By the time the group arrived at the library, the crowd inside couldn't help but cast sideways glances at them.
What was this situation?
A handsome boy accompanied by a group of cute girls?
Is he building a harem?
FFF! Burn them all!
Why does Shikime Natsu have so many cute girls around him?
Of course, these people were only screaming internally. Unlike Yamauchi Haruki, they didn't yell and shout to attract everyone's attention.
Entering the study room, Satou Maya went straight for the seat directly opposite Shikime Natsu. Seeing Satou Maya choose such a position, Karuizawa Kei and Matsushita Chiaki had no choice but to sit together with her.
Karuizawa Kei had originally wanted to sit next to Shikime Natsu, but...
...Wouldn't that be too obvious?
If she had already successfully captured Shikime Natsu, it would be fine. But right now, she hadn't captured him yet, and her best friend had already set her sights on him. Exposing her own intentions like this would really be a bit unconscionable.
Karuizawa Kei had no idea that Satou Maya had already decided on fair competition. In this study room, there were three best seats. As for which three? Naturally, they were the seats to Shikime Natsu's left and right, and the one directly opposite him.
Unfortunately... Karuizawa Kei didn't understand, but Satou Maya wasn't going to be polite.
Although sitting opposite Shikime Natsu wasn't as close as sitting beside him, however...
...Under the table, it was different.
If one were to 'accidentally' extend a leg, perhaps one could touch Shikime Natsu slightly, creating a tiny bit of physical contact.
If Shikime Natsu knew about Satou Maya's little schemes, he would really have to slap a 'turn-off' label on her.
Family, who understands!
"Alright, take out your study materials first. You can ask me if there's anything you don't understand."
Shikime Natsu scanned the circle and smiled faintly.
Being surrounded by so many beautiful girls, it felt like the air in the entire room had become sweet and fragrant. Inhale fiercely like a storm!
Okay, naturally, one couldn't do such shameful things. Shikime Natsu was currently maintaining the persona of a perfect male god. At the very least, he had to do it secretly, without being detected.
Wow, getting more and more cringe.
He was definitely being led astray.
"Okay!"
Satou Maya opened her math textbook with full confidence, and then began to scratch her head.
So hard. Why were all of these so hard?
Satou Maya felt like she was reading a book from heaven.
But... asking Shikime Natsu for help right at the start wouldn't be good at all, right?
Would Shikime Natsu despise her? Despise her for being a stupid girl? Ugh, ugh, ugh.
Being despised... she absolutely didn't want that!
"Is there something you don't know, Satou-san?"
Shikime Natsu stood up and walked to Satou Maya's side. Although Satou Maya hadn't actively asked for help, the girl's face couldn't hide those little thoughts.
With Shikime Natsu suddenly getting close, the girl's face instantly turned completely red.
"Um... um... I don't know this part."
Satou Maya pointed to the practice problem in front of her.
Because Satou Maya was sitting, Shikime Natsu needed to squat down slightly to explain the problem.
The distance between the two closed in once again. Now, Shikime Natsu could truly smell the fresh fragrance on the girl, the scent of lemon shampoo.
And because he was standing, Shikime Natsu could easily see more from his top-down perspective. Satou Maya was dressed in classic gal fashion, and the first button of her uniform was undone.
From this angle, he could see the girl's exquisite, perfect collarbone and that white, tender skin—so delicate it seemed it could break with a blow. This was quite a visual feast. Thanks for the treat. Although the second button was fastened, preventing him from prying further, compared to seeing everything clearly, this kind of looming, half-hidden sensation was the best.
Mn, Shikime Natsu was a gentleman and did not let his gaze linger too much on the girl's collarbone. After all, so many people were watching.
Satou Maya felt her heart pounding. Shikime Natsu wouldn't dis—
Discover that she was actually very nervous, right?
No, she had to focus. She couldn't get distracted. It was rare for Shikime Natsu to guide her studies; she couldn't let down Shikime Natsu's teaching.
The girl's face was very, very red. Shikime Natsu couldn't help but lament that his charm was really great enough; just getting close to the girl made her so shy.
However... the guidance that needed to be done couldn't be left behind.
Fortunately, although Satou Maya was a bit nervous, she listened very seriously to Shikime Natsu's explanation.
When Satou Maya successfully completed the problem, she couldn't help but breathe a sigh of relief. She actually managed to solve it. Amazing!
She shouldn't have made Shikime Natsu feel she was a stupid girl, right?
"You did very well, Satou-san. You successfully solved it."
Hearing Shikime Natsu's praise, the joy in the girl's heart almost overflowed.
"Keep it up."
"Mn!"
Seeing Satou Maya receive Shikime Natsu's praise, the other girls also started to get a bit restless.
"Um... Shikime-san, could you come over and help me a bit?"
Contestant Karuizawa Kei struck first.
Sakura Airi looked at the exercises in front of her. She actually didn't need to ask Shikime Natsu about any of these... Now that Shikime Natsu was constantly moving around, what was the point of her seizing this seat?
If she pretended not to know a certain problem type, Shikime Natsu would definitely be able to recognize it. This was a girl's intuition. Mn... of course, there was also the point that Sakura Airi had no way to act out the appearance of pretending not to know the solution when she clearly knew it.
Shiina Hiyori had also taken out her homework at this time. After all, this was a study group, not a private novel-reading time with Shikime Natsu. The girl chose to be a bit more gregarious.
Also... she hoped Shikime Natsu wouldn't forget the agreement between the two. They had agreed to read books together every Wednesday. The girl had been looking forward to Wednesday ever since the day they parted.
As for Matsushita Chiaki, she was also concentrating on solving problems. After all, the school did assign homework, though some people in the class didn't do it at all.
At least with Matsushita Chiaki's ability, she hadn't encountered any difficult problems yet. She pretended to be unremarkable, but... the girl was not without strength.
After this round of observation, Shikime Natsu was quite clear that among these people, only Karuizawa Kei and Satou Maya needed remedial lessons.
The basics of both could be said to be quite terrible.
But no matter how terrible, Shikime Natsu explained to them with considerable patience.
Even if they made the same mistakes he had already explained, Shikime Natsu still explained it to them very gently.
There weren't many good men left in the world who were as yasashi (gentle) and patient as himself.
[Ding~]
[CG 34: Tutoring (Satou Maya, Karuizawa Kei)]
[I will work hard not to become a stupid girl!]
[Congratulations to the host for obtaining Skill Card: Teaching Mastery (When you explain to others, the recipient can absorb 100% of the theoretical knowledge you impart)]
Although it was only theoretical knowledge, it was already enough. After all, they were students; the most important thing was still theoretical knowledge.
With this skill, perhaps he could even become a home tutor in the future. The future was bright.
...
Soon, night fell. After eating dinner with the group of girls, Shikime Natsu returned to the dormitory.
It had to be said, after using 'Teaching Mastery', instructing Karuizawa Kei and Satou Maya was quite relaxing.
Not long after, Horikita Suzune arrived outside his door, arms crossed, looking at Shikime Natsu with a cold expression.
"This is the thing you requested."
While speaking, Horikita Suzune took out a notebook. Recorded on it were conversations with the people around her—no more, no less, exactly three sentences per person.
Except for Kamuro Masumi, everyone else's entries consisted of asking for their name, then their hobbies, and ending with goodbye.
Wow, it really was full of perfunctory effort.
The chat with Kamuro Masumi, however, focused on Shikime Natsu, such as what kind of person she thought Shikime Natsu was and what he was good at.
Mn, the questions asked were quite straightforward, and she recorded them all. Horikita Suzune was really quite brutally honest in some aspects.
Of course, it was still only three sentences.
But... being suddenly asked like this by Horikita Suzune, Shikime Natsu could imagine how wonderful Kamuro Masumi's expression must have been. It was a pity he couldn't see it.
In Kamuro Masumi's eyes, Shikime Natsu discovered he was actually quite excellent. No matter how tsundere the girl was, she would still speak the truth that needed to be spoken. In a certain way, she was quite frank.
"This is really perfunctory enough, Horikita."
Shikime Natsu returned the notebook to Horikita Suzune.
"You were the one who made me do this kind of thing that has only superficial value."
Horikita Suzune crossed her arms, clearly believing that the reason she produced something so shameful was entirely because of Shikime Natsu. He really was excessive enough.
"If it's just like this, you won't be able to make friends."
Shikime Natsu shook his head. But... no matter what, for Horikita Suzune to actively strike up conversations with others was already a huge improvement.
Next, it would take a little more time to help Horikita Suzune grow further.
"The people in Class A were your preliminary practice stage. After you return to Class D, you need to make real friends. I've organized the list for you."
Shikime Natsu took out a piece of paper. This paper basically contained the members of his harem. If Horikita Suzune could integrate well into it, Shikime Natsu would be quite at ease. As for the wings getting tangled (jealousy/conflict), that was impossible.
After all, with someone as excellent as himself present... and... not everyone had that kind of tendency. For example, Kushida Kikyou got along quite well with every girl now, but... if you were to ask whether she truly liked them or not, that was really hard to say.
Horikita Suzune simply scanned the content on the paper. They were all girls.
"I can only choose from these people?"
"Do you want to make friends with Yamauchi?"
Shikime Natsu asked back directly. Horikita Suzune fell directly into silence. If Shikime Natsu had brought up anyone else, Horikita Suzune might have retorted slightly, but bringing up Yamauchi Haruki... then it really was hard to retort.
There was also a quite familiar name on this paper: Kushida Kikyou. If Horikita Suzune remembered correctly, her last conversation had thoroughly offended Kushida Kikyou, right?
Horikita Suzune still knew that the words she spoke would offend people. Of course, she didn't care. Moreover... at that time, Horikita Suzune could feel that when Kushida Kikyou approached her, there always seemed to be a strong ulterior motive, which made Horikita Suzune quite uncomfortable.
"I understand."
Horikita Suzune tucked the note into her notebook, then raised her head to look at Shikime Natsu again.
"Horikita, do you have something else?"
Seeing Horikita Suzune just standing there, Shikime Natsu couldn't help but ask curiously.
If it were the usual Horikita Suzune, she probably wouldn't think of staying here for even a second longer.
"I plan to compete with you!"
Just at this moment, Horikita Suzune suddenly looked at Shikime Natsu seriously.
Compete?
Shikime Natsu had almost never heard such a competitive word from Horikita Suzune's mouth. After all, in Horikita Suzune's view, the people around her should all be inferior to herself. It had to be said, from a certain aspect, Horikita Suzune had similarities with a certain smug brat.
Of course, there were still big differences. At least... with Horikita Suzune's personality, she would absolutely never do something like betraying the class just to have fun herself.
If it was a bet, the cost would basically be borne by Horikita Suzune alone. In this aspect, Shikime Natsu still quite approved of Horikita Suzune's straightforward nature.
"Compete in what?"
Shikime Natsu looked at the girl in front of him, the corner of his mouth hooking into a slight arc.
If he guessed correctly, behind this competition of Horikita Suzune's, there should be traces of a certain smug brat.
Otherwise... no matter how he thought about it, he didn't feel that Horikita Suzune would initiate a challenge against him. If he were the one initiating the challenge, that would be more like it.
"Compete on the points you and I obtain next month!"
???
Looking at Horikita Suzune's incomparably serious appearance, Shikime Natsu couldn't help but be stunned, and the smile on his lips almost couldn't be held back.
The information this guy knew was still only that the personal points for the next month wouldn't be 100,000. As for the evaluation criteria, she probably still thought it was related to the individual. Horikita Suzune felt that there were no problems with her own performance, and that she could achieve excellent grades in the upcoming challenges and quizzes. She chose to challenge Shikime Natsu believing that next month there would still be at least 90,000 personal points or more, right?
And the smug brat who facilitated all this... Sigh, really is a bad person.
"What are you laughing at?"
Horikita Suzune frowned, her wine-red eyes full of anger. She was serious, yet this guy actually displayed such an attitude. Was he looking down on her?
"No, just thought of something funny. Are you sure?"
Shikime Natsu looked at Horikita Suzune, confirming with her once again.
"I'm sure."
Confusion appeared in Horikita Suzune's wine-red eyes. Did such a simple matter need him to confirm?
"Then... what about the stakes?"
Shikime Natsu looked at Horikita Suzune. Seeing this expression that was a little angry and a little stubborn, it made one unable to resist bullying her a bit.
"If I win, you become my friend. If you win, I will give you 100,000 personal points."
Horikita Suzune's eyes were full of seriousness. Making friends with her actually had to come from a bet?
It seemed Horikita Suzune didn't intend to dawdle with him for that long. No, rather than that, Horikita Suzune felt that he was deliberately stringing her along, so she thought of using a duel to make him become friends with her.
In that case, even to make friends, there was no need to go to such great pains with him. It really was excessive. Was he such a troublesome person in her eyes?
"Then... what if you can't pay it back?"
____
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