"Living together... isn't that a bit too fast?"
Saeko Busujima placed her hands behind her back, her pale, jade-like fingers intertwining as she fidgeted.
She seemed a bit bashful facing Su Yan's suggestion. Even her breathing was slightly heavier than usual, though she couldn't help but feel a flutter of excitement in her heart.
Since Saeko didn't flatly refuse, Su Yan knew she likely agreed—or was even looking forward to it.
She was simply held back by a woman's modesty and reserve, making it difficult for her to say yes.
All she needed was a little push or a plausible excuse to go along with it.
After all, despite her usual dashing and heroic demeanor, Saeko was still just an ordinary girl who had never even been in a relationship.
At most, her combat prowess was just a bit higher than others, and her hobbies were a bit niche.
But there was no rush. He wanted to savor the sight of Saeko's awkward and bashful state for a while longer.
This was a rare and precious sight, after all.
Besides, it was the perfect chance to get some payback for how she had teased him earlier.
The corners of Su Yan's mouth curled into an almost imperceptible smirk as he said playfully, "What's wrong? Are you unwilling, Saeko-senpai? Then let's just forget about it."
"That's not it! I didn't say that! Don't talk nonsense!"
Hearing this, Saeko panicked and hurriedly waved her hands in denial.
"Oh? So Saeko-senpai means she agrees?"
Seeing her so flustered, Su Yan's grin widened as he continued his questioning.
Su Yan could barely hold back his laughter anymore. How could Saeko not see that he was teasing her?
Realizing this helped her regain a bit of composure, and her body gradually relaxed.
Saeko took a soft breath, puffed out her cheeks, and lightly poked Su Yan's chest. "Su Yan-kouhai, you really are a petty man."
She was clearly thinking back to how awkward he had looked just a moment ago because of her words.
"That's right. So, do you still want to move in with me?" Su Yan asked, pressing the issue.
"Of course I do!"
Once she calmed down, Saeko realized the many benefits of moving in with Su Yan.
Not only would it be easier to ask him for guidance on Nen to become stronger...
But simply thinking about living under the same roof as Su Yan filled her heart with an irrepressible sense of joy.
"Good," Su Yan said. "Let's go to your place first. I'll take you back to pack some clothes and essentials."
...
The Spearmanship Club.
While Kendo was a popular hobby in Japan and Fujimi Academy's Kendo Club was the largest organization with the most members...
Spearmanship could be considered quite niche. Even though Fujimi Academy had a Spearmanship Club founded by students interested in the art...
Compared to the current popularity of the Kendo Club, their clubroom was practically deserted, with only a few stray members lingering about.
However, inside that clubroom...
A girl with flaxen hair held a spear with both hands, lunging frantically at the wooden dummy in front of her.
She struck as if the dummy were a sworn enemy she held a deep grudge against.
Fast! Accurate! Relentless!
Every strike landed in the exact same spot.
Had it not been for the danger and the lack of funding for small clubs...
The training equipment used in the club consisted of long staves with a layer of cloth wrapped around one end to represent the spearhead.
Otherwise, the training dummy would have been shredded by the girl's strikes long ago.
"Miyamoto-senpai is really working hard. She's been training for so long and she's still going."
"Yeah, and haven't you noticed? She seems especially intense today. Do you think something happened?"
"I didn't think so at first, but now that you mention it, you're right."
"What do you mean 'maybe'? That dummy is practically falling apart. I bet Miyamoto-senpai went through a breakup."
"I don't think so. I heard Miyamoto-senpai was held back a year because of something that happened."
"So we should start calling her Miyamoto-san, right?"
"..."
The flaxen-haired girl training didn't seem to hear the club members' gossip.
She continued to thrust her spear with focused determination.
If someone leaned in close to her lips, they might have heard her low, barely audible muttering.
'Damn Koichi Shido, damn Takashi Komuro, and that annoying Su Yan!'
With every muttered phrase, she lunged at the dummy again.
Indeed, the flaxen-haired girl was Rei Miyamoto.
Despite having a surname that sounded like she should be a master of the sword, she wasn't a member of the Kendo Club but the Spearmanship Club.
"Miyamoto-san, club activities are over. It's time to head out."
Finally, Rei's training was interrupted by the Spearmanship Club's president.
She snapped back to reality.
'Oh no, is it already this late?'
Rei suddenly remembered that she had forgotten to return Su Yan's lunch box after washing it this afternoon.
She immediately set down her training gear. "Sorry, President. I just remembered I have something urgent to take care of. Can I leave first?"
After getting permission, Rei hurriedly left the clubroom.
'If I remember correctly, Su Yan is a member of the Kendo Club. I wonder if he's left yet.'
Rei muttered to herself as she walked briskly toward the Kendo Club.
Just thinking of Su Yan's annoying face made her stomach churn with irritation.
If she didn't return the lunch box today, who knew how he would annoy her tomorrow.
"Rei, what a coincidence. Want to head back together?"
Suddenly, a familiar voice called out from behind, bringing her to a halt.
Rei turned around, a flash of disgust crossing her eyes.
The one speaking was her childhood friend, Takashi Komuro. He was a member of the Baseball Club, so it wasn't surprising he was still at school.
Rei just couldn't understand how this man could act as if nothing had happened after hurting her so badly.
"Komuro-kun, we aren't close, so could you please stop using my first name? I'm afraid others will misunderstand," the girl replied coldly.
"Huh?"
Takashi froze, scratching his head awkwardly.
He seemed unable to fathom why the childhood friend he grew up with would say such a thing to him.
In Japanese social relations, a sense of boundaries was very important.
Generally, acquaintances addressed each other by their surnames. Only close friends who had received permission could use first names.
As for calling someone 'Miyamoto-san', that was usually for someone you knew but weren't close to.
"Su Yan-kun, wait a moment!"
At that moment, Rei spotted Su Yan leaving with Saeko Busujima. She hurried after them, completely ignoring her former childhood friend behind her.
Watching Rei's decisive back, Takashi opened his mouth to say something to make her stay, but the words wouldn't come.
He just had a faint feeling in his heart that he might have lost this childhood friend forever. A wave of bitterness and heartache washed over him.
This problem was too difficult. How was he supposed to solve it? It wasn't in the books, and the teachers never taught him this.
'I can't solve it... I really can't solve it!'