"Ah~ I feel like someone is talking about me behind my back."
The next day, sitting in a classroom at Shuchi'in Academy, Nakano Yu yawned.
Bored, he pulled out his phone, wanting to see if what he did yesterday had made it into the news. Surprisingly, it hadn't. It seemed as if there was some invisible force suppressing all the waves.
Nakano Yu was already used to this, but he was a bit curious. To what extent would things have to escalate for those above to give up control of public opinion? Nakano Yu didn't know, nor did he feel like testing it.
Putting those thoughts aside, Nakano Yu was already about to scroll through some videos when a greeting sounded:
"Good morning, Nakano-kun."
"Hm, good morning, Kot… Setsuna-san."
Since he had already gotten used to Sobu High School, Nakano Yu subconsciously almost said the name Katsura Kotonoha, but when he looked up, he saw the cute but expressionless face of Kiyoura Setsuna.
"Kot?"
Kiyoura Setsuna clearly noticed Nakano Yu's slip and tilted her head slightly, her tone filled with a hint of confusion.
"That is Katsura Kotonoha, my fiancée."
Nakano Yu did not hesitate and admitted it directly.
"Fiancée… I see…"
After Nakano Yu said the word "fiancée," Kiyoura Setsuna was momentarily taken aback, but she quickly composed herself, although her voice carried a trace of barely hidden disappointment.
"Nakano-kun is truly fortunate to be able to be with the person he loves in the future."
Adjusting her emotions, Kiyoura Setsuna said it as if nothing had happened.
However, how could a girl's thoughts escape Nakano Yu? He wasn't blind, but he didn't expose her. Kiyoura Setsuna's personality was very strong; although on the surface she seemed like a stoic loli, she had her own perspective on the world.
In other words, Kiyoura Setsuna might not accept his harem dream. Since that was the case, Nakano Yu saw no need to provoke her.
Still, Nakano Yu didn't know that people always change, changing themselves for the person they love, including Kiyoura Setsuna.
"We haven't officially gotten engaged yet; it's too early to say all that."
Nakano Yu waved his hand. The engagement date with Katsura Kotonoha hadn't been set yet. Katsura Manami wanted to choose a favorable day, while Nakano Maruo was waiting for him to inform the Five Sisters.
Just the thought of the Five Sisters' reaction after learning about it gave Nakano Yu a headache.
"And that's already pretty good. Ogino Hikaru has been expelled, and those other two students who bullied me yesterday… is that something Nakano-kun did?"
Kiyoura Setsuna nodded slightly and suddenly mentioned Ogino Hikaru.
She had seen it that morning on the Shuchi'in Academy bulletin board; the notice was issued by the Student Council. As for the reason for the expulsion, there was no need to think naturally, it was because of the bullying incident.
"Isn't that pretty good?"
Hearing that, Nakano Yu didn't answer Kiyoura Setsuna's question directly, but spoke ambiguously.
"…Thank you, Nakano-kun. I'm really sorry for causing you so much trouble because of me. If… if Nakano-kun doesn't mind, this is a bento I made myself."
Looking at Nakano Yu for a while, Kiyoura Setsuna suddenly thanked him. While speaking, she carefully took out a neatly packed bento and placed it on Nakano Yu's desk.
Kiyoura Setsuna was not stupid. Yesterday Ogino Hikaru had bullied her, and Nakano Yu had taught him a lesson, and today he had been advised to leave the academy. Those two things were definitely connected.
Moreover, Kiyoura Setsuna had also heard that yesterday Ogino Hikaru called people to intercept Nakano Yu at the academy gate. At that time, she was still in the academy library, and as soon as she heard the news, she rushed to the Shuchi'in Academy school gate, but there was no one there.
Because of this, Kiyoura Setsuna had felt guilty all night, wanting to send a message to Nakano Yu to check if he was okay and apologize for the trouble she caused him, but then realized she didn't even have his contact information.
This made Kiyoura Setsuna even more uneasy. He was just a classmate she had recently met, yet he had gone to so much trouble for her.
"A handmade bento? I didn't bring one today, so thank you, Setsuna-san."
Looking at the bento Kiyoura Setsuna placed on the desk, Nakano Yu accepted it with a smile.
He wasn't a child; he knew that if he didn't accept the bento, Kiyoura Setsuna would feel even worse, while his acceptance would make her feel at least a little better.
Besides, he hadn't made a bento today. Itsuki had suddenly wanted to eat at the Shuchi'in Academy cafeteria, and since Nino had cooked last night, Nakano Yu hadn't touched the pot all night, so he hadn't prepared anything in advance.
Speaking of which, the cloth wrapping the bento was actually pink, with heart patterns, looking truly like a love bento.
"Since Setsuna-san made it, it must be really delicious."
Putting the bento aside, Nakano Yu complimented it even though he hadn't tried it yet.
"No… it's fine, a friend taught me."
Hearing that, Kiyoura Setsuna's cheeks almost imperceptibly flushed. She turned her head, not daring to look at Nakano Yu, and her voice became frighteningly quiet from embarrassment.
Seeing Kiyoura Setsuna like that, Nakano Yu inexplicably felt that she resembled Katsura Kotonoha; both had relatively gentle personalities and were equally prone to shyness.
I wonder how Kotoha is now.
Nakano Yu thought to himself, having not seen her for a while, and he missed her a little.
What Nakano Yu didn't know was that at that moment, Katsura Kotonoha, because Sobu High School had been bombarded, was at home receiving training as a young lady from Katsura Kokoro, and was planning to invite Nakano Yu on a date soon.
This Katsura Kokoro called — Operation: Capturing the Fiancée's Heart.
She was determined for her hopeless sister to completely capture Nakano Yu's heart.
Soon, classes began. The first period was history with Kirisu Mafuyu, and her first words upon entering the classroom were about the three students who had bullied Kiyoura Setsuna yesterday being advised to leave, and she warned the entire class not to bully others.
After that, Kirisu Mafuyu started her lecture.
Nakano Yu already knew everything Kirisu Mafuyu was talking about, so he looked out the window a little disinterestedly.
But not long after, half a piece of chalk, carrying a bit of dust, cut through the air and flew toward Nakano Yu.
The boy didn't even look at it; he just slightly tilted his head and avoided the chalk thrown by Kirisu Mafuyu.
He glanced sideways at Kirisu Mafuyu and saw the beautiful teacher standing at the podium, looking at him with an icy expression.
"Nakano-kun, please step outside with me. The rest of you, digest and understand what I've just taught. I will ask questions when I return."
Seeing Nakano Yu like that, Kirisu Mafuyu could not help but clench her fists, and black lines appeared on her pale face. Her cold voice echoed through the classroom. After saying that, Kirisu Mafuyu looked at Nakano Yu, signaling with her eyes for him to leave the classroom.
Seeing this, both Itsuki and Kiyoura Setsuna looked at Nakano Yu worriedly.
Itsuki thought that now they were at Shuchi'in Academy. If they were at Sobu High School, Nakano Yu would normally behave like this, and even Hiratsuka Shizuka wouldn't say anything, but now their homeroom teacher was Kirisu Mafuyu!
Wouldn't Yu get scolded by the teacher?
Kiyoura Setsuna was simply worried that Nakano Yu's anger toward the teacher might lead to disciplinary action. After all, she had always attended Shuchi'in Academy and knew how strict Kirisu Mafuyu was at school.
As the guys would say, she was like a cold mountain snow lotus, with thorns! Just touch it, and the icy thorns would pierce your fingers!
Noticing the worried looks of the two girls, Nakano Yu just gave them a reassuring sign, then followed Kirisu Mafuyu out of the classroom.
"Nakano-kun, why aren't you paying attention in my class?!"
Outside the classroom, Kirisu Mafuyu looked at Nakano Yu with great displeasure and asked him.
She admitted that what Nakano Yu had said yesterday made a lot of sense, that effort isn't just what is visible, but Nakano Yu's behavior today had nothing to do with effort; it was daydreaming during class, which was disrespectful to the teacher!
"Hm… it's not that Kirisu-sensei's lecture isn't interesting, and I didn't intend to disrespect the teacher. It's just that I've already learned these concepts and fully mastered them. Repetition would be meaningless, so I was thinking about other matters."
After a brief thought, Nakano Yu gave his explanation.
Hearing his explanation, Kirisu Mafuyu's anger eased a little, but she still looked at Nakano Yu with some dissatisfaction.
Honestly, Kirisu Mafuyu didn't believe that Nakano Yu had fully grasped this area yet. After all, how old was the boy in front of her? Even she, Kirisu Mafuyu, wouldn't dare to claim that she had fully mastered it!
"Nakano-kun, I know you were always first in your generation at Sobu High School, but now you are at Shuchi'in Academy. The pressure and competition here are completely different from Sobu High School. You can't be complacent. Learning has no end, and besides, that's no excuse to tune out during class."
Taking a deep breath, Kirisu Mafuyu said seriously. She truly believed that Nakano Yu was a promising talent. If he studied diligently, his future achievements would surely not be inferior to hers.
"Kirisu-sensei, I know you mean well, but I have really mastered this material. I know words are cheap, so how about this: let's make a bet."
Kirisu Mafuyu's attitude was much milder than yesterday, so Nakano Yu naturally became gentle and respectful toward the teacher, even proposing a bet.
"What kind of bet?"
Hearing this, Kirisu Mafuyu raised an eyebrow. She had nothing against bets related to learning; on the contrary, such competitive things could motivate students to study.
"Shuchi'in Academy has a weekly test, and this week is no exception. I want to bet with Kirisu-sensei whether I can get first place in the generation on this week's test. If I don't succeed, I will listen to Kirisu-sensei and study diligently from now on. If I succeed, then…"
Nakano Yu spoke, but before he could finish, Kirisu Mafuyu interrupted him, speaking with great certainty:
"Impossible! The current top student of the generation is the new Student Council President, Shinomiya Kaguya. Shinomiya-san studies very diligently. If Nakano-kun wants first place in the generation, he had better study seriously."
"Let's make the bet first. If I succeed, then Kirisu-sensei will grant me one wish. How does that sound?"
Interrupted by Kirisu Mafuyu, Nakano Yu was not angry. Instead, he presented the second half of the bet.
"…If it's not an excessive request, I agree!"
After a brief thought, Kirisu Mafuyu gladly accepted Nakano Yu's bet. She still didn't believe that Nakano Yu could surpass Shinomiya Kaguya and become the top student at Shuchi'in Academy!
"Of course, it won't be an excessive request."
Seeing that Kirisu Mafuyu agreed, Nakano Yu said with a smile.
Just as Kirisu Mafuyu didn't believe he could achieve first place in the generation, Nakano Yu also didn't believe he couldn't.
There were still three days until the test, and in three days, the outcome of the bet would be revealed!