Chapter 46

“Would you like one? There are four different fillings, but I don’t know which is which.”

“…After the conversation we just had, you’re giving me bread? Are you trying to say something? Boys really only think about one thing, don’t they?”

For some reason, she was acting superior, placing her hand on her chest with a “ta-da” kind of attitude. If I had to say, without worrying about being misunderstood, she might actually be the kind of person you can grow fond of.

“I just wanted to say that. Is there a ‘miss’ among the four fillings?”

“They’re cream, chocolate, jam, and white bean paste. Looks like it’s written on the bag.”

“I can eat white bean paste, but I prefer regular red bean paste… Oh, it’s cream. I guess my daily good deeds are paying off.”

She split the bread and picked a piece, getting the one she wanted. She even took two pieces, but I didn’t say anything—being hungry is tough, after all.

“Mmm… Ah, this simple, commoner’s flavor, it’s kind of addicting…”

“Wait, ‘commoner’? Could it be that you’re a noble?”

“There are no ‘nobles’ as a system, but you could say my family is wealthy. Hmm… Ah, I got chocolate too, total victory.”

“Well, the jam’s pretty good too. Though, I do prefer something savory for lunch.”

“Yes, I agree… But you know, I’ve learned something—food from someone else tastes sweeter, so I’m satisfied with… ngh, mmph…”

“Okay, okay, all I have is coffee milk though.”

Seeing her choke, I offered her a drink. This’ll probably leave me hungry in the afternoon, but oh well, can’t be helped.

“Ah… Phew… Not only did you give me food, but you saved my life too… Truly impressive, Fujiwara-kun.”

“Haha… Glad you’re okay.”

She was supposed to be a top-tier explorer candidate, but watching her like this, she seemed to have a lot of gaps… Oh, I haven’t even asked her name yet.

“I wanted to get a look at the person who’ll lead this academy in the future. It seems like you’re not just strong, though.”

“I’m glad to hear that, but ‘leading the academy’…”

“That’s the expectation I have. But, you just being yourself and aiming to be an explorer is already a great thing. It’s a bit of a dilemma.”

“Oh, thank you. Um…”

Before I could ask her name, she stood up and started to walk away.

Then, turning back with a mischievous smile, she said:

“Whatever happens, I know I’ll be competing with you. I’m looking forward to it.”

With that, she walked off in quite a cool manner—but I couldn’t bring myself to tell her something important.

(Her skirt is flipped up, though…)

◆◇◆

“…Sister! You’re doing it again…!”

Running up to the girl leaving the park was a first-year student. Both girls looked alike, but the one called “sister” was a bit taller and more mature.

“Didn’t realize it was you pretending to be me. Sorry, you must have seemed like a ‘starving’ character.”

“Starv… You even went as far as wearing a first-year’s uniform…!”

“I still fit in it since I wore it last year. It’s just a bit tight in the chest.”

“Wait… You were talking to him dressed like that?”

The younger sister’s face turned red as she trembled. The older sister finally realized—her skirt had been flipped up the whole time.

“People might think you’re a bit wild, you know.”

“Wild? This is beyond that…! What if he thinks I’m the ‘starving-pants girl’…?!”

“I’m the one who should be embarrassed, not you… I thought I left a mysterious impression without telling him my name, but it was a mistake.”

“Ugh! That’s why people say, ‘You seem like a top student, as long as you keep quiet!'”

Yes, the girl who had swapped places with her first-year sister and talked to Tsukasa was none other than the vice president of the student council.

Her name was Haruka Mikuriya, from the prestigious Mikuriya family, along with her sister Futaba. Both were top elites in the academy.

“If I’d been wearing something printed to complete the disguise, I’d be dead now.”

“I don’t wear those anymore! …Well, not often.”

“Anyway, let’s prepare for when we meet him after school.”

“Is it really happening today? I do think that video is worth all the attention, but…”

“Where he gets placed is the issue, but I’m sure he’ll come to us. Anything else wouldn’t be fun.”

“I’m interested too, but… ugh, Sister, you’re impossible…”

While soothing her dejected sister, Haruka glanced back at the park where Tsukasa was.

“You’ll take responsibility for this, Tsukasa Fujiwara.”

“It’s your fault though…”

Neither of them knew yet that in just a few hours, both the faculty and the Explorer Students’ Union would give their evaluations of Tsukasa Fujiwara.