Chapter 530

This guy has poor grades, a poor family, so what's the use of that so-called semi-professional shogi skill?

A guy who doesn't even have a professional title can't earn much money a month.

No matter how you look at it, I'm much more outstanding, aren't I?

I have excellent grades, a well-off family, and will definitely become a professional baseball player in the future, with an annual income starting at ten million yen.

Isn't this a thousand times better than this Natsume Chikage who only knows how to play shogi?

If this guy is with you, there's simply no future!

Why don't you understand?!

Shinohara Shingo stubbornly believed that before Yukimura Suzune met Natsume Chikage.

At that time, Yukimura Suzune was truly perfect, like a real, untouchable ice lotus, which no one could profane and no one could be worthy of.

So at that time, he was convinced when he was rejected.

At the time, he was indeed not outstanding enough.

But now that he had become so outstanding, he had to lose to a boy who just had a very handsome face?

Thinking of this, he was very unconvinced, his chest heaving slightly with anger.

He felt that apart from that face, Natsume Chikage was completely useless.

But he also clearly understood that the current Yukimura Suzune had already developed feelings for Natsume Chikage.

So as long as Natsume Chikage was still in school for one day, it would be very difficult for him to succeed in pursuing Yukimura Suzune.

So... wouldn't it be fine to just make Natsume Chikage drop out?

As long as Natsume Chikage wasn't in school, even if Yukimura Suzune had some misunderstandings about him now.

But as long as he could prove that he had completely broken up with his current girlfriend and that there was no longer any connection between them, then Yukimura Suzune would definitely understand that he was truly devoted to her!!

By then, under his long-term, sincere pursuit, she would definitely change her mind and fall completely in love with him!

After all, he was so outstanding, and after that Natsume Chikage was expelled, she wouldn't be able to see his face every day, so naturally, she wouldn't be influenced by temporary hormones and would definitely be able to analyze more rationally which of them was more outstanding and more worthy of being entrusted with her future!

Yes!

Natsume Chikage should be expelled!

As for how to make Natsume Chikage drop out, Shinohara Shingo frowned, a hint of malice flashing in his eyes, and he snorted coldly, his mind already quickly sketching out a preliminary plan.

He planned to start preparing now and then catch Natsume Chikage off guard at noon!

Class 1-A.

The air was filled with damp moisture and the distinct scent of a classroom in the early morning, mixed with paper and wood.

Natsume Chikage returned here, intending to walk to his seat.

But the atmosphere in the class was more lively than usual, with whispers and gazes falling on him from time to time.

After all, Natsume Chikage was now a popular figure with semi-professional shogi skills.

Someone who was both handsome and talented would naturally receive more attention and welcome.

So many classmates took the initiative to congratulate him on winning the shogi match again yesterday.

Yukimura Suzune, on the side, was already used to this scene, but today she appeared even colder and more distant than usual, her brows slightly furrowed, her lips pressed into a cold, straight line, looking very unhappy, completely ignoring Natsume Chikage, who had just walked with her, and returning to her seat by the window alone.

"Morning, Suzune." Saionji Nanase turned her head, revealing that signature, natural, innocent, and bright smile.

"Morning, Nanase." Yukimura Suzune looked at Saionji Nanase, replied briefly and coldly, then lowered her head to put away her bag, took out *The Devotion of Suspect X*, spread it on the desk, and lowered her eyes to read quietly, exuding an aura of "strangers keep away."

Saionji Nanase tilted her head slightly, her lively purple eyes carefully examining Yukimura Suzune’s profile, feeling that today Suzune was not only frowning but also had a lower-pressure atmosphere than usual, looking very unhappy.

Who had upset her again?

Saionji Nanase could keenly feel that Suzune was in a very bad mood now, so naturally, she didn't intend to touch a nerve at this time, deciding to wait for Suzune to calm down a bit and for her emotions to stabilize before asking what was going on.

At this moment.

Natsume Chikage finally politely dismissed the classmates who were enthusiastically congratulating him and returned to his seat.

Saionji Nanase immediately raised a smiling face and greeted him happily.

"Good morning, Natsume-kun."

Natsume Chikage nodded slightly and replied:

"Good morning, Saionji-san."

Saionji Nanase clenched her little fist, placed it in front of her chest, and congratulated him seriously:

"Natsume-kun, congratulations on winning the match! It was really amazing!"

Natsume Chikage laughed, his tone humble:

"Thank you."

Saionji Nanase blinked and said in surprise:

"Come to think of it, Natsume-kun, you are really amazing. I didn't expect you to actually beat that semi-professional shogi player!"

"But at school, I basically never see you studying shogi books or setting up chess records... Could it be that you study shogi often at home?"

Natsume Chikage was stunned, then laughed it off, vaguely saying:

"Something like that."

Saionji Nanase suddenly understood, a look of "so that's how it is" appearing on her fair face.

She just felt that Natsume-kun must be studying shogi hard at home often.

Otherwise, how could he be so amazing and keep such a low profile?

At this time.

Natsume Chikage remembered something, took a drawing out of his bag, and handed it to Saionji Nanase.

"Saionji-san, this is the drawing you said you wanted to keep last time."

Saionji Nanase took it, gently unfolded the soft paper wrapping, and looked at the sketch Natsume Chikage had improvised for them at home. She was very happy, her eyes curving into crescents.

But the more she examined it, the more she secretly marveled.

Natsume Chikage’s drawing skills were truly amazing, with smooth lines and precise capture of expressions.

It was lifelike, leaping off the paper.

It was no worse than his genius painter sister Natsume Ruri, and perhaps even better in some aspects.

"Thank you, Natsume-kun." She carefully rolled the drawing back up, her voice full of joy.

At this time.

Natsume Chikage, having nothing to do, intended to take out the manga *Kimi ni Todoke* and continue reading it to pass the time before class.

And Saionji Nanase had always known that Natsume Chikage’s grades were very poor, and he was a well-known bottom-feeder in school.

So every time Natsume Chikage asked for leave or was absent, she would take notes more seriously than usual, with neat handwriting and highlighted key points.

She made sure her notebook content was clear and easy to understand.

So that she could hand it to Natsume Chikage the next day so he could keep up with the course progress and understand the content, even if it could only improve his grades a little bit.

Saionji Nanase took out her notebook with a cute pattern on the cover from her desk drawer and, as usual, handed it naturally to Natsume Chikage.

"Natsume-kun, these are the notes from yesterday’s class. I used a highlighter for the key points."

For Natsume Chikage, although these notes might not be of much help in his studies, it was necessary to understand where the teacher was lecturing and what assignments there were.

As usual, he took the notebook and thanked her sincerely.

"Thank you, I’m always troubling you."

And at this time.

Saionji Nanase noticed the brightly colored shoujo manga on Natsume Chikage’s desk, leaned over curiously, and asked:

"Natsume-kun, why did you suddenly start reading shoujo manga?"

Natsume Chikage explained to Saionji Nanase using the same reason he had just explained to Yukimura Suzune.

Saionji Nanase suddenly realized, clapped her hands gently, making a crisp, small sound, and a natural, cute smile bloomed on her face:

"So it’s because we left too many shoujo manga at your sister’s place, and you found it interesting, so you started reading it."

Natsume Chikage nodded with a smile:

"Yes, it was an unexpected discovery."

Saionji Nanase stood up and leaned over curiously, her face almost right next to Natsume Chikage’s shoulder, very close.

That warm, sweet-scented breath and the pleasant girl’s voice drifted slowly into Natsume Chikage’s ear, bringing a slight itch.

"I’ve finished reading this shoujo manga too. Where are you up to now?"

Natsume Chikage was stunned, his face flushed slightly, and his expression was a bit subtle.

But he knew Saionji Nanase’s personality was just that simple and direct, and she meant nothing else, so he didn't say anything more.