Chapter 26

After staying up all night last night to finish the hiking summary report and experience, Nakamori Akimi was staring blankly at the table in the conference room.

I feel so sleepy and totally out of energy.

In this routine meeting, she didn't hear a word that others said. It went in one ear and out the other. She felt like she was floating in the clouds, with no sense of reality at all.

"Okay, today's meeting ends here. Thank you all for your hard work. Let's go home." Atobe Keigo closed the file and glanced at Nakamori Akimi who was floating behind the crowd. "Nakamori, you stay."

Nakamori Akimi, who was suddenly called, stopped in his tracks and said, "Ah? Yes."

Why did they call her alone? Could there be something wrong with her summary report?

Seeing that everyone around him had left, Nakamori Akimi, who was facing Atobe Keigo alone, barely cheered up a little.

"Didn't sleep well?"

Unexpectedly, the other party did not blame me.

Atobe Keigo's gaze fell on the dark circles under Nakamori Akimi's eyes, and a barely noticeable wrinkle appeared between his eyebrows.

"Hmm... a little insomniac."

Nakamori Akimi responded vaguely. After all, being caught by the student council president staying up late to do homework was not something to be happy about.

"Go to the health room." Atobe Keigo gave an unexpected suggestion, "I'll ask for leave for your afternoon textbook."

"Hey? Is that okay?"

Nakamori Akimi widened his eyes in surprise, and became a little more sober.

"You're going to fall asleep in the classroom anyway, aren't you? In that case, why don't you go to the infirmary and take a nap?" Atobe Keigo quickly put away his things and stood up. "How about you tell Mr. Gao Lin that I don't need to teach you?"

"No, no, Atobe, you are such a good person!"

Nakamori Akimi was so moved that tears filled his eyes.

"Don't give me this inexplicable nice guy card." Atobe Keigo frowned unconsciously, but after seeing the haggard appearance of Nakamori Akimi, his cold expression softened. "You've been working hard recently. Take a good rest."

Huh? Nakamori Akimi suddenly understood something. Could it be that Atobe thought she couldn't sleep because she was worried about the collapse of the world?

Although there was a big misunderstanding, the beneficiary, Nakamori Akimi, did not intend to point it out. No matter what the reason was, she really needed a good sleep.

After leaving the meeting room, Nakamori Akimi, yawning, came to the health room.

Teacher Gao Lin from the health room is a young teacher who just graduated from university and has an extraordinary passion for his work.

"Student, are you feeling unwell?"

There was no need for Nakamori Akimi to say much, as Teacher Gao Lin could tell from her pale face and unsteady steps that she was in urgent need of rest.

"Teacher Gao Lin, I have low blood sugar. I asked a classmate to help me take a leave of absence. I want to rest here for a while. I'll leave you in charge this afternoon."

Her current condition must be very bad, so Teacher Gao Lin agreed to her request without even verifying it.

Lying on the bed in the health room, accompanied by the faint smell of disinfectant, Nakamori Akimi quickly fell asleep.

She slept very soundly, and when she woke up again, it was already past school time.

"Nakamori-san, you're awake. How are you? Are you feeling better?"

Teacher Gao Lin's concerned eyes met Nakamori Akimi's still hazy eyes, and this eager look made her wake up instantly.

"I feel much better now. Thank you, Teacher Gao Lin, for your concern."

"That's good. It's getting late now. Nakamori-san should go home early."

Is school over already? How could she have slept for so long?

Nakamori Akimi felt for his glasses and put them on, then he looked at the sky outside and saw that it was indeed late.

"Okay, teacher. Thank you for your help."

After leaving the health room, Nakamori Akimi took out his cell phone as he walked.

"First, go back and get your schoolbag, and then... eh?"

Nakamori Akimi paused and saw the message sent by Atobe Keigo.

[Bitter Melon King: When you wake up, go straight to the school gate.]

Does this mean that the bag was given to her?

Nakamori Akimi turned on his toes, changed direction, and walked towards the school gate.

Regardless of whether it is true or not, since Atobe said so, it shouldn't be a big problem.

Out of blind trust, Nakamori Akimi walked towards his destination with light steps.

but……

"Akiumi Nakamori?"

It was intercepted, and the person who came with bad intentions.

But compared to the three people who went hiking last time, the girl who came alone seemed to be extremely well-educated.

"Good day, Nakamori-san."

"…Good day, Sakurada-san."

Sakurada Juri, a beautiful genius girl who was admitted to Teiko University in her first year of high school, is a perfect person with all-round development in morality, intelligence, physical fitness, aesthetics and labor.

There should be no one in the school who doesn't know her, so it's not surprising that Sakurada Juri recognized Nakamori Akimi.

"Nakamori-san, I hope you don't mind my intrusion."

Her perfect manners and smile make it impossible to find any fault with her, making her stand out among the crowd of background members of Bingdi.

"Of course. I wonder what Sakurada-san wants to talk to me about?"

Nakamori Akimi was indeed a master of disguise, adept at telling lies to different people and different stories to different people. Even the curve of his lips was exactly the same as the one on the other side.

"Let me be frank. I heard that Nakamori-san accepted the challenge from the fan club?"

Why is it another challenge? When has she ever accepted such a thing?

Before Nakamori Akimi could ask a question, Sakurada Juri added another sentence.

"Before that, I hope Nakamori-san will compete with me first."

What?

Nakamori Akimi repeated uncertainly, "A match with you?"

"Yes."

Sakurada Juri nodded.

"Because of Atobe?"

This is not groundless speculation. No matter how you look at it, it can only be him.

When mentioning Atobe, Sakurada Juri's expression finally became more lively, and a light flashed in her pink glass eyes.

"That's right."

Sure enough, I feel tired.

"Hyotei has so many people who like Atobe, why did you choose me?"

Nakamori Akimi, who consciously claimed to be a pursuer of Atobe, was quite helpless. Anyway, Fuji had fooled Riie, so Hyotei just let it go.

"As you said, there are many people who like Atobe-kun, but there are only a few who he cares about."

Is it her who makes Atobe care?

Nakamori Akimi blinked, feeling a strange sense of joy at her words. Oh, damned vanity...

"Sakurada-san, speaking of caring, as the student council president, Atobe cares about every student of Hyotei, doesn't he?"

When you don't want to get entangled with someone, just give her value.

"Nakamori-san is right. As the student council president, Atobe-kun does care about every student, but that's not what I meant."

Sakurada Juri still maintained a polite smile, but her topic inexplicably turned in another direction.

"Nakamori-san, this Saturday is my birthday."

Hmm? How should she respond?

"Happy birthday?"

Nakamori Akimi replied to her tentatively.

"Thank you, but I'd rather hear this blessing from you at my birthday party." Sakurada Juri bowed slightly. "Mr. Nakamori Akimi, I'm formally inviting you to my birthday party on Saturday night. Let's compete that day."

Having been inexplicably challenged, Nakamori Akimi was puzzled. "Wait, Sakurada-san..."

She didn't agree to this inexplicable fight at all, okay?

"The formal invitation will be delivered to your residence on Friday evening. I look forward to your visit. Farewell."

Sakurada Juri didn't even wait for Nakamori Akimi to finish his words. He spoke fluently and left in a decisive and decisive manner.

Left alone, Nakamori Akimi was speechless.

"Didn't she ever think that I wouldn't go?"

Could she still tie her up and take her away that day?

[Ms. Nakamori, this dance is the main plot, you can't miss it.]

As soon as Nakamori Akimi finished speaking, 5744 came to slap her in the face. She closed her eyes patiently and took a deep breath.

"But Sakurada is like this, a typical rival in a high-class romance."

When Nakamori Akimi opened his eyes again, he completely ignored 5744 and just watched Sakurada Juri's graceful figure leaving with a sigh from the bottom of his heart.

Speaking of wealthy families...Oh no, Atobe!

Realizing that he had wasted time, Nakamori Akimi hurried over. Fortunately, Atobe Keigo seemed to have just arrived as well.

"Huh? Nakamori?"

Hearing the sound behind him, Keigo Atobe paused in getting into the car and turned sideways to look at her.

"Great, you haven't left yet."

Nakamori Akimi breathed a sigh of relief when he saw Atobe Keigo had not yet gotten on the bus.

"Hmph, if you're any later, I'll be leaving." Atobe Keigo held the car door, raising his chin lazily, "Go in."

Being with Keigo Atobe was still too conspicuous. Seeing that more and more people were watching, Akimi Nakamori slipped into the car.

The moment she got into the car, she caught a glimpse of Sakurada Juri's long crimson hair out of the corner of her eye.

He was just challenged and then got into a car with Keigo Atobe in front of his "rival". It's really hard not to be misunderstood.

"Do you know Sakurada Juri? She was staring at you just now."

As expected, Keigo Atobe, who came up next, suddenly mentioned her.

"To be honest, she just challenged me."

Facing Keigo Atobe's interested eyes, Nakamori Akimi told him everything.

"Ah, you said that Sakurada guy likes me?" Atobe Keigo propped up his head, raised his eyebrows, and suddenly laughed. "This is really a new experience."

I didn't take it for granted, and this familiar tone, could it be...

"Atobe, are you familiar with Sakurada-san?"

"We went to the same primary school in the UK, so the elders at home visited us quite frequently."

"Isn't that just because they grew up together as childhood sweethearts? How come no one in Hyotei knows about this?"

The fake childhood sweetheart, Tsukishima Sakuramu, and the real childhood sweetheart, Sakurada Juri.

"She asked me to keep it a secret." Atobe Keigo leaned back in his chair comfortably and spoke without reservation, "She originally applied to Seirin, but was forced by her father to transfer to Hyotei."

Now when he thinks of the look of disgust that Sakurada Juri showed towards Hyotei, Atobe Keigo still feels uncomfortable.

"Seirin?"

"A high school that's only been established for two years."

The faculty, financial resources, and club performance are all average. I really don't know what Sakurada is interested in.

"So, the original Sakurada-san didn't like you, but now she's been assimilated into the game?"

"That's right." Atobe nodded. "Also, I have to warn you that Sakurada is not someone you can easily deal with. You have to be careful when facing her. But with your personality, you might be able to fight her to a draw."

This shouldn't be a compliment, this guy Atobe...