Hayama Hayato.
Even without memories of his past life, Lin Ye knew that Hayama Hayato was a man of considerable charm at Sobu High, hugely popular among both the boys and the girls.
That was a stark contrast to himself.
Without the cheat of his superpower and the Strange Game, his own popularity and appeal would never come close to Hayama's.
If Hayama wanted to find a girlfriend at Sobu High, it would be effortless—apart from a very few girls who'd be quite the challenge, the rest really wouldn't pose much trouble at all.
Even... a young female teacher fresh on the job could probably be won over.
Lin Ye had that much confidence in Hayama Hayato.
Yet this fine, high-caliber man, when facing Haruno, when standing before the girl he liked, changed completely—losing his confident, sunny side, turning just a little meek and eager to please.
Love makes a person feel small without even realizing it.
That was probably exactly what someone like Hayama looked like.
Lin Ye knew that if he himself fell hopelessly for some girl, and that girl gave him the cold shoulder, acting like she couldn't care less, he'd probably...
At that thought, Lin Ye shook his head and stopped there.
He was different now.
He was different from before, different from his past life.
Forget being liked by girls—by now the girls throwing themselves at him had reached a level he found downright troublesome.
Too many.
Haruno, Iroha Isshiki, and others besides—so many.
Lin Ye thought life had been easier back when he was on his own.
No troubles from women at all, and now...
Sigh.
"Sis Haruno..."
Hayama Hayato, walking ahead, soon noticed that Haruno behind him hadn't kept up.
"Go back to your classroom on your own!" Lin Ye said.
"But..."
Hayama Hayato knew Sis Haruno's temperament, and knew Haruno was even more familiar with Sobu High than he was, but...
By now, many Sobu High students on their break had spotted Hayama and Haruno, the outsider.
Haruno's lovely looks drew the attention of a crowd of boys at once, and a handful of third-years remembered who that young woman was and where she came from.
"No need, go on back!"
Lin Ye only wanted Hayama to leave.
Hayama staying here served no purpose.
"Sis Haruno..."
Naturally Hayama still didn't want to give up this once-in-a-lifetime chance—after all, when was the last time he'd seen Sis Haruno?
He thought back, and it always felt like ages ago.
He really missed her, missed her so much!
"No need. I don't want to say it twice."
At that, Hayama was reluctant, but he could only accept it—angering Sis Haruno was the last thing he wanted.
"Understood. If anything comes up, Sis Haruno, contact me right away."
Hayama left—though not entirely. He found a spot in the distance to watch Lin Ye.
And Lin Ye walked on, step by step, knowing exactly where Haruno was hiding.
Did Haruno think that ducking into the crowd of students in the building would let her slip away for good?
Not a chance.
Lin Ye walked down the corridor and soon stopped in front of the restrooms.
Just as the students in the distance assumed this beautiful woman was about to enter the women's room, she strode into the men's room instead.
The moment she stepped inside, several boys just coming out panicked.
And the boys still inside grew flustered the instant they noticed her.
They'd never imagined a woman would barge in—and a stunning beauty at that.
Before long, every boy in the restroom had cleared out, save for one.
"Come out!" Lin Ye said.
"Don't make me come drag you out!"
"Well..."
Haruno knew that with Lin Ye here, it was hopeless—no amount of hiding would change the fact that she'd been caught.
"Um... let me off... how about it?"
"What do you think?"
"For Yukino's sake, then—"
"Her sake isn't enough."
"Then... how about for Shizuka's sake?"
Haruno stepped out.
She now stood before Lin Ye.
And moments later, a familiar voice rang out from the corridor.
"Haruno, get out here! You come to Sobu High and corner my student in the bathroom—what do you think you're doing?"
Shizuka Hiratsuka came charging in, seething.
Haruno smiled and pointed. "She's calling for you now!"
At this moment Haruno was Lin Ye, and Lin Ye was Haruno.
"Get out here now—if you won't come out, I'm coming in. You've got the nerve to show up at Sobu High but not the nerve to come out?"
Shizuka Hiratsuka pressed on.
She was genuinely worried about what Haruno might do to Lin Ye.
Haruno had shown up at Sobu High out of nowhere, and Lin Ye had even come to her for help—everything about it felt off.
She even suspected that Lin Ye had done something outrageous to Yukino, that Haruno had found out, and that was why Haruno hadn't wasted a second before storming straight over here.
If that were the case, as a teacher she'd still have to protect her student Lin Ye—first calm Haruno down, then, based on the facts, discipline Lin Ye.
That was Shizuka Hiratsuka's thinking.
Either way, she didn't believe Lin Ye would ever walk the path of crime.
"Tap, tap, tap..."
The first to emerge was Haruno; in a few quick steps she slipped to just behind Shizuka Hiratsuka.
Still, she kept her composure, showing no sign of timidity.
Shizuka Hiratsuka stepped forward, shielding Lin Ye behind her, fixing her eyes on the beautiful woman who had walked out of the restroom, her guard raised to its highest.
With Haruno, Shizuka Hiratsuka never dared let her guard down.
"Hiratsuka-sensei, there's something I'd like to discuss with Student Lin Ye in private."
"Of course, no problem at all."
Shizuka Hiratsuka didn't refuse—instead she agreed. "That depends on what Student Lin Ye wants. If Student Lin Ye agrees, I certainly won't stand in the way."
She seemed to agree, but in truth she still hadn't.
Because Shizuka Hiratsuka trusted that Lin Ye would never possibly agree.
"I—I'll pass. Yukinoshita-senpai and I have nothing that needs discussing one-on-one in private."
Haruno shook her head over and over, refusing.
She knew full well that once she went off with Lin Ye, her fate would be nothing good.
From what she'd learned from her Sister, she was already growing anxious and flustered.
Facing Lin Ye's punishment, her slight frame simply couldn't take it.
"Haruno, you heard her—my student isn't willing."
Shizuka Hiratsuka said.
With that one line from Lin Ye, Shizuka Hiratsuka had ample footing to face Haruno and send her away.
"Hiratsuka-sensei, stop protecting him."
"He's my student."
"He's done a lot of absurd things."
"He's still my student. In short, I won't budge. Haruno, please leave!"
Shizuka Hiratsuka's stance was firm, with no hint of yielding.
A real headache.
Shizuka Hiratsuka had a splitting headache, but no matter what, she wouldn't give ground.
"S-Sis Haruno..."
Suddenly.
Another voice.
It was Meguri Shiromeguri.
The moment she heard Haruno had arrived, she'd rushed over here as fast as she could.
She'd never expected that Sis Haruno would actually hurry to Sobu High to demand justice from Lin Ye on her behalf.
She was deeply grateful for Sis Haruno's concern, but she didn't want her own affair exposed like this, nor did she want Sis Haruno to come to any possible harm.
Meguri Shiromeguri came to Lin Ye's side and tugged at Lin Ye's hand. "Let's go first! Student Lin, the matter really isn't that serious."
That one line gave Shizuka Hiratsuka a flicker of a thought—could there be something between Meguri Shiromeguri and Lin Ye, rather than between Lin Ye and Yukino Yukinoshita?
"Student Shiromeguri, take her away from here first."
Shizuka Hiratsuka urged.
Only Lin Ye stood rooted in place, showing not the slightest wish to leave.
"Sis Haruno, Sis Haruno, let's deal with this later, all right?"
Meguri Shiromeguri cautioned carefully.
She really didn't want this blowing up here.
If Lin Ye's rebellious streak flared and he spilled everything right here, then every teacher and student at Sobu High would know her dark history, and she truly wouldn't know how to face the future.
Besides, if this got out, she could endure it—but she absolutely would not allow Sis Haruno to be harmed.
"Come with me."
Lin Ye went on, addressing Haruno.
"Um... that's not appropriate, not appropriate. I still have school, I still have studying to do."
"Last chance."
"No—I... the one I like is your sister, not you! Stop forcing me!"
Haruno, in Lin Ye's identity, delivered this line that stunned everyone present.
Even Lin Ye himself was dumbfounded.
Under the shocked, astonished stares from all around, Lin Ye trembled inside.
She really could.
She really dared.
Even Lin Ye had to admit he was impressed.
"Enough chatter. Come with me, or I'll have no choice but to use other methods."
Lin Ye said.
And that line drew an immediate response from the stunned Shizuka Hiratsuka.
"Haruno, Lin Ye is my student. You are not to touch him."
She didn't believe what Lin Ye had just said—she took it for one of Haruno's teasing remarks, meant to needle Lin Ye, not any real pursuit.
But certain words had probably provoked Lin Ye, leaving him with this misunderstanding.
And such a misunderstanding was better cleared up sooner—though with a troublemaker like Haruno around, Shizuka Hiratsuka felt the outcome she hoped for really wouldn't come to pass.
"Hiratsuka-sensei."
But Shizuka Hiratsuka gave not an inch.
Lin Ye looked toward Haruno.
Haruno could already sense that Lin Ye's emotions were nearing the breaking point, on the verge of erupting. Any hope of a clean getaway was utterly impossible.
Today, she was probably, truly done for.
At this moment.
A cool, clear voice drifted in once more.
It was Yukino Yukinoshita. "Student Lin, let's have a proper talk."
Her clothes were now neat and in order.
And behind her was Rui Tachibana, the one who had untied Yukino Yukinoshita once the time was up.
Though she'd learned from Yukinoshita that Lin Ye hadn't done anything to her, well—how to put it, she still didn't quite believe it.
Hearing her Sister's words, Haruno caught the meaning: it was reassurance.
"With me here, nothing will happen to you."
Yukino said.
It was a guarantee.
Hearing it, Haruno was deeply moved.
A Sister was a Sister after all—truly wonderful!
Even though she'd just bullied her Sister this way and that, and even performed intimate acts on Rui Tachibana right in front of her Sister, her Sister was still willing to repay cruelty with kindness.
Haruno was delighted, feeling she hadn't doted on this Sister for nothing.
Shizuka Hiratsuka wavered too. With Yukinoshita there, she figured Haruno wouldn't try anything reckless with Lin Ye.
Lin Ye's safety was assured.
Of course, the most important thing was still to confirm what Lin Ye himself wanted. If Lin Ye wasn't willing, she'd have no choice but to maintain her teacherly authority and the promise she'd just made, refusing to give Haruno any opening whatsoever.
Wanting to bully her student—and at Sobu High, right in front of her no less—was all the more out of the question. That was Shizuka Hiratsuka's position.
Given all this, Haruno had no recourse and chose to accept.
"Fine. Let's go to the Service Club, then."
Haruno said.
That was her suggestion.
"Get back to class, quickly. What are you all gawking at?"
Shizuka Hiratsuka herded the students who'd gathered to watch the show back to their classrooms—and there were a few teachers among them, Tachibana-sensei being one.
In any case, she found it strange too: something like this happening, and the school administration didn't step in to intervene at all, just let Shizuka Hiratsuka and the others handle it.
Only once she learned that woman's surname did she understand—clearly the school leadership didn't want trouble and was letting things run their course.
After all, with Shizuka Hiratsuka around, nothing too serious would come of it.
"Sis Haruno..."
Meguri Shiromeguri looked at Lin Ye and tugged at her hand once again.
This scene fell into Yukino Yukinoshita's eyes, and the girl with long black hair's expression shifted faintly, though it quickly returned to normal.
She knew that even now Lin Ye and her sister still hadn't swapped bodies back, and she truly had no idea when the Body Swap would end.
Her sister was far too much trouble.
She gave everyone a headache.
"Go on back first. I'll handle it."
Lin Ye said to Meguri Shiromeguri.
Meguri Shiromeguri actually leaned toward staying at the scene, but since it had been put that way, she finally chose to trust him.
"Mm. Anyway, I'm fine, Sis Haruno."
She added one more word of persuasion before leaving.
Soon, Meguri Shiromeguri left too.
And Rui Tachibana, at Yukino Yukinoshita's prompting, departed as well.
In the end, only four remained.
Shizuka Hiratsuka seemed about to head along too, but after Lin Ye reminded her, she agreed not to come with them.
The three of them arrived at the Service Club.
Haruno was just about to speak when Lin Ye made a shushing shake of the head.
Shizuka Hiratsuka wasn't behaving—she hadn't stopped following.
Through her perspective, Lin Ye saw that Shizuka Hiratsuka was right outside the Service Club classroom door.
This was eavesdropping.
At Lin Ye's signal, Yukino Yukinoshita walked straight over, grabbed the handle, and yanked the Service Club door open with a whoosh.
"Gah!"
Startled, Shizuka Hiratsuka nearly toppled over.
But right now she felt mostly embarrassment—the embarrassment of being caught eavesdropping.
"Ahem, ahem, just passing by, passing by. I'll be off right away."
With that she hastily backed away and left, closing the classroom door once more.
This time she really did leave—but she was still very curious about what would happen among those three in the Service Club.
...
...
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