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"Good afternoon, President Qian Xia."
"Hello."
"Good afternoon, President Qian Xia."
"Hello..."
Qian Xia Chiyuki greeted the students with a calm expression. Under their somewhat reverent looks, she walked step by step towards Class 1-A.
Her purpose was straightforward, to meet with Beichuan Si directly, persuade him to join the student council, and at the same time express the council's apology to him.
Qian Xia Chiyuki never fought battles she wasn't confident about. Before coming, she had also studied Beichuan Si's student profile. Aside from his surname and gender, which were useless information, the most noteworthy thing was Beichuan Si's grades.
Contrary to Qian Xia Chiyuki's assumption, Beichuan Si's grades before entering Kyubei High weren't as poor as she thought, barely passing the threshold.
In contrast, Beichuan Si's previous grades at Kyubei were quite good.
However, after the incident of stealing the underwear, Beichuan Si's rank plunged by more than fifty places in the monthly exam, falling to the middle tier of the grade, showing the significant impact the underwear theft incident had on him.
This thought drove Qian Xia Chiyuki to keep moving forward, prepared to endure any harsh words from him.
As for hitting...
Qian Xia Chiyuki thought of the fierce determination with which Beichuan Si hit people and felt a vague unease.
Surely Beichuan Si wouldn't hit a girl, right?
Qian Xia Chiyuki was a bit uncertain.
But she was already there; turning back now would be a bit unreasonable. Besides, the words Beichuan said in the bathroom made her more inclined to believe that he was a person with a just heart.
However—
Qian Xia Chiyuki still muttered unsurely, "He really hits hard..."
While walking and thinking, Qian Xia Chiyuki soon arrived in front of Class 1-A's door.
Without much hesitation, she turned around and asked a male student, who was chatting and laughing with classmates in the corridor,
"Excuse me, could you please help me call Beichuan Si?"
"Is it the student council president, Qian Xia?" The male student, who was stopped, was first taken aback, then exclaimed in surprise.
Just a moment ago, he was discussing the school beauty ranking with his classmates, and now he had met the subject of their discussion. How could he not feel flattered?
"Could you please help me call Beichuan Si?" Qian Xia Chiyuki, accustomed to this type of reaction, maintained her polite composure and asked calmly.
"Ah... sure, I'll go take a look." The male student nodded hurriedly, casting a puzzled glance at Qian Xia Chiyuki, who stood gracefully.
Why were so many pretty girls recently looking for Beichuan Si?
He was a bit puzzled, but ultimately, with a faint sense of confusion, he went inside to find Beichuan Si.
After a moment, the male student came out of Class 1-A, apologetically saying,
"I'm sorry, President Qian Xia, but Beichuan is nowhere to be found; he disappeared after lunch break."
"Disappeared after lunch?" Qian Xia Chiyuki paused for a moment, then asked, "Do you know where he might usually be? I have an urgent matter to discuss with him."
"...Beichuan is always by himself; even if you say so, President, I..." the male student laughed bitterly, at a loss for what to say.
In the past, Beichuan Si would just take a nap on his desk after lunch, but in the past couple of days, nobody knew where he wandered off to, disappearing during every break.
Even Shinkai Mirai and President Qian Xia came looking for him...
To be honest, this male student was somewhat envious of Beichuan Si.
"Is that so... I'm very sorry for bothering you." Qian Xia Chiyuki bowed in apology. While she felt a bit disappointed, there was also a sense of relief, thinking, "maybe I won't be punched after all."
With this in mind, just as Qian Xia Chiyuki was about to turn away, she was suddenly called back by a soft voice.
"Uh... President Qian Xia, I accidentally overheard... you're looking for Beichuan, right?"
The voice was soft and delicate, unmistakably a girl's.
Qian Xia Chiyuki followed the sound and found a girl with her bangs covering her face, exposing only one eye, appearing particularly gloomy.
It was Magong Tong.
...
Afternoon, Kyubei High School Garden Corridor.
After an introduction from this gloomy girl, Qian Xia Chiyuki finally understood the situation.
The girl's name was Magong Tong, and she was Beichuan Si's deskmate. Although she seemed sullen, she was actually quite approachable, albeit a bit timid, stammering in response whenever Qian Xia Chiyuki asked questions, as if she feared offending her.
"Be-Beichuan took me for a walk in the garden after lunch, saying that sunbathing helps digestion and improves my frail constitution. I just got back and bumped into President Qian Xia, so Beichuan should still be in the garden."
"Beichuan likes walking too?" Qian Xia Chiyuki asked in surprise.
Upon hearing Qian Xia Chiyuki's question, Magong Tong revealed a contemplative expression, uncertainly saying,
"Beichuan wasn't like this before... but since winter break ended, he's been acting strange... ah, sorry, perhaps President Qian Xia should ask Beichuan about these things. I probably shouldn't talk too much."
Realizing her awkwardness, she repeatedly apologized to Qian Xia Chiyuki.
Magong Tong's reaction amused Qian Xia Chiyuki. She said earnestly, "Magong, you don't have to do that; you haven't done anything wrong."
Magong Tong blushed at these words, her pale lips moved, but she couldn't say a word.
Seeing her like this, Qian Xia Chiyuki was about to tease her a bit more, when Magong Tong softly exclaimed.
Magong Tong pointed in a direction and quietly reminded,
"That's Beichuan over there."
Qian Xia Chiyuki looked in the direction pointed by her finger.
A young man in a Kyubei High School uniform, with a straight back, stepped into view.
The young man's features were deep and sharply defined, his expressionless face had an inexplicable hardness.
With good looks and decent demeanor, would such a person really steal underwear? Frankly, with this kind of aura and appearance, Beichuan Si should find a girlfriend with good looks.
Qian Xia Chiyuki began to doubt the truthfulness of the underwear incident.
Beichuan Si clearly spotted her and Magong Tong from afar and intentionally paused, waiting.
Qian Xia Chiyuki could feel that most of his gaze was directed towards her.
For some reason, being stared at by this peer gave her an unexplainable sense of oppression.
Soon, Beichuan Si seemed to lose interest in her, and looking at Magong Tong asked,
"Magong, didn't you go back? Why are you here again?"
"It-it's President Qian Xia who wants to see you, so I brought her over."
"Is that so?" Beichuan Si withdrew his gaze from Magong Tong, glanced at Qian Xia Chiyuki, and without hesitation said,
"I'm almost done digesting too. Let's talk as we sit."
He pointed to a nearby bench.
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