Nogami Izumi watched as Hayato and his unremarkable friend left the scene.
She had been on pins and needles the whole time.
Although she had some reputation among the first-year students, she was far from comparable to Kurashiki Reina... The latter's ability and family background far surpassed hers. If Nogami Izumi was keen on bullying the weak, then Kurashiki Reina simply disdained interacting with the bottom of the food chain.
This was an overflowing self-confidence, the aura of Shiraki's recognized young lady, and a condescending attitude.
Nogami Izumi envied this attitude, but she couldn't give up the pleasure of bullying others... So, deep down, she also knew that she couldn't compare to Kurashiki Reina. However, occasionally she would think that Kurashiki Reina might not be that great after all; students only respected her because she was a senior. If she were in her second year, she shouldn't be worse than the current Kurashiki Reina.
However, when she had the chance to "directly face" this senior today, she realized that there was indeed an insurmountable gap between herself and Kurashiki Reina.
Just being in front of her, Nogami Izumi felt an invisible pressure... pressure from a superior.
"Hey, you stepped on my foot too. Wipe it for me too." When Kurashiki Reina said this, Nogami Izumi had an instinctive urge to squat down and wipe her shoes.
But thankfully, she held back.
Nogami Izumi bit her tongue to remind herself.
Don't squat! Don't you dare squat!
If she squatted, this matter would become a stain on her life, and she would never be able to look Kurashiki Reina in the eye again. ← She inexplicably had this thought.
So, even though she stammered in response to Kurashiki Reina's question, she still restrained her weakening knees.
However, putting aside the shoe-wiping, Nogami Izumi also knew that this matter wouldn't end so easily... She indeed had no grudge against Kurashiki Reina, but there was no rule that one couldn't pick a fight with someone unrelated. Kurashiki Reina was probably just in a bad mood... just like Nogami Izumi herself. She didn't know Asaba Ibuki, but didn't she bully her just now?
What would be the outcome?
Nogami Izumi guessed she would get a slap, or perhaps be beaten up after school. It sounded terrifying, but she still didn't want to show weakness to Kurashiki Reina.
Among Nogami Izumi's bad character traits was one quality—extreme stubbornness, even bordering on obsession.
If she showed weakness here, she would definitely become a widely circulated joke for a while... She didn't want that.
But not showing weakness was one thing; being afraid was another when the time came.
Just then, Hayato appeared like a divine soldier descending from heaven, saving her from Kurashiki Reina's grasp.
Nogami Izumi was in a daze.
Even after the class bell rang and a class was over, she was still in a daze... She didn't hear anything the teacher said in class.
Nogami Izumi was only thinking about one thing.
Why did Hayato help her?
It was simply too strange... Hadn't they always been in a state of "feud"?
Was his heart really that kind?
"Hey, Nogami!"
A rough female voice exploded in Nogami Izumi's ear. It was very familiar; it was Hinata Sae.
She didn't call her "Izumi" but by her surname, proving that her relationship with Nogami Izumi had completely broken down.
In fact, Nogami Izumi, Hinata Sae, and Sanada Minako hadn't spoken for a long time. "Don't get complacent." Hinata Sae's pink lips curled into fierce fangs.
"...What?"
"Senior Kobayashi helping you... It was just him having nothing to do, so he stepped in. His dislike for you hasn't changed at all!" Hinata Sae said.
"This kind of thing..."
Nogami Izumi wanted to respond with "Of course I know."
But she carefully observed Hinata Sae's expression. This girl had been looking down on her with a condescending attitude lately... as if operating on the core idea of "he who wins Kobayashi wins the world," believing that she, who was eliminated from the start, had no competitiveness at all, and that she was far above her in the food chain...
But now her face was flushed, and her yellowish cat-like eyes were filled with rage...
Nogami Izumi immediately found it amusing.
She was anxious, she was anxious. She was really anxious.
This was a joy of once again overpowering Hinata Sae, a pleasure from the bottom of her heart.
"Oh?" Nogami Izumi withdrew her words: "Then who knows? Maybe he's tired of playing with you and wants a change of pace...?"
"How could that be? Even if he were to change, it wouldn't be you." Hinata Sae snapped.
Her voice was very loud.
This caused many students to focus their attention on this table. The conflict between the former "Sunshine Sisters" was quite eye-catching.
Nogami Izumi narrowed her eyes:
"Sae, you don't understand boys at all, do you?"
"Uh, I..." Hinata Sae wanted to say something.
But even though the two were fiercely fighting now, they used to know each other inside out. Compared to Nogami Izumi, Hinata Sae had almost no other advantage except for being more athletic...
"If you don't understand, don't talk nonsense." Nogami Izumi smiled, her smile hinting at a sense of triumph.
"No way, no way? Are you already getting complacent?"
And another familiar voice came from a different direction. Sanada Minako applied to join the group chat.
Nogami Izumi glanced sideways at this cow.
Sanada Minako revealed her signature gentle fake smile: "Sorry, I just went to ask the teacher about homework, so I'm a bit late... You all don't know, do you? Senior Kobayashi actually likes girls who are good at academics."
Among the three, Hinata Sae had the worst grades, so she snorted unhappily.
I'll catch up one day!!
"And your grades aren't as good as mine, are they?" Nogami Izumi smiled.
"They weren't before, but what happens later, I don't know." Sanada Minako said with a smile: "...After all, I have... Ah, a secret! Such private matters cannot be told to the two of you."
She even had "love test papers" specially distributed by Senior Kobayashi~
"And," Sanada Minako's eyes suddenly turned extremely cold: "Don't think that Senior Kobayashi helping you means he's interested in you. He's just kind and full of justice. You might not know that he also helped me drive away delinquents who came to hit on me before, and those delinquents are still in the hospital."
Nogami Izumi pouted.
She had no interest in Hayato's "goodwill," but if the other party actively attacked, it wasn't in her nature to swallow her anger.
"Then assuming Kobayashi saved me not based on good feelings, why do you say he helped you because he's interested in you?" Nogami Izumi asked.
Sanada Minako froze.
Then she began to ponder this logic.
"Big chest, no brains..." Nogami Izumi cursed.
She fell back into thought.
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