"I refuse!"
"N-Nani?!" Nekomi took a few steps back, a dumbfounded expression on her face. "Wait, what am I saying?"
She shook her head and walked up to him, taking a more aggressive behavior. "And why would you want to refuse?! Don't guys like you want to uncover mysteries and get close to pretty girls like me?"
"Heh," Zenkichi looked at her with a smug expression, fully facing her and crossed his arms. "Unfortunately for you, I'm not like any other guy."
"Saying that, just makes you any other guy," Nekomi snorted and looked thoughtful, pondering her next move. "Alright, I'll take the easy road and just straight up ask you—what'd you want?"
"I wanna know the real reason why you want me to be your successor."
"..." She looked at him silently for a while.
Her lips curled into a mischievous smirk and she leaned closer to him, face to face, just an inch apart.
"Because~ I~ Like~ You~"
Zenkichi's eyes widened.
Not because of the sudden confession, which he figured was a lie or simple teasing. But because she didn't put any effort in saying it quietly!
The entire class heard it.
A wave of silence swept over the classroom, followed immediately by an explosion of whispers.
"Wait, what?!"
"Nekomi-senpai just confessed?!"
"To Hitoyoshi?!"
"No way, the Foul King is going after the student council president's guy?! Is she seeking death!?"
'Ohohoho!!' Shiranui nearly dropped her bag of chips, eyes sparkling with pure glee as she watched the drama unfold.
'This girl...' His eyebrows twitched. He could practically feel the gazes of everyone looking at him with multitude of expressions: shock, jealousy, excitement, and curiosity.
But what was more irritating was that annoying, smug, amused expression on Nekomi's face.
'Ah. This is so fun!' Nekomi thought, barely holding back a laugh as she watched Zenkichi's visible irritation.
Zenkichi let out a long, tired sigh and rubbed the back of his head.
"Look, I appreciate the offer, but I'm not interested in joining the Judo club right now. And I'm already seeing someone."
Nekomi tilted her head, still smiling innocently.
"Oh? But I heard you and the Student Council President aren't officially dating or anything. So technically, you're still available, right?"
The whispers in the classroom grew louder.
Zenkichi's eye twitched.
He opened his mouth to say something.
Bang!
"Zenkichi!" The window behind Zenkichi shattered and a familiar figure busted through, somersaulting into the classroom and posed flawlessly.
"I-Itami?" Zenkichi stuttered in disbelief, the others stared dumbfoundedly at her. Some even pulled out their phones to take a pic.
It wasn't like seeing someone busting through the school window was an everyday occurrence!
"Yo! Zenkichi, it's been a while!" Itami turned to him with sweet smile, hands behind her back.
"O-Oh. Itami, it's good to see you again." Zenkichi warmly returned her greeting with a soft smile. Although it was a surprise to see her all of a sudden, it was great to see her again.
After all, she was his first. Medaka holds an important part in his heart, but Itami also holds a significant part that equalled hers that took years of germinating.
Itami didn't hesitate to take a seat on his legs and planted her soft lips on his briefly before quickly pulling back, her face beet-red but she wasn't shy.
The look around she gave told everyone that she was staking her claim.
And everyone went crazy.
"W-Who the fuck is that?! And why is she kinda bad tho?!"
"Is she a student? She isn't wearing a uniform... But she looks kinda familiar..."
"Hitoyoshi! You bastard! You weren't satisfied with Kurokami, Shiranui, and Nabeshima you even went for a hottie like her?! How envious!"
"Should we get a teacher or something? Cause she did break a window and she isn't wearing a school uniform..."
"Fuck that. Do you see those legs? Damn. I want my head wrapped around dem thighs."
'This girl... She's from class 13!' Nekomi tuned out the background characters and wracked her brain for information about the mysterious girl. She quickly figured out her identity.
Itami Koga, a second year student of class 13. A student that had once made a name for herself when she tried out numerous sports clubs and martial arts clubs, but had disappeared halfway through the school year.
But it wasn't a strange matter, considering she was from class 13. The same class as the demon girl, the current student council president, Medaka Kurokami.
Class 13 is the most mysterious and strange class with the information of its students are kept tightly confidential from the outside world. Only through by knowing one of its students personally could one learn about the others, but that was only a small possibility since they either don't care about their classmates or they haven't been attending school except for taking the annual exams.
Exemption of attendance was one of many benefits of being part of class 13.
'What's someone like her doing here? Why is she so close with Hitoyoshi? Could they be dating? But then, what's his relationship with Kurokami? This is all confusing!' Nekomi was utterly confused by the sudden turn of the situation.
But she wasn't an ordinary person.
"Well, this is a surprise. I didn't know Hitoyoshi knew someone like you. Itami Koga, yes?" Nekomi calmly stepped forward, her cat-like smile unfading.
"Huh? That's right. And you are?" Itami turned her head toward Nekomi, still sitting comfortably on Zenkichi's lap with one arm draped around his neck.
She narrowed her eyes at her, feeling a sense of crises rise within her when she looked at Nekomi.
'Who's this ho?'
"Nekomi Nabeshima. Judo Club captain," Nekomi replied smoothly, tilting her head. "I was just trying to recruit him. Seems like I'm not the only one interested in him today."
"Oh? And what do you mean by that? I hope you're not trying to steal my boyfriend from me," Itami smiled sweetly, emphasizing heavily on the word "boyfriend" to loudly proclaim her relationship with Zenkichi.
Zenkichi slowly turned to stare at her.
Nekomi stared at her.
Everyone else stared at her.
Even the readers are staring at her.
Everything went silent for a moment as everyone processed what she had said.
"Ooooohhh!!"
The classroom was in absolute chaos. Whispers had turned into open chatter, phones were out, and several students looked like they were witnessing the drama of the century.
Shiranui was grinning ear to ear, happily recording everything on her phone while munching chips.
'Oh Nyx, this is turning into a nightmare!' Zenkichi's expression darkened. If this situation deteriorates into the worst situation, forget school, the entire city would soon come to learn about his messy relationships.
It would've been fine if his relationship with Itami and others was exposed, he was man enough to accept accountability and transparency. He was, however, afraid at the likelihood of his "endeavors" being exposed and be heard by his mom.
It was a slight chance, but no one should ever underestimate the power of drama seekers. There are people who lived for the sake of drama and dirty secrets.
Seriously, it was worrying how much Zenkichi had managed to gather about certain people through just hearing gossips in the cafeteria.
Hell, he even heard about someone bagging their friend's mom in revenge for something and that friend was also bagging his mom to get back at him, which ended in a strange foursome!
If Hitomi were to know about Zenkichi's degeneracy....
That was a woman who could bring someone back to full health even if they were just at their last breath.
Zenkichi knew that she wouldn't lay a hand on him, he was her precious only child after all, but he couldn't predict her reaction. Physical abuse would've been a better option but...
He was many things. A momma's boy? Yes, he is. And seeing her look at him in disappointment would be heartbreaking for him.
'I gotta do something!'
However, just as Zenkichi was about to do something, the classroom door opened up.
"Zenkichi, come with me for a sec."
Medaka had arrived!
Though, not alone apparently. As Youka could be seen behind her with her wrist held tightly by Medaka. Through the wrappings around her face and limited visible facial features, her eye and mouth displayed resigned frustration.
Clearly, she didn't want to follow her voluntarily. Unfortunately, Medaka recognized her and easily subdued her.
At her sudden entrance, Zenkichi's eyes constricted.
'I have to say something!'
Because if he didn't, then all hell would break loose.
At that moment, time seemed to grind to a halt as Zenkichi's brain began to fire on all cylinders, sifting through infinte options and outcomes in search of a path through which to escape certain destruction!
'Steel is my body... Fire is my blood...'
Wait no! Wrong series!
'Lust is my strength.... Ecstasy flows through my blud...!! The delulu cannot hold me down!'
[Skill: Rot of the Mind - Activated!]
And almost in an instant, Zenkichi changing expression turned serene.
It was as if he achieved zen.
"..." Without saying a word, he carried Itami in his arms and started walking out of the classroom. The moment he entered the hallway, he completely booked it!
When cornered and at your wits end, just run!
"...Where's he going?" Nekomi turned to Medaka in disbelief.
"Who knows." Medaka shrugged and without explaining further, she sharply turned to follow after Zenkichi while still clutching Youka's wrist.
"...."
There was an awkward silence.
Unbeknownst to many, a couple of students had mysteriously disappeared from the crowd.
'Killing intent?!' Shiranui's eyes constricted for a moment. She harshly bit on her chip, her face dark.
'So troublesome.' Without anyone noticing, she stepped on her shadow and disappeared.
"Meow~"
"Hey Kuro," Amidst the confusion, Nekomi sat on Zenkichi's seat and a small black cat sat on her lap, purring as she gave it loving pats. "what did you find out, hmm~?"
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AN: I'm so sorry for the late update. I was just swamped with lots of shit to do 😭
Again, shit won't be going anywhere or undergoing hiatus or dropped unless I say so! Heck, Devil's Luck is still ongoing(it's slow in progress) in my patreon until it reaches a certain amount before I release it in public again.
Unless it undergoes a rewrite, this story ain't going under.
Alright, see y'all in a while!