Shikime Natsu sat quietly at his desk, his pale golden eyes resting on the deep blue virtual information panel floating before him—a panel only he could see.
As he looked at the few glaring lines of text refreshing across the screen, his brow couldn't help but furrow ever so slightly.
He genuinely hadn't expected that this bunch from Class D would have the nerve to go this far.
Yamauchi Haruki, Ike Kanji, Sudou Ken, plus one Sotomura Hideo.
These guys really were beyond saving. They probably thought that what they were doing was nothing more than satisfying the restless urges of puberty, genuinely believing that the kind of plots found in those dirty doujinshi could actually happen in real life—convinced it was just normal behavior among boys, all harmless fun.
They figured they wouldn't suffer any kind of punishment—no, rather, they simply hadn't grasped the true consequences, treating the whole thing as nothing but a joke. That was why they would choose the very last day of summer break to sneak into the women's changing room at the pool to peep and secretly film. It had to be said, they really were a pack of idiots whose brains had been scrambled by their hormones.
Still, when Shikime Natsu took a moment to recall how these few usually conducted themselves, he found the logic behind such an absurd act not entirely impossible to understand.
Especially that guy named Yamauchi Haruki.
In Shikime Natsu's eyes, this person was not only utterly incompetent and a habitual liar, but also held to an extremely low moral bottom line—practically a fake human wearing the skin of a student.
As for Ike Kanji and Sudou Ken, while Sudou Ken wasn't quite as ridiculous as Yamauchi Haruki and Ike Kanji, in the end he was still part of what people called the Yamauchi Trio—that nickname alone proved everything. As for Sotomura Hideo, Shikime Natsu didn't know all that much about him; even back when Shikime Natsu had served as an exchange student in Class D, he hadn't had much contact with Sotomura Hideo.
But... now that the intel had updated, that meant Sotomura Hideo was nothing more than birds of a feather with Yamauchi Haruki and the others. Since this group was being so proactive, planning to stir up such a huge incident just as summer break was drawing to a close, then naturally Shikime Natsu wouldn't mind taking a few small measures to make sure these guys left this school this summer.
After all, Shikime Natsu had no desire to spend his future school life constantly having to guard against whether this bunch might pull some disgusting stunt on the girls around him.
If he could seize this opportunity to see a few less of these eyesore, bad-luck-bringing fellows, then the next three years of high school life would no doubt become a great deal more peaceful and pleasant.
Having made his decision, Shikime Natsu closed the system's information panel.
He picked up the phone resting on the edge of the desk, unlocked the screen, and opened his messaging app.
His gaze swept across the contact list, and Shikime Natsu opened Horikita Suzune's chat window.
That afternoon, Horikita Suzune had inexplicably given him a call—it rang once and was promptly hung up.
Shikime Natsu's slender fingers tapped a few times on the screen, composing a message and sending it over.
[Shikime Natsu: You called this afternoon. Was there something you needed?]
No sooner had the message been sent than a "Read" notification popped up at the bottom of the screen, almost instantly.
Clearly, Horikita Suzune on the other end was holding her phone at this very moment.
However, she didn't reply quickly. The chat window remained quiet the whole time—not even a "typing..." indicator appeared.
Time ticked by, second by second, and Horikita Suzune seemed to have fallen into silence.
Looking at the screen in his hand, Shikime Natsu figured Horikita Suzune was probably wondering why, when this was clearly an afternoon matter, he had deliberately waited until evening to bring it up again.
Of course, exactly what Horikita Suzune was thinking, Shikime Natsu had no way of knowing. It was just that at the time he had been together with Amikura Mako, and Horikita Suzune's call had rung once before being hung up directly—add to that Horikita Suzune's personality, and naturally Shikime Natsu had chosen to keep his girlfriend company.
Had Horikita Suzune not hung up the call, Shikime Natsu wouldn't have minded chatting with her. Of course, given Horikita Suzune's personality, if she were the one actively intending to chat with him about something, Shikime Natsu would have wondered whether he'd eaten some bad mushrooms.
Another two or three minutes passed.
At last, Horikita Suzune's reply popped up on the screen.
Just two cold words.
[Horikita Suzune: It's nothing.]
Horikita Suzune seemed to feel that two words alone weren't enough to explain, so she added another line.
[Horikita Suzune: Wrong number.]
Looking at this self-incriminating reply, Shikime Natsu let out a soft laugh.
He didn't believe for a second that Horikita Suzune would make the mistake of "dialing the wrong number."
Since he couldn't get anything out of the person herself, Shikime Natsu didn't go on to expose her, sparing her pitiful pride.
He exited Horikita Suzune's chat window and, quite decisively, found Sakura Airi's name instead, sending a message over.
If Horikita Suzune had intended to trouble him with something but was too embarrassed to speak up, then she might trouble Sakura Airi or Mei-Yu Wang instead. But... by his judgment, Shikime Natsu was more inclined to believe Horikita Suzune would turn to Sakura Airi, since the two of them got along well.
[Shikime Natsu: Airi, have you turned in yet? This afternoon, did something happen on Horikita-san's end?]
Less than ten seconds after he sent it.
Sakura Airi's reply came firing back like a string of firecrackers.
[Sakura Airi: Not yet, Natsu.]
[Sakura Airi: Actually... this afternoon, Suzune had a little accident.]
[Sakura Airi: Her hand—she accidentally got it stuck in a kettle and couldn't pull it out...]
Reading this passage Sakura Airi had sent over, Shikime Natsu couldn't help but freeze for a moment, and then an amused smile broke across his face.
That face which was always cold as ice, as if she handled everything with ease—and yet she'd gone and gotten her own hand stuck in a kettle. So even this girl could be a scatterbrain. How truly rare. A pity... Shikime Natsu hadn't witnessed the scene himself. Otherwise, it really would have been worth commemorating properly.
Still, there was one more thing that caught Shikime Natsu's attention: when Horikita Suzune got her hand stuck, she had actually chosen to call him?
He just didn't know whether he'd been the first one she called. If so, then... his standing in Horikita Suzune's heart had probably risen by quite a bit.
Just as Shikime Natsu was pondering this, another message from Sakura Airi came through.
[Sakura Airi: Afterward I went over to Suzune's dorm and helped her get her hand out. But how did you suddenly know Suzune had run into trouble?]
Shikime Natsu didn't hide anything and replied truthfully.
[Shikime Natsu: Because this afternoon she gave me a call, but it rang once and was hung up right away. I guessed she might have run into something, so I came to ask you.]
On the other end of the screen, Sakura Airi read this line and fell into a brief silence.
[Sakura Airi: So that's how it was.]
[Sakura Airi: When Suzune ran into trouble, the very first person she thought to ask for help was actually Natsu... It seems Natsu has become someone Suzune really cares about in her heart.]
[Sakura Airi: Natsu really is quite popular, isn't he? Now even Suzune has come to rely on you without realizing it... Honestly, it's making me pretty jealous.]
Looking at these words from Sakura Airi—tinged with a sour, vinegary jealousy yet so very candid—Shikime Natsu's gaze softened.
[Shikime Natsu: Airi is plenty popular too. In my heart, you've always been wonderful.]
Shikime Natsu gently soothed her feelings.
Sakura Airi on the other end seemed to be cheered up by this line, and the pace of her replies turned lively once more.
[Sakura Airi: I don't care whether I'm popular in other people's eyes at all. As long as I know that Natsu likes me, that's enough!]
For this weighty affection, Shikime Natsu wasn't the least bit stingy, and gave the most direct response.
[Shikime Natsu: Mm, I like Airi.]
Having received such a blunt reply from Shikime Natsu, Sakura Airi on the other end of the screen was obviously immensely satisfied.
The two chatted a bit more about everyday things, and then Sakura Airi very obediently bid him goodnight, no longer disturbing his rest.
Setting down his phone, Shikime Natsu gazed at the night scenery outside the window, his eyes gradually growing profound.
Next, all he needed to do was quietly wait for the last day of summer break to arrive.
The gears of time turned steadily onward.
In the blink of an eye, the date on the calendar flipped to August 31st.
The last day of summer break.
In the small hours, before even the faintest pale light had touched the horizon, the entire Advanced Nurturing High School was shrouded in a layer of deep, heavy darkness.
Most of the students were still immersed in sweet dreams, savoring the last lingering traces of the holiday.
Yet near that old building behind the school's indoor pool, four furtive figures quietly appeared.
By the faint light, one could make out the faces of these four people.
They were none other than Class D's Yamauchi Haruki, Ike Kanji, Sudou Ken, and Sotomura Hideo.
The four of them were dressed in dark casual clothes, hunched over and slinking along like thieves, using the cover of the surrounding shrubbery to inch their way toward the building.
"Oi, everyone keep your movements light, don't make a sound."
Ike Kanji lowered his voice, but the excitement in his tone was impossible to conceal.
"Relax, at this hour nobody's going to notice this place at all."
Yamauchi Haruki walked at the very front. He rubbed his hands together, his somewhat sleazy face full of impatience.
"We've finally made it! I've been planning for this day for ages. Just thinking about how, once school starts tomorrow, the changing room will be full of those girls getting undressed..."
He let out a low, sleazy chuckle and turned his head to look back at the others.
"This is what youth is all about! If you don't do some blood-pumping peeping like this, how can you even call it enjoying your youth? Our youth ought to have this kind of thrilling, risqué color to it!"
Hearing this, Ike Kanji, walking behind him, immediately nodded like a madman in heartfelt agreement.
"Exactly, exactly! Haruki, you bastard, you finally said something human. As long as we can get the cameras installed without a hitch..."
Sotomura Hideo pushed up the glasses that had slid down the bridge of his nose. Although his rather plump build made his movements somewhat clumsy, his face was likewise brimming with excitement.
"This is a rare opportunity to gather material. In pursuit of art and the true beauty of the flesh, bearing a tiny bit of risk is only proper. As a fellow of the same persuasion, naturally I must lend you all a hand."
As for Sudou Ken.
Although he was an athletic scholarship student with a usually fiery, impulsive temperament, at this moment, doing this sort of thing, he was quite willing—he even looked like he was rather enjoying himself.
"Alright, cut the chatter."
Sudou Ken glanced around in every direction and urged them on.
"Haruki, did you bring all the cameras I had you prepare? Don't go dropping the ball when the time comes."
"Relax, I had everything ready ages ago."
Yamauchi Haruki smugly patted a black backpack slung over his shoulders.
"Of course it's all prepared. And I already looked up the structure of that ventilation fan online in advance. Once I climb up there, I can get it done in no time."
Saying this, Yamauchi Haruki seemed to remember something, and spread his hands with a hint of helplessness.
"I actually went out of my way to invite that guy Ayanokouji to take part in this great plan."
He curled his lip, his tone carrying a trace of disdain and regret.
"And in the end that guy flat-out refused. Really doesn't know how to enjoy himself. Such a great perk and he won't even come—truly a shame."
Hearing Yamauchi Haruki bring up Ayanokouji Kiyotaka, Ike Kanji immediately let out a scornful snort.
"Tch, no need to bother with that guy."
Ike Kanji waved his hand, passing judgment in a tone that saw through everything.
"That Ayanokouji guy looks all prim and proper on the surface, but deep down he's definitely a closet pervert too. He just doesn't have the guts we do to take risks for the sake of youth—a coward, that's all."
"Right, forget about him."
Sotomura Hideo chimed in.
"One less person means we each shoulder a little less of the risk."
Sudou Ken took a deep breath and clenched his fists, easing his tense nerves.
"Alright, never mind other people, let's hurry up and get started."
He lowered his voice, his expression turning serious.
The four of them planned to first set up the equipment and the like, then wait until the girls had finished changing in the changing room. Two of them would keep watch over by the pool, while Sotomura Hideo would take on the duty of scout—his binoculars were already prepared.
What's more, for this plan, the group had even prepared a unique set of hand signals for communication, so the others definitely wouldn't be discovered when the time came.
"Now, let's review the plan one more time. Ken, Kanji, you two keep watch over by the pool. Then I'll handle installing the cameras. I've got the 'Cleaning in Progress' sign ready too."
Yamauchi Haruki said smugly. For this operation, his preparations could be called foolproof. He had never done anything this conscientiously before. So this really was the drive that youth had bestowed upon him?
"Got it!"
The other three nodded.
"But we still have to be extremely careful and cautious, otherwise if this gets exposed, we're all finished."
Sudou Ken spoke up.
"Relax, as long as you can stall things, I'll handle the rest—more than enough."
Yamauchi Haruki gave a thumbs-up, baring his white teeth.
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