In Class D, when it came to looks and figure, Kikyo Kushida might not have been the absolute best. But she possessed a unique charm—a subtle quality that was a mix of girlish innocence and feminine allure, making her the unanimously acknowledged sexiest girl in the class. When she talked to boys, her unguarded, innocent expression—the slight tilt of her head, her natural smile—was more captivating than any deliberate attempt at seduction. She didn't even have to strike a pose; she just naturally showcased her youthful curves, and that innate sexiness made the boys of Class D sigh in unison in their hearts: Kushida-san, you're playing on easy mode.
Kiyomizu sat on the edge of the pool, silently watching as Kushida was surrounded by a crowd of adoring boys. She was currently brushing back her wet hair, water droplets trickling down her neck and into the hollow of her collarbone, causing a restrained stir among the boys.
(What a skilled performance...)
He remembered how at the beginning of the school year, Yamauchi and his group had followed Haruka Hasebe around like puppies. Now, they were all Kushida's loyal followers. This seemingly cheerful and sunny girl was clearly much smarter than she appeared. She knew how to use an aloof gaze and perfectly timed physical contact to make the boys willingly flock around her.
Kiyomizu narrowed his eyes, his memory flashing back to his college days. Weren't those girls in the next major, the ones who were experts at "keeping fish on the hook," just like this? His roommate had been played for a fool, even saving his meal money to buy gifts for one of them.
Kikyo Kushida, however, was clearly not a so-called "sea queen." At least, as far as Kiyomizu knew, she had never accepted any gifts or points from any male student. On the contrary, she often bought snacks with her own points and enthusiastically shared them with the class. She was determined to be friends with everyone in the class. If she were truly a calculating woman, she would probably only be interested in the wealthy second-generation kids.
What Kushida truly craved was the attention of her classmates. She longed to be looked at with admiration and awe. Kiyomizu remembered once seeing Kushida crouching in a corner of the classroom, patiently teaching the somewhat introverted Mii-chan how to fold paper cranes. The light in her eyes then was much more genuine than it was now, surrounded by boys.
In the end, all she craved was the sincere attention and recognition of others. This kind of adolescent vanity actually made her seem somewhat cute to Kiyomizu. Compared to the materialistic gold diggers, Kushida's "little tricks" were as pure as an act in a high school drama. Her skill level was just too low.
...
Following her, Suzune Horikita walked over with brisk steps. Although not as curvaceous as Kushida, the form-fitting fabric of her swimsuit clearly outlined her elegant figure—a slender but not skinny waist, a well-proportioned bust, and toned legs shaped by long-term training. Kiyomizu's gaze also lingered on Horikita for a few extra seconds. After all, he had learned her three measurements—79/54/79—from the intelligence system on the second day of school. He still couldn't understand why Yamauchi always described her as "slender." This was clearly a well-proportioned body shaped by rigorous training. Every curve was just right, retaining a girlish slimness while hinting at a restrained strength.
As he was thinking, Horikita walked straight towards him. Her sharp gaze unabashedly swept over his well-defined upper body, and her cool eyes narrowed slightly, as if with professional scrutiny. "Your muscle definition is very well-proportioned," she said, getting straight to the point. "What kind of training do you do?"
"Just the basics," Kiyomizu repeated his usual line. "100 push-ups, 100 sit-ups, 100 squats, and a 10-kilometer run every day."
Horikita's eyebrow twitched almost imperceptibly. "I wouldn't have thought you'd be so strict with yourself."
"It's just the basic requirement to maintain physical function," he said, rolling his shoulders. "Moderate exercise keeps the body and mind in optimal condition."
"Is that so?" Horikita's gaze lingered on his tensed back muscles for a moment. "My training volume doesn't reach your level. I just stick to a morning run and basic conditioning exercises."
Kiyomizu noticed the girl unconsciously straighten her back as she spoke. "You manage your figure very well, Horikita-san. Your physical condition is probably the best among the girls in our class."
Her eyes narrowed at his words. "Oh? And the premise for this conclusion is... that you've carefully examined the 'physical condition' of all the girls in the class? That doesn't seem to fit your character."
Kiyomizu shrugged, a frank smile on his lips. "I'm a healthy high school boy, after all. It's natural to have some instinctual curiosity. It's perfectly normal for teenage boys and girls to be curious about the opposite sex."
"By the way, what kind of image do you have of me in your mind?" he asked, keenly catching the odd tone in her words.
Suzune Horikita turned her head slightly. "...I just think you're somewhat similar to a certain person."
"Wait a minute," Kiyomizu had a bold guess. "You're not comparing me to your brother, are you?"
The girl's shoulders tensed almost imperceptibly. This reaction confirmed Kiyomizu's suspicion. After all, given Horikita's social circle, there was no one else she could be comparing him to besides her brother.
"Horikita-san," he took half a step back, a hint of amused resignation in his voice, "I didn't realize you held me in such high regard." Manabu Horikita was already the leader of Third-Year Class A and the student council president who stood at the top of the entire school. He was arguably the number one student at present, hailed by all the teachers as "the most outstanding student council president since the school's founding," without exception. Kiyomizu had never expected Suzune Horikita to already be placing him on the same level as her brother.
Suzune Horikita's gaze suddenly turned cold. "...Don't be so full of yourself!" Before her words had faded, her right hand chopped down like a sharp blade—only to be firmly caught in mid-air. Kiyomizu had somehow blocked her wrist, his fingertips resting precisely on her pulse, where he could clearly feel her accelerated heartbeat.
"We were just having a discussion," Kiyomizu said, slowly tightening his grip. "Why the sneak attack? By the way, this counts as self-defense, right?"
The action brought them suddenly close, so close that Horikita could feel his steady breath. The realization made her abruptly pull her hand back. He just waved his hand, maintaining his usual calm demeanor.
-------
Enjoying the story? Support the author and get access to early chapters by joining my Patreon!
Find me at My : pat*eon*com/RuneA
I, Herta's Fiancé, the Universe's Number One Male Fist (114 Chapter (Simulpub-Full) )
Zenless Zone Zero: I'm a Succubus in Sixth Street (320 Chapter)
Reborn in Type-Moon, My Sister is Aoko Aozaki (250 Chapter)
MyGO!! A Story Voiced by Me (120 Chapter)
BLEACH: Blade of Purification (130 Chapter)
Konoha: Starting the Game as Yoriichi (320 Chapter)
My Real Job is Spying on Konoha, but I'm Also its Hokage (130 Chapter)
The Pinnacle of the Navy! Starting from Being Captured by Garp (150 Chapter)
Watching Yu-Gi-Oh! short videos is making the veteran players lose...(75 Chapter)
Uma Musume : The Trainer Who Just Wants to Live (196 Chapter)
Zenless Zone Zero The Random Kamen Rider (160 Chapter)
Genshin Impact: It All Began With Me Being Stepped On by Arlecchino (110 Chapter)
Naruto: I Can Synthesize Summoning Beasts (80 Chapter)
Demon Slayer: The Great Swordsman's System, Disciple of Yoriichi (120 Chapter)
My Wife is a General, but I'm an Emanator of Abundance! (130 Chapter)
Type-Moon: My Nine-Fold Path (130 Chapter)
Uma Musume: They're Peeking at My Diary, and All of Tracen is Panickin (87 Chapter)
The Wild History of Type-Moon world (60 Chapter)
Reborn in Conan, But I Refuse to Be the Bad Guy (70 Chapter)
Ruan Mei is begging me to go back? But there's no going back anymore (130 Chapter)
Just a Slacker at Tracen Academy (130 Chapter)
Survival in Blue Archive (60 Chapter)
Kimetsu no Yaiba: Doma Wasn't Hated Today, Either (90 Chapter)
The Vibe of This Chat Group is a Little Off (90 Chapter)
Heartbreak Simulator: I Broke Them and Made Them Cry (70 Chapter)
The Talentless Trainer Doesn't Want to Restart (70 Chapter)
A Journey Starting as a Quincy (70 Chapter)
Uma Musume: The Master of Romance Obstruction (70 Chapter)
Uma Musume: You Can't Be a Hero Without a Little Chemical Enhancement (30 Chapter)
Honkai Impact 3rd Your Boyfriend is Really Amazing (30 Chapter)
Warhammer 40K: My Fiancée, Fulgrim (120 Chapter)
Classroom of the Elite: Trying to Capture Me! (80 Chapter)
Genshin Impact My Named Senji Muramas (120 Chapter)
A Chef, the Vice-Captain of the Rocks Pirates? (81 Chapter)
If there's a particular novel you're enjoying on Patron, please give it a 'like' so I know to focus on it.