Shiki Natsu's voice fell incredibly harshly on Sakayanagi Arisu's ears.
"An ordinary person with a little bit of cleverness..."
These few words were like heavy slaps, striking fiercely across her face.
It had to be known that ever since she was a child, no matter where she was, she had always been an existence crowned with the title of "genius."
Her wisdom, her insight, her ability to strategize—these had always been the capital she was most proud of.
But now...
Absolutely everything had been denied.
"I'm not..."
She subconsciously wanted to retort, wanted to loudly tell Shiki Natsu that she was special, a one-of-a-kind genius.
But...
The words reached the tip of her tongue, yet she simply couldn't voice them out.
Because the cruel reality was laid bare right before her eyes.
She lost.
Moreover, it wasn't losing to the unfathomable Shiki Natsu, but rather losing to that "ordinary person" she had always looked down upon, Kamuro Masumi.
An ordinary, even sowhat clumsy mortal, relying rely on a few weeks of effort and Shiki Natsu's tutoring, had crushed her head-on in the domain she excelled at the most.
How could this let her retort?
All her pride, all her self-esteem, seed to turn into a joke in this mont.
A sense of humiliation continuously churned within Sakayanagi Arisu's heart.
Those cute purple eyes that originally always sparkled with a confident light were now gradually veiled by a faint mist.
Tears swirled in her eye sockets, as if they would burst through the dam at any given mont.
With this young lady's personality, if she cried, she would probably cry for a very, very long ti, right?
Of course, Shiki Natsu didn't have the sick hobby of making girls cry.
Especially in this kind of public setting, with a group of proctors standing right beside them.
If he really made the Chairman's precious daughter cry, who knows, that guy Sakayanagi Narumori might actually make things difficult for him later on.
Although he wasn't afraid, less trouble was better than more.
"That is all I have to say."
Shiki Natsu stopped his speech at the right mont, his tone softening slightly.
"As for how you should choose your path going forward—whether to continue imrsing yourself in the false dream of being a 'genius,' or to recognize reality and start anew...
"That is entirely up to your own choice, Sakayanagi."
After saying this, he paused. Shifting the topic, a playful smile hung on his lips once again.
"However, before that...
"Please absolutely rember to fulfill the wager between us.
"Even if you're going to cry, you still have to settle the bill first."
Shiki Natsu didn't want to generously give up this hard-won spoil of war just because of a few drops of a girl's tears.
No matter what, this was the fruit of victory that Kamuro Masumi had gone all out to win back.
If he just let Sakayanagi Arisu off because of soft-heartedness, wouldn't he be taking a massive loss?
Not to ntion...
After Kamuro Masumi's victory, he still had to fulfill the condition he promised her.
If he didn't recoup a little sothing from Sakayanagi Arisu's end, this transaction wouldn't be cost-effective no matter how he calculated it.
Paying no more attention to Sakayanagi Arisu, who stood blankly in place with a complex expression, Shiki Natsu took Kamuro Masumi and left the academic building.
With the exam finished, the ti had also just reached the lunch hour.
"Masumi."
Shiki Natsu turned his head, looking at the young girl beside him.
"Do you want to co back to my dorm for lunch?"
Kamuro Masumi froze for a mont, then nodded, a trace of imperceptible pleasant surprise flashing through her purple eyes.
"Mm... alright."
Going to Shiki Natsu's dorm for lunch on a weekend was indeed quite a rare occurrence for her.
After all, from what she knew, whenever the weekend arrived, Shiki Natsu was always surrounded by other girls.
But today...
Since he was actively inviting her, Kamuro Masumi naturally wouldn't be so foolish as to refuse.
Actually, before Shiki Natsu issued his invitation, a thought had also flashed through her mind.
Should she... invite him to her own dorm?
And then personally prepare a al for him with her own hands?
But just as this thought sprouted, she completely snuffed it out herself.
No, no way...
Her current skill level was still completely inadequate!
If the food she made turned out to be too awful, it would be far too embarrassing...
She should wait until she practiced more in the future before bringing it up.
...
Returning to Shiki Natsu's dorm.
Shiki Natsu skillfully changed into his slippers, turned around to look at Kamuro Masumi, and revealed a smile on his face.
"Masumi, congratulations once again on your victory."
Hearing these words, Kamuro Masumi nodded gently, an indescribable sense of accomplishnt welling up in her heart.
It was true.
She had actually, truly defeated that arrogantly insufferable Sakayanagi Arisu.
It had to be known, during the pop quiz just two weeks ago, there was still quite a gap between her and Sakayanagi Arisu.
But now...
In just a little over two weeks, she had crossed this chasm and stood in the position of the victor.
All of this...
"This is all thanks to you."
Kamuro Masumi raised her head, those aloof eyes appearing exceptionally serious at this mont.
"If you hadn't been constantly helping review, preparing questions for ... wanting to defeat Sakayanagi would have been fundantally impossible for ."
She was very clear in her heart.
The credit for this victory belonged to Shiki Natsu.
"Hehe, don't say that."
Shiki Natsu smiled and waved his hand, walking to the fridge to take out a bottle of juice and handing it to her.
"It also involves your own hard work, Masumi.
"If you weren't willing to learn yourself, I wouldn't be able to teach you even if I had the abilities of the heavens.
"Just how hard you've worked during this period, I've seen it all with my own eyes."
"..."
Hearing this sentence, the hand Kamuro Masumi used to grip the juice bottle tightened slightly, and a blush involuntarily flew across her fair cheeks.
So...
Her efforts, her dedication... he had been seeing it all along?
This feeling of being watched over, of being acknowledged, caused her heartbeat to involuntarily quicken a few beats.
Very quickly, Shiki Natsu got busy in the kitchen.
In no ti, a few dishes perfectly balanced in color, aroma, and taste were served on the table.
The two sat facing each other, enjoying this rare period of tranquility.
Kamuro Masumi ate her food in small bites, glancing stealthily at Shiki Natsu across from her from ti to ti.
She opened her mouth, seemingly wanting to say sothing, but the words reached her lips only to be swallowed back down.
After doing this repeatedly several tis, Shiki Natsu finally set down his chopsticks.
He wiped his mouth with a napkin and, looking at Kamuro Masumi's hesitant appearance, asked with a smile.
"What's wrong, Masumi?
"Is there sothing you want to say to ?"
He paused, a asure of understanding in his gaze.
"Is it about... that agreent?"
Since it had been brought out into the open, Kamuro Masumi decided to stop acting coy.
She took a deep breath, put down her chopsticks, and nodded.
"Mm. I want to use that promised condition... is now okay?"
"Of course, I am at your service anyti."
Shiki Natsu leaned back in his chair, watching her with a smile.
"Then... I'm going to say it."
Kamuro Masumi's voice trembled slightly.
Shiki Natsu nodded again, his gaze gentle.
Being stared at by him with this kind of look, Kamuro Masumi felt her cheeks burning astonishingly hot, and those purple eyes didn't dare to look directly at him, becoming slightly evasive.
"I hope..."
She bit her lip and finally summoned the courage to speak.
"For the following questions, you have to... answer completely truthfully."
Shiki Natsu slightly raised an eyebrow, a trace of surprise flashing through his eyes.
He had originally thought she would use this rare opportunity to bring up a request for him to accompany her on a date, or perhaps ask for so special gift.
He didn't expect...
It was actually just to get a promise of a "truthful answer"?
But thinking about it again...
If she wanted a date, given their current relationship, she actually didn't need to use this condition at all.
As long as she asked, he wouldn't refuse.
"Alright."
Shiki Natsu nodded seriously.
"Since this is your wish, then I promise you.
"Ask away."
Kamuro Masumi raised her eyes and looked at Shiki Natsu.
In those purple pupils, a light flickered slightly, intertwining anticipation and apprehension.
She was hesitating.
She was afraid.
If she voiced the following words out loud, then...
This ambiguous veil between them would be completely torn away.
Perhaps, everything would beco irreversible.
But...
She didn't want to continue waiting in such an unclear manner anymore. Furthermore, currently wearing the lucky hairpin Shiki Natsu had gifted her, she should be very lucky. She didn't know since when, but Kamuro Masumi had developed a superstition toward this seemingly ordinary hairpin gifted by Shiki Natsu—a hairpin that could bring luck.
"Natsu..."
Kamuro Masumi took a deep breath, then slowly spoke. Her voice wasn't loud, but it was very clear.
"How... exactly do you view ?"
In order to prevent Shiki Natsu from misunderstanding, she specifically added another sentence.
"I an... as a mber of the opposite sex."
Hearing this question, Shiki Natsu froze slightly.
Imdiately after, looking at the young girl's face written full of nervousness and earnestness, he instantly understood everything in his heart.
So... that was what she ant.
"If it is this question..."
He looked into her eyes and delivered the answer, pausing after every single word.
"I like you, Masumi.
"It's the kind of like... towards the opposite sex."
Hearing this answer, Kamuro Masumi's entire being froze directly on the spot.
Her brain seed to crash in this instant, completely unable to process this sudden influx of information.
She...
She had clearly only asked for his opinion of her.
How...
How did Shiki Natsu just directly confess?!
By the ti her brain restarted its functions, a massive wave of heat instantly swept over her entire body.
Her cheeks turned bright red at a speed visible to the naked eye, to the point where even the roots of her ears and her neck were dyed in a layer of pink.
Shiki Natsu... actually liked her?
Did this... did this count as being confessed to?!
The imnse joy almost drowned her.
But...
Kamuro Masumi was not completely blinded by this sudden happiness.
She forced herself to calm down.
Even if she was still dying of embarrassnt in her heart, there were so things that she absolutely had to ask clearly.
"Then..."
She raised her head, those moist eyes locked tightly onto Shiki Natsu, and asked that most fatal question.
"Then regarding... the other students... and those other girls... do you also view them the sa way?"
This question was extrely sharp, perhaps even sowhat inappropriate for the occasion.
But Shiki Natsu did not evade it.
Since he had promised to answer truthfully, he wouldn't lie.
"Mm."
He nodded, his tone calm and honest.
"I also like them."
Hearing this expected yet incomparably cruel answer, Kamuro Masumi's shoulders trembled slightly.
She looked at Shiki Natsu, the light in her eyes dimming a few fractions, carrying a complex and hard-to-understand emotion.
Actually...
Ever since a long ti ago, she had already faintly guessed it.
For soone like Shiki Natsu, how could he possibly belong to only one person?
"I really hate two-tirs..."
Kamuro Masumi lowered her head.
"People who juggle multiple boats... I hate them even more."
Shiki Natsu didn't speak, rely listening quietly.
"But."
Kamuro Masumi slowly raised her head, and in those purple eyes, a dazzling light gradually returned.
"I like you, Natsu.
"That is a fact.
"No matter how much of a playboy you are, it is an unchangeable fact.
"I feel happy because I am spending ti with you.
"And I also feel happy because you just said... that you like too."
Speaking up to here, the corners of her mouth curved into a bitter yet relieved smile.
"If I wanted to stop a playboy like you from building a harem... it definitely wouldn't work, right?
"After all... you are just that kind of greedy bad guy.
"But..."
Kamuro Masumi's voice choked up slightly, but her gaze beca even more resolute.
"I also can't imagine... what I would beco if you truly kept your distance from and we beca like strangers from then on.
"I definitely wouldn't be able to bear it.
"I've already gotten used to the days with you by my side, gotten used to your gentleness...
"Even if you fall in love with other girls and get together with them, I still like you, Natsu... so..."
Just as she gathered all her courage and prepared to say the decisive words, "Please go out with ."
A slender index finger gently pressed against her lips, stopping her subsequent words.
"Shh—"
Shiki Natsu looked at her, his eyes full of tenderness.
"Let say the remaining half of the sentence. After all, I am a playboy, and since Masumi has already mustered up so much courage, I naturally have to respond."
Kamuro Masumi stared blankly at Shiki Natsu who was close at hand, feeling the temperature of the fingertip on her lips, her heart feeling as if it were about to leap out of her chest.
Shiki Natsu withdrew his finger, slowly stood up, walked over to stand in front of Kamuro Masumi, and took her small hand.
"Masumi, would you be willing to go out with ?"
Shiki Natsu earnestly gazed into Kamuro Masumi's purple eyes, his gaze gentle.
"Mm!"
Kamuro Masumi watched the scene before her and nodded, those purple eyes now entirely filled with joy.
That tender little hand could feel the temperature transmitting from Shiki Natsu's palm, a reassuring warmth.
For Kamuro Masumi, a young girl who had never experienced romance, there was currently nothing happier than receiving a confession from the person she liked.
[Ding~]
[CG53: Confession (Kamuro Masumi)]
[I want to be with Natsu, I want it so much.]
[Congratulations to the host for obtaining Skill Card: Instant Transmission (After using this skill, you can reach the side of a designated person at any ti. Requires the person to be dating the host. No cooldown.)]
Please go out with
____
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