Amidst the buzzing excitement and cheerful chatter, whispers began to ripple through the crowd as Shiriku and Ayaka shared a tender moment. A group of students exchanged curious glances, their voices hushed as they speculated about the nature of Shiriku and Ayaka's relationship.
"Do you think Shiriku and Ayaka-sama are dating?" one student whispered, their tone tinged with intrigue.
Another student shrugged, replying in a hushed tone, "I'm not sure. Maybe he's just trying to court her."
Their conversation caught the attention of a nearby group of students, who leaned in to join the discussion. "Shiriku-sama and Ayaka-sama? That's unexpected," one of them mused, their tone contemplative.
A third student chimed in, adding, "Well, Ayaka-sama is really kind and has such a gentle heart, who would not fall for her? Maybe that's why Shiriku-sama started to make his move. Honestly, I respect his bravery."
As the speculation continued to swirl, more students joined in, their voices blending into a murmured chorus of speculation and gossip. Some whispered eagerly, their eyes alight with curiosity, while others observed the unfolding scene with a mixture of amusement and intrigue.
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Kujou Shimizu Pov:
As Kujou observed the scene unfolding between Ayaka and Shiriku, a look of disdain crossed her features. "1st year these days, why can't they just focus on their education?" she muttered under her breath, her tone dripping with disapproval.
Before she could dwell further on her annoyance, a voice chimed in beside her, countering her complaint. "Oh, come on, Kujou. It's their life; they can make their own choices."
Startled, Kujou turned to see her classmate standing beside her, a knowing smile playing on their lips. Their class was currently under the supervision of Shiroe, who stood nearby, overseeing the students' activities.
With a frustrated click of her tongue, Kujou crossed her arms over her chest, her irritation evident in her body language. She directed her attention towards Shiroe, her gaze piercing as she addressed him directly. "Shiroe, honestly, why are you not stopping or telling your little brother that he should focus on studying rather than falling in love?" she questioned, her voice laced with exasperation and reproach.
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Shiroe's eyes twinkled with amusement as he listened to Kujou's frustrated remark. With a warm smile, he turned his attention towards her, his demeanor relaxed and carefree. "What can I say, Kujou?" he began, his tone light-hearted. "We Kami's have the habit of fun. Life's too short to spend it solely focused on studying."
"Me and my little brother over there are already smart enough for us to care about studying," Shiroe continued, his smile widening. "Honestly, my little brother can do what he wants. He's my brother, so of course I'll support and encourage him. As long as he's happy and not feeling pressured by anything education-related, then that's fine by me."
Kujou's expression hardened, her brows furrowing in frustration as she clenched her fists at her sides. "Tsk," she scoffed, her tone dripping with contempt. "Why would I even care for the 'Kami's'? You Kami's are a bunch of hypocrites," she retorted, her voice sharp with disdain.
Shiroe's cheerful expression morphed into one of irritation, his eyes narrowing as he directed a menacing glare at Kujou. "Hypocrite? Who, me?" he growled, his voice dripping with venom. "Or are you including my little brother Shiriku?" His tone was laced with hostility as he pinned Kujou with his intense gaze.
Beside him, Shiroe's friend stepped forward, placing a comforting hand on his shoulder. "Dude, it's not worth it. Don't let her provoke you. This isn't like you," he urged, his voice filled with concern.
Shiroe's anger simmered beneath the surface, but he managed to muster a forced smile for his friend. "I know," he admitted, his tone subdued. "But I can't stand by when someone calls my little brother a hypocrite. If she had just mentioned me, I could brush it off, but..." His voice trailed off as he cast a pointed glance in Kujou's direction.
Meanwhile, Kujou felt a wave of anxiety wash over her as she observed Shiroe's uncharacteristic reaction. "Huh, I've never seen Shiroe react like this to provocations," she mused to herself, her mind racing with uncertainty. "Usually, whenever I try to provoke him, he just acts like a happy-go-lucky person about it."
Before Kujou could dwell further on her thoughts, Shiroe's voice cut through her inner turmoil, snapping her back to the present. "Kujou, maybe next time, just try to focus your attention on your little sister Fuyumi," he suggested, his tone biting with sarcasm. "Since that's what you always do – control other people's lives just for you to get to the top."
He paused for a moment, allowing his words to sink in, before delivering his final blow. "But remember this," he continued, his tone turning cold. "Even if you study hard like your life depends on it just for you to get to the top, just remember that I'll always be number one. You will always be number two."
Despite the tension in the air, Shiroe's mood suddenly shifted, and he flashed Kujou a disarming smile. "Ahaha, at least little Fuyumi and my brother Shiriku are friends, ahahaha," he chuckled, his tone light-hearted once again.
Kujou stood silent, unable to muster a response to Shiroe's cutting words. Her gaze flickered anxiously to where her sister Fuyumi stood in the crowd, her mind racing with conflicting emotions. "Fuyumi, you need to crush that Shiriku Kami," she thought to herself, her determination fueled by a sense of rivalry.
With a flick of her hair, Kujou turned on her heel and began to walk away, her posture rigid with tension as she made her way towards their classroom. She cast one last glance back at Shiroe and his friend, her expression unreadable, before disappearing into the hallway.
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As Ayaka turned to head towards her classroom, Shiriku watched her go, his gaze lingering on her retreating figure. A sense of contentment washed over him as he admired her grace and elegance.
Just as Shiriku's thoughts began to drift, his phone chimed with a notification message. He quickly pulled out his phone, curiosity piqued by the incoming message. To his surprise, it was from Aoi, his friend and confidante.
With a quick swipe, Shiriku opened the message, his eyes scanning the contents with interest. "Hey, Shiriku," the message read, "just wanted to check in and see how everything's going
A smile tugged at Shiriku's lips as he read Aoi's message. Despite the chaos of the day, her thoughtful gesture brought him a sense of comfort. He types back . "Everything's going well so far. I appreciate you checking in."
Shiriku's phone buzzed once more with another notification. He quickly checked the screen to see another message from Aoi.
"Hey, Shiriku," the message read, "I just realized something. Can you go up to the rooftop for a moment? I have something important to discuss."
Surprised by the sudden request, Shiriku furrowed his brow in curiosity. Nevertheless, he trusted Aoi's judgment and knew she wouldn't ask unless it was truly necessary.
"Sure, Aoi," Shiriku replied, his fingers tapping out the response. "I'll head up to the rooftop right away. What's going on?"
With a sense of anticipation tingling in the air, Shiriku quickly finished his conversation with Ayaka and made his way towards the staircase leading to the rooftop. As he ascended the steps, he couldn't help but wonder what important matter Aoi wanted to discuss.