"Quite the popular one, aren't you."
Kamuro Masumi came over at that moment, her tone laced with a hint of sarcasm.
"Want me to help you become as popular as I am?"
Shikime Natsu chuckled lightly, ignoring the sarcasm in Kamuro Masumi's voice.
"I don't need it!"
Hearing this, Kamuro Masumi shot Shikime Natsu a vicious glare, even fiercer than when they first met.
"So... is there something you wanted to see me about? We have free time now."
Shikime Natsu turned to look at the girl, whose face was flushed with indignant embarrassment. Hmm... yep, she was cuter like this. The constant ice-cold act wasn't cute at all.
"Weren't you the one who said we had to do those boring self-introductions later? Did you forget already?"
An expression of disbelief appeared on Kamuro Masumi's face. After all, Shikime Natsu had just said that a short while ago.
"No, I didn't. I said we'd push the self-introductions back, not that we'd do them right after the opening ceremony."
Shikime Natsu once again corrected Kamuro Masumi's mistake, appearing quite patient.
"Let's eat first. It's lunchtime now. We can do the self-introductions this afternoon."
As he spoke, Shikime Natsu took out his phone and sent a notification to the class group chat. Everyone received it and readily agreed.
"Want to get lunch together?"
Since the topic of food had come up, Shikime Natsu decided to invite Kamuro Masumi on the spot. He figured she would most likely refuse, but of course, that didn't stop him from asking.
After hearing this, a flicker of hesitation appeared on Kamuro Masumi's small face, but it quickly turned into resolve.
"Okay."
That took Shikime Natsu by surprise.
"Really?"
"What is your problem?"
Hearing Shikime Natsu's question, Kamuro Masumi's tone turned hostile again, and a blush rose on her cheeks. She'd finally worked up the courage to agree, and he had to question it? That was just too much, wasn't it?
"Nothing, nothing. Let's go together then."
Shikime Natsu laughed it off and started walking ahead. Kamuro Masumi, however, kept a certain distance behind him. The feeling was honestly a little strange.
Is this the proper distance for two people who agreed to have lunch together?
It was more like he was being followed, right?
Of course, Shikime Natsu didn't say this out loud. If he had, Kamuro Masumi probably would have stormed off in a fit of rage and embarrassment.
Eating together... could this trigger a new CG?
If it did, Shikime Natsu felt he'd have to join the Church of Masumi. She was such a good person, giving him three CGs in a single day!
She really has a lot of potential for development!
"Those people over there... I think they're from Class C, right?"
Shikime Natsu stopped and moved closer to Kamuro Masumi, whispering cautiously. One of them looked so much like a delinquent that Shikime Natsu had easily memorized his face.
"So what if they are?"
Kamuro Masumi looked at Shikime Natsu impatiently. They were just going to eat, yet he was dawdling so much. She was waiting to quickly treat him to that meal to pay him back for the water.
"Don't you notice something's off about the atmosphere around them?"
Shikime Natsu continued, completely ignoring the impatience in Kamuro Masumi's voice.
After hearing Shikime Natsu's words, Kamuro Masumi finally turned her attention to the group from Class C.
There were four of them in total. One was a very tall black guy, there was also a girl, and the remaining two were also rather well-built boys.
The atmosphere... was indeed off, because the girl's fists were clenched tightly, looking like she might start a fight at any moment.
"You're right, something is off."
Kamuro Masumi frowned. Those guys looked like they were about to get into a fight.
"Be careful. Follow them."
Shikime Natsu spoke. Hearing this, Kamuro Masumi looked at him in disbelief. Was he really going to get involved in something like this?
However, Kamuro Masumi knew she couldn't talk him out of any decision he made. She wasn't good with words and could never win an argument against this guy. She could only choose to follow behind him, lightening her footsteps as she did.
It was only then that Kamuro Masumi realized Shikime Natsu made absolutely no sound when he walked. How on earth did he do that?
That was, of course, thanks to the Master Thief skill!
"Wait!"
Shikime Natsu grabbed Kamuro Masumi's hand and pulled her behind a nearby building. The first sensation as his fingertips touched her wrist wasn't softness, but an icy coolness, which was quite pleasant in this season.
That hand was surprisingly slender, and her skin was incredibly smooth and soft. Kamuro Masumi didn't seem like the type to take great care of her skin, but its quality was still excellent.
The moment he grabbed her hand, Kamuro Masumi's body tensed up instantly. Her purple eyes showed a hint of surprise, a bit of shyness, and a good deal of anger.
Of course, all Shikime Natsu saw was that she looked thoroughly disgusted with him. After they were hidden, he quickly let go of her hand.
"What are you doing?"
Kamuro Masumi questioned Shikime Natsu in a hushed voice, furious that he had grabbed her hand without permission.
"They're about to go around that corner. If they're planning to fight, they'll definitely check their surroundings first. If you just follow them blankly like that, you'll definitely be spotted. You need more practice."
That explanation was... barely acceptable.
Kamuro Masumi clenched the hand Shikime Natsu had just held. A trace of his warmth still lingered. Shikime Natsu's hand was large, and... warm. It was the first time a boy her age had held her hand, and Kamuro Masumi felt a very strange sensation in her heart.
"Alright, let's go."
Shikime Natsu scanned the area, then beckoned for Kamuro Masumi to follow. There was a hint of excitement in his voice. Watching him, Kamuro Masumi had no idea what this guy was looking forward to.
As they reached the corner, they heard the muffled sounds of impact from within—the sound of fists hitting faces.
"Thud! Thud!"
Shikime Natsu stopped and gestured for Kamuro Masumi to stay quiet, then took out his phone and opened the video recorder.
Wasn't his first reaction to stop them?
Kamuro Masumi stood behind him, a little stunned, but she also wanted to see what this guy was planning to do.
After recording for about five or six seconds, without any little mishaps like the shutter sound giving them away, Shikime Natsu got what he wanted.
"Time to stop. Fighting on school grounds... who knows what the consequences might be...."
Shikime Natsu put away his phone and walked out openly.
Hearing his words, the four people inside couldn't help but turn their gazes toward Shikime Natsu.
This guy's actions... are truly incomprehensible!
Kamuro Masumi had thought Shikime Natsu would either stop them from the start or take a picture and report it directly to a teacher. She never would have expected him to choose to take a picture and then provoke the other party.
"What nonsense are you talking about? We were just playing around, right?"
Upon hearing Shikime Natsu's voice, a boy with long, center-parted, reddish-purple hair turned around. He looked at Shikime Natsu with a smile, his face showing no fear or any other emotion.
This guy's acting skills were much better than Kamuro Masumi's.
"N-No... that's right."
One of the boys also spoke up, even though his face was bruised and swollen from the 'playing around'.
It seemed they didn't want the school to find out either, or they wouldn't have chosen a small corner like this. There were no cameras here.
"Do you think the school will believe your story?"
Shikime Natsu waved the phone in his hand. The recording was all on there. He had originally planned to use his camera, but with Kamuro Masumi around, Shikime Natsu felt he shouldn't be performing any magic tricks.
____
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