Class could indeed be dull, especially when you already understood the material. That dullness became even more pronounced.
Lunch Break.
After finishing his meal, Isshiki Iroha brought Nishimiya Shouko over. Kirigaya Kazuto and Saiki Kusuo exchanged a strange look with Sato before sensibly turning their backs.
Hey! What's with that look?!
Sato twitched at the corner of his mouth and turned to face the two girls who had walked up to him.
"Nohara, what club did you join?"
Isshiki Iroha was bright and lively. Innocent without being fake, her charming face lightly made up, radiating the fresh aura unique to girls her age.
"Light Music Club."
Sato answered, then turned to Nishimiya.
"Nishimiya-san, that Takanashi girl… she hasn't done anything too weird, has she?"
Nishimiya smiled gently and began signing her response.
"Interesting? Well… I guess you could say that."
Sato chuckled from just hearing the club name was enough to know it wasn't exactly "normal."
"What do you guys do in your club?"
Shouko paused, clearly troubled, unsure how to sign that.
She returned to her seat, picked up her notebook and pen, and wrote a few words to show Sato.
"Exorcism rituals and… naps?"
Sato's face turned complicated.
Well, it certainly fit the name Far Eastern Magical Nap Society. They were living up to it, that's for sure.
"Hey, hey! Nohara-kun, aren't you being too cruel?"
"I'm a certified beauty standing right here, and you're only chatting with Nishimiya-san?"
Isshiki Iroha huffed in mock annoyance, casting him a dramatic glare and pouting in frustration.
"Iroha-san, isn't your performance a little much?"
"Face it, pouting doesn't make you look cute at all. You just seem… fake."
"What?! Nohara-kun, that's so mean!"
"For your information, I've been called 'super cute' by other boys! Maybe you're the one with poor taste?"
"No, it's just that they're too shallow to see the real you."
Click!
Boom.
"I swear, Nohara-kun, you're such a classic straight-laced guy. At this rate, you're never going to get a girlfriend."
"No need to worry about my love life, Iroha-san."
After the usual banter, Sato looked at her curiously.
"So, what gossip did you bring today, Iroha?"
Isshiki huffed.
"Do I really look like someone who just spreads gossip?"
"Miss Gossip Queen, you really don't have a clue?"
"Ah! What kind of nickname is that?! Did you come up with it, Nohara?!"
Flustered and annoyed, Isshiki raised her dainty fists and waved them in front of him.
Fwoosh!
"I've decided!"
Isshiki suddenly declared with dramatic determination.
"Huh? What is it?"
Sato and Shouko looked at her curiously. This girl could flip through emotions like an actor, instant transformation on cue.
She turned with a sidelong glance at Sato and announced,
"I've decided to go after Hayama-senpai in Year 2!"
Hayama?
Sato blinked, then remembered.
"Oh, that guy you mentioned before. The star of the soccer team? Handsome, talented, total heartthrob?"
Hayato Hayama - one of the school's most popular and famous guys. He wasn't just good-looking; he had a great personality too. Practically every girl at Private Mixed High adored him.
"Exactly!"
"Well, that's quite the target."
"Good luck, Iroha!"
Isshiki batted her eyelashes at him. Sato blinked back innocently.
"Is there a problem, Iroha-san?"
Iroha puffed up her cheeks, eyes narrowing.
"I said... I'm going to pursue Hayama-senpai!"
"Go for it!" (Ganbare)
Sato gave her a casual thumbs-up.
"Ugh! Are you seriously not reacting to this at all?!"
Sato paused, then asked cautiously,
"Do you… need me to sponsor your pursuit fund or something?"
Pfft!
From the desk ahead, Kirigaya (who had been eavesdropping) couldn't hold back a laugh.
"Ha! Nohara, you're hopeless. You're definitely going to be single forever."
Isshiki, blushing and annoyed, returned to a more serious tone.
She turned to Nishimiya and warned her solemnly:
"Shouko-san, don't let this guy fool you. He's beyond saving!"
Nishimiya's face was flushed pink, she looked incredibly cute.
"Kawaii~!"
Iroha's eyes lit up. She wrapped her arms around Nishimiya's neck and rubbed their cheeks together.
So soft! Such delicate skin!
"Hey, hey! Iroha, watch it—this is getting a little too... PG. Are you a yuri girl now or what?"
"Eww! Gross!"
Iroha gave Sato a look of disgust.
"I'm going after Hayama-senpai, how could I possibly be into girls?!"
"Wait, you're actually serious?"
Sato asked, genuinely surprised.
"Hmph. What? Regretting it now? If you confess right this second, maybe I'll give you a shot."
"Go for it, Iroha! You got this!"
Sato made a face and waved her off perfunctorily.
"Ahhh! Nohara! You're definitely going to be single for life!"
Iroha glared at him, cheeks puffed in anger. Even her modest chest rose and fell with her frustration.
"Instead of getting angry at me, maybe focus on how you'll handle the competition. Didn't you say Hayama has tons of admirers?"
"With your talents and looks, Iroha, you'd probably rank near the bottom, right?"
"Wha...! I've had it! I'm going to bite you!"
Furious, Iroha lunged at Sato, tiny fists flying.
Unbelievable!
I'm this cute, and you say I'm 'bottom tier'?!
Even if she knew Sato was joking, it still stung, and pissed her off!
Sato effortlessly dodged her flailing punches. Then, catching one of her soft little fists, he smiled calmly.
"Iroha-san, you really are as weak as a baby chick."
"You're so weak~."