Shuchi'in Academy was bustling with activity. Students from both the junior high and high school divisions wore bright smiles as they participated together in this French exchange student event and school open day.
For them, the main reason was simple. They did not have to attend classes today. It was basically a holiday, so the students were naturally happy.
"Is this Shuchi'in Academy? It's really big. I've only seen this school in pictures before."
"That clock tower over there is said to be more than a hundred years old, but it still looks very new."
Ran, wearing a short-sleeved dress, walked around the campus and constantly exclaimed in admiration at the various European-style buildings.
Beside her, Sonoko said, "This school just has too many rules. Our family also doesn't have a good relationship with the Shinomiya family, otherwise I would have studied here back then."
"But it's fine. Thankfully I didn't come here, otherwise I wouldn't have met you, Ran."
Hearing her best friend's words, Ran smiled shyly.
Unlike many superficial friendships, the relationship between her and Sonoko was very genuine.
Sonoko also did not have the arrogance of a rich young lady. She was very down-to-earth, which made their relationship grow even closer.
"This time I benefited from you, Sonoko, that I could come inside. Many buildings at Shuchi'in Academy are very old. In Japanese architecture books, the buildings here are often used as classic examples."
Ran said happily.
"Actually the buildings here are just average. They are only special because they are a rare group of European-style buildings in Japan."
"They call it an open day, but this school is very sneaky. Except for the families of the students, they only sent invitation letters to a limited number of people."
Sonoko snorted.
As the daughter of a financial conglomerate, she understood the school's intentions very clearly.
Who were the families of the students? Naturally they were influential figures in Japan. As for the invitations sent outside, they were given to people like Sonoko.
Clearly, Shuchi'in Academy used this method to elevate its own status.
What does it mean to associate with great scholars and have no commoners in your dealings? This was exactly that.
"But where did this group of little rascals come from?"
Sonoko squinted, put her hands on her hips, bent down, and spoke fiercely to Conan, Genta, Ayumi, and the others.
"Haha, I didn't expect the children would want to come too. Sonoko, don't worry. I'll take care of them."
Ran said while wiping sweat from her forehead.
"It's not that I dislike them. I actually like children. It's just that I keep seeing these little brats everywhere."
Sonoko sounded helpless.
Ayumi clasped her hands together and said, "We heard that Shuchi'in Academy is Fujiwara-nii's alma mater, so we wanted to come and see."
"That's right! That's right! Fujiwara-nii is as amazing as Kamen Rider! We want to see where he used to study!"
Genta and Mitsuhiko quickly echoed.
Of course, this was only one reason. The real reason was that children simply liked going wherever it was lively.
When Sonoko heard Toru's name, she immediately placed her hands on her hips and burst into laughter.
"Well said, children! This is Fujiwara-sama's alma mater, so feel free to look around!"
"I heard Fujiwara-sama is coming today too. I wonder if I'll have the chance to see him."
Conan's mouth twitched. He had no interest in Toru's alma mater at all. The only reason he came was because the children dragged him here.
Listening to Sonoko's strange laughter, he muttered to himself.
This pervert, she's completely obsessed with handsome guys.
Wait, that's not right. I used to be her classmate and a famous high school detective, but she showed no interest in me at all.
Am I not handsome enough?
Conan immediately deflated.
Not far away, Toru's head hurt even more than Conan's.
Seeing Conan and his group appear at the school made his hair stand on end. He always felt that something big was about to happen again.
Even if it was not a big incident, someone might still die.
However, compared to the trouble Conan might cause, what Toru had to face right now was his sister Chika standing in front of him.
"Brother!"
Chika spotted Toru and waved vigorously.
Then she waved her hand, and a huge banner suddenly unfolded behind her.
[Welcome the Former Student Council President of Shuchi'in Academy, Returning to His Loyal Shuchi'in Academy]
A giant banner alone was not enough. Chika had somehow gathered a group of youthful and beautiful girls from the school.
The girls wore cheerleader uniforms and held two pom-poms made of plastic flowers. When they saw Toru, they showed no shyness and shouted together.
"Fujiwara-kaichou! Fujiwara-kaichou!"
The lively scene made countless people nearby point and whisper in surprise.
"What's going on over there?"
"It sounds like Fujiwara Toru."
"Fujiwara Toru? The Fujiwara Toru from the internet?"
"Yes, that's him. He used to study at Shuchi'in Academy."
Visitors outside the school whispered among themselves.
Meanwhile, a group of first-year and junior high students from Shuchi'in Academy heard that the legendary student council president had appeared and quickly squeezed through the crowd.
"Where is Fujiwara-kaichou?"
"Let me through, let me through! I want to see Fujiwara-kaichou!"
"Wow, as expected of Fujiwara-kaichou. He's even more handsome in person than online."
Toru felt his head ache.
Chika, can we not play such absurd games?
Even if you want to be absurd, at least do not make it so conspicuous and attract everyone.
Toru looked at the girls who had surrounded him tightly and forced a smile.
Chika still felt it was not enough. She started leading the girls and shouted things like "Fujiwara-kaichou, I love you!"
Not far away, Hayasaka dressed in a gyaru outfit watched everything and stirred things up.
"Kaguya-sama, you are Fujiwara-kun's fiancée. Are you really not going over?"
Kaguya hesitated for a moment. She slightly raised her pointed chin and said coldly, "I will not compete with those commoners. Fujiwara-kun is my fiancé. They cannot take him from me."
Although she said that, Kaguya stared intensely in Toru's direction and shouted in her heart.
You little sluts, stay away from my fiancé!
However, with her tsundere and proud personality, she absolutely could not do something like rushing over and dragging Toru away.
Hayasaka secretly watched Kaguya from the side and muttered in her heart.
Kaguya-sama, if this continues, you really might end up with nothing.
At this moment Hayasaka suddenly understood a widely circulated saying.
Character determines destiny.
With Kaguya's personality, her future almost seemed predictable.
Among the crowd visiting Shuchi'in Academy, Mutsumi and Soyo were also present.
As young ladies from Tsukinomori, whose families were also influential figures in Japan, their applications to attend the academy event were quickly approved.
The two former close friends walked together, but for some reason a deep rift had formed between them.
Unknowingly, they felt almost like strangers.
Recently, Soyo had lost her virginity and transferred all her attention from Sakiko to Toru. After learning about this event at Shuchi'in Academy and that Toru would also attend, she immediately signed up.
As for Mutsumi, she also registered on a whim.
"Mutsumi, with your personality, unless your parents forced you, you normally wouldn't participate in events like this."
Soyo stared closely at her, as if guarding against a best friend who might become a rival.
Mutsumi remained expressionless and replied calmly, "My parents told me to attend this event."
"Fujiwara-kun saved my life. They told me to come and thank him."
Soyo looked suspicious.
Mutsumi's explanation sounded reasonable, but for some reason she still did not believe it.
She knew Toru had saved Mutsumi's life, although it happened online, but her woman's intuition told her that Mutsumi was lying.
At this moment Mutsumi suddenly asked, "Soyo, do you like Fujiwara-kun?"
Soyo's heart skipped a beat. She did not expect Mutsumi to ask such a direct question.
She forced herself to remain calm.
"I don't."
"You're lying."
Mutsumi spoke with certainty.
Looking at the doll-like best friend in front of her, Soyo thought about how she never helped her before and never acted as a messenger. Anger rose in her chest.
"Even if I like Fujiwara-kun, so what? You can't control me, Mutsumi!"
Mutsumi replied directly, "What Soyo is doing is wrong."
"Why is it wrong? Is there right or wrong in who I like?"
"This is unfair to Fujiwara-kun. Soyo liked Sakiko before. Sakiko abandoned you, and you immediately started liking Fujiwara-kun. Soyo, you are just using Fujiwara-kun as emotional support. It might not be real love."
After a pause, Mutsumi continued.
"…Sakiko was right. Soyo is full of herself."
The string in Soyo's mind snapped.
If this were not outside, she would have already fought with Mutsumi.
She would have grabbed her hair fiercely.
Suddenly understanding something, Soyo smiled.
"I see. So Mutsumi, you like Fujiwara-kun."
Mutsumi stayed silent.
Soyo sneered.
"Well done, Mutsumi. You're usually so quiet, but it turns out you have so many thoughts in your head."
"Are you trying to attack me this way and reduce your rivals?"
"Mutsumi, I won't lose to you, because I have more advantages than you."
Mutsumi still did not speak.
She knew exactly what Soyo meant by that advantage.
She had gone to a love hotel.
If, if I went too, then wouldn't I stand on the same starting line as Soyo?
Toru already had a fiancée. If she just threw herself at him like that, her parents would definitely oppose it.
But as the puppet called Mutsumi, she also wanted freedom.
She also wanted to do something based on her own will instead of always obeying her parents.
At the same time, several trucks were speeding toward Shuchi'in Academy.
(To be continued.)
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◇ One bonus chapter will be released for every 200 Power Stones.
◇ You can read the ahead chapter on Pat if you're interested: p-atreon.c-om/Blownleaves (Just remove the hyphen to access normally.)