To be precise, it was Ayanokouji Kiyotaka and two others. There were two unfamiliar boys following Ayanokouji Kiyotaka, but that didn't seem quite right. It was more like Ayanokouji Kiyotaka was the one following them.
"So, Ayanokouji, you know them?"
A boy with short brown hair and a prominent chin turned to look at Ayanokouji Kiyotaka, his gaze then sizing up Shikime Natsu and Kamuro Masumi.
"I didn't think you'd know such a normie."
The moment this boy opened his mouth, Shikime Natsu felt the urge to hit someone. He could tell that the 'normie' in the boy's words was not a compliment.
"Yeah, this is Shikime Natsu from Class A."
Ayanokouji Kiyotaka's expression didn't change at all, not even a ripple in his eyes, as he stated this simple fact.
"In that case, let me introduce myself too. I'm Yamauchi Haruki from Class D. In elementary school, I made it to the national table tennis tournament. In middle school, I was the ace pitcher of the baseball club, jersey number four, but I got injured during the high school league and am currently in rehabilitation."
This guy seemed to want to list all his strengths in one breath, but Shikime Natsu could see it was full of falsehoods.
Hmm... it's all lies.
Of course, even without this skill, Shikime Natsu would have known this guy was lying. An ace in middle school, injured in the high school league? Aren't they just first-years? What high school league has he played in?
Does he really think saying he's a table tennis player and a baseball player is that impressive?
Shikime Natsu had a lot of retorts he wanted to make, but he didn't expose him. After all, you always run into people who like to brag. This guy knew Ayanokouji Kiyotaka, so he had to give him some face.
Kamuro Masumi, standing to the side, was also bewildered. Doesn't this guy even draft his lies?
"I'm Ike Kanji. I like girls, I'm currently single, and I'm recruiting a girlfriend."
Lame. Does anyone really use this kind of self-introduction these days?
Of course, if Ike Kanji were a bit more handsome, it might have been quite effective, but unfortunately...
Shikime Natsu noticed the handheld console in Ike Kanji's hands. Was this the god who, according to Kushida Kikyou, spent thirty thousand points on a console on the first day?
His gaze returned to Ayanokouji Kiyotaka, the look in his eyes clearly praising Ayanokouji Kiyotaka for being so good at making friends.
Ayanokouji Kiyotaka also averted his gaze quite unnaturally. Yesterday, when he went to the gymnasium for the information session, he had added Sudou Ken and the other two to his contacts, and now they had somehow become friends.
He didn't know how a normal high school student's life was supposed to be, but he knew it definitely wasn't supposed to be spent with people like Yamauchi Haruki and Ike Kanji. He was only with them today out of necessity.
"This is Kamuro Masumi, also a student from Class A."
Shikime Natsu gave a simple introduction for the girl who was unwilling to speak, especially since Yamauchi Haruki's tone earlier was really irritating.
"We're planning to go to the prize match held by the Tennis Club. Do you want to come along?"
Ayanokouji Kiyotaka's gaze fell on Shikime Natsu as he spoke very calmly.
Inviting Shikime Natsu and the other girl along was more comfortable than staying with these two guys, especially since they didn't watch what they said and openly discussed the girls in their class. The people on the road were even starting to look at him with disdain.
All I want is to be an ordinary high school student. If I keep hanging out with these two, will I become like them and form an annoying trio?
Ayanokouji Kiyotaka's inner thoughts were rich, but the expression on his face remained unchanged. Even Shikime Natsu, standing in front of him, couldn't tell. If there were such a thing as mind-reading, he'd probably be shocked to find out that Ayanokouji Kiyotaka was secretly a brooder.
"The Tennis Club's prize match?"
Hearing this, Shikime Natsu's tone paused for a moment. He had never heard of such a thing. Totsuka Yahiko had told him today that he was going to join the Tennis Club.
"Yeah, even non-club members like us can participate. The winner gets ten thousand points!"
Ike Kanji explained from the side, his face beaming with excitement.
"This is the time to show off my skills. I'm determined to get those ten thousand points!"
Yamauchi Haruki flexed the non-existent muscles on his arm and smiled.
"You'll be facing the reserve members of the Tennis Club. There's no penalty for losing."
Ayanokouji Kiyotaka added calmly.
"In that case, shall we go check it out?"
Shikime Natsu looked at Kamuro Masumi. If he were alone, he would definitely go, but now that he had Kamuro Masumi with him, he naturally had to consider her thoughts, unless he promptly ditched her and told her to go back to her dorm and not follow him.
That sounded a bit wrong.
"Can you play tennis?"
Kamuro Masumi didn't say whether she wanted to go or not, but a hint of curiosity appeared in her purple eyes.
"I can play a little."
Shikime Natsu chuckled lightly. If he was a complete novice before, he was terrifyingly strong now.
"Then let's go."
Kamuro Masumi answered, finally saying more than just a couple of words.
"Okay, let's go together then."
Shikime Natsu nodded and looked at Ayanokouji Kiyotaka.
"Let's go, let's go!"
Ike Kanji laughed loudly.
"Maybe some cute girls will fall for us. I hope the one who falls for me is a girl with big boobs."
Yamauchi Haruki snickered, his expression extremely lewd, looking like anything but a good person at a glance.
And... most importantly, Kamuro Masumi was right here. Was it really okay to say something like that in front of a girl?
He'd definitely be looked down upon, right?
Surely this guy wouldn't say something like that in his own class, right?
If the class could still tolerate Yamauchi Haruki after he said that, then that class was pretty divine in itself.
"If you become like that in the future, stay away from me!"
Kamuro Masumi tugged slightly on Shikime Natsu's sleeve, speaking with a look of disgust.
"Don't worry."
Shikime Natsu would never speak like that. When he used harsh words, it was always a passive counterattack, whether it was against Horikita Suzune or Sakayanagi Arisu. He always had a perfectly legitimate reason to fight back.
Soon, the Tennis Club appeared before them.
"Eh? Shiki-san, are you here for the Tennis Club's prize match too?"
Totsuka Yahiko spotted Shikime Natsu in the crowd at a glance.
"Yeah, I came to take a look. Why didn't you tell me about this?"
Shikime Natsu glanced at Totsuka Yahiko.
"Didn't you say you weren't joining any clubs, Shiki-san?"
Totsuka Yahiko said.
That was true, but Shikime Natsu never said he wouldn't participate in activities with rewards. This event didn't require him to join the Tennis Club to participate.
"Shiki-san, are you signing up? I'll help you fill out the form."
Totsuka Yahiko said with an eager smile.
"Thanks for the trouble."
Shikime Natsu nodded.
"Me too, the tennis genius Yamauchi Haruki, I want to sign up too!"
"Me too!"
Yamauchi Haruki and Ike Kanji quickly followed suit.
"No problem, which class are you from?"
Totsuka Yahiko asked.
"Class 1-D!"
Class D?
Totsuka Yahiko was stunned for a moment, but he quickly filled in their information.
Shikime Natsu had said that even people from Class D couldn't be underestimated; they might just be temporarily behind.
If he reacted too much to them being from Class D right now, he might reveal something unusual and let them figure out the school's secrets. Totsuka Yahiko still remembered that Shikime Natsu hadn't sold the information to Class D, precisely to see the gap between Class A and Class D. He couldn't cause trouble for Shiki-san!
___
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