Chapter 534

"Natsume-kun... may I ask if you have time now?"

Natsume Chikage had just finished the last bite of his lunch, picked up a tissue to wipe his mouth, and turned his head in surprise:

"Is there something going on?"

The female disciplinary committee member’s expression was slightly complex, and she lowered her voice to explain:

"Vice Student Council President Hanyu-senpai, and Konoe Hitomi-san, asked me to call you to the student council office right now."

The three girls who were eating paused at the same time and were stunned.

Yukimura Suzune narrowed her eyes, her gaze sharp:

"Senior Konoe... what is she looking for Natsume-kun for again?"

Saionji Nanase blinked her lively eyes, a look of worry appearing on her face:

"Why does even the Vice Student Council President want Natsume-kun to go over? Did something big happen?"

Fujiwara Aoi also put down her chopsticks and asked in confusion:

"So what exactly do they want Natsume-kun to go over for?"

"Can you say it more clearly?"

Natsume Chikage was also puzzled and asked directly:

"I want to ask this too. Do you know what exactly is going on?"

The female disciplinary committee member shook her head, her expression a bit difficult:

"The detailed matter is more complicated, and... I’m not very good at explaining it here. Anyway, Natsume-kun, you come with me first. After you get there, Vice President Hanyu will explain it to you personally."

Natsume Chikage looked at her serious expression and thought about the student council and himself, pondered for a moment, and nodded:

"Hmm, okay, I’ll go with you."

Saying this, he began to pack up his bento box and tableware.

And Yukimura Suzune always felt that this matter had an unusual atmosphere, and was hesitating whether to speak up and suggest going together.

Fujiwara Aoi also felt that this matter was weird based on her female intuition, and also intended to speak up and ask to go together.

But at this time, Saionji Nanase had already acted faster than the two girls, raising her hand first and volunteering:

"I just finished lunch, and I have nothing to do anyway. Natsume-kun, I’ll go with you, so there’s someone to look after you."

Yukimura Suzune and Fujiwara Aoi were both stunned, clearly not expecting the usually gentle and natural Saionji Nanase to react so quickly this time, opening her mouth before the two of them.

Natsume Chikage smiled at Saionji Nanase after hearing this, but shook his head gently and firmly refused:

"There’s no need to make such a big fuss."

"It’s probably just ordinary business."

"You guys continue your lunch break, I’ll be back in a moment."

Saying this.

He spoke to the female disciplinary committee member waiting on the side:

"Let’s go."

The female disciplinary committee member looked at Natsume Chikage, who was exceptionally handsome, and thinking about walking a distance with him in a moment, her cheeks flushed, and her voice became even lighter:

"Hmm... please follow me."

After saying this.

She turned to lead the way, and Natsume Chikage followed immediately.

And Saionji Nanase, after being flatly refused, puffed out her cheeks slightly, clearly a bit unhappy with this result.

Fujiwara Aoi heard Natsume Chikage say it so easily, so she really thought it might just be a small matter, picked up her chopsticks again, and continued to happily "devour" the lunch she hadn't finished.

Only Yukimura Suzune watched Natsume Chikage’s back disappear into the hallway with her cold eyes, her brows furrowed, and the faint sense of unease in her heart did not dissipate.

It was noon, the time when all teachers and students in the school were resting and relaxing.

The Vice Student Council President and the student council should logically also be in a lunch break state.

And now, even Senior Konoe, who basically didn't appear in the daily affairs of the student council, had come forward... no matter how you look at it, this doesn't look like "ordinary business."

Student Council Room.

The wooden door was pushed open, and Natsume Chikage followed the female disciplinary committee member into it.

The room was bright, but the atmosphere was completely different from the laziness of the afternoon outside, exuding a serious, even tense feeling.

Natsume Chikage’s gaze swept over, and he spotted several familiar or recognizable figures gathered in the student council room.

First was the Vice Student Council President sitting to the left of the main seat symbolizing the Student Council President—Hanyu Masaki. He had a serious expression, his hands folded on the clean desk.

Next was Konoe Hitomi sitting to the right of the main seat. She had an elegant and distant posture, with no expression on her face, just glancing at Natsume Chikage.

There was even Nakajima Satoshi, the number two captain of the baseball team, with whom he had had a conflict before. He stood on the side with a complex expression.

And several other baseball team members he had met once before. They all stood behind a tall, arrogant-looking boy with unkind expressions, clearly led by him.

This leading boy was the number one captain and ace pitcher of the baseball team—Shinohara Shingo.

And just as Natsume Chikage was quickly sizing up the situation in the room.

His gaze was involuntarily drawn to the dark brown baseball glove that Shinohara Shingo had casually placed on the table.

The surface of that glove was emitting a faint, strange light that only he could see.

[Effort Baseball Glove]

[Quality: Blue]

[Effect: When the wearer throws a baseball, strength increases by 5%, control ability improves slightly, and hit rate increases by 10%!]

[Introduction: For my own sake, I must work harder!!]

Natsume Chikage calmly withdrew his gaze, secretly surprised by the attributes of this equipment, while being even more confused by the situation before him.

He looked at Nakajima Satoshi, who had a difficult expression, frowned, and asked directly:

"Nakajima-senpai... is it you who has something to look for me for again?"

Nakajima Satoshi heard this, his face showing an even more complex expression. He shook his head, his tone a bit low as he denied:

"No. Since I already lost to you publicly last time and made a promise in public, naturally I won't do anything that violates the agreement or goes back on my word."

"So you misunderstood; this matter did not come from my will."

"As for why specifically... you ask Vice President Hanyu and Konoe-san clearly in a moment, and you will naturally understand."

Natsume Chikage turned his gaze to Hanyu Masaki and Konoe Hitomi, who were sitting in front.

"Then, why did the two of you specifically call me over... what is it for?"

Hanyu Masaki saw that Konoe Hitomi had no intention of explaining first, so he adjusted the glasses on the bridge of his nose, his gaze behind the lenses becoming sharp and steady, and he said in a deep voice:

"Natsume-kun, this matter indeed wasn't initiated or led by Nakajima-kun."

"But, it doesn't mean it has nothing to do with him, or rather, with the baseball team he is in."

Natsume Chikage became more confused as he listened.

"Can you say it more directly and clearly?"

Shinohara Shingo had a height almost the same as Natsume Chikage, only one or two centimeters shorter.

Also because Natsume Chikage’s physique was far superior to his peers, he was currently about the same as this Shinohara Shingo, who often exercised.

Shinohara Shingo stood up directly, the legs of the chair rubbing against the floor and making a harsh sound.

He strode to Natsume Chikage, his eyes full of undisguised hostility.

"Hmph, let me, the person involved, say it!" Shinohara Shingo snorted coldly, his tone unkind as he began to explain, "Before, you publicly challenged and beat our baseball team’s number two captain, Nakajima Satoshi, in front of so many people in school, right?"

Natsume Chikage frowned slightly and admitted frankly:

"Yes, so what?"

Shinohara Shingo let out a sneer from his nostrils, then took a stack of printed papers out of his pocket and slammed them heavily on the table between the two.

"Don't you know how much huge trouble and damage your behavior has brought to our Private Moonlight Academy, and our baseball team?!"

Natsume Chikage tilted his head slightly, his expression still calm:

"I don't understand what you are talking about."

Shinohara Shingo sneered repeatedly, pointing his finger hard at the printed papers:

"Don't understand? Then open your eyes and look carefully!"

Natsume Chikage looked down; they were several screenshots printed from forums and social media pages, densely filled with various comments from people from other schools or anonymous users.

[Is this Private Moonlight baseball team this bad? I heard the pitcher captain was beaten in a one-on-one by that shogi-playing Natsume Chikage?]

[A baseball team that can be beaten by a "weak scholar" who plays shogi, you can imagine how trashy it is.]

[A baseball team that can't even beat a weakling who plays shogi, in my opinion, this baseball team can just disband, don't go out and embarrass yourselves!]