Morishita Ai left, and Kaoru sat on the ground, watching as clouds drifted by, casting shifting shadows over the shaded school building and the sunlit track field.
Soon, his gaze naturally landed on Kamuro in the rest area, who was silently sipping from a can of green tea.
"How did it go?" Sakayanagi stopped beside Kaoru, her clear eyes glinting with curiosity.
"You keep saying those things to her every day—how could she possibly handle it?" Kaoru sighed.
Even if Masumi wasn't the jealous or angry type, hearing it constantly would wear anyone down.
"Because I'm not sure what kind of feelings Mitoma-kun has for Kamuro-san." Sakayanagi leaned slightly forward, handing him a juice box.
"I didn't know what you liked, so I got you juice."
The moment Kaoru took the juice, he unconsciously recalled the sweetness of a certain girl, as if her taste still lingered on his lips.
But he quickly snapped out of it, shifting his focus.
"Seriously speaking, we're definitely friends."
"And me?" Sakayanagi sat beside him, legs pressed together, her cane resting at her side.
The distance between them was mere centimeters.
"Probably the kind of feeling where I can't wait to see you in a school swimsuit and then snuggle shamelessly in your arms." Kaoru caught a whiff of her faint fragrance, wondering why all girls smelled so sweet and soft.
Even though she knew he was a pervert, Sakayanagi still made a strange face at his words before breaking into a smile.
"Mitoma-kun can snuggle with me as much as you want right now~" The girl recklessly spread her arms.
"Even if you end up crying, that's fine too~"
Kaoru glanced at her barely-there chest.
This flat-chested loli might actually make a great mom.
But before he could pounce, Sakayanagi suddenly withdrew her arms and instead poked his cheek with a mischievous grin.
"You really are a hopeless pervert, getting tempted by someone as petite as me. How pathetic."
"First of all, I'm not a lolicon. Second, you're cute. And third, I'm not a lolicon—you just happened to be the one tempting me." Kaoru swatted away her teasing hand.
"Truthfully, I prefer girls with a bit more... breast."
Sakayanagi seemed to completely ignore his words, nodding sagely.
"Pervert, foot fetishist, lolicon, two-timer... No wonder Kamuro-san is upset. If it were me, I wouldn't even spare you a glance."
Kaoru's eye twitched.
"Did you come here today just to roast me?"
"I actually don't care about any of that," Sakayanagi Arisu gazed at him deeply.
"What interests me is your heart—the way it restrains your lust. You don't seem inexperienced; you must have gone through a lot. And despite those lecherous eyes of yours, I don't sense any malice in them."
After a brief pause, she added with a faint, ambiguous smile.
"In other words, what exactly is it that you lust for?"
Kaoru fell silent for a moment before replying, "Does lust need a reason now?"
"Of course not. On the contrary, at this age when youthful desires stir, both boys and girls naturally take an interest in the opposite sex," Sakayanagi chuckled.
"The problem is, you seem to be after more than just the physical."
"And what am I after?" Kaoru countered.
Sakayanagi found it amusing.
"Shouldn't that be my question to you?"
"Actually, I don't get it. You know how awkward Kamuro is, so why deliberately provoke her?" Kaoru steered the conversation back to an earlier topic.
"Are you asking about my thoughts on you and them?" Sakayanagi seemed to see right through him, her smile turning suggestive.
"Hmm, I don't know either. It just feels... fun. Spending time like this with you helps pass the dull days, I suppose."
"Your way of killing boredom is rather unique," Kaoru remarked dryly.
"Could it be that Mitoma-kun thinks I'm jealous?" Sakayanagi grew even more delighted.
"I'm not narcissistic enough to assume that."
"Mmm, but I might indulge some of Mitoma-kun's little... preferences. Consider it a reward."
"Can I lie on your lap and have you clean my ears?"
"So direct. You've been wanting this for a while, haven't you?"
"It's a wish of mine."
"Ah, but a wish isn't the same as a reward."
After a while, Sakayanagi suddenly dropped her playful tone and said offhandedly.
"This is just my personal feeling, but I hope you'll pay more attention to Kamuro-san. Right now, she doesn't even understand her own thoughts."
Given Kamuro Masumi personality, even if she fell for a man, it would likely take her a long time to realize it—she might even find her own feelings baffling.
Kaoru remained silent.
The wish he had fulfilled for Kamuro seemed to be just one.
...
Since they had agreed to practice daily, Class A returned to the gymnasium after school to meet with Class D.
Class D's top performers were undeniably skilled, but the problem lay in the many students with poor athletic abilities.
Sudou Ken, acting as their coach, had to rely on his temper to drill them in various events.
With Class A's assistance, he could finally relax a little.
Contrary to expectations, Sudou Ken welcomed Class A's involvement enthusiastically, declaring that he would claim the title of top student and make Horikita Suzune take notice of him.
Kaoru had hoped to practice the three-legged race again with Kamuro, but seeing her occupied with group drills, he gave up.
At that moment, Kushida Kikyo inexplicably latched onto him.
"Hey, Mitoma-kun, do you know any tricks for the three-legged race?"
The girl stood before him with a playful smile, her big chest hidden beneath her short sleeves yet visibly full and bouncy.
As she leaned slightly forward, it seemed as if they were about to burst forth.
Her angelic face was close, her eyes sparkling brilliantly.
Beside her was Mei yu Wang, a petite girl with twin tails, said to be an international student from china.
"Three-legged race?" Kaoru was puzzled, noticing that Karuizawa Kei and Sakayanagi Arisu were subtly glancing in their direction.
"Yes. Though we've been practicing hard these days, it feels like Mei and I just can't sync well. Our best time is only around 36 seconds." Kushida Kikyo sighed in frustration—this result clearly wasn't enough to guarantee first place.
"W-we sometimes fall… It hurts a little," Mei yu Wang added softly.
"That only happened at first! It's much better now," Kushida reassured the younger girl.
"It's all because I didn't consider Mei's feelings enough. I'll definitely be more attentive from now on."
Kaoru Mitoma glanced at Class D's lineup, then back at the two girls before him.
Were they asking him to coach them for the three-legged race?
But… he himself had just taken over a dozen spills today.
How was he supposed to teach them?