~ 💎 WEEKLY POWER GOALS 💎🔥 60→1ch | 100→2ch | 200→5ch ⏰ Resets Monday!
Thanks!
Kiyoura Setsuna froze for a few seconds, then nodded softly, her voice barely above a murmur.
“You can…
Mm, my name is Kiyoura Setsuna.
Class president of Class A.” “Thanks.” Li Ancheng set his shoulder bag on the desk and had just pulled the chair out to sit down.
“Ah!” A sharp, startled cry cut through the room.
Footsteps came hammering in, da da da da da.
Saionji Sekai blew in like a gust of wind, skidding to a stop at his desk, bending forward, eyes blown wide.
“An, Ancheng-san?!
You…
aren’t you in the Supernatural Studies Department?!
Why…
why are you here in the Literature Club?!” Li Ancheng thought: at least she’s not calling me Li An-san anymore.
His gaze settled on Saionji Sekai’s completely baffled face.
He chuckled softly.
“Because I happened to see a short girl.” He paused.
His eyes drifted, as if without thinking, to Kiyoura Setsuna sitting beside him with her head down.
“She looked a lot like my younger sister who went missing years ago.
So I ended up here.” “A short…
short girl…?” Saionji Sekai blinked twice.
Almost on instinct, her gaze swung straight to Kiyoura Setsuna, sitting right next to Li Ancheng.
I-isn’t she the whole class’s…
No, probably the most petite person in the entire Literature Club…?
Like a spark hitting a fuse, a dozen pairs of eyes snapped up at once.
Spotlights.
All converging on Kiyoura Setsuna.
Kiyoura Setsuna’s fair cheeks flushed red at visible speed, the color creeping all the way to the tips of her ears.
She dropped her head even lower, nearly burying her face in her open textbook.
What younger sister…
What on earth is this person even saying…
Is this how people flirt nowadays?
Making up excuses so full of holes that nobody can even call them out?!
So embarrassing…
Stop looking at me…
She felt like she’d been set on a display stand and left to roast.
She wanted to vanish from her seat entirely.
“Ahh~ So that’s how it is!” Saionji Sekai wore a look of sudden understanding, her tone tipping into something playful.
“I thought Ancheng-san had taken a liking to Setsuna and came chasing after her on purpose.
If that were the case…” She blinked.
“I almost thought I wouldn’t stand a chance.” A gentle voice slipped in just then.
“Hello, kouhai.” Kiba Yuuto had his elegant smile back in place as he walked over to Li Ancheng’s desk.
“I’m Kiba Yuuto.
Sophomore, Class A, Supernatural Studies Department.” Li Ancheng looked at him without expression and gave a faint nod.
“Li Ancheng.
You need something?” Kiba Yuuto didn’t react to the coolness.
His smile stayed warm.
“From what this kouhai just mentioned, it sounds like you were originally in the Supernatural Studies Department?
That’s unusual.
Our department has always had very few members, and we take notice of every new addition.” “So…
may I ask, somewhat presumptuously — do you have some kind of talent?” That sudden palpitation just now…
It was not an illusion.
The club president might find this transfer student very interesting.
Li Ancheng let out a short laugh.
Something in the smile was easy, faintly irreverent.
“Talent?” He leaned back in his chair and spread his hands.
“I have money.” “Pfft — HAHAHAHAHA!” Hyoudo Issei cracked first.
He burst out laughing and jabbed a finger at Kiba Yuuto, whose expression had gone completely blank for one unguarded second.
“Senpai!
Did you seriously think everyone who walks into the Supernatural Studies Department has to be some kind of freak?!
Get real!
The guy’s rich!
Which door in this whole school is going to stay closed to him?!” Saionji Sekai couldn’t hold it together either.
She covered her mouth, shoulders shaking.
Kiba Yuuto’s smile faltered, barely half a second, then settled back into place as smoothly as before.
He nodded, composed and polite.
“I see.
That was presumptuous of me.
Well then, you’re always welcome to stop by the Supernatural Studies Department, kouhai.” “Mm.” Li Ancheng remained completely unbothered.
Kiba Yuuto left it there.
A thoughtful look crossed his face as he turned and walked out of the classroom.
He was barely through the door when a loud, cocky whistle came from the back entrance.
“Yo!” Sawanaga Taisuke slouched against the doorframe, hands buried in his pockets, scanning the room with a lazy sweep.
[Die die die die die die die!] His eyes finally landed on Ito Makoto.
He broke into a wide, exaggerated grin.
“Ito-kun!
So?
Did you seal the deal?
Did Kotonoha say yes?
I came all the way here just to cheer you on, man!” He sauntered in, easy and unhurried, heading straight for Ito Makoto.
One arm swung out and draped itself over the other’s shoulder like it owned the place.
His eyes, meanwhile, slid over to Katsura Kotonoha without a hint of shame.
“Tsk tsk.” He clicked his tongue.
“Kotonoha-san is looking as beautiful as ever today.” Katsura Kotonoha’s brow furrowed.
A flash of revulsion moved through her eyes.
Li Ancheng’s gaze passed over Sawanaga Taisuke’s smug face without lingering, then dropped briefly to the gift box in Ito Makoto’s hands.
His fingertip tapped once against the desk.
A faint breath of air drifted past the gift box.
“By the way, Saionji-san.” Li Ancheng glanced back at Saionji Sekai, still standing beside him.
“Do you know how to join the school’s Kendo Club?
Who do I go to, or is there a form to submit?” “Eh?
The Kendo Club?” Saionji Sekai blinked, pushing the earlier scene to the back of her mind.
“I know a little Iaido.” Li Ancheng said.
“So I’d like to learn more structured kendo.
See if it gives me some new insights…” Katsura Kotonoha, who had been quietly closing herself off from the room, paused mid-page-turn.
She lifted her eyes slowly, looking past the edge of her book toward Li Ancheng.
…Iaido?
Saionji Sekai hadn’t even opened her mouth yet.
“Ancheng-san!
Ask her!” Hyoudo Issei was already at Li Ancheng’s desk in one bounding step, face lit up with enthusiasm, pointing straight at Katsura Kotonoha without hesitation.
“Katsura-san!
Katsura Kotonoha!
She’s in our school’s Kendo Club!” He grinned, all white teeth.
“Oh right, I’m Hyoudo Issei!
We met yesterday on the shopping street — remember?” Katsura Kotonoha closed her book.
She rose, looked at Li Ancheng, and gave a small nod.
“Yes.
I’m Katsura Kotonoha from the Kendo Club.
About joining…
if Ancheng-san doesn’t mind, I can take you to the club room to meet the president.” Li Ancheng nodded briefly toward Hyoudo Issei, something faintly amused in his eyes, then stood and looked at Katsura Kotonoha.
“I’ll leave it to you then, Katsura-san.
Good timing, we still have the break.” The words had barely left his mouth.
Ito Makoto, still stuck under Sawanaga Taisuke’s arm, seemed to reach a decision.
He pushed Sawanaga Taisuke’s arm off, drew a slow breath, and walked straight up to Katsura Kotonoha.
He smiled and held out the gift box.
“Kotonoha.” “This is…
a gift I prepared for you.
I heard you joined the Kendo Club, this wrist guard should be useful for practice.” ➤ Next: Makoto’s Public Humiliation — Wasn’t It Supposed to Be a Wristband?