Around noon, with plenty of ti left, Shichen brought a homade bento and left the café—this ti going alone to the Toyogasaki Private Academy.
He walked sowhat unsteadily, as if he'd just climbed ten flights of stairs and was on the verge of stumbling. Yet his expression was positively glowing—eyes bright, energy high.
Two completely contradictory states in one person seed absurd. But for a young man, it was perfectly logical to anyone who's experienced it:
He'd tasted, for the first ti, the ecstasy of adulthood. It was impossible to hold back, but despite indulging himself, he didn't feel truly exhausted.
His body: "You liar!"
His soul: "I'm just telling the truth!"
Besides, he'd been with an adorable girl like Tohru. Sure, his legs might be wobbly, but ntally he felt fantastic. With a short rest, he'd probably be right as rain—despite Tohru having claid him three tis.
Yes, "claid." He was definitely on the receiving end, not the aggressor.
Shichen fully realized now that Tohru was 100% a "lusty little dragon," too innocent to even blush. She'd even "helpfully" let him lie still while she did the squatting. A feast for his eyes, though it bruised his pride a bit. Thankfully, he wasn't one to fuss over such things.
And who'd be upset about being overshadowed by Tohru, anyway? Given she was a dragon—her stamina clearly dwarfed his own. As he left, Tohru had taken a pink-stained cloud along. Apparently she was well-versed enough in human culture to consider it a souvenir. He only hoped she wouldn't embarrass them in front of others later.
Anyway, he no longer worried. Tohru might have boosted him to "dragon knight," but as she'd also claid his "first ti," that raised her status in a certain sense—though Tohru's innocence made it unlikely to beco awkward.
Pushing aside further musings, Shichen inhaled deeply, steadied himself, and returned to his usual composure before pulling out his phone to ssage Kasumigaoka Utaha, telling her to et him at the school gate.
After all, he'd promised to deliver her lunch. Tohru's insatiable eagerness had delayed him quite a while, so halfway through the morning Utaha had ssaged, wondering what was taking so long. Lying around on a cloud not moving, Shichen had had a free hand to answer, saying sothing had co up and he'd be there in a bit—"in a bit" turned into over an hour. Fortunately, it was still lunch break.
In a short while, Utaha walked out of the school building, heading for the gate with a displeased expression.
Her tall figure, glossy black hair, and remarkable presence caught the attention of students glancing down from the building's windows. She was well-known around campus.
Shichen was too focused to notice Utaha's irritated look. Instead, he caught sight of several furtive heads at those windows. Unsurprisingly, all of them sported short hair—likely teenage boys.
Adolescents in that stage were self-conscious but also curious. They wanted to look at cute girls yet hesitated, hearts throbbing but lacking courage. They couldn't resist a peek.
It was the purest kind of teenage flutter, normally dood to heartbreak.
A few recognized Kasumigaoka Utaha was clearly walking straight toward Shichen at the gate. Seeing his face, they felt an instant pang of unease—male students don't necessarily feel inferior to a handso guy, but they do worry that the girl they like might show him favor.
Given how well Utaha and Shichen matched—anyone could guess their relationship might be more than casual. The dread of heartbreak promptly spread among the watchers.
"Crap, Kasumigaoka-senpai has a boyfriend now!"
"No way—she's never been seen talking to any male student in this school. I've never even seen her carry on a normal conversation with a guy."
"What if it's soone from outside the school?"
"Huh?"
"He's so handso—could that be her boyfriend?"
"Boyfriend? Are you sure?"
"Go see for yourself."
"Whoa! Kasumigaoka's acting all cute, waving her little fists at him—like a playful, girly move…I've never seen her like that… oh, they're holding hands!"
"For real?"
During lunch break, the school was abuzz, but the two at the center of the rumor mill hadn't noticed a thing.
"You're just now getting here? I'm practically starving!" Utaha complained the mont she reached him at the gate.
"Sorry, sorry. Got held up," Shichen said, handing over the bento and clasping his hands in an apology.
"I thought you're usually super free?"
"I can't be free all the ti…"
"Hmph. I say you did this on purpose so I'd go hungry," she grumbled, letting out a half-snort.
"How could I do that? I'd never let you starve."
Utaha pouted, making a small fist to punch him, but he effortlessly caught it, holding her hand.
"Hey, what do you think you're doing? People are watching—my schoolmates!" She struggled, but he didn't let go.
"You started it."
"Well, you made starve. And I'll have you know, I'm pretty well-known here. You really want to keep holding my hand in front of so many onlookers?"
"What's wrong with that? I'm not from your school. It'll be you who gets in trouble." Shichen shrugged nonchalantly.
"What trouble? I don't get close to anyone in this place." Utaha didn't care either.
"Is that so? Well, let's just keep holding hands, then." Shichen tightened his grip.
"… I still need to eat!" Utaha rolled her eyes at him.
"Fine, fine…" He released her and asked, "Is it all right if I co inside?"
"What for?"
"I have sothing to tell you," Shichen answered somberly.
Utaha's brows furrowed. "Sounds important?"
"Well… it's both important and unimportant."
"Which is it?" she demanded, glaring.
"Ahem… let's call it important."
"All right, co on in, then."
"Wait, that's really okay?" Shichen glanced warily at the security guard in the gatehouse.
"With , no problem." Utaha marched ahead.
"Huh?" Shichen still seed skeptical but followed her anyway, using the side gate. To his surprise, the guard nodded to him, so Shichen politely returned the gesture and hurried after Utaha.
"How co?" he asked.
"What do you an?"
"You and the guard know each other?" Shichen questioned.
"Not personally, but he knows ," she replied plainly.
"…"
She gave him a smug look. "I'm top of my year—therefore, certain privileges."
"So if you have good grades, you can just do whatever you want?"
"You exaggerate," Utaha said, though a hint of pride showed.
"Still, not by much… Where are we going?"
"The rooftop. I'll eat, you talk. That's my turf."
"Might others see us? Not worried they'll get the wrong idea?"
"Afraid?" She turned it on him.
"I've nothing to fear." Shichen grinned, extending his hand and grasping hers. "Do you dare?"
"Why wouldn't I?" she replied with a faint smile, grasping his back.
"…" Shichen paused, surprised she actually played along.
"Let's go."
Utaha led the way, fingers twined with his, into the school building, from the front doors up the stairs. Unsurprisingly, the place was crowded with curious onlookers—though everyone kept their distance, lining the classroom doorways or peeping from a safer vantage. They didn't dare draw near.
Curiosity abounded, and so did heartbreak. But excitent was highest—Kasumigaoka the school celebrity apparently had a boyfriend from outside. For her fellow students, it was like a celebrity scandal. They buzzed with gossip.
So broadcast it imdiately in group chats, others squealed among themselves. Boys and girls alike were enthralled; it was more exciting than a last-minute school holiday announcent.
In first-year Class G, a few girls darted to the back rows, where a golden-haired twin-tailed girl sat quietly, wearing a blank expression.
"Sawamura, guess what? That Kasumigaoka-senpai seems to have found herself a boyfriend!"
"Unbelievable. But I guess that ans she won't be competing for popularity with you anymore."
"Didn't I say I don't care about that?" Eriri Spencer Sawamura retorted, exasperated.
"But the guy's super handso, like soone straight out of a painting."
"Is that so?" Eriri showed no interest. No matter how handso he was, could he compare to her "prince" from childhood? The one she'd t so long ago was definitely the most beautiful of all.
"Don't believe ? Check it out," one of the girls said, holding out her phone, displaying a photo she'd just stealthily snapped.
At first, Eriri only glanced half-heartedly, but the mont she saw the picture of Shichen, she froze.
~~~
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