After claiming victory over Lin Zhi atop the verbal battlefield, Iroha Shikibu couldn't help but smile with satisfaction. Yet, the girl's curiosity remained far from sated.
She recalled the expression Lin Zhi had worn earlier and then cast a thoughtful glance at the dazzling girl on the stage. Instantly, a fiery spark of gossip ignited in her eyes. Within moments, her mind had already drafted a thousand-word short story full of love, rivalry, and intrigue. Judging by Lin Zhi's earlier glance, she was almost certain he knew the new student representative on stage.
Iroha had always been highly sensitive to others' gazes.
"Does Nozaki know Eriri?" she asked cautiously after a moment of consideration.
"Eriri?" Lin Zhi's reaction was one of mild confusion, followed by a flicker of recognition.
Iroha blinked. Something felt off about his expression. Could it be that she had guessed wrong?
Lin Zhi, oblivious to the thoughts swirling in Iroha's head, looked up at the girl on the podium, who was earnestly reading her script in a clear, crisp voice. He muttered softly to himself, "Eriri Spencer Sawamura… wasn't that just introduced by the host?"
Iroha responded with a bored "Huh," her lips pouted in annoyance as her fiery curiosity fizzled out. But then she felt a surge of irritation.
She glanced at Wang Jian. Was there something wrong with his taste? By all rights, she should be catching his attention too. Why was he so indifferent to her, yet so interested in Eriri? Comparison was inevitable, and Iroha couldn't help but feel a pang of envy.
She gave herself a thorough once-over, then looked at Eriri on stage, and finally cast Wang Jian a disdainful glare.
"Could it be that he likes flat-chested girls? Pathetic taste!" she muttered under her breath.
Just as her scornful gaze intensified, Lin Zhi happened to look over and froze for a moment.
"Something wrong with your eyes?"
"You're the one with the problem!" Iroha rolled her eyes. This guy must be an idiot.
"Anyway… how much do you know about Eriri?" Lin Zhi asked.
"Huh?" Iroha was taken aback and immediately got defensive. "Nozaki, you better stay calm! Being a pervert is against the law!"
"What are you thinking? I'm just curious. Purely curious, got it?" Lin Zhi said.
Iroha eyed him skeptically, yet her mind couldn't help but race. Surely this guy must know Eriri. But… could that be possible? His blank expression when hearing her name earlier suggested otherwise. Still, she resigned herself to observing him for now.
"You really don't know Eriri?" Iroha asked, a hint of disbelief in her voice.
Lin Zhi's expression grew strange. "They're just freshmen. Why would I know? What's weird is you, Iroha. How do you know so much?"
Iroha huffed with pride. "Before entering high school, I prepared extensively. I know everything about both the new students and the famous alumni."
Lin Zhi buried his face in his hands. "Do all girls do this, or is it just you?"
"Hmph, none of your business! Are you even listening?"
"Ah, yes, thank you, Iroha." Lin Zhi scratched his nose, realizing that sometimes you just had to bow under the roof you're under.
Iroha seemed pleased with his current demeanor and began explaining.
"Eriri is an art class student. Back in middle school, she won numerous competitions and earned gold medals, earning the title of a star artist. I heard the principal went to great lengths to recruit her when establishing the art class."
"Also, I heard she's mixed-race. Her father is a diplomat from overseas, and she even lives in a castle."
Lin Zhi's expression shifted slightly. Really? He couldn't help but glance at the refined girl on stage again. If Iroha was telling the truth, this girl was the epitome of a young lady from a noble household.
Noticing Lin Zhi's look, Iroha's suspicion grew.
"Nozaki must know Eriri, right?" she said, confident in her deduction.
Lin Zhi cast her a glance and denied it outright. "I don't know her!"
Hmph! Sure… Iroha knew she had seen through something, but what exactly was the relationship between Nozaki and Eriri? Could they be a couple? That seemed unlikely; couples usually know each other's names.
While Iroha pondered, Eriri on stage suddenly noticed Lin Zhi watching her from the audience. Her delicate face froze, and she momentarily forgot her script.
Only after murmurs of confusion from the audience and faculty did she snap back, hastily finishing her lines. After bowing politely amid puzzled gazes, she quickly stepped down, casting a fleeting glance in his direction before vanishing into the crowd.
Lin Zhi watched thoughtfully. Did she recognize him? He couldn't help but smile. Even Eriri could get shy—he had expected her to be just as bold in daily life as she was when drawing her illustrations.
Clearly, this girl knew Eriri, after all.
Unaware, Iroha's gossip instincts were ablaze, convinced she had uncovered the truth. Lin Zhi noticed her glance and turned to meet her eyes, prompting her to quickly look away, pretending to focus on the stage.
Hmph. I, Iroha Shikibu, will get to the bottom of this.
The girl clenched her fists in her heart, resolute.
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T/N:
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