Chapter 344

Once she said this.

The three girls present fell into silence.

Indeed...

Compared to fumbling on their own, having professional coaching guidance would definitely be more effective.

"So—that's how it is, I'll take Natsume-kun away first."

Konoe Hitomi said, directly pulling Natsume Chikage's wrist, and took him out of the Collection Club without any room for argument.

All three of them felt an indescribable annoyance in their hearts, but they were helpless and could only watch Natsume Chikage being taken away.

Classmate Classmate Tengyuan Kui couldn't help but mutter in a volume only she could hear:

"Natsume-kun... you should say something! How could you just be pulled away like that!"

Saiyonji Xiyuanji Qilai also couldn't help but puff out her cheeks and mutter:

"Clearly... we were the ones who made the appointment first..."

Yukimura Rin's reaction was more direct; she snorted coldly and placed her school bag heavily on the table of the Collection Club.

"It's fine if we don't go!"

"This way I have time to write my manuscript!"

"And you two, since we don't have to go out now, stay here and write the club magazine!"

Classmate Classmate Tengyuan Kui let out a wail:

"Ahhh—it was supposed to be a day to go out and play... how did it turn out like this."

"Could it be that Natsume-kun will have to accompany Miss Konoe to practice swinging from now on..."

"Wuwu~ I've been looking forward to it for a long time!"

Saying that.

She hugged Saiyonji Xiyuanji Qilai beside her and muttered with a crying voice:

"Xiyuanji Qilai-chan... I want to learn baseball!"

Saiyonji Xiyuanji Qilai gently rubbed Classmate Classmate Tengyuan Kui's hair and comforted her with a smile:

"Alright, alright, Aoi-chan, it's okay."

"Miss Konoe is busy after all, there's no way she can take Natsume-kun to training every day."

"We will definitely have a chance to practice baseball together in the future, let's have a good time then!"

Classmate Classmate Tengyuan Kui looked up at Saiyonji Xiyuanji Qilai, who was exuding the ultimate gentle maternal radiance, was stunned, and almost blurted out "Mom".

Yukimura Rin seemed to be still sulking, watching the two laughing and playing, couldn't help but knock on the table and frown:

"Stop messing around, start working quickly!"

The two, upon hearing this, sat down honestly and began to organize the manuscripts.

Yukimura Rin watched them start working and added coldly:

"No one is allowed to help Natsume-kun with the part he is responsible for, wait for him to come back and finish it himself."

Saiyonji Xiyuanji Qilai and Classmate Classmate Tengyuan Kui looked at each other, both seeing a helpless smile on each other's faces.

They could both feel that Yukimura Rin was actually quite looking forward to this baseball activity.

Now that the plan had fallen through, she was clearly holding back a little resentment.

It seems that after Natsume-kun comes back, he won't be able to avoid being "specially cared for" by Yukimura Rin in club activities and having his workload increased.

School gate.

Natsume Chikage followed Konoe Hitomi out and found a black luxury car with smooth lines quietly parked on the side of the road waiting.

The person who opened the door for them was an adult male driver wearing a crisp black suit, sunglasses, and a serious expression.

He seemed unable to speak, and the moment he saw Konoe Hitomi approaching, he opened the rear door neatly and waited for the two to get in.

"Get in." Konoe Hitomi said, and sat in.

Natsume Chikage thought this time it would also be Konoe Hitomi driving herself.

It seems she only drives herself when wearing a maid outfit? And not when wearing a school uniform?

That makes sense.

Driving in a school uniform, one would be recognized as a high school student at a glance.

But driving in a maid outfit... doesn't seem much better either.

Natsume Chikage followed and sat in the car.

The black-clad driver closed the door gently, returned to the driver's seat, and the vehicle started smoothly, driving into the busy afternoon traffic of Tokyo.

Along the way, the car maintained a near-stagnant silence.

Natsume Chikage withdrew his gaze from the street scene flashing by outside the window and landed on Konoe Hitomi sitting quietly beside him.

She was looking quietly out the window, and the lines of her profile appeared particularly clear in the afternoon light and shadow.

If she wasn't speaking nonsense, she looked completely like a quiet cold beauty.

But regardless, Natsume Chikage couldn't read any content from that face that seemed to have no emotional fluctuations.

Konoe Hitomi seemed to have eyes in the back of her head, didn't turn her head, but suddenly asked:

"Suddenly staring at me, is there any question you want to ask?"

After speaking, she slowly turned her head and looked at Natsume Chikage.

Natsume Chikage paused, a bit surprised at how she noticed his gaze.

"Nothing... just curious where we are going now."

"Is that really all you want to ask?"

"Yes, and no. And even if I asked what I wanted to ask, you wouldn't answer, right?"

"Yes. Since you have this self-awareness, Natsume-kun, that's for the best."

"..."

"As for the destination, you will know soon."

After speaking.

Konoe Hitomi's gaze returned to the window, seemingly having no intention of talking anymore.

Seeing this, Natsume Chikage didn't pursue the question, just closed his eyes, enjoying the rare moment of peace in the car.

Within Tokyo.

A magnificent sports arena.

The black-clad driver parked the car smoothly at the entrance of the dedicated passage, got out quickly, and opened the door for Konoe Hitomi and Natsume Chikage respectfully.

"Get in." Konoe Hitomi said, and got out of the car with an elegant posture.

Natsume Chikage followed quickly.

The black-clad driver behind, after confirming the two had gotten out, said nothing and drove away immediately.

Natsume Chikage looked at the behemoth in front of him, then looked at Konoe Hitomi beside him, and asked in disbelief:

"Wait a minute... we are going to train here?"

Konoe Hitomi nodded:

"Yes, is there any problem?"

Natsume Chikage's expression became very strange.

He remembered that this place was clearly a dedicated venue for hosting large-scale sports events.

Except for specific competition days or performance days, it is basically not open to the public.

Konoe Hitomi bringing him here, does it mean...

"Could it be... you rented this place?"

Konoe Hitomi's tone was flat and waveless:

"Rent?"

"This is one of our family's properties."

Natsume Chikage was silent for a long time, sighing in his heart.

He had heard before that the Mitou family's industries penetrated every aspect of life, and now it seems it's true.

This famous national sports stadium has never clearly shown its ownership in public information, and the public naturally assumes it belongs to the government.

But now, she told him lightly that it was "theirs".