After parting ways with Shiraishi Asuka, Shiki Natsu didn't rush back to the dormitory.
Instead, he walked aimlessly through Keyaki Mall, pondering where to spend the remaining ti.
Just then, a vibrant voice rang out from behind him.
"Shiki-kouhai!"
The voice was crisp and lodious, carrying a unique sense of vitality.
Shiki Natsu stopped and turned around.
Coming into view was a girl with dazzling long orange hair.
It was Asahina Nazuna from Class 2-A.
Unlike her usual appearance in a school uniform, today Asahina Nazuna had changed into a rather stylish casual outfit.
Her upper body was clad in a loose, off-white knit sweater with a sowhat unique neckline design that slightly revealed her exquisite collarbone and fair shoulders. Her lower body was paired with an orange pleated mini-skirt, perfectly showcasing her long, straight, beautiful legs. On her feet, she wore a pair of thick-soled loafers.
"Asahina-senpai?"
Shiki Natsu looked at the girl walking towards him with so surprise, a look of unexpectedness appearing on his face.
"What a coincidence to et Asahina-senpai here."
"Yeah, it really is a coincidence!"
Asahina Nazuna walked quickly up to Shiki Natsu, her face brimming with a happy smile, her large eyes curving into crescents.
"Actually, when I saw your back just now, I thought I was seeing things. After all, Shiki-kouhai is usually such a busy person who is elusive like a dragon. I didn't expect you to be wandering around here alone."
"What busy person? I'm just an ordinary student."
Shiki Natsu smiled, his gaze naturally sweeping over Asahina Nazuna's outfit for the day, offering a moderate complint.
"Senpai's outfit today suits you very well. It's very energetic."
"Hehe, of course."
Asahina Nazuna raised her chin proudly, then seed to rember sothing.
"By the way, Shiki-kouhai, are you ready for the duel with Miyabi?"
"Right now, the entire second year—no, the entire school is paying attention to the duel between you and Miyabi."
"That guy Miyabi has been talking big, you know. He said he would definitely beat you to a pulp, claiming he could win even without going all out."
Speaking of this, Asahina Nazuna sighed, seeming to have a headache over her childhood friend's arrogant behavior.
"Although I think Miyabi is indeed too confident sotis, since he dares to say that, he must have made foolproof preparations. Shiki-kouhai, you absolutely must not let your guard down."
"Don't worry, I'm already prepared."
Shiki Natsu maintained that calm smile, his eyes showing not a trace of panic.
"I'm flattered that Nagumo-senpai values so much. However, wanting to beat to a pulp... I'm afraid it won't be that easy."
Seeing Shiki Natsu's confident appearance, Asahina Nazuna blinked, then revealed an interested expression.
"It seems Shiki-kouhai is very confident."
"Of course. Which side will Asahina-senpai support this ti?"
Shiki Natsu looked at her, asking back half-jokingly.
"Hmm..."
Asahina Nazuna thought for a second, then answered without hesitation.
"Of course I support you, Shiki-kouhai!"
"? That decisive?"
"Naturally!"
Asahina Nazuna clenched her fist, speaking with a face full of righteousness.
"That guy Miyabi has really been too full of himself lately. He always puts on a high-and-mighty attitude that's annoying just to look at. If Shiki-kouhai can win against him, it would be just right to dampen his spirit and make him wake up a bit."
"Then, thank you very much for your support, Asahina-senpai."
Shiki Natsu let out a light chuckle.
"By the way, this is for you."
As she spoke, Asahina Nazuna opened the small bag with cute ornants she carried with her and rummaged around inside for a while.
Then, she took out sothing resembling an amulet and handed it to Shiki Natsu.
This amulet... looked... slightly special.
The fabric was ordinary cotton, the stitching looked a bit crooked, and even the thread ends at the seal were exposed a little on the outside.
Embroidered on it with sowhat clumsy craftsmanship were the words "Certain Victory." It didn't look like sothing bought, but rather like... handmade.
"This is..."
Shiki Natsu received this slightly crude amulet with so surprise.
"This is a study charm I personally made for Shiki-kouhai!"
Asahina Nazuna puffed out her chest, a trace of shyness on her face.
"Although it looks a little... well, plain, I heard that as long as you wear it with sincerity, it might increase your study efficiency and help you in exams like divine assistance!"
Listening to Asahina Nazuna's words full of taphysical color, and looking at her earnest expression, it was obvious that this senpai actually believed in such things deep down.
This kind of gap moe made her seem sowhat cute.
Shiki Natsu didn't show any disdain because of the amulet's crudeness. On the contrary, he nodded solemnly and put the amulet into his pocket.
"Thank you, Senpai. I will cherish it."
"Mhm-hmm, this is actually the first ti I've given a study charm to anyone."
Seeing Shiki Natsu accept it, Asahina Nazuna appeared very happy, and her tone beca lighter.
"You have to take good care of it! This is also a thank-you gift for Shiki-kouhai helping treat my foot injury last ti."
"That ti was just a small effort."
Shiki Natsu responded.
"Alright, the gift is delivered, and the support is expressed."
Asahina Nazuna clapped her hands and asked again.
"Where does Shiki-kouhai plan to go next?"
"I plan to just wander around casually and kill so ti."
Shiki Natsu shrugged, then asked in return.
"What about Asahina-senpai? Being here alone, are you waiting for soone?"
"Sigh, don't ntion it."
At the ntion of this, Asahina Nazuna's originally smiling face instantly collapsed, and she twitched her lips in depression.
"I originally made an appointnt with Moeka to go shopping, but she just ssaged saying sothing urgent ca up suddenly and stood up directly!"
"She said sothing like 'I'll definitely make it up next ti.' It really pisses off; I had already changed my clothes and co out!"
"That really is regrettable."
"Yeah, it's a rare weekend; I can't just go back dejectedly like this."
Asahina Nazuna kicked at a non-existent pebble by her foot with so unwillingness.
"In that case..."
Shiki Natsu looked at the slightly puffing Asahina Nazuna and issued an invitation.
"Then, does Asahina-senpai intend to wander around casually with ? It just so happens I don't have any specific destination either. Perhaps it will be more interesting with two people."
"?"
Hearing Shiki Natsu's invitation, Asahina Nazuna's eyes instantly lit up, revealing a look of great interest.
"Is it really okay?"
"Of course, as long as Senpai doesn't mind ."
"Then it's settled!"
Asahina Nazuna imdiately nodded and agreed, the previous gloom swept away completely.
Then, as if discovering so new continent, she leaned in close to Shiki Natsu and teased with a playful look.
"But speaking of which, did Shiki-kouhai really not have an appointnt to go shopping with other girls today?"
"To actually choose to accompany an old senpai like ?"
"Asahina-senpai is only one year older than ."
Shiki Natsu smiled helplessly and corrected her.
"Why do you feel you are an old senpai? In my eyes, Senpai is full of youthful vitality. I can't see where you are old at all."
"Hehe, even if it's just one year older, I still have the deanor of an older sister!"
Asahina Nazuna raised her chin proudly, wearing an expression that said, "Hurry up and call big sister."
Looking at the girl before him, Shiki Natsu really found it hard to associate Asahina Nazuna with a "mature and steady senpai."
Rather, compared to Asahina Nazuna, he, who always maintained calm and reason, appeared more mature.
People who didn't know them seeing them walking together would probably assu Shiki Natsu was the senpai taking care of soone, while Asahina Nazuna was the willful kouhai who needed looking after.
"Hey, Shiki-kouhai."
Asahina Nazuna sharply noticed Shiki Natsu's subtle little gaze and imdiately narrowed her eyes in alertness.
"Your look is very rude, you know!"
"You must be thinking about sothing quite rude! Like 'this senpai looks so childish' or 'she doesn't look like a senpai at all', right?"
"No, absolutely not."
Shiki Natsu imdiately denied it flatly, an innocent smile hanging on his face.
"I was just thinking that Senpai's personality is actually quite good. It's very relaxing to get along with."
"Liar! Your eyes clearly betrayed you!"
Asahina Nazuna didn't believe his nonsense at all and snorted, pretending to be angry.
"There definitely was!"
"Since you secretly ridiculed in your heart, you have to pay the price!"
She rolled her eyes, pointing in a direction not far away.
"Decided! To punish Shiki-kouhai for his rude thoughts just now, take to the arcade to catch dolls."
"Catch dolls?"
"That's right! I saw it when I passed by just now. That newly released cat plushie is super cute! But I can't catch it myself. I heard Shiki-kouhai is an expert; can I count on you?"
"Of course."
Shiki Natsu agreed with a smile.
Asahina Nazuna led Shiki Natsu to the crane ga area of the arcade.
A staff mber who was originally patrolling suddenly changed his expression.
He stared fixedly at Shiki Natsu's face, his expression instantly becoming unusually grave.
"That... that legendary 'Crane Ga Killer' has actually co again?!"
The staff mber exclaid inwardly.
His gaze then swept over Asahina Nazuna beside Shiki Natsu.
"And there seems to be a different girl by his side again..."
"Does having good crane ga skills really bring such high popularity? Damn normie!"
The staff mber fell into a state of envy, jealousy, and hate.
Asahina Nazuna was completely unaware of the staff mber's look of facing a formidable enemy. She excitedly shuttled between the rows of crane machines, sizing up the plushies inside.
"Wah! It's this one!"
She pointed at the small cat plushie with big eyes, turning her head to say to Shiki Natsu, stars twinkling in her eyes.
"Shiki-kouhai, I want this one!"
"No problem, leave it to ."
Shiki Natsu nodded confidently and walked up to the crane machine.
anwhile, in a corner behind the counter, two staff mbers were conducting a covert and tense exchange.
"Hey, has the claw strength of that machine been adjusted?"
The staff mber with the grave expression from earlier lowered his voice and asked urgently.
"Don't worry."
The other staff mber patted his chest in guarantee, a sinister smile appearing on his face.
"I've already adjusted the claw strength to the loosest setting, and I also set a probability lock. Unless a certain number of attempts is reached, it absolutely won't pick anything up!"
"Wait and see, this ti we definitely won't let him succeed in one go! I bet my dignity as a crane ga staff mber on it!"
However, just as they were solemnly raising this flag...
Shiki Natsu had already inserted the coin and was skillfully manipulating the joystick.
His movents were smooth and flowing, without any superfluous hesitation.
Adjust position, predict the landing point, press the button.
The claw, which the staff had placed high hopes on and claid had the "lowest grip strength," descended slowly. It hooked onto the center of gravity of the cat plushie with incomparable precision, even utilizing the gap in the plushie's tag.
Imdiately after, the claw rose steadily.
Although it shook slightly when it reached the highest point, it did not let go. Instead, it carried the plushie directly to the exit.
Thud!
The sound of the plushie falling was crisp and pleasing to the ear.
"Done."
Shiki Natsu bent down, took the plushie out from the exit, and handed it to Asahina Nazuna beside him.
"?!"
The two staff mbers in the corner were dumbfounded seeing this scene. Their eyes nearly popped out, and their jaws dropped to the floor.
"This... how is this possible?!"
"I clearly adjusted the probability to the lowest! This isn't scientific!"
"Wah! So amazing!"
Asahina Nazuna accepted the plushie in surprise, hugging it in her arms and nuzzling it, unable to put it down.
"I spent a whole 1000 points trying to catch this doll before and didn't succeed!"
"And you caught it in one go! Thank you so much!"
"It was just a small effort. I'm glad Senpai likes it."
Shiki Natsu smiled faintly.
Just as the atmosphere between the two was harmonious because of catching the doll, an untily voice suddenly cut in.
"Hmph."
With a cold snort, Nagumo Miyabi walked over with a second-year senior girl who looked sowhat familiar.
When he saw Shiki Natsu and Asahina Nazuna talking and laughing, and specifically the plushie Shiki Natsu had caught for her in Asahina Nazuna's arms, Nagumo Miyabi's originally sowhat calm face instantly turned gloomy.
He directly ignored the senior girl beside him and strode up to Shiki Natsu, his gaze full of hostility and provocation.
"Shiki-kouhai, you really have enough free ti. If that's the case, I advise Shiki-kouhai to leave this school as soon as possible. This place isn't suitable for a guy like you who spends his days in leisure."
"Miyabi!"
Hearing these words filled with aggression, Asahina Nazuna frowned and couldn't help but speak up in defense.
"That's too much."
Seeing his childhood friend actually defending Shiki Natsu imdiately, the anger in Nagumo Miyabi's heart burned even hotter.
He turned his head, staring coldly at Shiki Natsu.
"There are only two days left, Shiki-kouhai. Do you not intend to struggle anymore and plan to give up directly?"
"Ever since we made the bet, I've heard that you just hang out with different girls every day and haven't reviewed at all."
Speaking of this, he looked at Asahina Nazuna, a tone of 'hating iron for not becoming steel' in his voice.
"Nazuna, you've heard it too, right? This guy hasn't studied at all. Every day he just mixes with other girls, wasting ti."
"Don't stay with this kind of person who abandons himself to depravity; it will influence you."
"Although we are all in Class A, you must rember, there is still a gap between us and him."
A look of arrogance appeared on Nagumo Miyabi's face.
"A guy like him who only relies on talent to get by will soon fall out of Class A. It's not impossible for him to even be expelled."
Facing this string of ridicule and belittlent from Nagumo Miyabi, Shiki Natsu's mood wasn't affected.
He didn't even furrow his brows; instead, he maintained that light and breezy smile.
"Nagumo-senpai has said so much..."
Shiki Natsu spoke leisurely.
"Could it be that you are afraid of being defeated by ? So you rushed here to find a bit of psychological comfort by belittling ?"
Nagumo Miyabi scoffed coldly, as if he had heard a joke.
"How is that possible? Simply nonsense!"
"I absolutely will not lose to a guy like you! You just wait to make a fool of yourself in public on that day!"
"Is that so? Then I look forward to Nagumo-senpai's performance."
Shiki Natsu shrugged, then took out the crude study charm Asahina Nazuna had just given him from his pocket and shook it in his hand.
"Speaking of which, I have to thank Asahina-senpai."
"With this study charm Senpai personally gave , I can perform beyond my level in the upcoming exam."
"Wh... What?!"
Nagumo Miyabi's gaze landed on the study charm in Shiki Natsu's hand, and his originally gloomy face instantly filled with disbelief and shock.
That was... a handmade amulet?
Asahina Nazuna actually made a study charm for Shiki Natsu with her own hands?!
One had to know, even he, the childhood friend who grew up with her, had never received a study charm handmade by Asahina Nazuna!
A strong surge of jealousy and anger instantly welled up in his heart, burning Nagumo Miyabi's reason to the point of snapping.
"Good! Good! Good!"
He said "good" three tis in a row, each one carrying gnashing anger.
"I didn't expect it to be so lively early in the morning."
At this mont, a voice carrying a slight touch of composure rang out.
It was a tall girl, her height exceeding one hundred and seventy centiters.
____
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