The after-school bell rang, and Yukimura Teruhiko finished organizing his notes and headed to the back door of the classroom. Miyake Akito and Hasebe Haruka also walked over with their bags. In order to integrate this makeshift group as quickly as possible and to gauge the learning progress of the three, the first study session was set at the relatively relaxed Pallet Cafe.
Natsukawa Sosuke packed his things and was just about to get up to join them when a light set of footsteps reached his desk first.
"Natsukawa-kun."
Karuizawa Kei, holding her textbook, stopped by his desk as if she were just passing by casually.
"Are you going to tutor Sakura-san and the others?"
Her voice maintained a normal social volume, but in those slightly narrowed eyes, a hint of emotion was hidden.
"Yeah, after all, I promised everyone," Natsukawa said, stuffing the last book into his bag in a flat tone.
"Is that so? Well, that sounds like hard work."
Karuizawa Kei let out a soft sigh, her body leaning forward slightly as she adjusted her skirt, whispering in a breathy voice only the two of them could hear:
"Even though I really wanted Natsukawa-kun to 'tutor' me too..."
She quickly straightened up, twirled the ends of her hair with her finger, and let her gaze linger on Natsukawa for a moment.
"When you're done... remember to check your phone."
"Got it."
Not far away, Kushida, who was preparing to head to her own study group, seemed to keenly catch the small movement over here.
Watching the two who appeared to be having an ordinary conversation between classmates, she approached with light steps.
"Ara, Natsukawa-kun and Karuizawa-san, what are you chatting about? You look like you're having fun."
However, just as she had taken two steps.
Natsukawa Sosuke suddenly turned his head and shot her a pointed glance.
His gaze was calm, but it allowed Kikyo to read the subtext within.
—'Don't come and cause trouble.'
Receiving this signal, Kushida Kikyo's footsteps paused. Although she felt like watching some drama, she also knew now wasn't the time.
Thus, the smile on her face remained unchanged, and she simply mouthed something hidden to Natsukawa from a distance.
—[Wait. For. Me. To. Night.]
Having done all this, she nodded to Karuizawa as if nothing had happened and turned to join Horikita's group, as if she really had just wanted to come over and say hello.
After parting with Karuizawa, he picked up his bag and walked toward the classroom's back door.
"Sorry to keep you waiting."
Yukimura, Miyake, Hasebe, and Sakura Airi, who had been waiting for some time, were finally assembled into their five-person squad.
The group headed toward the Pallet Cafe.
Along the way, Yukimura and Miyake walked in front discussing their study progress, while Natsukawa walked at the back.
Hasebe Haruka intentionally slowed her pace, falling back a few steps to walk with Sakura Airi just slightly ahead of Natsukawa.
She lowered her voice and said, "Hey, Airi."
"Hmm? What's wrong, Haruka-chan?" Sakura looked at her friend with some confusion.
"Back in the classroom..." Hasebe's gaze flickered behind her, speaking pointedly, "That Karuizawa-san and Natsukawa-kun seem to have a... pretty good relationship?"
"Eh... yeah." Sakura lowered her head, her fingers twisting the hem of her clothes.
"You knew?" Hasebe frowned slightly, observing her friend's expression. "Even though Karuizawa is usually a couple with Hirata-kun, that atmosphere just now... was a bit concerning. Don't you... mind?"
Sakura Airi was silent for a moment, then looked up.
"That... actually, Sōsuke-kun and I... aren't in that kind of relationship yet."
"Huh?" Hasebe was stunned for a moment. "Not a couple? Then why are you so... toward him?"
"As long as I can be by his side, I'm already satisfied," Sakura's voice was soft, yet exceptionally firm. "And... Sōsuke-kun is very good to me, that's enough."
Looking at her friend in this state, Hasebe Haruka only felt a massive headache coming on.
'This child, what kind of love potion has she been given...'
She turned her head and stole a glance at Natsukawa behind her with a complex, somewhat scrutinizing gaze.
Natsukawa Sosuke, being watched, simply shrugged and looked at the scenery with an innocent face, as if he were completely unaware of the girls' private conversation... Pallet Cafe.
It was the after-school rush hour, and the shop was bustling with people. The five of them finally managed to find a large table cobbled together in a corner.
Just as everyone had ordered their drinks and settled in to start studying, the wind chime at the door rang again, followed by a burst of cheerful laughter.
"Wow! There are so many people today!"
"Good thing I had Kobashi come over ahead of time to save seats!"
Ichinose Honami walked in surrounded by a group of girls from Class B, her pink-gold long hair particularly eye-catching in the crowd.
The Class B girls scanned the shop looking for Kobashi Yume who had saved the seats, but unintentionally discovered Natsukawa sitting there.
"Oho! Isn't that the boy from Class D?"
A few girls exchanged glances, teasing smiles appearing on their faces as they leaned in to whisper playfully in Ichinose's ear:
"Honami-chan, this must be fate, right? You run into 'that person' everywhere you go~"
"Don't, don't talk nonsense!" Ichinose Honami's cheeks flushed slightly, and she waved her hands in a bit of a panic, but she still walked over here quite openly.
"Natsukawa-kun, what a coincidence."
"Are you all... having a study session?"
"Yeah, something like that."
"What a coincidence, Ichinose-san."
"Long time no see, Airi-chan!"
Ichinose turned to Sakura Airi again, her tone familiar and kind. "How have you been lately? I saw you working really hard during the Sports Festival!"
"I-Ichinose-san..." Sakura was a bit flustered and quickly stood up to return the greeting. "Long time no see... I, I'm doing well..."
"That's good." Ichinose smiled, then her gaze swept over the others at the table, nodding politely in greeting. "Hello everyone, I'm Ichinose Honami from Class B. I won't disturb your studying, keep it up everyone!"
After saying that, she took another look at Natsukawa before turning back to the Class B circle.
Before long, the sounds of suppressed laughter and teasing from the girls over there drifted over.
This series of interactions made the atmosphere at this table a bit subtle.
Yukimura Teruhiko pushed up his glasses, his brow furrowed. "Natsukawa, your network is quite broad. You even know Ichinose from Class B."
"It's alright, we just happened to get to know each other."
Hasebe Haruka rested her chin on one hand while the other unconsciously stirred the ice in her cup with a straw. Those eyes that always seemed a bit lazy were now slightly narrowed as she studied Natsukawa thoughtfully.
First Karuizawa, then Kushida, and now even Ichinose from Class B is this familiar with him... Most importantly, he's still leading the innocent Airi on!
In Hasebe Haruka's eyes, Natsukawa Sosuke's image became increasingly suspicious.
Is this the legendary 'natural scumbag'? Or is he a high-level player?
"Hey, Natsukawa-kun."
Hasebe suddenly spoke, her tone sounding like she was joking, but her words carried a hidden sting.
"You're unexpectedly popular. Tutoring Airi here while chatting and laughing with Class B's central figure over there, you're quite busy, aren't you?"
Although this sentence didn't explicitly say 'you're a scumbag,' everyone present could hear the hint of irony.
Sakura Airi was a bit flustered. "Haruka-chan! Don't say that..."
Natsukawa Sosuke turned his head and met Hasebe's probing and slightly hostile gaze.
He naturally heard the thorn in her words and understood she was standing up for Sakura.
However... he wasn't angry, and he didn't even have the desire to explain. In this society that values 'reading the air,' since the other party hadn't openly picked a fight, he was happy to play dumb.
"It's alright."
Natsukawa picked up his black tea and took a sip, his expression indifferent, even carrying a faint, indiscernible smile as he followed her lead.
"As long as time management is done well, this level of social interaction is still within manageable limits."
"..."
Hasebe was choked by his 'dead pig that doesn't fear boiling water' attitude.
She had wanted to see Natsukawa flustered or ashamed to verify her suspicions, but she didn't expect him to admit it directly, and even seem a bit proud of it?
This person... has such thick skin.
"Alright, alright."
Natsukawa put down his cup and tapped the table with his finger, forcibly pulling the topic back on track.
"Small talk ends here. Since I'm the 'homeroom teacher' of this group, I have to be responsible for your grades."
He took out some materials from his bag and showed them to everyone.
"This is the key review range I've organized based on your midterm exam papers. Yukimura, Miyake, and Hasebe have the same weaknesses, so you explain this part to them first. Airi, your chemistry is relatively poor, so I'll explain that to you individually later."
He quickly entered work mode, as if that playboy from just now wasn't him at all.
"Tch."
Although Hasebe Haruka still felt a bit uncomfortable, looking at those well-organized materials, she had to admit this guy indeed had some skill.
'Hmph, even if you're capable, it can't cover up your frivolous nature.'
She picked up her pen and, in her mind, labeled Natsukawa as a 'dangerous person who needs to be closely observed.'
'Airi is too innocent, I have to keep an eye on him for her. I absolutely cannot let this bastard have his way so easily!'