want to avoid such a situation here.

“I’m really sorry, but I want to talk with Miss Himeji Mizuki, not you.”

Takashiro-sempai intends to ignore my existence, and immediately heads off to Himeji-san.

“Is that so? I’ll pass on your words to her then.”

At this moment, I got right between them to prevent sempai from moving.

“I want the two of us to talk together. Can you please move aside for now?”

“I understand now. Himeji-san said ‘please wait for me in the incinerator. I’ll go over there once I find a matchstick or a lighter’.”

“My Miss Mizuki won’t say such a thing..!”

“WHAT DO YOU MEAN BY ‘MY’ HERE..!”

Sempai continues to use his footwork and feints to get past me, and I try my best to block his body. Our battle’s like a one vs one duel in basketball or soccer here.

After a little struggle, we both stop at the same time, and our shoulders are heaving as we pant.

“Haa..haa..you’ll be hated if you’re too annoying, sempai.”

Himeji-san now doesn’t look like she likes Takashiro-sempai, but it’s best to agitate him now.

“Annoying? Being hated? What are you saying, Yoshii Akihisa-kun?”

In response to my words, Takashiro-sempai seems rather surprised as he shrugs his shoulders.

“What’s there to be hated in this enthusiasm from my overflow of love here?”

“Everyone normally call such a person a ‘stalker’.”

He probably doesn’t realize it himself.

“..The enthusiasm from the overwhelming love..I can understand this.”

“Kirishima-san!? You mustn’t understand such a thing—I want to say this, but I think that you two have similar thoughts here!”

Kirishima-san nods away as she looks at us.

“Yep. It’s just like what the second year valedictorian said. Enthusiasm is an outstanding weapon. Nobody’s unhappy about being confessed to by the opposite gender, I suppose? I believe these feelings will be accepted by her one day.”

“If this sort of thinking is correct, I believe there won’t be a thing called unrequited love here!”

And the term ‘stalker’ most probably won’t appear.

“But Yoshii Akihisa-kun. Please calm down and think. Since the second and third years valedictorian have the same view, the answer should be obvious, right?”

Wha-what’s going on..? I should be the correct side, but I’m being attacked by this weird logic. Is-is there anything I can use to argue back?”

“Speaking of which, the girl I’ve been concerned with recently seems to be tailed by a stalker recently.”

“Is that so? That’s really scary. I think I shall strengthen the security around her because I’m worried.”

“I’ll do this too. I better watch around her house for her sake.”

“Right! You see this, sempai? What you described and what these F class people plan to do is basically the same thing! This sort of thinking is definitely wrong!”

“No, they’ll be the only ones who’ll be viewed as disgusting stalkers.”

“YOU’RE BEING TOO OVERBOARD HERE!”

Because of Takashiro-sempai’s words, killing intent immediately erupted everywhere in this classroom. The difference in thought process between us and this upperclassman is probably so deep that nothing can bury it anymore..well, leaving aside what those three look like, they’re basically doing what stalkers do, so it’s necessary to report them to the police later.

“Do you understand, Yoshii Akihisa-kun? Even if there’s nothing special about it, she’ll be happy if I devote all my time to interact with her, right?”

“What are you saying!? Kirishima-san’s enthusiasm to snap Yuuji’s neck forcefully is because of her heart as a young cute maiden, but what you’re doing is a crime here!”

I think I just heard Yuuji’s voice, but I just have to ignore it now.

Just when I’m feeling that Kirishima-san will probably be angry at this, I glance aside at her,

“..”

But she has her hand at her lips, seemingly thinking about something.

“What is it, Kirishima-san?”

“..Hm.”

Kirishima-san nods slightly as she answers me.

“..I was just thinking. If what sempai said was true, why did Yuuji not express his love to me..?”

Kirishima-san is in deep thought. In what aspect is she thinking of here?

Hmmm..there are all sorts of reasons here..

“That’s definitely because—”

Just when I want to explain,

“Anyway, Miss Mizuki, can I have some of your time?”

Takashiro-sempai approaches Himeji-san during this pause. Damn it, this guy’s really annoying..!

“Ahh, that’s enough! Please behave and leave Himeji-san!”

I got in front of Himeji-san and face Takashiro-sempai.

“I’m talking to Miss Mizuki here. Please don’t get in our way.”

Takashiro-sempai intends to avoid me as he approaches Himeji-san.

“Sorry, but there’s nothing I want to talk about with Takashiro-sempai..”

And Himeji-san firmly refuses him even though she looks really scared. What’s going on? For some reason, I feel that this is the first time Himeji-san’s avoiding someone like this.

In response to her rejection, Takashiro-sempai places his hand in front of his chest, and loudly proclaims with a serious look.

“Miss Mizuki, you are mistaken about me. I don’t have any intent of harming here. I just want to tell you a piece of good news.”

“What? The good news is..”

“Yes. There’s a chance that the mentioned thing beforehand can be cancelled.

“Re-really?”

Upon hearing Takashiro-sempai’s words, Himeji-san appears from behind me. Takashiro-sempai then looks really happy as he sees her approach him, and says,

“I lied.”

At that moment, Himeji-san’s face became gloomy.

“That’s too much, Takashiro-sempai..this lie is too much..”

“I'm really sorry, but I guess this is the only way I get to talk with you.”

Takashiro-sempai apologizes with a sincere look, but is he really feeling sorry? It really seems suspicious because of that smile before this.

“Miss Himeji Mizuki, please don’t make such a sad face. Your distressed look is really the scariest form of torture to me..”

“Please don’t lie to me anymore. You’ll just bully me, Takashiro-sempai. It was the same for just now. We finally managed to get the chance to get A class’ facilities..”

“These things are done for your sake, Miss Himeji Mizuki.”

Takashiro-sempai said something weird. We’re getting A class facilities for her sake, so why is it that this interference is considered helping her?

“It’ll take some time, but I believe you will trust me one of these days. The same goes for the issue about the sister school—”

“P-PLEASE DON’T TALK ABOUT THAT HERE!”

Himeji-san suddenly exclaimed loudly, and I inadvertently widen my eyes.

“But that thing will soon..”

“Even so, now’s not the time to talk about this, right?”

Himeji-san is really angry here, and her face is flushed red. Wha-what’s going on? Why is Himeji-san feeling so stressed here?

“Miss Himeji Mizuki, please calm down and listen to me.”

“No! Please return back.”

Even as Takashiro-sempai tries to calm Himeji-san down, Himeji-san won’t give him room to talk. I suppose Takashiro-sempai can’t continue on like this now.

“..I understand. I’ll take my leave today, Miss Mizuki, and I do sincerely apologize for making you unhappy.”

He says as he lowers his head deeply. It seems that he’s really sorry for angering Himeji-san.

And then, he lifts his head, and holds Himeji-san by the hands.

“I can’t really call it an apology, but may I know if you can have a meal with me next time—”

“Himeji-san’s not willing at all, Takashiro-sempai, so can you please head back now?”

I grab his hand from aside viciously.

“..Yoshii Akihisa-kun, can you please let go?”

“I refuse.”

At that moment alone, I feel that he’s showing a different expression, a hard glare.

“..Humph..”

After that, Takashiro-sempai glares at me with a cold expression.

“Is there anything?”

I was incensed by those eyes, and subconsciously increase the harshness in my voice.

“No, it’s just that I have a few thoughts after seeing your actions.”

“Thoughts?”

“Yes. I’m thinking that since you have the time to get in my way, how about you spend the time reflecting?”

Takashiro-sempai says this as he shakes off my hand in an effortless and smart manner.

“So, what do you want to say?”

Anyway, since he has already let go of Himeji-san’s hand, I retract my own.

It seems that Takashiro-sempai’s telling off a student with bad grades as he continues.

“A long time, I saw how noble you were during the summoning tournament of the Cool Summer Festival. You were completely different from the rumors back then. You looked like a student that could be an outstanding student.”

Speaking of the Cool Summer Festival, it would be the battle I had with the Toko-Natsu pair. I’m not too sure what he’s trying to get at, but it’s not a bad feeling to be praised.

“No, it’s not that much, actually.”

“But after that, you never changed at all. It’s like you never matured at all.”

Looks like I was convinced too early..

“I-I did mature a little.”

“Do you feel your grades are good enough for A class?”

“..”

I can’t argue back at all.

“This is what I want to say. You say that you want to get A class facilities, but you’re not studying hard. You’re not working hard at all.”

This criticism pierce into my chest sharply.

And then, Takashiro-sempai takes a deep breath.

“How much meaningless time did you spend after that?”

He shows me an expression of wanting to knock me out, and says that to me decisively.

“Pardon me, but it seems that I delayed everyone quite a bit. See you for now. And Miss Himeji Mizuki, let’s meet again when you’re free.”

Takashiro-sempai raises his hand to bid farewell to Himeji-san, and then,

“Yoshii Akihisa-kun, a man being jealous is not cute at all.”

The last line was said to be deliberately just loud enough for me to hear, and then, he leaves the classroom.

“..”

I got hit in one vital point after another, and I can’t even groan.

I never matured. I never worked hard. Right, that’s how it was.

But even so—

“ARGH—! THAT’S ENOUGH! THOSE DIGS AT ME ARE REALLY FRUSTRATING!”

“““!!!??”””

My outburst shocks Hideyoshi, Muttsurini and the others standing near me.

“What’s the matter, Aki? Just let him say what he wants.”

“Yeah, and it’s a matter of fact that you haven’t matured at all up till now.”

“You think so too!? Do you think that I never matured at all!?”

“Are you an idiot..I knew this before that guy did. We’re..friends, right?”

“I CAN’T SEE ANYTHING THAT CONFIRMS THAT WE’RE FRIENDS HERE!!!”

ARGH! THAT’S ENOUGH! IT’S REALLY FRUSTRATING!

“Anyway, calm down for now. Now’s not the time for idle chit-chat, right?”

Muu..I don’t find it idle, but there’s something more important than my pride here, just like what Yuuji said.

“Are you alright, Himeji-san?”

“Eh? Ah, yes.”

Once Takashiro-sempai left, Himeji-san’s angry expression disappeared, and she’s now looking gloomy.

“Then, there’s nothing troubling you, right?”

“It-it’s fine! I’m really alright!”

Himeji-san says this, but she’s obviously lying. There’s probably something she’s hiding in her conversation with Takashiro-sempai just now.

“Anyway, the summoning war’s cancelled. Let’s head back for now.”

“Right. Oi everyone! Let’s go back!”

Yuuji’s command cause everyone to leave A classroom slowly.

“..”

On the way back, I suddenly thought of something.

Takashiro-sempai knows the thing Himeji-san’s hiding from us. This really makes my heart uneasy.