Pushing away the fuming Iroha, who looked about ready to bite someone, Sato glanced around the classroom and said with a soft chuckle,
"Iroha-san, maybe be a little more mindful of your image?"
Hearing that, Iroha froze slightly. Then, catching the sidelong glances from several nearby students, she realized what had happened.
Perhaps their little scuffle had been too loud, many classmates were now looking over.
"Ahem!"
Iroha coughed lightly and quickly returned to her usual composed self.
"But seriously, that Hayama guy's been super popular all along. Don't tell me he still doesn't have a girlfriend?"
"He doesn't. But I heard he's into someone already."
"Oh? He likes someone? That's a surprise… I mean, for someone so popular to have a one-sided crush."
"What's wrong, Nohara? Jealous?"
Iroha flashed a teasing smile, clearly enjoying the idea of Sato feeling sour.
Sato calmly looked at her.
"I've been meaning to ask you something, Iroha-san."
"Huh? What is it?"
Iroha's heart skipped a beat. She had a bad feeling about this.
"Do you have any childhood friends?"
With a bright smile, Sato asked the question.
Though she wanted to lie and say yes, under Sato's knowing gaze, Iroha felt completely seen through.
"N-no… I don't,"
she muttered dejectedly, her heart wailing inside.
"I do. Quite a few, actually."
Sato replied with a grin.
"Q-quite a few?!"
Iroha looked at him in horror.
"Were you raised in a harem or something?!"
Under the curious stares of Iroha and Nishimiya, Sato gave Iroha a strange look.
"Well… I guess you're not wrong."
"Nani?!"
Even Kirigaya, sitting ahead, turned around with wide eyes. He seemed to have overheard something outrageous.
"Sato, what's going on?"
Kirigaya asked curiously.
Sato chuckled. These guys were really into this kind of stuff, huh?
"It's not that big a deal. Back in elementary school, most of my classmates were girls. There was only one other guy besides me…"
"In fact, even counting the girls, the entire school had only a handful of students."
"So, Iroha-san, anything you'd like to say about your lack of childhood friends?"
Sato turned to her with a smile.
Iroha gritted her teeth, then crossed her arms and scoffed,
"So what? You still don't have a girlfriend."
Sato smiled.
"True enough."
…
After School – Light Music Club
"Yo! Nohara, you're here!"
As Sato opened the door to the Light Music Club, Tainaka Ritsu greeted him cheerfully.
Looking around, he saw the girls already gathered. A long table pieced together from smaller ones was covered with aromatic tea.
"Nohara-kun, I brought cookies today!"
Kotobuki Tsumugi said with a gentle smile, gesturing to the plate of treats.
Feeling slightly awkward, Sato walked over. Watching the girls lounge around so casually gave him a strange sense of unease.
Is this really not just an afternoon tea club?
He took the cup of tea Tsumugi offered with a "thank you" and took a sip.
The rich fragrance filled his mouth, and he couldn't help but say,
"Tsumugi-san, this tea must be pretty expensive, right?"
"Ah, not really,"
Tsumugi replied with a small smile and a tilt of her head.
Classic rich girl response.
"And the cookies. Nohara, they're super good!"
Ritsu said enthusiastically, holding out the plate like a treasure.
"Thanks."
Sato picked up a cookie. One bite and his eyes lit up—crispy, fragrant, and sweet. Delicious.
"So good!"
"Right? Right?! With Tsumugi around, our lives have gotten way more colorful!"
Ritsu said, looking very satisfied.
"Ritsu…"
Akiyama Mio looked at her with a troubled expression.
There's no saving this girl…
But Tsumugi beamed happily.
"Then I'll bring snacks every day from now on!"
"YES! REALLY?!"
Ritsu's eyes sparkled as she shouted in excitement.
"As long as everyone enjoys it,"
Tsumugi replied modestly.
Sato let out a helpless sigh. When his gaze accidentally met Mio's, he noticed that, although still shy, she shared the same helpless look.
These two... one all-in, the other just quietly accepting it. It wasn't their place to say anything more.
Knock knock!
Suddenly, there was a knock at the clubroom door.
The room fell silent. Everyone looked at each other.
"Could it… could it be another new member?!"
Ritsu said, clearly excited.
"Maybe,"
Sato replied.
"Alright then! Vice President, go welcome them!"
Before Sato could react, Ritsu patted him on the shoulder and pushed him toward the door like a proud manager.
Wait, Vice President? Me? Since when?!
Bewildered, Sato stumbled a few steps toward the door.
"Go, Nohara!"
"I'm not a Pokémon, geez…"
Sato muttered, shaking his head but still walking to the door. He couldn't just leave someone waiting.
When he opened it, the person outside surprised him.
"Hiratsuka-sensei?"
Sato stared at the visitor in shock. Then his eyes shifted to the cold, expressionless girl beside her.
Her?
The girl had a strikingly refined face. Her gaze was calm and distant like moonlight. With a cold demeanor that kept people at arm's length, she gave him a brief glance.
"Huh? Nohara-kun, you're here too?"
The beautiful teacher at the front looked surprised to see him. She peeked into the room and spotted the girls waiting expectantly inside.
Hiratsuka Shizuka's face shifted, and she gave Sato a look filled with meaning.
"Good one, kid."
Sato's mouth twitched.
What does that even mean, ma'am?
"Eh? That looks like a teacher…"
"Why would a teacher be here? Ritsu, did you forget to turn something in again?"
"Eh? No way… let me think…"
Inside, the girls began speculating nervously. Sato paused for a moment, then stepped aside to let them in.