It was lunch break at noon.
Shiina Mahiru naturally had lunch with Miura Yumiko's group.
Aside from enjoying their meal, they also had to discuss giving the prepared gifts to Hozuki Nozomi.
Meanwhile, Nozomi made his way up to the rooftop, carrying his bento.
As he stepped onto the rooftop, he immediately spotted Sanshokuin Sumireko already seated on a bench.
The girl still sported her signature twin tails, her heavy black-framed glasses perched on her delicate nose. She wore the standard Sobu High School uniform, but her skirt was lengthened, fully covering her thighs and calves—a stark contrast to the fashion trends at their school.
In truth, Sobu High's uniform skirts were originally of medium length. However, most girls preferred to roll up their skirts to accentuate their legs, embracing the playful charm of youth. Some paired their skirts with white knee-high socks or over-the-knee stockings to add an extra layer of appeal.
After all, this was high school life—青春 (seishun), the peak of youth.
Unless it was the day of the student council's uniform inspection or a major school event, the disciplinary committee tended to turn a blind eye to these modifications. It was an unspoken rule: girls would adjust their skirts to enhance their charm, and the school faculty would pretend not to notice.
Yet, Sanshikiin Sumireko stood apart from the crowd. She didn't conform to these fashion trends, hiding her figure behind her long skirt and oversized glasses. Because of this, many girls distanced themselves from her, afraid of being labeled as unfashionable by association.
Despite this, Nozomi, who had seen through her disguise and knew the true beauty hidden beneath, was unfazed.
"Sumireko, ohayou. I'm here."
He walked over naturally, greeting her with his usual relaxed demeanor before settling on the bench beside her.
"Ah, ohayou, Nozomi-kun," Sumireko replied with a soft smile as she unwrapped her bento.
They didn't speak much while eating, but even in silence, there was a quiet comfort in their companionship. Sumireko, always isolated from the rest of the school, found warmth in Nozomi's presence. A small, content smile lingered on her lips as she ate.
After finishing her meal and neatly wrapping up her bento box, she suddenly felt a weight pressing against her lap.
Nozomi had shifted, his head resting comfortably on her thighs as he stretched out across the bench.
Sumireko blinked in mild surprise.
This guy...
Nozomi had already closed his eyes, fully embracing the comfort of her lap.
"This is what you promised me yesterday, Sumireko," he murmured lazily. "I won't get up until your legs go numb."
Hearing his words, Sumireko chuckled softly behind her hand. He had really been looking forward to this, huh?
She let him be, gently brushing a stray strand of his hair from his face.
"Hmm... What's wrong? Shiina-san's lap pillow isn't enough for you?" she teased.
Nozomi smirked without opening his eyes. "Mahiru is Mahiru, and Sumireko is Sumireko. I'll never be satisfied. After all, I'm a super greedy guy."
Sumireko let out an amused hum, twirling a lock of her hair around her finger. "So? What brings you here today? You don't usually come running to me just for a lap pillow. You must have some kind of trouble, right?"
Nozomi sighed. "Yeah... Mahiru is putting me in a difficult situation."
"Oh? Do tell. I'd love to hear how our angelic Shiina-san has troubled you."
Nozomi adjusted his position slightly, inhaling the faint, pleasant scent of Sumireko's perfume before speaking.
"She wants me to pursue Miura Yumiko."
Sumireko raised an eyebrow, intrigued. "Oh? That's quite the unexpected request."
"Yeah, and Miura-san is one of Mahiru's closest friends."
"Hmmm... Shouldn't you be happy, then? If Shiina-san is actually pushing you toward another girl, that means she trusts you."
Nozomi exhaled heavily. "Yeah, that's what makes it even more frustrating. I don't want Mahiru to hide her true feelings just to accommodate my selfishness."
Sumireko smiled knowingly. "Ara, so you do have a heart, after all."
Nozomi rolled his eyes. "I mean it. I'm grateful that she's considering my... well, greedy nature, but I don't want her to force herself to accept it if it's going to make her suffer inside."
Sumireko adjusted her glasses slightly, giving him a thoughtful look. "That's a good perspective to have, Nozomi-kun. It proves that Shiina-san didn't make a mistake in choosing you."
She leaned in slightly, her voice dropping into a more curious tone. "So, tell me more. Why exactly does she want you to go after Miura?"
"Oh, it's my fault, really. I told Mahiru some things that made her start thinking."
Nozomi hesitated for a moment before continuing, "Sumireko, do you know Yukinoshita Yukino from International Class J?"
"Of course. Last time, you used a stray cat to lure her to your house, didn't you?"
"Oi! That's not what happened! She followed me because she liked the cat, okay?"
Sumireko giggled at his reaction, resting her chin on her hand. "Fufu... go on. I'm listening."
Nozomi sighed, shaking his head at her playful attitude before continuing his story.
"Remember the car accident that didn't happen at the start of the school year? The people in that car were from the Yukinoshita family."
"Ahh, so that's how you caught the attention of Yukinoshita Haruno, huh?" Sumireko adjusted her glasses, a knowing smirk on her face. "That explains why she kissed you on the cheek this morning at the school gate."
Hozuki Nozomi's eyebrow twitched. "Sumireko… have you been spying on me? How do you even know this stuff?"
"Hehe, who knows? Maybe I just have sharp eyes. After all, you're a potential boyfriend candidate. Gotta observe carefully before deciding whether you're worth making permanent."
"You win." Nozomi sighed in defeat. "Yeah, the gorgeous onee-san from this morning was Haruno. Let me explain everything, and please—no more interruptions."
Sumireko mimed zipping her lips, her expression playful.
"Yukinoshita Yukino and Hayama Hayato have been childhood friends since they were little. They both grew up following Haruno's lead."
Sumireko tilted her head. "Oh? A case of childhood devotion, huh?"
"Exactly. Hayato idolized Haruno and started mimicking her way of dealing with people. He developed this… social chameleon act, always putting on the perfect face."
"And Mahiru's friend, Miura Yumiko, has had a crush on Hayato since junior high," Nozomi continued. "They eventually became close, but Hayato never reciprocated her feelings. He just kept her around as a convenient shield."
Sumireko frowned slightly. "Tch. Sounds like a classic 'keeping them on the hook' situation."
"Exactly. And Haruno, knowing all this, decided to stir things up. She made sure Hayato saw her kissing me this morning."
Sumireko chuckled. "She's quite the strategist. No wonder Hayato was acting weird today."
"Yeah, he kept glancing at me all morning. Probably wondering about my relationship with Haruno."
"Mahiru thought what Hayato was doing to Yumiko was too cruel. So she came up with a plan to help her friend move on." Nozomi sighed. "She wants me, the so-called 'best boy' in her eyes, to pursue Miura Yumiko and make her forget about Hayato."
Sumireko raised an eyebrow. "So basically, Mahiru wants you to use your legendary scumbag charms to save her friend?"
Nozomi gave a dry laugh. "More or less. She even wants me to show my playboy side so Yumiko understands what she's getting into—and still chooses to stay with me."
Sumireko thought for a moment before giving him a rare serious look. "Mahiru's really putting a lot of faith in you. Don't let her down."
Nozomi groaned. "I know, I know. Of course, I won't let down such a precious girl like Mahiru. But that's all you have to say?"
"What else do you want? Do you think you're not good enough? Are you seriously saying you lack confidence?" Sumireko smirked.
"Of course not!" Nozomi scoffed. "If I wasn't confident, I wouldn't be shameless enough to ask for your lap pillow, and I definitely wouldn't be clinging onto Mahiru, making sure she never leaves me."
Sumireko crossed her arms. "Then prove it. Go win over Miura Yumiko and show Mahiru she made the right choice. Also, prove it to me—show me how confident your scumbag ways really are."
Nozomi blinked. "Wait… so you actually support Mahiru's plan?"
"Of course." Sumireko shrugged. "After all, love is selfish. No girl wants to share the guy she likes."
She poked his cheek teasingly. "But you… you're way too much of a pervert. Mahiru and Ogiwara have no choice but to accept it. Don't betray that trust."
Nozomi narrowed his eyes. "Wait… how do you know I'm a pervert?"
Sumireko's face turned slightly red. "T-That's not important!"
"It's very important! Sumireko, are you spying on me?!"
"Shut up! Do you want to keep your lap pillow or not?!"
"Alright, alright! I'll shut up!" Nozomi covered his mouth dramatically and snuggled against her lap again, a satisfied expression on his face.
Sumireko pouted and huffed. "You're such a hopeless scumbag."
"Yeah, yeah, I know. But at least I'm an equal-opportunity scumbag. I'll make sure every girl I care about is happy."
Sumireko clicked her tongue. "That's still just being a scumbag."
"A scumbag who treats his girls right is still better than a jerk like Hayato." Nozomi smirked.
Sumireko rolled her eyes. "Fine, go show that Hayato guy what he lost. Make Yumiko forget about him."
Nozomi sat up, stretching lazily before turning to her. "Thanks, Sumireko."
She blushed slightly, avoiding his gaze. "Idiot. Just be yourself. Mahiru chose you for a reason. Trust her."
Nozomi grinned. "Or maybe you just want me all to yourself?"
Sumireko gave him a sharp glare. "Shut up."
"Fine, fine." He smirked before leaning in and pressing a quick kiss to her cheek.
Sumireko's eyes widened. "Oi! What the hell was that?!"
Nozomi chuckled. "What? Just returning the favor from this morning. Now we're even."
Sumireko rubbed her cheek with a huff. "Baka. You're always up to something."
"Of course." Nozomi winked. "It's in my nature."
Sumireko turned on her heel, quickening her pace to escape before he got any more ideas.
Nozomi watched her go, shaking his head with a fond smile.
"Sumireko's really cute when she's flustered."
But more importantly…
He turned his gaze toward the corner of the rooftop, his expression darkening slightly.
"Time to deal with Hayato. You don't appreciate Yumiko? Fine. I'll show you how to cherish her properly."
Thinking of this, Hozuki Nozomi suddenly turned his gaze toward a corner of the rooftop.
"Come out, Kawasaki Saki-san."
The silver-haired girl with a high ponytail stiffened, then sighed and stepped out from her hiding spot.
"I was actually here first," she admitted, crossing her arms. "I've been here from the beginning."
She had only wanted a quiet place to eat her bento and enjoy the sea breeze. She hadn't expected to stumble upon a couple flirting so openly. Watching Nozomi lying on Sanshikiin Sumireko's lap made her feel like she didn't belong in this scene—she should've hidden in a crack in the wall instead.
It was bad enough that they were showing off their affection, but then she had to listen to everything that followed. This so-called "scumbag" was scheming to seduce Miura Yumiko? The very same Yumiko who was the queen bee of their class and had been pining after Hayama Hayato for years?
Nozomi studied Kawasaki's expression before smirking. "I knew you were there from the start, so I let you hear everything on purpose. Now you know my true nature."
"Huh? Why would you do that?" Kawasaki Saki asked, her brows furrowing.
"Because now I have leverage over you."
Before she could react, Nozomi casually pulled out a bundle of banknotes and held them out to her.
"Here's 1 million yen. Consider it hush money."
Kawasaki's eyes widened. "I don't want it! I can just promise not to say anything."
Nozomi tilted his head. "Hmm, tempting. But can I really trust you?"
Kawasaki hesitated, then sighed. "Honestly, I think Hayama is being way more of a jerk. Playing with the feelings of a girl who truly likes him? That's low."
At least Nozomi was honest about his ways. From what she had overheard, it was Shiina Mahiru herself who had asked him to go after Miura Yumiko. The whole thing was a mess, but strangely, Nozomi didn't seem to be manipulating anyone—he was just openly a scoundrel. And somehow, girls like Shiina and Sanshokuin Sumireko were okay with it.
Kawasaki didn't like scumbags, and she definitely wouldn't date one, but from an outsider's perspective, she had no reason to interfere. It was Hayama Hayato who irked her. The more she thought about it, the more she saw through his fake smiles. If Nozomi was telling the truth, then Hayato's current behavior toward Miura would only serve to break her heart even further when he inevitably rejected her.
Nozomi watched Kawasaki's expression shift and pressed the money into her arms. "See, I still don't believe you. If you spill the beans, I'll be socially annihilated at school. So, you have to take the hush money—otherwise, I can't trust you."
With that, he shot her a pointed look, turned around, and walked away.
Kawasaki Saki stood frozen, staring at the money in her hands.
She had never held this much cash in her life.
Her family wasn't wealthy. She had a younger brother who was about to enter junior high, which meant even more expenses. Her little sister was still in elementary school, and tuition wasn't cheap. Her parents worked hard, always insisting that everything was fine financially, but she wasn't blind. She knew how tight things were.
To help out, she had secretly taken on a part-time job, and she understood just how difficult it was to earn money. Holding this stack of yen, she felt torn.
Her heart wavered.
But then, she thought back to what Nozomi had said.
He claimed he had let her overhear everything on purpose. He said he wanted leverage over her. But wasn't it actually the other way around? She had dirt on him. And yet, he handed her a bribe as if she were the one at a disadvantage.
There was only one reason he would do something like this.
This two-timing, shameless bastard wasn't just after Miura Yumiko.
He had now set his sights on her—Kawasaki Saki.
The money in her hands suddenly felt scorching hot.
This guy was seriously dangerous.