"You took way too long buying drinks!"

Back at the venue, Kamuro shot Kaoru an exasperated look.

It should've taken just a minute to grab two drinks, yet he'd been gone for over ten.

"The first vending machine was broken. I had to search for another one," Kaoru replied as he sat down beside her, casually handing her a drink.

"How's the situation?"

"It's already over. Class D's total score was only slightly behind ours, so we agreed to split the points evenly. But for the upcoming competitions, it'll be every team for themselves." Kamuro took the can, frowning slightly when she realized it wasn't as cold as she'd expected, though she didn't dwell on it.

Kaoru glanced at the field, where everyone was packing up, likely preparing to leave.

Meanwhile, Totsuka Yahiko and Ike Kanji were still locked in a heated argument, neither willing to back down, both vowing to settle the score in the official match.

"Let's head back." Kaoru took another sip of his juice, his gaze lingering on Karuizawa as she rejoined her friends, then shifting to Katsuragi who gave him a slight nod—clearly intending to discuss things later.

"Aren't you planning to do anything else?" Kamuro eyed him suspiciously.

"Is that Sakayanagi's question, or yours?" Kaoru stood up just in time to see Sudou Ken pestering Horikita Suzune, the latter looking thoroughly annoyed.

"Hey, what's that supposed to mean? I'm not tied to her at all!" Kamuro bristled with anger.

"If you don't want to answer, fine. I don't even want to talk to you!"

No girl likes being compared to another woman, especially when her feelings are disregarded.

Kaoru immediately apologized for this.

"Don't be mad. Honestly, if Sakayanagi wanted to know, I wouldn't tell her. But if it's you, I'd answer truthfully."

This response made Kamuro feel slightly better.

After all, she wasn't Sakayanagi's puppet.

"Such a smooth talker. Whatever, it's not like I cared that much anyway." Kamuro stood up and stretched, inadvertently revealing her graceful figure.

The hem of her clothes lifted slightly, flashing a glimpse of fair skin, her toned stomach showing not an ounce of excess fat, while her perky chest drew the eyes of onlookers.

"Want to head back together?" Kaoru asked nonchalantly, watching for a moment.

"No." Kamuro refused outright. "Your gaze is disgusting. I might accidentally throw up on the way."

Though she called it disgusting, she made no move to avoid him.

Still, was Kamuro actually a tsundere?

Kaoru thought about it—no, she wasn't being tsundere.

She was just outright insulting him.

Since the allocation plan had been settled, students from both classes had already started leaving.

Kamuro heading back now wouldn't seem out of place.

"If you want to call me by my first name, it's simple. See this guy here?" Horikita Suzune's voice suddenly sounded nearby.

"If you can beat him, I'll allow you to call me Suzune."

"Whoa, seriously?!" Sudou's excited voice followed.

Kaoru silently watched as the two approached.

Horikita stood with her arms crossed, expression indifferent, though a flicker of irritation flashed in her eyes at Sudou's enthusiasm.

Meanwhile, Sudou was sizing Kaoru up.

Seeing that Kaoru wasn't particularly muscular, Sudou brimmed with confidence and immediately thumped his chest, declaring to Horikita.

"Just wait, Horikita! Some pretty boy like him? I'll take him down in no time!"

Kaoru frowned. "What are you two talking about?"

"Tch, none of your business. Just know I'll beat you soon enough." Sudou scoffed slightly.

He'd never like good-looking guys, especially one who had humiliated his buddy and stolen everyone's beloved angel.

Without giving Kaoru a chance to respond, Sudou eagerly ran off to practice for the competition.

Left behind, Kaoru turned to Horikita.

"He kept pestering me to call me by my first name. No matter how many times I warned him, he wouldn't stop. So I figured I'd borrow your name—should make things easier for me." Horikita remained utterly composed, not a hint of guilt in her tone.

"I get it. But you could've at least picked a stronger opponent for him. After seeing him just now, I'm not confident I can win." Kaoru lifted his arm. "The muscles here are clearly much smaller than Sudou's."

Horikita replied coldly, "I never said you had to fight him. And if you're already convinced you'll lose, I can just tell him now that he can call me whatever he wants from now on."

"Of course, you're free to do as you wish." Kaoru looked puzzled.

"To be honest, this would be a good opportunity to build relationships with your classmates. Besides, Sudou's abilities are undeniable—he could definitely help you reach Class A."

Horikita Suzune remained silent for a moment.

"Am I to take that as sarcasm?"

"Probably not."

"If that's the case, then I have no obligation to answer you."

As she spoke, Horikita seemed to suddenly remember something and lowered her voice.

"What do you want me to do this week?"

According to their initial agreement, Horikita Suzune had to repay a portion of her debt each month while fulfilling one arbitrary request from Kaoru every week as interest until the debt was fully settled.

Now, in the second semester, after violating the agreement in the first month, Horikita found herself burdened with a two-million-yen penalty.

She needed to find a way to resolve this issue—otherwise, forget about advancing to Class A.

If she wasn't careful, she might end up as a slave.

"Come to my room this weekend." Kaoru didn't immediately specify his request.

"What's your relationship with Kushida?" Horikita turned her delicate face toward him, likely recalling something from summer break.

"Definitely not what you're thinking. I'd say we're good friends." Kaoru didn't consider it a lie—playing puppy games together certainly qualified as friendship.

Horikita gave him a cold glare before silently walking toward the gymnasium entrance.

Kaoru watched her retreating figure.

Like Kamuro, she was wearing long pants, so he couldn't see the girl's plump little bottom or her fair, smooth thighs.

But there would surely be opportunities in the future.

Kaoru also stepped out of the indoor gymnasium, greeted by the twilight sky.

The setting sun cast its glow on the buildings in the distance, scattering fragmented remnants of light across the ground.

The faint dusk hues gave rise to clusters of shadows, while the slightly warm air rose from the pavement.

Groups of students chatted about everyday topics along the way, and occasionally, he could hear details about the recent match.

It seemed Sudou had made Class A wary of Class D.

As he walked back, he silently listened to the students' discussions.

After a while, Kaoru suddenly saw numerous wishes flicker before his eyes.

-----------------------------

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