Chapter 5
Time after school when there are no club activities to attend is simply heaven.
For several days in a row, I could quietly pack my backpack and leave the bustling campus, or stay alone in the library until the closing bell. This long-lost tranquility, uninterrupted by forced socializing, brightened my mood and even made my steps lighter.
During a break that day, I was walking through the corridor connecting the teaching buildings, ready to buy a bottle of water from the canteen. The afternoon sun was warm, and I squinted slightly, enjoying the quiet.
“Crack!”
An extremely slight mechanical sound of a shutter clearly entered my extremely sensitive ears!
Someone is taking pictures secretly!
I was instantly alert, and almost instinctively turned my head. My sharp eyes swept towards the source of the sound with the precision of a searchlight, and my movements were so fast that there was almost no hesitation.
His eyes instantly locked onto a figure leaning against a pillar not far away. It was none other than the blue-haired boy with rimless glasses, Oshizuka Yuushi, who had a lazy yet shrewd demeanor.
He obviously didn't expect my reaction to be so quick and so accurate.
The moment my eyes locked on him, the usual playful expression on his face froze instantly, and the hand holding the phone remained in the same position as it had been when it was put down after taking the photo, and his whole body was frozen.
The eyes behind the lenses flashed with a hint of surprise, and the surroundings were filled with the embarrassment of being caught red-handed.
He even subconsciously tried to hide his phone behind his back, but my eyes were already fixed on the "evidence".
The air seemed to freeze for a second.
Yuushi Oshitari, a true genius at Hyotei, reacted incredibly quickly. He quickly adjusted his expression, adjusting his glasses, which had slipped slightly, and trying to put on that irreverent smile again. But I could still catch a glimpse of the embarrassment that hadn't quite faded in time in his eyes.
I looked at him, but didn't get angry immediately. I just calmly withdrew my gaze, as if nothing had happened, and continued walking towards the store. But Yuushi Oshizuka clearly felt that an invisible, cold gaze had been fixed on him.
The bell rang and the classroom suddenly became noisy.
After packing up my books, I didn't leave immediately as usual, but walked straight to where Yuushi Ozaki was.
He was slowly packing his bag, as if trying to get out of the way, but I stopped in front of his desk, blocking his path.
The noise around seemed to have died down automatically, and many students glanced over here with curiosity and a bit of gossip.
After all, Kiriyamagakure took the initiative to talk to Oshitari Yuushi? This is big news!
Yuushi Oshitari looked up at the calm girl standing in front of his desk, and his heart skipped a beat. He pushed his glasses up and tried to hide his fear with his usual lazy tone: "Kiriyama-san? Is something wrong?"
I leaned over slightly, my hands resting on his desk, and looked calmly into his eyes behind his glasses. My voice was not loud, but it clearly penetrated the surrounding noise, carrying an unquestionable question:
"Oshitari-san." He pointed out directly, getting straight to the point. "Just now in the corridor, you were the one filming me with your phone, weren't you?"
"..." The lazy smile on Yuushi Ozuki's face froze completely. He hadn't expected the question to be so direct, so ruthless, pointing out the truth in public. The students who were eavesdropping around him pricked up their ears instantly.
"I have very good ears," he added, his tone as flat as if he were stating an objective fact. "That shutter sound, I'm sure of it."
Yuushi Oshitari's Adam's apple moved almost imperceptibly.
He quickly glanced at the inquiring eyes around him, knowing that denying would only make things worse. He took a deep breath, put on a slightly helpless smile that hinted at "getting caught is really unlucky," and spread his hands.
"Ah, I've been caught." He tried to ease the awkwardness with a lighthearted tone, "Kiriyama-san's hearing is truly amazing. I admire you."
He pushed up his glasses, as if quickly weighing his words:
"Well... actually," he lowered his voice a little, leaning forward slightly, with a hint of "let's talk in private," "I was also entrusted by someone, I have no choice."
I raised my eyebrows, said nothing, and just used my eyes to signal him to continue.
Yuushi Ozuki looked at me calmly, not wanting to be bothered and waiting for an explanation, and sighed inwardly.
This young lady is really stubborn and won't listen to any advice.
He could only bite the bullet and try to be as tactful as possible without completely betraying his "employer":
"Kiriyama-san, you see, ever since you transferred here, you've... well, how should I put it, had some... well, 'gorgeous' misunderstandings with a certain 'big shot'?"
He chose his words carefully. "You know that big shot's temper... quite, uh, persistent? And lately, he seems... um, to have taken a very strong interest in your 'campus life', Kiriyama-san?"
He paused for a moment, observing my reaction. Seeing that I still had no expression on my face, he could only continue to hint:
"As that 'big shot's'... well, friend and classmate, I occasionally help him gather some 'necessary intelligence,' such as the target's daily life, interests, hobbies, and so on."
He gestured for a photo. "Well... the situation forced me to do that."
He smiled a wry smile that was both flattering and helpless. "So, what happened just now really wasn't my intention to offend you. It was purely...work? A task? Do you understand?"
He tried to glorify the "secret filming" as "intelligence work" and put all the blame on the "big shot".
After listening to his explanation, her face remained calm, but a clear understanding of "as expected" and a trace of undisguised contempt flashed across her eyes.
"Oh." I replied calmly, my tone so flat that no emotion could be heard. "So, Oshitari-san also works part-time as a paparazzi? His business is quite extensive."
"Poof!" A classmate who was eavesdropping nearby couldn't help but burst out laughing, then quickly covered his mouth.
The corners of Yuushi Oshizuka's mouth twitched violently.
Paparazzi?!
He was a genius at Hyotei and the strategist of the tennis club, and yet he was described as a paparazzi?!
A huge feeling of frustration came over me.
This job is really not a human job, you have to suffer from both sides.
The girl stood up, looked down at the expression on his face that looked like he had eaten a fly, and continued calmly:
"Please tell that 'big shot'."
"I have no interest in his 'deep interest'."
"It's his freedom to do what he wants."
"But," his voice cooled slightly, carrying a clear warning, "if I find someone taking photos of me without permission again, or disturbing my peace in other ways..."
After a pause, he glanced at Oshitari Yuushi's instantly frozen face and said word by word:
"I would go straight to the teacher or call the police."
"no sooner said than done."
After saying that, I stopped looking at Yuushi Ozawa's wonderful expression, and ignored the gasps of my classmates around me. I turned around neatly, put on my schoolbag, and walked out of the classroom calmly as if nothing had happened.
His back is still straight and his steps are still calm.
Only Ozuki Yuushi was left standing there frozen, feeling the complex gazes from all directions, a mixture of sympathy, suppressed laughter and "you're finished".
He pushed his glasses up, his eyes behind the lenses filled with frustration, and he couldn't help but feel deep worry about the future.
Call the police?
This lady is really brave in what she says and what she does!
Atobe, ah Atobe, what you kicked this time, how could it be an iron plate? It's simply a titanium alloy steel plate plus a high-voltage electrical grid!
This "intelligence work" can't be done anymore!
Yuushi Ozuki covered his forehead in pain, feeling that he would sooner or later suffer from schizophrenia as he was caught between these two ancestors.
He took out his cell phone and looked at the contact marked "Atobe Keigo". His finger hovered over the screen for a long time. Finally, he sighed resignedly and began to edit a "mission failure + serious warning" report that was bound to cause another volcanic eruption on the other end of the phone.
On the other hand, when I walked out of the teaching building and basked in the sunshine, my mood was not affected too much.
Paparazzi?
Atobe Keigo?
It's really... boring.
I just want to read quietly. As for that "big man" and his "revenge"? Let him be.
When the enemy comes, we will fight him; when the water comes... well, you can also call the police.
After warning Yuushi Oshizuka, I felt a lot better, both physically and mentally, and walked briskly to the store. That new chocolate milk has become my favorite; it's rich, smooth, and not overly sweet. A bottle a day is my little after-school treat.
However, when I walked to the freezer with great anticipation, I found that there was only one bottle left in that familiar packaging!
And a slender hand is picking it up steadily.
"Ah..." A barely audible sigh of regret escaped my lips. Looking at the bottle of chocolate milk that had been taken away, my eyes were filled with regret, as if I had seen a beloved treasure being taken away.
The girl holding the milk was wearing round glasses. She seemed to sense my strong regretful gaze and turned around. Seeing me staring at the milk in her hand, she was stunned for a moment, then showed a very friendly smile.
"Um... do you want this?" she asked.
I nodded, my eyes still glued to the bottle of milk: "Yeah, this is delicious."
The girl looked at the milk in her hand, then looked at my sincere eyes. Without any hesitation, she generously handed the milk to me: "Well... here you go! I'll buy something else."
The unexpected surprise made my eyes light up!
"Really? Thank you!"
I quickly took it, afraid she would regret it. Then, I remembered another "treasure" in my bag - the mango pudding I bought this morning but hadn't had time to eat yet.
I immediately took it out and stuffed it into the girl's hand: "This is for you in exchange. It's delicious too."
The girl looked at the delicate pudding in her hand, feeling somewhat flattered. Her round cheeks flushed slightly. "Ah, you don't have to be so polite..."
"Yes, yes." I insisted, giving her a rare sincere smile, "Thank you for giving it to me."
His eyes swept over the nameplate on her chest - Class 8, Grade 8B, Rie Tanaka.
What a cute name, just like the person.
Tanaka Rie blushed even more and said with a smile, "...Thank you for the pudding."
I held the bottle of "hard-earned" chocolate milk contentedly, as if holding a trophy of victory. My mood was so happy that I walked out of the store happily, ready to embark on the happy journey home.
However, this pleasure lasted less than ten seconds.
Just a few steps out of the convenience store, I saw two extremely "eye-catching" figures walking side by side not far ahead, seemingly discussing something.
On the left is Yuushi Ozuki, who had just been warned and still had a bit of embarrassment on his face. He was pushing his glasses and seemed to be reporting something.
On the right is the source of spotlight and low pressure wherever he appears - Atobe Keigo.
His silver-gray hair shone coldly in the setting sun, his profile was perfect but a little tense, his brows were slightly furrowed, as if he was listening to Inuzaka's words, but the aura around him that kept strangers away, a mixture of lingering anger and imperial majesty, made the students passing by subconsciously walk away.
It's really... Enemies meet on a narrow road! The ghost lingers!
I immediately rolled my eyes inwardly, and my bright mood, which had just been brightened by the chocolate milk, was instantly overshadowed.
How come I run into him everywhere I go?
Adhering to the highest principles of "out of sight, out of mind" and "looking at them one more time will affect your appetite", I immediately and naturally looked away, as if they were just two ordinary trees on the roadside.
He lowered his head and looked intently at the precious bottle of chocolate milk in his hand. He even subconsciously held it close to his arms, as if afraid that it would be contaminated by the "bad luck" of those two people.
The pace never stops, the direction is clear - go home!
The goal is firm - drink milk!
As for those two "big Buddhas"? Just treat them as if they were air! I kept my eyes fixed on them, intending to "float" past them.
However, “ignoring” Dafa clearly did not work.
The moment I appeared, Yuushi Ozuki's voice stopped abruptly.
He pushed his glasses up almost reflexively and looked at me with complicated eyes, which were full of helplessness of "Why you again?" and "Is my bad luck not over yet?", as well as a hint of anticipation for a good show.
And Atobe Keigo...
The moment Oshitari's voice stopped, he keenly noticed something unusual.
He turned his head following Oshitari's gaze, and his deep, sharp eyes almost instantly locked onto the figure who was walking by with his head down, holding a milk bottle, and trying to be "invisible".
The moment he saw the person clearly, Keigo Atobe's pupils shrank almost imperceptibly.
The scene of his "crushing defeat" in the student union office, which still makes his blood boil and his face lose, replayed in his mind like a high-definition movie.
The raging rage of being fooled, despised, and thoroughly exploited, like a dormant volcano, suddenly showed signs of erupting. His fingers gripping the edge of the briefcase suddenly tightened, and his knuckles turned white.
He thought she would give him a cold, distant look, as if she was looking at trash, and then leave, as usual. He was even prepared to respond with an even colder, more condescending attitude.
However……
No!
Nothing!
He, Atobe Keigo, the emperor of Hyotei, was standing right next to her path. His presence was so strong that no one within a ten-meter radius dared to approach. And she! Kiriyamagakure! Didn't even! Give! him a glance!
Her gaze, from beginning to end, was firmly, intently, and even a little cherishingly glued to the damn, cheap, chocolate milk bottle in her arms!
As if Atobe Keigo, along with Oshitari Yuushi beside him, and the chilling low pressure and imperial majesty he exuded, combined, were not as attractive as that broken bottle of milk?!
A surge of evil fire shot up again, rushing straight to the top of his head. He felt his solar plexus beating wildly.
He watched her protecting the milk bottle, watched her fair neck exposed by her long black hair when she lowered her head, watched her profile completely immersed in her own world of milk, and an inexplicable and even more suffocating emotion blocked his chest.
She really likes that shitty milk?!
In her eyes, he, Keigo Atobe, is not even as good as a bottle of milk?!
At this moment, out of the corner of his eye, Atobe Keigo keenly caught another detail. Kiriyama Gakuin's slightly upturned mouth, which seemed to hold a hint of satisfaction, made her look radiantly beautiful.
This smile! It's definitely not because of him!
But it was because of that bottle of milk!
This realization, like a bucket of boiling oil, completely poured on the burning anger of Atobe Keigo.
"..." Atobe Keigo's face instantly turned so gloomy that water seemed to drip out of it. He stared intently at the figure that was getting closer and closer but still treated him as air. A storm gathered in his eyes, as if lightning and thunder would strike in the next second.
Yuushi Oshitari was watching from the side and was horrified, and subconsciously took a step back.
It's over, it's over, the volcano is about to erupt again, and he's already thinking about whether to find shelter first...
Just as Kiriyamagakure was about to pass by them, Atobe's anger was on the verge of exploding, and he almost couldn't help but call out to her.
Wu Shanyin's footsteps did not pause for a moment.
His gaze remained fixed.
She even raised her hand very naturally, used the straw to poke open the seal of the milk bottle with a "pop", took a big sip with satisfaction, and let out an extremely soft, but clearly audible, sigh of happiness in the quiet environment at that moment:
"Hmm...it's really delicious!"
Atobe Keigo: “……!!!”
Yuushi Oshizuka closed his eyes in pain.
The fingers of Keigo Atobe who was holding the file bag made a slight "crunching" sound because of excessive force. His handsome face, reflected by the setting sun, showed an extremely strange color, a mixture of iron blue, red and pale.
He watched her drinking milk contentedly and her back walking away leisurely, feeling like a complete clown, left there to be laughed at.
She was provoking him! A blatant provocation!
"Oshinobi!" Atobe Keigo turned his head abruptly, his voice squeezed out from between his teeth, with a devastating coldness and gnashing madness. He practically growled from his throat, his eyes fixed on the direction where Kiriyamagakure disappeared, with an almost paranoid madness, "That damn bottle of chocolate milk! What brand is it?! Find out the manufacturer for me!"
“I’m going to make it disappear in Hyotei!!!
Kiriyama Yin, who had already walked far away, was happily enjoying the delicious chocolate milk, completely unaware of the "milk storm" behind her that was about to sweep across Hyotei because of her.
Well, this one is the best.
Hopefully there will be more tomorrow.
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