"Y-You... what are you doing here?"
Kamuro Masumi's tone was laced with shock. She shifted her right foot back slightly, bumping into the beer shelf, her face a mask of panic.
Fortunately, Kamuro Masumi had kept her voice down. Otherwise... if she had drawn any attention, it would have been trouble.
"At a time like this, you're supposed to say, 'What nonsense are you talking about?'... That's the correct line."
Shikime Natsu offered a slight correction to Kamuro Masumi's script.
"W-What nonsense are you talking about?"
Kamuro Masumi's small face was filled with panic. The capillaries in her cheeks dilated after being discovered, and the increased blood flow made her face incredibly flushed. She had actually, unconsciously, repeated Shikime Natsu's words.
"Alright, alright, calm down first. It'll be bad if you get caught."
"Go wait for me outside for a bit. Don't you dare sneak off, okay~"
Shikime Natsu gave Kamuro Masumi a relaxed smile, then went over to the drink section to pick something out.
Kamuro Masumi kept her head slightly lowered, the blush on her cheeks not yet completely faded. She nervously clutched the corner of her uniform, momentarily unsure if she should obey Shikime Natsu and go outside. Wouldn't leaving make her look guilty?
After a brief internal struggle... she finally took a step and walked out of the convenience store.
The April wind was still quite gentle. As soon as Kamuro Masumi stepped outside, the breeze brushed against her face, cooling the burning sensation on her cheeks.
That guy... what exactly does he want?
Kamuro Masumi subconsciously felt the urge to take out her phone and report herself to the school, but... she hadn't actually done anything yet. She was just scouting the place... how could she get caught for that?
She was troubled now. And it would be a lie to say she wasn't nervous. She hadn't been calm enough at that moment, but that was also related to Shikime Natsu's behavior. That guy was completely certain she was a thief.
The gentle breeze had cooled Kamuro Masumi's head a bit. She needed to organize her thoughts and not get led around by that guy Shikime Natsu again.
"Here, I bought you some water. It's cold. My treat."
Shikime Natsu walked over and casually tapped the water bottle against Kamuro Masumi's hand. That cost him a hundred points.
"I don't need it!"
Kamuro Masumi's tone turned a bit harsh. Sure enough, once her head cooled down, her temper flared up.
"Alright, alright, now... let's talk about what you were planning to do just now."
Shikime Natsu didn't try to force the bottle into Kamuro Masumi's hand. Instead, he placed it to the side, twisted open his own bottle, and took a gulp. Cold water really was the best.
"I didn't do anything!"
The moment the topic was brought up, Kamuro Masumi's previously calmed emotions flared up again.
"Why did you want to steal beer?"
Ignoring Kamuro Masumi's response, Shikime Natsu spoke on his own terms. His light golden eyes were fixed on Kamuro Masumi, forcing the excuse she was about to make back down her throat.
Silence...
"Are you going to report me to the school?"
Kamuro Masumi suddenly lifted her eyes to look at Shikime Natsu. He couldn't decipher the emotions within them, but her voice had softened, losing its earlier harshness.
"No, I won't. First of all, you're my deskmate. I wouldn't want to do something so cruel to my cute deskmate. Besides, you didn't even do anything. It would be meaningless for me to report you to the school, wouldn't it?"
Shikime Natsu picked the water bottle up from the ground again and held it out to Kamuro Masumi.
This time, Kamuro Masumi took the water. Cute deskmate, what a lie. The last part was the real reason.
"Thanks...."
Her voice was pitifully soft. If Shikime Natsu didn't have good hearing, he probably wouldn't have caught it.
"So, are you just trying to warn me?"
"If that's the case, I understand. I won't do it again."
Kamuro Masumi spoke, making a solemn promise.
"Kamuro, do you remember what I said back in the classroom?"
Shikime Natsu asked softly, as if casually mentioning a minor detail.
Hearing this, Kamuro Masumi remembered. Shikime Natsu had asked the students of the class to—fulfill their duties as students. Stealing was clearly a violation of that role.
"After the opening ceremony, I'll go and apologize to them!"
Kamuro Masumi's fingers, clutching the water bottle, turned slightly white, and her expression was grim. If she had to admit what she did today in front of her classmates, she probably wouldn't be able to hold her head high for the next three years.
Of course, this was entirely her own fault, and she would accept the consequences.
"The fact that you're aware of your mistake is enough for me. We can keep this matter a secret between the two of us."
Shikime Natsu held up two fingers and gave her a smile, but in Kamuro Masumi's eyes, it wasn't a pleasant sight at all.
"However... there has to be a punishment. After all, you nearly sent our class plummeting to the bottom."
Plummeting to the bottom? Isn't that a bit of an exaggeration?
Kamuro Masumi only grumbled silently in her heart but didn't voice her objection. She wanted to see what this guy was going to say.
"So, just become mine."
"So that was your goal all along? You're disgusting. I will never agree to that!"
Upon hearing Shikime Natsu's words, undisguised contempt appeared on Kamuro Masumi's face. She looked at him as if he were vermin.
So this guy with a sharp mind was this kind of person. She had completely misjudged him.
"Ahem, that's not what I meant. My meaning is, work for me. I might have quite a few things I need your help with at this school."
Shikime Natsu began his recruitment pitch, his expression showing no trace of embarrassment for his slip of the tongue. His skin really was thick.
"Hmm... let me rephrase. How about becoming my friend?"
Hearing Shikime Natsu's words, Kamuro Masumi's eyes filled with confusion and bewilderment. Why would this guy want to be friends with someone like her? He was truly a strange person.
"I'll work for you, but... I won't be your friend."
Kamuro Masumi's face wore its usual cold expression. This conversation had算是 put the matter to rest. Her emotions... were really easily influenced, revealing so many weaknesses.
"Then it's a pleasure working with you, Masumi. Is it okay if I call you that?"
Shikime Natsu extended his hand toward Kamuro Masumi.
"Whatever!"
Kamuro Masumi didn't take his hand. She just crossed her arms and turned away.
It seemed that getting on good terms with his deskmate would still require some more time.
There were still three years. No need to rush.
"Aren't you coming? There are only ten minutes left until the opening ceremony. Weren't you the one who said not to be late?"
Noticing Shikime Natsu hadn't followed, Kamuro Masumi couldn't help but turn her head and glare at him.
[Ding~]
[CG5: A Secret Between Two (Kamuro Masumi)]
[Before I get to know this guy, I guess I'll listen to him for a bit]
[Congratulations, Host. You've obtained the Skill Card: Master Thief (You can now pilfer with ease. Whatever you set your sights on, even Kaitou Kid would be left in the dust. Silently, without a trace, what's yours is now mine.)]
____
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