"...Is that all right?"
Nogami Izumi asked Hayato in a low voice. Of course, this subservient tone was feigned. The light hidden in her eyes was like a knife, pressing against Hayato's throat, thinking, 'One day, I'll make you pay!'
Hayato took the white paper from Nogami Izumi.
The paper only had two characters written on it: "Thank you." The handwriting was rounded and quite cute, clearly a girl's handwriting at first glance.
He accepted it without a change in expression and said indifferently, "Hmm, I'll just check to see if you really cheated or not…"
Nogami Izumi clicked her tongue silently, but on the surface, she obediently nodded, secretly feeling relieved…Thankfully, she had been extra careful and hadn't done anything like that. Otherwise, it would have all fallen apart…Hayato hadn't asked who the bullied girl in the hallway was, but because he didn't ask, it gave Nogami Izumi the feeling that he already knew. Plus, she had encountered Nanao Akane earlier in front of Asaba Ibuki…
Nogami Izumi became even more convinced that this was a test, intentionally arranged by this guy.
She truly had to thank the heavens for her choice.
The first hurdle was cleared.
As for Hayato…
He genuinely didn't know, nor had he had time to inquire about the unfortunate girl who had been harassed in the hallway earlier…It wasn't that he couldn't find out, he was just lazy.
Besides, this was just to give Nogami Izumi a bit of a warning.
If she had found someone to do the work, for example, hired a girl to write "Thank you" to humor him, then upon hearing that he would investigate, she would definitely have cracked. Just as mentioned above, this was really not a difficult task. Seeing her natural expression, even with a hint of pride, Hayato knew she had really gone herself.
But this girl was really quite interesting.
Hayato chuckled. Earlier, she was so unwilling, but after apologizing, she showed a proud smile…It seemed some training was necessary.
Nogami Izumi, however, was proud of having anticipated Hayato's thoughts. If the plan proceeded as she envisioned, then it should go very smoothly…
She pursed her lips, outlining a perfect blueprint for the future…But before she could imagine a happy end, she heard an annoying voice,
"...Nogami?"
After a moment of hesitation, there was an angry outburst: "You b*tch! Why are you here!? Huh!?"
The voice was clearly a rather cute girlish one, but the words spoken were truly…unfitting for that vocal tone.
This was the infirmary. Because Yayoi-sensei was on leave today, the infirmary was not open.
Hayato and Nogami Izumi were merely standing under the shade of a tree.
And this voice came from not far away, rushing over at top speed.
"Damn it, what exactly do you want to do?"
Hinata Sae, the dark-skinned girl, rushed in front of Hayato and pushed Nogami Izumi away.
She grabbed Hayato's arm as if snatching a toy. "Freshman, get away from Senior Kobayashi!" she yelled.
Nogami Izumi stumbled a few steps when pushed, but she didn't speak, merely sneering as she looked down proudly at the gritting, fanged Hinata Sae.
"Why are you here!!!" Hinata Sae said.
Nogami Izumi gave a cold smile: "I was about to ask you that."
"Of course, Senior Kobayashi called me here." Hinata Sae looked back at Hayato, whose arm she was holding: "…Senior, is this hussy bothering you again?"
Hayato didn't answer, because Nogami Izumi, with her arms crossed, spoke first with a sneer: "Then I have the same reason as you, and I came first…"
Hinata Sae looked at Hayato in disbelief.
"Just a few things." Hayato nodded, acknowledging Nogami Izumi's statement.
"But…" Hinata Sae's amber cat-like eyes trembled slightly. She didn't continue speaking.
"I told you long ago, if you're my defeated opponent, you'll always be. Why do you think I was the leader when we played together? Was it because you let me?" Nogami Izumi said mockingly.
The reason Hinata Sae didn't continue speaking wasn't because she heard Nogami Izumi's words, but because she saw the sharp glint in the corner of Hayato's eye.
It was as if he was telling her, 'Senior Kobayashi here is angry, you know.'
Hinata Sae's brain immediately went into overdrive, but she had never been particularly clever, so for a moment, she was at a loss. She only knew that if she angered Senior Kobayashi, she would definitely be trampled underfoot by Sanada Minako, that cow, in the future.
Moreover, there was Nogami Izumi now…Although she still didn't know what was going on between her and Senior Kobayashi, she had a very bad feeling.
Would she return to the bottom of this ecosystem?
And she had completely offended Nogami Izumi…If she returned to the bottom, her future days would surely be spent enduring their endless mockery and ridicule.
"Alright, Izumi, you go first. I have something to tell Sae." Hayato said.
"Can't I listen?" Nogami Izumi was displeased.
"Otherwise?" Hayato asked back with a smile.
"Ha…you think…" Nogami Izumi originally wanted to respond to Hayato with "Who do you think you are?"
But she looked at Hinata Sae.
The latter's stunned expression made her especially delighted…Hahahaha, you fool, it seems her departure has caused this b*tch quite a psychological shadow…Tsk, the good times are over! You brat, you still dare to show that ugly face in front of her?
Wasn't your reliance easily snatched away?
Nogami Izumi twisted the corner of her mouth, then softly said to Hayato, "Then I'll be going now…Oh, Senior Kobayashi, I don't have your contact information yet…Could you give it to me?"
"Sure." Hayato nodded.
Hinata Sae watched in horror as the two exchanged passionate infrared glances…She had known Nogami Izumi for so many years and had almost never heard her speak in such a soft, sweet tone, especially to a boy. There must be something going on between them!
She wanted to rush over and scratch Nogami Izumi's face, but Hayato was in the middle, so she simply didn't have the courage.
Moreover, thinking of Senior Kobayashi's inexplicable terrifying gaze just now, Hinata Sae, with one hand wrapped around Hayato's arm and the other twisting the hem of her clothes, couldn't help but tremble, and her eyes began to redden.
"Then, goodbye, Senior Kobayashi." Nogami Izumi waved.
After trotting backward for two steps, she turned around, and her radiant smile turned sinister and cunning…Heh hahahahahahaha, I laugh at Hayato's lack of strategy and Hinata's lack of wisdom. Oh, look at that trusting attitude and Hinata Sae's disbelieving attitude, it's truly exhilarating!
First, I'll obediently listen to that scoundrel for a while, and after getting revenge on Hinata Sae and that cow, then I'll consider future matters.
After watching Nogami Izumi run off, Hinata Sae eagerly asked:
"Senior Kobayashi, you…"
"Did I tell you to hug my arm?" Hayato asked with a smile.
Hinata Sae withdrew her hand as if shocked by electricity. She said tremblingly, "I, I didn't mean to…"
"Mm." Hayato said.
Then he fell silent.
Hinata Sae watched the former for a while, her heart pounding.
But the former didn't look at her at all, only raised his eyes to look at the clouds.
A moment later, Hinata Sae grew increasingly uneasy the more she watched.
Hayato, however, spoke again, just four words,
"Then I'm leaving."
Hinata Sae subconsciously wanted to nod, but feeling something was wrong, she quickly tugged at Hayato's clothes.
Hayato looked back, smiling: "What? Did I tell you to tug on my clothes?"
But this time, Hinata Sae didn't let go. Her eyes couldn't help but redden:
"…Are, are you abandoning me?"
"Where did you hear that?" Hayato continued to smile.
"Because you looked very angry just now…" Hinata Sae said.
"I'm not angry, you know."
"But…" Hinata Sae also thought she had misjudged, but at this moment, she couldn't accept this outcome with peace of mind. One wrong step leads to many wrong steps; she couldn't make a mistake now. "…It's just, very angry." she said.
"I'm just disappointed." Hayato sighed, "Very disappointed in you."
"…W-why?" Hinata Sae's brows furrowed tightly, tears welling up in her eyes, about to fall, and the clothes she clutched became even more wrinkled.
"No reason." Hayato gently pushed away Hinata Sae's small hand: "That's all."
Hinata Sae wanted to keep holding on tightly, but Hayato's right hand seemed to possess incredible strength.
She was afraid that if she kept doing this, she would tear his clothes, which would make him even more angry…
Watching Hayato's silent figure walk away with his hands in his pockets, Hinata Sae's lips trembled.
Finally,
"Woof…woof woof woof…"
Hayato heard a small dog barking behind him.
He turned his head and saw Hinata Sae on all fours, sticking out her tongue like a puppy, and then emitting a shameful barking sound from her throat.
Her tanned cheeks, mixed with sweat, turned crimson, and her eyes nervously darted left and right, afraid of being seen, but she had to play this…this role well. She raised her hand, as if a puppy wanted to shake hands with someone, and then made two more "shhh-shhh" sounds, forcing a smile: "…If a puppy makes a mistake, its owner should forgive it, right…At, at least once, woof, woof woof woof…"
She barked more cheerfully when she saw Hayato's gaze turn to her.
Hayato thought for a moment, "If the owner points out a mistake, will the puppy correct it?"
"Woof woof." Hinata Sae nodded repeatedly.
"…But the puppy also needs a little punishment, right? Otherwise, it won't remember."
Hayato looked around, then casually picked up a twig by the infirmary wall.
Hinata Sae's amber eyes trembled slightly with fear, a bit unwilling, but she still extended her hand.
Hayato, however, looked at her gently: "Not on your hand."
Hinata Sae seemed to breathe a sigh of relief.
Then she heard Hayato say:
"First, turn your back to me, then get into a 'starting' position…You're on the track team, so you should be very professional, right?"
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