"Hey, just talk about your own stuff."
"Don't suddenly shift the topic onto me, okay?!"
Masumi Kamuro's face was slightly flushed.
Suddenly trying to play matchmaker for her or whatever... even if Kamuro had somewhat adapted to Arisu Sakayanagi's erratic behavior, she still couldn't quite stand it. It gave her absolutely no chance to mentally prepare herself.
"Hehe, I'm done eating."
"Let's save this topic for our next encounter."
Subaru put down the cutlery in his hands and stood up.
Chatting with Sakayanagi hadn't delayed Subaru's eating rhythm in the slightest.
"Natsuki-kun is truly efficient."
"Then, if there's a chance next time, let's chat again."
Sakayanagi glanced at the spotless plate in front of Subaru and smiled. Watching Subaru's retreating figure, a thoughtful expression appeared on her face.
"The rhythm didn't change at all."
"Hah?"
Looking at the two people who were completely ignoring her, Kamuro puffed out her cheeks subconsciously.
These two guys kept talking to themselves; it was really infuriating enough, especially Sakayanagi!
"I mean, Natsuki-kun's eating rhythm didn't change at all."
Sakayanagi looked at Kamuro, who hadn't reacted yet, and smiled faintly, saying, "From the moment we came over, Natsuki-kun's eating rhythm didn't change even a little bit..."
"He looked like he was chatting with us effortlessly, but in reality, there might not have been any emotions in his heart at all."
Although over the past two months or so, Sakayanagi hadn't met and interacted with Subaru offline many times, every time she did, she was seriously observing Subaru's behavioral logic.
Just as Sakayanagi had said before.
Compared to the outcome of a chess match, Sakayanagi cared more about the process of playing chess.
Therefore, from the first time she saw Subaru, or rather, from the moment she discovered Subaru's uniqueness, Sakayanagi had never relaxed her observation of him.
For instance, during the two times they ate together in the cafeteria, Sakayanagi was observing Subaru's eating rhythm.
Subaru looked like he was having a very normal chat with her, but in reality, he wasn't. From beginning to end, Subaru's eating rhythm hadn't changed in the slightest because of her striking up a conversation.
When Sakayanagi suddenly said she wanted to play matchmaker for Kamuro just now, it also contained a bit of intention to further probe Subaru.
Sakayanagi wanted to further confirm whether Subaru truly had no emotional fluctuations.
Only in this way could one consistently maintain a fixed eating rhythm.
"What you're saying is a bit strange."
"Isn't it just that Natsuki Subaru eats a little faster?"
Hearing Sakayanagi's explanation, the confusion on Kamuro's face became even thicker. She said, "On the contrary, I actually think the way you usually eat, Sakayanagi, is what's truly antisocial."
Compared to Sakayanagi's view, Kamuro felt that Sakayanagi was the one who wasn't normal.
Every time she ate, Sakayanagi always had to eat very elegantly for ages. It was extremely dawdling. Rather than eating, it was more like displaying an elegant eating posture for others to see how elegant she was.
If she had to say which she liked, Kamuro definitely preferred Subaru's way of eating.
Clean and efficient, without any sloppiness.
"Eating fast and having no change in rhythm are two different things."
"Well, but Little Masumi doesn't need to understand it so clearly."
Sakayanagi continued to take a bite of food using her unique elegant posture, then smiled and said, "Anyway, if we explain it solely by the result, then Natsuki-kun just now was like a cold robot."
"He looked like he was chatting with us normally, but actually, his heart was hollow, without any superfluous thoughts."
"He was purely just chatting with us, that's all."
"I really feel things are getting more and more interesting, Little Masumi. After realizing this, I suddenly really want to do something. This matter will give me just a little bit of a sense of challenge."
Looking in the direction Subaru had just left, a look of anticipation surfaced on Sakayanagi's face.
"Sakayanagi, can you speak normally?"
"The way you look right now makes you look like a pervert..."
Kamuro looked at Sakayanagi with some disgust and said, "Just like that what... hmm, a nympho."
"A nympho?"
"Hehehehe, if you describe me like that, Little Masumi, there's no problem with it either~~~"
Sakayanagi did not refute Kamuro's words. She laughed softly, "After understanding roughly what kind of personality Natsuki-kun has, I suddenly became somewhat expectant."
"I want to make Natsuki-kun's inner emotions 'fluctuate' once, in the true sense~~~"
If before, Sakayanagi merely wanted to find a meal replacement toy to play with casually and then throw away, then now, Sakayanagi's attitude had changed.
Subaru was no longer that temporary substitute for Kiyotaka Ayanokoji, but a unique game that possessed true interest.
Sakayanagi was already somewhat impatient to start a brand-new chess match with Subaru, and then make Subaru's emotions fluctuate in a true sense.
Whether it was joy or sorrow, excitement or depression, it didn't matter.
"Ew."
"I'm getting goosebumps all over my body."
A sound of disgust came from Kamuro's mouth.
"However, let's wait just a little longer~"
"To truly enjoy the fun of the game, patience is indispensable."
Sakayanagi ignored Kamuro's slightly disgusted expression and continued to eat on her own.
...
Shopping District, Movie Theater Entrance.
"Over here!"
Just as Subaru arrived, Hiyori Shiina, who had long been standing at the movie entrance, waved at Subaru with a smile.
Because a locked-room murder mystery movie with a very good reputation was released today, Hiyori, thinking her interests aligned very well with Subaru's, had invited Subaru to come watch the movie together this afternoon.
"Why are you here so early?"
Subaru checked the time.
There was still about half an hour before the movie started.
"I didn't have anything else to do either."
"After the homeroom meeting ended, I casually ate something and came over."
Hearing Subaru's inquiry, Hiyori smiled and explained.
Because she didn't know that contacts could be located via the terminal—and even if she knew, Hiyori wouldn't use it without a special reason—she hadn't run into Subaru in the cafeteria.
So after eating in the cafeteria, Hiyori came directly to the movie theater to wait for Subaru.
Year 1, Class C and Year 1, Class D were not in the same place, so Subaru and Hiyori hadn't arranged to eat together. Neither Subaru nor Hiyori felt the necessity to do so deliberately.
"Want to drink something?"
"We have about two hours." [Note: Source says 'almost half an hour' previously, then dialogue says 'about two hours'. This is a likely author error in source timeline or implies movie duration + wait. Translating 'two hours' faithfully as per dialogue text].
Subaru nodded, then walked toward the milk tea shop in this area, preparing to buy something to drink.
"Hmm... Sakura Milk Tea, please."
Hiyori didn't stand on ceremony with Subaru. After thinking slightly, she smiled and said, "Not too much sugar; half sugar is fine."
"Alright. Do you want anything to eat, like popcorn?"
Subaru nodded and continued to ask naturally.
The mode of getting along with Hiyori was roughly like this: very natural, making Subaru feel very comfortable.
If one had to describe it, it was probably like an old married couple of several decades. Just a single glance, without needing to say superfluous words, and the other party could understand the general meaning.
"I just finished eating, so no need for food."
Hiyori shook her head gently.
On the other side, the 'Gal Trio' who were also shopping in this area—Kei Karuizawa, Maya Sato, and Satsuki Shinohara—noticed the situation on Subaru's side.
Having just caused such a big incident, it was hard for Kei not to notice Subaru.
"Kei, look, look!"
Maya Sato looked at the somewhat harmonious atmosphere between Subaru and Hiyori, and hurriedly tugged at Kei beside her, whispering, "It's Natsuki-kun and a female student I don't recognize!"
"Where, where?"
Hearing Sato's words, Kei hurriedly looked around with some curiosity, and soon saw Subaru buying milk tea for Hiyori.
"I really can't imagine at all that a guy like Natsuki would actually date."
Satsuki Shinohara clicked her tongue in wonder looking at the scene before her.
After all, in the morning, Subaru had just used a massive amount of personal points to expel Haruki Yamauchi with a ruthless iron hand. In the afternoon, Subaru could actually come out to date a girl as if nothing had happened.
It was truly hard not to make people marvel.
They were all peers, but the psychological quality Subaru displayed was simply too powerful.
"So nice."
"That's Sakura Milk Tea. It seems to be the Special Edition too; one cup costs five hundred points."
Kei looked at the two cups of milk tea Subaru was holding, and a trace of envy appeared in her eyes.
She had spent all her personal points cleanly right when school started, and May was really going to suffocate her.
Now seeing Subaru able to spend so comfortably, it was really hard not to make Kei envious.
Even... Kei vaguely harbored some feelings of regret in her heart. If she hadn't announced her relationship with Yosuke Hirata so quickly... perhaps...
Kei quickly shook her head, shaking away the thoughts in her mind.
Subaru's performance was completely different from Yosuke Hirata's. In the matter regarding Haruki Yamauchi, Subaru displayed something that made Kei feel somewhat terrified and afraid.
If she were to share her past directly with Subaru, Kei didn't know what the final situation would be. What if Subaru was no different from those people she met in junior high...
Kei didn't dare to even think about such consequences.
"What's five hundred points?"
"Natsuki-kun has over five million points on him."
"With this kind of Special Edition Sakura Milk Tea, Natsuki-kun could drink one cup and pour one cup down the drain."
Hearing Kei's tone which carried a bit of envy, Maya Sato also sighed along.
"Drink one and pour one?"
"If I had five million personal points, drinking one and pouring ten wouldn't be a problem."
Satsuki Shinohara also followed up with her own opinion.
"What a pity. Natsuki-kun actually already has a romantic partner. No chance left."
"Originally, seeing Natsuki-kun's balance today, I was a bit moved. If you look closely, Natsuki-kun's face is actually not bad at all. That exhausted melancholic vibe is very striking!"
Maya Sato said enthusiastically, "If he didn't have a partner, I would have wanted to initiate an attack actively."
"Say, if I became Natsuki-kun's partner, would Natsuki-kun spend a little of his five million personal points on me?"
"My demands aren't high either. I'd be quite satisfied if he gave me twenty or thirty thousand pocket money every month."
As she spoke, a look of anticipation appeared on Sato's face.
"You're dreaming."
"You don't think Natsuki-kun goes to the library every time really to read books, do you?"
Hearing Sato's fantasy, Shinohara mocked her a little, saying, "I know that female student beside Natsuki-kun. She seems to be Hiyori Shiina from Year 1, Class C."
"Usually, she seems to like soaking in the library reading books when she has nothing to do. My friend in Class C told me that Hiyori Shiina also seems to be a bit antisocial..."
"Anyway, it seems like just like Natsuki-kun, she doesn't have any friends."
"No friends is possible, but no boyfriend is unlikely."
Sato was somewhat disheartened.
Her romance hadn't even started to be implemented yet, and it could already be declared bankrupt in advance.
"That Hiyori Shiina is a literary girl, you know."
"If you ran to the library to read books whenever you had free time right from the start of school, and were also very literary, maybe you'd have a chance too."
"Forget it..."
"Hirata-kun's study group this month really made me want to vomit from reading."
Sato grumbled.
In order to make the whole class pass, Yosuke Hirata had truly brought out an unprecedentedly tough attitude.
As long as their academic ability wasn't quite up to par, they were basically pressured by Hirata, including Hirata's nominal girlfriend, Kei Karuizawa.
At the same time, speaking of Yosuke Hirata, all three of them revealed a slightly worried expression.
Because Haruki Yamauchi hadn't gathered enough points within thirty minutes and his expulsion was confirmed, Hirata's mood had been obviously off since then.
It was just that Hirata wanted to be alone for a while, so they didn't have any very good solution either.
"Sigh..."
"I really don't understand why Hirata has to be like that over a mere Yamauchi..."
Kei also sighed along with them.
However, before Kei could finish sighing, she was grabbed somewhat excitedly by Maya Sato, who pointed in Subaru's direction.
In just this short moment, Subaru had been intercepted by several people.
It looked like it wasn't an ordinary greeting.
___
🔥 New stories are available now! 🔥
We're handing out that '25% bonus' that makes your wallet smile. 😄
✅ Access up to 40 advanced chapters of ALL stories!
✅ Receive exclusive content and updates!
Help us hit our community goals:
🎯 200 Powerstones = +1 Bonus Chapter for everyone
🚀 180 MEMBERS = +5 extra chapters of ALL STORIES!
👻 P - Walnutchan