Nozomi didn't pay much attention to Shiina Mahiru's strange expression. Instead, he casually flipped another page of the light novel in his hands, immersing himself in the fictional world before him.
Suddenly, his phone vibrated. A message notification popped up on the screen.
Curious, he unlocked his phone and saw that it was from Kamiigusa Misaki.
Kamiigusa Misaki: "Nozomi! Did Ren seriously check out and leave Sakurasou?!"
Hozuki Nozomi: "Huh? Is that true? I'm the landlord, why am I the last one to hear about this?"
Kamiigusa Misaki: "Uh... I guess Sengoku-sensei forgot to tell you."
Hozuki Nozomi: "So... senpai, are you planning to go after him?"
Kamiigusa Misaki: "Go after him? That idiot left without a word! He never cared about improving himself, even when I sent him your plan to motivate him!"
Her message carried an obvious frustration. The most absurd part was that Mitaka Ren's reputation had finally caught up to him. His multiple infidelities had been exposed and reported directly to the student council of Suimei University of Arts High School. With his name ruined, he made a decisive choice—he dropped out and disappeared without a trace.
Misaki, who had poured so much of her heart and soul into him, was left with nothing but betrayal. She had crafted entire animations based on his ideas, only to have him abandon her and vanish from her life.
While typing, Misaki's hands trembled slightly. Tears threatened to spill from her eyes.
Kamiigusa Misaki: "Nozomi... I want to drink."
Even someone as energetic and carefree as Kamiigusa Misaki was, at the end of the day, just a girl with a fragile heart. Being abandoned by someone she admired and having her dreams seemingly discarded was enough to make her break down.
Hozuki Nozomi sighed, thinking for a moment before replying.
Hozuki Nozomi: "Don't worry, senpai. I'll come back early tonight. We can drink together."
Kamiigusa Misaki: "Really? Promise me!"
Hozuki Nozomi: "Yeah, I promise."
A smirk formed on his lips as he put his phone down. He had a feeling that tonight was going to be interesting.
—
Class F remained as chaotic and lively as ever. Everyone was deeply immersed in their own little social circles, happily indulging in the energy of youth.
After the second period, it was time for physical education. Since the school's sports facilities were shared among multiple classes, students from other sections were already out on the field, warming up and engaging in their own activities.
As the class monitors, Hozuki Nozomi and Shiina Mahiru were tasked with retrieving sports equipment from the storage room ahead of time.
Today's activity was volleyball practice. Which meant carrying a heavy basket of volleyballs across the field.
Originally, Nozomi had planned to carry it alone.
But Angel-sama had other ideas.
"You're the class monitor, aren't you? Don't try to slack off," Mahiru said with a stern yet graceful expression.
And so, they ended up carrying the basket together, one on each side.
A perfect example of teamwork between a boy and a girl. They made an eye-catching pair as they walked across the field, turning heads left and right.
Once the warm-up exercises were done, the PE teacher instructed everyone to form pairs for practice.
As soon as those words left his mouth, a group of boys immediately flocked to Mahiru.
"Shiina-san, would you like to team up with me?"
"Shiina-san! I-I'd be honored to practice with you!"
"No, no, team up with me!"
She hesitated, glancing briefly at Nozomi.
He immediately understood.
Stepping forward with a relaxed smile, he casually announced,
"Sorry, but Mahiru already agreed to partner with me before class."
The boys froze, then collectively turned toward Nozomi with betrayed expressions.
"Wait, what? You reserved her beforehand?!"
"That's so unfair! You already spend time with her as class monitor! Give us a chance too!"
"Shiina-san, you don't have to stick with him, right? You can still team up with me!"
Mahiru sighed, her expression somewhere between apologetic and annoyed. She offered a small, polite smile and responded,
"I did promise Nozomi-kun beforehand. If I break my word now, that wouldn't be very fair, would it? Maybe next time."
The rejected students deflated instantly. After all, there was no arguing against her logic.
Meanwhile, at the edge of the group, Hikigaya Hachiman frowned, looking as if he had swallowed something bitter.
The class had many small social cliques. Naturally, some people didn't fit in anywhere. Hachiman was one of those people.
Team activities were always a nightmare for him.
No one ever invited him. And playing alone was an open invitation to strange stares and murmurs.
He had originally planned to team up with Nozomi, thinking they could just get through the class together without fuss.
But this guy... this guy actually had the nerve to pair up with the most popular girl in school?!
Hachiman stared at Nozomi with an expression of pure envy.
"Tch. Must be nice..." he muttered under his breath.
Anyway, he didn't dare to invite such a dazzling girl.
Hozuki Nozomi, however, paid no mind to Hikigaya's awkward state. Instead, he turned to the angelic beauty beside him with a relaxed smile.
"Shiina-san, let's head over there for training."
"Un!" Shiina Mahiru nodded with a gentle smile.
Teaming up with unfamiliar classmates was always a hassle, so she preferred sticking with Nozomi. It was unexpected, though—he had actually stepped in to help her avoid an uncomfortable situation.
If she had accepted one invitation, she would have ended up disappointing the others. High school social dynamics were trickier than people thought.
Even a small issue could lead to misunderstandings, gossip, or even social isolation. High school students had a way of twisting the smallest events into grand dramas.
Take Ogiwara Sayu, for example. She was just a bit aloof and happened to be pretty. A boy confessed to her, and she turned him down politely. The boy himself didn't make a fuss, but a girl who had a crush on him didn't take it well. Before long, whispers spread—"Ogiwara-san is a total flirt," "She thinks she's better than everyone else," "She must be playing around with guys behind the scenes." Just like that, Sayu became a target of cold stares and snide remarks.
Yeah, high school could be a battlefield.
Back to the present—
After forming their team, Nozomi and Mahiru began their volleyball practice.
With their good looks and effortless chemistry, they naturally drew attention. Some people looked on with admiration, others with envy, but neither of them paid it any mind. They simply enjoyed the activity, their movements in sync.
Once P.E. class ended, the two returned the volleyballs to the equipment room, officially wrapping up their task as class representatives.
Then came the last period before lunch—Shizuka Hiratsuka's literature class.
Now, Hiratsuka-sensei was infamous for her no-nonsense approach. And today, someone was about to learn that the hard way.
Tobe Shou, a typical delinquent with shaggy hair, had been caught red-handed playing on his phone during class.
And Hiratsuka-sensei did not tolerate distractions.
With a terrifying smile, she dragged Tobe out of the classroom. Moments later, everyone could hear her lecture echoing down the hall. The punishment? A self-reflection essay, handwritten and at least three pages long.
When he returned, Tobe's face was a mask of pure suffering. He slumped over his desk, defeated, while his friends struggled to hold back their laughter.
"Bro, I told you not to mess around in her class," Hayama Hayato said, shaking his head.
Meanwhile, Nozomi just enjoyed the show.
—
Lunchtime.
Hozuki Nozomi grabbed his bento and left the noisy classroom. He had no intention of eating there—it was too chaotic.
Instead, he had a better destination in mind.
The library.
A quiet afternoon, a peaceful atmosphere, and—most importantly—the chance to enjoy lunch with the ever-serene Sanshokuin Sumireko. That was the ideal lunchtime plan.
But as soon as he reached the library doors, he was met with disappointment.
A sign hung on the entrance: Closed for Maintenance.
Nozomi frowned and immediately called Sumireko.
"The library's closed?"
"Un, they're adding new books and making some changes. It'll take about a week before it reopens," Sumireko's calm voice answered from the other end. "I'm on the rooftop right now, enjoying the breeze."
Rooftop?
A classic anime scene spot.
Naturally, he had to go.
—
When he reached the rooftop, a cool breeze greeted him. The sky stretched wide above, and the open space had an oddly tranquil atmosphere.
Sitting on a mysterious wooden bench was a girl with twin tails and glasses, her usual sly smile playing on her lips.
"You're finally here," Sanshokuin Sumireko said, patting the seat beside her. "Come sit."
Nozomi raised an eyebrow. "Hold up. Where did this bench even come from?"
"I ordered it. The delivery was quick."
"…You ordered a whole bench?"
"Mhm. Originally, I wanted to place it in the library, but since they started renovations, I had to move it here instead."
Nozomi stared at her in disbelief. "Wait. You carried this thing up here by yourself?"
Sumireko rolled her eyes. "Idiot. How would a delicate girl like me do that?"
She smirked and adjusted her glasses. "I had the delivery guys carry it up for me, of course. What, did you think I was some kind of superhuman?"