This person really left an impression on Shikime Natsu. Wasn't that the blond-haired guy from the bus?
"That's Kouenji Rokusuke from our class."
The expression on Kushida Kikyou's face was a little awkward. After the minor conflict on the bus, she had wanted to make up with him, but his attitude was just infuriating. Things like, "I didn't mind at all," and "You don't need to worry about it," had left Kushida Kikyou quite dissatisfied. Such a condescending attitude was just infuriating!
Just as they were discussing Kouenji Rokusuke, his gaze inadvertently flickered over to them, but the expression on his face didn't change at all. He continued chatting with the girls around him.
"Kouenji... is that the Kouenji Zaibatsu?"
Shikime Natsu recalled a conglomerate he had seen in the newspaper.
"Yeah, that's right."
Kushida Kikyou nodded.
If he was from that conglomerate, it would make some sense. Taking the bus must have been quite an ordeal for Kouenji Rokusuke. After all, the gap between a member of a zaibatsu and an ordinary person is anything but small.
But... an heir to a zaibatsu came to this school?
Was this school really that impressive?
Shikime Natsu briefly recalled the school's information in his mind. It was established with funding from the Japanese government and had only been around for a little over twenty years. Even with its high employment and university advancement rates, Shikime Natsu didn't think that was reason enough for a zaibatsu scion to choose this school, right?
And... a zaibatsu heir was in Class D?
It was truly strange. There must be some kind of entanglement of interests behind it, right?
In any case, Shikime Natsu didn't plan to interfere too much. He felt the waters here were very murky.
"Shiki-san... do you know Kouenji-san too?"
Mei-Yu Wang asked cautiously, as if she had mustered up the courage to find a topic of conversation. She had just been sitting to the side, unable to get a word in.
"Yeah, Kushida-san, Kouenji-san, and also Horikita-san and Ayanokouji-san from your class—we all took the same bus here."
Shikime Natsu explained. Of the five-person bus group, three were now gathered. The only ones missing were Horikita Suzune and Ayanokouji Kiyotaka. Hmm... whether Ayanokouji Kiyotaka showed up or not didn't really matter.
"I see."
Mei-Yu Wang nodded. Kamuro Masumi now understood how Shikime Natsu and Kushida Kikyou knew each other—they took the same bus.
Thinking about how she was just Shikime Natsu's deskmate and this guy had greeted her so familiarly, Kamuro Masumi more or less understood.
But... even though Kushida Kikyou and Shikime Natsu had met earlier, Kamuro Masumi still keenly noticed the difference in how Shikime Natsu treated her versus how he treated Kushida Kikyou.
Perhaps because she was Shikime Natsu's deskmate, Kamuro Masumi felt that his attitude toward her was a bit better. This point made her slightly satisfied, though of course, Kamuro Masumi wouldn't show it on the surface.
If this guy knew she was happy about something like this, he would definitely make fun of her.
The thought of the smug look that might appear on Shikime Natsu's face gave Kamuro Masumi the urge to punch the detestable guy.
"Alright, we won't interrupt you two's plans any longer. We'll be on our way. The coffee is on me."
Shikime Natsu glanced at Kamuro Masumi's empty coffee cup and then stood up.
"No, you don't have to, we can pay for ourselves..."
Mei-Yu Wang said, very nervous.
"It's okay. I made a new friend today. Two cups of coffee for a friend is well worth it."
Shikime Natsu let out a light chuckle.
"Then thank you, Shiki-san~"
Kushida Kikyou clasped her hands together and smiled.
"Th-th-that... okay, thank you, Shiki-san."
Mei-Yu Wang hesitated for a moment, then nodded.
Good Deeds are Rewarded. After Shikime Natsu paid, the skill didn't show that it had been successfully used. It seemed... hypocrisy didn't count as kindness.
"Hey, Shiki-boy, what a coincidence!"
Just as Shikime Natsu was passing by Kouenji Rokusuke, Kouenji Rokusuke suddenly spoke to him.
Shikime Natsu stopped in his tracks. He was sure he had never told Kouenji Rokusuke anything about himself. How did this guy know?
"Is there something you need, Kouenji-san?"
"Shiki-boy has earned my high regard."
Earned his high regard?
Shikime Natsu forced a smile. It was the first time he'd met someone more shameless than himself.
Wait, could he mean.....
Shikime Natsu looked at the girls surrounding Kouenji Rokusuke, then thought about the three beautiful girls who had just been gathered around him.
Could it be he thought highly of him for something like that?
Hmph, if that's the case, he's underestimating me.
Shikime Natsu had clearly heard what Kouenji Rokusuke said—women bought with points. How could that level of companionship compare to his?
What is bought with points will eventually leave when the points are gone.
But... this guy's body really was packed with power. He even felt stronger than Yamada Albert.
"Also, don't make a pretty girl cry. That's not the act of a gentleman."
Shikime Natsu still found Kouenji Rokusuke a bit hard to understand. This was the guy who had occupied a seat on the bus and refused to give it up. Of course, the law didn't forbid it, it was just a matter of moral condemnation. For such a person to tell him not to make a pretty girl cry?
Was that the thought of a gentleman?
It felt completely wrong. Shikime Natsu's gaze fell on Mei-Yu Wang and Kushida Kikyou. Kushida Kikyou was ruled out first. The argument Kouenji Rokusuke started on the bus could be said to be related to Kushida Kikyou. So... was it because of Mei-Yu Wang?
She seemed quite ordinary. It was hard to imagine her having any connection with a zaibatsu scion like Kouenji Rokusuke.
Besides, from the way Mei-Yu Wang acted during their chat just now, it was obvious she wasn't familiar with Kouenji Rokusuke.
Kamuro Masumi was even more impossible.
All logic was basically blocked by the fact that they didn't know each other.
At that moment, Shikime Natsu suddenly remembered the skill he had just obtained from Mei-Yu Wang: Good Deeds are Rewarded.
"'Good deeds are rewarded with good,' is it?"
Shikime Natsu's gaze fell on Kouenji Rokusuke, and he saw Kouenji Rokusuke's expression stiffen for a moment.
"Hahaha, you're right. Good deeds are rewarded with good!"
Kouenji Rokusuke clearly hadn't expected Shikime Natsu to say something like that.
"Shiki-boy, you're really something. Maybe we'll have a chance to compete in the future."
Kouenji Rokusuke revealed a smile, his gaze shifting from playful to serious. It seemed he wasn't joking.
Compete?
Although Shikime Natsu knew he was quite strong, if he had to fight Kouenji Rokusuke, the outcome would be hard to say.
Meanwhile, Kamuro Masumi was stunned listening from the side, completely clueless about what the two were talking about. Riddlers, are they?
"Yeah, I'll look forward to that day."
Shikime Natsu nodded and replied casually. He'd talk after he got some powerful skills.
Right now, he didn't have any combat skills. At most, he could deal with weaker guys like Ryuuen Kakeru. Of course, if he used tennis, he might stand a fighting chance.
"Ayanokouji?"
Just as he was leaving, Shikime Natsu ran into Ayanokouji Kiyotaka.
___
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