Chapter 30

"The conclusion is, if you have even the slightest serious thought about literature, staying away from there is the wisest choice!"

Saionji Nanase suddenly realized and nodded solemnly:

"So that's how it is, I understand!"

Natsume Chikage's expression was subtle, thinking about what kind of strange metaphor this was.

And Saionji Nanase, what exactly do you understand?

He didn't hear at all what was specifically wrong with the Literature Club.

Saionji Nanase continued to ask curiously:

"Since the Literature Club is no good, what club do you plan to join, Suzune?"

"Didn't the teacher say that we must join a club this week, otherwise credits will be deducted?"

Yukimura Suzune pondered for a moment and shook her head:

"I haven't thought about it yet."

"If I really can't find a suitable one, I'll just join the 'Go-Home Club' to get by."

Saionji Nanase blinked her lively eyes, and a thought quietly sprouted in her heart.

Just at this moment.

Natsume Chikage's phone vibrated slightly.

He took out his phone and lit up the screen.

It was a text message from the Shogi Association.

[Natsume Chikage-sama:

Congratulations on successfully registering for this "Newcomer Shogi Tournament", you have been assigned to Group A of the Shogi Championship.

The competition time for Group A is: April 3rd, 9:00 AM

Competition location: Tokyo Shogi Hall

Please bring your personal identification to participate on time. Being more than 15 minutes late will be considered a withdrawal. We wish you great results.]

Natsume Chikage didn't expect the competition to be tomorrow morning.

It seems he has to ask for leave from the homeroom teacher, Sakai Shion.

The morning classes ended in a blink of an eye.

Ding-a-ling—

The bell for the end of class rang.

Natsume Chikage actually quite liked the place where he had lunch yesterday.

Quiet, beautiful scenery, and most importantly, no one disturbed him, so he could write with peace of mind.

Also, because he received that special "love letter", the other party hoped that Natsume Chikage would come to the cherry blossom tree in the backyard at 12:30 PM to give a reply.

So he picked up his bento and stood up straight, planning to go to the school's backyard to have lunch and wait for that 'Tsukishima Rin'.

Saionji Nanase wanted to invite Natsume Chikage to have lunch together.

But seeing him leave the classroom directly again, her lively big eyes were full of curiosity.

She really wanted to know what Natsume Chikage was doing at noon these two days.

At this time.

Several girls in the class carried their bento boxes and looked back at the seat by the window in the back row.

But when they looked over, they were stunned to find that they were a step too late—Natsume Chikage was already gone!

The school's backyard was very spacious.

The huge canopy of the century-old cherry blossom tree spread out, casting mottled light and shadows under the spring sun.

A breeze blew by, and pink and white petals fell rustlingly, like a silent fine snow, decorating the entire courtyard like a dream.

Students in twos and threes sat scattered on the lawn, enjoying their lunch break, and laughter and fragmented conversations drifted with the wind.

At a bench a little further away from the crowd, Natsume Chikage sat alone, quietly enjoying his bento.

His gaze involuntarily drifted frequently to the century-old cherry blossom tree standing tall in the center of the courtyard, with a bit of contemplation in his eyes.

[Confession Cherry Blossom Tree]

[Quality: Blue]

[Effect: None!]

[Introduction: Under the cherry blossom tree, that is the youth I once lost...]

[Synthesis condition: At least three pieces of the same type of equipment needed!]

Unlike other special equipment, Natsume Chikage had no clue how to obtain this cherry blossom tree.

The ownership of this "Confession Cherry Blossom Tree" belonged to the school's top management.

Not to mention how to contact the decision-makers, just persuading the school to transfer this symbolic tree with a century of history to him was an almost impossible task.

Such an ancient tree with historical significance and symbolic value, I'm afraid, cannot be solved with money.

Even if it could, the price was definitely not something he could afford now.

He lowered his head and pondered, his slender fingers tapping the edge of the bento box unconsciously, with a trace of solemnity between his brows.

Just at this moment, a pair of long legs wrapped in translucent black stockings with beautiful lines appeared in his lowered line of sight.

Natsume Chikage's gaze slowly moved up along the elegant curves.

What met his eyes was the exquisite figure of the homeroom teacher, Sakai Shion. She was wearing a well-tailored dark suit today, which made her temperament even colder and more beautiful.

She was carrying a simple and elegant bento bag, and her meticulous expression carried a hint of confusion.

"Natsume-kun, why are you eating lunch here today too?"

Natsume Chikage put down the bento box and explained:

"I happened to have something to do here at noon, so I just had lunch here."

"I see." Sakai Shion sat on the bench beside him, placed the bento bag gently on her lap, and asked, tilting her head, "What is the matter you mentioned?"

Actually, one of the purposes of Natsume Chikage coming here was precisely Sakai Shion.

He remembered Sakai Shion saying that she often came here for lunch.

And tomorrow's shogi competition starts at nine o'clock, so he definitely can't go to school.

So he needs to ask her for leave.

If she doesn't agree, he can only choose to skip class, but that will inevitably bring unnecessary trouble.

If not necessary, Natsume Chikage doesn't want to take that step.

"I have to participate in a shogi competition at nine o'clock tomorrow morning, and I hope the teacher can grant me leave."

Obvious suspicion immediately appeared on Sakai Shion's face, and her slender eyebrows frowned slightly.

According to Natsume Chikage's junior high school records, he once had a tendency to hate school and often asked for leave to stay home and play games for various reasons.

She had reason to suspect that he was just finding an excuse to skip class.

What's more, asking for leave on the second day of school was really unjustifiable.

"Participating in a shogi competition tomorrow?" Sakai Shion's tone rose slightly, "Is there any proof?"

Natsume Chikage took out his phone, unlocked the screen, pulled up the competition notification text message he received at noon, and handed it to her.

Sakai Shion took the phone, her slender fingers slid across the screen, carefully checked the content of the text message, and her expression was thoughtful.

But her inner doubts were not completely eliminated.

She took out her own phone, her slender fingers tapped quickly on the screen, and searched for information about this shogi competition on the spot.

After confirming that the competition did indeed exist, her expression softened slightly, but her eyes still carried scrutiny.

Even so, Sakai Shion didn't intend to approve it easily.

Situations where students fake reasons for leave are common.

Especially sick leave notes, some students do have ways to get official certificates from hospitals.

So as a homeroom teacher, she is always extra cautious about students' leave applications.

And according to the information she has, Natsume Chikage never showed interest in shogi in junior high, let alone participated in competitions.

She just searched for Natsume Chikage's name on the Shogi Association's official website, and the result was nothing.

This shows that he is not even an amateur player.

In this case, suddenly saying he wants to participate in an official competition, anyone would be suspicious!