Swimming class

Most of the girls who came out of the changing room wore standard dark blue one-piece swimsuits, while a few of the bolder ones wore two-piece swimsuits.

It seemed the school had no particularly strict requirements about this. Quite a few boys maintained serious expressions while sneaking peeks out of the corners of their eyes, and the girls looked at them with disgust. In short, everyone wore a different expression.

Ibuki Mio walked toward Natsukawa with an indifferent expression.

Ishizaki said:

"Hey, isn't that Ibuki? She's coming our way. Don't tell me she's here for me, haha."

Komiya retorted:

"How could she be here for you? You two barely even talk! She must be here for Natsukawa! If Ibuki hears you, you're in for it, Ishizaki..."

Ishizaki looked apprehensive as he said:

"She didn't hear that, did she? Shh, keep it down! I'm no good at dealing with someone as icy as Ibuki. Speaking of which, she's pretty good at fighting, isn't she?"

Once Ibuki Mio came closer, she ignored Ishizaki and Komiya and began talking to Natsukawa quite naturally.

"Tch. I wouldn't have guessed you were this well-built."

Natsukawa smiled and said:

"Of course. You've seen the punching bag I use to work out."

Beside them, Ishizaki Daichi laughed nervously to cover his embarrassment and said:

"O-oh, it's you, Ibuki."

After Ibuki swept her icy gaze over Ishizaki Daichi and Komiya, they made an excuse and slunk away.

Natsukawa looked Ibuki Mio over and said:

"Ibuki, you look pretty good like this!"

Affection +1

Ibuki Mio could already interact with Natsukawa as a friend. Calmly rubbing her fists, she pursed her lips and said:

"Natsukawa, it looks like I'll have to come to your dorm sometime and train you! How can you have a good physique and not know how to fight?"

Natsukawa replied:

"Really? You're welcome anytime."

Just as Ibuki Mio faltered, unsure how to respond, the swimming teacher, who had been waiting some distance away for a while, came over to everyone.

At the teacher's signal, the scattered students lined up in formation, and Ibuki took the opportunity to move away from Natsukawa.

He was a middle-aged teacher. After introducing himself, he began explaining the requirements for today's lesson.

"Hello, everyone! I'm your swimming teacher..."

"Over the next month, I'll teach all of you how to swim!..."

"Next, I'll take a count of the students with swimming experience and test them. Boys and girls will be tested separately."

"I'll personally award 5,000 points to whoever comes first in the boys' group and the girls' group! You're all welcome to take part!"

"Those watching can take this opportunity to learn, too! Even if you can't swim, don't be discouraged. I'll do my best to teach you over the next month!"

"All right, start forming your own groups now! Those who are confident in their swimming can go first and set an example for everyone who can't swim!"

Amid cheers, the students scattered.

Clearly, the reward of 5,000 points was quite exciting! Even though none of them knew yet that their monthly private points could change.

Soon, five eager boys began a race.

With his large stash of points, Natsukawa could no longer muster any interest in such a small amount. He would let them take part first.

Natsukawa scanned the area. Ibuki was standing with several girls in another direction, seemingly intending to compete.

Natsukawa headed toward Hiyori, who was sitting alone on a long bench off to one side.

As he passed the area where the girls had gathered, Chuto Rika, who stood nearby, greeted him quietly:

"Hello, Natsukawa."

Natsukawa smiled back and replied:

"Good luck, Zhuteng!"

Chuto Rika nodded happily.

Great! Natsukawa hasn't forgotten me!

Though it bothered me a little that he was just talking to that girl who looks so hard to get along with, Natsukawa still remembers me...

The little group standing with Chuto Rika was Manabe Shiho's trio, and they seemed to get along quite well.

Manabe Shiho was more or less the leader of the four.

No wonder Manabe and the others had stood up for the timid Chuto Rika in the original story.

None of the three wore the school's standard one-piece swimsuit. Each wore something different: yellow, pink, brown...

Class C's gyaru trio consisted of Manabe Shiho, Yabu Lairai, and Yamashita Saki.

The three had a little cunning, but not much.

Ayanokoji had manipulated them quite easily in the original story.

Likewise, violence could keep them under control. None of them dared oppose some of Ryuuen's decisions.

The real nonconformists in Class C were people like Nishino Takeko, who got along poorly with both the boys and the girls. She would also ignore Ryuuen's orders and resist inwardly.

Seeing the friend she had been talking to suddenly strike up a conversation with Natsukawa piqued Manabe Shiho's interest, too.

She did not want to be overshadowed. After all, knowing a handsome boy and being able to talk to him gave a girl considerable standing among the other girls.

Adopting the manner of her little group's leader, Manabe Shiho smiled and addressed Natsukawa:

"Hey, Natsukawa! You're pretty muscular!"

"Want to have a private race once the official swimming test is over?"

Natsukawa glanced over them and answered:

"Not interested! Maybe another time."

Natsukawa then continued on his way to hang out with Hiyori. For now, he was only interested in the top tier.

Yabu Lairai shrank back a little and said quietly:

"Manabe, Natsukawa's eyes are scary!"

Yamashita Saki also hunched over and said cautiously:

"Yeah. I thought so, too. We'd better not mess with him."

Chuto Rika said softly:

"U-um, Natsukawa is actually a really nice person."

Manabe Shiho also felt that, although Natsukawa had merely met her gaze normally, his deep eyes were very intimidating. She was a little afraid, too.

But she could not lose face in front of her followers. Watching Natsukawa's retreating figure, she snorted:

"Tch, he's just some ordinary guy."

"If he had any ability, he'd step up and take on Ryuen Kakeru..."

Shiina Hiyori paid no attention to what others thought and focused only on her books.

As for how Natsukawa knew, it was because he saw that she had actually brought a book even to swimming class. No wonder nobody had invited her to join a swimming group...

When she saw Natsukawa approach, Shiina Hiyori smiled and greeted him:

"Tatsuya, what brings you here?"

Natsukawa sat down beside Hiyori.

"I came to see you, Hiyori."

Ding! Affection +3

"Hiyori, aren't you going swimming?"

Hiyori put down her book and replied with a smile:

"Because I can't swim."

It seemed he held quite an important place in Hiyori's heart. She had actually put down her book.

Hiyori looked very pretty today. Rather than the standard swimsuit, she wore a blue-and-white two-piece swimsuit with frills that accentuated her figure.

Although the areas that needed covering were not overly exposed and were securely covered, this swimsuit made her look even more captivating.

An attached scarf across her chest also covered her upper body, giving her the look of someone on vacation.