Meanwhile at the same time when Fuyumi entered the classroom, Sachi, positioned closely to Shiriku, took the opportunity to inquire about why he, being a "Kami," had forgotten their assignment. Shiriku let out a sigh tinged with amusement, shaking his head a little, and replied, "Well, I was going to do it after I got home yesterday, but..." He paused, as if pulled into a brief mental flashback. The memory of accidentally letting slip the comment about Fuyumi being beautiful made him momentarily lose his train of thought. Swiftly, Shiriku snapped back to reality and continued, "After getting home, I had dinner and then got engrossed in reading some manga. Before I knew it, it was already 12 AM. I thought about asking Shiroe for help, but he was already fast asleep," Shiriku explained with a smile, punctuating his explanation with expressive hand gestures, aiming to lighten the moment.
As Sachi and Shiriku bantered, Sachi laughed and playfully remarked, "You're a funny guy, Shiriku." Shiriku joined in the jest, replying, "Yup, that's me, the funny guy." Their lighthearted exchange continued until Fuyumi, arriving at the front of their desks, asked about their activity with an irritated expression. A pleased smile appeared on her face as she gazed at Shiriku, whose hands were positioned close to Sachi's.
Responding to Fuyumi's arrival, Sachi stood up from her chair and greeted her, saying, "Good morning, Fuyumi," and leaned in for a hug. Fuyumi reciprocated the greeting, patting Sachi on her head and affirming, "Good morning to you, Sachi."
However, as Fuyumi looked toward Shiriku, he was visibly avoiding eye contact, still feeling embarrassed about what he had said yesterday. His gaze remained fixed elsewhere, inadvertently prompting Fuyumi to wonder, "Why is this idiot suddenly ignoring me?" In her inner thoughts, a tinge of frustration seeped in as she attempted to understand Shiriku's behavior.
Fuyumi's voice cut through the air, "Umm, Shiriku..." Her expression, a mix of a poker-faced look blended with a faint grin, revealed a hint of mischief. Slowly, Shiriku rotated his head towards Fuyumi and replied, "Yes, Fuyumi-cha... I mean Fuyumi-san!" He nervously laughed at his verbal slip.
Fuyumi's reaction was a blend of blushing cheeks combined with an irritated expression. Internally, her thoughts raced, "He...he was about to call me that again, why did he hesitate?!" A wave of confusion and slight annoyance occupied her mind, seeking an understanding behind Shiriku's hesitation.
Fuyumi, flipping her hair with a mix of irritation and a subtle smile, turned to Shiriku with a pointed question, "Shiriku, what were you doing with Sachi?"
Before Shiriku could manage a response, Sachi chimed in, "Shiriku was struggling with our assignment. He mentioned there's a part of the assignment that he didn't quite understand. I was curious about what he was doing so early, and to my surprise, it was our assignment!" Sachi's tone carried a cute inflection, paired with a warm smile.
Fuyumi responded with a casual "Oh, is that so..." as she observed Shiriku clearly trying to avoid eye contact. Sachi, with a hint of amusement and a puzzled expression, added, "Fuyumi, get this, Shiriku forgot to do his assignment because he was reading manga all night."
Upon hearing this, Fuyumi burst into laughter, her gaze still fixed on Shiriku, who continued evading eye contact. She jested, "Well, since I'm here now, why don't I help you too, Shiriku? Since it's me, I'm sure you won't refuse."
However, before Fuyumi could conclude her sentence, Shiriku quickly interjected while still avoiding eye contact, "Actually, we're finished! Sachi really explained it well to me, so you don't need to bother yourself." He averted his eyes, a hint of discomfort apparent in his mannerisms.
Fuyumi then remarked, "Well, let me see first," displaying an irritated expression. Shiriku handed his notebook to her, and Fuyumi reviewed its contents. After inspecting it, she remarked, "Hmph, that seems about right," expressing her confidence in her assessment
Sachi, elated with Fuyumi's validation, chimed in, "Right?! Am I a great teacher or what!?" Her smile brimming with satisfaction. Fuyumi acknowledged Sachi's ability, and Shiriku, showing gratitude, responded, "Yup, you are, and I really appreciate it." He stood up from his chair and gently patted Sachi on the head. Fuyumi, with her arms crossed, maintained an irritated look while observing Shiriku's actions.
Upon noticing Fuyumi's displeased expression, Shiriku attempted to keep his composure. At that moment, Junichi joined the conversation, saying, "Hey, what are we doing here? Oh, giving Sachi a headpat, huh? Maybe I should." Before Junichi could attempt to pat Sachi on the head as well, she warned him, expressing that she would punch him if he ever attempted to pat her head.
Junichi, feeling surprised and a bit irritated, commented, "Whaa, I can't do it, but Shiriku can?" With a confused expression, he was taken aback by Sachi's acknowledgment of Shiriku's gesture. Sachi, with a mix of anger and triumph, asserted, "Of course, Shiriku can pat me on the head. He's complimenting me right now, unlike you, who keeps belittling me during gym class." Her expression clearly conveyed her irritation.
Feeling the need to avoid Sachi's anger, Junichi moved to hide behind Shiriku, seeking shelter from her frustration. Meanwhile, Fuyumi's inner thoughts revealed her despondence, pondering, "Why is he doing that to her? You should be doing that to me, especially after what you said in the library." Her gaze was fixed on Shiriku, who continued avoiding eye contact with her.
Simultaneously, Shiriku, aware of Fuyumi's obvious irritation, contemplated, "Ahhh, she must be so mad right now. Wait, let me try to look at her." Attempting to meet Fuyumi's gaze, Shiriku cautiously shifted his glance toward her, hoping to address her evident anger.
.
.
.
As the class eventually started and the lesson began, Shiriku found himself struggling to focus. With Fuyumi's piercing gaze lingering in his mind, he couldn't shake off the tension that had settled between them. Meanwhile, Junichi and Sachi, seated nearby, exchanged puzzled glances, unsure of what was happening between their classmates.
When recess finally arrived, Fuyumi wasted no time in making her move. She marched up to Shiriku's table with determined strides, causing their classmates to turn their heads and whisper among themselves. Junichi and Sachi, caught off guard by the sudden commotion, watched in confusion as Fuyumi slammed her hand on Shiriku's table.
Shiriku, taken aback by Fuyumi's assertiveness, looked up at her with a mix of surprise and apprehension. "What are you doing?" he asked, his voice tinged with uncertainty as he tried to gauge her intentions.
Noticing the attention they were receiving, Fuyumi crossed her arms and addressed the entire class with a commanding tone. "It's recess time. Everyone, head to the cafeteria immediately," she declared, her voice leaving no room for argument.
Her authoritative command prompted their classmates to swiftly gather their belongings and file out of the classroom, leaving only Junichi, Sachi, Fuyumi, and Shiriku behind.
Shiriku swallowed nervously, feeling the weight of Fuyumi's gaze upon him. He couldn't help but acknowledge the juxtaposition of her warm, caring side and the intimidating aura she exuded when angered.
Fuyumi turned her attention back to Shiriku, her expression softening slightly as she spoke. "Walk with me to the cafeteria," she requested, her voice gentle yet firm.
Shiriku hesitated for a moment before shaking his head. "No, I need to see Ayaka. Aoi told me about another plan, so I'm gonna go first. Bye, guys. Bye, Fuyumi," he said, mustering a small chuckle to ease the tension before swiftly exiting the classroom.
Junichi scratched his head in amusement as he watched Shiriku's hasty departure. "That guy never fails to surprise me," he remarked, his tone laced with laughter.
Sachi, feeling playful, delivered a light punch to Junichi's gut, her smile bright and mischievous. "If you're gonna ask me why I did that, I just felt like it," she teased, her laughter echoing through the empty classroom.
Junichi, catching onto Sachi's playful mood, started running towards her with a grin on his face. "Oh, you're gonna regret that!" he exclaimed, playfully chasing after her as she darted away, laughing uncontrollably.
As they disappeared down the hallway, Fuyumi couldn't help but facepalm herself, chuckling softly. "Why did I slam his table?" she muttered to herself, shaking her head in amusement before following after her friends.