turned her head aside and spoke with undisguised disgust:
"Tch!"
"What do you want to do? Report me to the school? Do whatever you like."
"Really?"
Natsukawa asked in puzzlement:
"Wouldn't that affect your standing in class? Come to think of it, I still don't know your name!"
Kamuro Masumi said forcefully:
"I have no obligation to tell you!"
Yet, right after saying that, she answered anyway.
"Class 1-A, Kamuro Masumi."
Kamuro Masumi said irritably:
"What does my standing in class have to do with you?"
"True, it has nothing to do with me."
Natsukawa nodded and countered:
"But I think a normal person should at least try a little harder. Maybe there's still hope of salvaging things, right, Masumi?"
"Already calling me by my first name? You really are shameless."
Natsukawa said with a smile:
"Masumi, you wouldn't want anyone else finding out that you stole something, would you?"
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