"Hello, classmate. Can I ask you something?" Haruno called out to the black-haired girl at the back of the group.
"..." The black-haired girl, who happened to be the class president of 2-J, and an unfortunate one at that, being grouped with both Hoshimi and Yukino.
She stopped in her tracks and looked back at the somewhat familiar stranger in front of her.
"Hello, what is it?" The class president asked in a soft and gentle voice.
With a smile, Haruno got straight to the point, "I was wondering, do you know where Yukinoshita Yukino and Hoshimi Kiyokawa went? I need to find them."
Hearing a stranger ask about her classmates, the class president immediately became more vigilant.
She discreetly sized up the woman in front of her.
She looked to be around twenty years old, perhaps a college student, with a delicate appearance and soft skin, suggesting she came from a well-off family.
Her clothes...there was no visible brand, but just by looking at the material, you could tell they were high-quality, and they fit her well, complementing her demeanor.
Fashionable, from a good family—she probably wasn't a scammer, right?
There was also something even more important. The woman standing in front of her looked oddly familiar... Upon closer inspection, she resembled Yukinoshita-san, especially around the eyes and eyebrows, as if they were carved from the same mold.
But...
The class president sneakily glanced at the woman's prominent chest. That part was nothing like Yukinoshita...
She withdrew her gaze and asked softly, "Why are you looking for Hoshimi-san and Yukinoshita-san? Maybe I could help notify them for you."
Yukino clasped her hands together and smiled, "My name is Yukinoshita Haruno. I'm Yukino's older sister. I came here today specifically to find Hoshimi-kun and Yukino for some fun."
"Yukinoshita-san's sister?" The class president put on a surprised face.
In fact, after sizing her up earlier, she'd already guessed this woman was likely a relative of Yukinoshita.
But she hadn't expected her to be the older sister...
From the chest alone, there was no resemblance...
"May I call you Yukinoshita-senpai?" the class president asked softly.
Yukino: "Of course, I graduated from Sobu High, so I'm already your senior."
"Got it..." The class president thought for a moment and said, "Yukinoshita-senpai, regarding the whereabouts of Hoshimi-san and Yukinoshita-san, I suggest you call or message them directly. They asked me to keep it confidential, so..."
The class president clasped her hands together and bowed, "I'm sorry, I can't tell you."
"..." Haruno kept smiling without the slightest change in her expression.
Case solved, it seemed. Hoshimi and Yukino had indeed slipped away. Her elaborate plan had failed completely today...
Hehe, Hoshimi Kiyokawa, well done. You even predicted I'd make a move today?
Impressive, but you won't dodge me forever. Maybe you got away today, but next time? Let's see how many times you can escape.
Haruno composed herself and, still smiling, helped the class president back to her feet, "It's fine, it's fine. I'll ask them myself."
"...Sorry..." The black-haired class president, her gaze flickering, continued to apologize.
"It's fine, really," Haruno waved and turned to leave.
"..." Watching Haruno's graceful figure as she walked away, the black-haired class president's eyes sparkled with intrigue.
She said she was here to find her sister and future brother-in-law, but when they weren't around, her first reaction wasn't to call them but to ask a bystander instead?
Interesting. This Yukinoshita-senpai surely has another agenda.
Could it be...
The class president's lips curved upwards, and a fiery gleam of gossip lit up her pure black eyes.
Interesting. Very interesting. She suddenly found herself curious about Hoshimi's fate.
"President, why are you still standing here?" A clear voice rang out behind her.
"Sorry, I was just chatting with someone." The class president turned to her classmate, her voice and expression as soft as ever.
"Alright then, let's hurry. We shouldn't fall behind. Wait, where are Yukinoshita-san and Hoshimi-san?"
"They went to enjoy some alone time."
"Huh?"
"Come on, let's go~ I'll explain later," the class president said, nudging her classmate back to the group.
…
At the end of the corridor on the fourth floor of the pharmaceutical building, Haruno stood by the window, looking out with a calm expression.
She took out her phone and dialed a number.
After seven or eight seconds, the call connected, and Haruno spoke coldly, "Shizuka, you have neglected your duty."
"Huh?!" Hiratsuka Shizuka, who had ducked into the women's restroom to take the call, snapped irritably, "Haruno! What do you mean?! What are you up to? I have neglected my duty? I'm busy leading this tour right now, I don't have time for your games. Say what you need to and cut the nonsense."
Haruno: "Shizuka, Yukino and Hoshimi ran off."
"They ran off?!" Shizuka's eye twitched as she yelled into the phone, "Haruno! How do you know they ran off? You didn't go after them, did you? Damn it! I was wondering why you were asking about the work experience day. Turns out it was all to mess with Hoshimi, huh?"
"I swear, Haruno, you've got too much free time. Yukino and Hoshimi are a perfect match. What's so wrong with that? Why are you causing trouble? Don't you have anything better to do? And let me remind you, Hoshimi's no pushover. You might end up being the one who gets burned."
"Heh," Haruno chuckled derisively, "As if."
"Tsk!" Shizuka, growing more frustrated, lit a cigarette. "Whatever, I'm not getting involved in your family drama. Handle it yourself. Just don't say I didn't warn you if something goes wrong."
"And another thing!" Shizuka added sharply, " I didn't neglect my duty! I'm not even in charge of the pharmaceutical group! Even if Hoshimi slipped away, it's not my responsibility. Don't come blaming me!"
"That's all. I'm hanging up now."
With that, Shizuka hung up.
"Ugh!" She took a long drag from her cigarette and exhaled a perfectly shaped smoke ring.
Then her eyes turned dangerous.
Hoshimi Kiyokawa, huh? Running off, huh? Wait till Monday's grades come out—I'll deal with you then!
And if Yukinoshita's grades drop, that's on you too, Hoshimi Kiyokawa!
And Haruno! The nerve of her, coming to me because her plan failed!
All of them! Every single one of them! They're all in for it!
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